What if Matthew McConaughey becomes governor of Texas?
What might have seemed far-fetched hasn't been since Wednesday.
The Oscar-winning actor said in a podcast that he plans to run for governor in his home state, where highly contested Republican Greg Abbott hopes to be re-elected in 2022. The “True Detective” star has was questioned about her political ambitions during her appearance on the audio program "The Balanced Voice" of the NGO Crime Stoppers in Houston (Texas).
The protagonist of "Dallas Buyers Club", now 51, had already publicly mentioned the idea of entering politics but not so explicitly.
“I am taking the matter seriously,” replied the charismatic Texan.
I really think I have things to teach and share, and what is my role?
What is my place in the next chapter of my life that I will enter?
".
McConaughey had previously raised the possibility of running for governor when asked about it on the Hugh Hewitt Show last November.
" I do not know.
I mean, I'm not the one who decides.
It will depend more on the people than on me.
Politics seems to me to be a broken business right now.
And when the policy redefines its objective, I could be much more interested ”, then specified the actor of“ Mud ”.
"He is involved in a lot of social actions"
This outing is no surprise to scholars of American politics.
"He is involved in many social actions in his State, on training, on the environment," recalls the Franco-American political scientist Nicole Bacharan.
And he's a real Texan.
He was born there, he lives there, he has an accent and he has international notoriety ”.
The recent electricity crisis in Texas has also weakened Greg Abbott with the local population.
“There is a specific context in Texas.
To please his base, the governor has just lifted health restrictions, an irresponsible act to say the least, ”adds Nicole Bacharan while the pandemic is far from being stopped across the Atlantic.
A decision that may have played a role in the actor's reflection.
Matthew McConaughey, if he really launches, will join prestigious predecessors passed from their role of actor to that of politician.
Ronald Reagan, elected president of the United States, Arnold Schwarzenegger, former governor of California, or Clint Eastwood, ephemeral mayor of the city of Carmel (California) had their heyday for the past 40 years.
Hollywood and politics, 100 years of bonding
Hollywood's connections with politics are not really new.
“There has been a very strong relationship since the 1930s between the studios and Washington.
The Hollywood machine then lobbies for laws to support the cinema industry, ”explains Nolwenn Mingant, author of“ Hollywood conquering the world: markets, strategies, influences ”.
The US military and the Pentagon also support the many war films produced by the industry, which convey the ideology of American patriotism.
Between the Hollywood dream machine and the world of politics, its links have continued to develop since then.
“The other facet is support during election campaigns, support which also dates back almost a century.
It's an exchange of influence, ”adds the lecturer at the University of Nantes.
"Politicians have often been surrounded by Hollywood actors or actresses to benefit from their light", abounds the political scientist Nicole Bacharan.
"There is a political division elsewhere in Hollywood, more on the left and democratic for artists, more republican in terms of financial structures and studios", explains the teacher at the University of Nantes.
"They have all the skills, from an image point of view to succeed"
The early 1960s marked a milestone in this proximity.
“Politics is spectacle and Americans have understood it more quickly than others.
And they gave themselves the tools to make this show a success, ”continues Nicole Bacharan.
"The debate between Kennedy and Nixon during the 1960 electoral campaign remains the moment when the image took over in the political game in the United States", also underlines Nolwenn Mingant.
“This is the start of the rise of spectacle politics.
A little later, Ronald Reagan is also nicknamed
the great communicator
.
Until then, the actors were giving advice, in particular to Eisenhower or even JFK.
But when they take the plunge in politics like Reagan, they have all the skills, from an image point of view, to succeed, ”adds the researcher in American civilization.
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Finally, as was the case for Arnold Schwarzenegger, a member by marriage of the Kennedy clan, their address book and their notoriety allow them a much faster rise.
“What works in their favor are their networks.
If the actor has political desires, it will be easier for him, ”concludes Nolwenn Mingant.
With his glamorous physique and his social investment, Matthew McConaughey therefore leaves with significant potential in a possible race for the post of governor.
History will tell if the Texan actor will be as brilliant in politics as he is on film.