Cos drops the ball When President Bush went to Congress to get authorization for a military response to 9-11, there was one lone holdout in the House. Barbara Lee, a Democrat from the 9th Congressional district in California, which includes Berkeley, was the lone NO. Her obstinance has been rewarded, according to this FoxNewsstory.
She has gotten help with that effort by increasing her status and practically guaranteeing that she doesn't need to worry about re-election in California's liberal 9th Congressional District, home to Berkeley and Alameda County.Though Lee faced death threats and hate mail after her controversial congressional vote, she also received accolades and donations. Singer Bonnie Raitt and actor Bill Cosby are among the celebrities who've helped boost Lee's national profile and political war chest.
Bonnie Raitt has a new album coming out in 2 weeks. I hope it joins Gosford Park on the dungheap of history. I really enjoy her music, but she won't get the chance to recycle my money to Barbara Lee.
Which brings us to an interesting point. I know a lot of people who say they don't care about an artist's politics; all they care about is their art. That would be great if the artists themselves didn't care about politics, or kept it out of their art. But that is rarely the case. Look at how many Hollywood actors feel the need to actively support and promote causes or political ideologies. Whatever possessed Alec Baldwin or Whoopie Goldberg to think they have the right to use their influence as celebrities to advance a political agenda?
Now, I'm not calling for some kind of political gag rule on actors; that would be constitutionally indefensible. What I am saying is that if these performers feel the need to espouse political opinions and ideology and trade upon their celebrity to do so, they must be willing to lose revenues from people who disagree with theri position. Going one step further, if those who disagree with the celebrity organize a boycott of the artist's performances, that too is part of the price.
Posted by Rich at March 28, 2002 5:06 AM