"Celebrityitis" defined:

(1) a condition of a celebrity who thinks his or her opinions matter more than anyone else’s and that the rest of us should hang on their every word, and that because they are celebrities they know far more than the rest of us; or

(2) obsession with celebrities, primary by a fawning media, who want to consider themselves as being in the same category of bloated importance.

Celebrities are just as entitled to their opinions as anyone else is. They are free to support or not support any candidate they choose. But, their opinions don’t matter more than those of the rest of us, just because they get "face" time on TV, in the movies, or elsewhere in the media. They don’t know more than the rest of us, just because they are famous and, in many cases, live exalted lifestyles.

Celebrities are not heroes–at least not because they are celebrities, which is the subject of another of our columns ("Who Are the Real Heroes?"). Many school teachers are heroes. Many police and fire personnel are. The troops who serve to protect us and preserve our freedom are (see our column "A Tale of Two QB’s"). The brave ones who ran up the stairs of the Twin Towers on 9/11, trying to help anyone they could, and gave their lives doing so, they are heroes. Many unknown people from all walks of life are heroes. Some of these may attract "celebrity-like" status if what they do becomes known and publicized, but most toil in obscurity and anonymity, except to those whose lives are touched by them.

Celebrities and Big Media also have in common the desire that all of us watch them, or go to their movies, and buy their stuff–if we don’t, then they won’t make all that money. But be sure of this: too many in those two groups, though by no means all, think of the rest of us as being less intelligent than them, less informed, and dependent upon them for either information or to provide meaning to our lives. They wouldn’t want to be like you, but please keep watching, reading, buying the tickets, and so on.

That arrogance explains part of their snooty disdain shown Sarah Palin–she’s one of "us," not one of "them," and they don’t like that at all. Did you hear what Todd Palin said, about when he first heard his wife had been picked by John McCain as his VP nominee? He said he got a call while he was "working the night shift." How about that! A number of us know what it means to work the night shift, or a twelve-hour shift in a hospital, or toiling in obscurity at a thankless but needed job.

Sarah and Todd Palin know what that means. Do you think the elitist liberal Democrats know? Or those in Hollywood or Big Media? Some do, no doubt. But too many either do not, or are so out of touch with the rest of us that they have forgotten.

That elite media and liberal Hollywood have "anointed" their candidate, Barack Obama, and have declared his election a virtual certainty. Given the possibly massive voter fraud that may be taking place in this country, and the never-ending onslaught of their PR machine, they could be right. But, if they are, don’t let that be because you "bought in" to their "pronouncement" and stayed home from the polls. The real "poll" gets taken on November 4, at the voting precinct, and that is the only one that matters. Voter turnout is key in a close election. Don’t try to vote but once, but go vote! If you don’t think your vote matters, please read our column "Count Every Vote???" before deciding to stay home from the polls.

We admire the celebrities who have the courage to speak up for John McCain and Sarah Palin and have not jumped on the Obama train. These folks may be jeopardizing their careers by doing so, but have chosen to stand up for their beliefs. They have our respect for doing so.