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

Hollywood hates me and I don’t know why. Well, actually, I do know why. It’s because I’m a Republican. I just don’t understand why.

I am a Republican who thinks the world of Hollywood for a number of reasons. Not the least of which being that I owe much of my sanity, success and peace of mind to the incredibly gifted men and women who spend their lives creating fantasy and escape for the masses. In my mind, I owe Hollywood much, because as a boy and young adult, I grew up in abject poverty. I grew up on welfare, was homeless a number of times, and I honestly believe if it weren’t for the mental escape provided by movies and books, I may not have made it out of that environment.

The importance of films and books for those living at or below the poverty line cannot be stressed enough. They provide a lifeline in a world of despair. They give the poor a chance to breathe, a chance to dream and, many times, a chance to succeed. As a Republican, I will always champion the best of Hollywood, and yet, as an industry, it despises me. Why?

Not too long ago, I saw Jamie Lee Curtis on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.” During the program, she spoke of her dislike for George W. Bush and then ended her comments with something like, “Republicans, yuck!”

A number of years ago, I had the honor of meeting Curtis on the set of her TV series, “Anything But Love.” I found her to be warm, intelligent and gracious. I applaud the fact that she and many in Hollywood are politically active--even if it is on the side of the Democratic Party. At least they are participating in a process that desperately needs more involvement by voters. I even respect her opinion not to be fond of Bush. What I don’t understand is her blanket indictment of the Republican Party.

Just like the Democrats, the Republican Party is not monolithic. As one who grew up in minority neighborhoods, I have spent my entire political career working to have my party reach out to Latinos, blacks and the poor in a more substantive way. To Hollywood, I would say that there are a number of people who think like me in our party, and that number is growing.

Another bias I have been hit with by Hollywood and publishing is of a creative nature. As one who was rescued by words at an early age, I thought I might have a talent and unique perspective to try to return the favor. It has not been easy. According to my agents and some people in the film and TV business, one of the main reasons I’ve encountered so many roadblocks is because I’m Republican.

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When my agency first started shopping my novel “First Victim” in 1993, we got some very interesting responses. The novel is about a president of the United States who has a history of spousal abuse, is blackmailed by the vice president and eventually is murdered in the White House. Two publishers said that while “we think MacKinnon can tell a great story, we don’t like his ties to the Reagan-Bush era and will pass.” Others thought that even though the president in my novel was a Republican governor from California, I was somehow attackingPresident Clinton, and passed.

The novel was eventually published to modest success and is now being shopped in Hollywood. During this process, I have heard from a number of people in the film business who’ve said, “This book was made to be a TV movie and would be so much easier if you weren’t Republican.” To that I can only say, judge me on my work, not my political affiliation. Can I make you or your studio some money while, I hope, putting out a good product?

Politics is not perfect and filmmaking is not perfect. Many times for both, it’s about the lowest common denominator and not in doing what’s right.

As someone involved in politics, I will always believe that censorship of Hollywood is wrong. Period. While I understand that some in the film and television business will always be tempted to push the envelope for the wrong reasons, I strongly believe we must allow Hollywood, with an assist from the market, to police itself.

In return, I would only ask that those in Hollywood who condemn every aspect of the Republican Party at least entertain the possibility that it is more diverse then they believe. I am not the enemy.