Hollywood Liberals Hate Free Speech

ChronWatch.com ^ | April 16, 2003 | Kevin Willmann

[stratman1969]

Actor/Director Tim Robbins hates free speech.

So does his long-term partner, Susan Sarandon, as well as Janeane Garafolo, Martin Sheen, The Dixie Chicks, Mike Farrell, Sean Penn, Michael Moore, Harry Belafonte, Ed Asner, Danny Glover, Chrissie Hynde, and other ''anti-war'' celebrities.

They only love free speech when they are using it to bash the military, President Bush, and America, both in our own media and overseas. However, when the American consumer, offended by their blame-America first rhetoric, reacts with petitions and boycotts, the words ''blacklist,'' ''undermining free speech'' and ''suppressing dissent'' are used by these celebrities.

Hollywood is scared, because it is getting the message where it hurts; in the wallet. Movie receipts for March were down 18 percent. Martin Sheen lost an advertising spot with Visa, and the Dixie Chicks may lose Lipton tea as the sponsor of their tour. Janeane Garafolo’s new ABC-TV show is now the target of boycotts. And then there is the duo of Sarandon and Robbins.

The couple has signed ''statements of conscience'' against both the war on terrorism and liberation of Iraq. They have spoken at rallies sponsored by communist front groups A.N.S.W.E.R. and ''Not In Our Name.'' At the Academy Awards, they flashed Winston Churchill’s ''V'' symbol, which the ''peace'' movement hijacked from the inspirational British leader. They used every public opportunity to push their views on the people of America, who gave them the gift of fame by supporting their work over the years.

Now Sarandon and Robbins are getting a response they don’t appreciate one bit. The United Way canceled a fundraising appearance by Sarandon after complaints by members, fearing the event would become divisive. Most recently, the Baseball Hall of Fame canceled a tribute to their 1988 baseball movie Bull Durham for the same reason.

Robbins used an appearance at the National Press Club on Tuesday to lash out at those of us who dared get uppity with celebrities like him. He accused the White House and conservative media of a conspiracy to silence dissenting voices. Additionally, Robbins also accused the President of fracturing unity after September 11, 2001 with the ''either you are with us or you are with the terrorists'' speech. All this outrage is because these two pampered celebrities didn’t get their egos stroked for some 15-year-old movie.

I’ve got some advice for you, Tim: ''Grow up, little man!''

[Wondervixen]

>>I hope all of those high school grads (the hollywood leftists) end up on 3am infomercials or in low budget porn.

Low budget porn? Isn't that every movie Susan Sarandon has flashed her cleavage and nekkid boobies in?

[Wondervixen]

>>...........and every time a terrorist strike hits America, we will convert abandoned lots into baseball fields for the children”.

You mean good ol' Euro SOCCER fields dontcha?

[sorroworechoes]

organized boycotts "freak you out" - you mean like the very organized boycott that the Extreme Religious LEFT carried out against Dr. Laura Schlessinger? Did THAT one freak you out? I sure hope there are records of you speaking out in support of Dr. Laura against the extreme left-wing bigots who harrassed her and helped damage her livlihood. Otherwise you're just a...hypocrite....

[ODC-GIRL]

Not piling on, just responding to a point you made.

Many Americans have been biting their tongues for years now, for fear of repercussions over that day's latest politically correct darling.

Fear of punishment, such as mandatory Sensitivity (re-education) Training or outright losing their unrelated job for some momentary spoken word that was just fine yesterday.

Liberals have imposed this fear on us. The military has spent valuable training hours attempting to comply by putting all their forces through HOURS of this kind of indoctrination. We now have to think three times about saying almost ANYTHING, for FEAR that it could be offensive to someone within earshot. We have had "duct tape slapped over our mouths" and I, for one, am sick of it.

While I will not be writing letters to movie studios, actors, or television stations, I will not be spending my hard-earned dollars on entertainments featuring these people any longer. It is time that they feel the same thing we have been feeling with the imposition of the PC culture on our daily lives, while they go about with impunity, bashing my religion, my country, my President, and my values. I won't play their game any more. I'm not alone and they don't like it. Too bad, so sad.

[Pharlap]

Please do not presume what kind of America I can live in. Mr. Robbins is entitled to protest the policies of our government. Those who agree with our government's policies are equally as free to shun Mr. Robbins. Why are you so upset that people exercise their freedom not to associate (i.e., boycott) with Mr. Robbins. What is that makes you so intolerant of their behavior. For years those on the left have acted against others whose opinions they disapprove. Universities and colleges have adopted speech codes that strictly limit one's right to freedom of speech in the name of concern for the sensitivities of others. Conservatives have been denied the opportunity to speak on campuses myriad times. When is the last time you heard Justice Thomas speak at an institution of higher learning. Gay and lesbain groups, and their supporters, used the boycott to get Laura Schlessinger off television and tried the same with Rush Limbaugh. Did these boycotts also bother you. If so, then you have been bothered by the kind of America you live in for quite some time, and must be, by now a very unhappy and fearful person. If not, then why are you so selective in the use of boycotting?

[nicmarlo]

>>"We don't agree with his SELF and that's why he's angry; his SELF is WRONG." We call this Malignant Narcissism.

M. Scott Peck calls them "People of the Lie."

Good phrase; never heard "People of the Lie" before......it fits, so very well!

[Ronzo]

Now wait a minute... use thoughtful judgement. Hollywood still has some good eggs, and be careful not to miss an amazing story just because it has one 'doofus' actor in it.

I totally agree with you. But, it's much easier (and more eye-catching) to type:

"BOYCOTT HOLLYWOOD!!!"

than to type

"USE DISCERNMENT AND GOOD JUDGMENT WHEN DECIDING WHAT HOLLYWOOD MOVIES YOU SHOULD SEE, AND MAKE SURE TO INVESTIGATE THE PUBLICALLY STATED POLITICAL INCLINATIONS OF THE ACTORS, DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, ETC., SO THAT YOU DON'T INADVERTENTLY SUPPORT A LEFTIST COMMIE SCUMBAG WITH YOUR HARD EARNED DOLLARS."

Call it laziness....

[Lady Eileen]

......funny.

I like your tag line.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

The Hollyweirdos oppose violence only when it is used against the violent. When violence is used against the innocent, they just love it. Hence their support for death row inmates, abortionists, and mass-murdering Communist and Islamo-fascist tyrants. The pattern is too obvious to ignore any longer.

Absolutely well said.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

If these crybabies are being silenced, why do we still hear them??

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

What "freaks me out" is the idea of pro-war people--which I am myself--wanting to punish ant-war people for speaking out, and deter others from doing the same.

You just don't get it. Nobody is denying Barfalo anything. She's free to spew her anti-American venom. And I'm free to disagree with her via my wallet and remote control.

I haven't emailed ABC or anything in protest of her show. Personally I think her show should go on so it can fall flat on its face.