(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY ERIK SCHUTE

ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO

Kelly Clarkson was caught playing politics on Twitter -- and it’s caused some of her following to break away.


On Wednesday she tweeted her support for independent candidate Ron Paul.

“I love Ron Paul. I liked him a lot during the last Republican nomination and no one gave him a chance.  If he wins the nomination for the Republican party in 2012 he’s got my vote. Too bad he probably won’t.”


The resulting firestorm throughout the Twitterverse accused Clarkson of supporting racism and the death penalty, and not supporting equal rights for same-sex couples. The Young Turks replay some of the backlash.


WOMAN: “Look, it’s not her job to be a political pundit or some sort of political researcher -- she made a tweet, who cares take it with a grain of salt.  But people lost it. I’ll give you an example: one person tweeted, ‘Now THAT is how you get someone to unfollow you on Twitter ... and in your career. Good luck — you’ll need it.’”
MAN: “Bah-bye!”
WOMAN: “That was actually the tamest one.”
 

Ouch. But is Ms. Independent fully supporting the ‘Independent?’  A blogger for Republican Redefined doesn’t expect much from the pop star.


“I applaud Miss Clarkson for speaking her mind.  I only wish she’d had the conviction to go in with both feet.  A measured, walked-back, endorsement is only good for so much; and coming from a celebrity, it wasn’t that much to begin with.”


The first-ever Idol winner has never been shy about her conservative roots.  The Washington Post notes Clarkson publically tweeted she’s a Republican -- and she voted Democrat in the 2008 election.  In response to the recent attacks she told her followers...


“If y’all ever disagree with something I say please don’t feel the need to attack me. I will listen to what you say and any articles or viewpoints you have when you say it with respect. Being hateful is not a healthy way to get people to see or hear you.”


And she’s not the first celeb to endorse their favorite candidate.  

Screen Junkies broke down some of this year’s best including: Gary Busey for New Gingrich, and Chuck Norris for Mike Huckabee.”
 

Clarkson also came back to Twitter to clarify her pledge to Ron Paul’s.  She made it clear she does not support racism, the death penalty, and supports equal rights for all.