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Hollywood Halfwits vs The Lynch Mob
Globe and Mail ^ | 4/12/2003 | Simon Houpt

Posted on 04/12/2003 1:06:43 PM PDT by jonalvy44

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20030412/RVWEBB/TPEntertainment/TopStories

Hollywood halfwits v. the lynch mob

Mad as hell at antiwar celebrities, Americans who support the attack on Iraq are using the Internet to call for boycotts. Some are seeing shades of McCarthyism, SIMON HOUPT writes

By SIMON HOUPT Saturday, April 12, 2003 -

NEW YORK -- Jon Alvarez is feeling rather pleased with himself these days. Alvarez, 37, is a self-described "average Joe," a Syracuse, N.Y. computer salesman who works hard for every penny, supports his family, and thinks he just may have slain the beast of Janeane Garofalo.

You see, Alvarez is mighty upset with what he believes are Hollywood elites who are taking potshots at the Bush administration and the U.S. war on Iraq. He maintains a Web forum where he tracks their latest comments, and he has drawn up a long list of movie stars and other celebrities he's boycotting because of what he calls their "anti-American" attitude.

Among his targets, which also include Martin Sheen and Mike Farrell, is Garofalo, a vocal opponent of the war. Alvarez recently e-mailed ABC-TV to complain about the network's intention of using the comedian in a new television series. His letter was picked up by the right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh, helping to spark a campaign against the network. This week, gossip columnist Jeanette Walls reported that ABC was having second thoughts about Garofalo's show.

Alvarez's forum is part of a new explosion of Web sites by Americans attacking and frequently urging boycotts against celebrities who are using their fame -- and sometimes their own Web sites -- to promote political causes. The anticeleb sites present a single-minded view of patriotism in which anyone challenging the U.S. administration or its foreign policy is anti-American or worse. Their names are as colourful and direct as the messages on them: FamousIdiot.com, HollywoodHalfwits.com, Hollywood-Hero.US, and Celiberal.com (okay, maybe that's not as clear: That's a conjunction of "celebrity" and "liberal").

"I'm just one of those average Joes that's tired of seeing people act like idiots," said Alvarez this week. "I've got a family, a nice house, I take care of my yard. I don't have time to go out and protest. These antiwar protestors don't seem to have jobs, or have any kind of responsibilities."

But the stars do have publicists, who may be choking down extra Xanax trying to figure out how they're going to resurrect their bosses' careers once the dust settles. Over the last six months, hundreds of actors and musicians have spoken out against the war, or at least voiced their confusion over it, which apparently amounts to the same thing.

Some are using their own Web sites to publicize their views. On Barbra Streisand's personal site, the singer and actress -- who struck an unusually demure tone at the Oscars last month -- has been posting almost daily links to newspaper articles that challenge President Bush's policies. The Beastie Boys Web site offers a free download of the antiwar song In a World Gone Mad. John Mellencamp's site also offers a free download, of his song To Washington.

Michael Moore has stayed busy since his Oscar speech, continuing to post anti-Bush screeds in which he simultaneously attacks the war and promotes himself. Woody Harrelson's site is primarily concerned with environmental issues, though it does include some very affecting photos and first-person accounts from the front lines of the Iraq war.

For this activity, the stars are all but labelled treasonous. HollywoodHalfwits.com is a frequently updated Web log currently boasting a list of more than 60 actors and TV newsmen who have said something the managers of the site deem anti-American.

Who's on the list? Just about anyone who's ever made a comment related to politics, it seems, not just those who have spoken out against the war or the administration. Actress Rosario Dawson is quoted as saying, "I'm frightened by the patriotic mood sweeping the United States. Any dissenting opinion is considered unpatriotic. It makes me upset. I'm embarrassed. It's my hope that Americans won't jump on anyone having a dissenting opinion." HollywoodHalfwits gives the contact information for her agent and publicists, for those who want to shut down comments like that.

Some actors complain that these Web sites are reminiscent of McCarthyism. In fact, when actress Melissa Gilbert simply raised the spectre of the blacklist, she was placed on a list herself.

Alvarez insists there are no parallels to the 1950s. "This isn't censorship," he laughs. "They're not being arrested or being told they can't speak out. We're just saying that loyal Americans aren't going to support them with our dollars."

"Obviously, Garofalo has her right to speak her mind, but it's our feeling that in this time of crisis that it's best to either support your country or stay in the shadows," he says.

"I've got a list of about 125 people that have in various forms trashed our country, attacked President Bush, and in this war on terror they've sided against America, so they're not going to see our dollars. In this ABC example, we're letting them know how we feel. We're also going to let the sponsors know we're not going to buy their product if they put these guys on the air. The entertainment industry is afraid, and they rightfully should be."

Interestingly, those who deride the Hollywood elites for using their unique platform -- like the North Carolina mom who set up a Web site called Citizens Against Celebrity Pundits -- are often happy enough to support the elites when they agree with their point of view. HollywoodHalfwits features praise of Dennis Miller, who has been a frequent and spiky talk show guest over the last few weeks, attacking those he sees as soft on Saddam.

Hollywood-Hero.us (HERO is an acronym for Hollywood Empowers Republicans Organization) harks back to a different time in American life. "Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Gary Cooper, Glenn Ford, Henry Fonda and Elvis Presley, Lee Marvin among others, donned our nation's uniform and served their country with pride. They put their careers on hold to defend our country and our freedoms," it reads. A Hall of Fame section on the site praises Dennis Miller, Ron Silver, John Travolta and Rob Lowe for their support of the war.

(Many of the sites take snide shots at the B-list status of the many stars, but fail to point out the similar career swoons suffered by their own heroes, like Travolta, Silver and Lowe.)

Does any of this have an effect, or are the sites simply preaching to the converted? It's tough to know. The manager of the Dixie Chicks, a band which remains on the watch list for many of the war's supporters after singer Natalie Maines's anti-Bush comments last month, said the troubles for the band all started with a campaign orchestrated by the Web site FreeRepublic.com. Many of the anticeleb Web sites claim the Dixie Chicks have suffered enormously. While radio play did suffer for a couple of weeks, sales of the Chicks' latest album are back up and the band's concerts are all but sold out.

Those who want their entertainment to be certifiably clean of any potential anti-American smudge can check out PatriotMovies.com. The site, which features a tin-whistle audio recording of Yankee Doodle Dandy, is dedicated to organizing an American Patriot Film Festival that will promote movies that don't denigrate conservatives, Republicans, or religious Americans.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Free Republic; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Philosophy; US: California; US: New York; US: Ohio; US: Texas; War on Terror; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: boycotts; joemccarthywasright; looneyleft
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To: wastoute
Some pigs are more equal than others.
61 posted on 04/13/2003 8:12:46 AM PDT by FreedomPoster
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To: Darnright
Did you catch him on Sean Hannity's radio show a week or so ago? He said that Natalie talks bad about lots of people, so he figured most people that knew her would take it in stride, or something like that. I don't know the exact words he used, but generally I got the idea that he wasn't really upset by what she said because she's such a bi itch about everyone she knows?

Like I said, I am now a big fan of him and Charlie Daniels, without even having heard much of their stuff.

62 posted on 04/13/2003 8:43:43 AM PDT by Mrs. P
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To: vannrox
okay.. are ya saying 'I' am evil and baneful?? Clarification..!!
63 posted on 04/13/2003 8:55:16 AM PDT by Zipporah
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To: Zipporah

64 posted on 04/13/2003 8:58:52 AM PDT by ChadGore (288,007,154 Americans did not protest the war today)
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To: Paladin2

65 posted on 04/13/2003 9:25:28 AM PDT by NYCop (check it out http://www.ultimateamerican.com by longfellow)
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To: MeeknMing
I don't know but I did find this thread while I was searching for something early this morning...

Susan Sarondon at the Baseball Hall of Fame

66 posted on 04/13/2003 9:34:41 AM PDT by weegee (NO BLOOD FOR RATINGS: CNN let human beings be tortured and killed to keep their Baghdad bureau open)
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To: weegee
Thanks for that link. Here's a report from that article, lol!:

To: tridentine

Very appropriate. Getting an old bat to discuss baseball.

2 posted on 04/03/2003 7:58 PM CST by Paul Atreides


67 posted on 04/13/2003 10:12:09 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP (Bu-bye Saddam! / Check out my Freeper site !: http://home.attbi.com/~freeper/wsb/index.html)
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To: bd476
Warm Welcomes to you!
The more the merrier.
68 posted on 04/13/2003 10:22:36 AM PDT by Minty
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To: weegee
Whoops ! That should be "a rePOST" . . .
69 posted on 04/13/2003 10:50:16 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP (Bu-bye Saddam! / Check out my Freeper site !: http://home.attbi.com/~freeper/wsb/index.html)
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To: Grampa Dave
Actor Sean Penn's Car Recovered, Guns Missing
Sun April 13, 2003 01:43 PM ET




LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actor Sean Penn's car, stolen as he had lunch near the University of California campus at Berkeley, has been recovered but two guns inside were missing, police said on Sunday.
The car was found on Friday in Richmond, nine miles from where it was stolen, said Lt. Arnold Threets of Richmond police department.

Penn, 42, who lives just north of San Francisco, was driving a black 1987 Buick Grand National, a collector's favorite. Penn had permits for the guns.

The intense actor has starred in films such as "I Am Sam," "Dead Man Walking" and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High."


Human shield nooooooze..............:o).............Stay Safe Dave !
70 posted on 04/13/2003 12:03:53 PM PDT by Squantos (Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt.)
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To: MeeknMing
Who's on the list? Just about anyone who's ever made a comment related to politics, it seems, not just those who have spoken out against the war or the administration. Actress Rosario Dawson is quoted as saying, "I'm frightened by the patriotic mood sweeping the United States.

LOL!!! Glad to hear that.

71 posted on 04/13/2003 12:04:17 PM PDT by Victoria Delsoul
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To: Squantos
So this left wing piece of Dog Clinton had a permit to carry his guns?
72 posted on 04/13/2003 12:06:29 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (Being a Monthly Donor to Free Republic is the Right Thing to do!)
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To: Grampa Dave
Per the noooze report, alledgedly . Elitism ............Ahhhhh Kalifornia !

Stay Safe !

73 posted on 04/13/2003 12:15:52 PM PDT by Squantos (Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt.)
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To: jonalvy44
Seems to me a year or two ago, a number of Hollywood liberals were all up in arms when Elia Kazan was given a lifetime acheivement award at the Oscars. They were upset because he didn't cave to their socialist/communist beliefs during the '50s. I guess to them freedom of speech is a one-way street.

When they criticize the president, it's freedom of speech. When I criticize them for doing so, it's McCarthyism. Since I don't have anyone from the media shoving a mic in my face asking me what I think, I am left to use whatever other means are available to me...which is refusing to buy their product or the products of those who sponsor them.

If these Hollywood folks really believed in what they were saying, they would stand up for it completely rather than making up rules along the way for the rest of us to follow ...in effect, they are saying, "Just because you don't agree with me doesn't give you the right to not support me financially."

Wrong...and when Jeaneane Garofalo's career has deteriorated to the point that she is left to appear at the local comedy club in the little pisswater town I live in, I will then happily plink down my hard-earned money for the opportunity to speak to her directly by way of as much heckling as the owner will allow...

74 posted on 04/13/2003 12:32:44 PM PDT by blake6900
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To: bd476
Next week you should get the official diamond encrusted Rolex, which will signify your inner circle status. Yacht and Lear Jet access schedule to follow.
75 posted on 04/13/2003 12:48:59 PM PDT by Leisler
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To: jonalvy44
The manager of the Dixie Chicks, a band which remains on the watch list for many of the war's supporters after singer Natalie Maines's anti-Bush comments last month, said the troubles for the band all started with a campaign orchestrated by the Web site FreeRepublic.com.

Well, I am just confused now... (Not) I thought the consequences started rolling in negatively for the ditsy chicks when Natalie exercised her freedom of speech, and opened her mouth. Just because a Freeper switched on a 1 million watt spotlight on the moronic statement does not make Free Republic responsible for the consequences.

76 posted on 04/13/2003 1:31:27 PM PDT by KineticKitty (support our troops)
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To: MeeknMing
nice! I love the freerepublic plug, too. You guys are a force to be dealt with. Now we must act to help out the Prez. of the Baseball HOF as some liberal media are calling for his head.
77 posted on 04/13/2003 2:43:41 PM PDT by jonalvy44
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To: Mrs. P
Glad you agree and thanks for supporting us!
78 posted on 04/13/2003 2:46:38 PM PDT by jonalvy44
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To: sarasmom
exactly...the reporter was definitely an apologist for the Dipsie Chicks. Yes, from what I heard they are not issuing refunds, either. Thus, the alternative concerts are being set up.
79 posted on 04/13/2003 2:48:00 PM PDT by jonalvy44
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To: TxBec
..."the troubles for the band all started with a campaign orchestrated by the Web site FreeRepublic.com.

No...the troubles started when Natalie slammed our President overseas, in wartime. Had she kept her mouth shut, this would never have been an issue.

80 posted on 04/13/2003 2:56:02 PM PDT by I'm ALL Right! ("He is no fool who would give the thing he cannot keep to buy what he can never lose." - Jim Elliot)
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