[smith288]

I thought Gilbert, herself, is conservative which is why the election of being president of the guild was so suprising...

[KriegerGeist]

"She actually said on the air yesterday, that these people who are upset with Hollywood “should just get over it”. Disagree and move on; don’t endanger peoples’ livelihood. Well, Ms. Gilbert, people are not getting over it and it would be wise for you to remember who pays for the salaries of your members."

Blacklist indeed! Most of Hollywierd is left-wing liberals, so how are they going to "blacklist" their own?

Now, as to the public "blacklisting" them with their TV remote controls, movie attendance, video/DVD rental & buying and music purchases, I for one believe that is "The American Way".

My freedom is to buy or not buy what I choose, to view or not view what I choose, to pay for or refrain from paying for entertainment I no longer would enjoy.

Funny thing about this "blacklisting" charge. Was not going to see the movie Chicago or Gangs of New York "blacklisting"? If so, the what do we call going to see God and Generals or Lord of the Rings I & II or in record numbers? "white-listing"?

[AndyTheBear]

Has anyone considered the contrast between how the Left wants to be treated when they say things that seem bigotted and piss off a lot of people, and the way they treated Senator Lott in the same situation.

Moreover if one is looking for "blacklisting", lets take a look at the percent of University faculty and journalists which are Pubbies vs those which are Rat, Green, or Commie.

[Pontiac]

She actually said on the air yesterday, that these people who are upset with Hollywood “should just get over it”. Disagree and move on; don’t endanger peoples’ livelihood.

These loud mouthed thespians are endangering the LIVES of American soldiers, the US economy and Americans in general with all of their anti-American rhetoric.

With their anti-American screeds there are encouraging this petty dictator Saadam to hold out for international opinion to dissuade President Bush from toppling him from power.

This show of disunity in the American populace also encourages the hold outs in the UN Security Council to continue to hold up UN compliance with invasion.

All of this delay the day of invasion of Iraq, which allows Saadam extra, time to prepare his defenses. A better-prepared Iraq could mean more American dead and a more costly war.

This in my mind is giving aid and comfort to the enemy. I say hang’em from the tallest tree as a warning to those would follow their example.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

More crap from the Hollyweird Left.

Remind me not to watch Little House on the Prairie anymore, either. And quit whining about the Blacklist

[Ditto]

HERO would like to address some of these statements. Ms. Gilbert seems concerned about a return of the McCarthy Era and the Hollywood “Blacklist”.

First of all Senator McCarthy had absolutely nothing to do with Hollywood or any hearings on Hollywood. Those were held in the House, not the Senate and they were held several years before McCarthy began to speak out. All of McCarthy's efforts were directed at investigating communist influences the US State Dept and the US Dept of Defense. As the Venona files released in the early 1990s and the release of KGB archives has shown, McCarthy was correct in his concerns about Soviet spies in these federal agencies. McCarthy could have cared less about Hollywood. It was not on his scope.

Second. I would reference Ayn Rand who did testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee on Communist (actually pro-Stalin) influence in Hollywood. She confirmed it was there but pointed out that it was the right of these individuals to express their views. But she also pointed out that even though they have that right, no one else should be compelled to pay those people to express those views. i.e., the very concept of a Blacklist is nonsense. If I don't want to hire you because of your political views, or I don't want to pay to see your film because of your views, it is perfectly within my rights to do so. If you have the courage of your convictions it should not matter to you if I "blacklist" you by withholding my money or patronage.

[MEGoody]

"The American viewing public has just as much right to register their anger by changing their buying decisions based on any number of factors including changing the channel or choosing what movie to see."

Exactly. If they don't want people getting upset with them and not going to their movies, then they need to shut up.

I do not have a problem with a calm, well-reasoned anti-war position. What we've been getting from Hollyweird, however, is pure hatred for Bush - it doesn't really have anything to do with the war.

[HairOfTheDog]

This is a good article. I don't give a lot of weight to the opinions of actors, but this article does make the case for their own self-interest in not letting us ever know about their real lives.

But what hasn’t been talked about much is the other reason people are angry.  Actors that we have grown up with, and watched every movie they made, actors like Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman, Martin Sheen, Barbra Streisand and others have "stepped out of  their make believe roles."  In some cases, their outspoken views have forever changed the perception that the movie going public has for them.  We can’t look at them the same anymore, the wall between make believe and reality is shattered.  So it’s not just the Hollywood celebrities who are losing in this mess, it’s the movie going public.

We have spent almost a century looking to Hollywood to entertain us, provide an escape for a few hours, and inspire us.  And Hollywood gets compensated very well for providing that for us.  Well, the problem now is, they aren’t entertaining us, they are lecturing to us.  They are disparaging us as Americans, and taking pot shots at our president.  It’s all very personal and it’s all very wrong. 

I grew up loving Laura Ingalls. She was my hero. So you see, Miss Gilbert. I don't like to see you doing anything that would get you in trouble with Pa Ingalls. It blows the image.

[Mo1]

The movie going public and the people who watch television afford these actors the life styles they enjoy. These actors can continue to make their choices on what they choose to speak out about, but the American viewing public has just as much right to reject them and their views when they see fit. That is America, the country that gives us the freedom to choose.

You got that right and Hollywood can Kiss My ***!

As for Gilbert and trying to blame the Government ...

TRY LOOKING IN THE MIRROR HONEY .. the government didn't make YOU and the other Nit Wits bash this country

[LibertarianLiz]

The late Nigel Hawthorne once said this about keeping his homosexuality quiet:

He once said of his relationship: "Flaunting your sexuality offends people and what's the point in doing that if you are trying to win them over?"

I think the same could be said of actors and their political views.