The Hill News

Smoking, drinking, weight loss â€" many Americans are now desperately trying to identify ways to resolve to kick bad habits to the curb on January 1st.  One group left untouched from this consideration are celebrity advocates â€" who could resolve to be a little more like one of their peers and it would change their whole year: Alec Baldwin.  Yes. Baldwin.  Love or hate his politics, one can’t help but be impressed by his lobbying success.

Most celebrity advocates are a lost bunch. Artists who revel in having their work celebrated wish for similar success in the public policy issues which they care about. In the last year celebrities advocated on dozens of issues including don’t ask don’t tell, environmentalism, human rights, and migrant workers.  It’s not unique to hear that a celebrity cares about a public policy issue or that they are attempting to use their stardom to affect debate. What is unique is to hear about a celebrity who actually advoc! ates worth a damn. 
 
Most celebrities - - never get to first base when it comes to lobbying. Actor Mark Ruffalo has been a public supporter for an anti-natural gas drilling bill called the Fracking Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act. This bill’s support is entirely Democratic and despite his public gestures of support and even recording a campaign ad on the issue, the bill has died in committee â€" without ever receiving any serious congressional consideration. And that was in a congress controlled by Democrats.  Sadly, that’s the story for most celebrity advocacy. They attach themselves to legislation with little chance of passing and thus water down their impact as serious lobbyists.

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