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Hollywood Leftists -- You Pay, We Insult
FrontPage Magazine ^ | 06/21/02 | LARRY ELDER

Posted on 06/22/2002 1:42:35 PM PDT by Mister Magoo

Hollywood Leftists -- You Pay, We Insult

FrontPageMagazine.com | June 21, 2002

WINSTON CHURCHILL, many say, once said, "A man younger than 30 who's not a liberal has no heart and a man older than 30 who's not a conservative has no brain." But this fails to explain why so many Hollywood celebrities, even past their 30s, remain leftists.

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Hollywood Reporter writer Paul Bond explored this question. Hollywood non-liberals do exist, but the number of out-of-the-closet non-libs remains small. After ticking off names like Charlton Heston, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, and a handful of others, the well pretty much runs dry. Why?

Bond offers the following explanation, "Jack Wheeler, president of the Freedom Research Foundation, a public policy think tank and lobby group, wrote in January that celebrities are attracted to the left out of 'liberal guilt' and a fear of being envied." Leftist Martin Sheen, who plays the president on "The West Wing," once said that he never met a happy rich person. (Does that include Mr. Sheen?) Some celebrities embrace feel-good liberal causes as a way of saying, "Don't hate me because I'm rich and famous."

For black celebrity leftists, however, add an additional reason -- fear of being perceived as "selling out."

Oscar-nominated actor Will Smith, for example, in an interview with Barbara Walters, suggested that scientists concocted AIDS as part of a conspiracy to retaliate against black people. A surprised Barbara Walters asked, "But you felt that the government was . . . deliberately trying to make people ill with the AIDS virus? This is pretty serious stuff. Do you really feel that?" Smith provided this "proof": "Well, good question. I firmly believe that it is quite highly possible that the AIDS virus is the result of genetic warfare testing."

"Quite highly possible"?

Chris Rock, in a current issue of GQ, echoed the I've-conquered-racism-and-continued-to-fight-it-day-by-day-so-don't-hate-me-because-I'm-black theme. In expressing gratitude that his soon-to-be-born child is a girl rather than a boy, Rock said, "I think I'd be too hard on a boy -- every day, trying to make him a man, getting him ready for white people."

An attempt at humor? No, my producer contacted the article's writer, who insisted that Rock was not joking. And, on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Rock said it again. "I'm glad it's a girl," he told Oprah, "because I would have been too hard on a boy. I would have been smacking a boy upside the head every day. And, 'Boy, you -- you know how the white man's going to treat you? Come on, get up, it's 4:00 in the morning. Get to work.' 'I'm only 4, Dad.' 'Get to work.'"

On "Good Morning America," a surprised Diane Sawyer questioned Rock about his willingness to racially profile whites. "You said you're glad it's a girl," said Sawyer. "You say, 'I think I would be too hard on a boy, trying to make him a man, getting him ready for white people.'"

Rock feebly offered, "Well, yeah, get him ready. . . . C'mon, you can't just send the boy out there."

"What did you mean by that?" asked Sawyer.

"Well, yeah, you gotta get them ready ," said Rock. "It's a rough world out there. . . . Boys punch each other in the face, Diane. Boys smack the cr-p out of each other. Boys are mean. . . . Boys encounter racism. . . . It is mean. Even when I went to school, when I was in grade school in '72, '73, I got my a-- whooped every day, called 'n-gger,' whatever. The girls, nothin'. . . . The black girls in school were fine."

Sawyer asked, "You don't think anything has changed?"

Rock's reply: "Things have changed, but you've got to be prepared, you know. . . . I try to buy a house next to you or something, then I'm going to experience racism, straight up, you know."

Chris Rock cannot buy a home in his price range and of his choosing because of "straight-up racism"? News bulletin: "Straight-up" racist real estate agents prefer to leave on the table a six percent commission on a multimillion dollar house.

How long will consumers put up with celebrities who assault political views and who falsely accuse them of racism? Celebrities who insult audiences with their political views may indeed face a reckoning at the box office. According to The Hollywood Reporter, 44 percent of those polled said that they might refuse to pay to see films featuring an actor "who has publicly stated a position that conflicts with their own." Do moviegoers feel repelled by black celebrities touting the racism-is-everywhere theme? The poll did not ask this question. But many moviegoers may resent enriching black stars like Will Smith, Chris Rock and Spike Lee, who take fans' money while accusing them of bigotry.

Memo to studio execs in the bottom-line business of Hollywood: Some of these loudmouth, in-your-face, strident celebs turn off customers, and thus leave money on the table. Be warned.

Larry Elder is the author of the newly-released The Ten Things You Can’t Say in America. He is a black libertarian talk show host, on the air from 3-7 pm Pacific time, on KABC Talkradio in Los Angeles. For more information, visit LarryElder.com.

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Copyright © 2002 FrontPageMagazine.com


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: chrisrock; martinsheen; racism
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1 posted on 06/22/2002 1:42:38 PM PDT by Mister Magoo
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To: Mister Magoo
The Holywood scum are lefties for a good reason. When Senator McCarthy drove the communists underground, many of them went to Hollywood, changed their names and spread their poison ever more vigorously while McCarthy was attacked in Washington. These people were working for Russia and Stalin and, in the post-war era, wanted our government to be communists just as many other governments over the world, turned left. Today's people are the heirs of those traitors and, especially, of the unions they infiltrated and seized.

Rock is especially dispicable because, if criticized on his political posturing, he will claim he is being attacked because of his race and not his unAmerican opinions.

2 posted on 06/22/2002 1:59:24 PM PDT by Tacis
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To: Mister Magoo
Chuchill was correct but did not have the right conclusion. Very few celebs actually have brains. Well, there is gray matter in the cranium but it was turned to a odd sort of mush by run-away egos. So it isn't that the famous person can not be a Conservative but the fact the me-centric life they live has fused any synapses that could hold two constructive thoughts.

A few celebs acutally are Conservatives but other signs of normal brainwave activity are present as well. Signs of long marriage, family values, any hint of non-leberal leaning, and patriotism in a celebrity are found rarely. Oddly these Conservative values are mis-read by celebs lacking them as 'homophoic, mean spirited, and Nazi-like' characterists and make them utter statements about heading to the country of France.

Please say the above while sounding like David Attenbourgh

3 posted on 06/22/2002 1:59:47 PM PDT by pikachu
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To: Mister Magoo
Unfortunately, Churchill never said this. Using the quote takes away from an otherwise great article. Here is a statement from Churchill Center's Official Website:

"If you're not a liberal when you're 25, you have no heart. If you're not a conservative by the time you're 35, you have no brain." There is no record of anyone hearing Churchill say this. Paul Addison of Edinburgh University makes this comment: "Surely Churchill can't have used the words attributed to him. He'd been a Conservative at 15 and a Liberal at 35! and would he have talked so disrespectfully of Clemmie [his wife], who is generally thought to have been a lifelong Liberal."

The web page can be found at:http://www.winstonchurchill.or g
4 posted on 06/22/2002 2:07:07 PM PDT by meisterbrewer
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To: Mister Magoo
this fails to explain why so many Hollywood celebrities, even past their 30s, remain leftists.

I thought it explained it rather well.

"A man younger than 30 who's not a liberal has no heart and a man older than 30 who's not a conservative has no brain."

5 posted on 06/22/2002 2:38:17 PM PDT by MosesKnows
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To: Tacis
Excellent comments. Many people on the left want to excuse wretches like "The Hollywood Ten" because "they followed their consciences." Baloney! They excused them because they sympathized with their goals and were fellow travelers. Many of the critics of McCarthy, who was reckless in many cases, did so because they undoubtedly knew he was on to something.

I would be more inclined to look sympathetically on Hollywood commies except for the fact that they swore allegiance to a foreign power which made them traitors. In short, they were lucky they weren't shot. You can believe any crackpot political theory you want, but when as an American you work to subvert and overthrow the U.S. government, you are a TRAITOR!!!

6 posted on 06/22/2002 2:59:19 PM PDT by driftless
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To: Mister Magoo
I don't spend my money to see the libs--no movies, no videos, no dvds, no pay for view--nothing. I have not knowingly spent a cent on a Jane Fonda movie, for example. The Neilsen Ratings is monitoring our house right now. I won't even watch a free movie with people like her in it. I don't want any of the lib stuff to get a decent rating because of me. I also turn FOX news off when Gretta comes on. Now, is that principle, or is it principle?
7 posted on 06/22/2002 3:05:06 PM PDT by Pushi
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To: Mister Magoo
It's really not that complicated. The hollywood lifestyle is one of pure selfishness. ME ME ME is what it's all about. Coincidentally, so is liberalism. They only give time and money to causes to make themselves look good. The liberal ideology is one of moral emptiness, all play with no consequences. One can indulge in any sick, immoral, selfish behaviour one wishes, and there will be no repercussions. Liberalism is the religion of the spoiled child. I can have whatever I want, anytime I want, there is no right or wrong, there are no restraints. One can shoplift, do drugs, even murder without being held accountable.
8 posted on 06/22/2002 3:18:02 PM PDT by goodieD
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To: Pushi
Good for you! We too, have eschewed giving money to liberal causes via hollywood. I won't sell my soul for a little entertainment.
9 posted on 06/22/2002 3:19:09 PM PDT by goodieD
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To: Pushi
Now, is that principle, or is it principle?

It is most assuredly principle, and I applaude you. This is my philosphy as well. When the Hollywood liberals started ragging on me and my beliefs, I figured they didn't need my business. You can imagine how shocked/dismayed I am when I read about FReepers who pay their hard-earned money to support these leftists.

10 posted on 06/22/2002 3:21:59 PM PDT by ru4liberty
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To: Mister Magoo
"... a man older than 30 who's not a conservative has no brain." But this fails to explain why so many Hollywood celebrities, even past their 30s, remain leftists

I beg to differ. I think it explains the situation perfectly.

11 posted on 06/22/2002 3:41:26 PM PDT by watchin
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To: Mister Magoo
Hollywood non-liberals do exist, but the number of out-of-the-closet non-libs remains small.

I believe it was Heston who said that in Hollywood, there are more closeted republicans than closeted gays. I tend to think he might be right. After all, millionare actors would probably go along with republicans' efforts at lowering taxes for high-earners.

I'd be willing to bet that while many of the "Hollywood Elite" espouse liberalism in public, in the privacy of the voting booth they punch the "R" ballot.

This, of course, makes them even more contemptable than if they were at least honest with their beliefs.

12 posted on 06/22/2002 3:43:52 PM PDT by Drew68
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To: Kalashnikov_68
I believe it was Heston who said that in Hollywood, there are more closeted republicans than closeted gays.

For a good reason: in Hollywood, nobody will attack someone for being gay. You WILL be attacked for being Republican

The difference between most Leftists and most Conservatives is that a Conservative will generally not try to wreck somebody's career because of his political beliefs, but a Leftist is much more likely to do so. In an occupation where you are very vulnerable to backstabbing, whispering campaigns, and blacklisting (like performing arts and academia) if you're a Republican, you better keep it to yourself

13 posted on 06/22/2002 4:04:36 PM PDT by SauronOfMordor
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To: Mister Magoo
when I was in grade school in '72, '73, I got my a-- whooped every day, called 'n-gger,'

I have seen a movie or two this fellow was in (I did not rent it, wife's sister did). I can tell you his language/actions leave alot to be desired in teaching our young children anything. Don't waste your time/money with this bozo. I tend to call his type "MTV Actors". Pure unfilted horse manure.

14 posted on 06/22/2002 4:08:50 PM PDT by LowOiL
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To: Mister Magoo
May God bless Winston Churchill...the Lion of Great Britan!
15 posted on 06/22/2002 4:08:58 PM PDT by Dakota gal in Seattle
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To: Mister Magoo
I will give you the real answer. It is really very simple if you think about it. The qualities required to be a good actor are almost purely non-intellectual, if not positively anti-intellectual. In order to effectively impersonate someone you are not, you must have incredibly powerful emotional empathy. Any sort of rational thinking would only get in the way.

This is why conservative intellectuals would make terrible actors.

Now if only every man would stick to his trade, and not meddle in that of others.
16 posted on 06/22/2002 5:24:57 PM PDT by proxy_user
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To: proxy_user
Please see post #4. Churchill DID NOT SAY THIS.
17 posted on 06/22/2002 7:49:13 PM PDT by meisterbrewer
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To: Mister Magoo
Please see post #4. Churchill DID NOT SAY THIS.
18 posted on 06/22/2002 7:49:51 PM PDT by meisterbrewer
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To: meisterbrewer
Paul Addison of Edinburgh University makes this comment: "Surely Churchill can't have used the words attributed to him. He'd been a Conservative at 15 and a Liberal at 35!" ...sounds like a desperate attempt to rewrite history by some frustrated, resentful university-type - if Churchill was a liberal at 35, by the time he turned 50 he had joined the Conservative party and headed that party during his term as Prime Minister from 1940 to 1945 and again in 1951 to 1955, after the Labor government headed by Clement Atlee failed...he certainly had good reason to say that those who were not conservatives after 30 had no brains........
19 posted on 06/22/2002 9:21:22 PM PDT by Intolerant in NJ
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To: Intolerant in NJ
I agree with you that he had good reason to say it, but history says that he did not. Did you take a look at the Center's web page and history? His wife was one of the first 18 members, and his youngest daughter is now the patron of the Center.

I suppose his wife, children, and many notable historians could have conspired to discredit this quote for some unknown reason, but we'll just have to accept what they say unless we can come up with evidence otherwise. The Truth Is Out There!!
20 posted on 06/23/2002 2:25:35 AM PDT by meisterbrewer
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