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Popstar Taylor Swift breaks political silence, endorses Democrats ahead of US Midterms

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By Seana Davis
Popstar Taylor Swift breaks political silence, endorses Democrats ahead of US Midterms

Popstar Taylor Swift broke her political silence to endorse two Democratic candidates for the upcoming US Midterm elections.

The Pennsylvania native said that although she has been "reluctant" to voice her political views, she felt compelled to speak publically "due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years".

Swift, who spent significant time in Nashville, Tennesse, to pursue her music career, took to Instagram to support Tennessee hopefuls Phil Bredesen for US Senate and Jim Cooper for the House of Representatives.

View this post on Instagram

I’m writing this post about the upcoming midterm elections on November 6th, in which I’ll be voting in the state of Tennessee. In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now. I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country. I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent. I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love. Running for Senate in the state of Tennessee is a woman named Marsha Blackburn. As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values. I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives. Please, please educate yourself on the candidates running in your state and vote based on who most closely represents your values. For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway. So many intelligent, thoughtful, self-possessed people have turned 18 in the past two years and now have the right and privilege to make their vote count. But first you need to register, which is quick and easy to do. October 9th is the LAST DAY to register to vote in the state of TN. Go to vote.org and you can find all the info. Happy Voting! ???

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on

Swift heavily criticised Republican Marsha Blackburn and noted her voting record, saying that it "terrifies" her. The 28-year-old award-winning artist pointed out that Blackburn voted against equal pay for women and against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which "attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape".

The singer did not mention Bredesen's endorsement of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh who was embroiled in a sexual assault scandal on the Senate floor when psychologist Dr Christine Blasey Ford testified that Kavanaugh had assaulted her 36 years previously when the pair were in high school.

In her lengthy statement, Swift said: “I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country.”

Bredesen and Blackburn are vying for the Senate seat currently held by retiring Republican Bob Corker. An NBC poll released last month suggests that the race will be a close one, with Bredesen having a slight edge over Blackburn. However, the lead was within the polling margin of error.

Bredesen, former Governor of Tennessee, thanked Swift via Twitter for her support.

Democratic US Senate candidate Phil Bredesen thanks Swift for her support.

Swift previously appeared on the cover of Time Magazine among others who were coined the "Silence Breakers" for speaking out about sexual assault. The women were hailed Time 2017 "Person of the Year," an accreditation held by Donald Trump in 2016 upon being elected US President and German Chancellor Angela Merkle in 2016.

In 2013, prior to the watershed moment where throngs of accusers came forward against Harvey Weinstein with rape and sexual assault allegations, Swift said that DJ David Mueller had groped her following an interview when the pair were posing for a photo. Mueller sued the star for defamation, with Swift countersuing for $1 and winning the case.