White House may lose its Sheen of peace

The Guardian ^ | March 5 2003

[mykdsmom]

Pressure is growing for the president to lose his job because of his uncompromising stance on the war. That's President Bartlet, as played by Martin Sheen in the hit television series, The West Wing.

Sheen has been a leading figure in the anti-war movement, addressing rallies and spearheading the "virtual march" on Washington last week in which legislators were deluged with a million emails, phone calls and faxes.

NBC is under pressure to sack him from its show or face a boycott or withdrawal of advertising.

Sheen said the channel's executives had indicated that his high profile could damage the show and had called on him to explain his views. He has received thousands of hate emails, been accused of being a traitor and accosted in the street.

Many actors and singers are being lambasted by conservative talk-show hosts for openly opposing war. A website, Citizens Against Celebrity Pundits, has been launched, for "American citizens [who] stand against wealthy Hollywood celebrities abusing their status to speak for us".

The site calls for donations for ads to counter the anti-war movement. "We believe that celebrities Martin Sheen, Mike Farrell, Tim Robbins, Rob Reiner, Barbra Streisand and others with them are using their celebrity to interfere with the defence of our country," says the site.

Last week, Fox News, the conservative cable news station, published a poll which concluded that two-thirds of those interviewed wanted celebrities to remain silent on politics.

Organisers of the anti-war ads signed by actors and musicians say they are necessary because the mainstream American media has been reluctant to give coverage to the anti-war movement and the cable news channels are overwhelmingly pro-war.

Last week, a new group, Musicians United, ran a full-page ad in The New York Times, quoting former NATO supreme commander Wesley Clark saying that invading Iraq would "supercharge recruiting for al-Qaeda".

About 50 musicians signed it, including Lou Reed, Sheryl Crow, the Kronos Quartet, Jay-Z, Dave Matthews, Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Massive Attack, George Clinton and REM.

The Guardian

[Black Agnes]

Sack Him bump!

[anniegetyourgun]

This time Hollywood plays the victim.....deserving of an award for their performance, AND their ability to co-opt the judges in the foreign and domestic press.

[Seeking the truth]

Bring Back the Blacklist!

Bring Back the Blacklist

[afraidfortherepublic]

I don't want them to shut up. I want to know whose performances I shall boycott! The list is growing...

[jellybean]

NO DOLLARS FOR DOLTS!

Let them know we won't spend any money on their product as long as they continue spewing their anti-American bilge into our homes.

Send an old, used wallet, glued shut, to any of these celebreties who use their fame to attack America.

[Prysson]

Anyone wanting to email NBC and call for the firing of Sheen feel free to email TheWestWing@nbc.com

What I would like to see is a list of sponsers posted here for The West Wing...lets hit them where it hurts.

[NEWwoman]

Organisers of the anti-war ads signed by actors and musicians say they are necessary because the mainstream American media has been reluctant to give coverage to the anti-war movement and the cable news channels are overwhelmingly pro-war.

Say- What?

Wasn't there a massive pro-America, support our troops rally and it got little coverage from the main stream media? It was on FR and maybe few cable shows, but certainly did not get the coverage of the anti's.

[Keith]

naw...leave him on...it's a good show...shows how lousy a liberal is as president.

[Tacis]

This is all hype by the press agents and PR types. Any controversy is a positive because it increases viewership and increased viewership translates into more haigher prices for advertising. The best approach is to simply ignore these lefties. They have nothing of value to say and just poison the minds of the neo-commies who watch. Ignore them.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

To Whom It May Concern,

As an NBC viewer, I am appalled by Mr. Sheen's outspoken rancor for our country, during this time of war. He is disrespecting our troops, willing to sacrifice their lives for what he believes in. I do not support his views, and am disgusted, as an American, by his behavior. I will NEVER watch West Wing again, am changing the channel, and urge you to fire him! You probably won't do that, but I doubt I will notice, since I won't be watching. For a man who PRETENDS to be president, he fails miserably... he should pretend to be an American, instead.

Sincerely,
XXXXXXXXXXX

[Conspiracy Guy]

But do the advertisers have a right not to support Sheen's freedom of spew. I thought he was guaranteed advertisers by the Constitution. Could one of the Constitutional scholars help me out here. I'm pretty sure that Sheen is specifically listed in the Constitution. If I'm wrong, so be it, fire his butt.

[Sam Cree]

"Sheen has been a leading figure in the anti-war movement"

IMO, this statement is an example of fairly typical leftist dishonesty. I think that it is not an "anti war" movement at all, merely a leftist movement.

The left has grabbed this issue to advance their usual agenda, much as they did with the civil rights movement.

[Seeking the truth]

Very Good! My compliments.

[Kay Soze]

Sheen has personaly profited and garnered more political clout becuase of violence than have most 3rd world dictators.

[Defender2]

I've never watched "Left Wing" and I don't intend to start now.

[mykdsmom]

Nope, me either.

MKM

[GnL]

I've never watched "Left Wing" and I don't intend to start now.

Neither do I, but I do have a Visa card and since Visa appears to like Martin Sheen I wrote to them expressing my displeasure and am tempted to cut up my card and send it back to them. Vote with your wallets. Companies WILL listen if it costs them $$.

[Defender2]

Thanks for the TIP!!!!:-)

[wimpycat]

Organisers of the anti-war ads signed by actors and musicians say they are necessary because the mainstream American media has been reluctant to give coverage to the anti-war movement and the cable news channels are overwhelmingly pro-war.

What they are really saying is: "Organisers of the anti-war ads signed by actors and musicians say they are necessary because the mainstream American media has reported the anti-war movement adequately, but a majority of the American people don't give a sh!t, and don't want to hear them. Organisers of the anti-war ads believe that the American public should be forced to listen to them, and that advertisers should forfeit their own right to free speech by funding TV shows that nobody wants to watch."