Stars & strife (Celebrities & war)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 03/12/03 | Phil Kloer

[Pokey78]

Celebrities lead the opposition to war with Iraq, prompting a public backlash and, some argue, trivializing the issue

AGAINST WAR "I am not anti-Bush. I am not pro-Iraq. I am pro-peace." -- Madonna "The resistance is enormous, and growing more powerful by the hour, because we understand it to be an unjust and immoral war." -- Jessica Lange "America doesn't have the moral right to tell other people what to do." -- Spike Lee SUPPORTING PRESIDENT BUSH "Thank goodness we have a president with the courage to protect our country." -- Fred Thompson "I would encourage folks to not think of this as a war, but just think we've chosen to abort [Saddam] Hussein." -- Dennis Miller "America is in imminent danger. You're either for her or against her. There is no middle ground." -- Charlie Daniels

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma took a stand recently that Cellist Yo-Yo Ma took a stand recently that demonstrated extraordinary courage. Asked by the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call what he thought about a possible war with Iraq, he replied that artists should stick to their art. "I think we should leave [the war] to the politicians."

As more and more celebrities speak out against invading Iraq (and a few speak out in support of President Bush), polls show that a sizable number of Americans say they wish they would "keep their opinions to themselves."

But the platform of stars speaking out against war with Iraq is becoming more crowded than the valet parking booth at Morton's after the Oscars. In addition to those who've been aboard for awhile (Sean Penn, Martin Sheen), everyone from rappers Jay-Z and Missy Elliott to actors Dustin Hoffman and Danny Glover is coming out against a war. Click around the tube and there's Jessica Lange's anti-war news conference on CNN, Sheryl Crow sporting a "No War" guitar strap at the Grammy Awards, and Janeane Garofalo going on Fox News Channel to oppose a war.

Or head to singer John Mellencamp's Web site, where he offers free downloads of his new, pointedly anti-Bush song "To Washington."

The other side -- celebrities such as comedian Dennis Miller, who support the president -- is less numerous, and Hollywood conservatives such as Clint Eastwood and Arnold Schwarzenegger have been lying low. When they unload, though, they sometimes come out blazing, as country singer Charlie Daniels does on his Web site in an "Open Letter to the Hollywood Bunch" who oppose the war. "You bunch of pitiful, hypocritical, idiotic, spoiled mugwumps," Daniels writes. "Get your head out of the sand and smell the Trade Towers burning."

In the battle to win the hearts and minds of the American public, celebrities may have a bigger soap box, but that doesn't mean anyone is listening. In a recent CNN/Gallup Poll, 87 percent of Americans surveyed said their opinions aren't swayed by celebrities. But there seems to be at least some support for their right to speak out -- 73 percent in the same poll said anti-war celebs are not anti-American.

"Most people don't get their political views from celebrities," says John Orman, co-author of the new book "Celebrity Politics" and a political science professor at Fairfield University in Connecticut. "But with the buildup of war with Iraq, celebrities have become the face of the opposition."

Television, especially the cable news channels, is mostly to blame for the attention paid to anti-war celebrities, Orman says. But that has also led to the strange new sport of star-baiting, where entertainers are invited on TV to discuss the war, then are attacked for being celebrities.

A couple of recent examples involved comedian Garofalo. When she appeared on CNN's "Crossfire" to discuss the looming war, the network ran a graphic that read, "What does Hollywood know about foreign policy?" On Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends," co-host Brian Kilmeade told Garofalo that "Saddam [Hussein] must love you" and later added, "I'm not going to let you sit there and get off because you're a celebrity. . . . That's the only reason you're here."

Says Orman: "They have a celebrity on and then get mad at all the attention the celebrities are getting. It's trivializing very important issues."

Anti-war entertainers have also sparked a backlash at the grass roots. NBC has been inundated with letters demanding that Martin Sheen, a longtime political activist, be fired from "The West Wing" for his prominent anti-war role. NBC issued a statement saying that Sheen is exercising his freedom of expression as a private citizen.

Sheen and other anti-war crusaders so upset Lori Bardsley, a homemaker in Summerfield, N.C., that she started an Internet site and petition called Citizens Against Celebrity "Pundits."

"I basically had had enough," Bardsley says. "We're having an onslaught in the media of all these actors and actresses coming out against the war. It's like salt in an open wound after Sept. 11." She says she has collected 83,000 online "signatures" and plans to deliver the petitions to Sheen and former "M*A*S*H" star Mike Farrell, also an anti-war activist.

The backlash has prompted concern about anti-war entertainers' potentially being "blacklisted," or frozen out of jobs, as some in Hollywood were during the Communist-hunting McCarthy era of the 1950s. Although there is no evidence so far of anyone's career being harmed, the Screen Actors Guild issued a statement that "even a hint of the blacklist must never again be tolerated in this nation."

Given how liberal Hollywood is, it's hard to imagine another blacklist today over anti-war statements. The bigger issue that gets lost in the crossfire over particular stars, Orman says, is how television gravitates toward Janeane Garofalo and Dennis Miller instead of credible, but lesser known, participants in the war debate.

And it's not just the war, though that is our current preoccupation. It's actresses lobbying for relief for farmers, actors pitching Congress for funding to combat particular diseases, and U2 singer Bono touring Africa with U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill to promote relief of Third World debt.

"Celebrities are monopolizing the public space," argues Orman. "The way the media covers politics merges with the cult of celebrity."

ON THE WEB

Artists United to Win Without War: www.moveon.org/artistswinwithoutwar

Citizens Against Celebrity "Pundits:" www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/hollywoodceleb

Charlie Daniels' Letter: www.talltexian.com/AmericaForever/id34.htm

John Mellencamp's new song: www.mellencamp.com

Musicians United to Win Without War: www.moveon.org/musiciansunited

[Theresawithanh]

Another good site is www.boycotthollywood.com !

It may be somewhat dishonest to have celebs on your program and ask their views on the war, and then tear them down, but I have to admit that I enjoyed reading the transcript of the Garofalo (???) interview!

[mykdsmom]

I heard Dr. Laura read this letter from a reader today, it hits the nail on the head.

Tell Hollywood Boycotting Is Called Freedom!

March 5, 2003

To SAG,

America’s choice to boycott watching any actor or actress that protests the United States protecting itself is not McCarthyism, it is called freedom. I have the right not to watch a movie, a television program, or a commercial with these actors in it. Truthfully I can not stomach the site of them so why should I be forced to watch them. As Hollywood used to say, if you don’t like a program simply turn the channel. I am turning the channel and many times I am turning the television off.

When a producer or a director fires or refuses to hire someone based on their view that is when one needs to worry. Other than Sean Penn, who has been whining about losing a gig? I have the right not to watch these actors who I totally and completely disagree with. Stop whining about it. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Most of those idiots will still have a job on television because there still are liberal idiot viewers out there that will watch.

You have to realize that a great deal of this country does not hold the same liberal la la land views that Hollywood holds. Granted some of you have an education, but why should I listen to someone who barely graduated from high school and just got lucky enough to get a job in Hollywood. When all of those actors who are against going to war with Iraq attend the same meetings that President Bush, Colin Powell, and Condi Rice are in—when they have the same national security information, maybe then I will listen to their opinion. For now, I stand by my President, President George W. Bush. I stand by the U.S. Military. I want them to destroy all terrorism. I remember seeing fellow Americans falling to their deaths as they jumped out of the towers. I remember seeing that gentle loving priest being carried out by firemen only to be laid down upon the altar of a church. We are not going to war just because we feel like it. 3,000 people are dead. It’s not for oil; we are fighting for our freedom to live in our country in peace. If we do not get rid of the terrorist and leaders who support them, they will only come back to do it again. I’m sure they will not attack Hollywood, so you are safe. They will not attack those who wish to protect them from harm.

I am sure this letter will be shredded and not read by Ms. Gilbert or any member of SAG. I just wanted to express my views and to inform you that I will no longer watch any acting in the future by those who signed their name in the newspaper stating that they were against supporting military actions. You have the right to say and do what you want. I have the right not to go to your movies or watch your television programs. Hopefully everyone that signed has a good retirement account.

Sincerely,

Theresa Porter
Ohio Resident

View an ad "Not In Our Name" took out in The New York Times (You will need adobe acrobat reader to view.)

Tell Hollywood Boycotting Is Called Freedom! Write to or Call:
Melissa Gilbert
President
Screen Actors Guild
5757 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036-3600
323 954-1600

[billclintonwillrotinhell]

John Mellencamp's new anti-Bush song is very much like
Paula Cole's whining ballad in that it's just more bitching
about the fact Bush won the 2000 election. It's amazing how
bitter and hate-filled the liberals have become, just
because they no longer have a democRAT traitor in the White
House who they can relate to.

Of course, I guess it's no surprise that "Little Pink
Houses" Mellencamp is running around in a little-girl
panic over the possibility of war. However, it would help
if the limp-wristed has-been would at least be consistent,
as I don't remember him writing any songs in the 1990s
about the impeachment-eve attack on Iraq or the cluster-
bombing of Kosovo.

[diamond6]

Speaking of Janeane Garofalo. Here is a quote from her in 1993 or 1994: "That you can have a gay parade on Christopher Street in New York, with naked men and women on a float cheering, 'We're here, we're queer!' - that's what makes my heart swell." Garofalo laughs suddenly, "Not the flag , but a gay naked man or woman burning the flag. I get choked up with pride."

That ladies and gentlemen is what we're dealing with when we hear from the Hollywood set.

This just proves my belief that all we have to do is look at the people and the countries who are anti-war to know that this war is absolutely the right thing to do.

[ATCNavyRetiree]

I just sent an e-mail to Mellencamp stating that I will never buy another one of his albums.

[ATCNavyRetiree]

I only recognized only 4 names on the "Musicians United" list...I must be gettin' old or they are irrelevant!!

[billclintonwillrotinhell]

Good move sending the e-mail to that Mellencamp loser. I'm gonna fire one off as well. And if anyone else would like to let Mellencamp and his people know what we think of his America-bashing, Bush-hating tune, the e-mail address on his website is:
towashington@mellencamp.com

[lonewacko_dot_com]

The Garofalo quote flag burning is taken out of context. See lonewacko.com/blog/archives/000310.html

[ODC-GIRL]

I heard an interview with Melissa Gilbert, President of SAG on talk radio, a show with Mitch Albom hosting. She was concerned about the possibility of blacklisting. But, when Mitch asked her if she had seen any evidence of it, she said that the only blacklisting she's seen in Hollywood has been of conservatives!

She is married to Bruce Boxleitner, who is conservative, and they have "discussed" lots of issues from different view points. She was actually quite fair-minded. But, I think she misunderstands the grassroots movement of boycotting being similar to blacklisting. We have a right not to pay to watch these people who spout awful things about our President and our country. If the boycott leads to an economic decision to fire people, so be it. It's not blacklisting.

They need to know that their actions have consequences. That is reality. Something they're not terribly familiar with.

[laz17]

"America doesn't have the moral right to tell other people what to do."

-- Spike Lee

Hey, Spike -- Hollywood doesn't have the moral right to tell other people what to do.

[diamond6]

I don't see how this is taken out of context at all. It's a direct quote. The only change is the punctuation. I think she meant it, and she's a whacko.

[lonewacko_dot_com]

"I think she meant it"

Try these two sentences:

- Diamond wrinkled his brow, and stated in a serious tone "I think she meant it."

- As the girl walked away after having promised his friend Bob that she'd return his call, Diamond laughed and told his friend "I think she meant it."

Same words, but in the first one, she really meant in, while in the second you think the opposite.

[Timesink]

I think I've just realized the guaranteed way to shoot public support for war up to 90%: Deport all the celebrity loudmouths to Iraq..

[Timesink]

there seems to be at least some support for their right to speak out -- 73 percent in the same poll said anti-war celebs are not anti-American.

No, they're anti-Bush. If Bill Clinton were still president and had taken the exact same actions as Bush has, we'd be in the middle of the Mother of All USO Tours right now, and every celeb under 30 would be trying to enlist. Hypocritical whores.

[chasio649]

you nailed it!

[diamond6]

HUH?! You sound like a liberal Garofalo apologist to me.