# Alec Baldwin and his promise **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 19, 2004, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026 "2004-02-19T16:13:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/61 "2004-02-20T18:45:43Z")
Don’t forget Cooter from Dukes of Hazzard and Fred Thompson of Die Hard 2 ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/62 "2004-02-20T19:45:01Z")
May I point out that these people at least have the qumption to run for office and put in the hours necessary to learn the job and try to achieve their goals in a positive and proactive way, and not just by getting up in front of a crowd or on t.v. and spouting their ridiculous, uninformed, bigoted (yes, bigoted, just like they always accusing others) points of view and expecting people to follow it just because they’re such hot stuff. You want my respect, Babs? Run for and take office and then try to accomplish your goals. Same goes for Baldwin, Beatty, Mike Farrell, Garofolo, etc. But no, that would take too much work and pay too little. And that’s exactly why I have more respect for Ahhnold, Gofer, Sonny, et. al., They are willing to give up the amenities of stardom for what they perceive as the greater good. They are also in a better position to understand the different ramifications of a particular issue or course of action than some hotheaded celebrity who gets their information from the newspapers, t.v. and like-minded cronies. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/63 "2004-02-20T19:59:52Z")
Newspapers! _Newspapers!_ Well, that certainly settles _that_! It is well known that the Shining One eschews such corrupt sources of liberal blather. All right thinking Americans know the true source of facts, talk radio. That’s where you get the straight info on the Fonda/Kerry conspiracy for a Constitutional Amendment forcing gay marriage on Eagle Scouts! ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/64 "2004-02-20T20:09:51Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Newspapers! _Newspapers!_ Well, that certainly settles _that_! It is well known that the Shining One eschews such corrupt sources of liberal blather. All right thinking Americans know the true source of facts, talk radio. That’s where you get the straight info on the Fonda/Kerry conspiracy for a Constitutional Amendment forcing gay marriage on Eagle Scouts! Pardon me, but I believe that being a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate, or being Governor, would provide a tad more germaine information than a newspaper. And as an aside, \*every single time \* (admittedly not many; maybe four or five) I’ve had personal knowledge of an event desicribed in a newspaper, it was wrong in so many facts and details that I wondered if the reporter was even there. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/65 "2004-02-20T20:40:56Z")
Does that mean everyone who cares about political issues should run for government office? Why can’t they support their favorite candidate in the most effective way possible? The people who write the political columns are intimately involved in a lot of what goes on…that’s why they have press conferences, press rooms, press releases, etc. What, do you think you’re going to get unbiased reports from the actual politicians? You must be kidding. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/66 "2004-02-20T21:09:13Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Does that mean everyone who cares about political issues should run for government office? Why can’t they support their favorite candidate in the most effective way possible? The people who write the political columns are intimately involved in a lot of what goes on…that’s why they have press conferences, press rooms, press releases, etc. What, do you think you’re going to get unbiased reports from the actual politicians? You must be kidding. You bring up several interesting points, wrongheaded and disingenuous though they may be. To wit: a.) Of course everyone who cares about political office shouldn’t run for office. Should everyone who cares about a political issue become a celebrity? Sounds pretty foolish, huh? The complaint is about celebrities attempting to use their star-power to persuade people to their way of thinking. It would be different if they were using erudition and carefully weighed and thought out arguments to bolster their opinions, but they don’t. Essentially, they only are hot-headed anti-right wingers who mainly spout venom and disgust and expect their fans to fall in line with their thinking just because they are so luminous and wonderful. In other words, it’s as though they were saying "I’m hot stuff, and I’m more intelligent, informed and better than you, so here’s what you should be thinking. b.) If the people who write the political columns are so correct in their assessments of the facts and details of what’s going on, why is there such disparity between liberal and conservative columns? Facts are facts, right? They’re soaking up info with a liberal twist, just like conservative are soaking up talk shows with a conservative twist. c.) I’m not saying politicians should be giving us “unbiased reports.” In fact, your comment makes me wonder how much of what you’re responding to here you actually understood. I’m saying they have the gumption to run for and take office and try to actually accomplish what they believe in, instead of getting up in front of a camera and saying, "I’m a charismatic and wonderful person – after all, I _am_ a movie star (or whatever they happen to be) and you should therefore think the way I do. d.) You know perfectly well I’m not kidding. (This is the disingenuous part.) So there, stick that in your smipe and poke it!!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sleeping](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@sleeping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeping)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/67 "2004-02-20T21:18:31Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > So we got a secondhand reference to “if Bush wins”. Bush didn’t win, ergo, even if the quote was true he’s off the hook. > > Maybe some people realized that if Bush became president that all our jobs would be shipped overseas and they’d have to leave the country to find work. I.e., not a promise to leave _per se_ but a recognition of the inevitable. Riiiiight. And maybe Bush is really a liberal. After all, he’s pissed off so many people that some conservatives will be voting democrat in the coming election. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: (In other words, you know damn well what he meant. Let’s not contort what people say just to fit our ideology.) ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/68 "2004-02-20T22:06:24Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > You bring up several interesting points, wrongheaded and disingenuous though they may be. To wit: a.) Of course everyone who cares about political office shouldn’t run for office. Should everyone who cares about a political issue become a celebrity? Sounds pretty foolish, huh? The complaint is about celebrities attempting to use their star-power to persuade people to their way of thinking. It would be different if they were using erudition and carefully weighed and thought out arguments to bolster their opinions, but they don’t. Essentially, they only are hot-headed anti-right wingers who mainly spout venom and disgust and expect their fans to fall in line with their thinking just because they are so luminous and wonderful. \*\*In other words, it’s as though they were saying "I’m hot stuff, and I’m more intelligent, informed and better than you, so here’s what you should be thinking. \*\* (bolding mine) > > Well, I don’t get that vibe from any of the names that have been thrown out here. I get a feeling that they’re concerned and more often than not are trying to raise consciousness – not recruit people into a movie star political arena. (And there are plenty of stars working for the right.) > > b.) \*\*If the people who write the political columns are so correct in their assessments of the facts and details of what’s going on, why is there such disparity between liberal and conservative columns? Facts are facts, right? They’re soaking up info with a liberal twist, just like conservative are soaking up talk shows with a conservative twist. \*\* > > Well, I was referring to newspaper reporters; not columnists. There’s a huge difference. > > c.) I’m not saying politicians should be giving us “unbiased reports.” In fact, your comment makes me wonder how much of what you’re responding to here you actually understood. I’m saying they have the gumption to run for and take office and try to actually accomplish what they believe in, **instead of getting up in front of a camera and saying, "I’m a charismatic and wonderful person – after all, I _am_ a movie star (or whatever they happen to be) and you should therefore think the way I do.** > > I understand what you’re saying. I just don’t agree with it. People can be active (and effective) in politics without making it their job. Money and a voice are both effective ways of getting their point across. They’re not trying to tell people their opinions are the end-all…they’re just trying to support what they believe in and maybe inspire the average American to get up off his butt and vote or get involved. You can damn well bet the politicians who are reaping the benefits of the star power are loving it – both liberal and conservative. That’s the way it’s done in this country. > > d.) **You know perfectly well I’m not kidding. (This is the disingenuous part.)** > > I wouldn’t call it disingenuous…sarcastic, maybe…😉 > > \*\*So there, stick that in your smipe and poke it!!! \*\* 😃 It’s Friday, it’s quitting time, and I fully intend to poke a smipe at my earliest opportunity. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/69 "2004-02-20T22:22:33Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > It’s Friday, it’s quitting time, and I fully intend to poke a smipe at my earliest opportunity. 😃 Fair enough! Enjoy your Friday and your smipe poking. Only one small nit to pick, though: You said in the above post: “Well, I was referring to newspaper reporters; not columnists. There’s a huge difference.” Please look back at the post I was responding to. You said: “The people who write the \*\*political columns \*\* are intimately involved in a lot of what goes on…that’s why they have press conferences, press rooms, press releases, etc.” That’s what I was responding to. ---
**Author:** ![LVgeogeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b19c9b/32.png) [@LVgeogeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVgeogeek)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/70 "2004-02-20T22:43:05Z")
I think the thing that ticks people off about celebs and their political opinions (either for or against certain politicians) is the fact that they use their media access to “blab” it all over the country. I am not saying that actors/holywood types cannot have their opinions, they have as much right as you and I do to have an opinion about anything. They (celebs) go on talk shows etc and voice their opinions- mass media outlet… while the “average joe” does not get this type of outlet to voice their opinions. If I dislike politician A and like politicain B I do not get to go on _Good Morning America_ (or whatever show) and talk about but celebrity X does. I think that is what people get mad about. But then again, that is just my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/71 "2004-02-21T00:25:49Z")
> [@LVgeogeek](#): > > They (celebs) go on talk shows etc and voice their opinions- mass media outlet… while the “average joe” does not get this type of outlet to voice their opinions. Life’s not fair. Learn to deal with it. Besides, you’ve got the internet. You could arguably reach more people with one well-written blog than any celebrity could reach in a 30-second _Entertainment Tonight_ blurb. The trick is to write something good enough to make everyone sit up and take notice… ---
**Author:** ![LVgeogeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b19c9b/32.png) [@LVgeogeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVgeogeek)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/72 "2004-02-21T01:09:40Z")
I am not complaining I am just making a statement that some people get upset that they do not get to go on national TV an make their case and famous people do (some see it as an abuse of their fame) in my statement: > [@](#): > > If I dislike politician A and like politicain B I do not get to go on Good Morning America (or whatever show) and talk about but celebrity X does. _ **I** _ was not refering to \*me \* personally but in the general context … never mind ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/73 "2004-02-21T01:13:59Z")
Don’t worry about it, LV. I understood what you meant. Some people just like to have a perch from which to look down on everyone else, hence remarks like “Life’s unfair. Learn to deal with it.” Sheesh! ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/74 "2004-02-21T04:18:28Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > May I point out that these people at least have the qumption to run for office and put in the hours necessary to learn the job and try to achieve their goals in a positive and proactive way, and not just by getting up in front of a crowd or on t.v. and spouting their ridiculous, uninformed, bigoted (yes, bigoted, just like they always accusing others) points of view and expecting people to follow it just because they’re such hot stuff. You want my respect, Babs? Run for and take office and then try to accomplish your goals. Same goes for Baldwin, Beatty, Mike Farrell, Garofolo, etc. > > . How about Rush, O’Reilly, Coulter, Hannity? Any of these guys actually run for office? Do you think they have better credentials? How about Dennis Miller, who may be considering a run for the senate. As a republican. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/75 "2004-02-21T05:05:07Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > How about Rush, O’Reilly, Coulter, Hannity? Any of these guys actually run for office? Do you think they have better credentials? > > How about Dennis Miller, who may be considering a run for the senate. As a republican. The difference there, spooje, is that these people are hosts of television programs and book authors. They are only known for the positions they take. They are not trying to leverage celebrity in an unrelated field to try to influence people to their point of view – a point of view that in the minds of many they aren’t qualified to speak to – and that they are essentially of the mind that their opinions carry extra weight simply because they are superior beings to the us commoners. As for Dennis Miller, if he runs he will be doing exactly what I said before that I admire. Put your money (or sacrifice it if need be) and the hours out of your life to work to try to change things to the way you think they should be. Not just by coming on t.v. and ranting and raving about things you only _think_ you know, and expecting everyone to take it to heart, not because you know what you’re talking about, but simply because you are such a wonderful and superior being who knows better than everyone else because you are, after all, a celebrity. I would have a lot more respect for Barbra Streisand, Alec Baldwin, etc. if they tried to actually work to bring about the things they advocate, rather than just expecting people to come to their way of thinking simply because they are celebrities. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/76 "2004-02-21T05:18:21Z")
I cannot agree that they are expecting any such thing. They say what they feel is right. Just like you and I do. The only difference is that people will actually record what they say. If you were a celebrity, would you keep your mouth shut about something that you believed was seriously wrong? In a wierd way, what they are doing is admirable. They are risking their livelyhoods by speaking out, knowing that it may turn fans off and cost them the very celebrity they enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/77 "2004-02-21T09:05:08Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > I cannot agree that they are expecting any such thing. We can agree to disagree on that. However, I don’t see the point in their speaking out if they don’t expect their celebrity to have an impact. > [@spooje](#): > > They say what they feel is right. Just like you and I do. > > The only difference is that people will actually record what they say. Not quite. You and I don’t have the “bully pulpit” that they have by virtue of their celebrity. > [@spooje](#): > > If you were a celebrity, would you keep your mouth shut about something that you believed was seriously wrong? To be honest, I don’t know. People see things differently when they’re inside a situation than when outside it. I know I don’t see what the big deal is about celebrities avoiding photographers when they’re out in public, and why they make it such a big deal if they happen to be dating someone or become engaged. However, so many of them are that way that I suspect I would be also if I were in their shoes. Perhaps if I travelled in their circles and spent most of my time around people who felt the same way I do, and who ranted and raved and agitated against certain things or people, I might become motivated to try to rabble-rouse as a result. However, I’m aware of how pretentious and conceited those who do it appear to be and perhaps that would mitigate any desire I might have to engage in it myself. > [@spooje](#): > > In a wierd way, what they are doing is admirable. They are risking their livelyhoods by speaking out, knowing that it may turn fans off and cost them the very celebrity they enjoy. I’m surprised to hear you say “in a weird way.” I would think that you would think their behavior was admirable in a straight-up way. However, I think they become so insulated in their showbiz cocoons, and so angry because of all the venom they’re constantly exposed to, so convinced of the superiority of their way of thinking, and (for the most part) have become so wealthy they can live the rest of their lives in the style they’ve become accustomed to, that they don’t care. I’ve even heard some of these people say they don’t \*want \* people such as those they oppose to be fans of theirs. They are so cocky and arrogant they think they have fans to burn, I guess, and that their careers will continue to rock along just fine with the only the support of the “enlightened” to sustain them. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/78 "2004-02-21T11:02:50Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > I’m surprised to hear you say “in a weird way.” I would think that you would think their behavior was admirable in a straight-up way. > > . I don’t really pay any attention to them. I don’t care what they say if they aren’t alking about their jobs. At least, not anymore than what anyone else has to say. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/79 "2004-02-23T09:28:28Z")
> [@emulsified](#): > > However, the guy was excellent in Glengarry Glen Ross, good in Hunt for Red October, great in State and Main, always funny in SNL, and is supposedly good in The Cooler, but I ain’t seen that one. I have seen **The Cooler** and he’s very good in it. He deserves his Oscar nomination. I think he’s good in all those other projects you name too. I also liked him in **The Edge, Working Girl, Beetlejuice, Miami Blues, She’s Having A Baby, Malice, The Juror** and as the narrator in **The Royal Tenenbaums**. I haven’t seen several of his other movies. He’s been in lots of stinkers, but looking at his IMDB list, he’s got a great work ethic and it would seem he just likes to keep busy. He has **6** upcoming projects! I think it’s hilarious how when some people disagree with something a liberal actor says, that actor (or director) automatically becomes a no-talent pos. Hey, I don’t agree with Bruce Willis’s politics, but I think he’s a good actor and would gladly watch **Die Hard, In Country, The Sixth Sense, Signs** and several other of his movies. Charlton Heston’s politics give me the creeps, but I do love **The Omega Man, Planet of the Apes, The Three/Four Musketeers, Soylent Green** and others. What is it about _some_ conservatives’ inability to separate an actor’s political beliefs from their work? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2004, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026/80 "2004-02-23T14:23:54Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > Fair enough! Enjoy your Friday and your smipe poking. > > Only one small nit to pick, though: You said in the above post: “Well, I was referring to newspaper reporters; not columnists. There’s a huge difference.” > > Please look back at the post I was responding to. You said: “The people who write the \*\*political columns \*\* are intimately involved in a lot of what goes on…that’s why they have press conferences, press rooms, press releases, etc.” > > That’s what I was responding to. Sorry…my bad. I should have said “reporter” instead of “columnist.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alec-baldwin-and-his-promise/230026.md?page=3)