The way I see it, this is America: we’ve all got a right to free speech. Free, yes; equal, no. "Equal" would be nice, but let’s face it—all we can really strive for is equal opportunity, because there will always be someone out there who will have the ability to speak into a microphone and command the attention of thousands of people just because of who they are.

For instrance, Barbra Streisand is one of those people. She has a platform. And she uses it. Those who agree with what she has to say love her for it; those who don’t agree criticize her views, and I have no problem with that at all. Freedom of speech works both ways. You can say whatever you want, but I can voice my dissent too. We’re all protected by the First Amendment, or should be.

What I do have a problem with are those who claim that Barbra Streisand, Susan Sarandon, Linda Ronstadt, Ben Affleck, Rosie O’Donnell, Sean Combs, Sheryl Crow, and other celebrities should "shut up" on the basis that their celebrity originates in show business, and "nobody is interested in their political views."

Critics of outspoken celebrities usually argue that the opinions of the masses aren’t represented by a leftie superstar who "insists on shooting his mouth off about stuff he shouldn’t be talking about," but let’s be real. For every Tim Robbins, there’s a Sean Hannity. For every Margaret Cho, there’s an Ann Coulter. Sean and Ann might not have gained their platforms from acting, directing, or stand-up comedy—but you can’t tell me that there aren’t loudmouths on both sides of the fence, who are more than willing to speak for their half the country, and LOUDLY.

And there’s even a small amount of diversity in the Hollywood set. Being an outspoken Republican never seemed to hurt Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career. He was all buddy-buddy with the GOP long before his gubernatorial campaign in California, and his movies were still blockbusters.

So: political ideology aside, should we be paying attention to what actors and rock stars have to say about the political landscape? I think that we should, and here’s why: actors (and rock stars to a lesser extent) make their living by taking on the lives, mannerisms, words, and identities of people unlike themselves—sometimes fictional, sometimes not. Susan Sarandon, for example, has played a nun, a rape victim turned fugitive-from-justice, an alcoholic lawyer, a dying cancer patient, more than one blue-collar waitress, and a scientist-turned-vampire-lesbian. Even those who don’t like her politics will usually cop to the popular notion that she’s an accomplished actor, and some have even called her brilliant.

Is it any wonder then, that this woman—who, for the sake of her career and livelihood, has come to understand so many different kinds of people well enough to embody them convincingly over a 20+-year career—knows how to empathize with people? Empathy is a huge part of her job. And empathy is hard to turn off: once you’ve got it, you’re pretty much stuck with it. I’d argue that Susan’s ability to empathize with all kinds of people cannot be matched by the "average joe on the street" that typically criticizes her tendencies to speak out.

I don’t mean to suggest that our "average joe on the street" is an uncaring individual; it’s just that...well, he doesn’t care. He doesn’t have the resources to care; he hasn’t been taught to put himself into someone else’s shoes. On the other hand, that’s all Susan has ever done—and she’s really good at it. It’s a skill that I believe should be taken into account when weighing an individual’s political opinions.

Even the musicians do the empathy thing. When they’re in love, they have to sing their breakup songs; when they’re in the depths of despair over a traumatic breakup, they’re called upon to sing about love in all its romantic glory.

To me, it makes perfect sense for actors and rock stars to want to speak their mind. What doesn’t make sense is the notion that the teeny tiny minority of actors and musicians who have risen above their peers to attain success and celebrity are derided for their supposed "stupidity" and having "nothing to offer" by way of political discourse. I guaran-damn-tee you that anyone who accuses Whoopi Goldberg of being "stupid" has never been a black woman trying to eke out a living as a working actor. That she has succeeded to the extent that she has, beyond her wildest dreams or anyone else’s for that matter, is reason enough to listen to what she has to say: about politics, about Slim-Fast, about the price of tea in China, about anything.