Politico.com, a new but well-financed right-wing website, asks the question today, " 'Actorvists' using fame, fortune for humanitarian work. But can they do any good?"

Here's the obvious answer, Politico.com: YES!

I assume the question was asked (on Politico.com's front page) to potentially demean celebrity activists, who are usually liberals.

And I have to confess: I don't understand the Republican love/hate relationship with so-called "Hollywood values."

Revered Republican president and B-movie actor Ronald Reagan was a staunch conservative. Body-builder and silver screen mega-star Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected in 2006 to his second term as California's governor. And "Law and Order" actor Fred Thompson is the latest great white hope for Republicans in 2008.

The list of Republican entertainers elected to political offfice goes on...

The late Congressman and pop star Sonny Bono enjoyed 2 terms in Congress before his untimely skiing accident. TV sitcom actor Fred Grandy, better known as Gopher on "Love Boat", served 4 terms in the House. And in the 1960s, tap dancer/film thespian George Murphy took a star-turn as U.S. senator from California. All of them served in office as Republicans.

Republicans Love "Hollywood Values"
So what gives with hypocritical conservative smearing of "Hollywood values?" Republicans LOVE Hollywood actors and their values.

Of course "using" fame and fortune to better mankind does good. That's hardly exclusive to liberals. Just last night on "The Tonight Show", Fred Thompson explained to host Jay Leno that he's running for the presidency because "I want to do some things that only a president can do." I assume those are conservative values "things."

I admire it when someone with fame and fortune uses it to accomplish good. The ultimate example is Bill and Melinda Gates, who use their Microsoft billions to combat AIDS, Third World disease, and to fund libraries and educational initiatives.

I've profiled a number of celebrity activists who use their clout to bring attention to vital issues:

George Clooney - Darfur
Brad Pitt - environmentalism, AIDS in Africa
Rosie O'Donnell - childrens' rights, gay rights
Bono - aid to Africa

And in 2007, look here for celebrity activist profiles of The Dixie Chicks, Michael J. Fox, Sean Penn and Ben Affleck, who recently chatted quite intelligently about politics with Chris Matthews on MSNBC's Hardball.

Allowing Hypocritical Nonsense
So I repeat my question, and ask another one.

What gives with conservative demeaning of "Hollywood values" and associating it only with liberalism?

And why the heck do flat-footed, slow-witted liberals let them get away with such hypocritical nonsense?

Related Reading
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation- -Can It Change the World?