A few of our stories and columns are now in front of the paywall. We at The Chief-Leader remain committed to independent reporting on labor and civil service. It's been our mission since 1897. You can have a hand in ensuring that our reporting remains relevant in the decades to come. Consider supporting The Chief, which you can do for as little as $3.20 a month.
To the editor:
Online comments to my last letter point out Republicans used celebrities in 2024 (“Indepence Day,” Letters, The Chief, June 6). Republican or Democrat I equally disdain this practice. I voted third party; no celebrity endorsed my candidate.
Any celebrity aggrieved by Mr. Trump's policies should, to quote Animal Mother in the movie "Full Metal Jacket” — walk the walk. Donate an unused mansion to house the homeless. Anonymously volunteer once a week at a soup kitchen. Donate the millions they will never need or miss to groups providing pro bono legal services. Establish a trust fund to assist those allegedly harmed by Trump's policies.
My 92-year-old mother bleeds Democrat Donkeys when you cut her. Until well into her 80s, she attended monthly meetings at her local Democratic club, was a Democratic poll worker and in 2024 donated to the DNC. We debate endlessly Republican vs Democrat.
I couldn't disagree more with her politics. I couldn't admire her more for "walking the walk" and trying to make the world a better place.
Any TDS celebrity is entitled to freedom of speech and to spend his/her money and time as he/she chooses. But denouncing Trump on foreign soil to an audience that can do little to nothing about it is not walking the walk. The opinion of a celebrity totally unaffected by presidential policies means nothing to me.
Nat Weiner
12 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
0000
You’ve hit the bullseye once more! I wholeheartedly agree with your critique of celebrities criticizing President Trump abroad. Just like your mom, my father was a staunch Democrat who passionately advocated for causes that resonated with him. As a WWII combat veteran, my dad generously donated to humanitarian and animal foundations, inspiring me to follow in his footsteps. My den proudly showcases photographs of Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Truman, and Dwight D. Eisenhower, which were bequeathed to me by my father. My wife, Laura, dedicated three decades of service to helping those in need.
However, humans often ignore the world’s suffering while going about their daily routines. Increased awareness can positively impact the world. Perhaps Democrats, Republicans, and independents should unite and work towards solving injustice and alleviating pain domestically and abroad. Is that possible? I simply do not know!
Tuesday, June 17 Report this
reenjoe
Bruce Springsteen (the subject of the above letter, Independence Day and No Surrender which started the debate) has supported the following charities:
Aid Still Required
Amnesty International
Bob Woodruff Foundation
Every Mother Counts
Exploring The Arts
Friars Foundation
Global Poverty Project
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater
Kristen Ann Carr Fund
Melanoma Research Alliance
Memorial Sloan-Kettering
MusiCares
Musicians on Call
Project Green Leaf
Rainforest Foundation Fund
Red Cross
Robin Hood
Special Olympics
WhyHunger
Springsteen has given dozens of free concerts for multiple charitable causes including Vietnam Vets and Amnesty International. He also has two of his own charities, The Trill Foundation and The Foundation Inc. into which he has placed millions of his own dollars to install better windows in low-income homes and pay direct grants to low-income families.
I call that walking the walk and a bit more than "Strumming a guitar and singing about the "average man/woman?" Before you criticize, please educate yourselves.
Tuesday, June 17 Report this
namrogm
Excellent response, reenjoe! No one should assume or deny that anyone, including celebrities, does not help the needy and less fortunate without knowing the truth and what people do. Furthermore, who made the fatuous rule that one must be a “saint” to have the right to criticize a convicted felon and malignant narcissist who is the president?
Wednesday, June 18 Report this
0000
Let the celebrities blather on; they’re wasting their breath. Intellectuals laugh at them because they speak with a forked tongue. I’m certain that Springsteen and his compadres claim a substantial tax deduction on their form 1040, hypocrites.
Wednesday, June 18 Report this
krell1349
How much do Trump and Musk contribute to charitable organizations? They both should report on how much. I am sure it is very little.
Thursday, June 19 Report this
0000
Bruce Springsteen's concert tickets sold for $5,000.00 in 2022. For an artist whose reputation is allegedly built on empathy and solidarity, this marked a significant turning point in how his fans viewed him. His song "I'm on Fire,” which contains the line "Hey little girl, is your daddy at home?" has drawn criticism due to the lack of a detailed explanation from Springsteen regarding the controversial lyrics, as well as other discrepancies.
To sum it up: “People who live in glass houses should not cast stones."
Sources:
_The New York Times
-The Los Angeles Times article: $5,000.00 Freeze-Out
- The Los Angeles Times: Landau released a brief statement explaining that the ticket price was determined by surveying "what our peers were doing."
Thursday, June 19 Report this
reenjoe
On the subject of tax avoidance, in 2020 the NYT found that Trump paid NO taxes for 11 of the 18 years they could find records. He only paid $750 in 2016 as a candidate and the same $750 in 2017 as a first-year president.
It should be noted that it was Ticketmaster who charged $5,000 per ticket for Springsteen concerts in 2022 as part of their "Dynamic Pricing" scheme. Roughly 1 percent of concertgoers paid over $1,000 per ticket with average prices falling between $200 - $300 each.
In any event, why is it that when Musk amasses $400+ billion, he is a genius? Yet, when Springsteen gets $5,000 for a ticket, he is a forked tongue, blathering celebrity. Bruce Springsteen has done more for his fellow man than Trump and Musk ever will, combined.
As for the effectiveness of celebrity endorsements, I cannot say. Does Tiger Woods sell more golf balls? Bridgestone must think so as they pay him millions of dollars to play and endorse their brand. In politics, the candidates don't pay the celebrities, the celebrities contribute their money to the candidates. That says something to me.
Friday, June 20 Report this
0000
In response to your last post:
First, the debate is focused on Bruce Springsteen, not on President Trump or Elon Musk.
Second, comparing the wealth of Trump and Musk to that of Springsteen is illogical and irrelevant to the debate; it’s like comparing apples to oranges.
Third, questioning why Springsteen is criticized while Trump is praised is straightforward. Springsteen publicly criticized Trump while abroad, which did not enhance his character or political standing among centrist Americans. Many view Springsteen's actions as treasonous, particularly in today’s global environment.
Fourth, the impact of celebrity political endorsements on intellectuals is negligible; typically, only teenagers and aspiring celebrities are influenced by celebrities.
In the future focus on the topic of discussion, if possible!
Work with:
Sunday, June 22 Report this
reenjoe
J. Donne, in a debate of ideas all subjects are relevant. If someone, like yourself, minimizes the charitable works of another person, say Springsteen, by calling them "hypocrites" who "claim a substantial tax deduction" it is very much within the topic of discussion to cite actual hypocrites like Trump who robbed his own charity, which he set up solely as a grift. It is also germane to the debate to introduce proof of actual tax evasion, such as citing that Trump paid less in taxes over a two-year period than cop or teacher pays in a two-week pay period.
I wonder whether the "intellectuals" on Madison Ave are aware that they are shelling out billions of dollars a year on celebrity endorsers who only sway teenagers and aspiring celebrities? I also wonder why conservatives hold such hatred for celebrities, going so far as to consider them traitors, simply because they endorse liberal causes and candidates? To me, such vitriol is "illogical" considering celebrities have so little influence.
Sunday, June 22 Report this
0000
Mr. Weiner’s letter is about his disdain for celebrities in political campaigns, regardless of their party affiliation, not charitable works and tax deductions.
Write an essay on tax deductions and hypocrites if you want to debate the topic. I’m eager to debate you!
Friday, June 27 Report this
reenjoe
J. Donne, I'm fairly certain (in fact the record below proves it) that you were the one to first bring up the subject of taxes -
"I’m certain that Springsteen and his compadres claim a substantial tax deduction on their form 1040, hypocrites."
Hypocrites - that's a really good word!
Sunday, June 29 Report this
0000
I agree! Hypocrite is an excellent word....
Monday, July 7 Report this