Taylor Swift breaks political silence

ABC News
8 Oct 201803:01

TLDRPop star Taylor Swift breaks her political silence, endorsing two Democrats in Tennessee's midterm elections. She publicly opposes GOP Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn, citing her voting record as 'appalling and terrifying', and instead supports Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for the House. Swift encourages her 112 million Instagram followers and all eligible voters to make their voices heard at the polls, sparking a mix of support and backlash on social media.

Takeaways

  • 🎤 Taylor Swift, known for her music, has entered the political debate for the first time.
  • 🗳️ She has broken her political silence, which was unusual for her, by endorsing Democrats in her home state of Tennessee.
  • 🏛️ Swift is specifically against GOP Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn, citing her voting record as appalling and terrifying.
  • 👥 She supports Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for the House, stating they align more with her values of dignity for all Americans.
  • 🌈 Swift emphasizes the importance of fighting for Americans regardless of their skin color, gender, or sexual orientation.
  • 📢 Her political stance was shared with her 112 million Instagram followers, indicating the potential impact of her influence.
  • 💬 The announcement has received mixed reactions, with some supporting her stance and others expressing disappointment.
  • 👎 Some critics argue that Swift should stay out of politics, and her views may affect ticket sales for her concerts.
  • 🗳️ Swift encourages everyone, regardless of political beliefs, to exercise their right to vote.
  • 🏆 She is set to open the American Music Awards, marking her first performance at the event since 2014.
  • 🔍 The midterm elections are highlighted as being of great importance, with Swift's involvement indicating high stakes for the fans.

Q & A

  • Why did Taylor Swift decide to break her political silence?

    -Taylor Swift broke her political silence due to several events in her life and in the world over the past two years, which led her to feel differently about publicly voicing her political opinions.

  • What political stance did Taylor Swift take in her home state of Tennessee?

    -Taylor Swift endorsed two Democrats running for office in Tennessee, expressing her support for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for the House.

  • Why did Taylor Swift express her opposition to GOP Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn?

    -Taylor Swift stated that she could not support Marsha Blackburn because her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies her, as Blackburn is not willing to fight for dignity for all Americans regardless of their skin color, gender, or sexual orientation.

  • How did Taylor Swift's followers and the public react to her political statement?

    -The reactions were mixed; some people, like Debra Messing, supported Swift on Twitter, while others were outraged and some even said they would no longer attend her concerts due to her political views.

  • What was Taylor Swift's message to her followers and the public regarding voting?

    -Taylor Swift urged everyone, no matter what side they are on, to get out and vote, emphasizing the importance of making one's vote count.

  • What was the context of Taylor Swift's political statement on Instagram?

    -She posted on Instagram that she had been reluctant to publicly voice her political opinions in the past but now feels differently due to recent events.

  • How many followers does Taylor Swift have on Instagram, and what does this indicate about her potential influence?

    -Taylor Swift has 112 million followers on Instagram, indicating that her political statement could have a significant impact due to her large audience.

  • What was Taylor Swift's stance during the 2016 presidential election?

    -Taylor Swift stayed silent during the 2016 presidential election and did not publicly voice her political opinions at that time.

  • What event is Taylor Swift scheduled to open, and when is it set to air?

    -Taylor Swift is scheduled to open the American Music Awards, which will air on ABC.

  • What was the significance of Taylor Swift's political statement for the upcoming midterm elections?

    -Her statement is significant as it shows her support for specific candidates and issues, and it could potentially influence her followers and the public to engage more actively in the political process.

Outlines

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🗳️ Taylor Swift's Political Endorsement

Taylor Swift, a renowned singer known for her reluctance to engage in politics, has made a significant shift by publicly endorsing two Democratic candidates in the Tennessee midterm elections. In an Instagram post, she explains her change of heart, citing recent events that have compelled her to voice her political opinions. Swift expresses her support for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for the House, while strongly opposing GOP Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn due to her voting record. The post has sparked mixed reactions, with some supporting Swift's stance and others expressing disappointment and even boycotting her concerts. Swift's influence on her 112 million followers and the potential impact on the election results remain to be seen.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is a renowned American singer-songwriter known for her narrative songwriting and has a massive following. In the context of this video, she breaks her political silence and publicly endorses political candidates for the first time, which is a significant event given her influence on her 112 million Instagram followers.

💡political silence

Political silence refers to a deliberate choice by a public figure to refrain from expressing opinions on political matters. Taylor Swift's political silence is a key point in the video, as she had previously avoided commenting on politics, but in this instance, she chooses to voice her political views.

💡midterm race

The midterm race refers to the elections that occur halfway through a president's term, typically for the U.S. Congress. In this video, the midterm race in Tennessee is highlighted as it is where Taylor Swift's political endorsement is focused, indicating the importance of these elections.

💡endorsement

An endorsement is a public declaration of support for a person, cause, or product. In the video, Taylor Swift's endorsement of two Democratic candidates in Tennessee is a pivotal moment, as it marks her entry into political advocacy.

💡Democrats

The Democrats, short for the Democratic Party, are one of the two major political parties in the United States, typically associated with liberal or progressive policies. Taylor Swift's support for Democratic candidates is a central theme in the video, reflecting her political stance.

💡GOP

GOP stands for Grand Old Party, which is a nickname for the Republican Party in the United States, known for conservative policies. The video mentions Taylor Swift's opposition to the GOP Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn, emphasizing her political preferences.

💡voting record

A voting record refers to the history of a politician's votes on various issues. Taylor Swift cites Marsha Blackburn's voting record as a reason for her opposition, indicating the importance of a candidate's past actions in shaping public opinion.

💡dignity

Dignity, in this context, refers to the worthiness or value of all individuals, regardless of their background. Taylor Swift emphasizes the importance of fighting for dignity for all Americans, which is a key value she believes the candidate she opposes lacks.

💡American Music Awards

The American Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that honors outstanding achievements in the music industry. The video mentions Taylor Swift opening the American Music Awards, highlighting her continued relevance and influence in the music world.

💡get out and vote

The phrase 'get out and vote' is a common call to action encouraging citizens to participate in the democratic process by voting. Taylor Swift uses this phrase in her Instagram post to rally her followers and the public to exercise their right to vote, emphasizing civic engagement.

💡self-possessed

Self-possessed means having control over one's emotions or actions and being confident in one's decisions. The video script mentions 'intelligent thoughtful, self-possessed people' who have turned 18 and can vote, indicating the importance of informed and confident voters in the election process.

Highlights

Taylor Swift breaks her political silence by entering the nation's heated political debate.

Swift has historically avoided politics, but now she's making her stance clear to her 112 million Instagram followers.

In an Instagram post, Swift explains her change of heart regarding voicing political opinions.

She supports two Democrats, Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for the House, in her home state of Tennessee.

Swift cannot support GOP Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn due to her voting record in Congress.

Swift's political stance is based on the need to fight for dignity for all Americans, regardless of skin color, gender, or sexual orientation.

Her political statement has sparked mixed reactions, with some supporting her and others expressing disappointment.

Some critics argue that celebrities like Swift should stay out of politics, while others thank her for her stance.

Swift's political engagement could potentially influence her fanbase and the outcome of the midterm elections.

The impact of Swift's political voice is uncertain, as she has not previously been vocal about her political views.

Swift's Instagram post encourages everyone to vote, emphasizing the importance of making one's voice heard.

The American Music Awards will feature Swift's first performance since 2014, highlighting the significance of the upcoming midterm elections.

Swift's political stance may affect her relationship with her fans, as some have threatened to boycott her concerts.

The ABC News report discusses the potential influence of celebrity endorsements on political races.

The report also touches on the broader implications of celebrities entering the political discourse.

Swift's decision to voice her political opinions marks a significant shift in her public persona.