Hollywood Appeasers: Another "peace" coalition by a bunch of left-leaning celebs but with a twist

FrontPageMagazine.com ^ | December 11, 2002 | Paul Bond

[SJackson]

Actors Mike Farrell, Matt Damon and Martin Sheen do not want the United States to go to war with Iraq.

Therefore, along with 97 other celebrities, they have formed a group called Artists United to Win Without War.

What the public didn't see at their Tuesday press conference is far more significant than the formation of yet another peace coalition by a bunch of left-leaning celebrities like Jessica Lange, Anjelica Huston and Elliott Gould.

What that significant development is, is the healthy dose of skepticism displayed by the mainstream press at Tuesday’s well-covered Hollywood event.

But first, the group’s statement, scheduled to appear soon in select newspapers:

"War talk in Washington is alarming and unnecessary.

"We are patriotic Americans who share the belief that Saddam Hussein cannot be allowed to possess weapons of mass destruction. We support rigorous United Nations weapons inspections to assure Iraq’s effective disarmament.

"However, a preemptive military invasion of Iraq will harm American national interests. Such a war will increase human suffering, arouse animosity toward our country, increase the likelihood of terrorist attacks, damage the economy, and undermine our moral standing in the world. It will make us less, not more, secure.

"We reject the doctrine – a reversal of long-held American tradition – that our country, alone, has the right to launch first-strike attacks.

"The valid U.S. and U.N. objective of disarming Saddam Hussein can be achieved through legal diplomatic means. There is no need for war. Let us instead devote our resources to improving the security and well-being of people here at home and around the world."

Now for the significance.

An NBC reporter immediately set a skeptical tone for the spirited question and answer session, asking group co-chair Farrell if Artists United to Win Without War isn’t made up of celebrities who were also against the Gulf War a decade ago. Wouldn’t the world be an even more dangerous place if Hussein was not ousted from Kuwait and U.N inspectors weren’t brought in to Iraq back then?

The deft former star of M*A*S*H* said he would have preferred it had the elder President Bush explored "options short of war" before expelling Hussein from Kuwait.

Then Sheen was asked by a couple of reporters why it is that President Bush would threaten war against Iraq if Hussein presented little or no threat to the U.S.

"I don’t know if we’ll ever get the whole truth from this administration – about anything," he answered.

Pressed again as to the president’s motives, Sheen attributed them to mere family pride. "I think he’d like to hand his father Saddam Hussein’s head," Sheen said.

Then there was this exchange between a reporter and Sheen:

"Would you like to see Saddam Hussein overthrown?" the reporter asked.

"I don’t know what you mean," Sheen answered.

"Removed from power," said the reporter.

"I don’t even know what that means," Sheen said.

The undaunted reporter pressed on. "Regime change," he explained.

"I’d like to see that come from the Iraqis, not the Americans," Sheen finally conceded.

Not wanting the other reporters to have all the fun, I asked if, assuming our military were to overthrow Hussein quickly and with few casualties, and then Iraqi citizens were shown dancing in the streets and praising America for liberating them from a torturous dictator, would the Artists United to Win Without War rethink their position? Would they consider they might be wrong, and say so publicly?

Sheen offered, "I’m always open to the possibility that I’m wrong."

The bulk of the answer, though, came from Farrell, who made the point that, just because some Iraqis might applaud such a removal of Hussein, doesn’t make it the right thing to do.

"The idea that somehow the end justifies the means, as you’re suggesting, is exactly contrary to the principles on which this country was founded," Farrell said.

"The idea you suggest, forgive me, is an inappropriate one," he scolded.

The best bit of levity came at the close of the hour-long event. It had been suggested by some of the dozen celebrities in attendance that Artists United to Win Without War was nonpartisan.

Asked to name a Republican among the group, Farrell claimed there were some, but quipped, "I don’t want to out them."

In a room full of skeptical reporters who clearly were not there to rubber-stamp Hollywood’s latest political effort, the very revealing joke went over quite well.

[TroutStalker]

The deft former star of M*A*S*H* said he would have preferred it had the elder President Bush explored "options short of war" before expelling Hussein from Kuwait.

Now I understand how he got the name BJ.

[ClancyJ]

So, these "celebs" are willing to risk my safety and the safety of my grandchildren to no force - just talk?

Just what if they are wrong and Saddam has chemical weapons he could easily move into the U.S.?

Just what if they are wrong and Saddam thinks "Great! I can continue "talk" while I provide chemical/biological/nuclear to terrorists who can move it to the U.S. We are going to take down America."

Just what if "talk" is not effective against those that hate us and want our wealth? Are we willing to risk our freedom to the likes of this group?

[Snowy]

I would like to see the entire list of signers.

Ditto

[martin gibson]

These are not left leaning. They are more Marxist leaning.

Thank you!

(...and if you want to get real fussy about it, they are most accurately described as 'hard core, unrepentant neo-Stalinists'.)

[conservativemusician]

Doesn't it surprise that Algore's "conservative" media would give these schmucks so much attention?

Mike Farrell? He's doing bad movies on Lifetime for pete's sake!

Martin Sheen? Excuse me but , wasn't it he that referred to our President as a "white knuckled drunk"?

Last night O'Reilly had Janeane Garofalo(last seen in, uh I dunno) and Joe Pantoliano(last seen as the decapitated Ralphie on the Sopranos) on to discuss this petition. Good thing my bathroom is close to my tv. Had I been on a plane I would have been reaching for the barf bag!

Garofalo was actually saying that we should allow weapons inspectors do their job before launching an attack.
What the hell are we doing? Duh! I mean, you can't make this stuff up!

The idiocy of the Hollywood left is sometimes beyond human comprehension.

[doug from upland]

Thank goodness Mike Farrell was not around in 1776 (although that actually would not be here now.) His position would have been that throwing tea overboard was a pre-emptive act, and there is no way we should strike the British. We must negotiate. Of course, we would be doing it on our knees.

[A_perfect_lady]

The idiocy of the Hollywood left is sometimes beyond human comprehension.

Tell me about it. Bleached blondes with their lips and breasts full of silicone--but who at least have the sense to keep their mouths shut about things they don't understand--are actually beginning to earn a few points from me after hearing the "serious" actors speak out.

[ohiobushman]

They have leaned so far left,that their heads are know up their a$$.

[KSCITYBOY]

Screw these idiots.... They are qualified to read scripts and nothing more. I hate to think we support these morons by going to movies and TV.

[LibWhacker]

. . . they have formed a group called Artists United to Win Without War.

What a joke. What "art" have these professional fakers ever created? That's the problem with language inflation; once you begin calling the garbage man a "sanitation engineer," he thinks people are actually interested in his opinion.

[LibWhacker]

Thank goodness Mike Farrell was not around in 1776 . . .

Oh, he was. His name was Benedict Arnold.

[Nick Danger]

I think all these guys have played this card one too many times. "Weren't you against the Gulf War, too?" is a very telling question. The other day, in New York, Daniel Ellsburg was arrested protesting against the war. I'm sorry, but I've seen this movie and this is where I came in. It's the same clowns every time, they are never on the side of America in anything, and this has been going on for thirty years.

They have some kind of death wish for their own country. That's their problem; I don't need to make it mine. Never mind their arguments about this war or that one... they are always against whatever we're going to do. They have all become tiresome nags. To Hell with them.

[Piquaboy]

These people are too stupid to deserve a response. They may be good actors but are also a bunch of brain dead idiots.

[Snowy]

"Artists United to Win Without War"

I can't find a website for these guys. I would love to see a list of the clymers who signed the petition, or whatever they want to call it.

[veronica]

Stupid sock puppets for the left. They have NO IDEA what's going on in the ME.

They are looking for publicity. I work in Hollywood, I know these types. It's all about a career move.

[MNChestyPuller]

Boycott the Morons
The following list of mental midgets would rather see Americans get killed than to let us defend ourselves.

Patronizing this group of pond scum only continues and supports the endless drivel spouting from their pie-holes. We Americans believe in their right to speak their opinions. We also believe that the majority of Americans find their views to be disgusting. Especially when we have our Military men and women willing to die so that these people can maintain their perverse standard of living, and to allow them the right to free speech. Would they rather be under Saddam’s rule?

Mike Farrell, Co-Chair
Robert Greenwald, Co-Chair
Gillian Anderson
Edward Asner
Rene Auberjonois
David Bale
Kim Basinger
Ed Begley, Jr.
Theo Bikel
Barbara Bosson
Jackson Browne
Peter Buck (REM)
Diahann Carroll
Eugene J. Carroll, Jr.,
Rear Adm. U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Kathleen Chalfant
Don Cheadle
Jill Clayburgh
David Clennon
Jack Coleman
Peter Coyote
Lindsay Crouse
Suzanne Cryer
Matt Damon
Dana Daurey
Ambassador Jonathan Dean
(U.S. Rep. to NATO
Warsaw Pact)
Vincent D’Onofrio
David Duchovny
Olympia Dukakis
Charles S. Dutton
Hector Elizondo
Cary Elwes
Shelley Fabares
Mike Farrell
Mia Farrow
Laurence Fishburne
Sean Patrick Flanery Bonnie Franklin
John Fugelsang
Jeananne Garafalo
Larry Gelbart
Melissa Gilbert
Danny Glover
Elliott Gould
Samaria Graham
Robert Greenwald
Robert Guillaume
Paul Haggis
Robert David Hall
Ethan Hawke
Ken Howard
Helen Hunt
Anjelica Huston
LaTanya Richardson Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson
Jane Kaczmarek
Melina Kanakaredes
Casey Kasem
Mimi Kennedy
Jessica Lange
Tea Leoni
Wendie Malick
Camryn Manheim
Marsha Mason
Richard Masur
Dave Matthews
Kent McCord
Robert Duncan McNeill
Mike Mills (REM)
Janel Moloney
Esai Morales
Ed O’Neill
Chris Noth
Peter Onorati
Alexandra Paul Ambassador Edward Peck
(former U.S. Ambassador
to Iraq)
Seth Peterson
CCH Pounder
David Rabe
Alan Rachins
Bonnie Raitt
Carl Reiner
Tim Robbins
Steve Robinson,
Sgt., U.S. Army (Ret.)
Mitch Ryan
Susan Sarandon
Tony Shalhoub
Jack Shanahan,
Vice Adm. U.S. Navy (Ret.)
William Schallert
Martin Sheen
Armin Shimerman
Gloria Steinem
Marcia Strassman
Michael Stipe (REM)
Susan Sullivan
Loretta Swit
Studs Terkel
Lily Tomlin
Blair Underwood
Dennis Weaver
Bradley Whitford
James Whitmore
James Whitmore, Jr.
Alfre Woodard
Noah Wyle
Peter Yarrow
Howard Zinn
Boycott them now! Show the Hollywood Marxists that Americans will no longer tolerate their crap.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Elliott Gould...made any good movies lately ? Any movies ?

[freeperfromnj]

Last night O'Reilly had Janeane Garofalo

She really ticked me off. She's struck me as the typical brainwashed product of a liberal university.

[Publius6961]

Therefore, along with 97 other celebrities, they have formed a group called Artists United to Win Without War.

OK.

Looking for 99 other people to form the new group "Normal People United to Win the War Whatever it takes"...

We can write letters too...

[Snowy]

Thanks for the list! I was just searching all over the net to see if it existed. I bow to your superior searching skills...