Nobel winner US President Barack Obama turns to Hollywood for help promoting healthcare reform

October 9, 4:32 PMHollywood Culture ExaminerKae Davis

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Barack and Michelle Obama (Photo: Reuters)

(Oct. 9, 2009) United States President  Barack Obama might not be taken as seriously by politicians lately after his poorly timed choice to pick up and wave the American flag to rally support for his wife and Oprah Winfrey in their plan to get the 2016 Olympics brought to the windy city Chicago -- but he does not seem to be taking the stories of his lost credibility very seriously. Actually, he may become even more brazen now about stepping up and swinging the media hammer now that he's been awarded the Nobel Prize for doing, well... not really DOING -- just talking.

This week, it has been announced that President Obama is turning not only to the talk show circuits to help him promote his personal agenda's -- this time he's back requesting the full support of Hollywood to help him get the support from the general public that he needs to pass the vote for his healthcare reform package. The news, of course, is being overshasowed by the stunning Nobel Prizes committee announcement. However, the fact that he's been honored for opening doors for talks with other countries and for being clever enough to use Hollywood media for free press promotion highlights one of the main reasons the Nobel Prizes group elected to give the worlds most coveted award to the president. He changed the tone.

Earlier this week, the Associated Press revealed, "President Barack Obama is enlisting Hollywood celebrities including actress Rosario Dawson and Will.I.Am to draw attention to his health care overhaul agenda." According to the reports, "The performers will act as celebrity judges for a TV commercial contest set up by Organizing for America, the Obama political organization that's part of the Democratic National Committee.

Organizing for America asked Hollywood stars who were fond of the President to create and submit 30-second ads in support of remaking health care. The winning one will be aired nationally." The panel of celebrity judges chosen specifically by Organizing for America consists of actors John Cho, Dule Hill, Brandon Routh, Kate Walsh and Olivia Wilde, and "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane. Dawson and Will.I.Am are both slated to be judges as well.

The choices reflect a conscious decision to appeal to a wide variety of socio-economic and mixed race audiences (presumably to maximize marketing appeal and to motivate a wide variety of cultural demographics to change their mind and begin to support the healthcare reform package Obama is presently touting. As such, the campaign may be smart from a promotional sense with movie and television viewing audiences, while still equally undermining the feel of the President's program to his political contemporaries [solidifying the belief that Obama is more of a star-struck showman than real politician].

What do YOU think? Is Barack Obama undermining his political clout and credibility by spending his time on talk shows, hanging out with celebrities, and promoting himself as an international star? Sound off in the comments section below.

For more info: 

Chicago eliminated as host for 2016 Olympics: Rio de Janeiro wins, Michelle Obama loses