Hollywood and Politics

For the rest of this election cycle, which has already started way too soon, we will be treated to stories showing how someone in Hollywood is backing this candidate or that candidate and that the candidates are going to Hollywood to raise money.

Why is this news? Better yet, why would anyone trust the opinions of Hollywood actors, actresses, and the studios themselves?

Should it count for something that Obama is getting money from some in Hollywood?

Hollywood has always gravitated to the fresh face, so the crushing turnout there yesterday at a rally and a series of fundraisers for presidential contender Barack Obama followed a familiar Tinseltown story line.

The Democratic senator from Illinois drew thousands to a South Los Angeles park, then headed to Beverly Hills for a fundraising double feature that organizers said yielded him an estimated $1.3 million.

Movie stars Tom Hanks, Jennifer Aniston and Denzel Washington wrote checks, and scores of producers and agents paid $4,600 per couple -- the maximum allowed -- to jam a hotel ballroom for a two-hour, closed-door cocktail reception hosted by entertainment moguls Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen.

It's great that these folks have the disposable income to sit at these rubber chicken dinners and meet and greet the candidates, but are they any better informed on the issues than the rest of us? Are their views any closer to what mainstream Americans believe?

As if we should accept that Hollywood can or should make any decisions? They can't even field decent movies these days, now we're supposed to trust their judgment on who should be the President? Get real.

Still, it is entertaining to watch the Hollywood-types duke it out over which candidates are going to represent their interests best:

Reportedly, Geffen, an Obama supporter who co-hosted a fundraiser for the political wunderkind Tuesday, said, "Everybody in politics lies, but (the Clintons) do it with such ease, it's troubling."

Geffen was a strong supporter of Clintons, reportedly raising $18 million for them in past years and was twice a guest in the Lincoln Bedroom

Clinton Communications Director Howard Wolfson responded sharply Wednesday morning, e-mailing a statement "demanding that Obama disavow personal attacks" and asserting, "While Senator Obama was denouncing slash and burn politics yesterday, his campaign's finance chair was viciously and personally attacking Senator Clinton and her husband."

Wolfson continued, "If Senator Obama is indeed sincere about his repeated claims to change the tone of our politics, he should immediately denounce these remarks, remove Mr. Geffen from his campaign and return his money," adding that there is "no place in our party or our politics for the kind of personal insults made by Senator Obama's principal fundraiser."

Personal attacks are what gets people elected and gets the coffers filled. It has filled Democrat coffers repeatedly over the past six years demonizing everything the Bush Administration has done (along with things that they haven't, but are blamed for nonetheless). The GOP likewise does the same thing - and did the same when the Clintons were in power.

Personal attacks are part of politics and as much as you may dislike that aspect, you either have to grow a thick skin or you should get out of politics. It isn't for the faint of heart.

Remember, we've got about 20 months before the election. It is only going to get worse from here.