One industry won't back Fred Thompson [Hollyweird] (Rudy & Mitt have fans there, though)

The Los Angeles Times ^ | September 7, 2007 | TINA DAUNT

[2ndDivisionVet]

POLITICIAN turned actor turned politician Fred Thompson may have a Hollywood strategy when it comes to his presidential run (after all, he did announce his candidacy this week on the Jay Leno show), but he'll have a hard time getting a Hollywood audience.

For starters, the entertainment industry Democrats are much too busy shuttling between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton fundraisers to even think about helping out a fellow actor, let alone a conservative Republican one. And the Hollywood Republicans -- what few there are -- already have yard signs out for the far more moderate Rudolph W. Giuliani.

So what's Thompson to do? Take the show on the road and rake in the dollars elsewhere. The place that made the former Tennessee senator rich as an actor cannot be counted on to pour cash into his presidential run, especially if he's going around bashing gay marriage and Roe vs. Wade. The minute he comes out strong against embryonic stem cell research -- a fervent Hollywood cause -- he'll be banished from every cocktail party north of Sunset Boulevard.

"You're asking me if people here will support Fred Thompson?" said Donna Bojarsky, a longtime industry political consultant. "How do I put it? No. No. And no."

Politico Andy Spahn, who has enough Hollywood clients to pack a Directors Guild gala, was more diplomatic.

"I think he will raise some relationship money from people who know him and have worked with him," Spahn said. "But I don't think he'll raise much beyond that here. His political views are out of sync with the community."

And Spahn is not just talking about the Hollywood Democrats. Thompson's political views are at odds with those of many industry Republicans, who tend to be fiscally conservative but socially progressive.

[2ndDivisionVet]

How is this a bad thing? Notice that Rudy has supporters there? What does that tell you?

[donnab]

now I really know that I am headed in the right direction with support for Fred.

[GregB]

Oh no we are doomed!!!!

[RKV]

Yep. If Hollywierd doesn’t like Fred, then that’s a recommend to me.

[counterpunch]

Frederalists unite!

 

[darkangel82]

Wow, the rats and rinos don’t like Fred. No surprise there.

[peggybac]

I’ve worked with several conservative actors, producers and directors. Granted, there are few but there are strong conservatives in the business and more than you’d think. I found that the “nobodies” were the most conservative, perhaps because they hadn’t been brainwashed or jaded yet.

[Tears of a Clown]

If hollywood doesn’t like him, that just makes me like him even more.

[Bender2]

Well, the Hollywood crowd... really did Algore and John eFing Kerry good, didn't they?

Large scan of above at my FR Homepage

[Disambiguator]

Thompson's political views are at odds with those of many industry Republicans, who tend to be fiscally conservative but socially progressive.

Anyone who is "progressive" in any way is no Republican (RINO voter, maybe). Social Progressives are proponents of "social justice", which is an anathema to fiscal conservatism.

I call BS on this label.

[elizabetty]

Are you saying the actor/candidate is lucky not to have any people from his own industry supporting him?

Would and endorsement from Dennis Miller be a bad thing? Joel Surnow?

[Politicalmom]

So much for that “Fred’s gone Hollywood” drek.

[bray]

SoddomWood prefers a more open gummit, communism. Why they don’t just move to the Peoples Paradise i$ a my$tery?

Pray for W and Our Troops

[HerrBlucher]

Did Hollywood support Reagan?

Fred doesn’t need the support of the whackjobs in hollyweird. Those supporting Rudy now could easily change as Fred forges ahead.

The vote that Fred will get that very few are talking about right now, is moderate democrats....and lots of them. No dem I know likes Hillary, and many are giving Fred serious consideration, despite his conservatism just as they gave Reagan their vote.

[tarheelswamprat]

"You're asking me if people here will support Fred Thompson?" said Donna Bojarsky, a longtime industry political consultant. "How do I put it? No. No. And no."

Math really isn't her strong suit, is it? /grin

[wardaddy]

socially progressive?

fecal matter marriage and babykilling are socially prog?

i hate hollywood

[Enchante]

It would be a scary thing if Hollyweird did turn out with any significant support of Fred. That would make him suspect as a RINO. Let him do his fundraising with real Americans.

[RedMonqey]

>Why they don?t just move to the Peoples Paradise i$ a my$tery?

Because capitalists tip better than communists!!

[Finny]

Yes. My hackles go up when I hear, "I'm fiscally conservative, but socially progressive." Hello??? Socially "progressive" causes are fiscally irresponsible!

Hmmmmmph.

[tarheelswamprat]

The vote that Fred will get that very few are talking about right now, is moderate democrats....and lots of them.

It's too soon to tell if he will get them, but you're correct, that's the group he's aiming for. "Moderate Democrats" = "Reagan Democrats". It seems that so many of those here who feel betrayed by the GOP party leadership fail to notice that there are millions of Democrats out there who are shocked and appalled by the DNC and Democrat leadership.

In the words of Obi Wan, I sense a great disturbance in the Force out there in flyover country, and I believe the next election is going to be a bloodbath for incumbents of both parties.