# Hollywood, just shut up already, no one cares about your political opinions **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 27, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310 "2003-01-27T19:31:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/21 "2003-01-27T23:07:07Z")
In all fairness, it was the politicians who courted the celebrities, not vice-versa. The government asked (pressured) Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks into selling war bonds in WWI, when they’d prefer to concentrate on making movies that brought money only to themselves. Pretty soon smart politicians such as FDR realized that if he had Frank Sinatra stop in at the White House for a grip and grin, it would get FDR’s picture in the paper. When HUAC invited (pressured) big names in the movies to testify against Communism, it was looking for eye-candy that would attract newsreel cameras. Did anyone really think Gary Cooper would rip the lid off some secret Hollywood cabal? The turning point may well have been when Humphrey Bogart went to Washington on his own string to protest agianst HUAC. Next thing you know, Lauren Bacal is Harry Truman’s piano, then she’s on Adalia Stephenson’s campaign train. Finally, a stalled movie star embarks on his own political career and eventually becomes president, which every other performer saw as entitlement to hold forth with their own views as if descending from Mt. Sinai. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/22 "2003-01-27T23:13:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by This Year’s Model \* > **And just because someone chooses a career in journalism, or political commentary - that doesn’t make their opinion any more worth listening to than Joe Schmoe’s either** When you have a sore throat do you go to Joe Schmoe or to a Doctor? When I want an informed opinion on anything I’d rather hear an expert than what some guy off the street thinks, although I’d take either over Barbara Streisand. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/23 "2003-01-27T23:26:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cainxinth \* > \*\*When you have a sore throat do you go to Joe Schmoe or to a Doctor? When I want an informed opinion on anything I’d rather hear an expert than what some guy off the street thinks, although I’d take either over Barbara Streisand. \*\* You’re comparing the process and the end results of journalism school to the process and end results of medical school? Whatever. Regardless, if you respect their thoughts, by all means listen to them. I think I said that. I suspect we disagree on what makes an ‘expert’, but I’m not wrought up enough to argue about it tonight. ---
**Author:** ![stofsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@stofsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stofsky)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/24 "2003-01-27T23:52:25Z")
And American citizens can’t express a viewpoint. Or at least American citizens who have access to TV cameras. Get over it. Garafalo’s just as qualified (or maybe more so) as Ann Coulter to give an opinion on the state of the nation and/or Bush’s Just War on Iraq. Name one columnist or pundit–let’s say on the right, since you apparently don’t like lefties–who has a background in international Poli-Sci or Social Sciences. Let’s make a Bachelor’s degree the baseline; dropping out of college to be a radio announcer doesn’t count. **Indygrrl** , I’m going to have to see photos of those hooters and compare them to Ann Coulter’s before I can allow that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/25 "2003-01-27T23:59:43Z")
My point, I think, is this: Any number of people have had successful careers in other fields before entering politics. From acting (Reagan, Gandy, Eastwood) to sports (Tom Osbourne, Jim Bunning) to astronauts (Glenn). None of them sprang full blown from the brow of Zeus as political experts. Nevertheless, all of them throughout their lifes had to have been uttering political thoughts and opinions. And these thoughts were obviously valid as they all turned into electable politicians. It is pointless and simplistic to bash a persons political opinions simply because of their profession. Now if you want to say that the opinion is bullshit because they’re liberal and you’re conservative, or vice versa, that is a kettle of different fish, and of course is perfectly valid. But saying you think they’re not worth listening to simply because of their profession is just dumb. If this thread is still active tomorrow, I’ll be back. Gotta go. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/26 "2003-01-28T00:00:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by This Year’s Model \* > **You’re comparing the process and the end results of journalism school to the process and end results of medical school? Whatever.** Whatever’s clever I always say. Anyway, If you don’t like the doctor analogy, how about a mechanic, or an artist, or a pro basketball player? Is Joe Schmoe’s opinion on cars, art, or basketball as valid theirs is? There is a reason courts distinguish “expert witnesses” from just plain witnesses, because their opinion is more valid. The point is actors aren’t by trade political pundits and it pisses me off to see their opinions passing for authoritative testimony on such important issues as domestic and foreign policy. As for Reagan, case in point. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![litost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@litost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/litost)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/27 "2003-01-28T00:01:32Z")
I can’t see the difference between Janeane Garofalo, Barbara Streisand, Bill O’ Reilly, Sean Hannity, the Colmes guy, Phil Donohue, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Jerry Falwell… How does one qualify to get their political views taken seriously? The only metric seems to be “# who want to listen”. Nothing else seems to matter. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/28 "2003-01-28T00:10:26Z")
There seems to be a misunderstanding here. I am a dem, and marketedly liberal dem at that, but the point I’m making is entirely bipartisan. Next, > [@](#): > > **it’s pointless and simplistic to bash a persons political opinions simply because of their profession.** People bash Shrub every day because he was born with a silver spoon in his ass and ran an oil company. I think it’s a valid grievance given his role. People still bash Reagan because he was a nudnik, former actor. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/29 "2003-01-28T00:35:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cainxinth \* > \*\*People still bash Reagan because he was a nudnik, former actor. \*\* Nudnik?😕 What’s that? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/30 "2003-01-28T01:18:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ivylass \* > No one’s denying their right to an opinion…it’s just the incredible weight the media lends to their pronouncements…as if they are more informed than the common man, \*\*or even President Bush. \*\* Yeah, THAT’S hard to believe. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/31 "2003-01-28T01:24:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Astroboy14 \* > \*\*Nudnik?😕 > > What’s that? \*\* It’s Yiddish. It means boring, or in the context I used it, dimwitted. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/32 "2003-01-28T02:02:11Z")
Ah! I see… thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/db5fbb/32.png) [@Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fred)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/33 "2003-01-28T03:30:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ivylass \* > \*\*I wonder about the patriotism. > > During WWII Jimmy Stewart and others rushed off to fight for the Allies. > > I haven’t heard of one celebrity today rushing down to the recruiting office to fight in Iraq. \*\* [Jimmy Stewart was drafted.](http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/history/wwii/js.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/34 "2003-01-28T03:33:19Z")
You can’t compare fighting the Nazis with invading an innocent country just to boost some slimeball president’s approval ratings. ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/35 "2003-01-28T03:42:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*You can’t compare fighting the Nazis with invading an innocent country just to boost some slimeball president’s approval ratings. \*\* Innocent? **Chumpsky** much do you? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/36 "2003-01-28T03:56:52Z")
Yes **innocent**. The Iraqi _people_ are innocent, regardless of the actions of Hussein, and even _Hussein_ has done nothing to the US. We have no grounds whatever for an invasion. This is purely a self-serving political act by a drug damaged, usurping, idiot man-child. Whatever happened to right and wrong, for fuck’s sake. This country used to is supposed to be a force for good. This planned invasion is no more justified than Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait or Hitler’s invasion of Poland. It is an act of pure, cynical evil. ---
**Author:** ![RAWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@RAWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RAWDuke)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/37 "2003-01-28T03:59:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Indygrrl \* > \*\*Kick ass! I’m qualified for a syndicated column. \*\* Cite (sight!) please 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/38 "2003-01-28T04:02:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ivylass \* > No one’s denying their right to an opinion… What part of “shut up already” is the OP’s non-denial in ? ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/39 "2003-01-28T05:00:10Z")
They can have opinions, just non-verbal ones. 😉 ---
**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:** [January 28, 2003, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310/40 "2003-01-28T07:53:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\* This is purely a self-serving political act by a drug damaged, usurping, idiot man-child. \*\* An act that _has not happened yet and may never happen._ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-just-shut-up-already-no-one-cares-about-your-political-opinions/151310.md?page=3)