Joe Curl reports on an oppressed minority: Hollywood conservatives:
One high-profile celebrity, when asked about her political views, even had her lawyers declare "our client's rights of privacy and other legally protectable intangible rights" and warn that she should not be labeled a Republican.An attorney for Teri Hatcher, star of ABC's "Desperate Housewives," reacted as if it were slanderous to be called a Republican:
So far, just a handful of actors have come forward to support Republican hopefuls.
"Please be advised that Ms. Hatcher is not a Republican, but more importantly does not choose to have her political affiliation or viewpoints on any particular candidate or issue in the current presidential campaign included in your proposed article," lawyer Barry W. Tyerman said in an e-mail.Hollywood's political climate is under the microscope lately because of the string of anti-war box-office duds (see Christian Toto's story), as well as because of the screenwriters strike.
Linked at the Drudge Report and Memeorandum, Joe's story is generating lots of blog commentary, with Doug Powers talking about "blacklisting" of conservatives in Hollywood; Say Anything calls it "reverse McCartyhism."
Jammie Wearing Fool remarks, "It's nice to see such tolerance and diversity from those who lecture us about tolerance and diversity."
Don Surber dissents, saying "It seems a tad melodramatic. . . . Stories like this just feed paranoia."
Melodramatic paranoia ... or Hollywood reality?
-- Robert Stacy McCain, assistant national editor, The Washington Times
UPDATE 12:15
In a not-unrelated development, John Edwards will join the struggling proletarian masses on the picket lines . . . in Burbank:
Democratic presidential contender John Edwards will become the first candidate to visit the Writers Guild picket lines, when he visits the NBC lot this Friday.Writers of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your double-shot frappuccinos!
According to the WGA, Edwards will appear outside NBC's Burbank headquarters around 1:45 p.m.
-- RSM
Comments (7)
The Curl article mentions half a dozen top stars. I could name many others: Bruce Willis, Dennis Hopper, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Patricia Heaton, etc. Not to mention the studio heads, talk radio dominance, Fox News, and the country music establishment. I think the picture painted of a tiny, frail embattled Republican minority in Hollywood is bogus.
Posted by martin | November 16, 2007 11:24 AM
Why do they keep making awful anti-American movies that lose money?
Posted by Al | November 16, 2007 11:52 AM
This is nothing new. According to Peter Drucker, in his wonderful book, [b] Adventures of a Bystander [/b], it was impossible for people to get ahead in the 30's & early 40's Hollywood unless they were card-carrying Communists. Not obviously, but certainly.
Posted by Dianna | November 16, 2007 12:24 PM
Not bogus, Martin. There are maybe 100 (if even that many) well known actors who are *somewhat* affiliated with the Republican Party. Most are not vocal about it. And in comparison to the liberal Democratic celebs... it is a paltry amount. There is a much larger group of rank and file, working actors who, because they have no celebrity to back them up, feel unable to speak openly about their politics for fear of being blacklisted. Although, I'm not part of the Hollywood elite (I'm a regional actress) I have been privy to conservative bashing and know, firsthand, it is best to keep quiet about my politics.
Posted by Incognito | November 16, 2007 11:43 PM
Blackballing has little impact on those that have made it. For those on the way up, it is a different matter, it is a sectarian minefield, with the mines being subtle exclusions from key roles with politically correct justifications. Also, etc. does not change a minority to equal status and when did Nashville, Fox News and talk radio move to Hollywood?
Posted by Larry Stone | November 16, 2007 11:58 PM
"Why do they keep making awful anti-American movies that lose money?" asks Al.
They haven't lost enough money yet, Al. Also they're idiots.
Posted by Darrell | November 18, 2007 1:59 PM
Just goes to show that, as usual, the liberals in Hollywood can tolerate anything EXCEPT people who disagree with them. I'm also rather surprised by the Hollywood elite being so bigoted against anyone. I guess the McCarthy era didn't teach them a thing, that blackballing people because of their political beliefs is just plain wrong. And to anyone who thinks that being an open conservative Republican in Hollywood is an easy thing, then why are so few stars willing to come out and say that they are Republicans? No, Hollywood is a culture that supports and vigorously defends infantile and violent movies, offensive rap music, and promiscuous, drug-abusing, lifestyles. Yes indeed, these people sure have a lot in common with conservative Americans. It's a wonder anyone goes to see their movies today.
Also, as a side note, did you ever notice that Republican actors have been way more successful than Democratic actors? There was a Republican president (Ronal Reagan), a Republican Governor (Reagan and Arnold Schwarzeneger), a Senator (Fred Thompson), and a Congressman (Sonny Bono). The Democrats may blacklist and whine, but the Republican actors are the ones who get elected. Maybe the Hollywood elite should take note of that fact.
Posted by Libertyship46 | November 19, 2007 9:48 AM