Taylor Swift Breaks Political Silence, Encourages Followers to Vote

[MountCleaners]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by DonViejo (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Variety

Taylor Swift has broken her long-held public political silence in an Instagram post encouraging her followers to vote in the November midterm elections and slamming incumbent Republican Tennessee representative Marsha Blackburn.

“In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now,” Swift began the post, which was accompanied by a moody, black-and-white photo of the superstar.

“I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country,” she wrote. “I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent.”

Read more: https://variety.com/2018/music/news/taylor-swift-encourages-followers-to-vote-slams-tennessee-representative-1202971782/

---

A very welcome and timely statement. Much needed at this particular time and well and sensitively written.

[Kajun Gal]

1. I LOVE this new generation of kids!!!!!

Quite proud!

[Dave Starsky]

12. Ms. Swift will be 29 in a few weeks.

I'm not sure she qualifies as a "kid" at this point.

[dogknob]

2. Good on her! n/t

[Beakybird]

3. About time, Taylor

Maybe you can use those great songwriting chops to say something political.

[revmclaren]

4. We definitely need young celebrities to promote GOTV

to young voters. Their very futures are at stake. They cant and and/or wont listen to old people like myself, and need common ground heroes and stars to energize them.

Good for her...



Only! 2018 - 2020.

[aaaaaa5a]

5. She's not just a country music singer anymore.

This is why she can take a stand against hate in politics. The pop and urban music audience is more excepting of all people regardless of race, religion, gender, etc.

[Hawaii Hiker]

6. "This is why we can't have nice things"

Because the repukes control Congress...Good for Taylor for speaking out!!

(for those not up on there T Swift songs, that's one from the Reputation album)

[GETPLANING]

7. She has always been as smart as she is pretty

Never underestimate young people.

[Tactical Peek]

8. Brava!

She's breaking silence AND pushing voting engagement big time:



taylorswift I’m writing this post about the upcoming midterm elections on November 6th, in which I’ll be voting in the state of Tennessee. In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now. I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country. I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent.

I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love. Running for Senate in the state of Tennessee is a woman named Marsha Blackburn. As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values. I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives. Please, please educate yourself on the candidates running in your state and vote based on who most closely represents your values. For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway.

So many intelligent, thoughtful, self-possessed people have turned 18 in the past two years and now have the right and privilege to make their vote count. But first you need to register, which is quick and easy to do. October 9th is the LAST DAY to register to vote in the state of TN. Go to vote.org and you can find all the info. Happy Voting!

[durablend]

9. Cue the right's moral outrage in 3...2...1 n/t

[Blue_Tires]

10. You know it's bizarro Trumpworld when...

Taylor Swift is getting woke and Kanye is in bed with Trump and saying slavery was a choice...

[rocktivity]

11. I hope it's just a coincidence

that her esteemed colleague Lady Gaga has been dominating the entertainment headlines with her successful movie debut -- especially since Swift has a track record in that department.


rocktivity

[obamanut2012]

15. Seriously? So, it's catty jealpusy and not teh Kavanugh vote?

Not her being sexually assaulted and then SUED by the man that did it?

You do get what you posted is sexist, right, even though you don't see it is.

[3Hotdogs]

13. My friend met her backstage a few years ago. Very nice person.

[obamanut2012]

16. She and her family will get death threats for this

An awful lot of teh "alt right" literally hold her up as an Aryan Ideal, and say she must agree with them, because she is never political.

Taylor has always been a good egg, and I have seen her in concert twice and never apologize for liking her and her music. She also very quietly gives away a lot of her money every year to charities and needy folks, including funding many rural public libraries.

[joshcryer]

17. Note, importantly, the issues she raises are social.

Not economic.

[DonViejo]

18. Locking...

The opinions of pop music and social media stars are not important news of national interest. Please post your OP in the General Discussions Forum