This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Let's face it. People in California have pretty much resigned themselves to the fact that come November 2nd, the electoral votes from this great state will most likely be piling up for Mr. John Kerry. It's the result of having a very liberal state which almost always ends up voting for the Democratic candidate. That's the reality, and that's fine.
But lately, LAist has come in contact with (if you can believe it) a cadre of citizens who have decided that since California's electoral votes are all but guaranteed for the Democratic Presidential candidate, there's really no reason for them to register to vote, think about voting or even vote at all.
Blasphemy.
Although LAist has yet to officially vocalize which candidate they may be voting for, we must express our sickness at any citizen refusing to vote because (a) their vote doesn't matter, (b) it's already obvious who will be getting our state's electoral votes, or (c) because Ashton Kutcher has endorsed said referenced Democratic candidate.
Well, wait a second. They just may have something there.
LAist, an organization quite familiar with the "dogs smell fear" scenario can sadly admit that we smelled fear on the breath of John Kerry and John Edwards when Ashton Kutcher showed up to tell the American public that we had all been "Punk'd" by Dubya. Whether or not our allegiances lie in the Democratic or Republication column, we do have to wonder about what message Kerry was trying to send by appointing Kutcher—the resident "dude" on the campaign trail.
It has been Kerry's biggest mistake in the election, using stars whose personas do not necessarily gel with the image he wants to portray. There's the slacker Kutcher, who makes his living having people's cars stolen, their homes pillaged by IRS employees and then laughing at the results. There's our friend Mr. Affleck who has never voted in his life, but gives back to society through such presents as Gigli and Surviving Christmas. And environmentally-friendly Kerry even went so far as to applaud the support of actor Jake Gyllenhaal, whose most recent role as a bumbling hero in The Day After Tomorrow finds himself desperate to "get it on" with his crush than save the world from environmental chaos. (Yeah, we know. We know.)
LAist has tried to imagine what the election would feel like if candidates would simply beg for votes by being themselves and parading their beliefs around the country instead of dragging a handful of bored celebrities hungry for the next paycheck in their back pockets. Electing the next President shouldn't be about what Sarah Jessica Parker or Angie Harmon wants. It's shouldn't be about Leonardo DiCaprio's desires. And it definitely shouldn't be about P. Diddy's "Vote or Die" ultimatum.
It should be about two men and one elected office. Unfortunately, it isn't.
