Stars risk popularity for politics

USA Today ^ | November 6, 2002 | Michael Medved

[arual]

For show-business stars, the adoration of the public provides far more than ego boosts; it is the very basis of their success and survival, the ultimate source of privilege and power. Why, then, do so many Hollywood celebrities recklessly place this popularity at risk with edgy, outspoken, confrontational political posturing that's sure to insult some substantial segment of their fans?

[Notforprophet]

I doubt our friend garyhope will return to defend his disturbing comments... but we have an eager sycophant in Landru, it seems.

[zx2dragon]

Hmmmm....they will ally themselves with whomever the Bush administration targets, such as Iraq?

Shame about Eric Roberts, really liked him in Best of the Best. Oh well, it's one of the reasons why I do not go to the movies, rent movies, rarely buy movies and, at the moment, do not even subscribe to premium movie channels.

Hitting them in the pocketbook is the only way to send a message to these self described elites.

[Slyfox]

A good example of this is Texas famous baseball player Nolan Ryan chose to go on TV ads for a major Liberal contestant for Lt. Govenor race named Sharp.

Supposedly David Dewhurst made Nolan mad. I don't know what Dewhurst did, but he supposedly made a bunch of doctors mad, too.

[secretagent]

I'd rather have a discussion on points than on personalities.

I hope they both feel free to discuss their points without the distraction of insults.

[tell me]

I know the public schools will not give my kids the right messages about sex, politics, or religion. I think I'm winning. The other day my 11 year old son asked if I thought his math teacher was a "democratic tree hugging liberal."

[Texbob]

Not as Mad as Nolan Ryan made me by becoming a patsy for a liberal democrap and Ryan did not help Sharp who was soundly beat, but only hurt his own repatation.

[D-fendr]

"Why, then, do so many Hollywood celebrities recklessly place this popularity at risk with edgy, outspoken, confrontational political posturing that's sure to insult some substantial segment of their fans? "

Because McCarthy was right, and it will take another decade or two for the communist legacy to fade.

[Green Knight]

The recent ratings collapse for NBC's acclaimed program, The West Wing, so obviously coincides with the edgy, insistent, anti-war activism of the show's star, Martin Sheen, that letter writers to USA TODAY and other ordinary Americans have hastened to point out the connection.

HAH! Hope Sorkin doesn't OD when his craptacuar show gets cancelled. Stopped watching The Left Wing sometime during the middle of the 1st season. Just couldn't take it, anymore.

[Landru]

"What are you, 12?"

What are you, *thick*?

"This is a discussion forum."

Yea, OK.
As I said, so what.

"If you had read the rest of my post, you'd have seen I was discussing the comments with you."

And if you'd read any part of mine?
You'd have seen I was blowning you off.

...now do you get the picture?

[Landru]

"Please expand. I don't see your point."

I've a better idea.

...let's discuss what the meaning of, "is," is.

[Savage Beast]

LOL!

[Tokhtamish]

Good point.

Come to think of it the three people mainly cited, Eric Roberts, Oliver Stone, and Alec Baldwin were people big in the early 90's but whose careers kinda self destructed. Alec Baldwin hasn't had a hit movie since "Red October", Oliver Stone not since "Natural Born Killers" and Eric Roberts has been kinda another Mickey Rourke.

Perhaps their career judgement is their political judgement.

And Jessica Lange is way over the hill in any case.

[TC Rider]

Defund the Left, Boycott Hollywood.

The biggest contributer to Dem causes is Haam Sabin, owner and producer of the Power Rangers.

[Welsh Rabbit]

Alec Baldwin hasn't had a hit movie since "Red October"

I only remember Beetlejuice. I've seen him in several other movies over the years, but they've made so little an impression on me, I couldn't name you one. He won't be remembered in ten years (probably sooner).

[valleygal]

You can still read Medved in Jewish World Review, online, I believe. I agree, he's good. :)

[Ground0]

All the "Stars" I see mentioned are left wing wackos from the land of fruits and nuts. They all jumped on the Clinton political bandwagon because they thought that it would actually help their popularity. And for a time, it might have. Martin Sheen is not the president, but he plays one on T.V.; and that's good enough for many mind numbed robots out there. Problem is, he's not, yet still thinks he is.

One true American star that I'll mention hails from Michigan and could care less if his politics enhance his popularity...in fact he knows it won't...he just wants to enlighten all the robots to the err of their ways.

Ted Nugent is a star due to his unwavering commitment to the America most of us grew up in, believe in and desire to rise again and prosper.

He doesn't play a politician on T.V.; but eats "real" politicians for lunch when he does debate them on T.V.. (I.E. debating Diane Fienstien on gun control)

Participating in politics is not akin to a popularity contest and is best left to those who recognize the inherant dangers involved in such an endeavor. All others should observe from a safe distance...as in watching a hockey game on T.V..

[xJones]

This could be so different if the 9/ll hijackers had swiped planes out of LAX and attacked Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Barbra in Malibu wouldn't even have had a bad fingernail day, but maybe reality might have even penetrated her skull.

[Schatze]

And speaking of the Mondales, isn't Eleanor Mondale a friend of the Clintons???

Rumor has it that Eleanor is a "special" friend of Bill's, if you get my drift.

[Cindy]

LINKS OF INTEREST:

ALBAWABA.com - THE Middle East Gateway: "LIGHTS, CAMERA ACTION? HOLLYWOOD STARS TAKE A STAND ON IRAQ" (102702)

WorldNetDaily.com: "HAS ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT BEEN HIJACKED? Terror Alliances, Radical Politics Revealed at Forefront" by Sherrie Gossett (110402)

CAMPUS-WATCH.org

COLLEGE BRIEFING.org

WIRED.com NEWS: "DEAR SADDAM, HOW CAN I HELP?" by Brian McWilliams (102802)

THE IRAQI PRESIDENCY HOME PAGE & E-MAIL BOX (English/Arab)