Yes, you heard it right. There were celebrities on UWM campus for a short time Monday, Oct. 17, 2016. Wil Wheaton and Sean Astin came to campaign for Hilary Clinton and encourage millennials to get out and vote this coming election.
Wil Wheaton is known for his roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation (Wesley Crusher) and Toy Soldier (Joey) and most recently The Big Bang Theory (himself). Sean Astin is known for his roles in The Lord of the Rings trilogy (Samwise Gamgee), The Goonies (Mikey Walsh), and Rudy (himself). Both used comedy to get their message across and explain why they support Clinton in this election.
Astin made it a point to comment on how personable Clinton is. He recounted how he was recruited when he was 21 to entertain the crowd before a rally for Clinton. He read about her viewpoints and platforms before the event but admitted he didn’t know much about her. In preparing for the event, he noticed how he adapted Clinton’s platforms to how they would help him in his life.
After the event, he said that Clinton had thanked him for being there. He emphasized how she didn’t have to, but she made it a point to single him out and thank him for his contribution for the night. Astin feels that this is an important trait in a president because it makes him or her more human.
Wheaton said that he was very much on the Bernie Sanders wagon, but joined Clinton’s campaign after Sanders ceded the Democratic nominee to Clinton when the DNC adopted many of Sanders’ platforms. He also wanted voters to think about healthcare. Most students are on our parents’ health care, but as soon as students turn 26, they will lose it and have to look for something. Right now, insurance is expensive. Wheaton has a 25-year-old son who, like himself, suffers from depression and anxiety. His son will have to get his own insurance next year, but if he can’t afford it, he would not be able to get the medication he needs.
Both Astin and Wheaton made it a point to get out and vote. They debunked the excuse of “one vote won’t do much.” Think about it. How many people don’t vote because they think their one vote won’t matter? Wil and Sean highlighted how 2/3 of the country doesn’t vote for that reason. That means only 1/3 of the population is being heard. Could you imagine what could be done with we got 90 percent maybe even 100 percent of the population out to vote on Nov. 8?
Whether it be Clinton, Trump, Stein or Johnston, please educate yourself and go out and vote on Election Day. Each candidate has comprehensive sites to find out what their views and platforms are.