Danny Glover Targeted for Anti-War Views

yahoo.com news ^ | May 18, 2003 | SONYA ROSS, AP

[Cincinatus' Wife]

WASHINGTON - "Lethal Weapon" actor Danny Glover is the latest celebrity facing an icy brand of national pride that puts the pinch on public figures who question American foreign policy.

A threatened boycott seeks to force telecommunications company MCI to dump Glover as its pitchman because of views he expressed about Cuba and against the war.

Similar frostiness extended to the Dixie Chicks and actors Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon when they came out against war in Iraq. Glover said this chill comes from right-wing factions that he denounced as self-appointed thought police.

"It's basically this rabid nationalism that has its own kind of potential of being maniacal, in some sense. As we march down and wave the flags, we must be sure of what we're waving them for," Glover said in an interview.

"The whole idea is to crush any kind of dissent," he said. "Something is happening now that is very dark and very sinister in this country, and for us to not admit it is happening is, in some ways, for us to be blind."

There is so much concern about this in Hollywood that in March - before the fighting even began - the Screen Actors Guild issued a statement warning studio executives not to deny work to entertainers who speak against war in Iraq.

"Even a hint of the blacklist must never again be tolerated in this nation," the union said.

Attacks on the wallets and credibility of people who speak out against U.S. policies is not a new concept. It happened during World War I and most notably in the 1950s, when many a Hollywood career perished before Rep. Joseph McCarthy's Communist-hunting committee on "un-American activity."

Free speech experts say this latest round of attacks does not rise to the level of McCarthyism or celebrity blacklisting, but could lead to that if left unchecked - particularly now that the United States is embarking on new foreign policy doctrines such as pre-emptive military action in the name of fighting terrorism.

"We are at an important point in our history and we need a serious, open debate about it," said David Kairys, constitutional law professor at Temple University.

"Criticizing Danny Glover, or wishing all sorts of ill fortune to him, would be counterproductive. The way to counter this is for more and more people to stand up ... in an atmosphere where people can express their views, and not be afraid they're going to lose their jobs."

In Glover's case, it was not just his anti-war activism that drew the wrath of the right. It also was his signature on a two-paragraph statement from 160 artists and intellectuals that appeared May 1 in the Cuban government newspaper Granma.

That statement, addressed to "The Conscience of the World," called the Iraq war an unprovoked, unjustified invasion and said there is "a strong campaign of destabilization" against Cuba that could be used as "a pretext for an invasion" much like that launched against Iraq.

That second portion was seen by some conservatives as favorable to Fidel Castro's government. On May 8, the public interest group Judicial Watch called for the MCI boycott, saying Glover lent tacit support to Castro's brutal crackdowns on dissidents when he signed that document.

Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton said the boycott is not about Glover's right to free speech.

"He has those rights. But we have the right to criticize him. We have the right to try to criticize MCI for endorsing those views through his contract," Fitton said. "Glover is coming out in support of a terrorist murderer, Fidel Castro. People who are against murder and torture are repulsed by his support, and MCI is slow on the uptake."

Glover replied, "This is much larger than me. It's larger than my comments, and my signing a letter supporting Cuba's right to self-determination. People can take that in whatever way they can. ... They will use the war and they will use my signing a letter as a pretext for their attacks."

Such attacks are a byproduct of the high degree of partisanship in America right now, said Jerome A. Barron, constitutional law professor at George Washington University. The best remedy is to bring opposing views together in open debate, he said. Allowing it to go "unpunished or without response" could open the door to restricted speech in America.

"We should call it into account, and point out that when people like Danny Glover take a position, as Americans they are entitled to do so," Barron said. "The only way you can deal with is for people like (the media) to point out what's happening, and people like me to condemn it. The remedy for those who would silence speech is more speech."

[Cincinatus' Wife]

'Lethal Weapon' star Danny Glover, center, takes part in an anti-war protest in San Francisco in this March 19, 2003, file photo. Glover is the target of a threatened boycott by the conservative public interest group Judicial Watch, that seeks to force telecommunications giant MCI to dump him as its pitchman because of his expressed views on Cuba and against the Iraq war. (AP Photo/Jakub Mosur, File)

May Day - Intellectuals Launch Campaign to Defend Cuba*** HAVANA (Reuters) - More than 160 foreign artists and intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez, have come out in defense of Cuba even as many of their peers condemn recent repression on the Communist-run island, one of the campaigners said on Thursday.

Latin American Nobel laureates Garcia Marquez, Rigoberta Menchu, Aldolfo Perez Esquivel and South African writer Nadine Gordimer, also a Nobel prize winner, have signed a declaration of support, Mexican sociologist Pablo Gonzalez said.

U.S. singer Harry Belafonte and U.S. actor Danny Glover are also among the personalities who have signed the two-paragraph declaration "To the Conscience of the World" so far, Gonzalez announced to a May Day rally in Havana.

"A single power is inflicting grave damage to the norms of understanding, debate and mediation among countries," the declaration says, referring to the United States and the war in Iraq.

"At this very moment, a strong campaign of destabilization against a Latin American nation has been unleashed. The harassment against Cuba could serve as a pretext for an invasion," it continues.***

May 18, 2003 - Cuba says Gov. Bush is urging an attack - On U.S. news show, Alarcón claims plot ***A top Cuban official charged in an interview broadcast Sunday that Gov. Jeb Bush is pressing his brother, President Bush, to bring down the government of Fidel Castro.

Appearing on ABC's This Week, Ricardo Alarcón, the leader of Cuba's National Assembly, said Florida's governor was urging President Bush to invade the island.

''You have, first of all, those in Miami that are calling for even a military action against Cuba, including the governor,'' Alarcón said.

Later in the interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, Alarcón said: ``I am convinced that not very far from President Bush and his entourage are people that are not just willing, but actively working toward that . . . [Jeb Bush] was very open, calling publicly in Florida to do in the neighborhood, in the nation of Cuba, what you just did to Iraq.''***

[goldstategop]

Danny Glover is a neo-Communist. He demands we should buy his movies and support his work even while he lashes out against the United States and shills for Communism in Cuba. Hey Danny boy, the times have changed. When it comes to activism and boycotts, two can play the game. What Glover doesn't like is the fact the shoe is now on the other foot. Nothing cheers me up like the sight of totalitarians whining about being oppressed.

[onyx]

Glover said this chill comes from right-wing factions that he denounced as self-appointed thought police.

What a stupid, f-ing idiot! The "right-wing factions" are AMERICANS voicing our opinions of Danny and his ilk with our pocketbooks! We're not the "thought police."

Their left-wing, anti-American rhetoric doesn't sell with most of us and now they cry and call us names!

I LOVE it.

[Travis McGee]

Glover replied, "This is much larger than me. It's larger than my comments, and my signing a letter supporting Cuba's right to self-determination.

Did I miss all the free Cubaan elections?

Or does Glover mean "!Fidel Es Cuba!"

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Isn't it interesting, when the Left calls for a boycott it's lauded by the media but if anyone voices an opinion against them, be it vocal or monitary condemnation, they're labeled rabid nationalists practicing McCarthyism and stifling free speech.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Boggles the mind.

[JustPiper]

Ping!

[Travis McGee]

I have a new shorthand name I call these pro-communist democrats.

Commie'Rats.

[zarf]

THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS A TWO WAY STREET.

If Danny no like: stop the car, turn around and go home.

[KC_Conspirator]

Attacks on the wallets and credibility of people who speak out against U.S. policies is not a new concept. It happened during World War I and most notably in the 1950s, when many a Hollywood career perished before Rep. Joseph McCarthy's Communist-hunting committee on "un-American activity."

No, thats not right you idiot (speaking to the author). The major damage came from the industry itself, which blacklisted many because communists had in fact overrun the industry. McCarthy really went after those in Washington. Regardless, I find that Glover's love and support for a blody dictator that just excuted 3 innocent people and imprisoned 75 writers, artists, and journalists without a fair trial appalling.

[JustPiper]

On May 8, the public interest group Judicial Watch called for the MCI boycott

How does JW get credit for this?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I don't have a clue.

MCI Contact us - We welcome your inquiries. Use this convenient online form to send us your questions, comments, or to obtain additional information. If you would like to speak to a MCI sales consultant immediately, call us at 1-800-465-7187.

[Bonaparte]

You nailed it, gsg! Like any good little communist shill, Glover wants us side-lined. Too bad for him that this is still America and we can project our power just as easily as he can. He's the lowest thing that crawls on this earth, a traitor.

[Wil H]

Glover said this chill comes from right-wing factions that he denounced as self-appointed thought police.

What a dumbass! There are no "thought police" just citizens expressing their right of reply to to Glover's communist opinions.

If he doesn't like the reaction then he should learn to shut the f@ck up and keep his personal opinions just that - personal.

If he uses his celebritiy status to propagate a political viewpoint then he should be prepared to accept whatever reaction the public choose to give.

[onyx]

Exactly correct. They (Danny and his ilk) do not even know the history of Senator McCarthy and his hearings into "UN-American" activities, yet they toss his name around like a weapon! Beyond ignorant.
<p.Funny thing, they ARE UN-American!

[Bonaparte]

Wouldn't you know it? MCI is part of the corrupt and bankrupt WorldCom. I'm sure Glover feels right at home pedaling their wares for them.

[onyx]

If he uses his celebritiy status to propagate a political viewpoint then he should be prepared to accept whatever reaction the public choose to give.

I think they're shocked to find that the majority, (dare I say the "vast majority"?) of Americans hold them and their views in contempt!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I wonder how much of Glover's $$$$ goes where his mouth is.

[Bonaparte]

And those sanctimonious "free speech experts" the article quotes. They're sickening. Not one word was heard from them when the homos forced Dr. Laura off the air. Not one.

They can dish it out but they can't take it. Surprise, surprise.

[Bonaparte]

Oh, I'm sure he's very generous with the far left wing of the democratic party.