Bush-Bashing from Celebs alienating voters...

[insein]

http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040721/6382187s.htm

Celebrities declare own war -- on Bush
By William Keck
USA TODAY


In what's shaping up as one of the nastiest presidential races in decades, Bush-bashing is turning into an en vogue celebrity sport.

But unsolicited anti-Bush rhetoric, which appears to be spinning out of control, is alienating both Republicans and Democrats.

Recent examples:

* At a John Kerry fundraiser July 8, Whoopi Goldberg delivered several crude puns on Bush's name. Complaints led to Goldberg's firing as a Slim-Fast spokeswoman and admonishments from both parties.

* At a concert July 14, rocker Ozzy Osbourne sang War Pigs while projecting an image of Bush with Adolf Hitler. After complaints, it was dropped from shows.

* Hip-hop artist Jadakiss' hit Why blames Bush for 9/11. He sings: ''Why did Bush knock down the towers?'' Some radio stations have edited out the line.

Even Linda Ronstadt's seemingly innocuous plea at her concert Saturday in Las Vegas to see the Bush-bashing movie Fahrenheit 9/11 angered some listeners and got her axed by the Aladdin Hotel/Casino.

Though these incidents seem extreme, celebrities, especially musicians, have long caused controversy during times of war, says presidential scholar Doug Brinkley of the Eisenhower Center and author of Tour of Duty: John Kerry and the Vietnam War.

''This is not new behavior. During Vietnam, Hollywood vehemently denounced Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon,'' Brinkley says. ''We had the Smothers Brothers on TV and actors like Donald Sutherland and Jane Fonda.''

Brinkley says Bush-bashing has ''reached a crescendo'' because of the war in Iraq.

''Artists like to see themselves as anti-war,'' he says. ''Being a pacifist comes with the territory.''

Fahrenheit 9/11 has further rallied celebs, many who ''aren't deep intellectual thinkers,'' Brinkley says.

Some celebrities feed off controversy. ''You score points in Hollywood by being outlandish, so there's a publicity aspect to this,'' Brinkley says.

Not surprisingly, both parties are putting spins on the controversy.

''The hate and vitriol that has surrounded Kerry's campaign has existed for months,'' Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt says. Democrats are distancing themselves from offending celebs. Kerry spokeswoman Allison Dobson says: ''A lot of these things we don't have anything to do with. These folks don't speak for (us).''

Goldberg says she finds indignation about Bush-bashing disingenuous, particularly while ''candidate bashing has become the norm . . . on television, in speeches or Sunday morning programs.''

''It seems odd to me that anyone would act surprised when bashing has become second nature,'' Goldberg said in a statement. ''Look at the commercials. They bash each other to look better.''

Even so, Dobson says Kerry hopes that celebrity supporters will keep things positive. ''But of course, we don't control them.''

If by alienating both Reps and Dems they mean from the Democratic party, then yes they would be correct. Let them keep yapping. It seems to be helping us everytime they open their mouths.

 

[nycflasher]

http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040721/6382187s.htm



If by alienating both Reps and Dems they mean from the Democratic party, then yes they would be correct. Let them keep yapping. It seems to be helping us everytime they open their mouths.

Yeah, I get so furious when I hear that Whoopie called Georgie a vagina.

 

[insein]

Yeah, I get so furious when I hear that Whoopie called Georgie a vagina.

Cute. Yet your up in arms when Clinton is accused of anything. Go figure.

 

[nycflasher]

Cute. Yet your up in arms when Clinton is accused of anything. Go figure.

I don't think it was very appropriate for the event, I guess. I mean at a comoc's standup show, pretty much anything goes or you can go back home to your 2.2 kids and watch Sesame Street.

But it wasn't a typical event. It should have been taken a little more seriously, I think. Try too hard to entertain by calling Bush a bush, and perhaps yopu lose some of your audience. I have a feeling most of the people there probably could care less at a little poking fun. Well, anyway.

I guess I just disagree with you that this sort of bad-mouthing is ONLY hurting the Democratic Party. The GOP plays very dirty, and people know it. Except for those of you that think Dubya is an Angel sent to save you from Clinton. ;-)

 

[clumzgirl]

Except for those of you that think Dubya is an Angel sent to save you from Clinton. ;-)

But W was sent to save us from Clinton!!

 

[UsaPride]

But W was sent to save us from Clinton!!

:hail:

 

[Moi]

I guess I just disagree with you that this sort of bad-mouthing is ONLY hurting the Democratic Party. The GOP plays very dirty, and people know it. Except for those of you that think Dubya is an Angel sent to save you from Clinton. ;-)

I have yet to see anything dirty by the GOP.

 

[Sandy73]

All I know is whenever I go to Vegas I am staying at the Aladdin Hotel !

 

[freeandfun1]

All I know is whenever I go to Vegas I am staying at the Aladdin Hotel !

on the news they have said that the Aladdin is getting a lot of people calling them WANTING to stay there because of how they handled the

I say great for them!

 

[Sandy73]

on the news they have said that the Aladdin is getting a lot of people calling them WANTING to stay there because of how they handled the

I say great for them!

Cool ! Go America !!

I can't believe they reported that on the news !

 

[freeandfun1]

Cool ! Go America !!

I can't believe they reported that on the news !

local news..... anything that is good for Vegas gets reported. And any time something happens that makes people come to Vegas, that gets reported. I mean what other city covers conventions like a sporting event?

 

[krisy]

I have yet to see anything dirty by the GOP.

That's the truth! Although we all see the typical campiagn commercials,that is nothing new. The Dems are not looking so hot with Hollywierd running at the mouth all the time. I'll tell you what else,they obviously are not deep political thinkers as they portray themselves to be. Do they honestly think they know what is best for people like us here on this board?!!! Answer:yes they think they do,but we all know they are so far out of reality and so far out of touch with Joe American that they have no idea what is good for us. Who the F**K asked them for their opinion anyway. Bottom line is the freaks and extremist are speaking for the left,not the right. Not good!!!

 

[nycflasher]

Bottom line is the freaks and extremist are speaking for the left,not the right. Not good!!!

:huh:

 

[musicman]

:huh:

Ed Asner, Barbra Streisand, Alec Baldwin, Linda Ronstadt, Rosie O'Donnel, Matalie Mains, Whoopi Goldberg, Chrissy Hynde, Sean Penn, Michael Moore....

Oh, yeah - there's a slice of everyday America!

 

[insein]

I think flasher was in agreement and was just shrugging cause he doesnt know what to do about it.

 

[musicman]

I think flasher was in agreement and was just shrugging cause he doesnt know what to do about it.

Given the context of his other posts, I felt that he was trying to downplay the recent spate of Hollyweirdness, and detract from the seriousness of Krissy's observations.

Hell, though - I've been wrong before!