Wes Vernon interview with Pat Boone - RenewAmerica special feature

Editor's Note: What's it like to raise a family in Hollywood? To be a Christian in Hollywood? Wes Vernon put those questions to longtime pop recording and box office star Pat Boone.

In the interview that follows, we learn that yes, there is a Hollywood blacklist, but not the one of Hollywood demonology--as well as the reasons Hollywood is so fanatically leftist; the movie roles Pat Boone did not get and why; the roles he turned down and why; thoughts on why Hollywood propaganda should be counted as an in-kind campaign contribution to the Democratic Party; Boone's review of the TV show "Commander-in-Chief"; women vs. men in politics; Pat's run-ins with the liberal media and how he fought back; the cultural rot that has set in on much of the music industry; and the star's pick for best and worst presidents in his lifetime.

What follows is lightly edited for context and clarity only. The integrity of the thrust of the points that were made remains intact.

BOONE: It's just sort of a collective recognition of certain people that are not "in"--[who] are not welcome in the circles of those who feel that there are no restrictions on behavior, and who subscribe and who are openly committed to and vocal about moral precepts or conservative political ideas. I see it from the other side. I see the same sort of rankling when I see--(chuckle)--certain actors and actresses [and producers] that I know demonstrate and rail against the administration and conservative policies every chance [they get], or make movies that [insert] very liberal anti-conservative plots into the shows [such as] "The West Wing." When political figures are shown on television or in movies, it's always the liberal Democrats that are shown to be humane, caring people. Whether it's "Law and Order," whether it's "Boston Legal," whether it's any of these legal shows, whenever they take any current issue--almost without exception--those portrayed as conservative or Christian and seriously religious or pro-life, or any of those things, are shown to be pinched, narrow, and conflicted people who are more concerned with their philosophy than they are with human compassion. I rankle at that because I move (in) and am part of the conservative side of things, always have been. And so it's not a surprise to me that ... the last half-dozen movie roles that have been offered me would have caused me to portray a Pat Boone-like person--a preacher, a husband, a citizen who on the surface lives like I do, and then it comes out that he's a hypocrite, a pedophile, an abuser. In other words, they want me to [play those roles] because it would be tremendously effective.

Pretty decent interview. Has a couple examples of press bias also.

With all due respect to Pat, I doubt many under 40 know who he is, and for many of us over 40 he has always been seen as a lightweight.

I respect him for his views, and wish he had more influence, but wishin' aint gonna make it happen.

Hollywood is circling the drain, and that's the best way to make our voices heard.

Let's work on these retiring baby boomers, and figure out how to grab em and hold em.

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