LAT: Hollywood Democrats Endorse Schwarzenegger

[DeepModem Mom]

Hollywood Trio Endorses Governor
The move by Spielberg, Katzenberg and Saban could encourage other Democrats to follow.
By Robert Salladay, Times Staff Writer
August 5, 2006

SACRAMENTO — Some of Hollywood's most reliable and generous donors to the Democratic Party — Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and media mogul Haim Saban — are endorsing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's bid for reelection.

Their support is partly a matter of friendship over partisanship. But it could deal a blow to the governor's main opponent, state Treasurer Phil Angelides, by signaling to other Democrats that it's acceptable to embrace a Republican....

***

Other Hollywood Democrats on the list of Schwarzenegger supporters include Jerry Zucker of "Airplane!" fame, movie producer Jonathan Sheinberg and Bud Yorkin, a longtime TV director and producer....

***

Angelides has not been left behind Hollywood's rope line. His campaign cites more than two dozen celebrities, such as Barbra Streisand and Jeremy Piven, who are backing him....

***

A recent Field Poll showed that only about two-thirds of Democrats surveyed were supporting Angelides. Only about half of Democrats thought he could beat Schwarzenegger....

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-dems5aug05,0,2488129,full.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[cmkramer]

1. Last time he ran

he also got quite a few Hollywood supporters and many people said "Gee, I didn't know there were so many conservatives in Hollywood". But a lot of the actors etc. who endorsed him were people who had worked with him and/or who were his friends (like Rob Lowe) and most of them were liberal Democrats. The same thing appears to be happening again to some extent.

His Kennedy relatives endorsed him last time. I wonder if they will this time.

[jerry611]

8. As long as Shriver is his wife....yes

Family rises above politics...

[goclark]

2. That is a shame nt

[Donnachaidh]

3. Saban the Tax Cheat?

wonder if Spielberg and Katzenberg have off-shore accounts they want to keep hidden...

[Missy M]

4. I have friends and have worked with people who are on the....

opposite side of my liberal beliefs and I continue my friendship or working relationship but I sure as hell wouldn't endorse them for their political persuasions.

[chaumont58]

5. Spielberg can die with his fucking secret

His movies, for the most part, are brainless exercises. I never again will pay money to watch his dreck.
Actions have consequences.

[zonkers]

13. Like him or not, he has directed amazing films that have captured

our imaginations like few other directors have -- Jaw, Close Encounters, E.T. and the Indiana Jones Franchise are the one's I'm talking about. You may not like these films but they have resonated with the public like few others. He may not be your cup of tea but not everyone goes to see films for their braininess.

On edit... Nevertheless, I too am disappointed he endorsed Arnold. Arnold is an vulgar, egotistical mosogynist.

[chaumont58]

25. He is a commercial success, but I have always thought something

missing from his films. A grittiness, perhaps. Perhaps, his life has been too easy. Even Schindler's List disappointed me.Saving Private Ryan was wonderful in that it showed how brutal and bloody combat really is, but one of the main parts of the movie seemed not true to me. That part was where the private from Brooklyn does a mini mutiny. Ranger units were elite units, disciplined beyond belief. I just can't see a Ranger doing that.
Try to imagine Spielberg making "On the Waterfront." I can't imagine the same movie.
I don't care what Spielberg does in the future. I see no more of his movies. Actions have consequences. He was on some board of the DNC? Incredible! Fuck him.

[zonkers]

30. Oh, I thought that after the first twenty minutes, "Ryan" fell into every

war movie cliche I've ever seen -- from the cliche patter to the cardboard characters. And yes, I agree about that dubious mini mutiny. I could not sit through Schindler's list. Spielberg is pretty infantile and yes, his films have gotten worse. He cannot direct a believable love scene. Finally saw War of the Worlds on cable. It was crap.

But more on point, I have no idea what the heck he is doing backing Arnie. Maybe he knows something we don't. But even if Arnie ran as an independent, his record of insensitivity ineptitude egoism speaks for itself.

[Vidar]

6. Sorry to hear this.

[Demeter]

7. In the Name of All That's Holy---WHY???

Politics and friendship don't mix--especially when the GOP is not your friend and seeks to harm you, your family, your friends, your city, state, nation, and the world!!

I advocate Separation of Friends and Politics.

[EFerrari]

47. It's business, it's not personal., n/t

[dailykoff]

9. Sleazebags for Schwarzbugger.

Unsurprising.

[Lorien]

10. That's fairly shocking. I used to work with Jeffery Katzenburg

and he was pretty liberal back then. He was one of Gore's biggest contributors.Friends who are still working with him say that he's gotten a little unhinged over the years...guess that they're right! :shrug:

[MrPrax]

11. "People think Hollywood is one giant liberal. That's not the truth."

From the LA Times posted story:

"People think Hollywood is one giant liberal. That's not the truth." -- Bud Yorkin

Can't imagine where they got that idea, Bud.

So in looking over the story -- I can't help but notice that Management (Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Haim Saban, Bud Yorkin, Jerry Zucker, Jonathan Sheinberg) loves Arny the Republican and workers (Ed Begley Jr., Dana Delany, Diane Keaton, Will Ferrell, Matt Dillon, Laura Dern and Olympia Dukakis) tend to back the Democrat, Angelides.

There is another interesting point...but I wouldn't dare ;-)

[Peace Patriot]

12. Shows you what happens when Democrats have warm spit candidates.

That's part of it anyway. We should've all "voted" for Michael Strimling, a REAL Democrat. I did--but I have to say, I got onto him rather late--and I'm sure most California Democrats never heard of him. Too bad! HE represents the kind of "kick 'em in the balls' leftist policy that genuinely attends to the interests of the MAJORITY of the people--the poor, the workers, the exploited, the sick, the elderly, children, the cannon fodder, the forgotten, the socially progressive professionals, the lovers of peace and justice--MOST PEOPLE.

I also think what we have here is a Class War, and also a War War. Schwarz/Bush are good for billionaires. More credit to the super-rich like Barbara Streisand who don't buy into it, who actually think of the common good. Schwarz/Bush are also for dragging the American people into a widened Mideast war--despite EIGHTY-FOUR PERCENT of the American people opposing any U.S. participation in it--and how they're doing it is with Diebold and ES&S election theft. They are trimming the antiwar vote off, so far just enough to retain power. And the Democratic Party leadership is COLLUDING with this. The cowardly CA Dems let them "swiftboat" our good Secretary of State Kevin Shelly out of office--after he had sued Diebold and decertified the worst of their election theft machines (and demanded to see their source code)--and quickly agreed to Diebold shill Bruce McPherson as his replacement, APPOINTED by Schwarzenegger! (Shelley was elected!) McPherson then ILLEGALLY RE-certified Diebold touchscreens (the most notorious election theft devices of them all).

It was Coup #2. Coup #1 was the "Help America Vote Act," engineered by the biggest crooks in Congress, Tom Delay and Bob Ney (abetted by Bilderberg 'Democrat' Christopher Dodd)--a $4 billion boondoggle for electronic voting, using TRADE SECRET, PROPRIETARY programming, owned and controlled by two Bushite corporations, with virtually no audit/recount controls--a bill intended to corrupt our election system from one end of the country to the other, which it has very successfully done.

The only exception I know of, in CA Democratic power circles, is former state senator Deborah Bowen, who appears to be a real election reformer, running for Secretary of State against McPherson. But if 'warm spit' candidate Angelides goes down hard, he's liable to swamp the entire slate.

Then it will all be over, my friends, in California. California will become a "red state"--despite, and in the teeth of, its overwhelmingly progressive, antiwar population.

Angelides is warmed over Gray Davis. I have never seen such a sanitized web site as Angelides'. Nothing of substance is to be found there. Ergo: Pro-Corporate. You know them by what they DON'T SAY. For instance, you will never find Angelides challenging the HUGE corporate land ownership in California, and their benefiting from Prop 13--a law intended to help POOR ELDERLY HOMEOWNERS not be taxed out of their homes. Strimling enlightened me about this. If we only would tax huge corporate landowners FAIRLY, we could restore the $9 BILLION dollar surplus that Schwarzenegger's bud, Ken Lay (Enron), stole from California. (Lay called the meeting in Los Angeles in May 2001, to create the strategy by which to install Schwarzenegger--to PREVENT Davis and Bustamante from recovering that money. See Greg Palast.)

Angelides has some socially progressive views, as Davis did. But then, Schwarz is playing that game, too. There is therefore no way for Angelides to define himself against Schwarzenegger. And let me tell you something about Davis--and Angelides'--progressive views. They include capital punishment, three strikes, and heavy influence by the prison guards' union and the prison-industrial complex--a monstrous system for oppressing poor blacks. Their progressivism is deeply, fundamentally, compromised.

These same asshole, Vichy Democratic leaders who let Kevin Shelley go down, ran a primary in which only Corporate Candidate A and Corporate Candidate B--Angelides and Westly--had sufficient money to be heard. It was all about money. And the war profiteering corporate news monopolies won. The MAJORITY Democratic left has no voice here. They are locked out of power. And these goddamned Diebold/ES&S election theft systems are not just (s)electing Republicans!

These dismal Angelides numbers are not an endorsement of Schwarzenegger, in my opinion. They are an indictment of the War/Corporate Democrats. And I hope to God it is not a bellweather for the nation, or for '08. But it's hard to see anything else happening but Stolen Election III, in November, and Stolen Election IV, in '08--where once again the huge majority in this country opposed to the Mideast war is thwarted, and our democracy slips into history, never to awaken again.

People are putting up a fight. No question about it. The CA Dem progressive caucus is red hot and "kick ass." So is the PDA. Bowen (for Sec of State) is a fabulously intelligent and well-spoken candidate. And DU's own Landshark is on the case in CA-50, challenging the Bilbray/Busby election theft in court. There is hope. One of the problems is we're having to fight entrenched, corrupt Democrats on election reform and on items like a CA legislative submission of an Impeach Bush resolution to Congress. (They're playing footsy with Schwarznegger and don't want to "alienate" Republicans, who are a 2 to 1 MINORITY in the Calif legislature.)

One of the most hopeful--and potentially effective--strategies I've heard of, for recovery of our democracy, is massive Absentee Ballot voting in November. It's already big in Los Angeles (50%). If enough people do it, we can bring this election theft system to its knees. Send election officials MOUNTAINS of paper ballots and force them to deal with it. CREATE the conditions for change. FORCE election reform NOW. It's a citizens' revolt. Don't vote on the machines! AB votes are NOT "safe," and will NOT produce accurate ballot counts this fall. That is impossible. The corrupt, non-transparent system of vote "counting" is too entrenched. But it CAN precipitate a CRISIS in the system, and get election reformers at the table, dictating terms. (People vote, and you count the votes in public view. Period. No more of this esoteric shenanigans of secretly coded electronic voting!)

Bust the Machines! Bust Bush! Bust Congress! Bust the War! VOTE ABSENTEE!

[bigluckyfeet]

27. Isn't Schwarzenegger Supposed to be a Nazi?

Why would these people be backing him?

[Blue_Tires]

70. thanks for the insights....

nt

[leesa]

14. Angelides is invisible and Arnie is putting on a great act as an

environmentalist and a moderate democrat. People are falling for the act again.

[stepnw1f]

15. Eat the Poor

regardless of party lines. Don't people get it..... these people need to switch parties.

[IndianaGreen]

16. Is there a religious or class angle to this?

Why would notable Jewish directors and producers support an Austrian with a Nazi father over a Greek? Or perhaps is solely an issue of class, the rich support the rich?

[BayCityProgressive]

19. Arnie isn't as conservative as national Republicans

I know a lot of people who vote Democrat and are fiscally right wing. The only reason they vote Dem is because of an issue like gay rights and because they don't like religious fundementalism. If moderate Republicans ran nationwide and dropped all the religious posturing, I think you would be surprised to see how many Dems would abandon the party. It is very troubling.

[IndianaGreen]

20. That would be very troubling too if Dems went to a secular GOP

but I doubt that the GOP could purge itself from its Taliban wing.

[BayCityProgressive]

21. also I suppose

the reverse could be true. Perhaps some Republicans are only Republicans because of things like school prayer or abortion and if the GOP dropped that, many of those people would vote Dem for their financial interests. SO all and all, it could be a wash...

[w4rma]

32. Didn't Schwarzenegger *veto* gay partnerships in California?

He is very good *actor* and these *actors* should be able to spot an act.

[slackmaster]

71. No, he did not

We already have same-sex domestic partnerships in California.

http://www.ss.ca.gov/dpregistry/

Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have legalized gay marriage. His decision was probably politically wise, given that just five years earlier California voters passed Proposition 22, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman, by nearly a 2/3 majority.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9247775/

[RangerSmith]

38. So very true.

There really aren't that many people who pull straight tickets.

[Artdyst]

17. "Rich people kiss each other. Poor people p*** on each other." EOM

nt

[IndianaGreen]

18. It appears that's the dynamic at play here n/t

:think:

[Blue_Tires]

33. welcome to the site!

[onehandle]

22. Irrelevant. Slack-jawed yokels will "re-elect" him.

"It's so COOL to have the Terminator as Governor."

Trust me. "He'll be back."

[Phredicles]

23. VERY disappointing; Angelides may not be the most inspiring

candidate, but I think Ahhnold showed his true colors during his bluster-filled 2004-05 period where he saw that he had the political capital to do what he wanted. Unsurprisingly, the cheesy action-hero bully act is what he's most comfortable with. And I won't be surprised if it resurfaces if he's re-elected.

[IndianaGreen]

24. Angelides is a good and decent man

How many times have the American people gone for the TV persona of a candidate, only to get bitten in the ass after the candidate is elected?

The choice in California is a simple one: fluff or substance?

[Barkley]

26. I'm still voting for Angelides!

Arnold's special election wasted $70 million in tax payers money.

We wanted to greatly weaken police, nurses and other unions

How do we know he won't try this again?

[IndianaGreen]

29. A vote for Arnold is a risky vote

A vote for Angelides is a safe vote!

Arnold will try to stiff the unions again!

[joefree1]

28. The Kiss

... of death.

[w4rma]

31. Stupid idiots. Schwarzenegger is a *figurehead* for the real leaders. (nt)

[xchrom]

34. fuck i hate this.

arnold is anti-union -- how could these idiots DO this.

and this crew represents a pillow -- and it's very, very hard to hit a pillow with any effectiveness.

i.e. hard to boycott or show displeasure that will much matter.

[SensibleAmerican]

35. We may win governor races from Alaska to Maryland

But we may lose two important states, California and Michigan.

[Zhade]

36. Thanks for supporting homophobia, guys.

Thanks for supporting the attempted evisceration of labor rights.

Fucking RICH IDIOTS!

[FreeStateDemocrat]

37. Access is everything for these shallow, narcissistic phonies.

Fuck'em, they have no idea what the working class has to deal with or how difficult the neo-cons have made for the under-class.

[Raine]

39. Angelides is dead in the water

and has been ever since him and Westley slung filth at each other in the Primary. I'm adjusting myself to another term of Arnie cause that is what we're going to get. :-(


EDIT: for clarification

[Cha]

40. I really hope Angelides beats

the pants off all those swartzenpsychophants!

What the gropenator done for Cali?

[IndianaGreen]

41. If I were back in California I would vote for Angelides without hesitation

Arnold's opposition to LGBT rights and his anti-labour stance are more than enough reasons to send this guy back to the film studio where he belongs.

[PBass]

42. What about the alleged Arnold-Enron relationship...

that's not going to be a factor in the election??? :eyes:

[Cha]

43. I can't get over this!

Fuck speilberg and the artificial intelligence he rode in on!

I wonder who Meathead is going for? Please let it be Angelides..maybe this will be Star Wars?!

[PassingFair]

46. If Meathead backs Arnold....

I'll know its time to leave.

Reiner has been a good citizen to this point.
I admire him greatly.

[VegasWolf]

44. Looking at the names, maybe the Hollywood Jewish think that muscles

will support Israel better than Phil.

[Nikki Stone 1]

45. The LA movie industry is in trouble; maybe Ahnold's anti-union stance

makes him attractive.

[Moderator]

48. K

[kskiska]

49. Schwarzenegger wins dream ticket for re-election-Spielberg defects to Reps

Arnie, it seems, has friends in high places. Some leading Hollywood liberals - the mythic entity said to prowl the hills of Los Angeles dispensing money and influence - are siding with the Republican governor.

While Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg have pledged their support for Mr Schwarzenegger in his bid to be re-elected in November, Democrats are hoping that as long as they can count on Barbra Streisand and Warren Beatty, all may not be lost.

Mr Schwarzenegger has always promised to do away with the partisanship of modern politics. The latest defections from the Democrats suggest he may be succeeding with those of director Spielberg and his DreamWorks studio co-founder, Katzenberg, a significant blow to challenger, Phil Angelides.

The two have long been among the most important, high-profile and generous supporters of Democrat candidates and causes in California and across the US. But in 2004, Spielberg showed he was seduced by Mr Schwarzenegger, donating $100,000 (£52,000) to this political committee. "It starts with a personal relationship. They are friends," a DreamWorks spokesman told the Los Angeles Times.

more…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1838818,00.html

[JI7]

50. fuck them both

i wonder if this has to do with the real estate issues and their property in Malibu or somewhere.

sorry, but they need to think about the fucking people. about those who just need help getting through college, health care, jobs etc.

actually, Angelides doesn't need any big star. he just needs the regular people to star in his ads and tell them about their problems. the majority of the people of the state have similar problems and will get it.

[Zhade]

51. Maybe the wetlands about a mile from where I sit in Marina del Rey?

Didn't Spielberg (FUCKING ASSHOLE RICH WHITE FUCK) and Katzenberg want to build Dreamworks there? Or am I remembering wrong?

And agreed, fuck them both. They support a homophobe anti-union cheater who once praised HITLER, for fuck's sake.

[goclark]

54. Your Memory is on target ! Dream Works was set

to be at the bottom of the hill from Loyola University, very close to Marina Del Rey.

Then the plans fell by the wayside.

[JI7]

55. i think so

i do remember something about that. i also remember something about their own private property homes. i think they wanted to close off parts of the beach in Malibu to the public.

i wonder if they are one of those who make huge movies and attend fundraisers, but seem to forget about the everyday issues that affect people. and how much these things have a far more affect on people than certain fundraisers.

they will support Arnold, but they will think they aren't bad because they are also going to give a lot to charity. but the reality is that private Charity could never help as much as progressive policies which EVERYONE will benefit from. it would be law and something they have a right to. you don't get that with private charity where it's always limited.

[rumpel]

56. While I don't think

Schwazenegger or anyone in his family saluted Hitler at free will -

The wetlands makes me cry every time I drive by.

Spielberg released his Schindler film, when he did not even respond to a letter on a big case that was going on in Japan - regarding a holocaust denier suing a journalist and an academic.

A landmark decision for Japan ultimately ensued, without a name character as Spielberg uttering one word of support. A 200 page opinion by the Japnese Courts, that yes, there was a holocaust.

http://www.wiesenthal.com/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=bhKRI6PDInE&b=296323&ct=351043

[Zhade]

57. I'm not speaking of Schwarzenegger's childhood...

...but his adulthood, when during the filming of "Pumping Iron" he said he admired Hitler because of where he came from and how he rose to greatness, or something like that.

[rumpel]

60. shows that someone aims at the wrong goals in life

at least to me - if "greatness" of a human is Hitler and not someone like Mother Theresa, R.Parks, Ghandi, MLK, or the Dalai Lama - just because Hitler's background comes from modest means, something is seriously missing.

so we agree

on top of that - he married a Kennedy, and he still does not seem to understand. Maybe stereoids do that to you.....

[SquireJons]

62. He mentioned Hitler when he was running for Governator

He didn't really say he supported Hitler, but he admired him for his ability to command public adulation. He said he wanted to feel that for himself... and that was enough for me to write him off forever, regardless of his politics. Anyone with that much vanity, someone who actually wants a cult of personality can not be trusted in public office. Republican, Democrat or Independent; it makes on difference. Their loyalty is to themselves and fame.

[Zhade]

65. Remember when Rove commented about a rally feeling like a Nazi rally?

Yikes.

[rumpel]

52. He has done nothing to help

the regular entertainment industry guys starting with runaway production, which was in fact the trend setter for the so called out sourcing for many other industries. Many other states have made an effort to value artists and creatives and all the tech guys associated with it.

He does not have my vote, and when it comes to a vote, I am equal to any bigwig in the industry.

One vote one voice.

[countmyvote4real]

53. Stupid move by S & K.

I wonder who will be left that can afford to see their movies if people even want to.

I guess Spielberg has finally jumped the Heston shark. Well, at least for me.

[killbotfactory]

58. WTF?

[gratuitous]

59. Hate teachers and nurses that much, Sparky and Stevie?

After all, Musclehead claimed when he was running two years ago that he was going to institute a bipartisan government. Then he tried to break the nurses' and the teachers' unions. Thanks Mr. Spielberg, Mr. Katzenberg. It's nice to see historic enemies getting together to screw the working men and women of the state.

This is where the party ends
I can't stand here listening to you
And your racist friend.

I know politics bores you,
but I feel like a hypocrite talking to you
And your racist friend.

[CoffeeCat]

61. I really don't get this...

...I thought Spielberg was a die-hard liberal?

I am really having a difficult time digesting this.

[earth mom]

63. Wow, I'm really shocked by this! This country has truly gone insane!

:crazy:

Time to boycott Dreamworks...?! :grr:

[orleans]

64. come on, cher! get in on the act and PHONE LARRY KING! n/t

[Raine]

66. Spielberg apparently is a realist

and wants to be on the side that is going to win so he can get favors from Arnie. x(

[Andromeda]

67. Barf!

[lthuedk]

68. Ahhnuhd...special interests-R-us

Regards,

Stephen Pitt

[Megahurtz]

69. Oh Of Course!

That's because those wealthy rich-asses are getting their tax-cuts!:eyes:

[autorank]

72. Pop Art and Popular Politics..

Who cares who these people support. Their backing is no different than any other Californian's other than the obligatory exchange of cash for current or future access.

Arnold is a disgrace. The producers mentioned are participating in a disgrace. Who cares about them? Their politics are as tired as their product.

[Anakin Skywalker]

73. That's Because

they realize he's not a religious rightwing fundie. Those types within the GOP hate his guts (for being a social liberal).