John Grisham, Stephen King at Dem Fundraiser; Proud to be EX-Republicans

Richmond Times-Dispatch ^ | 09/24/2006 | Bob Gibson

[ItMatters2Me]

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- About 1,000 supporters of Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Jim Webb filled the Paramount Theater last night to hear readings by Webb and best-selling authors John Grisham and Stephen King. Webb is challenging Republican U.S. Sen. George Allen in the Nov. 7 election. Grisham, King and Webb each said he had been a Republican before switching parties. All three wore combat boots to honor Webb's son, Jimmy, a Marine lance corporal serving in Iraq. "How fitting that boots have become a symbol of this campaign," said Grisham, an Albemarle County resident. "On one side you have cowboy boots. A lot of these guys come from privileged backgrounds and to convince the public they are tough guys, they wear boots." "They are not real cowboys," Grisham said. "Willie Nelson said of our president, 'He ain't no cowboy, and he ain't from Texas.' The boots are part of a costume, part of an image. The trouble with political cowboys is they think they're tough, and to prove it they swagger around and they use macho language and they utter such wisdoms as 'Bring it on,' 'Mission accomplished' and here lately, 'Welcome to the real Virginia.'" His last reference was a paraphrase of Allen's remarks to S.R. Sidarth, a Webb volunteer with a camera, on Aug. 11. Sidarth, a University of Virginia student of Asian-Indian descent, joined musician Dave Matthews and other celebrities in the crowd. "Because they never saw the horror of combat, these cowboys are quick to decide that war is good and should be fought by the sons and daughters of others," Grisham said.

[zook]

This item should get the "As If Award" of the day!

[Stanimal]

Wasn't Grisham a DEMOCRAT state rep in Mississippi? When was he ever a Republican?

[Boris99]

I've read a number of his books. His main characters are often writers with democrat sensibilities. His depictions of the military are often inaccurate and are of the tin foil hat brigade perception of what the military is. (Redneck neanderthals secretly out to oppress coloreds and homer-sexuals) If I recall correctly Nixon is often referenced in a negative way in many of his stories. From the reading of his books, I never would have guessed that he would be registered as a Republican.

[Comus]

Both of them are horribly repetitive in their writing. The names change, but the stories don't.

[MuttTheHoople]

John Grisham was NEVER a Republican. He was a democratic State representative here in Mississippi and a trial lawyer until he hit it big with his first novel.

I heard him in 1992 at a Bill Clinton rally in Jackson, totally trashing George Bush, Sr., and making nasty commments about his cowardice in bailing out of an airplane while his rear gunner was unconscious.

Since then, I havent bought a book from John Grisham.

[in hoc signo vinces]

Exactly....more lies from the part that makes deceit a fun game to play...

[7thson]

I suggest if you sell their books at a yard sale, put up a sign that says,

Republicans: 50 cents

Democrats: 2 dollars.

[wideawake]

You're absolutely right.

Every election season, the airwaves and newspapers are full of quotes from people who say: "I am a dyed-in-the-wool GOP stalwart, but now I'm voting Democrat for the first time and you should too!"

It's as real and sincere as a TV commercial.

[RedRover]

Any reader (or ex-reader) of Stephen King knows that this is a lie. He's been banging on Republican with drive-by swipes from his earliest books. As you point out, King never fails to depict military men as deranged. Grisham's liberal politics are embedded in his plots. I stopped reading him years ago.

Come to think of it, I don't buy Webb's books anymore either. The three can pretend to be ex-Republicans, but I'm a real ex-reader of their books.

[T Lady]

Frankly I'm not a bit surprised. If a spineless, money-grubbing celebrity thinks it'll hurt his or her credibility to even remotely support this President, they'll say or do anything to get back in with their fellow celebrity pals.

...Stephen King has NEVER struck me as being a conservative, so it's really a non-issue in his case. As for John Grisham, perhaps it's the fact that the majority of his writing, like Danielle Steele's, has become somewhat redundant and stale, or his fan base is starting to thin out. I still have a few of the paperbacks he's written that I haven't read. Once I'm through with those, I'll not spend another red cent on Mr. Grisham's books, at least until he recognizes that not only Democrats can read.
...These people are so narrow-minded they literally make me sick with their condescending attitudes towards Conservatives.

[razzle]

The Dems gain some kind of status by claiming to be former Republicans. Its as if they were sane once.

[when the time is right]

If there can be Drug Store Cowboys can there be Drug Store Soldiers?

[napscoordinator]

It is going to be so difficult. He (John) is my favorite author. I have read every book he has written and was looking forward to his next book. UGH!!!!!

[sweet_diane]

"Since then, I havent bought a book from John Grisham."

You didn't miss anything. I read The Firm first and liked it, then A Time To Kill and liked it even more. So I bought whatever he wrote next... it was so bad I can't even remember the name! Very disappointing.

I don't buy that he was ever a Republican... I think he's just trolling for readers.

[DustyMoment]

John Grisham, Stephen King at Dem Fundraiser; Proud to be EX-Republicans

And, we're proud to have them as ex-Republicans. If they're so dumb that they want to join the party of Howard Dean, Teddy Chappaquiddick, John F'n, Michael Moore and Cindy Sheehan, good riddance.

Me and my reading dollars will go elsewhere.

[bmwcyle]

I am so glad they are loved in Hollywood. /sarcasm

[FaithFamilyFreedomForever]

Yeah -- I have a hard time believing Grisham was ever a Republican. Every book he's ever written is about trial lawyers as heroes. I guess fiction writers get confused and begin rewriting their lives as fiction. As for King, I don't know much about his politics, but find it hard to believe that a Northeasterner in the entertainment field has a conservative past.

[Old Grumpy]

"Proud to be EX-Republicans . . . "

I'm also proud they're EX-Republicans. Who needs 'em?

[daybreakcoming]

So, this is what old has-been authors do? Follow in the footsteps of failed Hollywood types.......I would be surprised if Grisham was ever a registered Republican for more than a moment.

[advance_copy]

Stephen King used the "n-word" when he was in college.