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MHO,

I think they should stick to what the person(s) came to see or hear them do..

they also have a freedom of speach, but not when you or I paid so much money to hear/see them perform and get to listen to them whine either way for whatever politician...

as I said in another post...I can get that here for free... or watch the news and hear it...

If I paid good money to hear this entertainer and they do this to me... well they got their last nickle out of my pocket Period...

what was it 2 yrs ago the dixie chicks pulled their crap? I had 2-3 cd's of them enjoyed their music... but since their stunt I boycotted them.. even when something of theirs airs on the radio I will change the channel..

Hog

I equate most entertainers political views to the Holiday Inn Express Commercials...

You know...the ones that say..."...hey are you an expert at ____"...and they say..."...No, but i did stay at a Holiday Inn Express Last night"...

So in most of the entertainers case...they are not an expert but they feel they are just because they are stars...

Hoepfully that made sense...

RasDas

Joe

don't know bout that.. I watch documentary's, unsolved crime story's, foresnsics, etc. and news... thats all I watch on TV.. hardly ever catch a movie... and now listening to Christian music on the radio... I do plug in some of my oldies CD's but not no local radio dj crap any longer...

Hog

Perfect response Thom.

Okay here I go again posting obn this board when I told my self I would not, but I can't help it..
Where has America Gone?? Where are the rights , the belief's in freedom and freedom of speach..It seems that it may still be here as long as every one see'ss and talks only one way.. It doesn't matter who you are or what you do for a job as long as your a citizen you have a right to voice your opinion..This country use to be some thing to protect but as of late it seems as though it is going s very bad direction. Some say that certin groups don't know what the Normal Guy's life is like. What makes you think that the politician's do?? They don't seem to care to much about where this country is going after all look at all the ad's about every thing but what matters..People have gotten to carried away with personal feelings in this election instead of what is really important and that is us the people..You say Bush has our best interests at heart,or at least that is what I get from many of the posts in here, then why can't I and many more like me aford Medicine. And before you start poping off with answers you don't know are true stop and think do you really know what you're talking about?? Do you have to have Meds. that cost $800 or more per script per month,do you have to have 3-4 scripts each month of different meds to function and stay alive?? And before you bring up the all so wonderful new prescription bill sit down and if your a regular person earning 7-8 dollars an hour or retiered or disabled try to figure out if this new bill would help you at all. Futher more the drugs that we buy over the counter in this country come from the same place that the people to the north of us get there's From the same factories so if we can't trust those drugs how can we trust the ones we buy right here in this country?? And the President could change that the FDA is under his control,he could allow for us to purchase our Med.s from Canada. Except then he would lose money because the drug companies wouldn't support him any more.. Why can't people just forget Repubician / Democrate and think WE THE PEOPLE..I know well to do people look at things different from common labors after all they don't want to hear or see the real things that go on in this country they would feel to uncomfortable..And after all who wants to give up money if there is a chance on getting more some how why not the Heck with other people and what they live through.. It's time to stop and start looking at things that are True and Real instead of listening to what some one else has to say because we don't have time to check it out our selves..What choices do we have in this election who knows maybe from bad to worst but maybe not. I have never known any one who could read another persons mind and that is the only way we could be sure of who we put into office..As for all the back stabbing and whining going on about who did what 30 years ago what does it matter?? I think different Now than I did 30 years ago and I would guess most do because we have a chance to mature and learn and see things in a different light. For those young people out there who just know that the media wouldn't lie to you watch the news, read the papers long enough and you'll see. They don't care about who gets what all they care about is how much money can they make from these people.. People it's time to wake up before we st back and ask our selves where did America Go??? Now for those who have a short fuse and post here you are the ones I am talking about the most,the ones who don't take the time to check things out themselves who don't ask other people questions before jumping off on a direction aout some thing.. Every one take the time to ask a poor person what is important to them,then ask a retired person the a disabled person ask them what is important to them. Sure not every thing can be changed or helped but many things will be the same.. We have to show compassion not only to ourselves but also to others or this country will stop being great and will just tear it's self apart from within..Policians know most people are quick to foarm opions and will most times NOT check into things themselves but instead take some one elses word for every thing, Kinda like a herd of cows following that lead cow right into the slaughter, stop and think about it and stop fighting each other and fight for everyone.. My piece is said and I know it will bring some to a boiling point but we that live here were born or earned the right to call our selves American and have give time to serve this country and are giving our Son's and Daughter's to serve this country Actor or not have a right to voice our opinions that right was given to us by the
Consitution of the United states, it does not say any thing in it about Actors or white collar or blue collar or Common Labors having a right to freedom of speach it says we all do..Okay Hammer away like always instead of wanting to make things better for all just keep thinking that your Republician and thats the only way it can be. walk around with your eye's closed to what is going on around you and Democrates keep on thinking that you have all the answers and wait and see what happens to this Country.. Work together People nothing is solved by One person or group and every one I mean every one has some thing in thier lives that some one else will think is wrong or shameful Why should we care What are they Going to do Take us into War Heck I think we are already there..Tin

Watch the parihana hit this. LMAO

If roughly half the people vote one way and half the other, why would anyone risk offending possibly half of the fan base. ie half the sales? Not that it works out to that, but the potential is there, ask Jane Fonda.

Thats why retailers, manufacturers, etc contribute to everybody. So they won't get roped into any partisanship, apparent or real, that might hurt the bottom line.

I agree that everyone (entertainers, et al) have the absolute right to voice their opinions . . . but dont do it after charging me $90 to get into your performance / concert to listen to your music, or dont do it for free when you have a national forum of millions of television viewers trying to enjoy an awards show or entertainment special . . I will never have that opportunity to voice my opinions in such a manner . . .

Ras,

"You know...the ones that say..."...hey are you an expert at ____"...and they say..."...No, but i did stay at a Holiday Inn Express Last night"...

Very well said- and this could apply to most of us on this forum also.

Truth in advertising should extend to entertainers as well. "The Hollywood Bowl is proud to present (fill in entertainer of choice) for an evening of (music, dance or whatever) and political rhetoric." Reserved seats only yada, yada, yada. Now they have freedom of speech and we have freedom of choice. Just like television, don't like or want your kid to see a particular show, change the channel or better yet exercise your power... ON/OFF!!! Done deal!

thurs

Entertainers have the right to freely speak on stage.

They realize that they may offend a portion of their audience so they only do it on an issue they feel very strongly about.

Issues that they feel are important enough to risk their livelihoods over.

You neocons think about the entertainers who voiced disapproval of Clinton's sex life or support for his opponents.

Did you tell them to shut up?

Should we have boycotted them, too?

Do you think that they are treasonous un-Americans?

Only the ones who disagree with your beliefs.

kazama

I think I'm in agreement with many of you. If you advertise a concert and charge someone to hear you perform, you should perform and leave out the commentary. If you want to make a statement, write a song and sing it. Musicians have often used their lyrics to make political statements and some of them have been very powerful. Today, they're just being lazy. They just want to stand on stage make a speech.

If you want to make a political speech, hold a free concert in the park and advertise it as a political rally. If you want to be a real musician, write a freakin' song. One that's nice and catchy that everyone will be singin' along with on the radio.

I'm all for free speech as long as I don't have to buy a ticket to hear it. If your entertainment is going to include political commentary it should be advertised that way.

On the other hand, if you're a stand up comic and you want to rip the president or the challenger, I say have field day. That's what I expect from a comic.

Then there's the hollywood elite. Once again, here's a group of people that have lost touch with the average guy. If they want to make political statements, I don't really care one way or the other. They usually make them at some hollywood event that caters to other hollywood elites, or while being interviewed on some TV show. Us average folks may get to hear it on the news or while watching a TV show but at least we didn't have to pay for it. I can change the channel or turn off the TV if I don't want to hear it.

Personally, I prefer to get my political abuse straight from the politicians. I review voting records and listen to speeches as well as the debates. I can't wait to see the debates between Bush and Kerry. I just wish they'd change the format and let each candidate ask the other candidate a couple of questions.

Of course my other source of political insight is from the great commentary made right here. I know there's a lot of BS throw around here but occasionally there's an excellent point made or someone posts a link to a good article that I may have missed.

I did forget to address one thing. The boycotting issue. I think it is a perfectly legit response. It's the american way. What happened when thousands of Americans joined together and formed groups to boycott retailers like KMart and Walmart that were selling CDs with explicit lyrics or softcore porn magazines. The retailer has to address the issue and determine what is in their best interest.

If entertainers want to jump into the political dog pile then they're fair game. They are the product. If that product no longer meets consumer expectations then they run that risk of losing their marketability

"no. sorry. you can't have it both ways. either everyone has free speech or no one does. those who took an oath to defend and protect the constitution of this great country should be the FIRST ones to say "say what you want; it IS a free country.""
_ Cav, I never said they shouldn't be ABLE to say it, but I DO take exception to using an awards program to push a political agenda. I never said someone should legislate against it! But it's also MY free speech right to gripe about it!

I could go on and on about this topic. What scares me is the amount of power that Hollywood and the entertainment world yields.

Take some time to look at how much money our government puts into AIDS research (after Hollywood jumped on board) compared to breast cancer research! Which is your mother, wife, sister, daughter more likely to have to deal with? One in four women will be diagnosed. Maybe Hollywood needs to change bandwagons!

DRJ

Aren't politicians entertainers too?

LOL JonR

considering some policies that come out of Washington, are you sure he's not?

I never understand how these things get so far sidetracked by those who think they're the last defenders of the Constitution. Nowhere, anywhere, have I seen anyone write that it should be illegal for actors, singers, etc. to speak their opinion on politics. The best description I saw here was what CW said - they hijack a paid performance for their personal political agenda. I don't go to Springsteen to get a poly-sci lecture.

Kinda like when someone pays me to do a class on OSHA safety or DOT Truck Safety. I suppose I could walk in there and do a one-hour program on my personal politics and tell them all how to think and who to vote for. But I have enough sense to know that's not why they're here, that's not what they paid me to do. They're here to get safety training. We can talk politics at lunch or on break.

But then again, I tend to forget there are all kinds out there pulling the voting lever, and many probably do need their favorite movie star or rock star to tell them how to think. Like the genius I heard on the radio call-in show this week who was explaining all about how Bush met with Usama in a hotel and worked out the details of 9/11, and that's the reason he's voting for Kerry.

As for Linda Ronstadt getting booed, she asked for it. When you ambush members of your audience who paid money to hear you sing, and tell them: "It’s a real conflict for me when I go to a concert and find out somebody in the audience is a Republican or fundamental Christian. It can cloud my enjoyment ...”

That's the audience using THEIR free speech right.

What I find fascinating (and frustrating) is the tendency to catch hell for attempting to deny someone elses right of free, speech because I used mine!

well said Cav...

my choice is to boycott...

Hog

Even though I don't value opinions of those in the entertainment industry....they have a right to say what they please at anytime..anywhere.

I just won't pay to be there. If I pay, and am an unwitting victim of their political agenda...I'll demand a refund.

Rayder, that's the problem! You are a captive audience to whatever type of drivel they want to spew. Try to get a refund at a concert!

No one is saying they don't have the right to voice their opinions. The difference is that they have a stage that we more than likely paid for. Then we get to listen to what is most often an uninformed or purely ignorant statement. Tell me how Springsteen (f whom I am a MUSIC fan) or Baldwin can relate to the REST of us. I love it when Democratic millionaires tell us about how the Republican are only taking care of the rich. Hmmmmm, don't they fit into that catagory?

Good thread folks. This has been a good exchange of opinions and no one has really attacked anyone. Oops, I just realized why that is.....no one with the name Rick has posted (LOL).

DRJ