For movie goers and TV watchers;do you not watch political activist actors?  

Oooh you and my husband could have a go at her! I am in total agreement with you on her!
But I am so very,very, sick of people that are so vehement against people like the president. The things said are appalling! I cannot believe these people get away with what I would describe as a hate crime...and the media just looks the other way...no they applaud it!
I cannot forgive those that will go to see a political figure in another country and flaunt their chutzpah like they actually have any business there!
It is a dangerous world that venerates the Hollywood elite over the president or any other official that actually might have an idea what the political climate is in another country.

That's where your totally wrong. I have lots of friends who don't share my point of view, either religiously,politically or any other way.
Just because I don't agree with them is not a reason to shun them as friends.
I DO however have a problem with a politically powerful person from asserting their personal views to all the world when the veneration of the teenage masses believes all the horse manure they put out!
And if you tell me that this is there right....I don't agree. If you are in a position of power; either literally or any other way there is a sense of responsibility that your words are not believed just because people perceive you as the character you are portrayed on TV or movies.
If I thought that people didn't venerate them I wouldn't have a problem with it.
Look at this last election....you can't tell me that people didn't vote black....and not on the issues...I am not saying you did...but you know damn well that there was a HUGE population of teeny boppers that thought he was the next messiah.
And if he was anything but that it would have probably gone another way.
So that is the problem I have.....whether they are conservative or liberal...black or white, or whomever they are they should remember this responsibility....

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I meant California and Prop 8, not Florida. Sorry, watching a TV show where they're visiting Florida right now and got mixed up.

I did give you a legitimate reason for not watching them...you just didn't like it. The fact is they need to put their money where their mouth is...in other words if they have a inflammatory enough opinion and people stop watching them then maybe they'll think long and hard about blathering about something they know nothing about. The thing is; none of them are experts in foreign affairs,in any kind of politics. But a good deal of them have a god complex because of our veneration of them. If they had to actually account for their actions and be accountable for poor behavior they would wise up and leave politics to people that are in that line of work.
I just think you like them because of what they say and don't want me to bad mouth idiots like Sean Penn.
I don't like it when anyone that people tend to love in spite of their poor behavior being put on a pedestal for all the world to hear. It's wrong of them to use this power just because they can get away with it. This not only goes for religious leaders but sports players and others as well....the world is very subjective to these people and their views and it's a dangerous time when someone like Oprah has more power than the president of the USA.
And on the subject of freedoms they do have a right to...they just should use common sense and not have an opionion where people are influenced by them just because of their status.

I never said I liked Sean Penn, Leonardo DiCaprio, etc. I think they are talented actors, though, and I think that not seeing a movie because they're in it and you don't disagree with their opinions is stupid. I think all actors and actresses have the right to express their political views, as do religious leaders, athletes, etc. I think that there are those who do put their money where their mouth is, donating money and time to causes they support. I think some celebrities are stupid as well, though, and haven't got a clue what they're talking about. They're just following a trend, but typically their stupidity is obvious, and in the end they're no different than the millions of Americans who do the same thing.

I guess in the end I think it's ridiculous that just because you don't agree with someone you can't look past that to see if they actually have real talent. Your stuck looking at one aspect of a person and letting it blind your ability to see that they may have worth in other areas.

It all comes back to whether they are influencing our young people in politics. I can't tell you how many times I've heard a remark from some uninformed person that mimicked a comment of a famous actor or actress.
Does that mean this actor knows what they are saying or is their position in life giving them a podium from which to spout hatred?
I am reminded of another famous person Lyle Lovett. He once said that just because a famous person has an opinion about politics doesn't mean he should share it......I have no idea what Lyle's affiliation is but I will watch him and listen to his music forever because he has the sense to NOT let me know what his political views are.

Again, if a young person follows a celebrities belief, that is not the fault of the celebrity. That's the fault of the youth never being taught to think on their own - which stems from poor parenting. So in the end you're directing your anger towards the wrong party - it should be the parents you have an issue with not the celebrities.

Oh give me a frickin break! When in god's green earth have you EVER come across a child that isn't affected by the media or his friends or his peers or anything under the sun!!
All innocent kids are! And even if they are old enough to vote they can be pretty naive...and you know I'm right on that...you just don't want to admit it.

bravo lisan, for having the patience and fortitude to argue with someone who is obviously fed a bill of goods from the "religious" right. She is worried about celebrities influencing young people but can't see how the bible-beaters are even more dangerous! Let her just throw away the TV and listen to that idiot Rush Limbaugh on her radio!

hornswaggled, I'm not saying that media or other things don't have an influence on people. They do. However, the level of influence you're stating is not acheivable unless the person has no desire to think on their own. This inability isn't caused by the celebrity, it's caused by the person's upbringing. And this isn't something that just happens to youth, it happens to all generations and people of any age. To put it plainly, these are people who are ignorant and have no desire to change that. The only way a celebrity can hold that much power over a person's opinion is if that person allows it, and at the end of the day you cannot blame the celebrity for a person's lack of desire to form their own opinion. That's the fault of the person.

Fec,
I cannot stand Rush Lindbagh....and as for the religious thing...what have you against religion anyway?
I haven't mentioned it once in this conversation.
I think you are the one with the problem my friend....I am sorry for you that you cannot see that the liberals of this world will destroy us....

Your right Lisan about the weak being pawns of the media but in this world the liberal media is everyones darling...and it's only gonna get worse....
As for whether young people should be able to think for themselves...you are an exception. Most of them couldn't name the secretary of state or how the three party political system works....I feel sorry for the future because unless Susan Sarandon says it or Sean Puffy does it's not in their brains......tell me I"m not right on that.

What are you referring to when you say 3 party system? Do you mean the 3 branches of government? There are more than 3 active political parties in the US, however only 2 are predominant in our government. I'm really not sure what you meant by that statement.

I live in an area where there are a lot of older people. These accusations that you keep making against the youth of this nation are traits shared by EVERY generation. Stupidity doesn't have an age group. Just as many older people are politically clueless and have no idea how our gov't is run as the youth in this nation.

Your so right about that....ignorance is not subject to just youth. I remember the video that went around before the election of people being asked about the views of Obama but they put McCains views on them...and his running mate...everyone said they wouldn't have a problem with Palin being the next vice president for Obama.....
And I was referring to the three most prominent parties, not the three branches of government. Now I ask you....I would like you to ask other young people that you don't know what the three branches of the government are...you might be really disappointed in the answers.
I live in Colorado and several years ago a Denver newscaster went around and asked about a dozen people what the states were that bordered Colorado....everyone of them said Texas....wrong.

I'm not too far from you, I'm in Wyoming. Have you seen those bits that Jay Leno has done where he goes out on the street and asks people about current events or about current political figures? It is shocking how little people know about our country. (Some people couldn't even name the president.) I'll have to try that and ask younger people I don't know about government and politics. I know a couple of my friends are still pretty clueless despite my best attempts to explain things to them. My mom is like that too, though.

I have to admit I used to be that way as well. I figured the government was going to do whatever it wanted anyway....
But in the last few years since my kids were in my life I realized that this is my country and is going to be my kids too so I'd better wise up!
I think we live in such a great country of opportunity that we don't realize that others don't have what we have. We take it for granted that the government will save us.
But I'm different now; and I am very aware of the whole picture a lot more.
I try to not get most of my information from the media but to look at several things when deciding how I feel about it.
I also talk to everyone about it. I can't be informed about things unless I hear and see all I can.
I want to say Lisan that although we don't come from the same political view we are both on a quest of knowledge and I appreciate that their is someone as young as you out there fighting for your future...congrats on being a geat American!

After Beetlejuice I'm not sure what happened to Baldwin. He kind of went downhill in looks, etc. after that movie.

I wouldn't watch Sean Penn wash out my toilet....and I would not watch any of the Baldwins except for the youngest for the same reason.
I think that their power is what gets them into trouble in the first place. If they had to be regular people and work a nine to five job like all of the hard working people in our society they'd grow up.

So you wouldn't watch Penn's magnificent performance in "Milk"....oops, sorry, it's about gays........oh no, we wouldn't want to see gays. Oh no, heaven forbid because the church says they're bad people.

No I wouldn't watch him...and it's not because of the content...it's because I abhor the man. He is a political wanta be and will never understand how his visit to Iran was an act of treason.

Fec,
WHERE did I say anything about religion?

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I know...that's why I know that the uninformed were the ones voting this last election. If they would have paid attention to the voting record of the candidates they would have voted different.

Is there a reason you don't like Angelina Jole? Is it about her personal life or a political one?

If you mean the whole Brad Pitt thing I really don't care. I think Pitt wanted to have kids while Aniston didn't so that's what broke up the marriage more than Jolie coming along.
Jolie and Pitt don't make themselves obnoxious in their politics that I've seen.
I think it's great she has adopted children although I think she should have adopted in the states. I'd like to see her hold her natural kids once in a while. Most pictures she's holding one of the adopted ones. Mind you, I'm adopted myself so it's nothing against adopted children.
Perhaps it is the way she treats her father. To put it down to one think I don't like about her, I can't do.
I don't decide not to watch a movie because of the actors political views. Garofalo was stupid to say what she did, but I still think she was great in Mystery Men. In another post Jane Fonda was mentioned for her politics and what happened during the Nam years. While I understand and respect their feeling, I also look at how much of that was rumors that have since time been disproved. There are regrets that Fonda will have to live with for the rest of her life.

Well I saw an interview with the men she turned in at Hanoi Hilton and I believe them. Some of our servicemen died because of her big mouth and idiotic ideas.
And she never has apologized....what a jerk.
I understand your views of Jole but I do like that she at least is doing something about the problems of the world instead of just sitting in her mansion shooting off her mouth like Sarandon or Penn.
I guess it comes down to what you find important. I personally will not monetarily support a politically activated actor just because he or she has the power to be that way.

What men did she turn in? They got in touch with the men she supposedly turned in and they said it never happened. I'm not defending Fonda, she did do some things she shouldn't have. I'm just defending the truth.

I stand corrected....this is an urban myth I think but still she's a slimball for being a traitor to the American soldiers of Vietnam....

I won't argue with you there. She's definitely lived to regret her actions.

Actually he hasn't paid at all as far as that goes. It didn't affect her career...her kids weren't bothered that I know of...she didn't lose a marriage because of it...she isn't destitute because of the idiocy she pulled...no she landed on her feet just like an alley cat.

woops...I meant she not he...

I understood what you meant. So you think that regret only comes when one is monetarily punished or their family deserts them? If that's the way regret works then we should all be running around penniless with no friends.

hornswaggled...you said, I personally will not monetarily support a politically activated actor just because he or she has the power to be that way.

Are you saying you won't support ANYONE who is politically active as an actor, or just those that you disagree with?

Just curious...not trying to play 'gotcha'.

I am not saying I would wish terrible things to happen to her family or her...I'm just stating a fact that I saw no evidence of anything happening to her because of her political views...she's as rich as ever...as popular with the extreme liberals as ever...no fall out that I can see. You said she paid the price...I just don't see it.

NO I don't support any actor/actress that is politically active because I don't think they need to use their power to sway others that are less educated(?) to their point of view.....you know...hero worship.

I was thinking more on the lines of personal regret, not being physically affected. Not to say I don't believe a person shouldn't pay the price for their actions. Depending what their actions are.

I thought for awhile she did but I noticed that in this last election she was up to her old tricks with stomping for things that are none of her business....

Let me guess...Susan Sarandon.....she's one of the worst! I wouldn't go to see any of her movies if my life depended on it.
I would hope people would stop watching these idiots so that it hurts a little....then they'd maybe think about their actions.
The I love Lucy thing is just that I only watch old movies and old tv shows as I am not aware of their politics....I'm sure they had them but were wise enough to shut the H*** up with them...

Horn, you do know that Lucille Ball was a member of the communist party, right? Or maybe it was her parents, I'm not sure. Might have to look it up.

She got hooked up in it as something because of a guy I think when she was young..and the McCarthy trial tried to get her too.....just goes to show that this was a political thing...she was as much a communist as I am....

The "guy" was her socialist grandfather. I think she did it to please him because blood is thicker than water. It wasn't considered that bad of a thing when she registered.

I wasn't sure...I know she wasn't really doing the whole communist thing...

Very well said.

No but don't I have a choice in my views? But the problem is....young people could give a rats A** of my opinion! But if I'm a big shot athlete or actor I'm more intelligent?! Give me a frickin break............
Do you realize that people in this country voted for the newest president because of what these idiots said!?
Do you have kids? Because if you do you will be or should be concerned about who influences them. And I'm not talking about freedoms....I'm talking about control. The powerful and the rich will control your kids if you let them....if you don't think so then look at the way kids dress...what they listen to. They ARE influenced and sometimes in a very negative way.
If you don't think that molds a country then you are sadly mistaken! Do you know how much these so called "activists' actually know of the political turmoil in other countries? Probably less than you or I! Do YOU feel qualified to talk to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? I sure as H*** don't! So why in god's green earth do you think Sean Penn does?! And why do you think that him going to one of the most powerful,dangerous people in the world is not a problem? And if you don't think he should have; why would you support him monetarily by seeing his movies?!!
THAT is my point....that if you don't agree with them doing dangerous things to our kids and our country then WHY,why,why support them?!

And the McCarthy era was not about any truths at all...it was a political power play as well...nothing about freedoms at all.

Excuse me, but I'm one of those youth that you're saying doesn't care about your opinion but does care what celebrity says. There are a LOT of educated youth that don't care about celebrities. I've met a lot of them. I'm very politically active and donated a lot of time with the recent election. The young people I dealt with weren't making their decisions based off of what Speidi or Leo DiCaprio said. They were researching candidates - and living in a very Republican area most of them were looking at John McCain. (Not exactly following the Hollywood trend.) Ron Paul was also very popular out here. The biggest trend I noticed among the youth of this nation while I worked on the most recent campaign was their increasing disgust of the 2 major political parties. The majority were registered independent (like myself) and were taking a more vote for the candidate than vote for the party route.

So please, don't make assumptions about todays youth on the example of a few idiots. There are idiots in every generation, that should be expected. But a lot of us are intelligent and make informed decisions.

Lisan,
I applaud your intelligence. I applaud your commitment. But I don't believe that you are correct in your belief that all youth for the most part are informed. And I don't believe you understand the power of the media to corrupt.
I think you are doing a great job of getting involved with this world...so few of ANY age do so...they would rather be arm chair politicions and not really get their hands dirty.
But as someone who is 50 let me say I've watched it for decades and it's as true today as when Nazi Germany had Hitler!

Apparently I can't spell today...politicians not what I spelled...sorry.

Come on Annie,
Oprah didn't have any bearing on it?!?!

Oprah hasn't worked as an actor in many years, as far as I know, so I wasn't really thinking about her. However, since you mentioned it, I don't think she had that big of an impact especially in the general election.
Annie

Oh give me a fricking break....she had the "Venerated One" on her show but she wouldn't have Palin? She was at the ball after the win and she admitted to being friends with them?!
She is considered to be one of the most powerful women in the nation if not the world and she didn't have any bearing on this election?!! Get a grip girl....you are just happy it went your way.

She wouldn't have Plain on her show because Oprah doesn't like idiots!!

Please clarify idiots fec....

As I recall she didn't have ANY candidate on, including President Obama, once she'd made her "endorsement". If my memory serves me correctly - and if it doesn't I'm sure you'll set me straight...lol! - Palin had reportedly refused to go on her show after the election because she couldn't go on before when it was highly unlikely she'd have agreed to appear during the campaign if she'd have been begged. Anyway, I seriously don't believe the election was swayed by any celebrity endorsements. I mean the number of voters that may have been influenced wouldn't have made a difference in the outcome.
Annie

She's had plenty of idiots on her show. One particular idiot guest can't talk without of teleprompter and insults disabled people.

I can't quote how many voters did what but I do know she had him on before the endorsements. I think anyone that had two eyes in their head would know she was for him...as were the women of "The View" and many, many others. They were shameless in their veneration of the man.
Whatever happened to journalistic integrity?

McCathy's list included a lot of people that people just didn't like because of their sexual affiliation too....so how is that like this?
And as for the new administration....how do you think he got elected? Because of bias...because it was the "cool" thing to vote for a black man....never mind he was half white. Because ACORN helped with crooked votes....the list goes on and on.
I will never believe that if we had no media/tv we would have voted for him....he doesn't even know how many states we have in the union for God's sake!

do you really believe people voted for obama because it was "cool to vot for a black man"? that is not only racist but totally twisted! And as for being half-white, well......if this were the 1950s in the South, he would have to sit in the back of the bus and go to "colored only" establishments. He could yell "but I'm half-white!" until he was blue in the face, but he would be treated as a black person!

You sound really angry and bitter and life must be torture for you...oh well, it was torture for the rest of us FOR 8 L-O-O-O-O-N-G YEARS!!!

I don't know what your problem is with me Fec.
I've always thought I was a friend to you....
As far as me being a racist; here is the Websters dictionary's definition of racism.
: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race end quote.
I didn't say I was superior to him becuase I'm white....you don't even know what race I am!
And as for being racist because I didn't vote for him....why should I vote for a man that believes that a nine month old fetus should be set aside if it's not killed in an end stage abortion!
You go ahead and think I'm bitter and a racist and whatever....sounds like the pot calling the kettle black.

I just want to say I didn't vote for Obama and do not like his politics but I do think it's cool that we can now say we've had a black president... does that make me a racist? lol

Hollywood is mostly liberal... media mostly liberal/democrat. It influences everyone what they watch. Little things are dropped into movies to push political view. It's in cartoons... everything. And Obama is very hollywood the way he carries himself... that's why he's so popular and yet polls show his policies are not. His personality people like but his politics say different. Kerry and Gore didn't have this strength or popularity or "hipness".

If you knew your history you'd know that Clinton laid the foundation for the last 8 years. The housing crisis, the creation of too big to fail companies you can site in bills passed under Clinton. And Clinton road on the foundation of Reagan and Bush Sr. foundation. I use to think completely different until I looked up the actual bills and facts of the past presidencies now I'm more educated I can see we are going in the same direction we did in the past or the direction other countries went that proved to be the wrong one. Not clearing George W here I didn't vote for him and found many places I think he should have done something different those areas much the same as Obama is going. But if you want to see what miserable really looks like lets see what America looks like in 4 years.

Very well put!
I personally am heartened to see so many people here on Mylot that are actually doing their homework with politics!
I personally agree with you on the whole problem of what's going on now with our economy. The thing is....every generation of politics is bled into the next administration. That is the way it works....it takes time to fix things or to screw them up. And if people want to blame former president Bush for everything then I guess that's fine....they just don't want to see the truth.
I was a farm wife for many years and the policies of Clinton killed our farm. His ideas of a democratic society caused hardship all across the nation and is still felt today; and don't even get me started on finding our enemy Bin Laden.
So thanks for responding and I'm glad to see a comrade in this discusssion...I feared I was mostly alone....

this isn't personal, hornswaggled. I disagree with what you said, and what you believe in. However, you would be a happier person if you could empower yourself to do what you can to make life work even though you disagree with Obama. For the last 8 years, I've had to suck it up and do the best I can. I didn't blame it on celebrities. I knew that one day this country would wake up and finally it did. Obviously the majority of the country agrees with me or obama would not have won. You have no faith in the American spirit and process if you think Oprah is this goddess who controls everyone's minds. I am just curious -- how do you think Obama won, if not by majority vote? Face it: the majority of Americans wanted Obama to be our next president. Right now YOU re in the minority. If the majority of Americas come to think likw you again, tour candidate will win. It's as simple as that. Now, go back to "I Love Lucy".

It isn't personal? You are the one that has been so negative...not me.
I am being what I am...a Christian with a disasifaction of actors that think they know how to tell us about something they know nothing about. If you don't think that people like Oprah have any sway in the world then you really are naive...and I'm sorry if that upsets you that I believe that people can sway people but that's life. That's what humans do to each other.
I am not angry at Obama...he is what he is...a puppet for the democratic party...Let me ask you this...do you think he really is an intelligent person? Because without his teleprompter he doesn't even know how many states we have. He isn't for human rights if your a fetus...so what exactly is he? He's a pin up boy for the newest generation.
You ask me how he was elected and I told you before...he was elected on the "popular/cool" vote. Not the intelligent one, not the informed one.
I asked Lisan to go out and ask young people about our politics...ask them who the secretary of state is...ask them who is vice president..that should be an easy one...and then ask them about the three branches of government..and how it works.
You will be unhappy with your answers I'm sure.
The thing is..if I really thought that everyone out there voted intelligent and still came up with this conclusion I would be fine with it. But the truth is Fec, you are intelligent with your vote but there are a whole lot of people that voted the way the celebs did just because their rock band was against Bush and the conservatives....and be sure to ask them that if you dare to do what I ask of you.....

Oh and if I'm a racist then how come I've been clamoring for Condolezza Rice to run for the presidency? She'd be a terrific vote for blacks,whites, and everyone in between as far as I'm concerned...and she's a woman so that would please liberal women I would think.....and I suppose you'd be against her because she is a personal friend and former Bush adm.......oh well...now who's being biased....me or you?

A graduate of Harvard and Columbia Law School? I would say that's pretty damned educated. I am now watching Sonia Sotomayor accept her nomination..woo-hoo!

What does that have to do with being naive or biased....?

Your right...he will be an idiot...but I don't have to throw him money either...I'd rather spend it on a good book or something else I like...hence the statement...."I'm down to watching old I Love Lucy reruns.

Thanks Missy!
I have to say that I'm impressed at your observations....you said what I didn't....namely that it isn't that the liberal actors are that way. It's HOW they portrait their political affiliations. It's what they say about conservatives and how they act toward the regular Joe's of the world.
I love comedians too and Frank Caliendo is one of my all time fav's...he personally is awful to both sides...he especially loves to make fun of Bush...but he's so funny with it and he doesn't get mean...just plays up the dumb thing.
Bill Mahr however gives me a pain in the back side...he's an atheist and as one is very derogatory towards all religious people.
I personally am very tired of him calling all priests of my faith (Catholic) pediphiles....give me a frickin break....
Robin Williams is another....I know he's a liberal but he doesn't go around bashing all of us conservatives....
I am sure that some of the people that I watch from the old time movies wouldn't be on the same page with me politically but I'm not AWARE of their views...that's the point.
I am sure they don't want to hear my view either. They idea that somehow you should blather on about your political views to you public is such a foreign idea to me.
I think back in the day the studios had a bigger control thing with actors and they probably didn't want their political views to get out....lest it hurt movie sales.... Thanks so much for replying...it was a great discussion!

Whoops...Bill Maher not Bill Mahr...