"Liberalism Changed, Not Charlton Heston."

[Jeff Higgins]

No forgiving Charlton Heston

Brian Fitzpatrick - Guest Columnist - 4/8/2008 2:15:00 PM

My grandfather was a college football star who even played for the NFL champs back in 1928, so I was looking forward to seeing George Clooney’s new 1920s football movie, Leatherheads, this weekend. That’s before I found out how Clooney, like many lefties in Hollywood and the news media, had treated the late Charlton Heston.

Clooney’s offense took place a few years back. According to Life Site News, “For his conservative stands, however, Heston was attacked and reviled by his Hollywood colleagues. In 2003 actor and leftist political activist George Clooney joked about Heston’s illness (Alzheimer’s disease), and, after Heston criticized him for the remark, he retorted, 'I don’t care. Charlton Heston is the head of the National Rifle Association. He deserves whatever anyone says about him.'”

Making fun of somebody with Alzheimer’s disease and feeling no remorse is about as low as it gets, but it isn’t all that surprising in this case. To Clooney, Heston’s embrace of conservative orthodoxy on the Second Amendment made him worse than persona non grata. He became subhuman, not even deserving of the most basic courtesies.

George Clooney can only dream of rivaling Charlton Heston’s life accomplishments. Let’s leave aside the leading roles in some of the greatest movies ever made, the acting laurels and the celebrity, and look at the man:

• Married to his college sweetheart, Lydia, for 64 years.
• Beloved father of two successful children, one a Hollywood director.
• Unabashed Christian and church attendee.
• First among his peers; president of the Screen Actors Guild a record six times.
• Served his country in World War II as a B-25 crewman.
• Campaigner for civil rights; protested as early as 1961, long before it became popular, and marched on Washington alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Protector of the unborn; provided the introduction for Dr. Bernard Nathanson’s great pro-life film, Silent Scream.
• Champion of public decency; shamed Time Warner into dropping rapper Ice-T’s contract because of his song celebrating the murder of police officers.
• Defender of individual liberty; president of the National Rifle Association.

Ask Heston which of his accomplishments he treasured most, and he’d probably point to this tribute from his family: “Charlton Heston was seen by the world as larger than life.... We knew him as an adoring husband, a kind and devoted father, and a gentle grandfather with an infectious sense of humor. He served these far greater roles with tremendous faith, courage and dignity.”

Sadly, many in the liberal news media wear ideological blinders that render them incapable of appreciating the entirety of Charlton Heston. In spite of Heston’s admirable private life, sterling character and spectacular career, some journalists could only see Heston waving a musket in the air at the 2000 NRA convention and growling, “Out of my cold, dead hands.” They saw Heston’s pro-gun stance as beyond the pale, as if it were morally reprehensible to stand up for the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Heston’s death this past Saturday has allowed them to express hostility similar in kind, if not in tone or degree, to Clooney.

• ABC’s Barbara Walters: “He is very controversial or was because of his support of NRA.”
• ABC’s Dan Harris: “As president of the National Rifle Association, he became one of the most polarizing figures in American politics.”
• CBS’s Russ Mitchell: “Once the quintessential big screen hero, in his later years he drew as much attention for his controversial politics.”
• AP’s David Germain: a “fierce gun-rights advocate.”

Not “principled” or “passionate.” Just, “fierce.” Charlton Heston was “polarizing” and “controversial” because he refused to toe the line of political correctness.

Heston began his public activism as a liberal, backing Adlai Stevenson in 1956 and Kennedy in 1960. In 1963 he marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. , but he supported Barry Goldwater in 1964, Nixon in 1972, and Reagan in 1980. The apparent transformation was mostly superficial, though; a question of party labels USA Today didn’t quite get it right: “Heston, like Reagan, claimed the Democratic Party left him while his values remained the same -- a personal sea change that by the Reagan ’80s had turned Heston into one of the most prominently public Republicans.”

What “personal sea change?” Though he grew on some issues (notably, the Second Amendment), Heston’s core values, his support for individual liberties from civil rights to life to self-defense, were consistent throughout. “Liberalism” changed, not Charlton Heston.

I met Heston once, in an elevator on the way to a gathering of Hollywood conservatives. No, the meeting wasn’t held in the elevator. Instead of asking him how he parted the Red! Sea, I brought up a Second Amendment essay he’d recently written. Engaging his mind, rather than his celebrity, delighted him. He was affable, unpretentious and witty, and he clearly had the courage of his convictions.

After forcing Time Warner to cut its ties with Ice-T over the Cop Killer album by reading aloud the lyrics at a corporate stockholders’ meeting, Heston quipped, “Still, I’m proud of what I did, though now I’ll surely never be offered another film by Warner, or get a good review from Time. On the other hand, I doubt I’ll get a traffic ticket very soon.” Now there’s a man Kipling would be proud of.

This weekend you won’t catch me dead at that Clooney movie. I think I’ll head for the rifle range instead, then crank up the home theater and enjoy my brand new DVD of Ben Hur.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

[B]
• ABC’s Barbara Walters: “He is very controversial or was because of his support of NRA.”
• ABC’s Dan Harris: “As president of the National Rifle Association, he became one of the most polarizing figures in American politics.”
• CBS’s Russ Mitchell: “Once the quintessential big screen hero, in his later years he drew as much attention for his controversial politics.”
• AP’s David Germain: a “fierce gun-rights advocate.”

Not “principled” or “passionate.” Just, “fierce.” Charlton Heston was “polarizing” and “controversial” because he refused to toe the line of political correctness.

Ahh, the product of open minds...good thing my world view prevents me from understanding.

[Tobra]

George Clooney is a giant douche, even if he had afforded Mr Heston the respect he deserved.

Can't think of too many current celebrities that could even sit at the same table as Heston.

[The Gaijin]

Hollywood changed too - by the looks of it.

[onewhippedpuppy]

• Married to his college sweetheart, Lydia, for 64 years.
• Beloved father of two successful children, one a Hollywood director.
• Unabashed Christian and church attendee.
• First among his peers; president of the Screen Actors Guild a record six times.
• Served his country in World War II as a B-25 crewman.
• Campaigner for civil rights; protested as early as 1961, long before it became popular, and marched on Washington alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Protector of the unborn; provided the introduction for Dr. Bernard Nathanson’s great pro-life film, Silent Scream.
• Champion of public decency; shamed Time Warner into dropping rapper Ice-T’s contract because of his song celebrating the murder of police officers.
• Defender of individual liberty; president of the National Rifle Association.

By Hollywood morals, none of the above are actually GOOD things. Too much money and fame does not do good things to people, Hollywood is a microcosm of the problems that our society currently faces. Heston was one of the few real role models, at least in that town.

[Jeff Higgins]

I've mentioned it on this forum a couple of times; I used to consider myself a "liberal". I voted for Carter, voted against Reagan (twice) and even voted for Bubba the first time. Liberalism has most definitely changed.

Today's liberals try to present their position as one of being champions of the "little guy"; of being tolerant of everyone. At one time, even during my lifetime, I truly believe they were. But liberalism has changed. It has taken on an air of haughty, intellectual superiority over the "little guy". It has taken on a paternalistic attitude towards the "little guy". It feels it must take care of him, make the important decisions for him, because he is quite incapable of taking care of himself or of making the "right" decisions.

The "right" decisions, of course, lie within an increasingly narrow world view espoused by liberalism. Liberalism no longer embraces diverse views; it very much has distilled acceptable views down to a "party line" of liberalism. It no longer embraces folks of all backgrounds. Witness the liberal view of Christians, rednecks, and other groups of whom they disapprove. Groups that they do not accept; groups they revile at every opportunity. Witness their attitudes towards folks living in the "flyover zones" of our vast country between the liberal, coastal urban population centers. Liberals have no idea how these "little people" live, what their values might be, or that the very food they eat originates from these people that they so misunderstand and despise. The Christian redneck hick farmers; the "little guy" that liberals used to fight for.

My how liberalism has changed, now that it has become urbanized and "intellectualized". More and more of us will continue to jump off of that bus as it continues to embrace every sort of depraved, decadent behavior known to man as "diversity", while throwing traditional values under that bus as unacceptable. That bus will eventually plunge into the ravine as nuttier and nuttier "leaders" take its wheel, losing whatever sense of direction may be left.

[daepp]

Real Hollywood Heroes

Clark Gable (Mega-Movie Star when war broke out) Although he was beyond the draft age at the time the U.S. entered WW II, Clark Gable enlisted as a private in the AAF on Aug. 12, 1942 at Los Angeles. He attended the Officers' Training School at Miami Beach, Fla. and graduated as a Second Lieutenant on Oct. 28, 1942. He then attended aerial gunnery school and in Feb. 1943 he was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group at Polebrook, England where he flew in operational missions over Europe in B-17s. Capt. Gable returned to the U.S. in Oct. 1943 and was relieved from active duty as a Major on Jun. 12, 1944 at his own request, since he was over-age for combat.

James Stewart entered the Army Air Force as a private and worked his way to the rank of Colonel. During World War II, Stewart served as a Bomber Pilot, his service record crediting him with leading more than 20 missions over Germany, and taking part in hundreds of air strikes during his tour of duty. Stewart earned the Distinguished Flying Cross twice, one of them for piloting the lead plane in a spectacular raid on key aircraft factories in Brunswick, Germany, the Air Medal and a succession of oak leaf clusters, France's Croix de Guerre, and six Battle Stars during World War II. In 1959, while in the USAFR, he was promoted to BrigGenl, the highest ranking actor in military history (but would not allow his war record to be used in movies or as publicity). James Stewart's son, 1st Lieut. Ronald W. McLean was killed in Vietnam in 1969.

Ed McMahan earned his wings as a Marine Fighter Pilot in 1944 and became an instructor teaching carrier landings and a test pilot. After World War II, he remained in the Marine Reserves and his television career was interrupted in 1952 when he was called back into the Marine Corps. He flew 85 combat missions in Korea. Later he retired from the Marines as a full Colonel.

Orvon "Gene" Autry: During World War II, Autry enlisted for service on the air during a broadcast of his show, going on to serve his country as a Flight Officer with the Air Transport Command. From 1943 until 1945, he flew C-47 cargo planes in the China-Burma-India theater, earning the American Campaign Medal; National Defense Medal; China Service Medal; Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal (w/battle star and Overseas Service Bar. When the war ended, Autry was assigned to Special Services, where he toured with a USO Troupe in the South Pacific before resuming his movie career in 1946. (See my page: "Flying the Hump")

Glenn Ford; When the United States entered World War II Glenn enlisted in the Marines. Among his numerous Medals and Commendations are, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Ribbon, the European Theater Ribbon with three Battle Stars, one Overseas Service Bar, and the French Legion of Honor for his service in France during World War II. Following his WWII service, he transferred his commission to the U. S. Naval Reserves. He retired as a Captain in the US Naval Reserve.

George C. Scott was a decorated U. S. Marine Sgt., receiving the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Ribbon, the European Theater Ribbon with two Battle Stars and Overseas Service Bar.

Eddie Albert (Green Acres TV) was awarded a Bronze Star for his heroic action as a U. S. Naval Landing Officer aiding Marines at the horrific battle on the Island of Tarawa in the Pacific Nov. 1943. He also earned the, American Campaign Medal; National Defense Medal; Philippines Liberation Medal (w/two battle stars); Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal (w/battle star and Overseas Service Bar.

Brian Keith served as a U.S. Marine rear gunner in combat actions against the Japanese on Rabal in the Pacific earning the, American Campaign Medal; National Defense Medal; Philippines Liberation Medal (w/battle star); Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal (w/battle star and Overseas Service Bar.

Lee Marvin was a U.S. Marine Pvt. on Saipan during the Marianas campaign where he was wounded in fierce combat, earning the Purple Heart, American Campaign Medal; National Defense Medal; Philippines Liberation Medal (w/battle star); Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal (w/battle star and Overseas Service Bar. (NOTE: Contrary to inter-net rumors, Lee Marvin, having been wounded two months earlier, never went to Iwo Jima, and Bob Keeshan "Captain Kangaroo" never left the United States prior to the War's end. Fred Rogers "Mister Rogers" was an Ordained Presbyterian Minister during the war and never went into any branch of the military)

Jason Robards, Jr., Born July 22, 1922, in Chicago, Robards Jr. was a military man before he became an actor (joining at 17). He served in the U.S. Navy, as a Radioman on the U.S.S. Northampton, home ported in Pearl Harbor, by chance his ship was at sea during the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Jason served in 14 major battles in the Pacific, including Guadalcanal, Tassafaronga, Rabaul, Rendova-New Georgia, Doolittle's Raid, Kula Gulf, Leyte, Bougainville, Saipan, Guam, Marianas, Vila. Jason received the Navy Cross for his "Extraordinary Heroism" during the battle of Tassafaronga, American Campaign Medal; National Defense Medal; Philippines Liberation Medal (w/four battle stars); China Service Medal; Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal (w/ten battle stars and Overseas Service Bar. He spent 7 years in the Navy before he was Honorably Discharged in 1947.

Rod Serling: After graduation Serling enlisted in the United States Army. Beginning in May 1944 he served with the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 11th Airborne Division in New Guinea and during the invasion of the Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart for a severe shrapnel wound to his knee, American Campaign Medal; National Defense Medal; Philippines Liberation Medal (w/battle star); Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal (w/battle star and Overseas Service Bar.

John Wayne had a deep love for his country. This patriotism is reflected throughout his life. He had wanted to go into the military but an old football injury prevented it. He worked with the USO in supporting US troops from WW2 through to Vietnam. His visits cheered and encouraged many a young service man. In 1973 he was honored with the Veterans of Foreign Wars highest award - The National Americanism Gold Medal. Congress awarded Duke the Congressional Gold Medal in 1979. The bill for John Wayne's gold medal was introduced to Congress by Duke's friend, Senator Barry Goldwater on May 22,1979, stating; "John Wayne has dedicated his entire life to America and I am safe in saying that the American people have an affection for John Wayne such as they have had for very few people in the history of America."

Nancy Kulp: A graduate of Florida State and the University of Miami, Kulp served as a WAVE lieutenant during World War II, specializing in electronics. During her Naval service Nancy earned the American Campaign Medal; National Defense Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal

Charlton Heston was an Army Air Corps Sergeant in Kodiak earning the, American Campaign Medal; National Defense Medal; Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal (w/battle star and Overseas Service Bar.

Ernest Borgnine was a U. S. Navy Gunners Mate 1935-1945 in the South Pacific where he earned the, American Campaign Medal; National Defense Medal; Philippines Liberation Medal (w/battle star); China Service Medal; Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal (w/four battle stars and Overseas Service Bar.

Charles Durning, the son of an Army officer, continued in his fathers footsteps with valor and distinction, serving in the Army's 1st Div. (The Big Red 1) earning a Silver Star and Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Ribbon, the European Theater Ribbon with three Battle Stars, one Overseas Service Bar, during the invasion of France.

Charles Bronson (Buchinsky), was a tail gunner with 25 missions; received the Purple Heart for wounds received during combat in the Army Air Corps.

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr: Served first as a Goodwill Ambassador from 1939-1941; later as a Naval Officer from 1941-1946, Fairbanks was appointed by President Roosevelt for a Commission as a Lieutenant j.g. in the Navy Reserves. He became the first American Officer to command a British Flotilla of small powered raiding craft during a commando operation in World War II. In 1942 he was Chief Officer of Special Operations, and in 1943 participated in the Allied invasion of Sicily and Elba. Following the war Fairbanks remained in the Reserves and worked his way up from Navy Lieutenant to Commander and finally, in 1954 to Captain before retiring.


Tyrone Power (an established movie star when Pearl Harbor was bombed) immediately joined the U.S. Marines, and was a Pilot flying supplies into, and flying wounded Marines out of, both Iwo Jima and Okinawa, earned the American Campaign Medal; National Defense Medal; Philippines Liberation Medal (w/battle star); and the Asiatic Pacific Theater Medal (w/four battle stars and Overseas Service Bar.

James Doohan ("Scotty" on Star Trek) while landing in Normandy on D-Day was wounded in the leg and hand; losing a finger. Then he retrained as a Pilot, earned a Commission with the RCAF, and completed the war serving as a Pilot Artillery Observer.

Alec Guinness (Star Wars) operated a British Royal Navy landing craft in the invasion of Sicily and Elba and later ferrying supplies to the Yugoslav partisans under Lt. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.

David Niven was a Sandhurst Graduate and Lt. Colonel of the British Commandos in Normandy.

Donald Pleasance (The Great Escape) really was an R. A. F. Fighter Pilot who was shot down, held prisoner and tortured by the Germans

[Seric]

James Doohan ("Scotty" on Star Trek) while landing in Normandy on D-Day was wounded in the leg and hand; losing a finger. Then he retrained as a Pilot, earned a Commission with the RCAF, and completed the war serving as a Pilot Artillery Observer.

My wife lived near him as a kid and was friends with one of his kids. From what she described, he was a wonderful man with a HUGE heart and the family to show for it.

[onlycafe]

don't forget audie murphy and neville brand, the two most highly decorated soldiers in the second world war.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

No forgiving Charlton Heston

I met Heston once, in an elevator on the way to a gathering of Hollywood conservatives. No, the meeting wasn’t held in the elevator. Instead of asking him how he parted the Red! Sea, I brought up a Second Amendment essay he’d recently written. Engaging his mind, rather than his celebrity, delighted him. He was affable, unpretentious and witty, and he clearly had the courage of his convictions.

After forcing Time Warner to cut its ties with Ice-T over the Cop Killer album by reading aloud the lyrics at a corporate stockholders’ meeting, Heston quipped, “Still, I’m proud of what I did, though now I’ll surely never be offered another film by Warner, or get a good review from Time. On the other hand, I doubt I’ll get a traffic ticket very soon.” Now there’s a man Kipling would be proud of.

This weekend you won’t catch me dead at that Clooney movie. I think I’ll head for the rifle range instead, then crank up the home theater and enjoy my brand new DVD of Ben Hur.

Jeff,

I met Charlton Heston at a NRA national convention and was able to get him to sign his book for me. Very nice man and someone you could look up to, which does not happen very often these days, especially regarding anyone working in Hollywood.

Thanks for publishing this about him and especially Clooney. Like you I did not need to see that movie anyway.

Joe

PS, traffic ticket hell, the gent deserved a police escort! He is in a good place now and hope to meet him again sometime...

[Tobra]

Interesting that not a single liberal bombthrower, Darisc, Kach, Stuartj or any of the others here have dropped in on this thread and commented. Not surprising, but interesting, speaks volumes to me

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

By Hollywood morals, none of the above are actually GOOD things. Too much money and fame does not do good things to people, Hollywood is a microcosm of the problems that our society currently faces. Heston was one of the few real role models, at least in that town.

"You better be careful, you're gonna give actors a good name."
~Frank Sinatra, speaking to Charlton Heston.
(saw it in an article last week.)

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Interesting that not a single liberal bombthrower, Darisc, Kach, Stuartj or any of the others here have dropped in on this thread and commented. Not surprising, but interesting, speaks volumes to me

You are right; not surprising at all. How do you, after all, attack a man like Charlton Heston? How do you attack what he stood for? How do you attack how he lived his life? He is the epitamy of conservative character and virture. He "walked the talk". Being wholly unable to attack him, they would certainly never swallow their liberal pride and support him. No way. He stood solidly against everything they stand for.

Now compare him to the liberal heroes and role models floating in the cesspool he stood so far above. You just can't. Their lives are ongoing train wrecks, fueled by the new liberalism and the "values" it espouses. So, unable to counter, our resident liberals remain silent. I would like to be able to say they "wisely decided to remain silent", but that's not it. It's closer to the truth to suggest they simply buried their collective heads in the sand and are ignoring this, waiting for it to just go away. A man like Charlton Heston just makes them far too unfomfortable.

[Joeaksa]

Jeff,

There were 3-4 that went after him on the "Charlton Heston Obit" thread I started and thankfully they were drowned out.

They focused on his NRA time and not his life and thats just plain stupid IMHO.

JOe

[Rikao4]

the difference is
Charles was a honorable man !
Clooney has too wear pants too let folks know he's a man..
Rika

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Jeff,

There were 3-4 that went after him on the "Charlton Heston Obit" thread I started and thankfully they were drowned out.

They focused on his NRA time and not his life and thats just plain stupid IMHO.

JOe

Yeah, once again showing their true colors. Rather than supporting all of our natural, intrinsic rights, they have chosen to denigrate one with which they are uncomfortable. They have chosen to attack anyone who would dare support that right. They see it as a right that defines a lower class - the Christian redneck hicks that populate "flyover" country.

In no other single arena has liberalism lost its way more decidedly than in that of gun rights. Gun rights represent the proverbial "canary in the mineshaft" of liberalism. Their stance on this issue demonstrates, or points towards their stance on oh so many others. Individual liberties? Only the ones of which they approve. Individual responsibility? What's that? Everything they do is some one else's fault, or a product of their environment. Big gubmint regulating every aspect of our lives? Certainly; the more the merrier. It's the only way they can have their way.

Funny how the tenets and ideals of modern liberalism have to be forced upon us under the rule of law. Granted, there has always been resistance to positive change. Witness the racial struggles in the South. I don't think anyone would argue the need for change; hell, Heston marched for that change. Did he, however, ever march for the rights of one man to marry another? Would he have splashed blood on a mink wearing theater goer? Don't think so... most Americans will never consider any of that as "positive change"; modern liberalism has gone too far, and has left mainstream America behind as it rushes to embrace every nutball cause on the planet. They are out of touch with the vast majority of Americans; the ones in flyover country.

[ronin]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

They focused on his NRA time and not his life and thats just plain stupid IMHO.

and since when has it become appropriate for the left to consider the NRA (or any involvement therein) similar to the KKK, or even the NAZI party? why has it suddenly become en vogue to attach a stigma to a person engaging in lawful activity with an organization that promotes a healthy constitutional right? abject liberalism at its finest

[varmint]

remember how they tried to **** on elia kazan till the very end?

these people hold grudges.