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June 28, 2004

Flaky Hollywood Liberals Jump on Schwarzenegger Bandwagon

Fame, Popularity, and Success Continue to Be the Only "Values" They Care About

As they say of the Germans: They're either at your throat or at your knees.

Robert Davi (the weathered, Hispanic-looking actor from License to Kill and a billion other movies) turns out to be a Republican (I think). He says that Hollywood Republicans are suddenly not as fearful about expressing their views:

A group of Republicans including actors, producers and writers who have held salon-type meetings to discuss politics and the Iraq war for over a year has grown to about 100, from 8 at first, said the character actor Robert Davi, adding that Mr. Schwarzenegger has galvanized many of them. As Michael Harbert, a writer and producer who is a Republican and has worked on G.O.P. campaigns, put it: "He clearly opened the door and made it not just acceptable but fashionable to say, `I'm an Arnold Schwarzenegger Republican.' That's a new title. He's brought that cachet back."

How superficial is this?:

These days, Hollywood is humming a different tune. "The movie industry respects a hit, and this movie is working because it's good," said Sean Daniel, a producer and former studio executive who voted against the recall and for the Democratic candidate, Lt. Gov. Cruz M. Bustamante, last October. "This isn't just marketing. This is real."

Say what you will about Barbra Streisand, but at least she isn't suddenly jumping on the Arnold bandwagon just because he's got some heat.

This may indicate that Hollywood liberalism is more of a social-convention than a deeply-held political philosophy, at least for many. They don't care about issues; they just want to be on the hip, hot side.

I guess we probably pretty much knew that already, but it's nice to have some empircal confirmation.

posted by Ace at 03:58 PM

Comments

I can see it now: Maddona/Ester's next silly attempt to claw her way into the news will be to declare that she too is a Republican. She'll headline at the GOP convention, and insist on French kissing both of the Bush twins.

Posted by: Scout on June 28, 2004 04:08 PM

There are/have been a few truly conservative Hollywood types over the years. Isn't Tom Selleck a member of the NRA? And if I recall correctly, Fred Thompson's a pretty staunch conservative. But for the most part, you're sadly correct.

Posted by: Brian B on June 28, 2004 04:15 PM

Eh, I wouldn't rush to judgement. Aside from always being a reliable character actor in genre pics (Jake Fratelli in "The Goonies", anyone?), Robert Davi is hardly the quintessential liberal Hollywood superstar a la Streisan, Baldwin, Robbins, Norton, Depp, etc.

Am kind of curious as to why I haven't heard of his party affiliation before, but then I guess that the press would hardly be interested in reporting on Robert Davi's personal life even if he weren't a Republican.

Posted by: Eric Spratling on June 28, 2004 04:35 PM

John Rhyss Davies, of Gimli fame, has said several times (after expressing pro-war views) that he was killing his carreer by being honest.

In Hollywood, someone even vaguely not liking you can get you not-hired for a part. It's enough to ensure a very high level of conformity.

That being said, if enough Hollywood types "come out", including one or two big-hitters, then that might be enough to turn the tide. Suddenly super-libs who won't work with Republicans might be the problem children who don't get hired.

But I wouldn't count on it. The type of intro-spective navel gazing required to be an actor, combined with the fact they're never asked to pay for anything they get on the set, will continue to be structural safeguards that protect whiny liberals from ever having to question their assumptions.

Posted by: Brock on June 28, 2004 05:38 PM

Kelsey Grammer is also a conservative Republican

Posted by: Thebastidge on June 28, 2004 08:37 PM

Kelsey is a Republican, but he ain't no conservative, socially anyway.

Posted by: Palmer Haas on June 28, 2004 08:57 PM

All I know is that Kelsey gave the max $2000 to W. Conservative enough for me.

Posted by: EA on June 29, 2004 09:43 AM

OK, so basically, there's:

Arnold
Stallone
Norris
Willis
Grammer
Selleck
Rhys-Davies
Kurt Russell
Dennis Miller
Pat Sajak
Gary Oldman
Christiopher Walken (possibly)

That's pretty much it, right?

Posted by: zetetic on June 29, 2004 01:04 PM

Oops, I forgot Tony Danza.

Posted by: zetetic on June 29, 2004 01:05 PM

Shame on us all for forgetting Lara Flynn Boyle. Bring back the picture, Ace! You know the one I'm talking 'bout...

Posted by: EA on June 29, 2004 01:23 PM

Add James Woods to the list ... on Jay Leno in 2002 (??) he said something to the effect that his first word on 9/11 would have been LAUNCH.

Posted by: Michelle on July 3, 2004 01:23 PM

Hmm, I was under the impression Woods was a pinko. Mea maxima culpa! Check this out:

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3ac204f63b1d.htm

Posted by: zetetic on July 3, 2004 03:03 PM

poker me up

Posted by: poker me up on December 29, 2004 02:17 PM