So much for all those Hollywood liberals

By Sue Castner of Portland, Oregon. Sue has been a political activist and campaign staffer, most recently with Wes Clark for President 2004 and says she's "trying to stay retired."

I’ll admit it. My guilty pleasure is Hollywood smut. I have been known to glance at a 3 year old People Magazine while waiting in my dentist’s office. Entertainment Tonight or Extra just may be on in my kitchen. I need to know if Britney has come to her senses and embraced the constraints of undergarments or if Justin really has the wherewithal to bring sexy back.

As part of my daily smut fix, I hunkered down Monday night in front of the fireplace to watch the Golden Globes. With a final run time of just over 3 hours, it was the very definition of so many beautiful people, so little meaningful substance.

I understand that an “entertainment” awards show may not be the appropriate platform for political discussion or dissent. In fact, the only acceptance speech that even came remotely close to touching upon the touchy subject was unceremoniously shut down.

Hugh Laurie, House’s drug-addicted main character, prattled on about what Yanks might say and Prada’s Meryl Streep glibly thanked her minions. Both seemed to go over their time limit unchallenged. Warren Beatty gave a rambling missive berating Clint Eastwood and Jack Nicholson for not retiring. Beatty came close to opening the door of political incorrectness when he mentioned working to get to the point when you can say something…and then he said nothing. This from the creator of Bulworth.

The same glimmer of hope almost came through when Ugly Betty won for both show and actress. The gentleman holding the award motioned to the crew and cast and said it was an “immigrant” show and that the American dream was alive and well. And then…the inference hung in the air and dissipated after Babel’s Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu joked to Governor Schwartznegger that his papers were in order. The American dream and the immigration nightmare were reduced to a punch line. And why was Ah-nold chosen to bestow the award for best film anyway? His stellar acting career?

The individual who came closest to the forbidden fruit was Peter Morgan who wrote the screenplay for The Queen. He simply asked “What will it take…?” for our leaders to hear us. He mentioned the fact that the city of London was shut down completely because the usually reserved Brits had taken to the streets following Princess Diana’s death. I held my breath thinking “Here it comes. Here…” Peter Morgan was told to wrap it up because of the threat of those four little words: what will it take? And he politely wrapped.

Sacha Baron Cohen and Tom Hanks both droned on endlessly about men’s balls. That made it past the censors. But a hint of questioning our leaders gave poor Mr. Morgan the hook.

Gina Davis, Alec Baldwin, Brangelina, and even George Clooney behaved beautifully. Were they afraid that if they said anything off color, they’d be banned from being a presenter ever again? Do they really need to worry about their next job that much? Can you imagine the Academy Awards with just Jennifer Lopez and Ah-nold? Where’s Sean Penn when you need him?

Missed opportunity of the evening? Forrest Whitaker and his speech after winning for his portrayal of Idi Amin. Had I scripted it: “This demonstrates what a truly evil, arrogant leader can do to a country and its people…”

Never fear. Perhaps last night’s parade of pablum will do away with those “Hollywood Liberals” rants.

Or maybe it’s just an indicator that McCarthyism is alive and well.

Jan. 17, 2007 Posted in guest column.