Hollywood Republicans

Some noteworthy Hollywood Republicans spoke before the Young America’s Foundation West Coast Leadership Conference, attended by reporters and bloggers. (Including Ace, maybe?)

One such speaker was producer, Joel Surnow, (executive producer of Fox’s “24″), who dismissed as “nuts” the notion that Hillary Clinton can be elected president.

“I’m not even sure that Hillary is a fait accompli [to win the Democratic Party nomination] as this point,” Mr. Surnow told a group of reporters and bloggers in a wide-ranging interview during the Young America’s Foundation’s West Coast Leadership Conference. “Are we nuts thinking Hillary Clinton could be president of this country? Honest to God, just stand back and think about it.”

Saying that he was “probably going to get behind Rudy” for the White House, Mr. Surnow named comedian Dennis Miller as another entertainer who has “come out” as a conservative in the overwhelmingly liberal Hollywood environment and said that another popular comedian, Adam Sandler “is going to come out and support Rudy Giuliani.”

Dennis Miller has been “out” for some time now, of course, but Adam Sandler has only recently become known as a Republican Supporter.

Here’s a list of some more Republican Hollywood celebrities.

And of course, there’s always the GOP Babes.

Jessica Simpson and Shannen Doherty, Freddie Prinze Jr, and Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Gary Sinise have also expressed right-wing leanings in the past.

News hound Andrew Breitbart, who grew up in Brentwood, was at the conference, and gave an impromptu talk Thursday, to a select group of top campus conservative activists.

There is “an underground society of Hollywood conservatives,” said Mr. Breitbart, author of “Hollywood, Interrupted,” and founder of the Breitbart.com news site. He said students interested entertainment careers should not be frightened away by the industry’s reputation as a liberal bastion.Those remarks were echoed yesterday by Mr. Surnow, who dismissed as “whining” the complaints of conservatives that they are treated unfairly by Hollywood liberals.

“Our job is not to whine, that’s their job,” Mr. Surnow told students gathered in the grand ballroom of the oceanside Fess Parker Doubletree Resort.

I do hear Hollywood conservatives say that from time to time, but I hear conservative complaints as well:

“I honestly think that it automatically hurts me if I said that I supported the war in Iraq and I support the troops,” says Drew Carey, (back in 2004) who describes himself as a libertarian in the Rated “R” (Republicans In Hollywood) documentary. “That automatically kills me for getting a bunch of movies, a bunch of TV shows. People don’t want to hear from me.”

Jesse Moss, the filmmaker behind “Rated R,” had trouble getting stars to appear on camera. A disclaimer in his film states that Mel Gibson, Chuck Norris, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Bruce Willis and Heather Locklear — all known Republicans — refused to be interviewed.

Patricia Heaton was having dinner and conversation with a few Hollywood friends ( in ‘04) when the subject of politics came up. When the “Everybody Loves Raymond” star said she’s voting for George W. Bush, the chatter turned to awkward silence.”You’d think I’d crapped in the middle of the table,” the Emmy-winning actress says…

Hollywood Republicans have banded together and formed their own grass roots political organization, The Hollywood Congress of Republicans, in part to offer a “professional networking community of Republicans in the entertainment industry (and/or support thereof).”

Back to the Young America’s Foundation Conference:

After his speech, Mr Surnow scoffed at the idea that Liberals prevent conservatives from getting work in film and television:

“There’s tons of conservatives who work,” he said. “If you write a great script, you could drop it off a freeway overpass in rush hour and the movie would still get made.”

Which brings me to the question conservatives have been asking for awhile. Namely:

As the barrage of anti-Iraq war movies continue to tank, when is somebody going to come up with a good pro-American script about the war on terror?

Unfortunately, either that question wasn’t asked, or the Washington Times neglected to mention it.

Someone did eventually pop another question we’ve all been wondering:

Asked by a student during a question-and-answer session why he’d cast outspoken liberal actress Janeane Garofolo in the most recent season of “24,” Mr. Surnow answered, “Because she’s a great actress.”

Wow, if he says so…

UPDATE:

Yep, Ace was there.

UPDATE (Nov. 16):

The Washington Times has an interesting article out today that pretty much contradicts what Joel Surnow said about liberals preventing conservatives from getting work in film and television:

They learn very quickly, if they know what’s good for them, to donate to the Democratic Party,” said Andrew Breitbart, co-author of “Hollywood, Interrupted.” “If they were to donate to the Republican Party, they would be exposed to career-ending ridicule, period.”

Most Republicans in Hollywood are thus, apparently very in the closet as far as their political leanings go.

UPDATE (April 22):

A surprising addition to the list:

Robert Downy Jr???

And here’s a great list of Patriotic Actors.

UPDATE: (July 14):

Here’s an excellent, excellent piece in the Washington Times by Andrew Breitbart on the covert and possibly increasing numbers of prominent Republican celebrities in Hollywood.

UPDATE (July 28):

I’m not sure if he’s a Republican, but John Voight is certainly not voting for Obama.

UPDATE (August 9):

Hollywood writer, Andrew Klavan asks, “Why Are We Whispering”.

Speak up Hollywood conservatives. The insidious leftism that Hollywood libs dole out to an unsuspecting public every day on t.v., and in movies, cannot be countered if you are all too afraid to push back.

UPDATE: (August 12):

Here’s Glenn Beck on the Hollywood backlash against John Voight for his anti-Obama column:

UPDATE (August 15):

Hey! Guess who has their own website? That’s right….Hollywood Republicans!

UPDATE: (August 21, 2008):

David Zucker has committed Hollywood treason with his soon to be released movie, An American Carol. Be sure to check it our when it opens, Oct. 3rd.

UPDATE (August 27, 2008):

Hollywood fundraiser for McCain attracts some big names.

UPDATE (March 28, 2009):

Love this slideshow of  “Celebs Who Lean To The Right”.
There’s a few on there I didn’t know about. Thanks, Greta.

UPDATE (April 2, 2009):

You could say actor, Gary Graham is somewhat conservative.

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