How many times have you been in conversation with a conservative voter, right-winger, Republican adherent, misguided middle class Reaganite (idiot) voter, simpleton, hate monger, Bush dynasty pin head, suckass Fox News freaker-watcher, Breitbart butt lick, Santorum goof ball supporter, or Palin pabulum parrot, and they start going on and on about how Hollywood is all for the Democrats?
First thing you might point out is that Ronald Reagan was from Hollywood. But if you're stuck there and can only think of one or two more right-wing/conservative Hollywood supporters of the Republican Party, one of them reliably Charlton Heston, then here's a primer for the upcoming 2012 race...a listing of familiar names to counter the conventional wisdom on the right that only liberals live and work in Hollywood. First, there's Robert Duvall, who said some mighty nice things about Sarah Palin.
From CBS News' John Bentley:
(ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.) – Were Robert Duvall and James Caan the only people in America to know about Sarah Palin being named as John McCain's running mate? Probably not, but when Duvall introduced Sarah Palin at the rally here tonight, he talked about watching her on TV a year ago and not knowing who she was, but being impressed.
A few weeks ago, Duvall said, he was talking to James Caan (he calls him "Jimmy") who agreed. After the pick, Caan told him McCain "pulled a brilliant military move" by naming her to the ticket.
Apparently a proponent of domestic drilling, Duvall held a sign that said "Drill Here! Drill Now!" as the McCain and Palin families entered the arena. He introduced the vice presidential hopeful by saying he if he knew 20 years ago what he knows now about Palin, he would have changed the ending of "Lonesome Dove," one of his many films.
"Instead of stopping the cattle drive in Montana, we'd have gone all the way to the great state of Alaska," Duvall said.
And James Caan? What are his thougths on politics?
From where else? - Fox News!
Veteran actor James Caan let people in on a little secret last week. After 46 successful years among Hollywood’s most outspoken liberal stars, he’s speaking up about breaking the mold.
“I'm an ultra conservative,” he said at Moet & Chandon’s 6th Annual Hollyshorts Film Festival Opening Night Celebration in Los Angeles.
“I'm not a G** damn Hollywood liberal, I'm not,” he said, adding he only watches Fox News.
For a more or less complete list of Hollywood conservatives, this one is pretty comprehensive. I'm sure there are others. On it, you can find a host of Hollywood names who lean right. Leaving aside Mel Gibson, Chuck Norris, Bob Hope, Art Linkletter, Tom Selleck, Dennis Miller, and Dabney Coleman, here's a brief run-down of the Hollywood right and their views.
Pat Sajak, host of "Wheel of Fortune" from Wiki:
Sajak is an active supporter of conservative political causes and has written a number of columns for the conservative magazine Human Events.[16] According to NEWSMEAT, Sajak has donated over $17,000 to candidates and election committees all associated with the Republican Party.[17] Sajak is also a regular poster and podcast participant on the conservative blog ricochet.com.[18
Drew Carey, another game show host, sometime actor, comedian, and unfortunately misguided (perhaps?) Republican:
Usually Hollywood figures lean to the left, but not so with TV star Drew Carey. A group of libertarian conservatives is trying to convince him to run in the Ohio Republican senate primary and hopefully defeat Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown, Politico reports.
Kelsey Grammer, who was on TV longer than James Arness. What are his politics?
Grammer is a member of the Republican Party and has expressed an interest in someday running for United States Congress.[42] Grammer was a guest at President George W. Bush's first inauguration.[43] Grammer endorsed Rudy Giuliani in the 2008 presidential primary and later campaigned for John McCain in the general election.[44][45]
It's time for another self-explanatory list, closing with some more political bios of conservative Hollywood. The second list must start with Arnold Schwarzenegger and end with: Rip Torn, Scott Baio, Jamie Farr, Heather Locklear, Maury Povich, Bruce Willis, Ernest Borgnine, Cheryl Ladd, Connie Stevens, Charles Durning, Danny Aielo, Kurt Russell, and Shirley Jones. Are there more? Why, yes, my popcorn prince and princess.
There's: Rick Shroder, who is famously conservative:
Rick Shroder, the kid star who went on to roles in the Lonesome Dove mini-series and ABC’s NYPD Blue, told the Washington Post that he’s a support of President Bush. “He’s a fantastic guy, let me tell you that,” Schroder said. “I told him I wanted to help him get re-elected.”
Other names on the list I consulted seem to go back and forth, like Donald Trump. Kevin Costner is or is not a Republican. Wayne Newton supported Harry Reid in the recent Nevada dust up. And Billy Bob Thornton makes both party lists from time to time.
Have I missed any? Any really dangerous ones out there? Jon Voight, Gary Oldman, James Wood, Sylvester Stallone, Dennis Hopper?