Posted on 02/02/2011 1:56:46 AM PST by ruination
Acting veterans Clint Howard and Morgan Brittany talk about 'coming out' in their Republican views, and how it caused one famous co-star to turn his back. It ain't easy being a Republican in Hollywood, even if your brother is an A-list director and producer. That's what actor Clint Howard told attendees at a California GOP convention over the weekend.
Howard, an actor since 1961 and the younger brother of filmmaker Ron Howard, said that while he is comfortable speaking publicly about his conservatism, his advice to Republicans looking to break into the industry is to keep their political opinions to themselves, even though Hollywood liberals seldom do.
About five years ago "I came out of the closet. In Hollywood. I certainly understand that's dangerous," he said.
"If the entertainment industry should turn on me, I'd say, 'well fine.' But for young conservatives, you may hear me speak out but let me tell you: Be careful," he said.
Howard was joined by Morgan Brittany, one of the stars of the 1980s nighttime soap opera Dallas. The pair have more than 100 years of acting experience between them (Brittany's first job was as a child in the late 1950s), and they've noted a leftward slide in the industry and an intolerance for political dissent over the decades.
"I'd go out on location with the Dallas crew," she told members of the California Congress of Republicans in Valencia on Saturday. "Everybody in the van was bashing (President Reagan). I never said anything because I thought I'd lose my job. And I probably would have lost my job. I got to a point later on, after Dallas was over and I had my two children, that I said, 'enough is enough. I'm not going to be silent any longer'," she said.
"If I'm silent then I'm enabling these people and I'm letting them win. They need to know that we're out there. That we're strong and that we have ideas and solutions.
The reaction to her newfound political courage back then wasn't pretty.
"Oh man, the flack I took from the people, the agencies -- 'oh, you can't say that. You can't do that. Casting people might see you. And directors!'"
"What is this, the blacklist?" she said. "They're not going to hire me because I have an opinion? That's the way Hollywood is and, unfortunately, I got that. But I still wasn't going to back down."
Brittany, who was one of the most visible celebrities supporting the Republican ticket of McCain-Palin over the Democratic ticket of Obama-Biden during the last presidential election, has a daughter in her 20s who is a struggling actress. Her advice to her is: "Don't tell them you're my daughter."
Brittany told of building a friendship with actor Ed Asner, a sometimes activist for progressive causes, when the two starred in a stage-play together during the infamous Florida recount that put Republican George W. Bush in the White House over Democrat Al Gore. And she told how she lost Asner's friendship due to politics.
"Every night he just loved me and came in and gave me a big hug," she said. "Then one night he was going crazy about Gore and Bush and stealing the election. I'm backstage and I said, 'Ed, chill, not everybody thinks the way you do'."
"Well, where do I begin?" I swear. It was like a light switch," she said. "He turned to me and said, 'you're not a Republican?' I said, 'yep.' And he said, 'I can't even look at you. I can't even talk to you'."
"From that moment on, he never spoke to me again, except on stage," she said. "This is what we're dealing with. The intolerance of the left."
She said that while a starlet in her 20s she met with the late Jay Bernstein, who managed the careers of Farrah Fawcett and Suzanne Somers back in the day, but the meeting went awry after Bernstein noticed the cross Brittany wore around her neck.
She said Bernstein told her: "You're going to have to lose that, honey.
In this town, you can't be religious, and you can't be conservative."
"He was a star-making manager, but I couldn't sign on with him," Brittany said.
As for Howard, he said he avoids talking politics while on the set, even though the other side shows less restraint. While shooting Frost/Nixon, for example, he got so sick of an outspoken liberal actor (whom he wouldn't name) "spewing venom" that he finally told him to "knock it off."
"I had to listen to a lot of it, but I never thought the workplace was the right time to get into it," he said.
He also said politics never comes between him and his liberal brother Ron.
"I have a wonderful older brother. It's a shame he sits on the wrong side of the dinner table," he said. "It never gets uncomfortable with Ron and I. We just differ politically and that's okay. He's just wrong and I'm right. I believe that in my heart of hearts."
An important reminder of America’s troubles, a huge part of the problem.
Liberals only believe in diversity and tolerance for as long as you agree with them.
Brittany told of building a friendship with actor Ed Asner, a sometimes activist for progressive causes, when the two starred in a stage-play together during the infamous Florida recount that put Republican George W. Bush in the White House over Democrat Al Gore. And she told how she lost Asner's friendship due to politics.
"Every night he just loved me and came in and gave me a big hug," she said. "Then one night he was going crazy about Gore and Bush and stealing the election. I'm backstage and I said, 'Ed, chill, not everybody thinks the way you do'."
"Well, where do I begin?" I swear. It was like a light switch," she said. "He turned to me and said, 'you're not a Republican?' I said, 'yep.' And he said, 'I can't even look at you. I can't even talk to you'."
"From that moment on, he never spoke to me again, except on stage," she said. "This is what we're dealing with. The intolerance of the left."
The comments at the link are worth reading. All hate and attacks on the actors talents.
Hollywood types love to talk about being blacklisted and McCarthyism....but it’s all simple projection on their part. Well let me tell ya, I’m intolerant of tolerance.
It's a coven.
They've all sold their souls to the evil one.
Sounds like it’s time for our conservative brothers and sisters in Hollywood to utilize our free market system (for as long as we still have it, anyway!).
They should form their own production company and produce entertainment that the American people actually want to pay for, instead of the crap that comes out of Hollywood now. They would make more money than they could possibly spend in this lifetime.
“his advice to Republicans looking to break into the industry is to keep their political opinions to themselves, even though Hollywood liberals seldom do.”
________________________________________________
My advice would be to stay away from an industry run and populated by Anti-American neo-Marxist.
Why on earth would a real and decent American want to be in such a cesspool?
With all due respect to everyone posting on this thread, but we see the same type of intolerance on the Right as well. For example, just try being a Romney supporter here on FR, or try expressing skepticism about Palin’s ability to be president. The Left does not have a corner on the intolerance market.
The democrat brown shirts will get you if you dissent.
What has happened to the home of the free, and the land of the brave?
Vote the progressive = liberal = communist D’s and R’s out of office, then prosecute them for treason if they ever voted for an unconstitutional bill!
Leonard started speaking about the new movie, Star Trek IV, you know, the one about the whales. He was talking about the issues of hunting and why we should save them.
Well, then he decides to stray into politics and starts to bash 41. I am standing next to the stage opposite the door with several hundred people between me and it.
He continues to trash Bush and I am getting more livid by the moment. I am trying to decide whether to walk straight out in front of the stage or go toward the back.
Finally, I can take it no more so I swiftly turn and literally march half way back, cut through the mid aisle and march out the door.
Afterwards, friends asked me what I was doing. I told them that this was a Star Trek convention, three days before the General Election and Nimoy was up there bashing the sitting President. I told them that this was no place for what he said and that some of the ppl in the audience were mindless sheeple that will be swayed by what he was saying and vote according to Spock.
I remember being so damned angry, but I got some satisfaction. One friend told me that Nimoy was temporary shocked (when I say marched, I mean I MARCHED out the door) he lost his train of thought.
THAT little experience really drilled home what Howard was saying.
Whoa! Pro-Romney and Anti-Palin? I think we not only need to stop you from posting to FR through fear and intimidation and unsavory comments left in reply, but we need to keep you from being employed and collecting a pay check.
Where do you work?
The communazi trash in Hollywood make a ton of money in this country, often playing the parts of real men or heros and actually doing a good job of it, and all along, they hate the country and many of the people who watch/buy their product. I try to be very selective regarding what movies I watch or purchase. I am proud to have never watched a movie with George Looney. I think it is a travesty that Alec Baldwin plays a manly man key role in “The Hunt for Red October”. I think it a blasphemy that Martin Sheen played General Lee in “Gettysburg”.
Sorry, but we’re not appearing on Letterman or Crissy Matthews and we’re not making any money disagreeing with you. Most importantly, I think, you’re entitled to your opinion, but I get to disagree with you too. If you’re looking for “tolerance” perhaps you’d be more comfortable at a moderate forum. Have a nice day.
For the past year, I've produced a weekly online radio show about the behind the scenes of the industry. Clint has been a guest of ours (and was terrific) - and now, you can be sure I'll reach out to Morgan.
It's anecdotal, but with the conversations we've had before and during the show with some of the celeb level guests, there are more conservatives than I imagined. Anyway, I will email this link to Clint and maybe we'll find out that he's on FR...!
God has places where he’s comfortable and satan has places where he’s comfortable. For God it’s in places of danger, like foxholes, where he can offer support and stength. For satan it’s Hollywood!
That’s awesome! I am a Clint Howard fan. The guy has a niche, that’s for sure.
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