Dan Frisa
Saturday, March 24, 2001

Gag me with a spoon!

What a sad commentary that the entertainment conglomerates are so able to inject their propaganda into our daily lives.

It’s one thing that the movie biz is tilted left, but that they dominate culture so far beyond the silver screen is disconcerting, to say the least.

Just consider how much of the Hollywood establishment either owns or has influence over the broadcast media, with Disney's ownership of the ABC television network the prime example.

So it is, then, at "Oscar" time we are bombarded by trumped-up "Oscar fever."

Now, don’t get me wrong. As a general rule, movies can be greatly enjoyable – if you can find the rare good one. But that kind of hit and miss is to be expected.

What is confounding, however, is the hard-left agenda that so often drives the industry, which absolutely ran amok during the Clinton years.

There is an ugly theme emanating from Tinseltown, one that is harshly personal and beyond contempt with regard to President Bush.

The likes of Martin Sheen, Rob "Meathead" Reiner, Whoopi Goldberg, Julia Roberts, Rosie O'Donnell and countless other actors and executives brazenly attack and spew hate.

O'Donnell has had her comeuppance as her ratings tanked and she's about to quit her show, due in no small part to her outrageous left-wing pronouncements. (See Goodbye, Rosie – The Fat Lady Sings.)

It is only when the marketplace votes with its feet – or clickers – that the entertainment industry responds as a business. For as long as they can continue to generate income with no penalty for their extremist agenda, they will surely do so.

Just look at the cable television news business. The Fox News Channel has decimated the competition and it is only available in little more than half the households of CNN. Yet with balanced reporting and programming, it continues to win the ratings wars.

It is no coincidence that CNN fired Clinton-lover Rick Kaplan and has begun, ever so slightly, to rethink its approach to the news. Time will tell if it has learned its lesson.

To have an impact, it is so very important to avoid films and programs that feature talent with views we find abhorrent. Why spend money and therefore pay those with whom we disagree?

At this time there is a rare opportunity to influence a change in direction of the industry that has had such a great deal of negative impact on society because it has been unchecked.

With the presidency and both houses of Congress in control of those with views more in line with a majority of Americans, a brief chance exists to put forward a strong message.

So don't wait for the next election to cast your vote for the candidate you support. Start voting today, with your dollars and time, for the entertainment you support.

The next Julia Roberts film? Pass.

"Hollywood Squares" starring Whoopi? Forget it.

"The 'Left' Wing" starring Martin Sheen? Nope.

Renting a video? Not with Alec Baldwin in it.

Yet another 'last concert' by Streisand? No way.

And so on.

They'll get the message, and if enough people vote this way, it won't take so very long for the results to register.

With the culture skewed so far to the left, only a massive change in behavior on the part of the public can effectuate a healthy move back toward traditional middle-class values.

In this manner, with every day Election Day, the American people can ultimately be the victors.

Only then can we once again say, "Hooray for Hollywood."

E-mail Dan: danfrisa@newsmax.com.

Read Dan's previous column: Mum's The Word on Gay Rape and Murder.

Dan Frisa represented New York in the United States Congress and served four terms in the New York State Assembly.

See more columns by Dan Frisa.