A right turn for showbiz

Who says Hollywood only supports Democrats?

As the two main parties battle it out for control of the House and the Senate in next week’s election, the entertainment industry’s political action committees have been working behind the scenes for months in Washington, giving far heftier contributions to, yes, Republicans.

According to the latest campaign filings, 28 entertainment industry PACs -- lobbying on behalf of corporations such as Sony, Time Warner, Disney and others -- have donated nearly $4.8 million to candidates up for reelection this year.

About 59% of the PAC money has gone to Republicans, including Sens. Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, Orrin G. Hatch of Utah and Pat Roberts of Kansas, according to Federal Election Commission records and the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics (Opensecrets.org).

The Democrats -- who are often the beneficiaries of individual contributions from celebs -- received 41% of the industry PAC money.

“Well, that should belie the right’s belief that Hollywood is just a pack of liberals,” said producer Norman Lear, a longtime contributor to Democrats.

In the early 1990s, Hollywood’s lobbying organizations contributed equally -- and heavily -- to both parties. But as the power started to shift in favor of the GOP, the corporate PACs followed suit, giving more money to conservatives -- especially those who serve on committees that deal with issues vital to the entertainment industry.

In 1996, 57% of Time Warner’s PAC contributions went to the Democrats. This year, Republicans received 59% of the company’s PAC money.

“It’s important that we keep ties with the Republicans,” said John Feehery, vice president of external affairs for the Motion Picture Assn. of America and former aide to House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.). “We need to have credibility when we walk into their offices.”

The entertainment industry’s individual contributions have topped $12 million this election cycle, according to information released Oct. 10 by the Federal Election Commission. Donations tilt heavily in favor of the Democrats, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. The PAC donations offer balance.

The reason is simple, Hollywood political strategists say: While individuals contribute according to their own ideologies, corporations look at a range of issues important to their businesses. The entertainment industry, like others, tends to give to leaders whose positions it supports, regardless of party affiliation.

The MPAA -- which depends on studio heads (most of them Democrats) for donations -- gave $41,000 to Republicans. By comparison, the Democratic candidates -- including Sens. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Dianne Feinstein of California -- received $26,584.

Both Specter and Hatch often turn up on the industry PAC contribution lists because they serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which oversees issues such as intellectual property rights.

What’s more, Feehery pointed out, Hatch is also a musician, and so can appreciate the challenges facing artists.

“We try to focus on supporting the people who support the industry,” Feehery said. “The fact of the matter is Republicans have been very good on copyright issues.”

Santorum receives donations, Feehery said, because “he has expressed a lot of interest in our industry and has been helpful on some content issues, like PauseParentPlay, which helps parents make decisions on what their children watch in a way that doesn’t involve government control.”

As for Roberts, Feehery said: “He has a good relationship with [MPAA top executive] Dan Glickman.”

But sometimes, in retrospect, Hollywood bosses wonder about the wisdom of PAC donations.

For example, the Universal Music Group PAC gave $2,500 to Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) before the controversy erupted over his explicit messages to a congressional page. The group gave $2,000 to Sen. George Allen (R-Va.), before he came under criticism for using the word “macaca,” considered a racial slur, at a rally.

“George ‘Macaca’ Allen?” Lear said when told of the contribution. “Oh, good God, I couldn’t be more embarrassed.”

Generally, however, the fact that the PACs favor the Republicans does not come as a surprise to industry insiders.

When told about the contributions, celebrity political consultant Andy Spahn was matter-of-fact. “They’ve been the party in power.”

Longtime Hollywood publicist and activist Howard Bragman added: “As lefty as I am, I do understand bipartisanship.

“You can’t leave the Republicans on the cutting room floor.”

The column explores the intersection of celebrity and politics. Tips and comments

can be e-mailed to tina.daunt@latimes.com.