Roger L. Simon: Hollywood Gossip (Tehran Division)

I don't spend a lot of time reading Variety anymore (not that I ever really did), but it was hard to miss their editor Peter Bart's column today on the Hollywood political mood, which has been referenced across the Internet. In particular, Bart writes this rather spooky paragraph:

There are other emerging fissures, as well. The aggressively photogenic John Edwards was cruising along, detailing his litany of liberal causes last week until, during question time, he invoked the "I" word -- Israel. Perhaps the greatest short-term threat to world peace, Edwards remarked, was the possibility that Israel would bomb Iran's nuclear facilities. As a chill descended on the gathering, the Edwards event was brought to a polite close.

Now it's not clear here whether Bart was in attendance or what exactly Edwards intended by his remark. Was the candidate castigating Israel for what would arguably be an act of self-defense or was he merely commenting on an obviously dangerous situation? Hard to tell in this kind of semi-gossip writing. Bart does himself no credit by going on with a follow-up paragraph about evangelical support of Israel as if this were something new. Hardly. Israel was filled with evangelical tourists when I first went there over twenty years ago. Has Bart ever gone? I don't know.

I found Bart's column depressing, creating, as it did, the vision of Hollywood as a lock-step community. Perhaps it is, but that makes artists like David Zucker, Ron Silver, even Arnold himself into non-persons.

Speaking of Arnold, Bart writes that "liberals" (whatever that means anymore) have to play catch-up with Schwarzenegger on environmental issues. I wonder if it occurs to Bart that some of us are able to separate our thinking on various subjects. I guess he wants everyone to adopt that "old time Hollywood religion." As one famous Hollywood character (Samuel Goldwyn) once said: "Include me out."

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I really do not think these people can seperate out their thinking. They are as uptight as any blue bloods ever thought about being. There are some things one just do not do, some things one just does not think, and some people one just does not associate with.

From somewhere in the Internet: one word campaigns: Kerry -> stuck, Biden -> clean, Obama -> wasted, Edwards -> Israel.

Both his dry Yankee wit and his frugality with words became legendary. His wife, Grace Goodhue Coolidge, recounted that a young woman sitting next to Coolidge at a dinner party confided to him she had bet she could get at least three words of conversation from him. Without looking at her he quietly retorted, "You lose."

There might be something there for the modern candidate running a two year campaign.

Reading Peter Bart is about as much fun as reading those monthly deep thoughts Robert Redford likes to include in his Sundance catalog. FEH! The self-righteousness of it all...

Not to change the subject, but... uh, it is getting close. What's getting close? The Academy Awards show, that's what!

When I saw the words "Hollywood" and "Variety" I had hoped this would be where Roger makes his detailed Oscar predictions right down to the animated and life action shorts. But no. This time Hollywood and Variety meant Israel-bashing.

Can we soon expect your Academy Award ballot, Roger, or did I miss it? Uh, cuz I just printed out the ballots for our Sunday night party. I'd like to have a helping hand, if you don't mind. Two years ago, you were spectacular with 22 out of 24 correct picks!

"Given that the Christian Right and neo-conservatives in this country seem more obsessed with Israel than the Jewish community..."

Say what?? Is this guy for real? Who're the ones who bring up Israel at every opportunity? Not the right!

I don't remember the "Christian Right" (second only to "Neocon" as being the most misunderstood, hyperbolic, and overheated attempt at tarring a group that supposedly enlightened thinkers continually stoop to use) or neocons bringing up Israel vis-a-vis Palestine every third opportunity. I don't remember Republicans and Protestants, Baptists, Episcopalians, etc. (as if all Christians are Republicans or "Neocons") bringing up every iota of criticism they could about Israel's actions last summer while ignoring Hezbollah's missle launching and human shielding. I sure as hell don't remember Republicans bringing up Israel when discussing the misconduct of Cynthia McKinney, unlike certain other writers.

But I can easily remember uncounted instances of Israel being brought up in the most unusual and unexpected places, in conversations where normal, rational folks wouldn't expect to hear that country invoked. And each and every time, it hasn't been some John Bircher, or some "Neocon" or Christian evangelist doing so.

So who're the ones "obsessed" with Israel? Get a clue, Peter Bart. It's not the side you're projecting on.

This is the same Edwards that said "... when John Kerry is president, people like Christopher Reeve are going to walk, get up out of that wheelchair and walk again."

Edwards Israel quote sounds like his trial lawyer persona out for a walk... again.

February 20, 2007: Hollywood Gossip (Tehran Division)

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