Tim Robbins opens his mouth, National Association of Broadcasters swoons
The mainstream media has a reputation for being incurably left-wing. Because the MSM is left-wing. So whom did the National Association of Broadcasters invite to keynote its annual convention in Las Vegas to help provide balance? Why, far Left activist actor Tim Robbins, of course!
After extending the invitation, someone apparently had second thoughts and asked him to ditch his prepared speech and sit for a question-and-answer session instead.
No go.
Robbins strutted up to the podium, took a vote on whether he should deliver his diatribe, and then, having won approval from the audience, indignantly excoriated the media masochists–the majority of whom cheered every profane, unhinged, Bush-bashing word.
The moderator of the Q&A session that never occurred has a post about Robbins’ triumph, which he praised as “important,” here. More here. TV Newser adds this:
The idea of an outspoken actor giving the keynote to the nation’s broadcasters was lost on many people, including Robbins himself. Speaking in the third person, he said “Mr. Robbins will speak about the challenges facing broadcasters and media delivery systems.” Adding, “I’m not sure what that fucking means.”
Variety swooned:
Addressing the kickoff of the National Assn. of Broadcasters confab in Las Vegas, Robbins at first hesitated over whether to deliver the speech he had prepared, thinking he might serve the audience better by submitting to a Q&A session with a moderator.
But after some back and forth with the audience, which encouraged him to go with the speech, Robbins obliged. He launched into an apology to conservative talkers Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly “and Laura whatshername,” noting that all had labeled him traitorous or unpatriotic for having called for more time to be given to U.N. weapons inspectors before deploying military force against Iraq.
“They said I was a dupe of left-wing appeasement … and how right they were,” Robbins quipped. “Had I known then of all the smiling faces” that now populate Iraq, “the wildfire of democracy that is spreading throughout the Middle East,” he would have not spoken as he did, he said.
He added that he can see now that his words were indeed “traitorous, unfounded and irresponsible, so I apologize to the talkradio geniuses.”
…The fun started to get uncomfortable when Robbins referred to both the Reagan and Clinton administrations having eased limitations on media ownership — all to the “benefit” of communities, which then no longer had to listen to diverse, complex opinions “or alternative rock.” NAB has supported relaxing ownership rules…
…”In all seriousness, folks,” Robbins said, dropping the good-natured satirical tone, “We’re at an abyss as an industry and a country.” He talked of pervasive cynicism in the country and added that “you, as broadcasters, have the power to turn the nation away from cynicism. Or you can hide behind the old adage, ‘I’m just a businessman, just providing what the audience wants.’ ”
Robbins urged the mass of broadcasters to join the relatively few, he said, that are trying to steer away from mindless sensationalism to “appeal to our better nature.” Who knows, he said — there might even be money in that. The audience laughed.
Laughed…because maybe they’ve read the stories about all those anti-war movies tanking at the box office.
Robbins forged ahead with his anti-Ayn Rand sermon:
“Now is the time to recognize that you are not just businessmen but guardians of the human spirit with a responsibility to the health of the nation.” Otherwise, Robbins warned, “The road we’re on is a corruption of our former selves.”
About two-thirds of the packed ballroom rose to a standing ovation.
Guess this all part of that crushing-of-dissent thing of which Robbins claims he is such a victim.
It is just so very, very damned difficult to speak your mind (such as it is) when you’re a Hollywood liberal in America, isn’t it?
***
Flashback: Robbins slanders American troops.
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When I read this, I had trouble believing that Robbins actually believes this drivel or that he could keep a straight face while delivering his “sermon.”
The broadcast industry is in an abyss because all they offer up is crap. Broadcasters insert political dialogue and falsehoods into their news reporting that wouldn’t pass the basic truth test. The country is in an abyss because it’s been taken over by liberal feel good policies that advocate family fragmentation, lack of personal responsibility, a coarse culture, and tearing the country down so that it can be refashioned into some modern, Euro-socialist utopia.
There’s “pervasive cynicism” because many American consumers have figured out that journalists no longer care about integrity or truth. They’ve figured out that journalists have taken a side and stopped reporting the news that everyone consumes. The broadcasting biz appeals to the lowest common denominator that futher “dumbs down” an American public not interested in political statements like Robbins.’
Mr. Robbins is plainly stuck on stupid and his talents, like those of all the other partisan hacks of Hollywood, are no longer as highly prized as he once thought.
Man, the NAB must have been hard up to get this guy as its keynote speaker.
Radio & Tanya, he’s not married to the whore. They’ve been shacking since 1988 but can’t seem to find the time to get to the courthouse. I don’t understand why they don’t get married-same thing for Goldie & Kurt.
If I see either one of their mugs on tv I turn the station. I wanted to see Enchanted by saw that Saranwrap was playing the witch (truth in a movie perhaps?) but couldn’t bring myself to pay the money for me and my little daughter. Don’t see it being in the que anytime soon for netflix either. Like you, I just can’t stomach seeing either one of these or other so called actors for one minute.
Does anyone know if it is Angelina Jolie who is playing the lead in Atlas Shrugged? maybe she could school Robbins. Meanwhile back at the ranch where the adults are having a conversation.
http://imustimes.wordpress.com/2008/04/14/mccain-in-bust-a-move-moment-lays-it-out-for-imus/
Hey Meat! I guess you still have your girlfriends garter straps on backwards! Remember, the rose goes to the front.
I read those convoluted speech excerpts couple of times and after that decided that it was just too many words that added up to nothing except yadda, yadda!!!
Atlas Shrugged and Dagny just looked at Robbins and laughed. She knew what was going to happen to his ilk.
Mr Robbins is just illustrating the perfect liberal mind….
He’s so elite, above all us “little” people, and so smart that his use of four letter words demonstrates his absolute knowledge of the English language…
The idiots are coming out again. They think they are going to win the election and change the course of the USA.
Remember McGovern????
It’s going to be a repeat…….
Classy terrig, especially for someone who claims to be a Christian. It’s always impressive to refer to a woman with whom you disagree as a “whore”. As I’m sure you know, MM gets that quite a bit and probably really enjoys it.
Tim Robbins is a decent actor who’s been in 3 or 4 very good movies. He’s also a pretty smart guy, but comes off as a rambling buffoon much of the time. I don’t really listen to his takes on the issues of our times. Many on this site tend to go on and on with the demonization of the entertainment industry as sort of a Pavlovian response to any whiff of leftiness…it’s funny really. The truth is that Hollywood is very much hyper capitalistic. Dog eat dog. Survival of the fittest. Or any other cliche you can think of. It’s all about the green (and I don’t mean the environment). Ratings, box office receipts, etc. are all that matter in Hollywood. Forget the occasional “liberal” passion project by an actor or director with big enough juice to get it produced. If a love letter to GWB was guaranteed to generate a $30 million opening weekend, it would get green lit tomorrow and the sequel would begin production immediately.
Tim Robbins isn’t a liberal at all. He is a narcisstic oligarch. The elite class is loaded with this type of “citizen”. They are perfectly willing to legislate every detail of the little peoples lives while they seek sanctuary for their own against any intrusions.
Not one of us knows this Gift From God for who he really is. But we do have quite a bit to go on about what his politics are and his spite for common folk who are creating value in this country day in and day out.
Tim Robbins is a jerk.
Off.
Sounds like B. Hussein…
From a guy who has NO clue Who or What The Holy spirit IS wants to lecture the world on human spirit?
How much more deluded can they on the left get?
For Tim Robbins, my favorite Ayn Rand Quote:
“The question isn’t who is going to let me it is who is going to stop me”
Says it all doesn’t in a free country it isn’t up to the Collectivist to decide for all the Individuals..and boy they hate Individuals, unforunatley for them, that is what this country is made up of.
Tim Robbins is so five minutes ago
Can’t even watch Bull Durham anymore.
To the guy a few posts back, I used to think Hollywood was all about money too until they started rolling out one antiwar flop after another with more in the pipeline. Hollywood has become hyperideological over the past 20 years and while money remains important, power and prestige among themselves have superceded even financial concerns. Why? Ironically, conglomerate ownership of studios has allowed these people to do whatever they want. So what if the movie tanks, it’s just a tax writeoff. They can afford now to blow off talent on-screen and off for not being ideologically-correct.
Why did NAB invite Timmy-Poo anyway? He’s not in the broadcasting business. It may as well have invited a Vegas stripper to give the keynote. She might actually have given a better speech.
Seriously, there’s something very dark in Tim and Sue’s world. I didn’t know until recently, when I read a column by former Hollywood writer Burt Preslutsky, that the Dynamic Duo actually named their son after the murderer Norman Mailer campaigned to have sprung from jail. You know, the guy who got out and then killed a waiter? Even that was shocking to me.
Actually, while their “hate America, and it’s military” type movies may tank here, they make money overseas. So, the scumbags don’t lose money. They just don’t make as much…
” It only stands to reason that where there’s sacrifice, there’s someone collecting the sacrificial offerings. Where there’s service, there is someone being served. The man who speaks to you of sacrifice is speaking of slaves and masters, and intends to be the master.” – Ayn Rand
I use this quote whenever I think of liberals, Democrats and collectivists. describes them to a “T”
Tim Robbins is no Charlton Heston. Mr. Heston was an icon, Robbins is just another Hollywood actor.
So Brenda (#2)…what is the rest of the country thinking??? you seem to know…enlighten us all with your brilliance…how dare Tim Robbins speak! geez, get over yourself…
Dakine-she is a whore, Michelle is not.
Sorry you didn’t like my Punahou comments. I apologized if you were offended because you said you lived at Barber’s Point. But that’s not good enough for you. Oh well, we all can spend what little money we have left over on whatever entertainment we want. If I don’t want to spend it on people with whom I disagree, that’s my right. And you’re seriously mistaken if you think I just love GWB but you’re mistaken about a lot of things.
name calling is always a good way to get your point across, ha!
Look it’s a Kos Kid named Scooter. How pleasant to have you aboard. Sorry, but women who shack up are considered whores by many people.
Thanks for the warm reception terrig!
so “shacking up” means having a long term relationship with one person? that makes a woman a whore…yikes! I better call Websters
No, but shacking without the benefit of marriage in some people’s minds (not mine) makes one a whore. I hope you enjoy your time here, it’s not the echo chamber you have at Kos.
so you don’t think she’s a whore, you’re just speaking on behalf of some other people who do? got it.
No, I’m just borrowing lgm’s method of some people say the troops are killers (not me).
Again cheers all around for all the kids from kos who made it in!
long day terrig? lol
terrig, like I said before, you are a classless lightweight. Normal, decent folks don’t refer to their fellow female human beings as “whores”. Sorry, you’re a typical far Christian right hypocrite. Save your apologies for someone who cares what you think about anything.
Dakine, I realize you believe you’re above all of us-I believe you said at one point you were an attorney? I may be a hypocrite in your eyes but as I said before I lose no sleep on what you think of me. I really doubt you lived at Barber’s Point or if you did you were in the elite quarters.
I find it funny that you accept the liberals calling people whores but not others. You are a good for a laugh but that’s all.
I hope that you have a wonderful day and that you can smile at the fact that you are so much better than the rest of us. Classless lightweight-you’re so clever.
…unless they’ve got a three-record deal with Death Row Records!
dakine:
You do have a point. Unless terrig can prove Susan Sarandon has been receiving cash for sex, SS may still retain her amateur status.
i wouldn’t hold your breath on that one Tex
I doubt we share political views
, and I can’t remember ever having seen him in anything, but his criticism of broadcasting in the quote above doesn’t seem that strange. Many of us here actually think the major broadcasters have waded into the shallow end intellectually, and most of the stuff on broadcast TV seems pretty low on quality. The News seems preposterous at times, and I personally think all the networks have someone who would broadcast literally anything for the right price. Putting that square in the laps of the broadcasters seems ok to me.
It’s Oscar night about fifteen years ago, Letterman is hosting and he introduces Robbins and Sarandon thus, “Pay attention: I’m sure they’re pissed off about something.”
Not much has changed in fifteen years.
terrig, when did I ever condone a “liberal” calling anyone a whore? What you believe about where I lived is of little consequence to me, but just to be clear, we lived in Ewa Beach navy housing while my submarine officer dad was stationed at Pearl. My dad was a career officer in the navy and my mom was a navy housewife. I attended Punahou on an academic scholarship. If all of that makes me an “elitist”, then so be it. As long as it separates me from the likes of you and your ilk.
TT, that was funny.
He is still acting? I thought his career was over after Howard the duck.
Mr. Robbins, you are a gifted actor. If only you had kept your ignorance and condescension to yourself so I could still watch movies with you or your significant other in them.
Shut up and act!!!
Why would broadcasters who you libs claim are not liberal, invite Tim Robbins to speak.
Then give him a standing ovation.
Answer: Because the left is so insane that they cannot smell their own stench any longer.
Tim Robbins is a nut.
Sure he was wrong, we would still be waiting for Saddam to obey UN sanctions if we listen to him. “Equal opportunity criticizer” , yea right, he is just chapped that nobody followed his stupid suggestions. If that knucklehead wants a say, he can run for office, until then his suggestgens are no more relevant then yours or mine. How’s that for a chilled wind?
Tim who?