Laura Bush has asked The Respect for Marriage Coalition, which kicked off a $1 million media campaign yesterday, to remove her from an ad that features her support of gay marriage. The spot quotes a number of famous individuals who are behind its cause, including a clip of Bush speaking with Larry King in 2010 and telling the host: “When couples are committed to each other and love each other, then they ought to have the same sort of rights that everyone has.” Respect for Marriage Coalition Ad In response, spokeswoman Anne MacDonald says the former First Lady “did not approve of her inclusion in this advertisement nor is she associated with the group that made the ad in any way.” And the organization has honored Bush’s request, removing her from the campaign and telling Politico: “The ad launched a public education campaign that will now move to new and different voices that reflect the depth and breadth of our support.” A second ad for the campaign – featuring a Republican military veteran named Craig Stowell – will start running over the weekend.
New Yorker writer, Lawrence Wright appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe talk show to discuss his new book, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief , and Tom Cruise quickly became the focus of the conversation. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author — who did some 200 interviews with current and former Scientologists, as well as other sources for his book — was in the process of discussing reports of “abuse and involuntary confinement” within its Sea Org unit — the equivalent of Scientology clergy, according to Wright — when host Joe Scarborough brought up the Top Gun star (around the 6:20 mark of this clip). “Do you think Tom Cruise knows of these alleged problems with Scientology . And secondly, what’s in it for a guy like Tom Cruise, who has the freedom to do whatever he wants and chooses to stay in the church”. Wright’s response: “I’m glad you’ve put your finger on Tom Cruise, because I think he has a moral responsibility — he’s been the front pitchman for this organization for years. More people have heard about Scientology through him than any other person. There may be some willful blindness on his part, but if so, it’s time for him to open his eyes because he’s been selling this.” In the video, Wright points out that Cruise is “being treated very well” by church members. He even says they “hand-crafted a limousine for him.” I’ve asked Cruise’s spokeswoman if the actor would like to respond to Wright’s comments and will post them if they are forthcoming. As you might guess, the Church of Scientology doesn’t have good things to say about Going Clear, and has called it an “Error-filled unsubstantiated bigoted anti-Scientology book.” Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.
Fox News and the NRA butted heads over gun control this morning. NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre reiterated his organization’s claim that all children deserve the same amount of protection that the President Obama’s daughters receive. Host Chris Wallace responded, “That’s ridiculous and you know it, sir.” Chris Wallace-Wayne LaPierre Interview on Fox news The interview got particularly heated when Wallace brought up the controversial NRA ad labeling Obama an elitist hypocrite for opposing armed security in schools. “They also face a threat that most children do not face,” Wallace said of Obama’s daughters, Malia and Sasha, who receive Secret Service protection. “Tell that to the people in Newtown,” LaPierre responded. “You really think that the president’s children are the same kind of target as every other child in America?” Wallace said. “That’s ridiculous and you know it, sir.” LaPierre came out swinging at other points in the interview as well, even insinuating that the White House wants background checks as a way of tracking citizens. “I think what they’ll do is they’ll turn this universal [background] check on the law-abiding into a universal registry on law-abiding people,” he said. Wallace said the White House hasn’t mentioned any universal registry. “And ObamaCare wasn’t a tax until they needed it to be a tax,” LaPierre responded, referencing the 2010 health care law and 2012 Supreme Court ruling. “I don’t think you can trust these people,” the NRA president added, apparently unmoved and not swayed by yesterday’s Obama gun photo release. What do you think of the NRA’s infamous Obama ad: It’s spot on! It’s disgusting! View Poll » What do you think of the push for more gun control? YES. Fewer guns, fewer tragedies! NO. It’s unconstitutional and won’t stop anything! View Poll »
The Super Bowl’s notoriously pricey ad spots already cost a chunk of change well into the seven figures last year and it’s set to head well northward for 30 seconds of airtime this Sunday. But that has not scared away movie studios from snapping up commercial time on Super Bowl XLVII. Studios will air ads for upcoming blockbusters including Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man 3 , J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Into Darkness , Johnny Depp’s The Lone Ranger , James Franco and Michelle Williams’ Oz The Great And Powerful and Vin Diesel’s The Fast and the Furious 6 . Brad Pitt’s World War Z is slated for a pre-game spot. Disney’s The Lone Ranger , with a July release, is the pic with the longest wait-time before its theatrical release. Last year, 30 seconds on the sky high rated sports event cost $3.5 million, but that has jumped to a cool $4 million for a half-minute in the match-up between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers. Among the non-studio ads set to air Sunday are spots from Chrysler, Tide, Best Buy, Coke and the new BlackBerry 10, according to Deadline. [ Sources: Huffington Post , Deadline ]
The director of Oscar-nominated documentary The Gatekeepers says he believes American Jews hold Israel on too high of a pedestal – something he believes could prove detrimental to the crisis-torn Middle Eastern country. Israeli filmmaker Dror Moreh told The Huff Post that the Jewish community in the United States view Israel as a “safe haven” nearly seven decades after the Holocaust and that American Jews are willing to support Israel despite the potential of becoming what he called an Apartheid state. Moreh’s acclaimed non-fiction feature spotlights six retired directors of Israel’s domestic spy agency, Shin Bet, exposing the organization’s targeted killings behind the Jewish state’s ongoing occupation of the Palestinian territories. The film has caused waves in both the Israel and the U.S. about the spy agency’s tactics. “There is something that I felt while I am here in America, that most of the majority of the Jewish population here are cherishing Israel,” Moreh told the Huff Post, adding that that strict adherence has lead many in the U.S. to the “wrong conclusion that they have to support Israel no matter what.” He said that orthodoxy is in fact, “damaging to the state of Israel.” “They don’t understand that we are going towards an Apartheid country,” said Moreh. “By not criticizing it, by accepting everything Israel does politically and especially towards the conflict, they are damaging their own goal, to protect the state of Israel as a safe haven for them.” Sony Pictures Classics opens The Gatekeepers in the U.S. beginning Friday, February 1st. [ Source: Huffington Post ]
Pia Toscano and Jared Lee are taking the advice of Buddy the Elf. The former American Idol finalist and the singer/songwriter understand that the best way to spread holiday cheer is to sing loud for all to hear. And with that in mind the talented twosome gathered this week to wish fans a very happy holiday season, mash-up style. Click Play now to hear the duo collaborate on “O Holy Night” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Pia Toscano and Jared Lee Christmas Mash-Up We sincerely hope all readers really did have themselves a merry little Christmas!
One of the best-selling artists of the past year, Taylor Swift didn’t waste all her money on Match.com profiles. Far from it, in fact. The 23-year old star was named by DoSomething.org as the top ” celeb gone good ” in 2012, donating more money to charity than any other famous person out there. T. Swizzle leaped from #20 in 2011 to #1 this year mostly due to her $4 million donation to the Country Hall of Fame museum. She was even recognized by the Robert F. Kennedy Center for her charitable efforts. Rounding out the organization’s top five best givers were: Miley Cyrus (who specializes in animal rescue causes, along with the Make-A-Wish Foundation); Channing Tatum; Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber . Kim Kardashian failed to make the Top 20. But she did use Facebook a lot!
GET THESE IDIOTS OUTTA HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Westboro Baptist Church To Protest Newtown Funerals The scum of the Earth, Westboro Baptist Church , controversial group known for protesting outside funerals of slain U.S. service members, announced that it will picket a vigil for the victims of Friday’s Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting … Via HuffingtonPost reports: Shirley Phelps-Roper, a spokesperson for the group and, like most members of the organization, a relative of the group’s founder, Fred Phelps, announced on Twitter on Saturday the group’s plan “to sing praise to God for the glory of his work in executing his judgment.” It is unclear when the group plans to protest, although a tweet from Margie Phelps implied that it would be during a vigil that will be attended by President Barack Obama on Sunday evening. Members of the Westboro Baptist Church say that America is being punished for its acceptance of gays and lesbians. In recent days, Phelps family members have sent tweets about the Connecticut shooting that have said “God sent the shooter.” Not surprisingly, the group’s announcement was met with resistance online. A Change.org petition asking for Connecticut officials to prevent the group from protesting has been launched, and users of the social news and link sharing site Reddit have been discussing ways to stage a counter-protest. Meanwhile, efforts by the computer hacking group known as ‘Anonymous’ are allegedly attempting to take the Westboro Baptist Church website down through what is described as #OpWestBoro on Twitter. However, as of 8:30 EST, the church’s website is still working. A YouTube video, purportedly from Anonymous, warns Westboro of being targeted by the hacktivists. THIS IS JUST DISGUSTING!!!!!!!!!!! These people are not Christians nor is this the work of God, Allah, Buddah or anything resembling morality or goodness. The word Christian means to be Christ-like and Jesus Christ was a loving person. So it’s basically an oxymoron, for example saying “That good person shot 27 angels in the school.” and “The WBC are Christians.” To sign the petition to legally recognize The Westboro Baptist Church as a hate group click HERE
A Penn State sorority is under scrutiny – and investigation – after a racist photo from a recent party created a stir online. The Mexican-themed image appears below: The picture, taken around Halloween, shows the women dressed in sombreros and mustaches. Some held signs that read “Will mow lawn for weed + beer” and “I don’t cut grass I smoke it.” Get it??! The photo was posted on Tumblr and Facebook, after which a Penn State blog ID’d the women as members of the Chi Omega sorority on campus. Reaction from the embattled university – still reeling from the Jerry Sandusky scandal – and from the sorority itself came quickly after the image went viral. Jessica Riccardi, president of the Nu Gamma chapter of Chi Omega, confirmed to the school’s Daily Collegian that the sorority is under investigation. Riccardi also issued an apology for the photo, writing, “Our chapter of Chi Omega sincerely apologizes for portraying inappropriate and untrue stereotypes.” “The picture does not support Chi Omega’s values or reflect what the organization aspires to be.” The Penn State Panhellenic Council said, “We are addressing the situation immediately with the members of the chapter in conjunction with their national headquarters.” Lisa Powers, director of public information at Penn State, also said in a statement that “This photo has been brought to our attention, and we have looked into the issue.” “The students are within their First Amendment rights [here], although we are certainly appalled that they would display this level of insensitivity and lack of judgment.” “These costumes and this group do not represent fraternity and sorority life at Penn State University, nor the 95,000 students who attend our university.” “The Chi Omega sorority sisters have expressed deep remorse over this incident.” What do you think? Much ado about nothing? Harmless fun being taken too seriously? Completely racist with no regard for basic human decency? Share your comments and vote in the survey below: Chi Omega sorority photo : So racist and offensive Hilarious! Lighten up people! View Poll »
Trace Adkins helped ring in the holidays last night, performing “The Christmas Song” at the Rockefeller Center tree lighting on national television. Simple and sweet, right? Not for those who looked closely. The country crooner created quite the raucous across Twitter because he was wearing a Confederate Flag earpiece during the rendition, as this symbol is considered by many to represent a tacit support of slavery. To others, it’s a mere symbol of southern pride. Adkins is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and talks in length about this organization in his biography, “A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Freethinking Roughneck.” Where do you stand on the singer showing off his Confederate Flag earpiece on such a platform. Respond now and watch the performance below: Totally inappropriate! Totally fine, it’s his decision! Fantastic, wish the South had won! Who cares?!? View Poll » Trace Adkins – “The Christmas Song”
