June 22, 2004

2:04 AM

Are there any intelligent, cool celebrities (specially women, gays and intellectuals) who are conservative, quiet-spoken and traditionally-minded (and preferably non-religious) in a soft-spoken, non-libertarian, non-gung-ho, non-gun-totin' sense? Here's a list and here's another - but they both seem full of loud-mouthed, unthinking yobs or evangelists. Many thanks for any help with a list I've been asked to compile.
posted by MiguelCardoso to (26 comments total)

I seem to recall that Harrison Ford is conservative but very politically circumspect. Maybe I'm wrong. You're asking for a lot, here. Most of us are only likely to know if they're loudmouths, not soft-spoken.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 4:35 AM on June 22, 2004

i'd take that Celiberal Righties list with a large grain of salt--the Adam Baldwin link is just to a messageboard, and many of them are just links to people supporting the troops or veterans--Billy Bob Thornton sending baby wipes to soldiers is not an indication of his political views, and Gary Sinise supporting therapy for vets isn't either. And Ricky Martin and others that have performed at Inaugural events are not necessarily on the right.
posted by amberglow at 5:02 AM on June 22, 2004

May I suggest Professor Niall Ferguson
posted by johnnyboy at 5:03 AM on June 22, 2004

How about Clint Eastwood? He seems to be an even keeled, mind-your-own-business classic conservative. Soft-spoken to boot.
posted by nikzhowz at 5:08 AM on June 22, 2004

It strikes me that the kind of person you describe is not likely to want the sort of life that leads to celebrity and, if picked out by fate for unavoidable celebrity (e.g. anyone might be chosen by the aliens as First Contact), to turn out to be the sort of person who won't play the games necessary to stay in the public eye and who will therefore drop out of sight again almost at once.

In other words, rotsa ruck finding any. And remember, absence of evidence isn't evidence of absence.
posted by jfuller at 6:09 AM on June 22, 2004

I think jfuller is right, celebrity and soft-spoken just don't go together. I was trying to think of any soft-spoken lieral celebrities and can't do it. The ones I can think of seem more rational (but that's because I agree with their positions) but not soft-spoken.
posted by rtimmel at 7:24 AM on June 22, 2004

Bruce Willis? I can't vouch for his intellectualism, but he's a moderately conservative fellow. But he keeps it to himself, mostly. Plus, he's funny.
posted by zpousman at 7:35 AM on June 22, 2004

There's Dave Barry, although he may be too libertarian, and I'm not sure that 'soft-spoken' is quite the right word.
posted by IshmaelGraves at 7:36 AM on June 22, 2004

That first list is at least a bit inaccurate. It lists Lance Armstrong, and just has a link to his website as proof.

A friend who works for his foundation claims that he's a Democrat. He's definitely non-religious, though. He said that he was an atheist in his last big Sports Illustrated interview.
posted by Mayor Curley at 8:13 AM on June 22, 2004

deadline approaching, Miguel, huh?
posted by matteo at 8:16 AM on June 22, 2004

And remember, absence of evidence isn't evidence of absence.

Actually, it is, sometimes.

If the existence of the thing that you are looking for is likely to appear, or to give evidence of itself (e.g., celebrities, WMDs), then a rigorous and fruitless search for evidence does indicate a probability of absence.
posted by goethean at 9:02 AM on June 22, 2004

I'd put in a vote for Ben Stein - although he isn't always soft spoken, he's certainly an intellectual and definitely not gun-totin. He gave a talk at my school (mostly just to sell his new book) and the only controversial topic that I remember him taking a firm stance on was abortion (he is very pro-life). In general he just promotes the kind of traditional family values (not that I necessarily agree with them) that you typically associate with conservatives. Also, he's probably one of the few celebrities that you could actually make a really strong case for being economically conservative, if that factors into your criteria at all.

absence of evidence isn't evidence of absence.
Did you pick that up from the season finale of The Shield last week? God, that episode rocked. (Yes, I know that's not the original source).

[on preview:]
Actually, it is, sometimes.

If the existence of the thing that you are looking for is likely to appear, or to give evidence of itself (e.g., celebrities, WMDs), then a rigorous and fruitless search for evidence does indicate a probability of absence.

Umm, no. We're not just looking for celebrities, we are looking for soft-spoken conservative celebrities. The fact that they are soft-spoken makes them less likely to give evidence of themselves. Not all celebrities are under the (generally false, IMHO) impression that anyone gives a damn about their political views. Some are just happy to do their job (act, sing, etc.) and go home. Also, it looks like his search has been neither rigorous (maybe it has, no offense intended Miguel), nor has it been fruitless (he's got two lists plus the growing number of suggestions here).
posted by rorycberger at 9:17 AM on June 22, 2004

> Actually, it is, sometimes.

Sorry, I left off the smiley. Here it is :-) In fact, have several :-):-):-):-):-) Oh heck, take the whole parts kit !@#$%^&*()_+{}|?/.
posted by jfuller at 10:45 AM on June 22, 2004

John Rhys-Davies--possibly the only conservative member of the Lord of the Rings cast (many of whom were way left-wing).

Brad Pitt, to some degree. (See his comments re: smoking, Iraq, etc.)

Rachel Hunter.

Bo Derek.

Gary Sinise and his wife (who wrote "Seabiscuit", the book).

Dolly Parton--and pretty much any other Country music star, except for the Dixie Chicks.

Tom Selleck.

Tom Hanks, to some degree. Definitely strikes me a very patriotic moderate (see his involvement with WWII related movies and miniseries and the new WWII memorial in DC)

Many other Hollywood celebrities (actors, mainly, but also directors) don't mention their right-wing-leaning political views out of (very justifiable) fears of politically-based discrimination: they could lose roles. It's almost a reverse-blacklist. Hollywood is a very, very left-wing town.
posted by Asparagirl at 11:58 AM on June 22, 2004

Oh, and Kelsey Grammar.

And, believe it or not, Charles Barkley.
posted by Asparagirl at 11:59 AM on June 22, 2004

Oh, and Trey Parker and Matt Stone, of South Park fame.
posted by Asparagirl at 12:08 PM on June 22, 2004

I wouldn't call Charles Barkley exactly "soft-spoken".
posted by justgary at 12:12 PM on June 22, 2004

Alex Mogilny, right wing, Toronto Maple Leafs.
posted by philfromhavelock at 12:43 PM on June 22, 2004

Alex Mogilny, right wing, Toronto Maple Leafs.
I think that's one the best uses of a pun (intended or not) i've ever seen. Subtle, apropos, humorous. Well done, Phil.
< /english major>
posted by rorycberger at 2:25 PM on June 22, 2004

really? trey parker and matt stone? that's interesting. how do you know that, Asparagirl? i think they've done a pretty good job of being balanced and common-sensical and not really taking sides in their episodes, but i've been curious about their politics.
posted by edlundart at 3:43 PM on June 22, 2004

Gary Sinise is married to Laura Hillenbrand? And they didn't invite me to the wedding! Don't tell Moira Harris!
And I wouldn't call ex-Nixon hack, American Spectator columnist Ben Stein soft-spoken, Bueller.
posted by sixpack at 3:52 PM on June 22, 2004

William F. Buckley?
posted by gyc at 5:11 PM on June 22, 2004

really? trey parker and matt stone? that's interesting. how do you know that, Asparagirl? i think they've done a pretty good job of being balanced and common-sensical and not really taking sides in their episodes, but i've been curious about their politics.

There was a lot of talk (from them?) when they were doing "That's My Bush" (which sucked) that they had voted for him.
posted by amberglow at 6:00 PM on June 22, 2004

hmm... i remember them saying that if gore had won they were going to do a show about him instead -- which sounded like they were just covering their asses. i'd think the same if they said "but we voted for bush!" in the context of talking about the show -- if they say they voted for him, it would kind of silence critics. of course, the show sucked so badly that no critics bothered talking about it anyway, after a while...
posted by edlundart at 6:54 PM on June 22, 2004

In other words, rotsa ruck finding any.

?
posted by five fresh fish at 9:59 PM on June 22, 2004

It's a phrase that originated from the fact that many Asian people pronounce L's as R's. Not very pc, but this is a right wing thread so we don't have to be tolerant of other cultures.

*ducks*
posted by rorycberger at 9:59 AM on June 23, 2004