What do you guys think of this?

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

Okay, so I watched the debate (sorry I wasn't here for the live post, was in another room from the computer all night). Apparently some people online are taking issue with the fact that Romney said "government doesn't create jobs", but they said he turned around and said his government will create jobs. Did any of you guys imply that from what he said during the debate?

I guess this is like a two-part question. There's an actor I kind of like (used to really like, but I've backed off a little mainly because the fandom is really crazy) who retweeted something that an entertainment blogger tweeted:

Romney continues adorable streak, insisting "government does not create jobs," then insisting HIS government will create jobs. #wtf #debate

My first reaction was to be a little pissed off and think "just when I couldn't lose any more respect for this guy..." He's usually the type of person who doesn't talk politics. He has made jabs at Obama at fan conventions, mainly his stimulus, and he did make a snarky comment during the primaries about Newt denying an "open" relationship but hid his affair from his wife, etc. This is a guy from Texas who for all intents and purposes is pro-gun, maybe socially liberal but I'm not really sure.

Does this tweet prove that he's in the tank for Obama? I know, I really shouldn't care, and I guess I mostly don't. But again it just grates on me to have to lose respect for yet another actor because they have to be a political moron. :P And that I'd have to stop watching their show, buying the dvds etc (even though I still like the show). How do you guys deal with being into tv shows where the actors' politics are completely opposite of yours? I guess it just makes sense to separate the person from their performance?

Sorry if this doesn't make sense... still early and I need coffee...

Comments

[pat-t.livejournal.com]

I think it proves he's an idiot who can't think for himself. If he's really a nice guy, then tweet back that he misunderstood. Romney didn't say *his* government would create jobs. He said he knows how jobs get created and why jobs don't get created and he would change the environment/ conditions so business owners in the private sector could create jobs by lowering taxes and stopping some of the crushing regulations Obama has heaped on them. Once he lowered the corporate tax rates it would be more beneficial for some businesses to come back to the States versus going over seas. See how he takes that tweet, if he gives it thoughtful consideration or simply drinks the koolaid and then you'll know.

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

Yeah. It's as if he watched the debate (if he actually did) and honed in on a few soundbites and didn't hear the full story, which is what you just said. I haven't seen anything else from him. It's a shame because this guy hasn't posted anything about the election or other debates - just retweeted what the entertainment blogger wrote. He always struck me as someone who was somewhat right of center with the pro-gun comments, the fact that one of his favorite movies is apparently Team America (I thought liberals hated that one?), and some of his favorite books. IDK if he just misread what Romney said or he just doesn't care much for Romney as a candidate.

[kizmet-42.livejournal.com]

Romney's government can enact policies that will encourage job creation. I'd say that Romney was using some bad shorthand to make his point.

People of good conscience can choose to like a politician that I don't like. We don't all see the world the same. Those actors can think and believe whatever they want. In general, I'm not turned off a show because of their political beliefs.

[ladyrogue79.livejournal.com]

I simply don't follow my fave actors because I do know that the majority is going to be more liberal. That and I try and realize that the character =/= the actor

[lawofar18.livejournal.com]

This. People being different makes the world go 'round. As kizmet_42 said, if they're people of good conscience, it doesn't bother me that they see the world differently.

Plus, I don't believe in letting politics influence my enjoyment of entertainment. If you're talking about the show I think you're talking about, I will be fanatically watching it and supporting it until it exists no more (here's to at least ten seasons!).

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

I'd say that Romney was using some bad shorthand to make his point.

The more I think of it, the more you're right there... I guess it's not a big surprise that anyone would take it that way.

Thank you for your awesome comment :) I've really tried to put that into practice, although it gets hard sometimes when someone you admire for *not* opening their mouths usually (or much) on politics suddenly does so and kinda makes you cringe.

[gotsparkly.livejournal.com]

For me, it depends on whether the performing artist/celebrity states their opinion or tries to get you to join them. I can handle the former. I cannot handle the latter.

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's basically how I feel. I think it bugged me so much because this guy has hardly ever discussed politics before so openly, that it made me wonder if he was implying that he wanted us to follow along. The way he did it was interesting - didn't actually say those words himself, but he retweeted them. Almost like he's expecting all his followers to comment "Oh I totally agree with you!!" Quite a number of people in this fandom are a little freaky... They get extra protective of this guy (and sometimes his co-star) as if he's an actual family member and they feel like they have to please him and love him for everything he does. It's..... a little freaky. Okay, a lot. *shudders*

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

There's a reason why I only follow performers I know are conservative or never Tweet about politics.

Most actors do not like to be questioned, challenged, or contradicted, even in a nice and respectful way. The hardest question they get are along the lines of, "Why are so attractive?" or "How come you are so goshdarned talented?" They are the kings of dishing it and not taking it. Their fragile egos can't handle it but their petulance knows no bounds. So Mr. Celebrity will block you, tell you to eff off, or crawl into a fetal position and make his minions pity him and hate you, so you'll get a bunch of hate Tweets from total strangers threatening to kill you and rape your mom in the most horrifying ways possible. They may not care about the celeb's political opinions per se but they see themselves as part of the celeb's defense force, out to save their hero from the haterz.

I wouldn't necessarily chuck the show if you already enjoy it but if it takes the bloom off the rose of the actor so you're not as interested in him or his other work, that's okay. If an anvil fell on that actor tomorrow, some other guy could take the same role. It can be hard to watch them and not say to yourself, "Geez, why are you such a frickin' moron?" Because if we like the character we want to like the guy or gal who plays that character too. But it often doesn't work out that way. Take it from me, a long-suffering conservative Star Wars fan ;).

[gorengal.livejournal.com]

Take it from me, a long-suffering conservative Star Wars fan ;).

There are three more of us in this house! :D

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

*needs a Halloween icon*

Yeah, I don't blame you. Which is what surprised me about this guy because he never really tweeted about politics... Well, okay, he got in a dig at Anthony Weiner when that whole thing was going on, and there was the tweet about Newt during the GOP primary debates, but that particular one I couldn't tell if he was being anti-conservative/GOP or just anti-Newt (I have a few rather conservative friends who weren't Newt fans either). Heh, the guy is usually nice enough not to tell anyone to eff off, but I think you're right that his fans would react that way. They are so protective of him, it's scary.

Yeah, I do still enjoy the show and to be honest I think I'm liking his co-star a little more than him right now, so I don't feel like throwing the baby out with the bathwater. But it does take the bloom off the rose of this guy.

It can be hard to watch them and not say to yourself, "Geez, why are you such a frickin' moron?" Because if we like the character we want to like the guy or gal who plays that character too. But it often doesn't work out that way. Take it from me, a long-suffering conservative Star Wars fan ;).

YES!! God, yes. It's happened to me before with other shows (though I've usually come up w/excuses, like "Oh well this guy's Canadian and an actor, of course he's gonna think this way... (no offense to any cool Canadians here ;))... and the few times I've met them they were pretty awesome to me anyway). And I'm another conservative Star Wars fan, so I hear ya there.

[gorengal.livejournal.com]

What ladyrogue79 said. Way back in the dark ages (pre-internet) I'd look up magazine and newspaper articles about my favorite entertainers and authors, and I'd usually be really disappointed by something they said or did. It would ruin the enjoyment I'd get from their films/books/etc., so I stopped reading about them.

Today I follow a small handful of actors on Twitter...those who are especially funny or who tweet behind-the-scenes pics, things like that. I've steadily unfollowed those who have made nasty and/or untrue comments during the conventions and debates. I have to ignore and overlook those comments from people I consider friends, but I don't care to be subjected to them from some Hollywood jerk.

I wouldn't waste my time trying to convince them they're in error...they don't know me so they're not going to care what I think. I would just unfollow celebs who make those kinds of comments and enjoy their performances on the screen. If it makes you feel any better, the few Conservative celebs who are brave enough to admit it usually say there are more of them in the business than we know.

[kelincihutan.livejournal.com]

Your icon made me squee IRL. Where did you get it? XD

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

Your icon ROCKS. Just had to get that out ;)

The same thing happened to me pre-internet. Although in some cases, I'd kinda get over it/pretend I didn't find out about it and I'd watch the shows/movies again.

Yeah, I do enjoy the funny tweets or behind-the-scenes pics. That's pretty much the reason why I keep on top of this guy's tweets. He's hardly mentioned politics at all (except for the kinda funny dig at Anthony Weiner, and the comment about Newt during the GOP primary, though I couldn't tell if it was anti-conservative/GOP or just anti-Newt) and I've liked most of his funny comments and the BTS pics he's posted. I think what bothered me about this comment (even though he didn't actually say it, he retweeted it) was that he never commented about either convention or the other debates, and that he decided to do it to get adulation from all the fans following him (a lot of them are the crazy, hyper-protective type who instantly love everything he says).

Yeah, def. not going to do that. I enjoy his tweets more than not, so I guess I could just overlook the stupid political ones/retweets. That does make me feel better. :)

[kataoi.livejournal.com]

I honestly follow very few people on Twitter (it's become more of the "easiest place for my friends and I to say things and the others respond" function on my end), and not a whole lot of celebrities. It's for the very reason that a lot of times, I don't care what they have to say, and I tend to only follow the ones I do because they're funny. The problem of course arises with the election years, and ohhhh boy with these debates. I've unfollowed one person and even a "friend" (who I had lost touch with anyway) for their incessant tweeting about election stuff that is, frankly, abhorrently wrong. Also unfunny. Twitter unfortunately gives unfunny people a platform to say whatever they want and the ability for their followers to retweet it en mass.

There's one guy I KNOW is conservative, and you want to know what I've noticed? He's very quiet about his political beliefs. The closest you've really come to "guessing" it is that he's made some jabs at the left, and only the left. He'll give everyone a good-natured ribbing, but reading between the lines is very easy and you can see what side he's on. And that's probably the most refreshing thing about having that on my feed; in-between all the lines about Romney being a satanic imp and Paul Ryan being...something...you get that. I do like how no one is really defending Obama so much as "LET'S ATTACK THE OTHER GUY BECAUSE HE'S he's...he's...money...and...Mormon and...uh...HIS NAME IS STUPID THAT'S IT AHAHAHA WIT".

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

I don't blame you at all... to be honest I've never been a huge fan of Twitter anyway and most of the celebs I've seen over there are really outspoken and annoying. This particular guy I like because he's funny on his twitter and he'll sometimes post BTS pics. I nearly defriended someone on LJ for the same reason, and a person on FB.

I'm kinda curious, can you tell me which guy? :) The funny thing about this guy is that he always struck me as someone at least slightly to the right of center because he's made pro-gun comments, has declared Team America as one of his favorite movies, read a book that was pretty much only being read by conservatives, and made a couple of jabs about Obama and the stimulus in the past. Granted he didn't make this particular tweet himself, just retweeted it... suppose it could be he misread what Romney was trying to say, or something..... At least he didn't go crazy saying "BARACK KICKED ASS TONITE!!!"

[dark-weezing.livejournal.com]

May this be a palate cleanser:

http://twitchy.com/2012/10/17/ruth-buzzi-entertainers-should-entertain-leave-politics-to-the-experts/

Imagine.

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

WOW. Thank you, Ruth Buzzi.

And thank you for bringing this here :)

[muses-circle.livejournal.com]

Romney's comments are taken out of context in this retweet. Romney talked about how government would get out of the way to let small businesses grow. Big difference.

If the actor in question doesn't get that - either through ignorance or arrogance - then he isn't worth following. No actors are, truth be told. I don't hold any stock in them as people, especially the whackjob actors like Rosanne Barr who mentioned something about the need for re-education camps in this country for people who won't cowtow to Obama (she said that last year, I think).

He's just another Hollywood idiot who can't think for himself.

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's what it looked like to me. The original tweeter is obviously not a Romney fan (with that "adorable" comment). Not sure if you're into Supernatural, but it was Jared Padalecki who retweeted it. As far as I know, he's busy filming the show so I wonder if he even got a chance to watch the debate, or if he just relied on bloggers' tweets or little blurbs from the news. The sad thing is he always seemed to be a down-to-earth guy, never really mentioning politics (and the times I heard him do it they were mostly jabs at Obama/the stimulus). Never commented on the election and the convention or debates before. I have a friend who knows him fairly well and she said he doesn't seem to like either Obama or Romney.

I think I'll give up following his tweets, though. He usually posts amusing stuff and behind the scenes pics, but I have a feeling it'd be a good idea to stop following his tweets till the end of January at least.

I remember Roseanne's comments - that was terrible.

[dark-weezing.livejournal.com]

I suppose I could wax about my version of which, but, frankly, everyone else did in a better worded fashion, but I get it between comics and the occasional tv show. I try to tune it out, as best I could, or go to a part of a show or series when it wasn't Leftist central. Closest for me in an actor sense would be the Law & Order franchise, but between all the cancellations and the fact I'm burned out and basically done with the franchise, I don't care as much as I used to.

But, I still point it out here and there:

http://twitchy.com/2012/10/17/finally-detective-munch-weighs-in-on-this-soulless-romney-thing/

Ice-T has been doing some race-baiting Tweets, lately, so I have no use for him, either.

I know the fandom loves Munch and his actor, Richard Belzer, and he is a good character, but both of them are still asshats. Always have been, always will be.

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

That sounds a lot like me with the Stargate franchise. A couple of the actors back when the show was still on were waxing political a few times and it made me cringe. Though one guy did so over a year after the show was canceled, and the franchise was barely limping along, so I didn't really care as much either.

Wow. Sounds like Munch is a little confused about Romney vs. Obama.

[dark-weezing.livejournal.com]

Update, if this is what we're talking about:

http://twitchy.com/2012/10/17/actor-nathan-fillion-runs-with-theory-that-mitt-romney-is-a-slimy-lying-toolbag/

With a nice update and smackdown by Adam Baldwin. (I am so out of the loop, I didn't know Baldwin on Twitter was the same as the Firefly actor, and so forth. Yep, out of the loop.)

[jacobs-muse.livejournal.com]

A lot of times Nathan's humor goes flat. He might've been serious but he might've not. He's one of those people that you can't tell unless you can see his expression and hear the tone of voice. That said, Adam always uses an opportunity to show the other side.

[jessm78.livejournal.com]

Kinda similar to my initial post, although my guy didn't RT anything that insulting.

Love Adam Baldwin's smackdown, though. I admit I've never been that big a fan of Nathan Fillion, though I've liked Baldwin for quite a while now. Did you see the update? Looks like Nathan took some heat for it and got a bit defensive. He later tweeted: "Remind me, what is it called when someone hates you for having different beliefs?"

Uh... I don't even know what to say to this...