Backlash against celebrity soapbox is growing (Free Republic mentioned)

New York Times ^

[clueless idiot]

For a few days after the Dixie Chicks' lead singer, Natalie Maines, told a London audience, "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas," there was not a ripple about the remark. The American ambassador to Britain, William Farish, was at the show and made it a point to greet the Texas trio at a reception afterward. Although six critics reviewed the March 10 concert, only one mentioned the comment in print.

[Lady Eileen]

bump

[FrankR]

Three points:

1) "Free Speech" rights are only between the speaker and the Government...meaning they can't arrest you for what you say. But you can't yell "fire" in a crowded theater.

2) "Free Speech" goes BOTH ways...if you can't take it, then don't dish it out.

3) "FREE SPEECH", AIN'T FREE" Visit Arlington and the endless rows of crosses and graves will verify that.

[mutejesseJ]

"If they want to call me a Saddam-lover, that's their right," he said. "But if they set out to affect me professionally, that's different." Farrell

Yeah, but it's okay for him (and his ilk) to try to affect President Bush professionally, and I am sure many other's...what a friggin' hypocrite!

[Mamzelle]

re: David Clennon, an actor on the CBS show "The Agency," about the CIA, said that after he spoke against the war on Sean Hannity's radio show, listeners who opposed his views began a campaign to get him fired. "I was upset and fearful and angry to be targeted in that way," Clennon said. )))

"I play an man of action on TV, but I'm just a weinie in real life."

re: Mike Farrell, who played B.J. Hunnicut on the "M*A*S*H" TV series and who is a strong supporter of many liberal causes, said such tactics amount to "an orchestrated attempt to undermine free speech and the right to dissent. "If they want to call me a Saddam-lover, that's their right," he said. "But if they set out to affect me professionally, that's different." )))

"Rightwingers have to pay a price for speaking out, but a leftwinger should always get a pass. How dare my grabbing the public soapbox affect my public career!"

[Balata]

Together with talk radio and evening political talk shows, the online organizing has created a formidable gantlet for celebrities who choose to make their political opinions known.

Be still my heart.

[Tamzee]

Don't worry... http://freerepublic.com will still go to the right place :-)

I'm wondering if NY Slimes did it on purpose not realizing that browsers would direct it properly anyways LOL

[blake6900]

"If they want to call me a Saddam-lover, that's their right," he (Farrell) said. "But if they set out to affect me professionally, that's different."

MEMO TO MIKE FARRELL: Oh, how wrong you are, Mike. You see, you just can't have it both ways, pal. If I find out the owner of my local 7-11 is a terrorist supporter, I'm not gonna shop there. And if I find out some actor is a dictator supporter or is someone who says he's against a dictator but won't say how to oust that dictator, let's say someone like you, Mike, I won't watch his TV show. Get it? You have the right to mouth off and I have the right to not watch. And neither of those rights is more important than the other. It's that simple.

By the way, Mike, aren't you setting out to affect the president professionally? Hmmmm? Of course you are, moron. And I bet you weren't concerned about affecting Dr. Laura professionally by boycotting her show for comments made about homosexuality, were you? And, as silly as it sounds, aren't you trying to professionally affect the correctional officer who begins the lethal injection of a convicted murderer everytime you yap about capital punishment? Of course you are. It goes with the territory.

Look, Mike...at least have the conviction to stand by your principles (such as they are) all the way and take full, not partial, responsibility for them. If you're unable to do so, don't expect anyone to take you seriously. All you accomplish is making yourself look like just another pathetic liberal wanting everything on his own terms. In case you haven't noticed, Mike, life just doesn't work that way, not even in Hollywood.

[Arpege92]

"If they want to call me a Saddam-lover, that's their right, "he said. "But if they set out to affect me professionally, that's different."


Then please explain the anti-war protesters who keep people from shopping or working....explain why the anti-war protesters who invade military bases only to damage military weapons! Mashhead, you don't seem to have a problem with that, do ya?

[gcruse]

Janeane Garofalo, a comedian and actress who has been outspoken in opposition to the war, says the antipatriotism charge seems meant to "shut down debate and thwart First Amendment rights.

Janeane, you silly bitch.  No one disputes your right to speak.
Allow us our right to 'shut down debate' by expressing our opinions
of you also, whether by refusing to buy your products or just
walking away.  The First Amendment limits government and
no one else.

[Wil H]

These mindless idiots don't seem to understand that they work at OUR pleasure.

Their occupation is trivial, they merely entertain, and if it is our whim that they do not entertain us, they fail. We the public can be very fickle.

So to get up on a soapbox and risk alienating a large percentage of their potential market is PLAIN STUPIDITY on their part.

We have no interest in their politics, we just want to be entertained by them.

If they think they can shape public opinion they have far too greater view of their own importance.

[nutmeg]

bump

[hang 'em]

Where do they hatch these nincompoops anyway?

Suffice it to say they were conceived by anal sex.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

These "free speach" morons seem to forget that since they are still alive and speaking out, free speach is alive and well. However, when an opposing viewpoint shows it's face, they want to kill the messenger.

They have failed to learn that once again the American people have remembered why character matters.

Image over substance is no longer accepted. The people who are image only are being exposed as the shallow idiots they are. Kinda hurts when you scratch below the surface and you are thin skinned, doesn't it?

Martin sheen doesn't think he is the President, he believes he is a Soul Hunter from Babylon 5!

[lilylangtree]

"But if they set out to affect me professionally, that's different." If they weren't celebrities and well known figures, would they even be interviewed or considered to be interview? The answer is an unequivocal "NO!" Therefore, they're using their own celebrity status to further the anti-war cause which most Americans disagree with. So, why can't we request as one voice to fire the "suckers"? That's the price of using a tool that actors have to use for their advantage that the rest of the world doesn't have except to be united in one voice to further our view. Also, can't the group Pearl Jam be added to a boycott?

[CarmelValleyite]

Great post -- you summed it all up very nicely!

[JasonC]

The thing that bothers me about these idiots is they incessant self centered whining. Whine whine whine. Whine about the war, whine about their career, whine about their opinions, whine whine whine about me me me. Grow up already, and shut the freep up.

[harpo11]

"Garofalo said news media interest in celebrities who oppose the war has the effect of trivializing the antiwar movement. There are plenty of celebrities who are in favor of the war, she argues, but they rarely come in for abuse."

Perhaps, those that are conservative have had to learn to keep their mouths shut if they wanted to work in Hollywood or face retaliation from their leftist peers.

[finnman69]

Garafalo watches Al Jazeera takes it for Gospel. Thern she bashes Fox for being biased.

[Mr_Magoo]

Re: tour post #17.

There is a time honored first amendment protected expression of free speech that is perfect for this situation. It involves rotten eggs, rotten tomatos and a good pitchin' arm . . .

[finnman69]

http://www.celiberal.com is not a bad site for Hollybashing.