Conservabashing is so prevalent in Hollywood that it is an open joke. The few big names with the guts to speak out – Bruce Willis, Kevin Sorbo, Jessica Simpson, Clint Eastwood – often find themselves suffering for employment after nothing more than a rumor that they resonate with the right wing. Keep in mind that these people have not even backed any policies – they are simply stating they agree with some conservative talking points.
Nowhere is false liberalism more prevalent than in Hollywood. The grandstanding comes through in the work as well. Trying to count the liberal messages in the modern blockbuster is like trying to count the number of popcorn kernels in the machine at the snack bar. Liberal politics threaten to ruin the movie experience of a true conservative at every outing, but we brave the storm and continue to support American cinema anyway.
However, there is new hope for common sense in Hollywood. Word on the street is that many conservative actors, producers and directors are just playing the game by putting up a liberal front. The same PR professionals that turn Johnny Depp into Captain Jack Sparrow are now working to turn privately conservative George Clooney into publicly liberal George Clooney.
This is happening at the same time that many Hollywood names are simply throwing caution to the wind and coming out in full. There are plenty of lists up with people who we all knew were on our side, some more vocal than others. The ubiquity of the Internet certainly spreads the news more quickly, but the hardcore conservative minority in Hollywood does not really seem to care.
Conservatives are right to question if subtlety is still necessary in Hollywood. The news industry, at least, is one aspect of media that is looking to work with the new system. Hugh Hewitt, a vocal Trump supporter and long time conservative talk show host, is getting a show on MSNBC. He joins many other conservative professionals on the network, including Greta Van Susteren and Megyn Kelly. This uptick in publicity raises the question: do conservatives really need to hide any more?
The short answer: Yes. Like it or not, there have been no hugely successful films within the past 20 years that uphold a staunchly conservative narrative. There have been plenty of films just within the past year with heavy doses of liberal messages that have made a killing. Get Out, anyone?
Conservatives do not control the greenlight positions in Hollywood. If you notice, the list of known conservatives are full of people who have created their own brands outside of the studio system. This takes quite a while to build, as any business owner can tell you. You cannot be a conservative in Hollywood without a power structure of your own. Your brand then becomes so profitable that insiders cannot help but do business with you. However, they have to be forced, make no mistake.
There is another issue that conservatives in Hollywood face – one that is more immediately relevant to the rank and file conservative. There is very little that Joe Blow can do about the Hollywood power structures. However, there is something that we all can do in terms of supporting our prime spokespeople. Conservative actors and moviemakers get far less support from the party and from individuals than liberals in the business. When someone has the audacity to speak boldly, are we there to make sure they still have a job the next morning?
The big checks and tales of luxury in Hollywood are often overblown. Those multimillion dollar paydays very often translate into working salaries for name actors. They must pay agents, lawyers, makeup artists, PR people, and so forth. Keep in mind that one paycheck may have to last for years as well. If a Hollywood conservative suddenly decides to go public and then gets blacklisted for a few years, that million dollars he made three years ago doesn’t mean much.
If we want conservatives in Hollywood to speak up and bravely showcase their allegiance, then we owe them our support at the box office. It is time to make going to the movies a political operation – liberals certainly do.
~ Liberty Planet
