COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET

Over the past decade or so, the far left have managed to create a climate of hate and disdain for America. It's one thing to bash a president or member of Congress - it's nothing new, really. Taken in present-day context, is it any wonder that the creator of the Democrat party, Thomas Jefferson (a slave owner, btw) hired a "hatchet man" to slander opponent John Adams and "steal" the election?   And how did he do it?  Called him a bunch of names and accused him of wanting to go to war with France.  Amazing how the tactics haven't changed in 210 years, isn't it?  But I digress.  Somewhere along the way, the hyperbole mutated and it became fashionable to hate the country, too. 

It's safe to say that a lot of this mindset has germinated in the fertile minds of our teenagers and young adults - planted there by their elitist, European-wannabe teachers and college professors.  The media has also had a hand in this, as has the Hollywood propaganda machine.  It is well known that conservatives in Hollywood have to keep their views quiet if they want to work. 

It is, quite frankly, nothing short of a miracle that pro-capitalist, anti-government characters like Ironman's Tony Stark are permitted to be portrayed anymore.  Even Captain America is emigrating to London.  Good riddance.  To be fair, since most of the movie revolves around WWII, the Captain America shoot in Europe makes some sense, but the kicker is that they made the final decision to do the filming there because of England's favorable tax incentives.  Hard to believe that just a few decades ago, we had a "British Invasion" of artists coming to the US to escape high European taxation....

Those who love their country have been forced underground.  Hollywood's liberal elites and their blackballing of conservatives is by far the worst case, but elsewhere in the country people look down their noses at those who are unabashedly proud of their country.  One such person is actress Gwyneth Paltrow (via TownHall):

"At the moment there's a weird, over-patriotic atmosphere over there, like, 'We're number one and the rest of the world doesn't matter."

Yes darling, it's called patriotism.  Just as the English love England, the French love France, the Swedes love Sweden, and on and on.  Generally, those who don't like the country of their birth are free to leave at any time, as Ms. Paltrow has so graciously done.  Apparently her disdain for America and it's citizens doesn't keep her from taking the money they spend on her movies.  Hopefully she is paid in euros so she doesn't have to see all that awful patriotic symbolism on our greenbacks, which would no doubt be quite upsetting for her. 

It is just amazing to me that those who love this country have to hide it, for fear of retribution.  "Coming out" as a patriot seems to be as shocking and culturally unacceptable these days as coming out as a gay person was twenty years ago.  Back then, coming out gay meant you were slandered as a freak or "unnatural", and there have unfortunately been some instances of hate crimes.  Coming out as a patriot means you are a danger to society and not in your right mind, and there are also, unfortunately, instances of hate crimes.  Just ask Kenneth Gladney.  What really gets me is those who think patriots are treasonous or seditious. 

There is a beautiful song called "American Heart" that has become the unofficial anthem of the Tea Parties:





The song's writer and singer, Jon David, had to hide his identity (Johnathan Kahn) because he also happens to be a Hollywood screenwriter/director.  He finally came out of the closet and declared himself a conservative.  Good for you, Mr. Kahn.  Hopefully he will still be able to find employment in Hollywood after this. 

Ah, Hollywood - the hypocritical center of the liberal universe.

Only in Hollywood can they rail against the blackballing and "political witch-hunts" of the 1950's while simultaniously seeing nothing wrong with blackballing conservatives today.  But then, they are also one of the largest, most vocal anti-capitalism groups in the country, while simultaniously making obscene money in their purely capitalist endeavours.  And let's not forget their love of corporation bashing - good thing they don't use corporate tie-ins, product placement or sell merchandise related to their movies. 

And so Mr. Kahn's career is in jeopardy now because he dared to speak his mind and support his country.  You might say he's suffering under Hollywood's own "don't ask, don't tell" policy.  Since the liberals seem so fond of boycotting these days, perhaps it's time to remind Hollywood that they are really capitalists at heart and that punishing others for exercising their rights to free speech and bashing the country and people who have made them rich and famous can have repercussions. 

Since summer is the movie industry's biggest moneymaking season, it's time to boycott Hollywood.  Not just the movies, but the merchandise and DVD sales too.  Instead of having to take out a second mortgage to plunk down a ridiculous amount of money for tickets, popcorn, drinks and candy, bypass the theater this summer.  Dust off some pre-merchandising, pre-product placement classics like "George Washington Slept Here", "The Bachelor and the Bobbysoxer", "The Wizard of Oz", "The Long, Long Trailer", or even "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and introduce your kids to the golden age of Hollywood.  Those are all great American movies, made at a time when being American was a point of pride, and Hollywood was actually a patriotic place.

It's no accident that the "Golden Age of Hollywood" ended when the liberal counter-culture took root. 

Those classic movies have no explicit sex scenes, cursing or humor that would make you or your kids blush, and because they didn't use those cheap devices; they had to rely on good storylines to make a hit.   It sure beats the rehashed dreck Hollywood is passing off as entertainment these days.  More importantly, though, the image of America that Hollywood projected then was unabashedly patriotic, because those in Hollywood back then understood how lucky they were.  Not just to be in movies, but to be in America, the land of opportunity. 

So join Mr. Kahn and come on out of the closet.  Be loud, be proud, and make 'em get used to it.  And please try to support those artists who are brave enough to buck the system.  With any luck, it will encourage more to do the same, and we'll have a counter-counter-cultural revolution!

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COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET

TIME TO WALK THE WALK, HOLLYWOOD

The Drudge Report's headline for this morning is "Couric Faces Pay Cut; Deep Layoffs Hit CBS News".  In the story, an unnamed sources is quoted as saying,

"She makes enough to pay 200 news reporters $75,000 a year!" demands a veteran producer. "It's complete insanity."

The angry source continues: "We report with great enthusiasm how much bankers are making, how it is out of step with reality during a recession. We'll look at Katie!"

Amen!  I'm getting really tired of the hypocritical demonization of parts of our society by other sectors that really should just shut the heck up.  What really gets my goat is that people like Katie Couric, Will Ferrell, Jim Carrey and Michael Moore (and most of Hollywood, for that matter) attack capitalism and promote their euro-socialist/neo-marxist views - often in really insulting, patronizing ways that make me want to smack them, quite frankly. 

Don't get me wrong - I love the fact that people can make ridiculous money in this country.  This is capitalism at it's best, and I define myself as a capitalist far more than a republican, democrat or libertarian.  I myself wouldn't mind commanding a multi-million dollar salary, and don't begrudge anyone else making it, provided it is earned.  It's the hypocrisy of the celebrity set that really chaps my hide.

The Hollywood elites love to talk about how stupid Americans are for not seeing their point of view.  This from morons who attack capitalism as fatally flawed - the very same evil capitalism that has made them multi-millionaires.  I have a rather long list now of actors and musicians that I refuse to support financially because of their obnoxious, elitist dismissal of the 'unwashed masses' and the capitalist system that took many of them from poverty and obscurity to the golden, decadent heights of prosperity and world fame.

What really kills me are people like Will Ferrell and Jim Carrey, whose movies barely make enough to cover their multi-million dollar salaries and threaten the entire studio with financial implosion, and yet they sit on their high horses and attack CEO's and bankers for their multi-million dollar salaries.   Even better, they feel they have the right to preach to us about policies they know nothing about.

Well, those companies have been bailed out or subsidized with taxpayer money, they argue, so they should be demonized - they wasted our money!  Oh, that's right, I forgot - movies don't get any subsidies or tax breaks whatsoever.

Yes, I'm tired of bank bailouts.  Yes, I think CEO's and bankers making enormous profits on failed businesses is criminal.  But I also think that the same thing is happening in Hollywood and in sports. 

A great example is the obscene amount of money Conan O'Brien just made to effectively do nothing for three years.  And how did his working class staff fare, after uprooting themselves from NY to LA?  They sure didn't end up with $30 million and a three year hiatus.  Granted, they ended up splitting $12 million in severance, but, considering he had about 200 staff members, that equals about $60,000 per person - not a lot of money for LA.  Conan is getting lots of kudos for his role in demanding severance pay for his people, and I agree with that - if he hadn't, those people would have gotten nothing.

But think about it this way - if he were a Wall Street banker who had to shut down his business and paid his staff $60,000 while he walked away with $30 million, people would be calling for his head - with a huge portion of those calls originating in Hollywood.  But because he is a celebrity, they instead celebrate his generosity and consideration for his staff and make him into some sort of comedic Mother Teresa.

I took my kids to see Avatar at the Imax over the holidays, and for the four of us, it cost $60+ dollars, just for the tickets.  Add in popcorn and drinks and maybe a box of Sno-Caps and some Twizzlers, and you are easily looking at a $100 layout.  Did I mention it was a matinee?  Thankfully, it was a fantastic movie and we had a great time, but how often can you say that anymore with all of the cheesy remakes and really blatantly bad movies Hollywood has been pumping out over the past few years?  I know we won't be setting foot in a theater again until Iron Man 2 comes out - only real blockbusters are worth the outlay anymore, and even then we have been sorely disappointed.

I love professional football and hockey, and love seeing the games live, but have not done so in about a decade because a day at the stadium now costs an average of about $400 for a family of four.  If you are a Dallas fan, you can expect to pay about $700+.  My point is that the cost of those millionaire salaries and big, expensive stadiums is passed directly to us, the consumer, just as the cost of those Wall Street salaries is ultimately picked up by the American taxpayer. 

So if all of those Hollywood socialists are so hot to 'spread the wealth around', they should start with their own wealth, and leave what little I have alone.  It's nice to know that there are some, like those at CBS, who are starting to see that.

Hollywood has been talking the Progressive talk for decades - now it's time to walk the walk.  Put your money where your mouth is, Mr. Ferrell.  Stop living off the same teat you demonize, Mr. Moore.  You want a fair and free society, Mr. Penn?  How about you accept $150,000 for your next role, with no points on the back end, just a flat $150, like your cameramen make? 

If you want to foist the socialist utopia on us, you damn well better be prepared to join the ranks.  If not, shut the hell up.  I could care less what your views are on the world.  I don't make it a habit to take life advice from people who pretend for a living.  Many of them can't even string two sentences together without a writer putting the words in their mouths - a trait they seem to have in common with the Teleprompter Kid, now I think about it (btw, you'll thank me if you click the teleprompter kid link - too funny!).

As for Couric, well, she was a waste of money from the get-go.  I can't wait to see her response to the possibility of having her wealth 'redistributed'....

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TIME TO WALK THE WALK, HOLLYWOOD