- GOT IT?
- YEAH, YEAH, HOLD IT.
- WHAT IS IT?
WHAT IS IT?
- MY FIRST RECOLLECTION
OF TELEVISION
AS IT CAME INTO OUR HOUSE,
IT WAS WRAPPED IN PAPER
WITH A BIG BOW ON IT.
- FOR ME?
- I DON'T THINK ANYBODY REALIZED
THE PROFOUND CHANGES
THAT TELEVISION
WOULD BRING ABOUT.
- TELEVISION.
- [laughs]
- IN AVALON,
 I COVERED THE SUBJECT.
I SHOWED HOW WE WENT
FROM THIS LARGE EXTENDED FAMILY
TO ULTIMATELY THIS SMALL
NUCLEAR FAMILY
SITTING AT TV TRAYS,
WATCHING TELEVISION,
WATCHING AN AMERICAN FAMILY
ON TELEVISION.
I'VE ALWAYS HAD A LOVE/HATE
RELATIONSHIP WITH TELEVISION.
I WORKED IN IT.
I DID ALL THE KINDS OF JOBS,
EVERYTHING FROM A FLOOR DIRECTOR
TO WRITING
AND DIRECTING TELEVISION.
AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE,
ANYONE COULD POSSIBLY
HAVE ENVISIONED
THE CHANGES
THAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE
AND THE EFFECTS
THAT TELEVISION HAD ON US.
IT CERTAINLY
HAS CHANGED POLITICS,
THE NATURE
OF SO-CALLED CELEBRITY,
AND IT'S PROBABLY CHANGED US
IN MANY WAYS
THAT WE STILL HAVE YET
TO UNDERSTAND.
- THAT'S TELEVISION.
- ♪ A YEAR HAS PASSED
SINCE I WROTE MY NOTE ♪
- WHOO!
- WHOO!
- ♪ I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS
RIGHT FROM THE START ♪
- WHOO!
- ♪ ONLY HOPE
CAN KEEP ME TOGETHER ♪
♪ LOVE CAN MEND YOUR LIFE ♪
♪ BUT LOVE CAN BREAK
YOUR HEART ♪
♪ I'LL SEND AN S.O.S.
TO THE WORLD ♪
♪ I'LL SEND AN S.O.S.
TO THE WORLD ♪
- ANNE!
- ANNE!
- ANNE!
- DURING
THE INAUGURATION WEEKEND,
I HAD A CHANCE TO RUN
INTO THE CREATIVE COALITION.
IT'S A GROUP OF WRITERS,
DIRECTORS, ACTORS.
THEY ARE VERY POLITICAL,
BUT THEY ARE NONPARTISAN.
THEY BASICALLY PROMOTE
VARIOUS SOCIAL PROGRAMS
THAT THEY FEEL
VERY STRONGLY ABOUT.
- THERE IS
THAT SORT OF FINE LINE
BETWEEN HOLLYWOOD
AND POLITICS.
- HE'S SAID TO BE ONE
OF THE MOST SHOWBIZZY
OF WORLD LEADERS.
- OBAMA HIMSELF IS A CELEBRITY.
WE'RE MORE INTERESTED IN WHAT
MICHELLE OBAMA IS WEARING
THAN WHAT SHARON STONE
IS WEARING.
- ♪ I DON'T BELIEVE
WHAT I SAW ♪
- WHAT'D YOU SEE, BABY?
- ♪ A HUNDRED BILLION BOTTLES ♪
♪ WASHED UP ON THE SHORE ♪
- I ORIGINALLY MET THEM
AT THE DNC,
AND I FOLLOWED THEM
THROUGH THE RNC.
WHAT WAS INTERESTING IS TO SEE
HOW THEY HAVE TO NAVIGATE
THROUGH THESE
KIND OF CHOPPY WATERS,
MEETING WITH POLITICIANS,
BEING CONSIDERED A CELEBRITY,
SO THEREFORE, THERE IS A NUMBER
OF PRESS AROUND THEM.
AND YOU SEE HOW DO THEY HAVE
TO FIND A WAY
SO THAT THEY CAN GET THEIR
MESSAGE OUT AT THE SAME TIME
FOR THAT MESSAGE NOT TO BECOME
FRIVOLOUS IN NATURE.
AND THEN, OF COURSE
THE BIG QUESTION IS,
HOW DO YOU SURVIVE
THE MEDIA CIRCUS
AND NOT END UP THE CLOWN?
♪ ♪
- ♪ OBAMA, OBAMA, OBAMA ♪
♪ OBAMA, OBAMA, OBAMA ♪
♪ OBAMA, OBAMA, OBAMA ♪
♪ SENDING OUT AN S.O.S. ♪
♪ SENDING OUT AN S.O.S. ♪
♪ SENDING OUT AN S.O.S. ♪
♪ SENDING OUT AN S.O.S. ♪
THANK YOU, AMERICA.
ONE LOVE.
GOOD NIGHT!
[cheers and applause]
- POLITICS AND CELEBRITY,
SOME FOLKS COMPLAIN
THEY DON'T BELONG,
THEY SHOULDN'T BE INTERTWINED.
WHY ARE YOU COMPELLED
TO SPEAK OUT
AND MAKE YOUR OPINIONS KNOWN?
- WHY DO YOU THINK
IT IS IMPORTANT
TO LEND YOUR CELEBRITY HERE,
ESPECIALLY AT THE DNC?
- YOU CAME ALL THE WAY OUT HERE
FROM HOLLYWOOD?
WHAT DREW YOU TO COME OUT HERE?
- WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING
ON THE CONVENTION FLOOR
AND DURING THE CONVENTION?
- IT'S A FUNNY THING.
I'VE BEEN GETTING
THAT QUESTION A LOT.
AND I THINK PEOPLE
HAVE BECOME KIND OF CYNICAL
ABOUT POLITICAL--
POLITICALIZED CELEBRITIES.
- IF I DO HAVE A SKILL
OR A CREDENTIAL,
IT'S BEING ABLE
TO COMMUNICATE TO PEOPLE.
SO I WANT TO LEARN WHAT IT IS
AND HOPEFULLY COMMUNICATE IT
TO, YOU KNOW, REGULAR FOLKS,
EVEN IF IT'S ONLY TO SAY,
"YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT'S A BIG BEAUTY PAGEANT,
DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING."
- WELL, CREATIVE COALITION
GOES TO BOTH CONVENTIONS
'CAUSE WE'RE NON--
WE ARE NONPARTISAN.
AND WE BRING ISSUES TO THE TABLE
FOR THE NATIONAL DISCUSSION.
- SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT,
WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT MAJORITY SIGN-UPS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE RIGHT TO FORM UNIONS
THAT ACT ON THEIR BEHALF,
COLLECTIVELY HELPING BARGAINING
ON THEIR BEHALF.
- HOLLYWOOD IS THE ONLY ELITE
THAT IS PURELY IDEOLOGICAL.
THE PEOPLE WHO GIVE MONEY
IN HOLLYWOOD,
THEY GIVE MONEY PURELY
FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE.
THEY'RE NOT BENEFITING
FROM THAT MONEY.
AND SOMETHING
ABOUT THAT OFFENDS.
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE
IN SHAKER HEIGHTS
OR WHO LIVE OUTSIDE OF HOUSTON--
I DON'T EVEN KNOW
WHERE YOU WOULD LIVE THERE--
THOSE PEOPLE LIVE JUST AS WELL.
BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE OPERATING
ON THE BASIS OF THEIR OWN
ECONOMIC SELF-INTEREST,
IT'S PERCEIVED
AS SOMEHOW LEGITIMATE,
WHEREAS BARBRA STREISAND
IS CONSIDERED KOOKY
BECAUSE SHE'S GIVING MONEY
TO WHAT SHE BELIEVES IN
RATHER THAN WHAT'S IN
HER OWN INTEREST.
AND I THINK HOLLYWOOD
SHOULD STOP BEING APOLOGETIC
ABOUT THAT.
- ANY MOMENTS
AS YOU'VE BEEN FILMING HERE
WHERE YOU JUST SAY
THIS IS RIGHT OUT OF WAG THE DOG
OR, YOU KNOW, ONE OF YOUR
FICTIONAL MOVIES?
- WELL, I THINK THERE'S
A LITTLE BIT OF WAG THE DOG
THAT'S A PART OF THE LIFE
WE LEAD NOW.
- NAKED GIRL
COVERED IN NAPALM.
"V" FOR VICTORY.
FIVE MARINES RAISING THE FLAG,
MOUNT SURIBACHI.
YOU REMEMBER THE PICTURE
50 YEARS FROM NOW,
YOU'LL HAVE FORGOTTEN THE WAR.
THE GULF WAR: SMART BOMBS
FALLING DOWN THE CHIMNEY,
2,500 MISSIONS A DAY,
100 DAYS,
ONE VIDEO OF ONE BOMB,
MR. MOTSS.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
BOUGHT THAT WAR.
- MM-HMM.
- WAR IS SHOW BUSINESS.
- WE ARE LIVING
IN AN AGE OF SATIRE.
YOU CAN'T
ACTUALLY RATIONALIZE IT.
YOU CAN'T MAKE SENSE
OUT OF WHAT IS GOING ON
IN A CERTAIN WAY.
SO THAT WHAT HAPPENS IS,
YOU ARE IN AN ABSURDIST TIMES.
IT'S A COLLISION
OF DISINFORMATION
THAT BANGS INTO ONE ANOTHER,
AND PEOPLE ARE TRYING
TO MAKE SENSE OUT OF STUFF
THAT HAS NO LOGIC WHATSOEVER.
- THE HILLARY CLINTON CAMPAIGN
IS PUTTING OUT
THE FOLLOWING PICTURE.
- HE WAS EDUCATED IN A MADRASA.
- BARACK OBAMA
IS A PRACTICING CHRISTIAN,
BUT OBAMA'S HALF BROTHER
IS NOT SO SURE.
- HIS MIDDLE NAME, HUSSEIN. 
- PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
BARACK OBAMA
IS TRYING TO CHANGE
POLITICAL FASHION.
- EVERYBODY WEARS THEM,
FROM A MAYOR
TO A COUNTY COMMISSIONER
TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
TO THE PRESIDENT.
- YOU'RE NOT WEARING
A LAPEL PIN, ARE YOU?
- I WILL WEAR ONE,
AND I HAVE WORN ONE.
HE--I'M NOT MAKING
A STATEMENT ABOUT IT.
- BUT DO YOU SEE MY POINT?
- SO, YOU KNOW,
WE POOL THESE THINGS
TO PUT IT ON THE TELEVISION
AND SAY, "LOOK AT THAT."
AND SOME OF IT STICKS,
BECAUSE IT'S VERY HARD
TO WIPE IMAGES OUT OF YOUR HEAD.
THEY GET IN THERE.
THEY JUST GET IN THERE.
WHAT HAPPENS IS,
A VISUAL IS VERY, VERY STRONG.
IT DOESN'T NEED CONTEXT.
IT CREATES ITS OWN CONTEXT.
AND WE ARE IN
AN ELECTRONIC AGE
OF WHICH ALL OF THIS INFORMATION
IS FLYING AROUND.
CERTAIN TRUTHS
WHICH ARE NOT TRUTHS
BECOME THE TRUTH.
- THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
HAS OFFICIALLY BECOME
AN A-LIST OBAMA CELEB-RATION:
CHARLIZE THERON,
BEN AFFLECK,
MATT DAMON, GWYNETH PALTROW,
AND SHERYL CROW.
BUT ARE STARS LIKE THESE HELPING
OR HURTING BARACK'S CAMPAIGN?
- BARACK OBAMA'S HAD A NUMBER
OF HOLLYWOOD FUND-RAISERS.
REACHED OUT,
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STARS
THAT ARE COMING HERE
THAT ARE RECOGNIZABLE
THAT ARE SUPPORTING OBAMA.
AND THERE'S VERY FEW
ON THE MCCAIN SIDE.
AND EVEN MCCAIN'S BEEN TRYING
TO SUGGEST THAT OBAMA--
THAT IT'S THIS ISSUE
OF CELEBRITY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF OBAMA
DOING THE HOLLYWOOD FEEL TO IT?
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION
TO THAT STRETCH?
- HOLLYWOOD HAS ALWAYS ALIGNED
THEMSELVES WITH THE DEMOCRATS.
ALWAYS.
I MEAN, THERE ARE VERY FEW
HOLLYWOOD FIGURES
THAT I CAN THINK OF THAT HAVE
EVER ALIGNED THEMSELVES
WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
I MEAN, HOLLYWOOD,
IT'S JUST A LIBERAL BASTION.
- I THINK IT'S SMART
ON HIS PART.
FOR ME, IT'S FREE PUBLICITY.
- I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY
INSULTING TO ME
THAT THEY THINK MY OPINION
SHOULD BE BASED
ON WHAT SOMEBODY
THAT CAN PUT ON A PERFORMANCE
AND MAKE YOU BELIEVE SOMETHING
THAT IS TOTALLY IMAGINARY
THINKS.
- I THINK HOLLYWOOD
IS UNREALISTIC
TO MOST AMERICAN PEOPLE.
- MM-HMM.
- THE TYPICAL PEOPLE
GATHERED HERE,
WE'RE NOT MOVIE STARS.
WE DON'T MAKE
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
- I THINK THAT THE FEW
MORE CONSERVATIVE MOVIE STARS,
THEY CAN'T EVEN GET A JOB
IF IT'S KNOWN THAT THEY'RE NOT
A LIMOUSINE LIBERAL.
- THERE'S A PERCEPTION
THAT CELEBRITIES ARE ELITIST,
YOU KNOW, AS IF THEY'RE NOT
OF THE PEOPLE, RIGHT?
THAT'S--THAT'S
A COMMON KIND OF THING.
NOW, IT'S MY EXPERIENCE
THAT 90% OF THOSE PEOPLE
WHO ARE WRITERS,
DIRECTORS, ACTORS
COME FROM VERY MUCH
MIDDLE-CLASS BACKGROUNDS.
- MY FATHER WAS
A DRIVE-IN THEATER MANAGER.
THERE'S SEVEN KIDS
IN MY FAMILY.
AND I HAD A CHOICE.
I COULD NOT HAVE MONEY,
OR I COULD GET A JOB
WHEN I WAS 11 YEARS OLD.
SO THAT'S WHEN I GOT
MY SOCIAL SECURITY CARD
AND STARTING WORKING
AT JUNE'S CAFE IN MIDVALE, UTAH,
AND WASHING DISHES
AND PEELING POTATOES.
AND I WAS SO HAPPY,
BECAUSE WE COULDN'T AFFORD
WHOLE MILK,
YOU KNOW, LIKE, MILK
AND BUTTER,
SO WE ALL HAD MARGARINE
AND POWDERED MILK.
SO WHEN I STARTED WORKING
AT THAT RESTAURANT
AND COULD EAT BUTTER
AND DRINK MILK,
I WAS THE HAPPIEST KID
IN THE WORLD.
IT WAS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL,
YEAH.
- IT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION,
BECAUSE, OF COURSE, IT'S BECOME
A QUESTION IN THE CAMPAIGN:
TWO CANDIDATES VIEWED
BY THE OTHERS AS ELITIST.
WE HAVE THE JOHN MCCAIN CAMPAIGN
ALL BUILT AROUND THE NOTION
THAT BARACK OBAMA
IS A CELEBRITY
WHO'S REMOVED
FROM THE AVERAGE AMERICAN,
EVEN THOUGH HE BASICALLY GREW UP
WITH A SINGLE MOTHER
AT TIMES ON FOOD STAMPS.
AND THEN YOU'VE GOT JOHN MCCAIN
NOW WITH A HUGE CAMPAIGN ISSUE
BECAUSE,
AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT,
HE CAN'T TELL PEOPLE
HOW MANY HOUSES HE HAS.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE ISSUES
THAT DOESN'T JUST HIT
HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES.
IT ALSO HITS
POLITICAL FIGURES,
THE QUESTION WHETHER
THEY'RE TOO ELITIST.
- HE'S THE BIGGEST CELEBRITY
IN THE WORLD.
all: OBAMA!
OBAMA!
- BUT IS HE READY TO LEAD?
- AND WHAT'S ALSO TRUE
NOW, THOUGH,
IS THAT CELEBRITY
HAS KIND OF CHANGED.
IT'S ALL BECOME
A FUZZY PICTURE.
 THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER 
FOCUSES NOW
JUST AS MUCH
ON POLITICAL FIGURES
AS IT DOES ON MOVIE STARS.
CNN WILL HAVE JUST AS MANY
HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES ON
AS THEY DO POLITICAL FIGURES.
- WHAT I WANTED TO SAY
WAS JUST HAVE ONE MOMENT
WHEN WE'RE ALL TOGETHER
AND TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING HERE.
AND AS YOU KNOW
AND AS YOU MEET PEOPLE,
AS YOU MEET WHAT WE CALL
INFLUENTIALS AND ELECTEDS,
THEY'RE THRILLED
THAT YOU'RE HERE.
THEY'RE BEYOND THRILLED,
BECAUSE THEY SEE
THAT YOU'RE GIVING THE TIME
TO LISTEN TO THEIR ISSUES,
TO PERHAPS GET ENGAGED,
TO LIGHT FIRES UNDER
THE REST OF THE COUNTRY
ON ANY OF THESE ISSUES.
IT ALSO GIVES US THE JUICE
THAT WE NEED
SO THAT WHEN WE GO TO
CAPITOL HILL ON SPECIFIC ISSUES,
THEY KNOW WHO WE ARE.
AND THEY KNOW HOW WE ARE
BECAUSE OF YOU ALL COMING HERE
THIS WEEK.
LOOK UP THERE, GUYS.
[upbeat Motown music]
♪ ♪
- ♪ GOIN' TO A GO-GO ♪
♪ GOIN' TO A GO-GO ♪
- ♪ NAH-NAH-NAH-NAH,
YEAH, YEAH ♪
♪ WELL, THERE'S
A BRAND-NEW PLACE I FOUND ♪
♪ WHERE PEOPLE GO
FROM MILES AROUND ♪
♪ THEY COME FROM EVERYWHERE ♪
♪ AND IF YOU DROP IN THERE ♪
♪ YOU MIGHT SEE ANYONE
IN TOWN ♪
- THEY IMPEACHED ME,
THEY INDICTED ME,
THEY CONVICTED ME,
AND THEY IMPRISONED ME.
AND I'M SORRY, BUT I CAN'T SAY
ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT
WITHOUT MY LAWYER'S PERMISSION.
- WE THINK THAT IT TAKES
A MOVEMENT OF MILLIONS.
YOU KNOW, IT TAKES THE PEOPLE
TO MAKE CHANGE,
NOT THE GOVERNMENT.
- YOU SHOULD TELL RICHARD.
- WHAT'S THAT?
- I ACTUALLY HAD THE JOB
BASICALLY YOU PLAYED
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
I WAS THE DEPUTY DOMESTIC
POLICY ADVISOR UNDER CLINTON
WITH BRUCE REED.
- YOU WERE WAY BELOW
WHAT I WAS DOING.
- [laughs]
- ♪ YOU'LL SEE THE PEOPLE
FROM YOUR BLOCK ♪
♪ AND DON'T BE SHOCKED ♪
♪ IF YOU SEE
YOUR FAVORITE STAR ♪
- ♪ GOIN' TO A GO-GO ♪
- THE WEST WING WALK AND TALK
WE'RE DOING HERE.
YOU'RE DOING VERY WELL,
BY THE WAY.
- THANK YOU.
TOM FRIEDMAN
IS GONNA BE AN EXTRA
IN THE NEXT COEN BROTHERS MOVIE.
- OH, COOL.
HOW DO WE GET TO THE FLOOR?
- YOU DON'T CARE
ABOUT POLITICS.
YOU JUST WANT TO GET
IN THE MOVIES.
- WELL, THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY
IN POLITICS WANTS TO DO.
THE MOST INTERESTING THING
TO ME, THOUGH, IS,
CELEBRITY NOW,
THERE IS ZERO DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITY
AND WASHINGTON CELEBRITY
IN THE EYES
OF THE WASHINGTON CELEBRITIES.
- HOW MANY TIMES
DO YOU GET ASKED,
SO WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN WEST WING
AND REAL POLITICS?
- HOW MANY TIMES TODAY?
- [laughs]
- THE THING FOR ME
IS THAT I FEEL LIKE I HAVE
AN INSIDE TAKE ON IT.
AND I FEEL LIKE EVEN
WHEN I'M IN AMONGST THE CROWD
AND I'M OUT THERE
WITH BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
AND EVERYONE ELSE
IS JUST REGULAR PEOPLE
ALL TRYING TO GET A SEAT
OR A GOOD STANDING POSITION
TO WATCH THE INAUGURATION,
BUT PART OF ME FEELS LIKE
I SHOULD BE STANDING
NEXT TO THE PRESIDENT.
- [laughs]
- OR AT LEAST
NEXT TO THE VICE PRESIDENT,
SINCE I CAMPAIGNED FOR HIM.
- ♪ SO THAT'S WHY
WE'VE GOT TO TRY ♪
♪ WE'VE GOT TO BREATHE
AND HAVE SOME FUN ♪
♪ THOUGH I'M NOT PAID ♪
♪ I PLAY THIS GAME ♪
♪ AND I WON'T STOP
UNTIL I'M DONE ♪
- HEY, TIM,
LOVED YOU IN WINGS.
- THANKS.
THANK YOU.
- I THINK THAT CELEBRITIES,
LIKE, IN GENERAL
ARE REALLY HELPFUL, BECAUSE
THEY CAN BE REALLY USEFUL
IN PROGRESSING
REALLY GOOD CAUSES,
KIND OF LIKE THE INSPIRED,
THE RED CAMPAIGN.
I MEAN, I'M SURE
THAT ANGELINA JOLIE
WORKING WITH THE UNITED NATIONS
HAS GIVEN THE UNITED NATIONS
A REALLY BIG BOOST
IN CREDIBILITY
WITH THE YOUNGER CROWD.
- AFTER 9/11,
THEY ASKED JA RULE
WHAT HE THOUGHT
ABOUT 9/11.
LAST TIME I CHECKED,
JA RULE WAS NOT A SPECIALIST
IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RESPONSE
OR POLITICS.
SO CELEBRITIES NEED
TO USE INTELLIGENT THINGS
OR STAY THE FUCK OUT
OF POLITICS, IN MY OPINION.
- YOU KNOW,
THROUGH ALL OF HISTORY,
THE CELEBRITIES HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN POLITICS.
BUT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN WRITING A CHECK
AND GETTING OUT ON
THE BULLY PULPIT AS A CELEBRITY.
AND I'M MORE
FOR THEM WRITING CHECKS
AND HOSTING FUNCTIONS
THAN REALLY GETTING
ON THE AIRWAYS.
[cheers and applause]
- THAT WE COMMITTED OURSELVES.
WE COMMITTED OURSELVES
TO BUILDING THE WORLD
AS IT SHOULD BE.
SO TONIGHT LET'S STAND TOGETHER
TO ELECT BARACK OBAMA
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.
THANK YOU.
GOD BLESS YOU,
AND GOD BLESS AMERICA.
[cheers and applause]
- THERE'S--THERE'S ANNE HATHAWAY
RIGHT THERE.
SEE HER AT THE TABLE
TO THE LEFT?
THERE'S HER HEAD POKING OVER.
- THERE'S DIFFERENT GRADES
OF CELEBRITY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S PEOPLE
WHO ARE A CELEBRITY
BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT THEIR NAME
IN THE NEWSPAPER,
AND THEN WAS ALBERT EINSTEIN
A CELEBRITY?
I DON'T KNOW.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN
POLITICALLY ACTIVE
BEFORE I WAS WELL KNOWN.
SO I'M NOT GONNA USE
THE WORD "CELEBRITY" ANYMORE.
IT'S TAKEN ON A BAD CONNOTATION.
- THE FANNIE MAE
AND FREDDIE MAC,
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT,
THAT YOU CAN'T ALLOW--
13 EXECUTIVES
BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM--
MAKING $76 MILLION IN ONE YEAR.
THAT'S ONE MEASURE
OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
- BUT IN BAILING THEM OUT,
YOU'RE NOT ALLOWING THEM
TO GO WITHOUT ACCOUNTABILITY?
I MEAN, SHOULDN'T SOMEBODY
HAVE PAID FOR THOSE MISTAKES?
- WELL, I THINK THERE IS
ACCOUNTABILITY BUILT INTO THIS.
- HOW?
- ONE IS TO MAKE SURE
THAT WHEN THEY MAKE THESE LOANS
THAT THERE'S AN OVERSEER
THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE
IN PLACE BEFORE,
A REAL STRONG WORLD--
- BUT THESE SAME GUYS
THAT JUST MADE THIS MISTAKE
ARE STILL IN THEIR JOBS,
RIGHT?
- THEY ARE.
- AND THEY'RE STILL GETTING PAID
$76 MILLION?
- WELL, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT WILL BE IN 2010.
- ALL RIGHT, $50 MILLION.
[laughter]
- HOW MANY TIMES
HAVE YOU COME TO CONVENTIONS?
- THIS IS MY THIRD,
AND THE FIRST ONE WAS THE
CONVENTION IN CHICAGO IN 1968.
[laughter]
- A HOTBED.
- [laughing]
- I THINK, SINCE THAT TIME
AND THIS TIME,
THERE HAS DEVELOPED A NEW POLICY
BETWEEN THE PARTIES
OF MAKING SURE
THAT NOTHING GETS DONE
AND NOBODY GETS ANY CREDIT
FOR BRINGING GOOD GOVERNMENT.
- YOU KNOW, THEY'RE WATCHING
THE MEDIA JUST AS CAREFULLY.
THEY'VE HAD TO BECOME
ACTORS THEMSELVES.
THEY HAVE TO PLAY THE MEDIA.
THEY HAVE TO BE MORE VERSED
IN IMPRESSIONS
AND WHAT THEY'RE WEARING
THAN THEY ARE IN JUST TRYING
TO GET THE JOB DONE.
- IN 1959,
THERE WAS AN ARTICLE WRITTEN
ABOUT THE NATURE OF TELEVISION
AND ITS GROWTH
AND HOW IT BEGINS
TO AFFECT POLITICIANS
AND THE PR, ET CETERA,
AND THE DANGERS
OF THE MONEY IN THE SYSTEM.
AND THAT WAS WRITTEN IN '59
IN TV GUIDE
BY JOHN F. KENNEDY.
- THE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENED
IN THE '50s
WAS THE EVOLUTION
OF PR FIRMS
AND THE EVOLUTION
OF SELLING A LIFESTYLE
INSTEAD OF GIVING YOU
INFORMATION ABOUT A PRODUCT.
ADVERTISING COMPLETELY CHANGED.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED
IN POLITICS.
THEY DON'T GIVE YOU
THE SPECIFICS
OF THE PRODUCT
THAT YOU'RE BUYING.
THEY GIVE THE LIFESTYLE
YOU'LL INHERIT
IF YOU ACCEPT THAT PERSON.
- HERE'S WHAT'S INTERESTING
TO ME--
AND I DON'T KNOW
HOW YOU CHANGE THIS AROUND--
COMMENTARY ON TELEVISION.
SOMEONE'S GIVING A SPEECH,
AND THEY'RE GIVING A COMMENTARY
OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
NOW LET'S APPLY THAT
INTO THE PAST.
SO IF YOU TAKE CHURCHILL
WHEN HE WAS SAYING,
"WE WILL FIGHT THEM
ON THE BEACHES.
WE WILL FIGHT THEM
ON THE SO AND SO."
- WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE SAID
ABOUT CHURCHILL IS,
YOU KNOW, "HE NEEDS TO LOSE
SOME WEIGHT.
"IT SEEMED LIKE
HE WAS KIND OF TIRED.
"DID YOU THINK
THAT HE REALLY STOOD UP?
"SHOULD HE HAVE DONE THAT
SITTING DOWN?
"SHOULDN'T HE
HAVE BEEN STANDING UP?
LOOK HOW SHORT HE IS."
I MEAN,
THAT'S WHAT THEY TALK ABOUT.
- I WISH I HAD THIS QUOTE
WITH ME AT THE TIME,
BUT HERE'S
WHAT HE ACTUALLY SAID.
"TELEVISION IS A MEDIUM THAT
LENDS ITSELF TO MANIPULATION,
"EXPLOITATION,
AND GIMMICKS.
"POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS
CAN ACTUALLY BE TAKEN OVER
"BY THE PUBLIC RELATIONS
EXPERTS,
"WHO TELL THE CANDIDATE
NOT ONLY HOW TO USE TV
"BUT WHAT TO SAY,
WHAT TO STAND FOR,
AND WHAT KIND OF PERSON TO BE."
THIS IS JOHN KENNEDY
IN TV GUIDE IN 1959.
I THINK KENNEDY DECIDED
TO STOP WRITING ARTICLES
AND ACTUALLY RAN
FOR THE PRESIDENCY,
WHICH HE DID IN 1960
AGAINST RICHARD NIXON.
IT WAS CLEAR
IN THAT FIRST TELEVISION DEBATE
THAT KENNEDY HAD THAT FACE,
THAT DEMEANOR
THAT WORKED WELL
FOR TELEVISION.
NIXON, ON THE OTHER HAND,
CAME ACROSS AS DOUR,
A LITTLE DARKER,
A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH SWEATING.
IT DIDN'T GO OVER WELL.
HOWEVER, POLLS THAT WERE TAKEN
WITH A RADIO AUDIENCE,
NIXON WON THE DEBATE
IF YOU WERE LISTENING TO RADIO.
AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING
OF THE TV POLITICIAN.
IT WASN'T LOST ON THOSE
WHO SAW REAGAN,
WHO CAME OUT AND GAVE A SPEECH
FOR GOLDWATER IN 1964
IN HIS BID FOR THE PRESIDENCY.
- YOU AND I HAVE A RENDEZVOUS
WITH DESTINY.
WE'LL PRESERVE
FOR OUR CHILDREN
THIS, THE LAST BEST HOPE
OF MAN ON EARTH,
OR WE'LL SENTENCE THEM
TO TAKE THE LAST STEP
INTO 1,000 YEARS OF DARKNESS.
- AND EVERYONE LOOKED AND SAID,
"MY, GOD, WAIT A MINUTE.
REAGAN MAY BE A CANDIDATE
FOR OFFICE."
REAGAN HAS THAT FRIENDLY
TELEVISION FACE,
THE WAY HE TALKS, CONVINCING.
HE CONNECTS WITH US.
AND WITHIN TWO YEARS,
REAGAN BECAME
GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA.
I THINK THAT WAS THE BEGINNING
OF THE TELEVISION POLITICIANS,
THOSE THAT KNEW
HOW TO USE THAT LENS,
KNEW HOW TO PUT IT TOGETHER
IN TERMS OF THE VISUAL
AND IN TERMS OF HOW
TO ULTIMATELY COMMUNICATE
TO AN AUDIENCE.
AND THAT WAS A BIG CHANGE
IN THE SECOND HALF
OF THE 20TH CENTURY.
- SEEN ON CNN.
$10 HERE TODAY.
- $5 T-SHIRT.
- TWO FOR $5.
SOUVENIRS.
JINGLE, JINGLE, JINGLE.
- WE GOT SUGAR LAND, TEXAS,
HABANERO HOT SAUCE.
GET YOUR INAUGURATION EDITION.
- IN THE BEGINNING WHEN MEDIA,
LICENSED BY THE FCC,
WE'RE GONNA HAVE ENTERTAINMENT,
AND THEY SAID, "BUT YOU HAVE
TO HAVE SOME PUBLIC SERVICE."
SO, "ALL RIGHT,
WE HAVE TO HAVE PUBLIC SERVICE."
SO NEWS WAS PUBLIC SERVICE.
THEN AT SOME POINT,
SOMEONE SAID,
"YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ACTUALLY
MAKE SOME MONEY
OFF OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE THING
WHICH IS NEWS."
- WELL, THAT'S THE STORY, FOLKS.
GLAD WE COULD GET TOGETHER.
REMEMBER TO TUNE IN
TO CAMEL NEWS CARAVAN
AT THIS TIME TOMORROW NIGHT,
BROUGHT TO YOU BY CAMEL.
NO OTHER CIGARETTE
IS SO RICH-TASTING
YET SO MILD AS CAMEL.
- THEY WENT, "OH."
SO NOW NEWS CAN MAKE MONEY.
- THE 1956 DEMOCRATIC
PRESIDENTIAL CONVENTION,
BROUGHT TO YOU BY WESTINGHOUSE.
- THIS IS THE PROFILE
OF A MAN TRYING TO DECIDE
HOW TO VOTE.
- WELL, I MAY HAVE
TO SPLIT MY VOTE THREE WAYS.
JUST LOOK
AT THOSE LUSCIOUS PANCAKES.
- THEN TED TURNER SAID,
"WELL, IF NEWS CAN MAKE MONEY,
24-HOUR NEWS CAN MAKE MONEY
24 HOURS A DAY."
AND THEN WE GO DOWN THAT ROAD.
IT'S NOT TO SAY
IT'S RIGHT OR WRONG.
BUT IT SHIFTS THE EMPHASIS AWAY
FROM THAT
WHICH IS A PUBLIC SERVICE
TO THAT
WHICH IS PROVIDING INFORMATION
AND AT THE SAME TIME
REQUIRING A CERTAIN RATING.
WHERE ARE WE
WITH THAT STRUGGLE?
- JIM LEHRER IS HOLDING UP
THE PUBLIC SERVICE ASPECT OF IT,
AND THE REST OF US
ARE DESPERATELY CHASING RATINGS
IN THE SAME WAY
THAT AMERICAN IDOL IS,
WITH ALL THE SAME VALUES.
IT'S BEEN A ONE-WAY STREET.
THERE'S BEEN NO REVERSAL
IN THE PHENOMENON
THAT YOU CAN POINT TO.
ALL OF THE DESKS
WE'VE EXPANDED TO HERE
BEYOND THOSE THREE
NETWORK NEWS ANCHORS
VERY MUCH CONCENTRATE
ON ENTERTAINMENT
AND OPINION AND CHARACTER.
AND THEY WANT--THEY ARE TRYING
TO GET YOU TO FALL IN LOVE
WITH THE STAR OF THIS SHOW,
THE CHARACTER WHO THEY'VE PUT
AS THE STAR OF THIS SHOW,
JUST LIKE ANY PRIME-TIME
ENTERTAINMENT SERIES.
- BRIT HUME.
- WE DON'T BACK DOWN.
WE DON'T HIDE FROM THE TRUTH.
WE DON'T PUSH AN AGENDA.
- DAVID GREGORY
FINDS OUT WHO'S READY
FOR THE MOST POWERFUL JOB
ON THE PLANET.
- ACCOUNTABILITY.
 AC360.
- THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THAT
IS THAT YOU HAVE
TO BE VERY--MUCH MORE CAREFUL
ABOUT YOUR CONSUMPTION OF NEWS,
BECAUSE NOW THE TARGET
IS RATINGS.
IT IS SIMPLY RATINGS.
THAT IS ALL IT IS.
- OKAY, LET'S DO IT.
15, STAND BY, EVERYONE.
- COME TO ME. THERE'S MY PICK.
CUE MUSIC. PULL.
- IT STARTS NOW ON MSNBC
WITH THE BEST POLITICAL TEAM
IN THE BUSINESS.
- FASTEN YOUR SEAT BELTS.
YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS.
- THE DEMOCRATIC CONTENDERS
WILL SQUARE OFF.
EACH WILL TRY TO TAKE THE LEAD
AND TAKE EACH OTHER DOWN.
- THE BEST POLITICAL TEAM
ON TELEVISION.
- WE'RE THE BEST POLITICAL TEAM
ON TELEVISION.
- HERE'S POSITIVELY THE BEST
PLACE TO START YOUR DAY.
- CBS NEWS HAS LEARNED...
- IT HAPPENED IN AN INSTANT.
- THAT'S THE CBS EVENING NEWS.
GOOD NIGHT.
- I CAN TELL YOU
FROM LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS--
AND RATINGS, DAILY RATINGS,
LIKE IN CABLE TELEVISION,
WE GET THEM LITERALLY
BY THE MINUTE.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW BY THE MINUTE
WHAT'S GOING ON--
THAT'S A POLL.
THAT'S ESSENTIALLY A POLL.
THAT IS A POLL.
AND WE KNOW THAT IF YOU
THROW ON ANYTHING
HAVING TO DO WITH SOMETHING
BEYOND AMERICA--
AND I'M TALKING TIJUANA
AND OTTAWA INCLUDED,
I MEAN, CLOSE--
BOOM, RIGHT TO WHEEL OF FORTUNE.
NOT INTO IT.
DON'T WANT TO SEE IT.
- EACH TEAM, REPUBLICANS
AND DEMOCRATS, HAS TERRITORY.
- POLITICAL SHOWS LEARNED
FROM ENTERTAINMENT SHOWS
THAT CONFLICT IS IMPORTANT.
THAT'S WHAT DRIVES
THE ONE-HOUR DRAMAS.
AND NOW WE'VE TAKEN CONFLICT,
AND WE'VE PUT IT
INTO THE POLITICAL SHOWS.
SO WE HAVE A DEMOCRAT
AND A REPUBLICAN,
AND THEY CAN GO AT ONE ANOTHER.
AND THAT CONFLICT BECOMES
MORE INTERESTING TO IT.
AND THAT'S WHAT ULTIMATELY
DRIVES THE RATINGS.
AND AT THE SAME TIME,
IT MAY ULTIMATELY CREATE
THIS KIND OF POLARIZATION
THAT'S TAKING PLACE,
THE REPUBLICAN
AND THE DEMOCRAT,
AND EVERYBODY STICKS
TO THEIR OWN VIEW.
- LEFT.
- RIGHT.
- LEFT.
- I NEVER HEAR ANYONE
CROSS PARTY LINES
IN THESE PARTICULAR SHOWS,
BECAUSE
THAT'S LESS ENTERTAINING.
- LEFT.
- RIGHT.
- TO DISAGREE
IS MORE ENTERTAINING.
- GIVE MONEY FOR HALLIBURTON?
all: HELL, NO.
- GIVE MONEY FOR EMPIRE?
all: HELL, NO.
- DAYS BEFORE COMING TO
THE CONVENTION, I HAPPEN TO SEE
THE CROSBY, STILLS, NASH,
AND YOUNG DOCUMENTARY
CALLED DEJA VU.
AND IN IT, THEY PERFORMED
A POLITICAL SONG,
AND THE AUDIENCE BOOED
AND HISSED.
SOME CHEERED.
BUT YOU CAN JUST SEE
HOW DIVIDED THAT AUDIENCE WAS.
- ♪ LET'S IMPEACH
THE PRESIDENT FOR LYING ♪
[crowd booing]
♪ MISLEADING OUR COUNTRY
INTO WAR ♪
- BULLSHIT.
- YEAH, BULLSHIT.
- THIS COUNTRY IS AT WAR,
AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF NERVE
STANDING THERE SAYING,
"WE'RE FOR THE COUNTRY."
- IF YOU'RE WITH TERRORISM,
WE'RE GONNA GET YOU.
GEORGE BUSH IS RIGHT.
I BELIEVE GEORGE BUSH
NEEDS FOUR MORE YEARS.
- FLIP.
- ALL I CAN TELL YOU
IS THAT OSAMA BIN LADEN
IS A PRIME SUSPECT.
- FLOP.
- I JUST DON'T SPEND
THAT MUCH TIME ON HIM.
- I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO TALK WITH CROSBY AND NASH
ABOUT THAT DOCUMENTARY.
- THAT'S THE WORST CONCERT
I'VE EVER BEEN TO.
[guitar tuning]
- YOU DO THE THINGS
GOING WAY BACK TO THE '60s
LIKE OHIO, ET CETERA.
DID YOU EVER GET
THIS REAL NEGATIVE REACTION
BACK THEN IN THE '60s
TO THIS?
- YEAH, BUT BACK THEN,
PEOPLE SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND,
YOU KNOW, WHOSE CONCERT
THEY WERE GOING TO.
THE PEOPLE IN ATLANTA
IN THE FILM,
I WONDER WHOSE CONCERT
THEY THOUGHT
THEY WERE GOING TO, YOU KNOW?
I MEAN, BECAUSE WE'VE
ALWAYS BEEN, AS YOU SAID,
VERY POLITICAL.
AND FOR THEM TO COME
AND BE OFFENDED
THAT WE WERE BEING
VERY POLITICAL
IS KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW,
GOING TO AN AIR SHOW
AND BEING OFFENDED
AT THE PLANES.
- YOU KNOW, IT TOOK GREAT
COURAGE TO SHOW BOTH SIDES.
WE WANTED TO START DIALOGUE.
WE WANTED TO STIMULATE
DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ISSUES
THAT ARE FACING US.
AND WE WANTED TO KNOW
WHAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
AND SOME NASTY THINGS
WERE SAID.
[laughter]
- YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD LIKE US
NOT TO SPEAK.
WE WOULD LIKE
TO DEFEND THEIR RIGHT TO SPEAK.
MY DAD WAS A CINEMATOGRAPHER.
- WAS HE REALLY?
- YEAH.
DID YOU EVER SEE HIGH NOON?
 - YEAH.
- MY DAD SHOT THAT.
- DID HE REALLY?
- HE SHOT A LOT OF STUFF,
AND THEN HE GOT KIND OF TIRED
WITH THE COMMIE SYMPATHIZER
PINKO THING IN THE--
DURING THE '50s.
- OH, DID HE REALLY?
- YEAH.
AND HE DIDN'T WORK
FOR A LONG TIME
UNTIL ROGER CORMAN
STARTED HIRING HIM
TO DO THOSE FOUR-WEEK WONDERS.
[soft acoustic guitar music]
♪ ♪
- CAN YOU PUT SOME LIGHTS
ONSTAGE FOR ME FOR A MINUTE?
JUST WHILE I DO THIS SONG.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
READY, GENTLEMEN?
WE'RE ROCKING.
♪ ♪
♪ THIS IS MY COUNTRY ♪
♪ WE ARE AT WAR ♪
♪ CAN'T SEEM TO GET ALONG ♪
♪ WITH SO MANY OTHERS ♪
♪ BUT THE PEOPLE
OF THIS LAND ♪
♪ THEY DON'T WANT THIS FIGHT ♪
♪ THEY SEEM TO UNDERSTAND ♪
♪ THAT WE'RE ALL SISTERS
AND BROTHERS ♪
- WHEN YOU LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY
WHERE YOU HAVE
ELECTED OFFICIALS,
THOSE PEOPLE REPRESENT YOU.
IT'S A REPRESENTATIVE
GOVERNMENT.
AND I DIDN'T APPRECIATE THAT
SO MUCH
UNTIL THE EVENTS OF 9/11.
AND I KNEW NOW
THAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES
OF LIVING IN A FREE
AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY
REQUIRE MY PARTICIPATION,
THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING
THAT'S PASSIVE.
- ♪ LOOKING DOWN SOME ♪
♪ CHILDHOOD ALLEY ♪
♪ SEARCHING FOR A SUNSET ♪
♪ OUT ACROSS
SOME SACRED VALLEY ♪
♪ THIS IS MY COUNTRY ♪
♪ THIS IS MY HOME ♪
♪ AND I KNOW
WHEN I SING THESE WORDS ♪
♪ THAT I AM NOT ALONE ♪
♪ IT'S TIME TO STOP THEM
IN THEIR TRACKS ♪
♪ IT'S TIME TO TAKE
OUR COUNTRY BACK ♪
♪ PUT THEIR IDEAS IN A SACK ♪
♪ RECYCLE FOR REDEMPTION ♪
♪ IT'S TIME
TO SHOW THEM TO THE DOOR ♪
♪ THEY WON'T BE NEEDED
ANYMORE ♪
♪ TELL THEM
THERE WILL BE NO MORE WAR ♪
♪ BASED UPON PREEMPTION ♪
♪ ♪
♪ THIS IS MY COUNTRY ♪
♪ ♪
♪ THIS IS MY HOME ♪
[light applause]
[sirens wailing]
- TO INVOLVE MYSELF
IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS
AND TO BECOME MORE EDUCATED
AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SEE HOW IT WORKS
WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY THING
TO DO,
BECAUSE MOST OF US TAKE IT
FOR GRANTED, YOU KNOW?
I CERTAINLY DID.
[rackety percussion]
♪ ♪
- WITH THE INCREASING
POLARIZATION OF THIS COUNTRY,
IT BECOMES EVEN MORE DIFFICULT
FOR ONE SIDE
TO COMMUNICATE WITH ANOTHER.
AND FRANK LUNTZ DOES THIS
ON A REGULAR BASIS.
SO I THOUGHT IT'D BE WORTHWHILE
TO HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY
ON THAT SUBJECT.
- I COME FROM--AND I ALSO
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE INTERESTING
AT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
TO GIVE YOU A SLIGHTLY MORE
CONSERVATIVE PERSPECTIVE
AS SOMEONE WHO FOR MANY YEARS
WORKED IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY,
GAVE IT UP BACK IN 2000.
I'VE KNOWN ROBIN BRONK
FOR A FEW YEARS NOW.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IMPRESSED
WITH THE INTENSITY
AND THE PASSION
OF WHAT YOU ALL DO
AND HOW YOU DO IT.
I'M NOT ALWAYS IMPRESSED
OF THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU USE
AND HOW YOU PRESENT IT.
I KNOW THAT YOU CARE DEEPLY.
BUT IN THE END,
IS IT THE CARING THAT MATTERS
OR THE RESULTS THAT MATTER?
THE CHALLENGE FOR YOU GUYS
IS NOT TO COMMUNICATE
THE WAY THAT YOU FEEL.
THE CHALLENGE
IS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
IF YOU WANT THE LEGISLATION
TO GET THE ARTS BACK,
THEN YOU PUT IT IN SUCH A WAY
NOT JUST FOR THE DEMOCRATS.
THERE HAS TO BE A WAY
TO COMMUNICATE
WITH THE REPUBLICANS.
THE EXACT WORD CHOICE
THAT YOU MAKE
DOES DETERMINE
HOW PEOPLE HEAR YOU.
- I'M TOTALLY CONFUSED
RIGHT NOW.
I FEE LIKE SUDDENLY
YOU'RE HERE LECTURING US
ABOUT OUR USE OF LANGUAGE,
BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
THAT'S NOT
WHY I WAS SAT DOWN HERE.
I THOUGHT WE WERE SAT DOWN HERE
TO HAVE A SPECIFIC DIALOGUE
ABOUT WHAT IT IS
THAT WE ALL FEEL
IN TERMS
OF OUR USE OF CELEBRITY
OR, THEREFORE, CELEBRITY
IN TERMS OF HELPING SOMEONE.
AND SUDDENLY I FEEL LIKE
I'M BEING LECTURED
BY A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT--
- WELL, ONE OF THE KEY THINGS
THAT WE SUPPORT
AS THE CREATIVE COALITION
IS THE FIRST AMENDMENT,
WHICH IS FREEDOM OF SPEECH,
WHICH MEANS THAT YOU CAN SAY
WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY
HOWEVER PASSIONATELY
YOU MAY WANT TO SAY IT.
- WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR
WHAT HE HAS TO SAY, THOUGH.
WE CAN DISCARD IT.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED
TO BE DEFENSIVE
ABOUT THE WAY
WE EXPRESS OURSELVES.
I'M INTERESTED.
IF HE HAS ANY INFORMATION
FOR US,
I'D LIKE TO GET IT,
AND IF NOT, WE'LL JUNK IT
AND GO ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
- IT SEEMS TO ME
IT'S ABOUT SEMANTICS.
IF I'M NOT USING THE CORRECT
LANGUAGE TO THOSE PEOPLE,
WHAT'S THE POINT?
- WELL, IT'S NOT
THE CORRECT LANGUAGE.
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN ASKING FOR--
IF YOU'RE GONNA TALK--
FOR ME PERSONALLY,
I DON'T TALK ABOUT IMPEACHMENT.
I TALK ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY.
BECAUSE "IMPEACHMENT" IS A WORD
THAT SOUNDS LIKE
YOU'VE GOT SOUR GRAPES
AND YOU JUST
ARE BEING VINDICTIVE.
ACCOUNTABILITY IS SOMETHING
THAT'S ACTIVE.
IT'S LIKE THE, YOU KNOW,
RIGHT TO LIFE.
WHAT A GREAT TWIST
OF THAT THING.
YOU KNOW, CONTRAS
AS OPPOSED TO FREEDOM FIGHTERS.
IT'S ALL IN THE WAY
THAT IT'S PHRASED.
- I ALSO HAVE TO SAY
THAT I AGREE WITH YOU
ON SOMETHING, FRANK, WHICH IS
THAT COMMUNICATING HOW WE FEEL
IS NOT NECESSARILY
THE MOST EFFECTIVE THING.
- FIRST OF ALL,
IT'S ASTONISHING.
IT'S BRILLIANT.
AND IT'S INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE.
AND OBVIOUSLY WHEN I SAT DOWN
WITH HIM AND OUR GROUP
AND HE BEGAN
AND BEGAN, IN A SENSE,
SAYING THAT WE WERE, IN A WAY,
HURTING THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN
OR HURTING ANY SORT OF CAUSE
THAT OUR GROUP WAS PRESENTING
BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE
WERE SOMEWHAT OR WELL KNOWN
AND, IN SOME CASES,
VERY WELL KNOWN,
THAT THAT WAS ANTITHETICAL
TO THE POSSIBILITY
OF WHAT ANYONE ELSE COULD DO,
TO ME, I WAS--I WAS DISTURBED,
TO SAY THE LEAST.
- SO MUCH OF WHAT THEY DID HERE
IS WHAT I WAS ACTUALLY SAYING
TO THEM, "DON'T DO."
- RIGHT.
- THEY HAD A CHANCE
TO PULL OUT OF ME
SO MUCH STUFF THAT I TEND
TO GIVE TO PEOPLE
THAT THEY MAY NOT LIKE.
AND THAT'S WHAT
I WAS HERE TO DO.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS HOPING
THIS CONVERSATION WOULD BE.
INSTEAD, THEY ATTACKED.
- BUT DON'T YOU THINK
THAT THERE'S SOMETHING INHERENT
IN THAT?
BECAUSE YOU SAID,
"THEY ATTACKED."
THREE PEOPLE ATTACKED.
THE REST OF US
WERE WAITING OUR TURN.
- THEY WENT FIRST.
- BUT THAT--
AND THEY WENT FIRST.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH
IS THE FACT THAT ONE OF US
SAYS ONE THING,
AND IT GETS ASCRIBED
TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US.
- BUT THAT'S ON CAMERA.
AND THE LOUDEST PEOPLE
TEND TO GET HEARD THE MOST.
- BUT, YOU KNOW, TO FEEL LIKE
THE WAY YOU PEOPLE DO IT
AND THE WAY THEY HEAR YOU,
THERE WAS MAYBE
A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.
- THERE WAS.
- HOWEVER, THE IMPORTANCE,
I THINK THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF
WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO GIVE US:
TO IMPROVE
OUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS
TO GET WHAT WE WANT.
WE'RE ACTORS.
WE WANT TO KNOW
HOW TO DO THE SCENE RIGHT
TO GET WHAT WE WANT.
I MEAN, IF I HAD THOSE WORDS,
I WOULD HAVE AGREED TO GO
TO THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
NEXT WEEK.
I WAS SO AFRAID
THAT I WOULD DO EXACTLY
WHAT YOU ARE SAYING HAPPENS
THAT I DECLINED.
I WAS AFRAID TO GO
BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE SKILL
TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE
WHO HAVE HURT MY FEELINGS
SO DEEPLY.
- YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT MEDIA AND CELEBRITY A LOT.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT REMINDS ME
OF THE JOE THE PLUMBER STORY.
YOU REMEMBER THAT WHOLE THING.
AND THAT'S NOT UNLIKE
 MEET JOHN DOE, THE FILM,
IF YOU REMEMBER THE OLD MOVIE.
IN THIS CASE,
IT'S A COMMON GUY.
HE WAS A VAGRANT,
AND HE RISES
TO NATIONAL PROMINENCE.
AND THEY HANG ON EVERY WORD
THAT, YOU KNOW, JOHN DOE SAYS.
[applause]
- I KNOW A LOT OF YOU
ARE SAYING, "WHAT CAN I DO?
I'M JUST A LITTLE PUNK.
I DON'T COUNT."
WELL, YOU'RE DEAD WRONG.
THE LITTLE PUNKS
HAVE ALWAYS COUNTED,
BECAUSE IN THE LONG RUN,
THE CHARACTER OF A COUNTRY
IS THE SUM TOTAL OF THE
CHARACTER OF ITS LITTLE PUNKS.
[applause]
- AND SUDDENLY
HE BECOMES RELEVANT,
MAYBE EVEN MORE RELEVANT
THAN WHAT A POLITICIAN MAY SAY,
BECAUSE HE'S THE AVERAGE GUY,
AND WE MAKE THIS CONNECTION.
IT DOES HAPPEN.
AND, YOU KNOW,
THAT APPLIES IN MANY WAYS
TO JOE THE PLUMBER.
- ARE YOU AWARE OF THE FACT
THAT IF JOHN MCCAIN SHOULD
END UP WINNING THE PRESIDENCY
THAT HE'LL LARGELY HAVE YOU
TO THANK FOR IT?
- IT'S NOT HIS FAULT THAT
HE GOT, YOU KNOW, SINGLED OUT.
HE ASKED OBAMA A QUESTION
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.
THAT'S ALL FINE.
MEDIA PICKS UP ON IT.
IT'S EXPLOITED
BY THE MCCAIN MACHINERY.
- JOE'S WITH US TODAY.
JOE, WHERE ARE YOU?
WHERE IS JOE?
IS JOE HERE WITH US TODAY?
- AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW,
JOE IS EVERYWHERE.
HE'S ON THIS SHOW
AND THAT SHOW,
AND HE'S EVERYPLACE.
- ALL RIGHT, WELL,
YOU'RE ALL JOE THE PLUMBER,
SO ALL OF YOU STAND UP
AND SAY...
- AND THE CELEBRITY
BECOMES PART OF HIM.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE
IN HIS COMMUNITY KNOW HIM.
AND HE BECOMES CAUGHT UP
IN THAT WHOLE THING.
BUT HE GOES JOHN DOE
ONE STEP FURTHER,
BECAUSE THE ADULATION
AND THE ATTENTION,
HE SUDDENLY CROSSES THE LINE,
AND NOW HE BELIEVES THAT HE
COULD BE A WAR CORRESPONDENT.
AND HE'S OVER THERE IN ISRAEL
REPORTING BACK
ON WHAT'S HAPPENING
IN THE WAR.
AND HE FORGETS
THAT HE'S JOE THE PLUMBER.
HE DOESN'T HAVE THE CREDENTIALS
TO BE A WAR CORRESPONDENT.
AND THERE HE IS RUNNING AROUND,
SORT OF LOST, IN A SENSE,
LOST HIS OWN IDENTITY
BECAUSE HE WAS NOTHING MORE
THAN A TOY OF THE MEDIA.
- IN A DESPERATE EFFORT
TO REGAIN THE SPOTLIGHT,
THE PLUMBER WENT TO ISRAEL
TO COVER THE GAZA WAR
AS A REPORTER
FOR A CONSERVATIVE WEBSITE
WITH A MICROPHONE
AND EVERYTHING.
HIS FINDINGS: "I THINK MEDIA
SHOULD BE ABOLISHED,
FROM, UH, YOU KNOW, REPORTING."
I HATE TO BREAK THIS TO YOU,
BUT RIGHT NOW,
YOU'RE IN THE MEDIA REPORTING,
SO YOU'VE JUST CALLED
FOR YOUR OWN SELF-ABOLITION.
- THE PROBLEM
WITH JOE THE PLUMBER IS,
HIS CELEBRITY
WAS A ONE-TRICK PONY.
HE WAS JUST A MAN
WHO ASKED A QUESTION,
AND FINALLY,
THE MEDIA TIRED OF HIM.
AND HERE'S THE HARD REALITY:
YOU CAN'T REMAIN A CELEBRITY
IF THE CAMERA'S NO LONGER THERE.
- SOMETIMES WHEN, YOU KNOW,
YOU'RE ASKED--
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT A MOVIE,
YOU'RE THERE TO PROMOTE
A MOVIE,
AND YOU'RE ASKED A QUESTION
ABOUT POLITICS,
IT CAN COME OUT IN THE COURSE
OF A CONVERSATION
THAT'S AN HOUR AND A HALF,
THREE HOURS, FIVE HOURS LONG
WITH A REPORTER.
BUT IN A 2,000-WORD ARTICLE,
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MOVIE,
AND THEN YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT YOUR POLITICS.
- PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPENT
THEIR LIFE
WORKING AS HARD AS SOMEONE
LIKE SARANDON,
OR EVEN I KNOW RICHARD DREYFUSS
IS HERE
AND HAS, YOU KNOW,
EXTRAORDINARY POLITICS
AND HAS REALLY GENUINELY
SPENT MUCH OF HIS LIFE
WHEN HE'S NOT ACTING
ACTUALLY--
I MEAN, LEARNING THE ISSUES
TO THE EXTENT
THAT'S HE'S TEACHING AT OXFORD.
- MAYBE IT'S BETTER
TO KEEP THE TWO THINGS SEPARATE
AND SAY WHEN I TALK
ABOUT POLITICS,
WHEN I GO OUT
WITH THE CREATIVE COALITION,
THAT'S MY FOCUS, THAT'S
WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT,
AND I'M NOT GONNA TALK
ABOUT MOVIES,
AND I WON'T USE THAT IN ANY WAY
TO PROMOTE A MOVIE.
AND THEN WHEN I'M TRYING
TO PROMOTE A MOVIE,
I'M NOT GONNA PROMOTE
MY POLITICS.
- THERE'S NO TALK ABOUT
RICHARD DREYFUSS ACTUALLY
TEACHES POLITICS AT OXFORD.
[laughs]
THERE'S--IT'S NOT FOR A SECOND.
IT'S THE GUY--
I HEARD IT LAST NIGHT ON MSNBC.
"THE GUY FROM JAWS
 IS HERE TO TELL YOU WHY
THE REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION
SCREWED UP KATRINA."
[boisterous brass music playing]
♪ ♪
- THE GUY FROM GHOST.
- BUT REMEMBER GHOST?
- I KNOW.
- THE BAD GUY, THE BAD CROOK.
- I REMEMBER THE FACE, BUT
I COULDN'T REMEMBER HIS NAME.
BUT I GOT A PICTURE.
[laughs]
- YOU ASK YOURSELF, "WHAT ARE
THE CELEBRITIES DOING HERE?
WHAT DO YOU NEED CELEBRITIES FOR
AT A POLITICAL CONVENTION?"
AND THE REASON IS,
IS BECAUSE
ALL OF THESE
VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
ARE TRYING TO VIE
FOR ATTENTION
FROM THE 15,000
JOURNALISTS HERE
SO THAT THEY CAN GET
THEIR CAUSE NOTICED.
AND CELEBRITIES
ARE THE WAY TO DO IT.
THE CAUSE IN ITSELF
IS NEVER ENOUGH.
BUT THERE'S TWO PROBLEMS
WITH THAT.
ONE IS THAT THE PEOPLE
THAT COVER CELEBRITIES
ARE NOT INTERESTED
IN THE CAUSES.
SO THEY GET
THEIR NAMES MENTIONED,
BUT IT DOESN'T ADVANCE
THE CAUSES.
THE SECOND PROBLEM WITH IT
IS THAT A LOT OF THE CELEBRITIES
DON'T KNOW SHIT ABOUT
WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
TO PICK A CAUSE
THAT YOU'VE EDUCATED
YOURSELF ABOUT,
THAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE
DISCUSSING.
- BICYCLING IS SOMETHING
THAT YOU CAN DO
TO MAKE IMMEDIATE POSITIVE
IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
- RIGHT.
- THIS IS MY BICYCLE.
all: THIS IS MY BICYCLE.
- THERE ARE MANY LIKE IT,
BUT THIS ONE IS MINE.
all: THERE ARE MANY LIKE IT,
BUT THIS ONE IS MINE.
- [whistling loudly]
CAN I HAVE EVERYBODY'S
ATTENTION, PLEASE?
WE SHOULD GET THIS STARTED.
GOVERNOR PATTERSON
HAS GRACIOUSLY AGREED
TO HAVE A DIALOGUE WITH US.
AND I GUESS WE'LL OPEN UP
THE FLOOR.
- THANK YOU.
- DAVID.
- YES, SIR.
- AS A GOVERNOR,
YOU'RE ABOUT TO HAVE
TO MAKE SERIOUS CUTS.
I'M A PRODUCT
OF A NEW YORK CITY EDUCATION,
FROM KINDERGARTEN TO JOHN DEWEY
HIGH SCHOOL IN CONEY ISLAND.
WHEN I WENT--
WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL,
WE HAD TO TAKE MUSIC.
I TOOK VIOLIN
AND RECORDER LESSONS.
WE HAD ART,
AND YOU HAD TO TAKE GYM.
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY
THE CASE ANYMORE.
AS GOVERNOR, I KNOW YOU HAVE
TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE.
BUT WHERE
IS THE MONEY GONNA COME
SO ART, MUSIC,
AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
CAN BE PUT BACK
INTO THE CURRICULUM
IN THE NEW YORK CITY
PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM?
- UM...
THAT IS--
I DIDN'T REALLY--
[laughter]
- I DIDN'T TRY TO
DO THAT TO YOU.
- YEAH, I KNOW.
[laughter]
I DIDN'T REALLY HEAR
A QUESTION.
[laughter]
I HEARD AN INSTRUCTION,
AND I'M WITH IT.
[laughter]
BUT I WOULD SAY THIS.
I WOULD SAY THIS...
[thumping percussive music]
- PUT YOUR HANDS UP.
OH, YEAH.
YES, WE CAN.
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
- ♪ LA, LA, LA, LA, LA ♪
- ♪ HEY, MAMA, THIS THAT BEAT
THAT MAKE YOU GROOVE ♪
♪ GET ON THE FLOOR
AND MOVE YOUR BOOTY, MAMA ♪
♪ WE THE BLAST MASTERS
BLASTIN' UP THE JAMMA ♪
HIP-HOP WAS THE ANSWER
FROM WHEN MUSIC PROGRAMS
GOT STRIPPED FROM SCHOOLS
IN NEW YORK.
A COUPLE OF FRIENDS OF MINE,
LIKE, HIP-HOP LEGENDS,
SAID THAT WHEN MUSIC PROGRAMS
WERE TOOKEN FROM SCHOOL,
THEY TAUGHT WITH VINYL, RIGHT?
WHEN MUSIC PROGRAMS
WERE TOOK FROM SCHOOL,
THE PEOPLE THAT USED TO PLAY
IN DISCO BANDS
WENT FROM CLUBS
THAT HAD DISCO BANDS
TO PEOPLE
THAT JUST SPUN DISCO RECORDS.
AND FROM DISCO RECORDS
CAME PEOPLE
THAT JUST RAPPED OVER RECORDS
RATHER THAN RAPPING OVER A BAND.
AND THEN HIP-HOP
KIND OF BECAME THE ANSWER
TO LACK OF MUSIC EDUCATION
IN SCHOOLS.
FOR ME, I GOT INVOLVED IN MUSIC
THROUGH HIP-HOP.
HIP-HOP TAUGHT ME--
EDUCATED ME ON JAZZ
BECAUSE TRIBE CALLED QUEST
SAMPLED RON CARTER,
AND A TRIBE CALLED QUEST
SAMPLED HERBIE MANN.
AND THEN FROM THEM,
I LEARNED THELONIOUS MONK.
SO HIP-HOP SAVED MY LIFE.
MUSIC SAVED MY LIFE.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR MUSIC PROGRAMS
TO BE IN SCHOOLS.
- I WAS IN THE LITTLE THEATER
BECAUSE IT WAS THERE.
IT WAS FUN TO DO.
YOU GET A--I WATCHED MY SONS
IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
HE WAS THE ONLY SIXTH GRADER
TO GET A PART
IN GUYS AND DOLLS
 THIS PAST YEAR.
HE WAS BIG JULES.
- OH, THAT'S SO FUN.
- BUT YOU KNOW WHAT HE DID?
HE LEARNED TO GET ALONG
WITH OTHER KIDS.
- IT'S NOT LIKE
WE NEED ARTS EDUCATION
BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING
TO TURN EVERYBODY INTO AN ACTOR
OR A PAINTER OR A POET.
WE NEED ARTS EDUCATION BECAUSE
THAT'S HOW WE CAN HELP OUR KIDS
TO BECOME COMPLETE HUMAN BEINGS.
- YES.
- AS WE WERE FILMING,
EVERY TIME ARTS
AND EDUCATION CAME UP,
PEOPLE'S EYES
BEGAN TO GLAZE OVER.
NOT AN INTERESTING SUBJECT.
HURRICANES ARE INTERESTING.
FLOODS, YOU CAN SELL.
IF YOU TALK
ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE,
BORING SUBJECT.
SHOWING BRIDGES FALLING DOWN
GOT OUR ATTENTION.
AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM
WITH ARTS.
IF YOU TRY TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ARTS,
IT SUDDENLY BECOMES
TOO MEANINGFUL.
IT'S NOT A TOPIC
THAT STIMULATES US.
IT HAS NO VISUAL COMPONENT.
A FEW YEARS AGO,
THE ADMINISTRATION TRIED TO
GET RID OF PUBLIC BROADCASTING.
AND THERE WAS A LOT OF MOMENTUM
TO GET RID OF IT,
DO AWAY WITH IT.
AND WHAT SAVED IT
WAS THE MOTHERS
THAT KEPT SAYING,
"YOU CAN'T GET RID OF IT.
ELMO'S ON PUBLIC BROADCASTING."
AND THE IMAGE OF ELMO,
THAT FUZZY LITTLE CREATURE,
THAT PHOTOGENIC CHARACTER,
SAVED PUBLIC BROADCASTING
IN AMERICA.
- [laughing hysterically]
- AND ART CERTAINLY SAVED
MY LIFE,
ALTHOUGH I GOT INTO IT
A LITTLE BIT LATER.
- YEAH, WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR YOUR TIME.
- THANK YOU.
- FACES AND VOICES
OF RECOVERY
ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE--
LIKE MYSELF, ARE IN RECOVERY
BUT WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT PEOPLE DON'T FEEL
LIKE IT'S A SHAMEFUL THING
TO ADMIT IT.
- A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK
THAT CELEBRITY ADVOCACY
IS JUST ANOTHER WAY OF GETTING
YOUR NAME IN THE PAPERS.
AND THAT'S ACTUALLY
THE LAST THING IN THE WORLD
THAT I'M HERE FOR.
I'M REALLY JUST HERE
TO LISTEN AND TO LEARN.
- I WOULD DOUBT THAT YOU NEED
ANOTHER PHOTO OP.
- [laughs]
- I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY OKAY.
- I'M NOT REALLY HERE
FOR ANY OTHER REASON.
AND THEN HERE I AM
TRYING TO EDUCATE MYSELF
AS A YOUNG WOMAN IN AMERICA,
AND I'M WONDERING IF I'M
ACTUALLY BEING IRRESPONSIBLE
WHEN I'M ASKED A QUESTION
ABOUT SOMETHING REGARDING THIS
AND I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO ANSWER IT
BECAUSE I JUST DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH INFORMATION.
- RIGHT.
- AND IT SOUNDS
LIKE SUCH A COP-OUT
TO SAY, "I'M NOT EDUCATED
ABOUT THAT.
"I WISH--I DON'T WANT
TO SPEAK ON A SUBJECT
THAT I KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT."
I THINK THAT PEOPLE THINK
THAT WE'RE VERY CARELESS
WITH OUR OPINIONS
AND THAT OUR BELIEFS
ARE QUITE CASUAL.
IF WE ALL COME TOGETHER,
WE'RE ALL DROPS OF WATER.
WE'RE ALL GONNA FILL UP
THE BUCKET.
BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT TOGETHER.
- THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
- YOU GUYS ARE GREAT.
- THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND ANY TIME,
GIVE US--GIVE US A CALL.
- OKAY, I HAVE YOUR--
I HAVE YOUR CARD.
I HAVE YOUR CARD.
[upbeat rock and roll music]
♪ ♪
- ♪ SIMPLE THOUGH LOVE IS ♪
♪ STILL IT CONFUSED ME ♪
♪ WHY I'M NOT LOVED ♪
♪ THE WAY I SHOULD BE ♪
♪ NOW I'VE LIVED
WITH HEARTACHE ♪
♪ OH, I'VE ROOMED WITH FEAR ♪
♪ I'VE DEALT WITH DESPAIR ♪
♪ AND I'VE WRESTLED
WITH TEARS ♪
♪ I CAN'T STAND UP ♪
♪ FOR FALLING DOWN ♪
- THE CAMPAIGNS
ARE VERY SAVVY MARKETERS.
I WOULD SAY IN DENVER,
I GOT TO SEE JUST HOW SAVVY
THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN IS
AS MARKETERS.
THEY DO A GREAT JOB IN TERMS
OF DESIGN AND BRANDING,
THE "O" WITH THE FLAG,
AND THEY REALLY KEYED IN
ON A VERY SPECIFIC KIND
OF ICONOGRAPHY RIGHT AWAY.
AND THAT PERMEATES EVERY PIECE
OF COMMUNICATION THAT THEY HAVE.
IT'S NICE.
IT'S THE TYPE OF THING YOU'D
WANT TO WEAR ON A T-SHIRT.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT
THEY WERE AIMING FOR,
SOMETHING THAT YOUNG,
ENTHUSIASTIC PEOPLE
WOULD WANT TO WEAR ON--
YOU KNOW, ON THEIR HEADS
OR ON THEIR T-SHIRTS.
♪ ♪
- ♪ I CAN'T STAND UP ♪
♪ FOR FALLING DOWN ♪
♪ I CAN'T STAND UP ♪
♪ FOR FALLING DOWN ♪
♪ I CAN'T STAND UP ♪
♪ FOR FALLING DOWN ♪
[cheers and applause]
- YOU KNOW,
WHEN I FIRST MET YOU,
YOU WERE WEARING
A WHITE LINEN SUIT.
- REALLY?
- MM-HMM.
- WHAT WAS I WEARING
A WHITE LINEN SUIT FOR?
- WE WERE AUDITIONING
FOR A CERTS MINTS TOGETHER.
- OH, MY GOD.
[indistinct conversation]
- ♪ GONNA TAKE A FREIGHT TRAIN ♪
♪ DOWN AT THE STATION ♪
♪ I DON'T CARE
WHERE IT GOES ♪
♪ GONNA CLIMB A MOUNTAIN ♪
♪ THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN ♪
♪ I JUMP OFF,
NOBODY GONNA KNOW ♪
[cheers and applause]
[wistful horn music]
- ONE OF MY EARLIEST MEMORIES:
GOING WITH MY GRANDFATHER
TO SEE SOME OF THE ASTRONAUTS
BEING BROUGHT BACK
AFTER A SPLASHDOWN,
SITTING ON HIS SHOULDERS,
AND WAVING
A LITTLE AMERICAN FLAG.
- I GREW UP
IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
[cheers and applause]
I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL THERE.
WHEN I GOT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL,
I HEADED SOUTH,
AND I WENT TO TEXAS.
[cheers and applause]
ONE DAY IN TEXAS,
I GOT ON A PUBLIC BUS,
AND IT WAS VERY CROWDED,
AND I WAS STANDING.
AND THEN A SEAT BECAME EMPTY,
AND I SAT DOWN.
AND I SAT DOWN
NEXT TO AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN
WHO LOOKED AT ME SURPRISED
AND JUMPED UP.
I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT WAS THE MATTER.
AND THEN A WHITE MAN
SAT DOWN NEXT TO ME.
HE SAID,
"YOU A YANKEE?"
I SAID, "YES."
HE SAID, "WE DON'T SIT
NEXT TO COLORED FOLKS HERE."
AND SOME SHAME
WENT INTO MY HEART
THAT HAS BEEN THERE EVER SINCE
THAT TODAY
ON MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY
IS BEING LIFTED
BECAUSE I HAVE THE GREAT HONOR
TO READ TO YOU THE WORDS
OF THE NEXT PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES,
BARACK OBAMA.
[cheers and applause]
[driving rock music]
♪ ♪
- THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYBODY.
all: YES, WE CAN.
YES, WE CAN.
YES, WE CAN.
- WELL, I'M FROM MINNEAPOLIS.
I LEFT THERE
ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO.
I DO HAVE MIXED FEELINGS
ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
CONVENTION TAKING PLACE THERE.
IT'S NOT EXACTLY THE HONOR
OF, OH, SAY, THE OLYMPICS.
BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO?
- I'LL TAKE TWO SUITS
TO THE--THE RNC.
AND I'M NOT GONNA BE THERE
VERY LONG,
'CAUSE I CAN'T GET TIME
OFF WORK.
- ABSOLUTELY WE NEED TO GO
TALK ABOUT ARTS FUNDING,
BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE
ARTS FUNDING
AS SOMETHING THAT IS PROFITABLE.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THAT.
SO I NEED TO FIND OUT,
BECAUSE I'M MAKING
A WHOLE LOT OF GENERALIZATIONS,
AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
AND THAT'S NOT FAIR.
SO I SHOULD FIND OUT.
- I WANT TO GO TO THE RNC
BECAUSE, AS I SAID BEFORE,
I'M LEARNING
ABOUT THIS PROCESS.
I WANT TO SEE
WHAT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
THE DNC AND THE REPUBLICAN
NATIONAL CONVENTION
AND ALSO TO, YOU KNOW,
ASK THOSE PEOPLE SOME QUESTIONS
ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
WHAT THEY'RE THINKING
AND, AGAIN, EDUCATE MYSELF.
- THERE IS NO DEBATE ANYMORE.
I THINK THAT WHEN CLOSED-CIRCUIT
TELEVISION GOT INTO THE SENATE
AND GOT INTO
THE HOUSE OF CONGRESS,
WHEN THAT HAPPENED
AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE
TO BE ON THE FLOOR
TO HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON
AND THEY CAN HAVE
THEIR AIDES UPSTAIRS
HEAR WHAT'S TAKING PLACE
AND SEEING IT
AND THEN REPORTING
TO THE SENATOR,
REPORTING TO THE CONGRESSMAN,
YOU TOOK PASSION
OFF THE TABLE.
YOU TOOK DEBATE
AND THIS KIND OF STRUGGLE
TO COME UP WITH SOME LEGISLATION
OFF THE TABLE.
SO IF YOU SEE BYRD WHEN HE
SPOKE OUT AGAINST AUTHORIZATION
FOR THE IRAQI WAR,
WHEN HE STOOD UP THERE
AND HAD THIS PASSIONED PLEA,
AND THEN YOU SEE THERE IS NO ONE
IN THE CHAMBER, NO ONE.
SO THEREFORE, SOMEONE UPSTAIRS
SAYS TO THE SENATOR,
"SO WHAT DID BYRD SAY?"
"WELL, YOU KNOW,
HE JUST SPOKE OUT.
"HE JUST SAID
WHAT HE WOULD SAY.
YOU KNOW, HE'S OPPOSED
TO THE WAR."
BUT THERE'S NO PASSION TO IT.
SO YOU CAN'T BE MOVED
TO SAY,
"YOU KNOW SOMETHING?
"THIS MAN HAS AFFECTED ME,
AND MAYBE HE'S RIGHT,
WHETHER I'M A DEMOCRAT
OR A REPUBLICAN."
BUT THERE IS--
THAT DOESN'T EXIST.
THERE IS NO
KIND OF GIVE-AND-TAKE.
THERE'S NO
KIND OF COLLISION OF IDEAS.
NOW IT EXISTS IN ISOLATION.
AND THEREFORE,
IDEAS DON'T LEAD TO IDEAS.
THERE ARE ONLY,
"THIS IS MY POSITION.
THIS IS MY POSITION."
I THINK THAT THE CAMERA
MADE THE BIG DIFFERENCE.
NOW, I'M SURE 90% OF THE PEOPLE
THAT YOU MIGHT TALK TO SAY,
"WELL, THAT IS THE MOST
HAREBRAINED IDEA
I'VE EVER HEARD OF."
I MEAN, IT'S SO AMAZING.
AS WE RIDE AROUND,
YOU DON'T GET A SENSE
THAT THERE'S A CONVENTION
HAPPENING HERE.
- YOU DON'T FEEL THE ENERGY
OR THE VIBE.
- I MEAN, IT'S LIKE
IT'S NONEXISTENT.
- YEAH, IT'S--THIS IS
A VERY, VERY SUBDUED CONVENTION.
- IT'S LIKE THIS COULD BE
LITERALLY, YOU KNOW,
FEDDERS AIR-CONDITIONING
CONVENTION...
- WE SHOULD GO.
- THAT THEY'RE SHOWING UP FOR--
- I ACTUALLY THINK IT IS.
- THERE'S, LIKE, NOBODY HERE.
YOU SAID SOMETHING LAST NIGHT
WHICH WAS INTERESTING,
'CAUSE WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT POLARIZATION,
AND YOU SAID YOU WERE WALKING
THE STREET AND--
- YEAH, IT WAS
AN ANTIWAR PROTEST
THAT WAS HERE IN MINNESOTA.
I'M--IT'S NO SECRET.
I'M FOR MCCAIN.
AND SOMEONE SAID,
"I USED TO LOVE YOU AS AN ACTOR,
"AND NOW I DON'T.
I--YOU KNOW, I DON'T LIKE
YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS."
AND I STOPPED THEM,
AND I SAID,
"I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE
TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU SOMETIME,
"YOU KNOW, ON THE GRASS
ACROSS THE STREET AT THE PARK
AND HAVE A DISCUSSION
ABOUT THAT."
- THE MOST IMPORTANT MOTIVATION
FOR ME
IS A FAITH-BASED PERSPECTIVE.
I'VE GROWN IN MY EXPERIENCE
AND IN MY WISDOM
TO UNDERSTAND THE POWER
AND INFLUENCE
THAT AN INDIVIDUAL CAN HAVE.
AND I'VE ALSO LEARNED THAT
WITH THE PLATFORM OF CELEBRITY
THAT I BELIEVE GOD
HAS GIVEN ME,
I CAN ALSO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
- WHAT'S SCARING ME NOW,
'CAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
I'VE EVER SEEN IT IN MY LIFE,
IS A CERTAIN INTOLERANCE
ON THE LEFT
AND A CERTAIN TYPE OF--
- A CERTAIN INTOLERANCE
ON THE LEFT.
- LEFT.
THEY ARE UNWILLING TO HEAR
ARGUMENTS THEY DON'T AGREE WITH.
THEY ARE WILLING
TO GO AD HOMINEM LIKE THAT.
THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE TOLERANCE
FOR DISCUSSION
ABOUT EITHER BUSH OR POLICY.
I'VE HAD PEOPLE SAY TO ME,
MY FAMILY, FRIENDS,
PEOPLE I RESPECT--
I STILL DO--THEY SAY TO ME,
"THERE IS NOTHING
YOU COULD POSSIBLY SAY
THAT WILL CHANGE MY MIND."
- THE ONE THING
ABOUT THE CREATIVE COALITION
IS THAT IT IS--THERE ARE
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS
IN THE GROUP.
SO WHEN WE GO TO WASHINGTON
TO ADVOCATE FOR THE ARTS,
IT'S NOT A LOT
OF LIBERAL DEMOCRATS GOING DOWN.
IT'S A BIPARTISAN GROUP.
- WELL, FIRST OF ALL,
BY ITS NATURE,
YOU SAY, WHY WOULD THE ARTS
EVER GET INTO
A POLITICAL SITUATION?
WHERE DID IT TURN
INTO A REPUBLICAN-DEMOCRAT,
CONSERVATIVE-LIBERAL ISSUE?
[cheers and applause]
 [This Land is Your Land
 played on acoustic guitar]
♪ ♪
- ♪ AS I WAS WALKING ♪
♪ THAT RIBBON OF HIGHWAY ♪
♪ I SAW ABOVE ME ♪
♪ AN ENDLESS SKYWAY ♪
- A LOT OF ARTISTS
DON'T GET INVOLVED POLITICALLY.
THE DOMINANT THEORY
OF CAREER MANAGEMENT IS,
DON'T OFFEND ANYBODY.
SO FOR EVERY CELEBRITY
THAT DOES SOMETHING POLITICAL,
THERE'S TEN THAT DON'T.
THOSE THAT DO, I THINK, WERE
BROUGHT UP WITH A SET OF VALUES
TO FEEL THAT
IF YOU GET A MICROPHONE,
SAY SOMETHING VALUABLE.
- ALL RIGHT,
THIS IS WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
WOODY GUTHRIE KNEW,
LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO SUSPECT,
THIS SONG'S
ABOUT SOMETHING OTHER
THAN YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT
ORIGINALLY.
AND IT GOT ME THINKING,
WHO IS THIS LAND FOR ANYWAY?
I GOT A FEELING THIS LAND
WAS NOT MADE
FOR BILLIONAIRES AND BANKERS.
[cheers and applause]
I GOT A FEELING THIS LAND
WAS NOT MADE
FOR CELEBUTANTES
AND REALITY TV SHOWS.
- DO YOU EVER GET PEOPLE
WHO WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW,
"THAT MUSIC,
IT'S TOO POLITICAL.
JUST DO SONGS
AND DON'T BE POLITICAL?"
- WELL, I MEAN, I THINK
THAT ALL MUSIC IS POLITICAL.
I THINK THAT THERE'S--
THE BREAD AND CIRCUSES
OF POP ESCAPIST MUSIC
IS NO LESS POLITICAL
THAN THE MUSIC OF EARLY DYLAN
OR RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE.
ONE THING THAT I FIND AMAZING
IS THAT SOMEHOW
WHEN YOU PICK UP A GUITAR,
YOU PUT DOWN YOUR FIRST
AMENDMENT RIGHTS TO COMMENT.
YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE
TO HAVE AN HONORS DEGREE
FROM POLITICAL SCIENCE
IN HARVARD
IN ORDER TO COMMENT
ON THE MATTERS OF THE DAY
OR KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG.
I DO HAPPEN TO HAVE
AN HONORS DEGREE
FROM POLITICAL SCIENCE
AT HARVARD.
[laughter]
[upbeat hip-hop music]
♪ ♪
- IN GENERAL, CREATIVE PEOPLE
COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
MANY OF THEM COME
FROM VERY POOR BACKGROUND.
CERTAINLY WHEN YOU THINK
OF HIP-HOP,
FOR DECADES, I THINK, HAVE BEEN
ALMOST THE ONLY PUBLIC VOICES
OF POOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN
CULTURE.
AND A LOT OF ROCK AND ROLL
PEOPLE OR ACTORS
COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK THAT
THEY HAVE A MONOPOLY ON WISDOM,
AND THERE ARE LIMITS TO THEIR
VALUE IN DISCUSSING ISSUES.
THEY'RE NOT PROFESSORS.
THEY'RE NOT POLICY ANALYSTS.
THEY'RE NOT SCIENTISTS.
BUT AS COMMUNICATORS,
THEY CERTAINLY
ARE AS VALID TO ME
AS PEOPLE WHO GO
TO LAW SCHOOL.
- ♪ I MUST ADMIT
ON SOME OCCASIONS ♪
♪ I WENT OUT LIKE A PUNK
AND A CHUMP ♪
- HAVE YOU BEEN ACTIVELY
POLITICAL?
- I TEND TO AVOID DIRECT--
DIRECT POLITICAL COMMENT
IN A SONG
UNLESS I HAVE A METAPHOR.
AND THE METAPHOR
CAN STAND FOR ANYTHING.
BUT THEN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S UNDERNEATH THAT.
I SPOKE SPECIFICALLY
ABOUT PINOCHET IN ONE SONG
MANY YEARS AGO
ABOUT THE DISAPPEARED.
BUT THE CENTRAL METAPHOR OF THAT
WAS WOMEN DANCING ON THEIR OWN
WITH THE PICTURES OF
THEIR LOVED ONES PINNED TO THEM.
AND I FOUND THAT
A VERY POIGNANT METAPHOR.
YOU COULD UNDERSTAND
WHETHER YOU KNEW ANYTHING
ABOUT CHILE OR PINOCHET.
AND YET IF YOU KNEW ABOUT IT,
IT WAS SO MUCH MORE POWERFUL.
- ♪ I AIN'T NOTHING
BUT A SIMPLE MAN ♪
♪ THEY CALL ME A REDNECK ♪
♪ I RECKON THAT I AM ♪
♪ BUT THERE'S THINGS GOING ON
MAKE ME MAD DOWN TO THE CORE ♪
♪ I HAVE TO WORK LIKE A DOG
TO MAKE ENDS MEET ♪
♪ THERE'S CROOKED POLITICIANS
AND CRIME IN THE STREET ♪
♪ AND I'M MADDER THAN HELL ♪
♪ I AIN'T GONNA TAKE IT
NO MORE ♪
I TRULY AND HONESTLY BELIEVE
THAT THIS COUNTRY
IS THE GREATEST COUNTRY
THAT MANKIND HAS EVER KNOWN.
I WANT TO SEE IT STAY
THAT WAY.
AND THAT'S--IT'S LIKE
THE POLARIZATION
IS CERTAINLY NOT HELPING ANY.
AND I MEAN, YOU KNOW,
I'M ALWAYS THINKING
SOMEBODY TO ASK
ABOUT SOMETHING.
I MEAN, IF THERE'S SOMETHING
I DON'T LIKE,
IF CONGRESS DONE SOMETHING
I DON'T LIKE,
I'M THE FIRST ONE
TO TAKE THEM TO TASK FOR IT.
I MEAN, I'LL JUST SIT HERE
AND TELL YOU.
I MEAN, THIS--YOU KNOW, I DON'T
THINK THEY'VE DONE ANYTHING.
I THINK THEY'RE THE MOST
A DO-NOTHING BUNCH PEOPLE.
EVERYBODY--HALF OF THEM--
IF THEY COULD--
IT'S THE SAME THING
YOU JUST SAID, BARRY.
IT'S THE POLARIZATION.
IT'S, "I CAN'T DO THIS
BECAUSE I'M A DEMOCRAT."
"I CAN'T DO THIS
BECAUSE I'M A REPUBLICAN."
THEY'RE AMERICANS,
FIRST OF ALL.
THEN THEY'RE DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS.
- A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT,
THERE'S A POLARIZATION
OF POLITICS.
WHAT KEEPS FEEDING
THAT SEPARATION?
- IT GETS INTO THE AIR
THROUGH FOX NEWS
AND THINGS LIKE THAT,
YOU KNOW?
IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
IT'S--YOU KNOW, AND--
YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONE STORY.
THEY'RE GREAT--
THE RIGHT WING IN THIS COUNTRY,
THE CONSERVATIVE MEDIA
IN THIS COUNTRY
ARE REALLY TALENTED
AT SOME THINGS, RIGHT?
AND THEY'RE REALLY TALENTED
AT TAKING ONE STORY
WHICH ISN'T NECESSARILY
REPRESENTATIVE OF SOMETHING
BUT MAKING IT REPRESENTATIVE
OF SOMETHING
THAT THEY BELIEVE
TO EXIST OUT THERE
AND THAT THEY WANT
TO GIN UP THEIR PEOPLE ABOUT.
THIS "REPUBLICANS CAN'T--
"CONSERVATIVES CAN'T GET WORK
IN HOLLYWOOD" IS AN EXAMPLE.
THAT'S HOW THEY WIN ELECTIONS.
YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO--
THEY HAVE TO WIN ELECTIONS
BASED ON GETTING THEIR
CONSTITUENCY ANGRY AND GINNED UP
ABOUT THE LIBERALS WHO ARE
SUPPOSEDLY RUNNING THE COUNTRY
AND LEADING THE COUNTRY
TO GALLOPING RUIN
AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND IF OBAMA
DOES BECOME PRESIDENT,
I WOULD EXPECT POLARIZATION
TO INCREASE IN THE SHORT TERM.
- YOU DO?
- YEAH, 'CAUSE THAT'LL BE
THE ONLY KIND OF WEAPON
THAT THE RIGHT WING
WILL HAVE AGAINST HIM.
- THE WEDGE ISSUES
ARE SO SUCCESSFUL POLITICALLY.
THE PARTIES ARE SO MUCH DEFINED
BY OPPOSITE ENDS
OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM.
- YOU KNOW,
I'VE LIVED A LONG TIME,
SO I'VE BEEN ABLE
TO SEE A LOT OF CHANGES.
YOU KNOW, I WAS A CHILD
IN WORLD WAR II.
AND EVERYBODY
USED TO BE NICER.
WHEN POLITICIANS SPOKE,
THEY RESPECTED EACH OTHER.
WHEN THEY SPOKE
ABOUT THEIR OPPONENT,
THEY SPOKE RESPECTFULLY.
AND IT'S GOTTEN SO NASTY
AND SO DIRTY.
- ONE OF MY BIGGEST JOBS
IN THE EIGHT YEARS
THAT I WAS SPEAKER
WAS BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER
AROUND THE TABLE
AND FINDING CONSENSUS.
THE SYSTEM RIGHT NOW
IS JUST GRIDLOCK.
GOVERNMENT DOESN'T HAVE
TO DO EVERYTHING.
ONE OF THE REASONS I DECIDED
TO LEAVE CONGRESS:
I CAN DO MORE ON THE OUTSIDE
THAN I CAN DO ON THE INSIDE.
IT GOT FRUSTRATING.
- WELL, THAT'S INTERESTING,
BECAUSE YOU CAN CERTAINLY
APPLY THAT TO AL GORE.
AL GORE WAS VICE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.
GLOBAL WARMING
WAS AN ISSUE OF HIS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH
HE TALKED ABOUT IT.
BUT THE POINT IS,
WHEN HE FINALLY LEFT POLITICS,
WHEN HE ENDED UP
MAKING A DOCUMENTARY
ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING...
- TEMPERATURE INCREASES
ARE TAKING PLACE
ALL OVER THE WORLD,
AND THAT'S CAUSING
STRONGER STORMS.
- THIS IS THE BIGGEST CRISIS
IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY.
- SUDDENLY THAT ISSUE
BECAME WIDESPREAD
BECAUSE IT WAS PICKED UP
BY ALL THE TALK SHOWS.
THE VICE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES
IS MAKING A MOVIE ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, GLOBAL WARMING.
THAT BECOMES A STORY
IN ITSELF.
AND THEN, OF COURSE,
IT WINS AN ACADEMY AWARD.
NOW THAT EVEN FEEDS IT MORE.
ENTERTAINMENT
IS RUNNING STORIES.
- LOOKS LIKE YOU GUYS
ARE FITTING IN
QUITE WELL HERE IN HOLLYWOOD.
THIS FILM HAS GROSSED, WHAT,
$42 MILLION, I HEAR.
- AND THOSE WHO WERE,
IN A SENSE,
NOT EVEN AWARE
OF GLOBAL WARMING
ARE NOW ACTUALLY BEGINNING
TO GET THAT INFORMATION,
NOT FROM A POLITICAL
POINT OF VIEW
BUT BECAUSE IT'S NOW
IN THE ENTERTAINMENT WORLD.
- WHO DO YOU HAVE ON?
- THIS IS MADE BY RALPH LAUREN.
- THIS IS TRULY
A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
AND WE ARE THRILLED TO BE HERE
AND TO HELP SHED SOME LIGHT
AND, YOU KNOW--AND SPOTLIGHT
SOME ATTENTION ON THIS ISSUE.
[applause]
- THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT'S A PLEASURE
AND TRULY AN HONOR TO BE HERE.
BACK WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL,
MY MOTHER WENT CRAZY.
AND AT 17 YEARS OLD,
I HAD TO AUTHORIZE THE DOCTOR
TO PUT HER AWAY
IN A MENTAL INSTITUTION.
I REALLY HIT THE WALL
WHEN I REALIZED
I DIDN'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT
WHAT MENTAL ILLNESS REALLY WAS
WHEN SHE CALLED HOME
AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHO I WAS.
SHE SAID SHE COULD ONLY
REMEMBER THE PHONE NUMBER.
AND I SAID,
"WELL, I'M YOUR SON, GIANCARLO."
AND SHE SAID,
"WHO IS THAT?"
AFTER YEARS,
WE FINALLY WERE ABLE
TO FIND THE RIGHT MEDICATION
TO STABILIZE HER OUT.
SO WHEN TALKING
ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH REFORM,
IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
THAT OUR SCIENCE IS CHANGING
AND THAT THERE ARE THINGS
THAT WE CAN DO
TO DELIVER OUR FRIENDS,
LOVED ONES
BACK TO WHO THEY REALLY ARE.
[indistinct conversation]
- HEY, IT'S TONY.
HI, SO I JUST WALKED...
- NO, I THINK THE ENTIRE USE
OF THE BIG SCREEN
IS A BETTER THING
THAN WHAT THE DEMOCRATS HAD.
- LOOK AT ALL THE TEXANS
ARE DRESSED ALIKE.
THAT'S NICE.
THAT'S NICE.
- I LIKE THE STRAW HATS.
- NOW, WHY--SEE,
WHY ARE YOU PROFILING?
WHY ARE YOU ASSUMING
THEY'RE TEXANS?
- BECAUSE THEY'RE STANDING--
- THEY COULD BE FROM OKLAHOMA.
- THEY'RE STANDING IN FRONT
OF THE TEXAS SIGN.
- OH, OKAY.
- LOOKS LIKE OREGON TO ME.
- THERE'S NO DIALOGUE.
THERE'S NO DIALOGUE.
THERE'S NO THOUGHT.
IT'S JUST A TV SHOW.
THERE'S A TELEPROMPTER RUNNING,
AND THE GUYS GET UP THERE
AND READ,
AND THEY'RE TV ACTORS.
THIS IS SO CONTROLLED,
AND IT'S SO--
IT'S SO CHOREOGRAPHED
THAT IT ISN'T REALLY
A CONVENTION.
IT'S JUST, WE GO THERE,
AND WE'RE JUST PROPS.
- WE'RE JUST HERE
TO RUBBER-STAMP
WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN DECIDED.
WE'RE NOT HERE
TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING
OR MAKE ANY DISCUSSIONS
OR HAVE ANY KIND OF A DEBATE
ABOUT ANY ISSUES.
WE'RE JUST HERE TO--
AND WE'RE DONE.
SO IF WE CAN GET IT DONE
IN A HALF AN HOUR
AND THERE WAS A HUGE HURRICANE,
THEY COULD HAVE JUST SENT
EVERYBODY HOME,
'CAUSE THERE'S NOT REALLY MUCH
TO DO HERE.
- THIS IS ALL
ABOUT SELLING COMMERCIAL TIME.
IT'S A TV SHOW.
MIGHT AS WELL
BE WATCHING BAYWATCH.
- WE THE PEOPLE,
THE CITIZENS
OF THE UNITED STATES,
GET TO DECIDE
OUR NEXT PRESIDENT,
NOT THE LEFT-WING MEDIA,
NOT HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES,
NOT ANYONE ELSE
BUT THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA.
[cheers and applause]
- SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN'S
JUST GAMBLED HIS CHANCES
OF BECOMING PRESIDENT
ON A RUNNING MATE
WHOSE POLITICAL EXPERIENCE
ABOVE THE LEVEL
OF MAYOR OF A HAMLET
CONSISTS OF EXACTLY 635 DAYS
AS THE GOVERNOR
OF THE 47TH MOST POPULOUS STATE
IN THE UNION.
[cheers and applause]
all: SARAH, SARAH, SARAH.
- YEAH, THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT
IN A TIME OF CRISIS
IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
WHEN SHE GOT A PHONE CALL
AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING,
IT WAS 'CAUSE A MOOSE HAD GOTTEN
INTO THE GARBAGE CANS.
- SHE'S A REAL HUMAN.
SHE'S EXPERIENCED.
YOU KNOW, THE RAISING A FAMILY,
WAS INVOLVED WITH, YOU KNOW,
CHILDREN'S UPS AND DOWNS,
TEENAGERS.
AT TIMES, THEY'RE ALWAYS
THE HORMONAL CONFUSION.
- THE PRESIDENT RUNNING
THIS COUNTRY,
I WANT THAT PERSON
TO AT ONE POINT
AT LEAST HAVE HAD
A FIVE-MINUTE CONVERSATION
WITH HER TEENAGED KIDS
ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL.
THAT'S ALL.
[cheers and applause]
- DON'T YOU THINK
WE'VE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE
FOR THE NEXT VICE PRESIDENT...
[cheers and applause]
- WHEN SARAH PALIN
IS BROUGHT IN TO BE THE VP
AT THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION,
SHE HASN'T EVEN COME OUT,
SHE HASN'T GIVEN HER SPEECH,
AND THEY'RE SCREAMING,
"SARAH, SARAH, SARAH,"
LIKE FINALLY,
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS,
WE'RE GONNA GET SARAH
TO BE THE VP.
AND THERE WAS THIS FERVOR
ABOUT IT.
AND THE DAY BEFORE,
THEY NEVER HEARD OF HER.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
HOW COULD THEY BE THIS EXCITED
ABOUT A WOMAN
THEY DIDN'T KNOW YESTERDAY?
- THEY WEREN'T.
THEY ARE PROFESSIONAL
POLITICIANS.
THE CONVENTION HALL IS FILLED
WITH PROFESSIONAL POLITICIANS.
EVERY SINGLE PERSON THERE,
EVERY SINGLE DELEGATE
IS A PROFESSIONAL MEMBER
OF THAT PARTY.
THEIR JOB
IS TO CLAP LIKE SEALS
WHEN THESE CHARACTERS EMERGE.
THEY DON'T FEEL THAT STRONGLY
ABOUT THEM.
THEY DON'T FEEL
MUCH DIFFERENTLY
FROM WHAT
THE GENERAL PUBLIC FEELS.
THEY KNOW THE WEAKNESSES.
THEY--THEY'RE LIKE SPORTS FANS.
YOU KNOW, THEY KNOW THE OTHER
TEAM IS FAVORED BY 20 POINTS,
BUT THEY'RE CHEERING
FOR THEIR TEAM.
THE GREAT CRIME OF THAT
WAS HOW THE MEDIA CARRIED IT,
'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T
KNOW HER EITHER.
YOU KNOW,
WE WERE ALL LOOKING UP,
YOU KNOW,
HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE HER NAME?
YOU KNOW, ON THAT FIRST DAY,
"IS IT 'PAY-LIN', 'PA'--
YOU KNOW, 'PAH-LIN'?"
YOU KNOW, WE WERE ALL--SO WE
WERE ALL HUSTLING, YOU KNOW?
AND THEY JUST ALL FELL FOR,
YOU KNOW, FIRST IMPRESSIONS.
AND THEY FELL FOR THE FACT THAT
SHE CAN READ A TELEPROMPTER.
- I GUESS A SMALL-TOWN MAYOR
IS SORT OF LIKE
A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER,
EXCEPT THAT YOU HAVE
ACTUAL RESPONSIBILITIES.
[cheers and applause]
- HE WORKED
AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER.
[laughing] WHAT?
- "COMMUNITY ORGANIZER"
WAS USED FOR COMEDIC EFFECT
AT THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.
THEY WERE MAKING FUN
OF THE ESSENTIAL SKILLS
THAT MADE
THIS PARTICULAR CANDIDATE
ABLE TO ORGANIZE A CAMPAIGN,
KEEP IT ORGANIZED,
TAKE IT NATIONAL.
AND SO YOU--
FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME,
YOU LOOK AT THAT CAMPAIGN,
AND THE LONGER YOU LOOK AT IT,
THE KEY TO IT ORGANIZATIONALLY
AND STRATEGICALLY
IS THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZER
IN CHIEF.
- ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S START
WITH YOU, BARRY.
COULD THE REPUBLICAN PARTY,
WHO'S HAD A MISERABLE
FOUR- OR FIVE-YEAR RUN,
DIRECTED LAST NIGHT ANY BETTER
FOR THEIR BASE?
- YOU KNOW, THEY HAD
TO BRING FORWARD A NEW STORY...
- RIGHT.
- HOCKEY MOM STORY.
WITHOUT BEING CYNICAL
TO ANY OF IT,
YOU WONDER WHETHER THINGS
ARE JUST GONNA BE TERMS
OF STORYTELLING
IS HOW WE'RE GONNA ELECT PEOPLE
OR WHETHER OR NOT ISSUES
ARE REALLY GONNA PLAY OUT.
IF YOU FIND THE RIGHT WAY
TO TELL THE STORY,
THAT BECOMES THE STORY.
BUSH WAS PORTRAYED
AS THIS TEXAN,
STRAIGHT SHOOTER,
GOT A RANCH,
GONNA TALK STRAIGHT TALK.
AND YOU CAN CREATE
THAT CHARACTER
JUST LIKE YOU CREATE A CHARACTER
IN A MOVIE.
IN OTHER WORDS, HUMPHREY BOGART
WAS A TOUGH STREET GUY.
HUMPHREY BOGART IN REAL LIFE
WAS AN UPPER MIDDLE-CLASS
NEW YORKER.
- SOMEONE TOLD ME THIS RECENTLY,
A VERY GOOD PAINTER FRIEND
OF MINE.
HE SAID,
"THE PROBLEM WITH CELEBRITY
"IS THAT YOU DON'T REALIZE
THAT YOU EXIST
IN A TWO-DIMENSIONAL WORLD
TO MOST PEOPLE."
THEY LOOK AT YOU ON FILM,
ON TV.
WE WANT OUR CELEBRITIES
TO BE MYSTICAL, IN A SENSE,
TO BE ALMOST GODLIKE,
IN A WAY.
AND I THINK ANY TIME
THERE'S A CONNECTION
BETWEEN SUDDENLY YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT SOMETHING
THAT I ALSO HAVE SOME OPINION
ABOUT AS A NORMAL PERSON,
IT DOESN'T--
THE DISCONNECT BEGINS.
YOU'RE NOT LIVING
IN THE FANTASY WORLD ANYMORE.
- POLITICS,
FOR BETTER OR WORSE,
IS TIED
TO THE TELEVISION CAMERA,
AND SO IS THE NATURE
OF CELEBRITY.
SO EVERYBODY HAS TO PUT ON
SOMEHOW A GOOD IMAGE.
WHETHER IT'S A REAL IMAGE
OR NOT,
YOU HAVE TO COME UP
WITH AN IMAGE.
- YEAH, AND I MEAN--
AND IT CAN BE--
YOU KNOW,
IT CAN BE YOUR OWN DOING.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW,
BUT I DID THE BILL MAHER SHOW
WITH RALPH NADER.
HERE'S A GUY
WHO HAS A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS.
AND THE WAY HE LOOKS AND THE WAY
HE DELIVERS THOSE IDEAS
ARE SO PROFOUNDLY SCARY
ON TELEVISION,
IT'S TERRIFYING.
AND IF SOMEONE ELSE
DELIVERED THAT MESSAGE,
IT WOULD BE
A LOT MORE PALATABLE.
- SO IF BEING TELEGENIC
IS IMPORTANT
TO BEING PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES,
WHERE WOULD THAT LEAVE LINCOLN?
THAT'S NOT A TELEGENIC FACE.
PLUS, HE SUFFERED
FROM MELANCHOLY OR DEPRESSION.
YOU PUT THE CAMERA
IN HIS FACE EVERY DAY,
THAT'S NOT GONNA WORK.
JOHN ADAMS: A LITTLE TOO ROUND,
LITTLE TOO PUDGY.
PLUS, HE SPOKE WITH A LISP.
TAFT: A LITTLE TOO FAT.
LATE-NIGHT COMICS
WOULD HAVE A FIELD DAY WITH HIM.
IN FACT, HE WAS SO HEAVY
THAT THE STORY GOES
THAT HE GOT STUCK
IN THE WHITE HOUSE BATHTUB.
BOY, THAT JOKE
WOULD PROBABLY PLAY OUT
FOR HIS ENTIRE PRESIDENCY.
FDR: MIGHT WORK
FOR TELEVISION,
BUT BECAUSE HE SUFFERED
WITH POLIO,
BACK IN THOSE DAYS,
THEY COULD HIDE THAT FACT.
NOWADAYS, YOU COULDN'T.
SO HE MIGHT BE UNDER
THE CLOSE SCRUTINY
OF MAYBE HE'S TOO FRAGILE
TO BE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.
MAYBE HE DOESN'T HAVE
THE STAMINA FOR THE JOB.
SO WHAT WE HAVE TODAY
IS A WORLD
WHERE WE VIEW EVERYTHING THROUGH
THE EYES OF THE TELEVISION.
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW BRILLIANT
THAT PERSON MIGHT BE
WHO'S RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW QUALIFIED
THAT PERSON MIGHT BE.
IF THEY ARE NOT TELEGENIC,
THEY CANNOT BECOME PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.
WE ARE ABOUT THIS FAR AWAY
FROM THE POLITICAL VERSION
OF MISS AMERICA.
- THE OTHER THING IS--
I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS--
THE THEATRICS OF LAST NIGHT.
I MEAN, CLEARLY,
EVERYTHING WAS ORCHESTRATED,
FROM THE BABY TO THE REMARK
ABOUT THE LIPSTICK.
AND EVERYTHING IS ORCH--
BUT EVERYTHING IS ORCHESTRATED
ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE TOO.
AND WHEN SHE TOOK THE CHEAP SHOT
ABOUT THE STYROFOAM COLUMNS,
IT'S ALL HOLLY--
THAT IS ALL ABOUT HOLLYWOOD.
IT IS ALL--
IT WAS ALL A SHOW LAST NIGHT.
- NO, SHE'S TALKING ABOUT THAT,
AND BEHIND HER,
YOU'VE GOT THE AMERICA
THE BEAUTIFUL FLOATING BY.
AND THERE'S MOUNT RUSHMORE,
AND THERE'S BEAUTIFUL LAKES,
AND THERE'S MOUNTAINS,
AND THAT'S HER BACKDROP.
HE'S GOT COLUMNS.
SHE'S GOT THIS.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW,
IT'S ALL BASICALLY--
- IT'S ALL THEATER.
- IT'S ALL THEATER.
WE ARE BASICALLY, PERHAPS,
ROME ABOUT TO COLLAPSE,
AND WE'RE NOW BEING THRILLED
BY THESE STORYTELLERS.
- YES, YES, WE ARE.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE.
WE ARE. WE ARE.
- WE ARE, LITERALLY, YEAH.
WE'RE LISTENING TO THE MUSIC
ON THE TITANIC AND SAYING,
"I LIKE THE OTHER SONG BETTER."
I WAS THINKING
OF CHARLIE DANIELS' COMMENT
ABOUT THE LEFT, THE RIGHT,
LIBERALS, CONSERVATIVES,
DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS,
AND HIS COMMENT
THAT WE ARE AMERICANS FIRST.
AND I WAS THINKING
ABOUT THE POLARIZATION
THAT WE FACE TODAY,
AND I WAS WONDERING
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
IF WE WOULD BRING TOGETHER
THE SO-CALLED CELEBRITY,
THE SO-CALLED MAIN STREET,
AND BRING THESE PEOPLE TOGETHER,
LET THEM SIT IN A ROOM,
LET THEM TALK TO ONE ANOTHER
FACE-TO-FACE.
I WAS CURIOUS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.
- WHEN YOU THINK
OF WHAT HOLLYWOOD,
THE IMPACT OF HOLLYWOOD
ON AMERICA,
BY A SHOW OF HANDS,
HOW MANY OF YOU BELIEVE
IT'S NEGATIVE IN GENERAL?
- BUT AFTER WHAT HE SAID.
- WHY--WHY--
WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S NEGATIVE?
- I THINK THEY TRY TO USE
THEIR INFLUENCE,
THEIR MONEY, THEIR NOTORIETY
TO PUSH AN ISSUE,
BE IT RIGHT OR WRONG.
THEY DON'T--THEY DON'T LET
THE VOTER THINK FOR THEMSELVES.
IT'S THEIR WAY OR NO WAY.
- I DON'T THINK
THAT THEY DON'T KEEP THE VOTER
FROM THINKING FOR THEMSELVES.
WHAT ANNOYS ME THE MOST
IS THE UNDUE INFLUENCE THEY HAVE
BECAUSE ALL YOU HAVE
TO DO IS SHOW UP,
AND A CAMERA COMES ON.
I COULD HAVE READ RUSSELL KIRK
AND EVERYTHING THAT I NEED
TO KNOW ABOUT THE SUBJECT
AND BE RIGHT,
BUT YOU'RE GOOD-LOOKING,
AND A CAMERA FOLLOWS YOU.
THEREFORE, YOUR MESSAGE
IS MAGNIFIED
EVEN IF IT'S WRONG.
THAT'S WHAT DRIVES ME NUTS.
- AND I THINK WHAT HAS HAPPENED
IS THAT THE CELEBRITY
OF HOLLYWOOD
HAS CROSSED THE LINE OVER
INTO WHAT IS ACTUALLY NEWS
AND TRUTH.
I'LL SAY IT:
I THINK EVEN FOX NEWS
SOMETIMES GETS SALACIOUS
IN SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT THEY PUT OUT THERE.
- OKAY, GET OUT.
[laughter]
- THE CELEBRITY STATUS
AND E-NETWORKS AND ALL THAT
HAS BLED OVER
INTO BEING NEWS,
AND NEWS HAS BECOME
CELEBRITY SENSATIONALISM.
- THERE IS A LEVEL OF ARROGANCE
IN HOLLYWOOD
THAT WE CAN'T STAND.
YOU GUYS THINK
THAT YOU KNOW EVERYTHING,
THAT YOU HAVE
ALL THE ANSWERS,
THAT YOU SPEAK FOR US.
YOU DO NOT.
YOU DON'T SPEAK
FOR THE GENERAL AMERICA.
I'M ALWAYS SHOCKED
AT HOW YOU GUYS VIEW THE WORLD.
YOU LIVE IN SUCH A SMALL,
ISOLATED COMMUNITY.
YOU'RE NOT
THE NORMAL AMERICA.
WHEN YOU OWN EIGHT HOMES,
WHEN YOU MAKE MULTIMILLIONS,
WHEN YOU HAVE AGENTS
AND CAMERA PEOPLE
AND COSMETIC PEOPLE
CONSTANTLY BUILDING YOU UP
AND YESSING YOU ALL THE TIME,
YOU GUYS DON'T GET
WHAT IT'S LIKE.
AND THEN YOU COME AT US
AND SAY,
"YOU DON'T THINK
LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY,"
AND YOU BELITTLE US.
YOU BELITTLE US,
AND YOU DEMEAN US
BECAUSE WE DON'T THINK
LIKE YOU DO,
SO THEREFORE, WE'RE STUPID.
WE'RE STUPID AMERICANS
OUT THERE.
AND THAT'S JUST NOT FAIR.
- YOU'RE LOOKING AT ME,
SO I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT.
- I'M NOT JUST LOOKING AT YOU.
- NO, IT'S OKAY.
YOU KNOW, ONE THING THAT,
YOU KNOW,
I THINK IS IMPORTANT
FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND
IS THAT I--YOU KNOW, WHATEVER
YOU THINK MY LIFE MIGHT--
WHATEVER YOU THINK MY LIFE
MIGHT BE RIGHT NOW,
YOU KNOW,
I DIDN'T START THIS WAY.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW,
I'VE BEEN A COOK
AND A CARPENTER
AND HAD A FLOOR TILING COMPANY
AND PUMPED GAS AND WORKED
ON A BEE FARM IN MISSOURI
AND DONE ALL KINDS
OF VARIOUS JOBS.
I'VE DRIVEN CARPOOL
FOR ENDLESS HOURS,
AND I MISS IT LIKE CRAZY.
I'M VERY ANGRY AT MY CHILDREN
FOR GROWING UP.
YOU KNOW,
I COACHED LITTLE LEAGUE.
I COACHED T-BALL.
I COACHED AYSO SOCCER.
SO I MEAN,
IT'S NOT LIKE--
I DON'T FEEL THAT I PERSONALLY
AM COMPLETELY DIVORCED
FROM THE THINGS THAT,
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE GO THROUGH.
I WORRY ABOUT MY KIDS,
YOU KNOW?
I'VE BEEN INCREDIBLY LUCKY,
INCREDIBLY LUCKY,
AND I'VE WORKED VERY HARD.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK
THAT WE PROBABLY HAVE
A LOT MORE IN COMMON THAN MAYBE,
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ASSUMING.
WE NEED TO FIND THOSE THINGS
WHERE OUR COMMON GROUND
CONNECTS.
AND BECAUSE WE'RE ARTISTS,
YOU KNOW,
ART ALWAYS CONNECTS PEOPLE,
OR FOR THE MOST PART,
IT CONNECTS PEOPLE,
YOU KNOW, LIKE MUSIC.
- MOST OF OUR ISSUES
HAVE BEEN BIPARTISAN.
THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS.
SO AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED,
I DON'T WANT
TO CRITICIZE ANYTHING.
I THINK YOU WANT
TO HEAR OUR MESSAGE,
AND WE WANT
TO HEAR YOUR MESSAGE.
IT'S THE SAME.
- I CAN HEAR
THE PASSION IN YOUR VOICE
ABOUT WANTING
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE,
AND I RESPECT THAT TOTALLY.
AND I RESPECT ALL OF YOU
FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND I THINK OF A QUOTE
THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITES:
"IN ESSENTIALS, UNITY.
IN NONESSENTIALS, CHARITY."
WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
WE CAN RESPECT ONE ANOTHER
AND WORK TOWARDS COMMON GOALS
BUT NOT ATTACK ONE ANOTHER.
- I APPLAUD THE FOLKS HERE
FOR COMING OUT
AND HELPING GET
THE DIALOGUE STARTED.
MY OBJECTION IS WHEN YOU'VE GOT
THE TIM ROBBINS OF THE WORLD,
OUT THERE
WITH VITRIOLIC RHETORIC,
ATTACKING OUR COUNTRY
ALL THE TIME
AND THAT GETS PRESS INSTEAD OF
MAKING A REAL DIALOGUE HAPPEN.
THAT'S A PROBLEM.
- AND WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY
AT THIS CONVENTION.
YOU PEOPLE BE ACCOUNTABLE.
YOU GOT GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.
- BE OUR VOICES.
- FRANK IS ASKING
THAT I WRAP IT UP.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF
OF THE CREATIVE COALITION
AND EVERYBODY HERE,
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
- THANK YOU.
- THANK YOU.
- I WANT TO SAY
ONE OTHER THING.
I WANT TO SAY ONE OTHER THING
WHICH I--
I FEEL THIS IS ME PERSONALLY,
NOT AS A REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE CREATIVE COALITION.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
I REALLY LOVE ABOUT THIS COUNTRY
AND I'VE LOVED EVEN MORE GOING
THROUGH THIS POLITICAL PROCESS
A LITTLE BIT
IS THE FACT
THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE
LIKE ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER
AND TIM ROBBINS.
WE ARE AMERICANS.
WE HAVE BIG SHOULDERS.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN
AND HAVE NICE, TOUGH DIALOGUE,
YOU KNOW,
TO GET IN EACH OTHER'S FACE,
ARGUE IT OUT, AND SHAKE HANDS
AND GO OUR SEPARATE WAYS.
AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE TALKING
IS THE WHOLE DEAL.
- WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN THEY
WERE TALKING ABOUT CELEBRITY
AND THEY WERE ANGRY
ABOUT CELEBRITY?
WHAT WAS YOUR FEELING
AT THAT TIME?
BECAUSE THERE WAS
SOME VERY DIRECTED ANGER
TOWARD CELEBRITY.
WHAT WAS YOUR THOUGHTS?
- THAT--I GOT TO TELL YOU,
THAT REALLY UPSET ME.
THAT REALLY UPSET ME,
BECAUSE I REMEMBER THE TONE
IN THAT WOMAN'S VOICE.
I REMEMBER FEELING
LIKE SHE MEANT IT.
SHE WASN'T TRYING TO IMPRESS
THE PEOPLE AROUND HER.
SHE WAS GENUINELY MAD.
SHE WAS MAD
BECAUSE SHE WASN'T BEING HEARD.
AND WHAT I REMEMBER
THINKING WAS,
IF YOU'RE MAD
THAT WE HAVE A PLATFORM
AND CAN SOMEHOW
BY THAT EXTENSION BE HEARD,
THE PROBLEM ISN'T WITH US.
THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE SUPPOSEDLY "LISTENING"
TO YOU THAT AREN'T.
THE PROBLEM
IS WITH YOUR GOVERNMENT.
- TAKE CARE.
- PLEASURE DIALOGUING WITH YOU.
- THANKS.
- MOST OF THESE FOLKS HERE TODAY
ECHOED THIS UNDERLYING HOSTILITY
THAT THEIR VOICES
WON'T BE HEARD,
THAT THEY ARE UNIMPORTANT,
AND THAT THEY ARE PROBABLY
MORE INFORMED THAN I AM
BUT YET THEIR VOICE
WILL NEVER BE HEARD.
- SEE, THE OTHER ASSUMPTION
THAT I THINK SOMEONE NEEDS
TO EXPOSE AS SILLY IS THAT
EVERYONE OUGHT TO BE INVOLVED.
- [chuckles]
- MOST PEOPLE SHOULD NOT
BE INVOLVED, ACTUALLY.
[laughter]
- I MEAN...
NO, I'M TOTALLY SERIOUS.
THIS IDEA THAT EVERYBODY
OUGHT TO HAVE AN OPINION,
WELL, THAT'S LUDICROUS.
ACTUALLY, MOST PEOPLE
HAVE NO OPINION.
THEY'RE BUSY MAKING
THE COUNTRY BETTER
BY HAVING NICE MARRIAGES,
RAISING DECENT CHILDREN,
SORT OF WORKING HARD
AT THEIR JOBS, DRINKING BEER,
DOING THINGS
THAT NORMAL PEOPLE DO.
AND AMONG CREATIVE PEOPLE
AND PEOPLE INVOLVED
IN NONTRADITIONAL PURSUITS
LIKE ACTING OR JOURNALISTS
OR WHATEVER--
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE NOT
KEEPING A NORMAL SCHEDULE,
THERE'S THIS EXPECTATION
THAT YOU ARE SOMEHOW ENGAGED
IN THE PUBLIC LIFE
OF THE COUNTRY,
AND YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.
AND IN FACT, I WISH MORE PEOPLE
HAD THE COURAGE TO SAY,
"YOU KNOW WHAT?
"I'M PROFOUNDLY INTERESTED IN--
I DON'T KNOW--BIRD-WATCHING,
"FLY-FISHING, ACTING,
WHATEVER.
"I'M NOT SO INTERESTED
IN THE ICBM TREATY
OR SOCIAL SECURITY, BECAUSE
I DON'T KNOW SQUAT ABOUT IT."
IT'S SUPER COMPLICATED.
I HAD A TV SHOW
FOR EIGHT YEARS
WHERE I HAD TO TALK ABOUT
DIFFERENT TOPICS EVERY NIGHT.
I SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE TRYING
TO LEARN JUST BASIC THINGS
LIKE, WHERE DOES
OUR MONEY COME FROM?
AND WHAT I LEARNED IN
THE PROCESS OF THOSE EIGHT YEARS
WAS, NO PERSON COULD UNDERSTAND
HOW MODERN AMERICA WORKS.
AND I DON'T CARE
HOW SMART YOU ARE.
IT'S TOO COMPLEX.
[laughter]
- DEAL WITH THE FACT HERE
THAT A RECENT SURVEY--
I THINK IT WAS
A COUPLE YEARS AGO--
THAT SAID THAT 40%
OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
DON'T KNOW WHO WE FOUGHT
IN WORLD WAR II.
SO WHEN THEY SEE
THOSE PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND
WITH THOSE GERMAN HELMETS
AND EVERYTHING,
WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE?
OR IS IT JUST LIKE--
OR IS IT JUST BASICALLY
 RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK 
TO THEM?
- I WONDER--I MEAN, THAT'S
OBVIOUSLY DEPRESSING AS HELL,
AND EVERYBODY'S AT FAULT,
AND THERE ARE A TON
OF CRAPPY PARENTS OUT THERE,
AND A LOT OF SCHOOLS
ARE REALLY BAD.
BUT I REALLY THINK EVERY SOCIETY
HAS ALWAYS BEEN RUN
BY ABOUT 8% OF THE POPULATION.
I MEAN, THAT'S JUST TRUE.
I MEAN, THIS IS AN ANOMALY,
RIGHT?
IT'S A COUNTRY WHERE WE PRETEND
THAT ALL 300 MILLION OF US
ARE IN CHARGE.
BUT WE KNOW.
LET'S BE REAL.
I MEAN, YOU MUST KNOW 60%
OF THE PEOPLE
WHO RUN THE COUNTRY.
I'M BEING TOTALLY SERIOUS.
BECAUSE THEY LIVE
IN ABOUT FOUR PLACES.
[laughter]
AND THAT'S JUST IT.
IT'S GOVERNMENT OF THE INFORMED
BY THE INFORMED.
THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
AND I'M NOT SAYING
THAT'S A GOOD THING.
I'M NOT TAKING
AN ELITIST POSITION HERE.
I'M JUST SAYING IT'S REALITY.
[cheers and applause]
- ♪ SOME SAY THAT LIFE'S
AN ILLUSION ♪
♪ WHO KNOWS WHAT'S FALSE
OR WHAT'S TRUE ♪
- I GREW UP WITH A TELEVISION
COMING INTO MY HOUSE AS A KID.
I AM NOT SO SURE THAT TELEVISION
ISN'T IN THE END OF THE DAY--
CREATES A GREAT SENSE
OF ENTERTAINMENT
AND AT THE SAME TIME MAY BE
THE MOST DISASTROUS INVENTION
THAT EVER HAPPENED
IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND,
BECAUSE IT FINALLY BLURRED
THE LINES BETWEEN TRUTH,
REALITY, AND MYTHOLOGY.
AND IT MIXED IT ALL UP,
AND WE GOT CONFUSED,
AND WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT
WHAT'S REAL ANYMORE.
AND IT MAY ULTIMATELY MUDDY
THE WATERS TO SUCH A DEGREE
THAT WE ARE LOST
AND WILL NEVER FIND TRUTH.
- ♪ BEWARE OF PERSPECTIVE ♪
- IT'S LIKE REALITY TELEVISION
IS NOT REAL.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE WATCHING
AT THE CONVENTION
IS LIKE REALITY TELEVISION,
AND IT'S NOT REAL.
AND THAT IS THE ACCEPTED REALITY
THAT WE LIVE IN TODAY,
AND ALL OF THIS
IS THE MAKE-BELIEVE,
AND WE LIVE
IN THIS MAKE-BELIEVE WORLD.
[serene accordion music]
♪ ♪
IT MIGHT JUST BE
THAT ULTIMATELY THAT, YOU KNOW,
THE TELEVISION IS SO POWERFUL,
SO INFLUENTIAL,
AND SO ADDICTIVE
THAT WE CAN NEVER FIND
ANY TRUTH.
I DON'T KNOW.
- THAT'S TERRIFYING.
- [laughs]
- THERE'S NO MORE REALITY.
- NO.
- PERFECTLY SAD.
[cheers and applause]
- IT IS MY GREAT PERSONAL HONOR
TO PRESENT
THE 44TH PRESIDENT
OF THESE UNITED STATES,
BARACK OBAMA.
[cheers and applause]
[soft acoustic guitar music]
♪ ♪
- ♪ WHEN I RODE OUT
ON THAT RIBBON HIGHWAY ♪
♪ I SAW ABOVE ME
THE ENDLESS SKY ♪
♪ I SAW BELOW ME ♪
- SO WHAT YOU HAVE NOW IS,
YOU HAVE CELEBRITIES
THAT NEED MEDIA
IF THEY WANT TO SPOTLIGHT
THEIR SPECIAL CAUSES.
THE MEDIA NEEDS THE CELEBRITY
BECAUSE IT'S RATINGS,
AND RATINGS MEANS MONEY.
AND THE POLITICIANS
NEED CELEBRITIES AND THE MEDIA
TO HELP THEM GET ELECTED
OR REELECTED
AND ALSO TO BRING ATTENTION
TO THEIR CAUSES.
SO EVERYONE
IS SELLING SOMETHING.
SO WHAT YOU END UP WITH
IS SORT OF THIS UNHOLY ALLIANCE
OF THE THREE:
THE POLITICIAN,
THE CELEBRITY,
MEDIA.
AND PERHAPS THAT'S THE FORM
OF DEMOCRACY WE HAVE TODAY.
- ♪ THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND ♪
♪ THIS LAND IS MY LAND ♪
♪ FROM CALIFORNIA ♪
♪ TO THE NEW YORK ISLANDS ♪
♪ FROM THE REDWOOD FOREST ♪
♪ TO THE GULF STREAM WATERS ♪
♪ THIS LAND WAS MADE
FOR YOU AND ME ♪
♪ WELL, THE SUN WAS SHINING ♪
♪ SO I WENT STROLLING ♪
♪ THROUGH
THE WHEAT FIELDS WAVING ♪
♪ AND THE DUST CLOUDS ROLLING ♪
♪ AND A VOICE WAS SOUNDING ♪
♪ AND THE FOG WAS LIFTING ♪
♪ VOICE SAID THIS LAND
WAS MADE FOR YOU AND ME ♪
♪ THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND ♪
♪ THIS LAND IS MY LAND ♪
♪ FROM CALIFORNIA ♪
♪ TO THE NEW YORK ISLANDS ♪
♪ FROM THE REDWOOD FOREST ♪
♪ TO THE GULF STREAM WATERS ♪
♪ THIS LAND WAS MADE
FOR YOU AND ME ♪
♪ I SAID
HEY, MR. PRESIDENT ♪
♪ I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT ♪
♪ ALL ABOUT POVERTY ♪
♪ IN OUR SOULS ♪
♪ WHAT ABOUT THE WELFARE ♪
♪ MISTER, IT SEEMS
LIKE YOU DON'T CARE ♪
♪ I KNOW THIS LAND
WAS MADE FOR YOU AND ME ♪
♪ I SAID HEY, MR. PRESIDENT,
NO, NO, NO ♪
♪ I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT ♪
♪ AND WHAT ABOUT THE POVERTY ♪
♪ THAT'S IN OUR SOULS ♪
♪ HEY, HEY, HEY,
WHAT ABOUT THE WELFARE ♪
♪ MISTER, IT SEEMS
LIKE YOU DON'T CARE ♪
♪ AND I KNOW THAT THIS LAND
WAS MADE FOR YOU AND ME ♪
♪ HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY,
MR. PRESIDENT ♪
♪ MM, I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT ♪
♪ UH-HUH,
NOW, WHAT ABOUT THE POVERTY ♪
♪ THAT'S DEEP INSIDE
OUR SOULS ♪
♪ NO, NOW, TELL ME, DON'T YOU
GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE WELFARE ♪
♪ 'CAUSE, MISTER, IT SEEMS
LIKE YOU JUST DON'T CARE ♪
♪ I KNOW THIS LAND
WAS MADE FOR YOU AND ME ♪
Captioning by CaptionMax
 www.captionmax.com
