Hollywood War?
Hollywood’s position on the war against Iraq has always been partisan and hypocritical. For instance, singer Sheryl Crow is currently bemoaning the “karmic retributions” that apparently result from any military conflict. Strangely enough, she had no such concerns in 1996, when she was entertaining U.S. troops sent to war in Bosnia by former President Bill Clinton. Back then, she “felt extremely patriotic.” Today, her website is selling a $12 tee-shirt that reads: “I don’t believe in your war, Mr. Bush!”
Even more infuriating than Hollywood’s hypocrisy is the contempt that many celebrities seem to have for their own fans, who are quickly tiring of the stars’ knee-jerk “limousine liberalism.” While America’s self-absorbed cultural elites are quick to champion their right to speak freely, they stubbornly refuse to accept the consequences of loudly advancing a point-of-view that the majority of Americans strongly oppose.
According to a poll conducted by “The Hollywood Reporter,” 44 percent of Americans would avoid the work of “a politically active celebrity with whom they disagree.” This poll merely indicates that many Americans have chosen to reserve their disposable income for those celebrities who don’t make a habit of directly attacking and belittling the beliefs of their fans. Some melodramatic Hollywood stars have pointed to this occurrence as undeniable proof that the dreaded “blacklists” of the McCarthy-era have returned. The Screen Actors’ Guild even issued a press release on the need to remain vigilant. But individuals holding loudmouthed celebrities accountable for their unpopular statements is hardly a “blacklist.” To call it that is an insult to the filmmakers whose careers were ruined and livelihoods destroyed by allegations that they were members of the Communist Party. While many celebrities seem to take great pride in their political activism, there is nothing even remotely courageous about the advancement of a liberal agenda in Hollywood. Like stale plots and contrived situations in Hollywood movies, it is something of a cliche. Still, some celebrities cling to the notion that they are the embodiment of moral courage, besieged on all sides because of the liberal positions that they promote.
“Actors such as Mike Farrell and Janeane Garofalo say both the right wing and the media are marginalizing the peace movement and smearing actor Sean Penn, who visited Iraq in December,” an article in “The Washington Times” said.
Forgetting the ideological make-up of her fan base, Dixie Chicks’ singer Natalie Maines said, in London, that the group was “ashamed” that President Bush came from their home state of Texas. (It’s interesting how courageous some celebrities get once they step off of American soil.) Their manager has blamed the ensuing fan reaction and radio station boycotts on “a radical right-wing” website.
Regardless of what these self-pitying celebrities would have you think, not a single one of them will be blacklisted or shunned by their peers for protesting a Republican administration’s decision to commit U.S. troops to battle. In Hollywood, the surest way to get oneself blacklisted is to be overheard expressing a conservative point-of-view on any issue.
That’s why you’ll never see liberal Democrats like Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson appearing in advertisements for National Right to Life, despite the fact that both men consider themselves pro-life. Even when Beatty entertained the idea of running for president and gave a political speech before an audience of celebrity friends, he never mentioned the abortion issue. When asked by online journalist Matt Drudge why he has not gone public with his opposition to abortion, Beatty said, “I can’t.”
Beatty has good reason to be scared. He has only to look at his “Town & Country” co-star Charlton Heston to see what happens when a Hollywood actor becomes too closely associated with conservative positions. Through the years, Heston has revealed himself to be a man of integrity and moral courage, both on screen and off. In the ‘60s, he marched for civil rights alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In the ‘90s, he took the floor at a Time-Warner stockholders’ meeting and read aloud excerpts from Ice-T’s “Cop Killer,” shaming the company into dropping the artist.
Heston could have easily slipped off into a self-imposed retirement, like many of the actors of his generation, content with being remembered for his unforgettable roles and classic films. But, his unwavering dedication to the principles that define him and his life-long commitment to freedom inspired him to seek the presidency of the National Rifle Association.
In a 1995 interview with “The San Francisco Chronicle,” Heston said that his advocacy of Second Amendment rights and his endorsement of conservative political candidates has not cost him any roles “because the casting choices are made on a dollars-and-sense basis.” Heston’s political convictions have undeniably earned him the enmity of liberal film reviewers and the downright hostility of some in the Hollywood film community.
According to Heston, his films have received “some ridiculously biased” reviews in recent years. “The outstanding example” was a review of “Treasure Island” that went out of its way to personally attack Heston for his politics. The review called his performance “over-the-top” and referred to him as “a paid shill of the NRA,” Heston said. Famous Hollywood actors and directors have also hopped aboard the Heston-trashing bandwagon. The most notable examples are actor George Clooney and director Spike Lee, two celebrities who unsuccessfully attempted to disguise their partisan hatred as humor.
A few years ago, at the MTV Movie Awards, George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg were about to announce the winner of the award for “Best Villain.” As what was apparently intended to be light-hearted banter, Wahlberg suggested that they forget about the nominees and, instead, give the award to Heston, simply for being the president of the NRA. Clooney whole-heartedly agreed.
Earlier this year, while accepting an award from the National Board of Review, Clooney mocked Heston’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease, telling the audience that “Charlton Heston announced again today that he is suffering from Alzheimer’s.” After having so cruelly insulted a dying man, whose sole offense was defending the U.S. Constitution, the unrepentant Clooney stubbornly rejected the opportunity to apologize. “I don’t care. Charlton Heston is the head of the National Rifle Association,” Clooney said. “He deserves whatever anyone says about him.”
In 1999, Spike Lee made his own unfunny joke at Heston’s expense. When asked how to solve America’s problem with violent crime, Lee suggested that Heston himself be shot “with a .44-caliber bulldog.” (In the same conversation, the outspoken director listed Mayor Rudolph Giuliani as one of the things he hated about New York City and declared that “we’ve got to dismantle the NRA.”)
It is extremely difficult to imagine that any of the celebrities currently protesting the war will be forced to endure as much scorn and hatred for their political views as Heston has. For that reason, it’s hard to take someone like Martin Sheen seriously when he complains to the press that NBC executives have “let it be known” to him that “they’re very uncomfortable” with his anti-war stance.
Sheen has been championing the same causes for decades. No one has ever suggested that someone shoot him “with a .44-caliber bulldog” and no one ever will.
Denis Grasska
Additional Sources: scweb.sandiego.edu
www.playwinningpoker.com
www.nebraskastudies.org
www.bbc.co.uk
www.af.mil
www.wpafb.af.mil
www.wm.edu
history.acusd.edu
www-cgsc.army.mil
schwinger.harvard.edu
www.pbs.org
www.nwnews.com
www.uh.edu
There are very few, if any at all, patriots left in Hollywood these days.
Hollwood is very unfriendly to anyone and everyone who doesn't conform to their 'group think'.
Grrr.
