I wonder how many viewers-especially among those who voted to ban gay marriage-agree with novelist and Pajamas Media columnist Andrew Klavan's reaction to Sean Penn's best actor acceptance speech for Milk:
Let's say you believe that gay marriage should be legalized and you want to convince those among your fellow Americans who have reservations. It seems to me the wisest, most effective course would be to assume the opposition to be people of good will with real concerns and to argue your position before them forcefully but reasonably. Now let's say you're a narcissistic windbag who wants to parade yourself in front of people who agree with you as an icon of crusading righteousness when you're really just a violent lowlife who idolizes dictators and tyrants while attacking your own country. Ah, then you would be Sean Penn. Winning an admittedly deserved Oscar for an excellent performance in Milk, Penn used his time at the podium to declare everyone who doesn't support his cause hateful and shameful, a disgrace to their grandchildren. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Leftists are always talking about diversity but if you disagree with them-you're a monster. What a schmuck!
Klavan's reaction is over the top, but I think Penn's plea for voters to reconsider their opposition to Prop 8 would have been more effective without comingling it with his adoration for Obama. At some point, supporters of gay equality are going to have to realize that they have to win over Americans beyond the liberal-left Democratic party (although, admittedly, winning them over would be a start).
Separately, Wednesday's New York Times includes a range of letters regarding the Rauch/Blakenhorn op-ed calling for a compromise on marriage.
3 Comments for “Penn’s Provocative, But Who’s the Target?”
posted by Carl on
Sean Penn is a notorious blowhard and anyone who gets a negative view of gay marriage based on him is already likely to have had a negative view. The very nice speech from the screenwriter of Milk was a balance, at least. Besides, I would think that the very, very timid campaign against Prop 8 would show that being nice and sweet doesn’t guarantee an election win.
Stephen, while we’re talking about reaction to Penn’s speech, what do you think of new RNC Chairman Michael Steele being so virulently opposed to civil unions?
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0209/Steele_on_civil_unions_Are_you_crazy.html
Once again the GOP seems to be sending a message which strongly speaks out against even a minimal form of rights for gay couples. This also serves to remind that all the talk of being too fast, moving too quickly on gay marriage, oh why didn’t we push for civil unions, would have just gotten us the exact same negative response. Those who oppose us on these matters will connect any form of benefits to gay marriage. I just wonder how those Republicans who supported Steele for his supposed moderate tendencies feel now.
posted by Bobby on
I feel about Penn the way evangelical christians feel about Fred Phelps, their support is not needed.
It would be better for Penn to stop advocating for any cause. He’s a hateful bastard, he dirties everything he touches.
posted by jim on
while perhaps a bit more notorious, sean penn is no more of a blowhard than any of the people who post or comment on this blog. i think sean’s a great guy who is open, perhaps loud, about what he believes. don’t you guys do the exact same thing?