To Work in (or on) Hollywood, It Pays to Be a Democrat

Memo to Sen. Joseph Lieberman:

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Although you recently winked at corporate America and assured it there is nothing to fear from Al Gore’s Populist rhetoric, I am urging you to make clear to the entertainment industry that you will not retreat from your anti-sleaze campaign, should you become vice president. Drop your support for school vouchers and partial privatization of Social Security if loyalty to the Democratic ticket dictates you must, but please don’t stop crusading on behalf of millions of culture-shocked Americans disgusted with the material that passes for entertainment in Hollywood.

True, you would not have the bully pulpit of the presidency, but as vice president, you would at least have a bully megaphone, should you choose to shout through it. As an entertainment industry insider for 20 years, I am convinced that you would have a historic opportunity to influence many movie and television executives who recognize the debasement of our culture in their heart of hearts, but who would never consider cleaning up their act at the urging of a Republican. As a Democrat, if you are insightful, persistent and fair, you could be to Hollywood what Richard Nixon was to China.

Vice President Dan Quayle did a courageous albeit ineffective thing eight years ago when he chided Hollywood for irresponsibility in his so-called “Murphy Brown” speech, even though the possibility of his words sparking any real change, or even thoughtful contemplation of change, was zero.

If some victims of racial profiling are guilty of driving while black, Quayle was guilty of remonstrating while Republican. He was held up to national ridicule for suggesting that most children are better off with two parents instead of one--the opposite message conveyed by Murphy Brown’s sitcom pregnancy--more because of his ideology than the substance of his remarks. You would not have that disadvantage.

You are likewise well positioned to avoid the pitfalls of Bob Dole when he delivered an election-year tirade four years ago in which he blamed movies and TV for many American social ills. Not only did his Republicanism render his message dead on arrival in entertainment industry executive suites, but he appeared to be insincere. Fearing a voter backlash if he attacked President Clinton directly on the character issue, he used Hollywood as a surrogate and convenient whipping boy in a speech that appeared more aimed at garnering headlines than opening a constructive dialogue.

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I can tell you, Sen. Lieberman, that the perception among many TV and movie moguls in Hollywood, whether they agree with you or not, is that your concern over the their influence on the culture is very much from the heart. They watched you speak out in the Senate against the sexual misconduct of the president, a fellow Democrat, and they know a mensch when they see one.

You have said you are frustrated by the lack of response from entertainment media officials. They will respond to you as vice president. If elected, go to Hollywood and schmooze with them. Reemphasize that you are advocating responsibility, not censorship, and that you are trying to find, in your own words, “a way to better balance our love of freedom with our longing for moral certainty.”

I have heard you say, “We critics have not rallied around a specific agenda, nor have we organized enough civic pressure on its behalf.” But you could do that, the voters willing, beginning Jan. 20. If a first lady can arrive in Washington touting her own favorite cause, why shouldn’t a vice president wave a banner for a pet project as well? Just as Lady Bird Johnson devoted her energies to cleaning up America, you could direct yours at cleaning up the nation’s movie and TV screens, admittedly a tougher job. But it is a job that can only be done by a Democrat. And if not you, who?

Clinton’s parting message at the Democratic convention was, don’t stop thinking about tomorrow. My appeal to you, Senator, is don’t stop fighting for America’s culture, especially if you win in November.