I'm a progressive and leftist, so I'm certainly not arguing that De Niro, Baldwin and Penn are representative of all, or even most, progressives and leftists.
My argument is that as a leftist, I am confounded and frankly annoyed by others who identify themselves that way, then proceeding to behave in a self-entitled and elitist manner to working-class joes. Or, like Baldwin, using homophobic language to attack people he dislikes. Or, like Penn, and other 'lib' film stars like Josh Brolin and Charlie Sheen, supposedly, beating up wives and girlfriends when it takes the mood.
I just don't understand how anyone can identity as a leftist or liberal, and then proceed to display racist, sexist, homophobic or classist behaviour. At the very least, it goes to show that bigotry is an issue that extends well beyond the Republican Party (and don't get me wrong, I detest those guys more than anything - but at least everyone knows what they are).
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snepts (11123)
6 years ago
You are confusing the acts of individuals with the aims of the Democratic Party. We can't control what Rosie O or Oprah or the Obamas or Babs Streisand does, but the Dem base knows what is important to get done. Goofballs - like this Prez - can act stupid, but it doesn't mean it's endorsed by the Party.
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[deleted]
6 years ago
But I never used the term 'Democratic Party'. I was talking about self-described 'liberals'; whether they're Democrats are not (and, admittedly, most of them are, even if only by default) is besides the point.
Of course the GOP is wretched. I wouldn't argue otherwise. It's completely beyond the pale, and a borderline white supremacist party, even without Trump at the helm, but let's not pretend that there aren't systemic problems with the US that extend way beyond the GOP, even into ostensibly 'liberal' communities, like Silicon Valley and Hollywood.
And hopefully, most progressives don't behave like De Niro and Baldwin. The ones I mix with don't, as far as I'm aware (then again, none of them are major movie stars). I just find it particularly egregious that men who apparently identify with progressive politics and beliefs, would behave in such a regressive manner. I can see why a proud thug like Trump would, because he effectively defines himself by his racism and misogyny, but why would men who supposedly support civil and women's rights behave like cavemen?
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