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Actors Grammer, Priestley and Duvall Denounce Anti-War Celebs
Media Research ^ | CNS

Posted on 04/29/2003 5:36:34 PM PDT by RepPhil

At Saturday's White House Correspondents Association dinner, actors Kelsey Grammer, Jason Priestley, Robert Duvall and Ron Silver all told CNSNews.com reporter Marc Morano how they disagreed with Michael Moore's anti-Bush rant at the Academy Awards and wish their fellow celebrities would refrain from making comments about politics.

Priestley, Morano relayed, “lamented the excessive coverage of anti-war celebrities by what he termed the 'liberal media.'” And, Morano learned, “CNN's Bob Franken did not like Fox News's use of the phrase 'we' when covering the U.S. armed forces during the war.”

An excerpt from Morano's April 28 story about what the actors told him before the April 26 dinner at the Washington Hilton:

Hollywood celebrities attending the 89th annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington on Saturday night made it a point to condemn celebrity anti-war activists.

Actor Kelsey Grammer, who plays the lead role in NBC's "Frasier" sitcom, said he refused to watch this year's Academy Awards because of the anti-war "crap" that fellow celebrities spewed.

Grammer said he was spared filmmaker Michael Moore's anti-war acceptance speech and attack on the Bush administration at the March 23rd Academy Awards. "I didn't hear it because I didn't watch [the Academy Awards], Grammer told CNSNews.com.

"I wasn't interested. I knew that that kind of crap was going to be there and I thought, I am not interested," Grammer added.

While accepting an Oscar for his anti-gun documentary "Bowling For Columbine," Moore said, "We live in a time where we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons...Shame on you, Mr. Bush, shame on you."

Grammer called Moore's movie "a one-sided film" and blamed the media for giving so much publicity to Moore's anti-war speech.

"The media just loves to pay attention to whatever is happening that makes the most noise," Grammer explained.

Jason Priestley of "Beverly Hills 90210" television fame, agreed with Grammer and lamented the excessive coverage of anti-war celebrities by what he termed the "liberal media."

"I think more people should keep their opinions to themselves," Priestley said. He was particularly incensed by Moore's acceptance speech.

"It was shocking. I did not believe that was the forum to voice your opinions. Michael Moore is allowed to have opinions and his opinions are valid like everyone else's opinion, but I just didn't think the Academy Awards were the place to voice them in that manner," he explained.

'Keep their mouths shut'

Actor Robert Duvall said he is not a fan of Michael Moore, and he lashed out at Hollywood political activists.

"They should keep their mouths shut," Duvall said.

Asked if the media over-emphasizes celebrity opinions, actor Ron Silver emphatically agreed.

"I do, because at the end of the day, who cares? There are more important things on the table. But if they wanted to use Natalie Maines (of the Dixie Chicks) or Tim Robbins or me, or whomever, that is their business," Silver said.

Silver, a cofounder of the Creative Coalition, a generally liberal Hollywood activist organization, was an ardent supporter of the war in Iraq.

Asked if he has received any flak from other celebrities such as fellow Creative Coalition founder Susan Sarandon for his outspoken support of the war, Silver quipped, "Absolutely none, absolutely none, we just don't talk anymore."

Silver also dismissed Moore's acceptance speech,, saying, "I don't listen to Michael Moore...I didn't agree with him."...

CNN's Bob Franken did not like Fox News's use of the phrase "we" when covering the U.S. armed forces during the war.

"I disagree with the Fox approach to it. I believe it was jingoistic, but that's their approach to it. They would disagree with me, I suspect," Franken told CNSNews.com.

"We have to be remember and even those of us who are in the embed [program] have to remember, it is 'they,' not 'we'. It's just an important distinction. We serve our country by doing that," Franken explained....

END of Excerpt

For the story in full: www.cnsnews.com

For more about the celebrities quoted, see their bios on the Internet Movie Database site:

For Kelsey Grammer: us.imdb.com

For Jason Priestley: us.imdb.com

For Robert Duvall: us.imdb.com

For Ron Silver: us.imdb.com

Before the Screen Actors Guild Awards in early March Grammer told Access Hollywood that he supported the war: “I’m pro, that simple.” See: www.mediaresearch.org

CyberAlert readers should be familiar with Silver, who has an ongoing role as a political strategist on NBC's West Wing, from his frequent pre-war cable appearances going head-to-head with anti-liberation of Iraq celebrities like Ed Asner.

As recounted in the February 11 CyberAlert, on FNC's Beltway Boys actor Ron Silver recounted his negative reaction to anti-Americanism in Europe and rejected the idea that it's Bush's fault. He even suggested that imposing U.S. values on the world isn't “a bad idea by the way, I kind of think our values are fairy universal and might be helpful.” See: www.mediaresearch.org


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: antiwar; hollyweird; hollywood; jasonpriestley; kelseygrammer; robertduvall; ronsilver
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I'm glad not everyone in Hollyweird is a lunatic.
1 posted on 04/29/2003 5:36:34 PM PDT by RepPhil
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To: RepPhil
Whew! I'm glad it's safe to watch "Frasier" tonight.

Mrs. B.S. Roberts would be distraught if I had to tell her that Kelsey was a flaming, left wing psycho.

2 posted on 04/29/2003 5:38:52 PM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (®)
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To: RepPhil
Actor Robert Duvall said he is not a fan of Michael Moore, and he lashed out at Hollywood political activists.
"They should keep their mouths shut," Duvall said.

I knew I liked Gen. Lee.....I'm Robert Duvall.

3 posted on 04/29/2003 5:41:14 PM PDT by stainlessbanner
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To: RepPhil
Robert Duvall: The Great Santini...these actors at realize that Americans and not Saddam Hussein pay their bills...DUHHHHHHH
4 posted on 04/29/2003 5:42:10 PM PDT by kellynla ( "C" 1/5 1st Mar Div '69 & '70 An Hoa, Viet Nam Semper Fi)
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To: RepPhil
"We have to be remember and even those of us who are in the embed [program] have to remember, it is 'they,' not 'we'. It's just an important distinction. We serve our country by doing that," Franken explained....

Oh, so they serve our country by denying they want the allied forces to win? Sounds like they are rationalizing their anti-American feelings.

5 posted on 04/29/2003 5:42:51 PM PDT by Always Right
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To: stainlessbanner
Robert Duvall is one of my favorite actors, because he's so good at what he does: acting. Too many of these Hollyweirdos skate by on minimal talent, good looks, and their 15 minutes of fame. Duvall works hard at his craft, and it shows. If you get the chance, check him out in "The Apostle", one of his best movies.
6 posted on 04/29/2003 5:50:29 PM PDT by egarvue (Martin Sheen is not my president...)
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To: RepPhil
Way to go Kelsey, Jason, Bob Duvall and Ron Silver!!!!!!! Very good news about these actors.

7 posted on 04/29/2003 5:52:52 PM PDT by CarmelValleyite
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To: egarvue
Didn't like "The Apostle" but loved "Tender Mercies" and "Lonsesome Dove"...

not to mention the recent "Gods and Generals".
8 posted on 04/29/2003 5:53:13 PM PDT by what's up
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts
Kelsey Grammer will go down as one of the top 3 comic-actors in television history.


Why? Because he has "it." That and he is a prominent figure in TWO LONG-running hit series. Frasier is actually better than Cheers ever was. And his portrayal of the villain(usually) Sideshow Bob on the Simpsons has always been magnificent.

Like I said, top 3 no doubt.
9 posted on 04/29/2003 5:55:00 PM PDT by Skywalk
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To: RepPhil
"They should keep their mouths shut," Duvall said.

He then (might have) aded:

I love the smell of Napalm in mornng. And if that lard ass Michael Moore really knew what freedom was, he would love that smell too!

10 posted on 04/29/2003 5:55:31 PM PDT by Michael.SF. (one of these days I will come up with something clever to put here)
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To: RepPhil
"Jason Priestley of "Beverly Hills 90210" television fame, agreed with Grammer and lamented the excessive coverage of anti-war celebrities by what he termed the "liberal media."

I'm actually blown away by this. I always thought Jason Priestley was another hollywood liberal.

11 posted on 04/29/2003 6:09:27 PM PDT by just looking
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To: just looking
I know. It's good to hear that a young hollywood celebrity has some commonsense.
12 posted on 04/29/2003 6:18:06 PM PDT by reformed_dem (For office use only)
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To: stainlessbanner; kellynla; egarvue; what's up
Actor Robert Duvall said he is not a fan of Michael Moore, and he lashed out at Hollywood political activists.

"They should keep their mouths shut," Duvall said.

Glad you all like him but that is just his screen name. His actual real name is Lucky Ned Pepper....."What's your intention?"

13 posted on 04/29/2003 6:19:35 PM PDT by RJCogburn (Yes, I will call it bold talk for a......)
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To: RepPhil
"CNN's Bob Franken did not like Fox News's use of the phrase "we" when covering the U.S. armed forces during the war."

"I disagree with the Fox approach to it. I believe it was jingoistic, but that's their approach to it. They would disagree with me, I suspect," Franken told CNSNews.com."

Franken is typical of the Commie Snooze Network employees. He consistently works for our enemies as does Jim Lehrer on PBS.



14 posted on 04/29/2003 6:26:38 PM PDT by hgro
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To: hgro
I'm looking forward to Gods and Generals coming out on DVD.
15 posted on 04/29/2003 6:37:56 PM PDT by Ciexyz
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To: RepPhil
"At Saturday's White House Correspondents Association dinner, actors Kelsey Grammer, Jason Priestley, Robert Duvall and Ron Silver......"

...what were all those celebs doing at the dinner in the first place??...this thing used to be more like a roast for politicians and the press....when did the Hollywood hot shots start showing up?.......and what do they want?....what could be more bizarre than that little twit Jennifer Love Hewett and Henry Kissinger at the same dinner party?

16 posted on 04/29/2003 6:38:58 PM PDT by STONEWALLS
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To: Ciexyz
I think I've already seen the DVD on the shelves.
17 posted on 04/29/2003 6:40:45 PM PDT by reg45
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To: Michael.SF.
"Michael Moore don't surf!"
18 posted on 04/29/2003 6:42:26 PM PDT by dighton (Amen-Corner Hatchet Team, Nasty Little Clique, Vulgar Horde)
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To: egarvue
He was also excellent in Colors, where he plays a cop on the LAPD anti-gang squad.
19 posted on 04/29/2003 6:43:04 PM PDT by traditionalist
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To: RepPhil
Robert Duvall bump. I've loved him since I saw him in Tender Mercies. So glad I can watch him.
20 posted on 04/29/2003 6:44:14 PM PDT by barker (If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything.)
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