Column: In memory of a celebri-tician
April 8, 2008
It’s a sad day for the Old Testament because Moses died, again. No, I’m not going to make fun of Charlton Heston because 1) that’s terrible 2) it’s too soon and 3) he is kind of a big deal in this country, whether you agree with him or not. He was Moses. He was Ben-Hur. He was Julius Caesar twice. He played a few presidents here and there and he won some Academy Awards. But the roles he is most remembered for have nothing to do with acting, and more to do with extreme political statements. And when I say extreme, I’m not really talking about Jane Fonda in Vietnam, but more along the lines of leading the largest lobby group in the country for five years and serving as an icon for many conservative ideologists.
Heston was not always a beacon for conservatism. In the 1960s, Heston supported Kennedy and often touted the importance of civil rights. It wasn’t until 1964 that he became a fan of Barry Goldwater. Even up to that point, the California Democrats tried to get him to run as a Democratic Senator in 1969, after he campaigned in 1968 for a gun control initiative (change of heart, maybe). He cast his first Republican ballot in 1972 for former President Richard Nixon, and from there it was no turning back.
As reported by Eric Harrison in Sunday’s Houston Chronicle, Heston preached a different story regarding racial sensitivity in the late 1990s.
“He began to speak about white pride and ‘a great civil war, a cultural war’ that he said threatened the country, and white supremacists such as David Duke praised him,” Harrison wrote.
I’m going out on a limb here so as not to threaten the huge white supremacist audience of The Maneater, but that’s just a little uncalled for. In an era of Michael Richards, Isaiah Washington and Don Imus, this incident doesn’t even register in the minds of the majority of folks. Everyone thinks of Cosmo Kramer as a bigot, Preston Burke as a homophobe or Don Imus as an insensitive misogynist moron, but Heston is still the gun-loving Ben Hur.
I guess we all make mistakes at different stages in our lives, but having David Duke agree with your mistakes really isn’t a great vote of confidence.
Aside from all the hoopla and in addition to his Oscars, President George Bush also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Heston in 2003 for the work he did with the National Rifle Association. While Heston was president of the NRA, its membership nearly doubled from 2.9 million to 5 million. He was also seen as a helping hand to Bush’s 2000 campaign. The NRA has proven to be the most influential interest group in the country and is an enormous foundation for the Republican Party.
It’s not unusual for actors and members of Hollywood entertainment to hold an influential stake in American politics. What is unusual is for an actor as well known as Heston to hold such a large chunk of power in the Republican Party, especially without ever formally being involved in politics. So while many people will spend the next few days remembering an accomplished actor, let it not go unknown that he was a pioneer for celebr-ticians everywhere.
More April 8, 2008 Outlook Stories
- Sturtz wins First Ward — Boone County Clerk Wendy Noren will verify the results on Wednesday.
- Sprinkler requirement ordinance tabled — City Council members ended up perplexed Monday night when faced with what to do about an ordinance that would require ...
- In memory of a celebri-tician — It’s a sad day for the Old Testament because Moses died, again. No, I’m not going to make fun of ...
- Man attempts rape in Prathersville area — Eric E. Williams’ bond is set at $25,000 cash.
- Business leaders share experience — Leaders from well-known local businesses met with students and members of the business community Friday at Columbia College to shed ...
Most recent Outlook Stories
- Candidates line up to take Bond's Senate seat in 2010 — Bond announced Thursday he wouldn't seek re-election.
- Missouri lawmakers get to work — Legislators promised bipartisan solutions in the face of the current economic crisis.
- Prop. A might not help higher education — Falling casino revenue and the proposal’s language could stop funding from reaching Missouri’s colleges.
- Study shows increase in prescription drug use in colleges — Experts say there is an increase of prescription pills around exams.
- Democrats lead now, but GOP will change — Democrats had a pretty great year in 2008. The tides have turned and, at least for the next two years, ...