The heroism of Kim Kardashian

How a reality TV star famous for being famous became the voice of truth rising above the moronic din

Kim Kardashian in a cape.
(Image credit: Illustrated | iStock/Avesun, Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

In the good old days it used to be normal to mock celebrities — not just serious actors and talented musicians but people who are basically famous for being famous — when they decided to get involved in politics. Who wants a millionaire telling him to "Imagine no possessions"? It took three decades, but eventually even Hanoi Jane admitted that sitting on that anti-aircraft gun was a dumb idea. The stupidity is bipartisan. I still have no idea who or what Clint Eastwood was talking about during the 2012 Republican convention.

Things have changed. For two years now the White House has been occupied by the guy who tried to rig the soapbox derby against Alfalfa in the 1994 remake of The Little Rascals. This means that we have no choice but to take celebrity political activism seriously.

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Matthew Walther

Matthew Walther is a national correspondent at The Week. His work has also appeared in First Things, The Spectator of London, The Catholic Herald, National Review, and other publications. He is currently writing a biography of the Rev. Montague Summers. He is also a Robert Novak Journalism Fellow.