|
NEWS
June
2002
Page
8
-
Backstreet
Boys vs. Wall St. boys
back up
Source: Cleveland
Newspaper
By: Elizabeth H. Mitrovich
Sen. George Voinovich's hypoc risy in choosing to boycott the
Capitol Hill testimony of Kevin Richardson of Backstreet Boys fame
is disturbing. After all, Congress and the Bush administration don't
exactly give equal time to the sort of environmental groups that
Richardson was representing.
Does anyone doubt that corporate interests are given the highest
priority by our elected officials? Or that some legislation is
literally drafted by corporate lobbyists?
Voinovich should first assure the public that the congressional ear
is equally turned toward citizens and their concerns about
environmental policy; then we could take his boycott
seriously.
From: Francis Chiappa
Cleveland Heights
Would John Q. Public, who happens to be smart and cares deeply
about an issue, get an opportunity to testify before a Senate
committee? It is not likely. But if he is a smart celebrity, then it
is an entirely different story. As we have learned from Christie
Brinkley testifying on nuclear power, Meryl Streep on pesticides and
now Kevin Richardson on mountain-top mining, there is nothing that
celebrities do not know.
In actuality, it is patently absurd and offensive that government
officials are wasting time and taxpayer money to hear the opinions
of these celebrities, who speak on issues that they are not
qualified to discuss in a forum such as the U.S. Senate. Just
because someone "cares deeply" does not make that person
an expert. Remember that the road to hell is paved with good
intentions.
I applaud Sen. George Voinovich for taking a stand on this, a stand
based on nothing more than common sense. This pandering to the
culture of celebrity has been taken too far, and it is about time
that at least one senator has recognized it. The dangers of
mountain-top mining may be serious, but in order to find out, let
the Senate call someone to testify who is eminently qualified to do
so.
Warren Harding ran for president in 1920 on the theme of a
"return to normalcy." Judging by what is transpiring in
Washington, it seems as if no politician in the Senate will be able
to use that slogan in the 2002 elections.
From: Matthew Abens
Cleveland
The story about Sen. George Voinovich and the Backstreet Boy in
the June 6 Plain Dealer seemed like light news about cultural
differences. But there is much more behind the story than was
presented.
There is a generation gap in our country. Wealthy baby-boomer
politicians are destroying the environment, and new generations from
grade-school age through their late 20s are raising their voices
against it. They will suffer the consequences of what is being done
by the short-sighted political leaders.
A young pop singer from Appalachia would like his children to see
the mountains and streams with clear water and fish. My teenage son
wonders how they can keep nuclear waste safe when it is rolling all
over the country, when they can't even protect one big building
complex in the middle of New York. The World Trade Organization
protesters in their late teens and early 20s are rising up against
corporate abuses worldwide. College students refuse school-logo
garments made in sweatshops.
The senator's comments belittle and talk down to the musician. To an
educated voter, the comments are an insult to the public and imply
that most people do not understand the issues.
Like the emperor's new clothes, the senator's contributions from the
coal industry leave him looking a bit foolish in public. George
Voinovich is one of the top five Senate recipients of coal industry
contributions. So whom should we believe, a musician who is watching
mountains being destroyed and streams being polluted in his back
yard or a northern flatlander who is paid by the people tearing the
mountains down?
From: Anthony Weishar
Westlake
Sen. George Voinovich recently rebuffed Backstreet Boy Kevin
Richardson on his testimony concerning the dangers of coal mining.
Who is he to call someone a joke when referring to Richardson and
other celebrities who become politically involved?
I find it ironic that this statement was issued the same week as
Bill O'Reilly's Fox special on celebrity politics. Could it be that
the senator is pandering for more conservative votes?
I think the senator is mistaken to think that only big business,
such as the pharmaceutical industry, should have a say in what makes
sound policy. I am a diabetic, and have attempted to persuade
Voinovich to join the Senate Diabetic Caucus. He has declined
without any comment.
Voinovich clearly sees business interests and backing President
George W. Bush as his only mission in the Senate. Where is the
justice for the poor, those struggling with health-care costs and,
God forbid, a celebrity who cares for the environment?
-
Take
part in the Fan Fundraising Effort
back up
Source: Fan
Fundraising Effort
Visit the Fan Fundraising Effort to learn how you can take part in a
Charity Scrapbook for Nick! Space is limited, and time is running
out. Don't miss out on this one!
This project has been approved by Nick Carter's Oceans Campaign.
Vicki Hanna, JWR Public Relations Director, has taken the time to
write us a hand-written message indicating that the NCOC will do
their best to get the book to Nick. You can read her letter on our
web page. In addition, we had the opportunity to sit and speak with
Nick about this project on the recent Disney Cruise. HE SAID HIMSELF
THAT HE LOOKS FORWARD TO RECEIVE THIS BOOK!
FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.angelfire.com/fl5/nickscharity.
Hope to hear from you soon!
Giulia (Gewels) & Chantal
-
Exclusive
VTeens Contest ~ Pollyanna Dorough
back up
Source: VTeens.org
"Pollyanna Dorough - Win Signed Stuff!"
After the V-Teens Fair in Central Park, I (BEN) sat down and talked
with Pollyanna for a while, what a great lady. She also signed 30
pieces of "stuff" to give out to YOU her fans. Check out
the two images in this contest, for what they look like.
Do You Want One?
We are going to make it easy for you!
Two Ways to win!
First Way to win is simple:
Click here to go to the Interview with Pollyanna from the
V-Fair. All you have to do is post on the Message Board the reason
you think you should win the Signed Copy - The BEST ANSWERS Wins! (VTeens
Staff will vote on all answers and come up with that winner.)
The Second Way is just as easy!
Place a VTeens.org Banner and/or Link on your site and as many
sites as you can. (You can click here to get A Banner you can use)
*Just email Contests@VTeens.org with the words "VTeen Links -
Pollyanna" in the subject with the links to all the places you
have gotten our link and Banner onto.* The winner of this part of
the contest will win one of each and a copy of "Fly to
Heaven" CD-Single!! (That's THREE prizes for those of you who
lost count.)
*If you need help with code for posting banners or links just drop a
note to Benny@VTeens.org
Contest Ends: August 1, 2002
Winner Posted: August 10, 2002
Enter As Many Times as you like.
Keep Posting and Keep Placing Our Links and Banners Around
*You Must be registered with VTeens - and you must include your
email and user name so we can verify and know who and where to send
the prize to - If you're not a member join - if you are - edit the
info on your profile to be correct so we can contact you.
| Power
Rank |
Name |
Money
Rank |
Pay
($mil) |
Web
Hits |
Press
Clips |
Cover
Stories |
TV/Radio
Coverage |
| 1 |
Britney
Spears |
25 |
39.2 |
997,000 |
25,856 |
10.5 |
373 |
| 2 |
Tiger
Woods |
4 |
69.0 |
378,000 |
50,650 |
3 |
372 |
| 3 |
Steven
Speilberg |
3 |
100.0 |
237,000 |
14,454 |
2 |
234 |
| 4 |
Madonna |
17 |
43.0 |
627,000 |
34,754 |
2 |
398 |
| 5 |
U2 |
4 |
69.0 |
669,000 |
0.25 |
0.25 |
219 |
| 6 |
NSYNC |
18 |
42.3 |
306,000 |
15,189 |
7.25 |
52 |
| 7 |
Mariah
Carey |
7 |
58.0 |
327,000 |
10,204 |
1 |
171 |
| 8 |
Oprah
Winfrey |
2 |
150.0 |
120,000 |
8,571 |
1 |
389 |
| 9 |
Michael
Jordan |
28 |
36.0 |
384,000 |
35,162 |
2 |
544 |
| 10 |
Tom
Hanks |
13 |
45.0 |
193,000 |
8,970 |
2 |
186 |
| 11 |
George
Lucas |
1 |
200.0 |
327,000 |
6,909 |
0 |
95 |
| 12 |
Jennifer
Lopez |
26 |
37.0 |
563,000 |
13,487 |
2 |
261 |
| 13 |
Julia
Roberts |
55 |
20.0 |
371,000 |
15,308 |
9 |
306 |
| 14 |
Stephen
King |
8 |
52.4 |
381,000 |
8,748 |
0 |
59 |
| 15 |
Ben
Affleck |
20 |
40.0 |
178,000 |
7,422 |
3 |
153 |
| 16 |
Mel
Gibson |
20 |
40.0 |
323,000 |
7,741 |
2 |
129 |
| 17 |
Bruce
Willis |
12 |
46.0 |
288,000 |
7,156 |
1 |
90 |
| 18 |
Bill
Clinton |
42 |
25.0 |
895,000 |
65,372 |
1 |
571 |
| 19 |
Backstreet
Boys |
27 |
36.8 |
383,000 |
8,737 |
1 |
168 |
| 20 |
Cameron
Diaz |
40 |
40.0 |
265,000 |
7,374 |
1 |
96 |
| 21 |
Michael
Schumacher |
6 |
67.0 |
245,000 |
11,795 |
0 |
2 |
| 22 |
Tom
Clancy |
10 |
47.8 |
155,000 |
3,180 |
0 |
100 |
| 23 |
David
Letterman |
32 |
32.0 |
127,000 |
11,290 |
1 |
338 |
| 24 |
Dave
Matthews Band |
9 |
50.0 |
152,000 |
3,225 |
0 |
50 |
| 25 |
Elton
John |
35 |
30.0 |
315,000 |
15,486 |
0 |
120 |
|
