Leo, Ellen, Halle And More Celebs' New Message: Don't Vote (VIDEO)

NEW YORK - How do you get kids to vote? Just say no.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Halle Berry, Jennifer Aniston, Tobey Maguire, Eva Longoria Parker and other stars are using reverse psychology to get young people into voting booths on election day.

In a new public service announcement that hit YouTube and other online outlets Wednesday, DiCaprio says: "Please -- just don't vote." Others echo his plea: "Don't vote."

But the stars soon twist the message: Voting is a civic duty and the only way to effect change.

"I mean, seriously, ... after this whole video -- if you're not gonna vote, I don't even know what to say. ... You know you have to vote," says DiCaprio, who produced the PSA.

Also appearing: Ellen DeGeneres, Forest Whitaker, Dustin Hoffman, Demi Moore, Sarah Silverman, Jonah Hill, Ashton Kutcher, Courteney Cox, Laura Linney, Natalie Portman, Jamie Foxx, Usher, Kyra Sedgwick and will.i.am.

WATCH:

Comments

[lauralizrd]

I teach 7th graders and they surely do not "get" this ad. They came in today saying that "there are a whole bunch of movie stars who have ads telling people NOT to vote!!!" Not that this campaign is geared toward the under-18 crowd, but I'm sure that there are plenty of "concrete thinkers" who do not understand sarcasm and are missing the whole point of this reverse psychology tactic!

[glassalchemist]

I'm already registered to vote and I posted this video on myspace along with this other moving video that should just about motivate anyone on the left or middle to vote http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdJUCU1UH2w

I say Bravo to anyone who cares enough to donate their time to encourage others to DO SOMETHING!

[Agentlady007]

Good for you honey. (Bravo to those who don't suffer from ADT.)

[LoveOverGold]

I just sent this to a 50+ y.o. friend who has never voted. When asked why, he gives a standard "they're all alike" speech or "it doesn't matter", or tells a joke about politicians. It infuriates me because he cares and is worried too. Maybe this will make him think.

Pass it on!

Obama/Biden '08/12

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[2StepsAway]

Uhm... I wish this came out earlier.... Our young people will watch ANYTHING on YouTube. I do not see the message strickly as a reverse phychology method, but as a sarcastic message - hey - being able to get a job & support yourself - that does not matter.... foreign policy? what does that have to do with you? I mean, lightening does not strike the same place twice - the terrorist already got America, they won't be back...

A ten year old can hear that message & say wait a minute... I do care about being able to get an education and a job because I will need to support myself b/c my parents will not support me forever...

AS voter registration deadlines quickly approach, we really need to get EVERYONE to realize that registering is the first step. THEN we work on getting them to the polls on election day!

[grantlingel]

i think this is the election where EVERYONE NEEDS to vote.. this is the most important election and we need to get Obama into the White House.
http://grantlingel.blogspot.com

[imworking4me]

Vote, Baby Vote!

[whizkid]

Reverse psycology. Strongarm tactics.
Children singing North Korean type odes to Dear Leader.
This is creepy.

[wmd]

Keep a voter registration form on your computer so that when your children's friends stop by you encourage them to fill out a form - and as the parent you pick up the postage. Then, when they get notified by the county voter registrar's office, they feel that they made the decision on their own to vote. Yes, I have had many kids registe to vote because I made it easy. Then I encourage them to vote - just vote - please. Make their own decisions - one of the important steps to adulthood.

[SeriousBlack]

I don't know about this. When I saw this my thought was that a lot of young people would watch it and pay attention to the first 15 seconds or so and say, "ok, fine. I WON'T vote." and go about their business.

In other words, there is such a thing as being too clever by half.

Just sayin'.

And note that I'm not just bashing young people in general - I'm not one of those old codgers who yells at kids to get off his lawn, in fact I'm always saying how it's probably the young who are going to push us over the finish line this time. I'm just skeptical of "reverse psychology" commercials like this and think that they're just as likely to cause damage as help...

[mayhem4masses]

Point well taken, but I think there are enough smart young voters who wil see that at the start. It would be foolish to assume a bunch of celebs are going to tell you not to vote.

[All4ME]

Whatever works, I guess. If I weren't registered, it wouldn't have an effect on me to have however-many overpaid self-involved People Magazine stalwarts peering at me in letterbox format and telling me in a post-ironic way to vote.

But if it works, have at it.

You know, whatever.

[BoardsOfCanada]

"Rampant like herpes, but for positive".
LOL!

[herheriticy]

Too long, boring. Pile on the celebs.

[lilymarie14]

Good & creative. Hope it works.

[Sundalecat]

I have voted in every election since 1980. I can tell you I have lost more on my choices than won. I agree with these people in the video they are well off but they very responsible to tell people to vote. Who cares if they are well off. I can tell you most of them are Democrats who care more about people than their pocketbooks, and if that is wrong than this world needs a brain check. My family has fought in wars from the Revolution to Viet Nam and I can tell you they lost friends and I have lost family in many of these fights, their blood flowed for your freedoms and with it is your responsiblity to vote. I will be heard from this election, as all elections past, and my vote will go to Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as well as to Congressman Pete Stark from the great state of California, as well as Mayor, State Congressmen and women and Assembly men and women. You will not be heard from if you don't, so get out and register and once you do, Vote!