Editorial: Will Taylor Swift's 'Love Story' lead to a bad 'Reputation' for Democrats?

Yes, Taylor Swift is getting married.

We know. The whole world came to a grinding halt Tuesday when the world’s biggest pop star announced her engagement to Kansas City Chiefs standout Travis Kelce.

It drew a line in the zeitgeist, dividing it into B.E. (Before Engagement) and A.E. (After Engagement). Two years of will-they-or-won’t-they and speculation the relationship was all an Eras Tour publicity stunt came to an end. Something new started.

We are now four days into the commercialization of someone else’s wedding.

Everyone is in on it. No brand manager or social media account seems willing to let the opportunity pass. The major players immediately jumped on it — from the quick-witted and snarky Wendy’s making posts as shareable as their fries to DoorDash making a blatant ad with a 13% discount playing on Swift’s well-known favorite number.

They weren’t alone. Locals got in on the action, too. We’re looking at you, Oakmont Bakery, with an offer to make the “Love Story” singer’s wedding cake and baking cookies with the engagement photo the couple shared on Instagram. Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and Pittsburgh Film Office also jumped on the bandwagon.

Hey, it makes sense. Swift and Kelce won’t be the only ones getting married, and the pop star’s 2023 concert stop in Pittsburgh generated $46 million in Steel City economic impact. Those are some serious coattails to ride.

But there can be a bridge too far. Pennsylvania Democrats may have crossed it.

The state party followed the engagement announcement with a fundraising appeal.

The email tried to be cute and timely, with cheeky references to some of Pennsylvania-born Swift’s songs. And it was nothing that wasn’t being done by candy makers, soda companies and airlines.

“We’re working around the clock (yes, even now) to make sure we are Ready For It this November, but we need your help. Will you help us celebrate by donating $13 or any amount today to help us retain our Supreme Court here in Taylor’s home state,” the Pennsylvania Democratic Party email said.

Shouldn’t we expect more from the people who want to steer our government? Is this how we really want to gin up support for an incredibly important judicial election? The Pennsylvania Supreme Court makeup could affect not only the state’s future but also that of the whole country.

Pop culture and politics have blended before, from John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe to having an actual movie star in the White House during the Reagan years to Bill Clinton’s sax solo on late-night TV. It happens every day with President Donald Trump, who can plan announcements like a series finale cliffhanger.

But tying fundraising to a celebrity wedding as though it were any of the other hundreds of ad campaigns is just as blatantly tacky as planning your own wedding shower and including links to your gift registry. It’s a money grab and feels bound to give the Democrats a bad “Reputation.”