Disney hit is no victory for right-wing (barf alert!)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | August 21, 2007 | RICHARD ROEPER

[ConservativeStatement]

Some right-wingers wasted no time in jumping on the "Disney's High School Musical 2" express on Monday, claiming the record ratings as a victory for family values -- and a blow to all those smut-peddlers in Hollywood.

The premiere of "Disney's High School Musical 2" attracted 17.24 million viewers last Friday, shattering the basic cable record of 16 million viewers set by ESPN's first "Monday Night Football" telecast in 2006.

Put it this way: If "HSM2" had opened in theaters, it would have translated to an opening day tally of more than $100 million. Of course, a lot of those tix would have been children's tickets, but any way you slice it, the number is impressive.

[ConservativeStatement]

While waiting for my flight out of Chicago yesterday, I came across this article.

[Buckhead]

i don’t think disney channel is wholesome at all. full of lefty
propaganda. as my kid might say about hsm 2, “it’s so gay.”

wife o’buckhead

[txroadkill]

Hey, who are you going to believe, Richard Roeper or your own lying eyes???

[Paradox]

First of all, this IS huge for Disney. That said, I think that much of Disney’s these days comes across as kiddie porn, and I say that as someone who likes a little pRoN here and there. They sexualize their young female starlets too early.

[madprof98]

The left will not be satisfied til every 10-year-old in America goes from his public school sex-ed class over to Planned Parenthood to put a down payment on a soon-to-be-needed abortion.

[TexanToTheCore]

Just can’t stand it, can you Mr. Roeper?

It is a victory. A small one but a lesson that someone in Hollywood will pick up on.

[IMissPresidentReagan]

Wow, as a conservative, I never knew I had to be against tolerance, interracial dating, and the like. Funny, my “religious nuts” church never once has mentioned any stance on interracial dating. I guess I’ve not passed the nut test yet.

[PEACE ENFORCER]

I thought the same thing. H.S. Musical “The Movie” would whamp on those $ Bucks $ !! My daughter (7) forced me and my wife to have “Movie Night” with her to watch this.......:)...I actually liked it (hanging-out) and the content, go figure.

[TexanToTheCore]

“against tolerance, interracial dating, and the like.”

I guess we didn’t get tha memo. need to check my email more carefully.

What planet is Roeper from?

Uranus?

[TNCMAXQ]

The assumption of the intelligentsia and the cultural elite is that you have to be liberal to be for tolerance and oppose interracial dating. Since when is being tolerant and treating all people equally a liberal v. conservative value??

[the_devils_advocate_666]

As one parent and certified Disney-phile told me Monday, "As wholesome and family-friendly as these films are, both 'High School Musical' films promote tolerance, interracial dating and rejection of elitism -- all 'liberal' themes that drive those religious right-wingers nuts."

I'm thinking he made this whole quote up. And I'm not even going to bother with some sort of rebuttal.

[alarm rider]

I understand that about three anti-war movies are coming out soon.

Let’s see if they make much money. I plan on not seeing any of them.

[GATOR NAVY]

Wow, as a conservative, I never knew I had to be against tolerance, interracial dating, and the like.

And don't forget you're also for "elitism."

Roeper is an asshat.

[One_who_hopes_to_know]

Roepper writes: promote tolerance, interracial dating and rejection of elitism -- all 'liberal' themes that drive those religious right-wingers nuts.

Last I checked ...

1. Liberal academia bans certain speach on campus using speech codes (not real tolerant)
2. Liberals demand that discussion on the merits of global warming be shut down (rather elite)
3. Race baiting poverty pimps nearly convicted 3 Duke boys (not real tolerant)
4. Elitist journalists booed the State of the Union speech
5. etc., etc., etc.

[massgopguy]

I must say that after watching High School Musical 2 with my daughter last Friday that I was appalled, APPALLED I say, at the numerous NCAA recruiting violations committed by the University of Albequeque in pursuit of Troy Bennett. He gets a salaried job at a country club owned by the president of the Boosters Club AND is allowed to leave that job during the day to go to a closed practice in the off season? Plus “Italian” golf shoes?! The Alumni of the now defunct U of A should sue to get their reputation back.

[Logical me]

Went to sleep twice and only stirred whan the squeaking and hollering got to a level that the room shook. Boring beyond belief. Thats what I get being forced by my young to watch.

[GulfBreeze]

Some one needs to notify Jeb Bush that his life story was stolen by Disney.... (Oh yea and that he is no longer a Republican per, Roeper.)

[dangus]

“As wholesome and family-friendly as these films are, both ‘High School Musical’ films promote tolerance, interracial dating and rejection of elitism — all ‘liberal’ themes that drive those religious right-wingers nuts.”

Nothing like a little hate propaganda aimed at the religious right to spice up an article, eh? Goebels school of journalism 101: if you can’t get away making an outragrously slanderous statement, find some idiot you can quote to make the statement.

[IMissPresidentReagan]

Ya know what I can’t figure out? How we are so pro-elitism, yet we don’t read, and are ignorant rednecks at the same time....

[Political Junkie Too]

This is going to be a huge franchise for Disney. I was at Disneyland last month and they have a "High School Musical" parade at California Adventure every day.

-PJ