Actor-director Rob Reiner campaigns against union dues measure (Meathead Alert)

ap on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 9/30/05 | Beth Fouhy - ap

[NormsRevenge]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Actor-director Rob Reiner campaigned Thursday against Proposition 75, a ballot initiative pushed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that would require public employee unions to get permission to use members' dues for political purposes.

Reiner, a Democrat and longtime political activist often mentioned as a potential challenger to Schwarzenegger, told an audience that Prop. 75, known as "paycheck protection" by its supporters, was designed purely to stifle political speech.

"The things I care about - education, health care, energy, environment - I need, we all need, to have everybody's voice heard," Reiner told a small audience of teachers, nurses and other activists. "If a democracy is to work properly, we must not, we dare not, have any voice suppressed."

Supporters of Prop. 75 complain that the state's major government unions - especially the powerful California Teachers Association - wield too much influence over the Democrat-controlled Legislature.

Eric Beach, a spokesman for the Prop. 75 campaign, said if Reiner were concerned about the "voices" of working people, he would want them to be able to choose whether to give their money to political causes.

"Why would Mr. Reiner or any of his union friends not want to give everyday workers a voice?" Beach said. "Paycheck protection is a simple concept - give workers a right to choose how their political dues are spent, and stop taking money from members without asking permission."

Unions have spent nearly $50 million so far to kill Prop. 75 and several other "year of reform" initiatives Schwarzenegger has placed on a special election ballot Nov. 8.

Several audience members spoke, including one woman who beseeched Reiner to challenge Schwarzenegger next year.

"People want movie stars and television stars and however good (state Treasurer) Phil Angelides and (state Controller) Steve Westly are, the way to beat Arnold is with Rob Reiner and Warren Beatty," she said.

Reiner laughed but said nothing. Neither he nor fellow actor-director Beatty, who has become a vocal Schwarzenegger critic, have ruled out challenging the Republican governor, but neither is expected to run.

Aides say Reiner is focusing his political energies next year on passing a ballot measure to provide preschool to every California child.

Reiner starred as "Method" Mike Satiric in the 1970s television series "All in the Family." He went on to be an accomplished director of films including "When Harry Met Sally" and "A Few Good Men." His latest movie, "Rumor Has It," starring Jennifer Anniston, is coming out later this year.

[normy]

I can just see Arnold during the debate "Warren, buddy, your so vain you probably think being governor is all about you. And Rob, your called meat head, do we really want meat head running California?"

[chesley]

If lierals couldn't coerce money from people throught taxes, union dues, etc., well, hell, they wouldn't havemuch of it.

If they really believed the people would accept their ideas, there wouldn't be such a s fuss over control of the Courts.

If they really loved America, or even humanity in general, they wouldn't be so anti-American about everything, they wouldn't support abortion, they would be in facor of incaarceration of criminals and the death penalty for certain crimes.

But not to worry. They have a really good reason for their foolishness. The Devil made 'em do it. I mean, seriously.

[trublu]

"Reiner starred as "Method" Mike Satiric in the 1970s television series "All in the Family."


It's "Meathead" Mike Stivic. Someone needs to turn their spellchecker off.

[chesley]

Durn it. I shoulda used the spell-check

[wideawake]

Reiner starred as "Method" Mike Satiric in the 1970s television series "All in the Family."

Or "Meathead" Mike Stivic.

Quality reportage there at the Californian.

[uncitizen]

If lierals couldn't coerce money from people throught taxes, union dues, etc., well, hell, they wouldn't havemuch of it.

If they really believed the people would accept their ideas, there wouldn't be such a s fuss over control of the Courts.

If they really loved America, or even humanity in general, they wouldn't be so anti-American about everything, they wouldn't support abortion, they would be in facor of incaarceration of criminals and the death penalty for certain crimes.

Thank you. That's an excellent summation as to why someone like Meathead would care about an issue like this.

[RinaseaofDs]

I'm going to see what I can do here to get Tim Eyman to start an initiative making mandatory dues payment to unions illegal in WA state.

The WEA, Machinists, etc. all live by this. They also raise their dues annually to the point where we paid $964 last year to the NEA,WEA,EEA (Everett EA) combo.

The way they are getting around all of this now is they say, "Well, the representation fee and the total dues amount are essentially equal, so . . ."

[Republican Red]

One of the funniest South Park episodes had Rob Reiner coming to South Park to make it smoke free.

Kyle: But... isn't that, kind of, lying?

Rob Reiner: Uh, we're just leveling out the playing field. [dabs his forehead] The tobacco companies lie to you about the dangers of smoking. If we're gonna take them down, we've gotta lie right back! [begins to sniff around after detecting cigarette smoke, then focuses in on the source. The boys look as well. The source is a man wearing a Buds Light Beer har, enjoying a drink and a smoke at the bar] Oh my God! [coughs loudly, but fails to get the man's attention. He rises from the booth and walks up to the smoker] Excuse me!

BUDS Man: Yes?

Rob Reiner: Would you mind putting that death stick out?!

BUDS Man: But, uh, this is a bar.

Rob Reiner: Isn't smoking illegal in bars here?

Bartender: Not in Colorado

Rob Reiner: Oh my God! What kind of backward hick state is this?!

BUDS Man: Look man, I work fourteen hours a day at the saw mill. I just got off work and I need to relax.

Rob Reiner: Well when I relax I just go to my vacation house in Hawaii!

BUDS Man: [getting irritated] I ain't got a vacation house in Hawaii!

Rob Reiner: Yuh your vacation house in Mexico, then, whatever it is! Look, you are putting my life and these boys' lives in danger by smoking that in here! And I'm not gonna tolerate it! I will end smoking in bars in Colorado! There will be no more smoking here!

South Park Reiner Episode

[magslinger]

The Spelling Chequer:

Eye halve a spelling chequer

It came with my pea sea

It plainly marques four my revue

Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a key and type a word

And weight four it two say

Weather eye am wrong oar write

It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid

It nose bee fore two long

And eye can put the error rite

Its rare lea ever wrong.

Eye have run this poem threw it

I am shore your pleased two no

Its letter perfect awl the weigh

My chequer tolled me sew.

[Wallace T.]

I suspect that if the tax returns for Reiner or Beatty were made public, we would find their charitable contributions to be minimal. I also would find it hard to believe that either man's children attend public schools. No diversity or feel good education for their kids, thank you. Additionally, like Ariana Huffington and Teresa Kerry, I would bet their respective spouses (Michele Singer and Annette Bening) drive gas-guzzling high end SUVs. Other than on a movie set, I doubt either Reiner or Beatty have ever stepped on a bus or rail car since their pre-celebrity days.

Limousine liberals are perhaps the most egregious hypocrites in America.

[DumpsterDiver]

Reiner, a Democrat and longtime political activist meathead often mentioned as a potential challenger to Schwarzenegger, told an audience that Prop. 75, known as "paycheck protection" by its supporters, was designed purely to stifle political speech.

That man lies like a rug.

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

That's right, Meathead: dead from the neck up!

[radioman]

Rob Reiner runs the Screen Actors Guild. This union is so powerful in California they actually collect taxes from the public.

I can understand the need for the children of the stars to have lots of money, but couldn't the stars give them an allowance instead of the taxpayers footing the bill for their lavish lifestyles?
.

[Old Seadog]

Meathead then, meathead now.

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

How anyone could oppose this and maintain any semblance of credibility is beyond me....

[jscottdavis_for_48th_district]

Yes, and only a liberal would oppose this. They have no agneda and want to hide the fact they'll oppose whatever move the Republican Party makes while using your union dues to do so (i.e. unions endorsing a certain candidate).

~Scott~

[kevinm13]

["Reiner starred as "Method" Mike Satiric in the 1970s television series "All in the Family." "]

Not sure where this came from as the character was known as Mike "Meathead" STIVIC. Don't they have fact checkers anymore?

By the way, UNIONS SUCK. They are unnecessary now and a way to get liberal Democratic funding. They serve no useful purpose in today's world with employment regulations and laws providing most workers with lots of help. Unions shouldn't be allowed to spend a single penny on political actions or contributions to campaigns or candidates.

[BigBobber]

The last paragraph is like an obituary. Reiner is a has-been.

The biography should have begun: Rob Reiner only got a job in television because of his well-know father, Carl Reiner, who actually has some talent. The younger Reiner, like the children of many show business stars, has been trading on his name his whole career."

[Corin Stormhands]

Several audience members spoke, including one woman who beseeched Reiner to challenge Schwarzenegger next year.

Meathead vs. Beefcake?

[NRA1995]

Obviously submitted by some very stupid young reporter.....