[MoscowMike]

Howdy

I wholeheartedly agree with the screen actors guild, freedom of speech is a cornerstone of our republic.

I hope the SAG endorses my freedom of speech as well. I intend exercise that liberty to NEVER AGAIN, EVER consume any entertainment product which features the likes of martin sheen, george cloony, susan saranwrap, alec baldwin, meathead, brabra streisand, sean penn, mike farrell, the list goes on.

Let them speak their minds.

Not the first farthing will find its way from my earnings into the accounts of anticapitalist, intolerant, obsolete leftist lunatic elitists who despise America, despise We, The People, and the American Way.

It's all about freedom!

Speaking of freedom of speech, please, fellow freepers, if there is a rogues gallery website of hollywood elitists who hate America, give us the URL.

It would be nice to consult such a resource before heading to the cinema.

[Khepera]

Hey but you will deprive them of their jobs if you do that. LOL Thats BaaaaaaaaD!

[jagrmeister]

Every time someone criticizes the opinion of some Hollywood airhead, they cry "McCarthyism". The Hollywood set can say whatever they like but as soon as someone points out that their anti-Americanism has real consequences, they silence their critics by screaming "McCarthyism". God forbid we have an open discussion on how Hollywood's misrepresentation of American acts and motives have promoted anti-americanism abroad. And shouldn't we talk honestly about how that anti-americanism motivates terrorists and weakens our alliances? Try any of this, and you will be silenced with the cry of "McCarthyism". Hollywood is smart. They have a fawning press, they have the attention of the masses, they have the biggest blowhorn. But the moment a few patriotic individuals question the responsibility of making statements that portray America as a nation worthy of being attacked, they use the symbolism of Joe McCarthy to silence them.

[Jhoffa_]

Oh, BS.

They market themselves and since they have made themselves the commodity they had better damn well be ready to pay the price for it in the free market.

Look at wash boards, no one is buying them because they don't want them. Same thing with lard, if sales are down it's because no one wants to buy lard.

And the same principle holds true for these jokers, if no one wants to buy the products they advertise, watch the movies they star in or tune in to their television shows then who's fault is it when they are dropped?

Is it my fault, for not wanting to watch someone I hate? Is it the network or producers fault because they don't want to lose money by hiring someone unpopular or who can't deliver ratings?

I say it's their own fault for driving down their own demand right into the ground.

Was "Pee Wee" Herman denied his "right to work" when through his actions he ceased to be a popular figure?

[SquirrelKing]

I agree. Let 'em speak out, helps me at Blockbuster. It helps to see them in their true light.

Ewww...

[spodefly]

Hollywood is free to say what it wants, and I am free not to spend another dime to keep them in the coddled, insular, elitist lifestyles to which they have become accustomed.

In a few years, when the anti-American loudmouths have vanished from the screens, it will not be a 'blacklist' that caused it ... it will be the free market choices of those of us out here in the hinterlands that are no longer willing to pay to see their bullshit.

[xm177e2]

If the SAG would acknowledge the anti-conservative bias in Hollywood, maybe this statement would have more meaning. As it stands, conservative actors who are not yet famous have to keep their mouths shut or risk losing work.

[onedoug]

BOYCOTT OIL!

EXPEL THE US FROM THE UN!

[goldstategop]

Screen Actors Guild Liberal Commandment: Free Speech For Me Not For Thee

[Tacis]

It wasn't the fault of the HUAC. It was the fault of thelying scum bag commies who refused to testify, claiming they were protecting friends. They claimed, in effect, that not speaking the truth about people they knew was a greatr responsibility than helping to protect the nation against a clear threat.

Of course they were black listed. They were lying commie scum. They deserved to go to jail. To treat them as heros is mendacity to the extreme. I believe that SAG continues to be a communist dominated organization whose objective if the eventual destruction of the US. They have cleverly formed as a labor union so folks out there have to belong to an anti-American organization to work.

Freedom of speech is absolute and even an a$$hole like Penn has the right to speak. It is SAG that needs to be investigated to determine what it's true objectives are and who really controls it. We put corrupt Teamster local under federal trusteeship, why not SAG?

[Kay Soze]

They have the total right to free speech.

I maintain a right to purchase products from whomever I please.

I choose to purchase products from like minded individuals.

I choose not to buy products endorsed or made by by Ed Asner, George Clooney, Susan Sarandon, George Clooney Marthin Sheen.

[Revolting cat!]

This is very good news! It means that SAG is responding to pressure from somewhere - from the production companies, from television networks, who in turn are responding to pressure from advertisers, and from all those cards and letters we are sending them. Excellent!

At the same time, who wouldn't mind if the production companies had their blacklists with the names of the rabble rousers who turn off audiences, alienate viewers, provoke protests. Such blacklists already exist, even if they're not formalized. Conservative actors are on them, over 40 actresses are on them, first rate directors and actors who don't bring in the bucks, Pee Wee Herman, Robert Downey Jr, actors who are difficult to get along with, who have serious drug problems interfering with their work, etc. Who's are we kidding?!

[elephantlips]

The bone of contention is not the right of anyone to speak their minds, it is the manner in which that right is exercised. It is one thing to say that you are not in favor of the war, it is quite another to ridicule and insult our president and the government because things aren't going the way you want. Also, once our government has committed men and women to the battle front, we owe those men and women every support possible. When it came time to ante up, they put their lives on the table. What did you put on the table but your foul mouths? Even the "human shields" with their misguided effort to speak their minds at least put feet to their words. Unless I missed something, where are the Hollywood types in the "shield brigade?" As reflected in many of the comments here in FR, all Americans have the right to tune you out or turn you off. That is their right of free speech. So quit your whinning as it will not bring any attention to the principles you never had. Instead, get down on your pampered knees and thank the God you don't believe in that there are men and women ready to give their lives so you can curse their efforts.

[tndarlin]

Here is my reply to the SAG:

I read your response to the so-called "blacklisting" of anti-war celebrities for exercising their freedom of speech.

I think you must still be living in the McCarthy era.

We do not live in a 20th Century world. We live in 2003. No longer are there 3 channels watch, I have over 500. No longer is there one newspaper, I get over 10 personally. No longer are there 50 websites (as was when Clinton was elected) there are over 50 million. There are many ways to get information. Again I say, we do not live in the 20th century.

McCarthy went to far with his push and the use of Government to silence your voice. The greatness in this country is that you have the freedom to voice your opinion. That does not make it correct. I have the right to voice my opinion. You may not think that is correct. But I know I have formed my opinion based on the same information you have. Your vote and voice carries the same weight as mine. What a great Country!

In conclusion, you have the freedom to voice your opinion of War in Iraq. I also have the same freedom to change the channel. Thank you, TNDarlin

[sheik yerbouty]

SAG meetings sometimes turn into orgies of PC.

[bfree]

Great letter Howdy. Here's is my email:

I wish to express my support of your union member's right to free speech. I served our country during Vietnam when called, to protect your rights, however I also served to protect my rights and those who disagree with your members. I believe your members have a right to say anything, however I also believe that with these words they also have an obligation to pay the consequences of those words and actions. Using the phrase of "blacklist" every time someone objects to some of the nonsense spewed out by irresponsible members like David Clennon. Alec Baldwin,Martin Sheen etc., is wrong. Criticism by those who disagree is also "free speech". If I insulted half of my firm's customers and they wrote to my employer to complain, I would be without a job, it is no different in Hollywood. David Clennon insulted many people's core beliefs and they freely wrote to his employer(I know I did) as is their right to free speech. If his employer decides that his remarks have jeopardized their business, it is their right to eliminate him from their company. Free speech and protest work both ways, people have a right to talk and other's have a right to express displeasure with those remarks. Martin Sheen has also expressed himself and now worries that the ratings fall. Guess what, if you insult people in their beliefs do not expect them to financially support your work. It is very simple. Crying blacklisting is like crying racism everytime Jesse Jackson is criticized. Please show me where anyone is blacklisted. Employers have a right to hire people that will make them money, they have no obligation to hire those that offend half the potential audience. Your members have no right to a job. I would expect the courtesy of a reply to explain where my thinking is wrong. Thank you for your time.

[Centurion2000]

Some have recently suggested that well-known individuals who express 'unacceptable' views should be punished by losing their right to work

What right to work ? They can work all they want; people will just stop buying their products.

It's called the MARKET.

[Wavyhill]

Let's see--who is trying to punish those whose views differ from theirs in Hollywood? Fact. James Woods is one of the best actors in Hollywood. If you haven't ever seen him in a movie, do so. He has had some really cheesy movies--for instance, The Hard Way--that nevertheless were made almost decent by his intensity. He is also fairly conservative politically. Fact. Shannen Doherty is a perfect 10, and a very good actress to boot. She is also a Republican (despite her formerly wild lifestyle), and not ashamed to admit it publicly. Fact. Tom Cruise is a so-so actor, capable of competently reading his lines but not really impressive in his delivery. Fact. Julia Roberts looks like a willow branch with a bad makeup job. So why is it that Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts are perennially on the A list, even though they are both getting old fast, while James Woods is still called a "character actor" and Shannen the hottie can't get a job to save her life? You connect the dots.

[FirstTomato]

Because of this statement, an obvious attempt by SAG to suppress the first amendment rights of Americans who disagree with leftist entertainers, I will actively boycott all stars who have made anti-American statements. Furthermore, I will spread the word and encourage others not to buy the products of these stars.

That is my right as an American, and these leftist thugs are not going to frighten me into submission.