Republican Celebrities -- not the TV pundit Beck-Limbaugh-Coulter ilk but real, big-time popular musicians, movie and TV stars, are a rare breed. But they're out there. They were on display at the 2008 Republican National Convention--dancing, and singing, and moving to the grooving:
Musical guests in Minneapolis entertaining this week include Republican loyalists: Beach Boys, Charlie Daniels Band, and Sammy Hagar. Also performing are American Idol winner Chris Daughtry and Smash Mouth, performing for the Coalition for a Conservative Majority. Nashville’s LeAnn Rimes and Gretchen "Redneck Woman" Wilson also appear.
(Smash Mouth? What the hell happened?)
Here are some more of the Hollywood Right, circa the 2004 RNC Convention (h/t to Lisa Sarrach at GOP-USA):
It's a real disappointment that the likes of Bruce Willis, James Woods, Patricia Heaton, Dennis Franz, Robert Duvall, Kelsey Grammer, and a host of other celebrities who proclaim to support President Bush are not out there supporting him publicly, not campaigning for him, not at the convention...In the meantime, we send our heartfelt thanks to:
Ron Silver, Angie Harmon, Stephen Baldwin, the Gatlin Brothers, Daryl Worley, Rip Torn, Brooks & Dunn, Travis Tritt, the View's Elizabeth Hasselbeck, Sara Evans, Bo Derek, and singing cop Daniel Rodriguez for standing up and supporting President Bush.
An impressive list indeed!
As we all know by now, the "Tea Party" has fielded some real winners. Their candidates have brought important, if controversial views to the table. Fresh new ideas like belittling autistic children, forcing rape victims to have their rapist's babies, abolishing the Department of Education and the EPA, eliminating Social Security, rationing Medicare with a $2000 deductible, cutting the minimum wage and promoting armed insurrection ought to be causes celebre among the fashionable Right and its celebrities. So where are they? The Republican Party is gleefully embracing the Tea Party. Why haven't its prominent spokespersons in the popular culture followed suit and draped the mantle of Revolution over their shoulders? Of all the big stars who were willing to leap off a cliff for George W,. Bush, it appears that only Jon Voight has been willing to lend his name to the Tea Party minions (I don't count Victoria Jackson. I'm not sure what she is, but "star" she ain't).
Where's the rest of 'em?
I, for one, think we need to ask them!
Hey James Woods! James! Put down that drink for a sec!
"I love George Bush right now and I always have. I'm the only guy in L.A. who voted for him."
http://www.imdb.com/...
"Scratch a liberal and you'll find a fascist ... I'm not joking. You look at what's happening in this country now. Catharine MacKinnon thinks that we should now limit free speech, anything that offends a woman should now no longer be allowed - no reasonable man or woman in this country would subscribe to that, it's just insanity."
James, you are so right. Ending liberal fascism is what the Tea party is all about, and we might as well start with this ridiculous catering to women's "sensibilities." So James, I guess you'd have no problem with making women bear their rapist's babies! 'Cause that tends to offend some women! Some real whacko women out there have a problem with being beat up and forcibly violated with a gun or knife pressed to their neck, and just don't want to be compelled by the government to have their rapist's baby! Can you believe it? So could we just get a confirmation of your view on this on the record? James? James??
Well, we can't find James right now---wait a minute, there's Bruce Willis!
Yo, Bruce! I know, I know, you're not a real Republican. You've made it clear that you're simply an Asshole:
I'm sick of answering this fucking question. I'm a Republican only as far as I want a smaller government, I want less government intrusion. I want them to stop shitting on my money and your money and tax dollars that we give 50 percent of... every year. I want them to be fiscally responsible and I want these goddamn lobbyists out of Washington. Do that and I'll say I'm a Republican... I hate the government, OK? I'm apolitical. Write that down. I'm not a Republican.
Bruce also has promoted his nuanced views of the Second Amendment.
"If you take guns away from legal gun owners then the only people who would have guns would be the bad guys."
Bruce, it would seem like the Tea Party is tailor-made for you. They hate the government too. In fact, you sound like you would have a lot in common with this person:
Angle: I feel that the Second Amendment is the right to keep and bear arms for our citizenry. This not for someone who's in the military. This not for law enforcement. This is for us. And in fact when you read that Constitution and the founding fathers, they intended this to stop tyranny. This is for us when our government becomes tyrannical...
Manders: If we needed it at any time in history, it might be right now.
Angle: Well it's to defend ourselves. And you know, I'm hoping that we're not getting to Second Amendment remedies. I hope the vote will be the cure for the Harry Reid problems.
Sounds like your soul mate, Bruce. Hates the government, big on guns. So can we put you down for advocating "Second Amendment remedies" against Congressmen and Senators if they don't vote the way you want them to? Got to fight against Tyranny, right? Bruce, all I'm looking for at this point is confirmation of your views for the record. In all seriousness, for someone so eager to bless us all with your heartfelt opinions, I just can't believe you haven't weighed in to support this People's Movement. Why not? What's the problem?
Let's ask Wilford Brimley! He'll set us straight. No cat and mouse from Wilford Brimley, no sir! When that man speaks, it's Gospel. (Note to self: after reaching age 70, grow oversized mustache and speak 4-6 word sentences in slow drawl, continuing to stare emphatically. Everything you say will be credited with sheer profundity).
Taking a break from hawking Quaker Oats and lining his pockets from third-party Medicare providers, Wilford actually cut a 60-second campaign ad this year for Rita Meyer, a losing Republican candidate for governor in Utah:
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/...
"My wife and I met with Rita Meyer in our home, and after a very pleasant visit, we decided to support her," Brimley says in a 60-second radio commercial that began running in the state this week.
"She assured me she'd do her utmost to keep the federal government out of our business and, most of all, out of our wallets."
Brimley also endorsed John McCain in the 2008 presidential election.
Wilford I promise I won't point out how much money you've made hawking Medicare services paid for out of my wallet if you'll just let the Senior citizens (who see you as one of their own because that's the way you market yourself) know whether you support Tea Party Values like this stellar example from Alaska:
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/...
"You have also taken some fairly controversial -- some would say very extreme -- positions," CBS' Bob Schieffer told Miller Sunday. "First you say you want to phase out Medicare. You want to privatize Social Security. I have to say there are a lot of people in Alaska who are on Medicare and are getting Social Security. Isn't that position going to be a problem for you in the election, in this general election?" asked Schieffer.
"I would suggest to you that if one thinks that the Constitution is extreme then you would also think that the founders are extreme," answered Miller.
Again, Wilford, give me some of your famous "straight talk." I can take it. Do you support abolishing Medicare, now that you've made your money off of it, and privatizing Social Security? A lot of folks who watch you on the TeeVee may be interested to know that. Do you? Wilford? Wilford???
We've lost Wilford, I guess.
But wait--there's Angie Harmon!
Wow, with that husky voice and a new TV series, that woman is red hot! Here she was praising our military men in an effort to get a man that bravely sent others to an unnecessary war re-elected as President:
http://findarticles.com/...
HARMON: We thank you both so much for your service to America and to the cause of peace and freedom in the world. And we join you in supporting a leader of courage, a president building a safer world and a more hopeful America.
HARMON AND SEHORN: President George W. Bush.
Angie has a brand new series undoubtedly destined to become a television landmark. So I suppose it's understandable why she might be reluctant to dip her husky toes in the political waters. It might be unseemly, for example, to be associated with a party that advocates forcing women to bear their rapist's babies. Or one that thinks the minimum wage for waitresses should be cut. Or probably thinks Title IX was an unwarranted extension of government interference with the "free market."
Or one that expresses itself like this:
I guess I can understand why advertisers might be skittish. But Angie, you've already demonstrated you know what courage is. So let's hear it. Are you with the Tea Party or against it?
Same with you, Bruce! And you, Clint! And you, Kelsey! C'mon, take a stand!
Thanks in advance!