It’s not a new phenomenon by any means, but it still rubs people the wrong way: celebrities taking a stand on issues.

And by issues I don’t mean filmmakers’ unions, or actresses’ eating disorder tendencies.

I mean politics, gay rights, the environment, war … the list goes on.

I can’t stand Michael Moore for this reason; it’s not because of whether or not I agree or disagree with what he is trying to convey, it’s because he is a celebrity, and a biased one at that, and Americans pay attention to celebrities.

A celebrity, to many, is a “real person,” not just another old white guy in a suit.

Many know more about Lady Gaga’s stance on gay rights than President Obama’s stand on gay rights.

Why? Well, maybe if Obama would wear a dress made of real meat complete with a meat hat and meat boots, or wear a pseudo clown/patriotic outfit and John Stossel circa 1987 eyeglasses, people would pay attention.

Apparently, theatrics get you further than sanity.

The musician/songwriter, who is gay, has been voicing her opinion on the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, and her way of doing it is via costume.

That’s not to say I am offended by the meat dress, which she wore on stage at the Video Music Awards (The reason behind the meat symbolism is all over the board, from “I’m not a cut of meat” to “because I’m gay, I don’t get to enjoy the greatest cut of meat my country has to offer,” she has said.).

I really don’t understand how you could be offended by a meat dress, other than the fact it would reek and probably be quite slimy, which somehow has not come up in the various debates on this stupid charade.

And the Michael Moore-esque movies keep coming, as “An Inconvenient Truth” director Davis Guggenheim is spewing out a film called “Waiting for ‘Superman.’”

The unfortunate part about this film is that is covers an extremely important and timely issue — the education crisis in some cities and how difficult it is for parents to find good schools — but it takes a movie for some people to wake up.

Maybe if Obama slathered on an Elmer’s Glue suit, Americans would take interest in education.

Katie Johnson is the managing editor of the Niles Daily Star, Off the Water, Cassopolis Vigilant and Edwardsburg Argus. She can be reached at (269) 687-7713 or at katie.johnson@leaderpub.com.