(Editor's Note: The following opinion article does not constitute an endorsement of any political party or candidate on the part of Newsmax.)
What does an icon's endorsement of a presidential candidate mean?
Probably not much since each of these candidates has a tremendous A-list of endorsements behind them, yet the 2024 presidential race is seemingly tied at about 48% of votes for each candidate.
Elon Musk, Kanye West, Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, and Dennis Quaid have all endorsed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. On the other hand, J.J. Abrams, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Cardi B, and Jennifer Aniston have endorsed Democrat presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
America has a unique democratic makeup. It is called a republic, and a republic exists so that the citizens of a nation will elect representatives of the republic.
Could it be that we are missing the point of the republic if we skip researching candidates and their stances on the issues and elect a candidate because he or she is endorsed by a cultural icon?
I believe we undermine the process and importance of an election when we base our decision for a presidential candidate on what pop icon is voting for them.
So here are four important principles that should guide each of us while preparing to vote for President of the United States.
Popularity Versus Platform
The election of a president is not a popularity contest. The election of a president is a platform contest.
Popular culture should not be what drives us to make a decision. Eloquence or elegance should not elect a candidate for the presidency. Instead, the presidency should be decided by a candidate's platform.
What are the important issues that define a candidate's platform?
Here are just a few: How a candidate feels about education reform and standardization and the cost of education is a very important platform principle, a candidate's view on the economy and inflation and the government's role in fiscal responsibility, foreign policy and homeland security, and abortion and other social issues.
Our vote should be more influenced by the stance on the issues rather than the social media platforms, the box office, and the tour success of the icons, because the policies that define a candidate's platform will shape our nation. And the principles that underlie these policies and platforms are what ultimately will become the foundation of our country.
Cynicism Versus Civility
We need to regain our civility and our nation's lost unity.
I'm sure you remember Congress members standing shoulder to shoulder in a powerful show of unity on the steps of the U.S. Capitol after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The world witnessed an iconic show of love and unity as our nation's leaders sang "God Bless America."
Who can forget the 1984 presidential debate between Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale when Reagan said, "I will not make age an issue of this campaign; I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience?"
This is a far more civil and respectful attitude than the personal attacks of anger we see between candidates in politics today.
Local Versus Federal
Do the work. Your vote should be an informed vote from the research.
Before the information age and the tsunami of social media influence, we made decisions in our country from a local setting. There are about 3,200 counties and county equivalents in America, and each is influenced by the local political leaders who are placed in office by the local members of the republic.
When we forego the election of local officials, we are losing the foundational principle of the republic. There is much more power in local politics than most people believe. And it is a fundamental misunderstanding to think our nation changes only every four years with the presidential election.
Biblical Versus Political
Vote your principles and not the personality.
According to My Faith Votes, about 90 million Christians in America are eligible to vote, but somewhere around 25 million fail to vote in presidential election cycles. Additionally, 15 million Christians aren't even registered to vote.
That means that if everyone in America votes the way they did in the last presidential election, the Christians who did not vote in the last election could elect the next president of the United States.
As Americans in a republic, it is our privilege and responsibility to elect a leader of our nation.
Finally
Platforms, civility, local involvement, and a biblical emphases must be what inform how we vote. Not pop iconic endorsements.
Many will excuse themself and point out that they do not vote because no party or candidate has the perfect record of a biblical position. What do we do in that case?
Often, the temptation is to think that voting for a write-in or a personal candidate is the right thing to do. But that's not the case.
I've been there. And all that happens with that approach is a throwaway vote that forgoes the civil responsibility expressed through voting.
Not everyone will come to the same conclusion. And that's part of the beauty of living in a republic.
But if we each use these principles of voter responsibility with integrity and information, you will quickly see that iconic endorsements are not as important as informed engagement.
Jeff Grenell is the founder of ythology.com, to inspire, educate and resource youth leaders to prepare the next generation, to lead in the Church and globally. Follow Jeff on Twitter: @jeffgrenell. Read Jeff Grenell's Reports - Here.