SAG Pres. Melissa Gilbert on passing of former SAG President Ronald Reagan (barf alert)

Screen Actors Guild (SAG) ^ | 6/7/04 | Melissa Gilbert

[Wolfstar]

Los Angeles, CA (June 5, 2004) – Screen Actors Guild (SAG) President Melissa Gilbert issued the following statement on the death of former President Ronald Reagan, who served as president of SAG from 1947 to 1952 and again from 1959 to 1960:

"Ronald Reagan presided over Screen Actors Guild at one of the most challenging moments in our union's history, as the rise of television significantly impacted the compensation and working conditions for the nation's screen actors. Under his tenure, SAG grew significantly in size and influence as the Guild tackled issues ranging from runaway production, to fair compensation, to unity in an increasingly complex industry – all issues that remain timely to working actors today.

"It can be said that Ronald Reagan got his start in politics at Screen Actors Guild. He served as president of the union twice, from 1947 to 1952 and again from 1959 to 1960. While President Reagan's politics grew conservative over the years and, at times, at odds with the nation's labor movement, there can be no question that he devoted years of his life to advancing the wages, benefits and working conditions of his fellow actors. He leaves behind an enduring legacy to this industry, as he does to the country as a whole. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family today."

[Wolfstar]

Notice that Gilbert couldn't resiste taking a slap at RWR's conservatism. Also notice how cold and grudging the tone of the statment is. I think, after President Reagan is buried, we FReepers ought to pour out our feelings about modern-day Hollywood in letters and emails to SAG.

[cvq3842]

Is this the woman from Little House on the Prairie?

[Wolfstar]

I've been waiting all weekend for some kind of acknowledgement of RWR's passing from SAG. This pathetic, grudging couple of paragraphs is the best they can do.

[Phantom Lord]

Where's the slap?

Also, she is a conservative republican.

[GSWarrior]

I think you're being a little hard on Melissa, IMO.

[Wolfstar]

Is this the woman from Little House on the Prairie?

Yes. She's the current president of SAG and a liberal Democrat, although she's married to Bruce Boxleitner, who is a Republican.

[PolitBase]

She's a conservative.

[Flashman_at_the_charge]

Yes she is.
http://imdb.com/name/nm0001271/

[farmer18th]

Is this the woman from Little House on the Prairie?

Yes, she was the little empty-headed one.

[TXBubba]

I missed the slap also. Seems like she stated facts to me. Is she really a conservative Republican? I don't really know where she stands.

[zarf]

I think you're being ridiculous. This is a fine tribute from the union.

The death of the President has made some here on FR as sensitive as a kitten on Viagra.

[Redcloak]

I don't see anything wrong or disrespectful in what she said. She's saying that Reagan, despite personal misgivings he may have had about the labor movement in general, did the job he was entrusted with as SAG president.

[mhking]

Last I checked she and her husband (B5's Bruce Boxleitner) were both conservatives.

[Phantom Lord]

My research and search skills are not the best, but during the campaign for the SAG presidency she was fought tooth and nail because of her conservatism. Someone with the required skills should pull up the old threads about it.

[Wolfstar]

Actually, no, she's not. Her husband is a Republican. Here is the slap: "While President Reagan's politics grew conservative over the years and, at times, at odds with the nation's labor movement..." President Reagan died on Saturday morning. It took SAG until this morning to put those limp couple of paragraphs up on their website.

[Wolfstar]

No, she's not.

[blackdog]

Gilbert went thru her own hell with the SAG. It was in the early 90's when she was elected, but then refuted from actually taking her post. She was too conservative for Hollyweird. Her sttement is the best she could do without canibalism from the ranks kicking upstairs.

The SAG is a bunch of animals.

[TXBubba]

I would be very pleased to hear that she is.