Not wanting to put hard-earned money in the pockets of someone whose actions and/or words make you retch is different than saying that their politics trumps their proven excellence as a performer.
Barbra Streisand is a heckuva singer, but I have never purchased her records or CDs. Aaron Sorkin is a fantastic writer, but I grab the remote when West Wing or American President comes on the tube. Moby is a talented producer and musician, if more than a little bit derivative, but you won't find any of his works in my stereo. Paul Newman is a great actor, but I never buy his salad dressing, lemonade, or whatever else. I had admired the beauty and talent of Julia Louis-Dreyfus for years before she became a legendary supporting player on Seinfeld. I had always enjoyed the work of Jack Black before he came out as a frothing Bush-hater; now I will wait for free cable for School of Rock. I am glad that Charles Grodin has wasted his time doing crap like Beethoven and Clifford, lest I be tempted to see him turn in another strong performance like in Midnight Run.
On the other hand, I have always thought Alec Baldwin was a hack; that Robert Redford was overrated, as is Ted Danson, one of the most fortunate men in the history of Hollywood (Leonardo DiCaprio takes the title); Janeane Garofolo was only good for a few snickers before she substituted radicalism for alcoholism; Mike Farrell has always been riding the coattails of Alan Alda (who, years after being thought of as the archetypical Hollywood liberal, is strangely silent).
Now, to the really silly part of your post, Larry. OF COURSE I won't read an article by a writer whose politics I don't like! Life is too short to get riled up by Dowd or Ivins or Cronkite or Krugman on purpose. Puhleeeeze.
I was thinking of people like Ezra Pound, not partisans (hacks?) writing on political subjects for dailies or monthlies.