AP: 'Thompson's Image Cultivated by Hollywood' -- Another "He's Just an Actor" Attack

NewsBusters.org ^ | 8/23/07 | Warner Todd Huston

[Mobile Vulgus]

In "Thompson's Image Cultivated by Hollywood" we get another MSM attempt to make Fred Thompson seem to be just a hollow, fake actor. The AP offers us an analysis that Thompson's "image" is just a Hollywood invention and that he had no "conscious decision" in shaping the perception that he exhibits the sort of strong, take charge kind of leadership that Americans might want in a president. Of all the lines of attack they've tried thus far, this is the MSMs favorite way to belittle Fred Thompson. This meme has it that Thompson's acting persona is an invention of Hollywood and that his political life is a reflection of this invented persona, that he capitalized on the illusion to launch a political career -- they want to make Thompson out to be a fake. But, in reality, Thompson's roles are a reflection of his real life persona, not an invention by Hollywood but an amplification of reality by Hollywood.

AP does their level best to make Thompson seem the illusionist...

If Fred Thompson is auditioning for the role of a lifetime, he could hardly be any better prepared.

As Thompson prepares for a likely run for the presidency ... his image has been cultivated as much by Hollywood as by his time as a real-life Republican senator in Washington.

Notice how the AP continually links all the less than serious actor euphemisms to Thompson's campaign and Senate career? His running for president is just "auditioning," his image "cultivated," by Hollywood. They insist in seeing Thompson through the lens of a manufactured, Hollywood facade.

The AP tries to cajole readers into viewing Thompson's political career as a mere byproduct of his acting as opposed to a meritorious result of his real-life actions.

Thompson's acting career has long been intertwined with his political one. He was first cast by Hollywood in 1985's "Marie" as himself — an attorney in the true story of a woman who is working at the State Board of Pardons of Tennessee and discovers that the state government is riddled with graft, corruption and even murder.

"There is a strong sense in which Thompson's popularity as an actor, I think, came in part because he seemed to be able to play the role of what a skillful political leader would seem to have. He appears gruff and strong, a very masculine character, and he's very certain in the way he pronounces his words and uses his language. So I think there is a reinforcing connection," said Tom Hollihan, a professor of media and politics the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication.

But, on reflection, one would realize that Thompson's initial fame was garnered by his work as a lawyer. The acting was the byproduct, not the other way around.

It is certain that Thompson has a "commanding presence" but is this a result of his acting career or is his acting career a result of his real life persona? Clearly, he had this presence before the acting so the acting is incidental to his persona. In fact, how often does he play against type? Never. He doesn't play against type because he is not as much an "actor" as he is a presence. His "acting" is not an invention, but a reflection. When he is "being" his Arthur Branch-like roles, he is being Fred Thompson.

I am not trying to belittle Thompson's acting ability because he plays his role well. But Thompson is not the sort of actor that takes on the sort of roles that calls for a subduing of his own personality. His is not the skill of presenting an invented screen image for each film. He is no Johnny Depp, for instance. Thompson plays Thompson in every role. So this "just an actor" claim does not suit him at all. He is just not the sort that presents a manufactured image.

Hollywood reflects Fred Thompson, it does not create him.

But, the AP hasn't the capability to understand such minutia as their efforts to cast Thompson's character and image into the land of make believe prevails. In fact, they cannot even give him the benefit of being able to direct his own acting career, presenting him as a mere beneficiary of circumstance.

Whether such roles were a conscious decision on Thompson's part is another matter.

"Nothing succeeds like success in Hollywood, and if it's worked well once, casting directors and producers tend to go back to the well again. Actors don't get to choose their roles. They only get to accept or turn them down. I think it's less a conscious decision on his part than it is typecasting," said film critic Leonard Maltin of "Entertainment Tonight."

See what I mean? To the AP Thompson has just been typecast in a fake role that he has no control over, one that is guided by producers, writers, and magic makers and not one that reflects Thompson's "conscious decisions" at all. AP just cannot imagine that Thompson could possibility have a hand in such decisions.

And, as a result of the AP's inability to see Thompson as anything other than a faker sporting a make believe image like anyone else would don a Halloween mask, they cannot imagine anyone else can either.

It's unclear whether voters nationwide will accept Thompson in a role other than that of an actor.

Unclear? What IS clear, AP, is that Thompson's candidacy thus far has been the most successful "draft" style candidacy we've seen in US politics for decades. He has a large Internet following and has raised several million dollars for his exploratory committee. If that doesn't show a level of votes coming his way, what does?

Next the AP attempts to turn his positives against him.

Hollihan said the very thing that helps Thompson as an actor could also hurt him.

"The character you play and the character you are cast as has to resonate. That's the case if you're casting somebody for a movie or you're casting somebody for higher office," he said. "People are so aware that contemporary politics involve media. They are going to be looking for that ongoing related persona."

So, if America doesn't see "Arthur Branch" they will turn away from Thompson?

One other thing that AP and the rest of the MSM don't get. Not every American knows Thompson's work on "Law & Order." I, for instance, have never seen Thompson on that TV show because I have never watched a single episode of "Law & Order." There are more like me than otherwise. We will rate Thompson on what he presents during his campaign, not by what we saw (or didn't see) on a TV show.

And during that campaign, we will see that Thompson is Thompson. He is not an image conjured up by Hollywood.

See more at Newsbusters.org

[Mobile Vulgus]

They keep trying to attack him, don't they? They must really be worried.

[Edgerunner]

Scared silly...

[trisham]

People in the entertainment business are narcissists. They falsely believe that their world is somehow more important than the real world, and that their success in that world somehow translates into an ability to manipulate real events. It’s a delusion.

[backhoe]

That last actor-fella we had for President worked out pretty well, didn't he?

[stockstrader]

Even Rudy joined his fellow liberals by using the ‘HE’S AN ACTOR’ card against Fred. Rudy is just as shameless as the rest of the liberals.

[trisham]

Oops. I should have included this:

"Nothing succeeds like success in Hollywood, and if it's worked well once, casting directors and producers tend to go back to the well again. Actors don't get to choose their roles. They only get to accept or turn them down. I think it's less a conscious decision on his part than it is typecasting," said film critic Leonard Maltin of "Entertainment Tonight."

See what I mean? To the AP Thompson has just been typecast in a fake role that he has no control over, one that is guided by producers, writers, and magic makers and not one that reflects Thompson's "conscious decisions" at all. AP just cannot imagine that Thompson could possibility have a hand in such decisions.

And, as a result of the AP's inability to see Thompson as anything other than a faker sporting a make believe image like anyone else would don a Halloween mask, they cannot imagine anyone else can either.

***************

People in the entertainment business are narcissists. They falsely believe that their world is somehow more important than the real world, and that their success in that world somehow translates into an ability to manipulate real events. It’s a delusion.

[Greg F]

I keep hearing he’s not been good on the stump, segment on FOX said that last night I think. That worries me because then we are left with Romney and Rudy if Thompson is a bust.

[TaxxMann]

Fox is unabashedly pro-Julie Annie. They’re scared like the rest of the liberal media because most of them over at Fox are liberal. There are just a few more in-the-minority conservatives than elsewhere.

Thompson’s gonna take it ALL... you hear that Hillary ... he is going to take it ALL ! Wait and see.

[vetsvette]

Reagan was “just an actor” as well.

It didn’t work then and it won’t work now.

[lesser_satan]

bump

[doorgunner69]

During the recall election of Gray Davis, the L.A.Times always referred to Schwarzenegger as “the actor” in every article. Didn’t work out too well for them, trying to keep the incompetent liberal in office......

[1Old Pro]

Attempting to diminish Fred’s credibility by believing that calling him an “actor” and pejorative is exactly what I would expect from the media as it is 180 degrees wrong.

After Reagan, it only helps him.

[lolhelp]

Well, it is obvious you have never know anyone in the entertainment business or the ones you know are the wrong kind of people, there are a lot of people who are narcissist that are not in the entertainment business. Guess you think Ronald Reagan was also. When I met him 48 years age he gave a very intelligent business speech. Very nice knowledgeable person and the entertainment business was never mentioned

[Kimberly GG]

“Thompson has just been typecast in a fake role that he has no control over, one that is guided by producers, writers, and magic makers and not one that reflects Thompson’s “conscious decisions” at all.”

Sounds about right to me.

[bray]

Guess we should ignore all those HollyWhack War Protesters they keep throwing at us?

Pray for W and Our Troops

[WestSylvanian]

Reagan was more than just an actor. He was the successful, two term governor of the largest state. He went from acting to politics, not the other way around, and he spent years writing and speaking about national and international issues that deeply concerned him. He tried twice to be president because he had a message and he was determined to communicate it and to turn around the failures of Jimmy Carter and other Democrats. He didn’t have to be prodded, cajoled, and begged to run for president. And he was a hell of a better speaker than Thompson is. Thompson’s speech to the VFW was boring, meandering, poorly delivered, and without passion or conviction. Obama, who followed him, got more applause because he spoke like he actually believed what he was saying and was determined to get his points across. Not so with Thompson. His “campaign,” if it ever comes about, will be short-lived.

[Petronski]

It was Sun Tzu—or was it Heloise Hints?—that it is a blessing to be underestimated by an adversary.