‘Glee’ star advocates for student voting at CMU

Matthew Morrison, the former Broadway actor who plays glee club director Will Schuester on… Matthew Morrison, the former Broadway actor who plays glee club director Will Schuester on FOX’s Emmy award-winning show, “Glee,” traded his singing chops for political rhetoric this weekend.

With less than one month until November’s midterm elections, Morrison spoke to a packed room of students and community members at Carnegie Mellon University’s Hamburg Hall as part of a mini-tour to stump for Democratic candidates nationwide.

Though Morrison’s 10-minute speech touched on the need for education reform, job creation and anti-bullying efforts in schools, one thing was noticeably missing: his singing.

”I worked to like, 10 p.m. last night in LA, and then I got the red-eye, and I’ve had, like, two hours of sleep, so I’m in no shape to sing,” he told the crowd, which responded with an audible groan.

Despite the lack of musical entertainment, Morrison seized the event as an opportunity to promote the youth vote while also plugging Democratic campaigns, including Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato for governor and U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle’s re-election bid. Both Doyle and Allegheny County Council President Rich Fitzgerald took the stage to tout Democratic agendas prior to Morrison, whom the crowd greeted with applause and whistles.

Organized by the Onorato for Governor campaign, the event comes as a last-moment effort for Democrats to harness the Pennsylvania youth vote just weeks ahead of the election.

With the latest Rasmussen Reports poll showing Onorato at a 12-point deficit behind Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett, area Democrats are hoping Morrison’s star power will help to attract a young support base.

“Matthew Morrison has a strong following with younger voters,” Brian Herman, communications director for the Onorato campaign, wrote in an e-mail. “His appearances in Pittsburgh on Dan’s behalf will energize Dan’s current supporters and help us recruit new volunteers or voters to our campaign.”

Herman said that Morrison approached them to help, and that the event was arranged independently of the Democratic National Committee.

During his speech, Morrison called upon the need for education reform, adding that despite a well-funded national education system, American students are falling behind in an increasingly global economy.

The solution, he said, is to inspire teachers, administrators and politicians to work together to increase high school graduation and college retention rates.

“Education reform is not a partisan issue. It’s one that affects us all,” Morrison said. “It’s certainly made an impact in my life, in my career — I mean, hell, I play a teacher on TV.”

The actor briefly touched upon other hot-button issues — including a push for more entry-level jobs for students and the need for anti-bullying legislation to lower youth suicide rates. For both issues, Morrison touted the importance of electing public officials who can enact change in these areas, regardless of their political leanings.

A native of Fort Ord, Calif., who attended college in the state of New York, Morrison’s connection to Pennsylvania politics might come as a surprise to some. But for the actor, it’s a way of channeling celebrity star power not just to tout certain candidates, but also to mobilize a movement to get out the youth vote.

“I’m very fortunate to be in the position that allows me to speak to people in public forums, but as a group … as young Americans, we can speak louder than any one individual voice,” Morrison said. “We, the youth of America, can shape the future of this state and this country.”

Prior to Morrison’s appearance, the line to enter Hamburg Hall stretched down the hallway. CMU students were given priority seating before the event, which was open to the general public, and the auditorium was packed to capacity, with students filling the aisles while others were turned away at the door.

Among those gathered at the event was Pitt junior Rita Patel, who is registered as a Democrat in Virginia.

Though she said she does not plan to vote in the Pennsylvania election, Patel, a self-proclaimed “Glee” fan, said it is refreshing to see more grassroots-style endorsements, as opposed to larger campaign events.

“It’s really nice to see celebrities … coming out and campaigning and showing their support,” she said. “It’s nice to see them treat us like the adults that we are.”

For Pitt junior Eric Langberg, Morrison was a bigger draw than the Democratic agenda.

“I’m glad that he is … courageous enough as a celebrity, or as a well-known name, to speak out on politics, even if it is just on voting,” he said.

Following Saturday’s appearance at CMU, Morrison was slated to attend a campaign event at Point Park University Downtown. Later that evening, he headed to Ohio, where “Glee” is set, to attend separate campaign events for both Democratic Senate candidate Lee Fisher and Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland.

Editor’s Note: This article has been edited to correct an error describing how the event was organized.