(Ben) Stein Says Soldiers Snubbed During Oscars

[Tab]

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Ben Stein says the people who truly were snubbed on Oscar night weren't those who didn't win, but were the American military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Speaking Thursday at a Kent County Republican Party fundraising dinner, the conservative humorist, writer and political pundit said movie stars and film industry professionals failed to highlight the sacrifices of soldiers during the
Academy Awards on March 5.

"Not one prayer or moment of silence for those who have given their lives," said Stein, who also has acted ("Ferris Bueller's Day Off") and hosted a game show ("Win Ben Stein's Money"). "And they complain about (falling box office numbers). Stop spitting in the face of Americans and maybe we will go to the movies."

He said the real stars aren't his Beverly Hills neighbors but the soldiers "wearing body armor in 130-degree heat, pulling 24-hour shifts" in the so-called Sunni triangle, the dangerous area of armed insurgents in Iraq.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060317/ap_en_tv/people_stein

Um, so they complain when Hollywood invokes current political events, and they also complain when it doesn't? In other words, just when it suits their agenda? Sheesh. Move along - nothing new here.

[DS1]

1. Well, the lucky ones are wearing body armor

:eyes:

[Mythsaje]

2. Someone probably should have stood up there

and said. "We offer a prayer, or a moment of silence, in respect to the soldiers who are out there right now in harm's way because of the pack of idiots in the White House."

How's that?

Oh...btw, Ben. Stuff it.

[saigon68]

36. Stein taught Joementum Limpmann (DINO) Conn, His nasal, whinny assed

Comedy Routine

[high density]

3. How about we pray for all of the poor homeless people as well

But umm, it was an event about movies, right? Do we really need to infest everything with the f--king War Machine?

[opihimoimoi]

4. No shit...those PUBs are always a dollar short and a WEEK LATE

Its an AFTER THOUGHT

[f-bush]

18. And those who are hungary, those who are abused, those who ...

have substance abuse problems. There are many more unfortunate people than these crybaby soldiers. Nobody forced these military people into the service. The only thing I will say is that Shrub and the rest of the repubs have done their damndest to make conditions so bad, that the military begins to look like the only alternative.

[area51]

37. Um, "crybaby soldiers"?

I can't agree w/that. But the fact that the soldiers don't have all the equipment that they need is directly the fault of this nazi administration. They (Bush vermin) are the true soldier-haters. And while it's technically true that "Nobody forced these military people into the service," there is an economic draft going on in this country b/c jobs are so hard to find.

[f-bush]

50. That is what I said, the repubs have made conditions so bed that

there are sometimes no alternatives but the military!

[EFerrari]

5. Hollywood is an industry, not a political block. Sheesh.

And it would have taken too long to say, "A moment of silence for the dead who died for a lie and the living who have to survive bad supply lines, bought and sold generals, and most of all, Donald fucking Rumsfeld."

Timing, it's all about timing.

[DainBramaged]

6. Hey Ben, how 'bout those who died for your just war?

Hey Ben, know what 2300 looks like?



http://theunitedamerican.blogs.com/Movies/2000A/2000.html

[tabasco]

46. Republicans only like live soldiers.

I don't see Stein wailing about the dead soldiers. You can bet if the Oscars had had a tribute to the fallen, Stein would have condemned it as a political stunt. Remember when Ted Koppell read the names and showed the faces of the dead on Nightline? OH ! - the outcry from the republicans about politicizing the dead!!

Have I mentioned lately how much I hate these people??

[MichiganVote]

7. Huh..and to think I thought the Oscars were about entertainment

[agincourt]

8. It would help if it was America's war,

Instead of Gee Dumbya's oil crony, yellow magnet, mass distraction war. A war we did not need to fight.

[bowens43]

9. What bullshit.

These fucking conservative idiots send these men and women to Iraq to kill and die for lies and then bitch and moan about this?!?!?!!?

[Endangered Specie]

10. Why don't you go fight with them Mr. Clear Eyes

:eyes:

[anotherdrew]

11. BEN STEIN NEEDS ATTENTION. EVERYONE LOOK AT BEN n/t

[Mind_your_head]

15. Yep, that's exactly what it is.... and it's a very lame attempt at that!

n/t

[bluestateguy]

12. That's it. Stein must be blacklisted in Hollywood

No more parts for him! Send a memo to the secret cabal of liberal Hollywood producers and directors that keeps a running blacklist of conservatives.

[UTUSN]

13. & Ben STEIN's military service was exactly WHAT?! n/t

[blondeatlast]

29. Why, he served the country and is still quite proud of doing so

by writing speeches for Tricky Dick Nixon. :sarcasm:

Has he ever NOT mentioned it when being interviewed?

[TomClash]

14. Win Ben Stein's Medals nt

[Sal316]

16. ..but I thought that wasn't the 'appropriate time'.....

...OH...

I get it.

It's appropriate if it's something THEY agree with, but not appropriate if it isn't.

Must be nice to have multiple sets of standards. Makes life easy, never having to stick to one of them.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

17. Ah, shucks Ben. Thanks. Too bad you missed your chance

to serve in the Armed Forces.

http://www.benstein.com/bio.html


Hmmm. Graduated college in 66, could have been a platoon leader.

Whaaasamatter, Ben?

You don't want to join the green team for the big wins?

What did you do to get out of the draft, BennieBoy?

Fucking CHickenHawk. Eat shit. And Die.

[blondeatlast]

30. He served his country...writing speeches for Tricky Dicky!

I'd call him an ass, but that's so insulting to a useful creature.

[LiberalGuy000]

19. he's a serious weirdo

And I love how he's gone on a rampage over the last few years, lecturing Americans about how they're not saving enough money. Easy for you to say, Bozo Ben! How the hell are American supposed to save money when many of them are spending 50% of their income to keep a roof over their heads?!

[progressivebydesign]

20. Stein should get his ugly ass over there then.

LOVE to know how many of those windbags actually have family fighting over there. Is that douchebag a vet??

[wallwriter]

21. Smug Nixon apologist asshole...

[Ediacara]

22. Actually, Hollywood's declining numbers are due to greenlighting crap

They would make more money if they stopped making junk like Deuce Bigalow 2...

[EST]

23. With supremely important issues, like getting our sons and

daughters out of harm's way as quick as possible, amongst many others, this two-bit rich twit has the moronic balls to bitch about someone in the entertainment business not following his pictures....oh, wait, before I regurgitate my cabbage and corned beef, this twisted prick hound would have twisted 'round and round until he found something else to bitch about and try to make more thoughtful people all bad and wrong. No way to win or even break even.
And I'm sure everyone in thw whole world is just pining away, awaiting his approval and head pat. Yuck, spare me!

[killbotfactory]

24. exploit our troops!

wait.. er... I mean, Support our Troops!

[HuffleClaw]

25. *puke*

suuuuuure, what a cheap shill he is, must be taking his lessons from coulter or o'reilly. wonder what his opinion of 'syriana' or 'brokeback mountain' was.

[blondeatlast]

31. He helped create AnnCoulter and her ilk--no joke.

He's long been a Republican operative and proudly served his country by...

writing Tricky Dick's speeches.

No joke.

[daleo]

26. Ben Stein should go escort a few Iraqi convoys

If he's so concerned. Or he could shut the fuck up, and quit with the non-sequitors.

[w4rma]

27. What a hypocritical jerk. Why are the caskets being flown in under cover

of night? Why do we never hear anything about the soldiers who have been maimed for life?

[rooboy]

28. Ben Stein - star of Fox News shows like "Cashin' In"... a real patriot. nt

[DrZeeLit]

32. Hmm...wearing body armor in 130-degree heat...or... NOT!

Just goes to show -- even a guy who can get his sound byte on the waves hasn't got a clue about what's going on in Iraq.
What a loser.
He needs to become informed before he shoots off his mouth.

Besides, WHO is this guy anyway? Just an actor. Isn't that what they say about the other side? Sean Penn, George Clooney...et al...

[Azathoth]

33. When was your last USO tour Ben?

You want to show solidarity with the troops? Get on a fucking plane and go entertain them. You're an "actor." Forget about the $1000 a plate country club fundraising dinners, and get over to Iraq. If Al Franken can do it, I'm sure you can. Attacking the industry that helped you, a pathetic Nixon flunkie, by throwing a few honest paychecks your way is not going to make you 'relevant' -- it's going to make you even more pathetic.

[tanyev]

34. Unlike Republican propandists, the people who planned the Oscars

ceremony did not feel the need to exploit our soldiers in order to evoke a pre-planned emotional response.

[Toots]

35. But but I thought more people died in Detroit than Iraq

Why just the soldiers? Why not all those people who die in Detroit and Washington DC? Why no mention of them since according to right wing e-mails there are a lot more of them than there are "people" dying in Iraq. The reason I put people in quotes is because the e-mails were only referring to Americans but didn't specify or count the Iraqi people.:shrug:

[niallmac]

38. There has GOT to be an answer to this 'support the troops' jingoism.

Hey, I'm not a monster. I don't wish harm upon anyone least of all hapless soldiers in a bull shit war.
But I don't support what they are doing. I don't support the crimes that are being committed in my name.
I understand they don't have the luxury of doing anything but what they are doing because how many people can afford to
spend years in jail for disobeying orders or going AWOL?
So some of the luke warmness towards flag waving these days at least in my mind is due to any clear
alternative answer to 'support the troops.'
Man oh man. Person oh person. The Iraq war, creationism, religious sponsored hate laws against gays and anyone not
totally white bread...
Like George Gobel said: "Did you ever get the feeling that the world was a tuxedo and you were a pair of brown shoes."

[Mz Pip]

39. Conservative humorist?

Hah. Ben Stein is not even remotely funny. Snide sarcasm wears thin after about 30 seconds.

Here's what would have happened if the Academy Awards included a moment of silence for our troops: Stein would have accused the liberal elitist acamedy of politicizing the awards and of grandstanding to get yet another dig in at our noble and fearless leader George II.

No matter what happened Ben would find fault. Who cares what he thinks anyway? He's just another chickenhawk cheerleader for Bush.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Ishoutandscream2]

51. "Conservative Humorist" is an oxymoron

It's amazing that I know of not one conservative in my personal life who has a true sense of humor. They are just too damn dense.

[spanone]

40. Who gives a rats ass what Ben Stein thinks. Why doesn't he enlist?

[Joey Liberal]

41. Is Stein a Veteran?

Didn't think so.

[They Live]

42. Exactly what...

...has Ben Stein and his money done for the good will of these soldiers and or anyone else in the world lately? (crickets chirping)

yeah, that's what I thought.

[KittyWampus]

43. Wasn't Syriana Nominated For Anything?

[brentspeak]

44. Though I hate Hollywood's self-congratulatory Academy Awards

not to mention America's continuing obsession with the lives of Hollywood stars, Ben Stein sounds like a real blockhead. Mr.Ben "I'm more patriotic than thou" Stein.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

45. I bought milk at the deli - NOT ONE MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR OUR TROOPS

They just handed me my change with a smile. The bastards! How could they smile when our troops are suffering?!?

Hired some guys yesterday to haul away some junk. Did they pray for our troops before they got started?? NO! Commie creeps!!!

Neighbor stopped me to say hi and chat awhile. No prayers! No silence!!!

How could they spit in the face of real Americans?

:grr:

[robbedvoter]

48. We have a winner!!!!!

[The Stranger]

47. Give this little shit a rifle and send him to the front.

He has duped the foolish into thinking he is intelligent, when he is a nothing but an imbecile who merely attempts to speak authoritatively.

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

52. Dear Ben...

"Ferris Beuller's Day Off" premiered in 1986. Fifteen minutes after that, the world stopped giving two shits what you think.

Come to think of it, we didn't give two shits even then.

Now give it a rest, you tired old queen.

[onager]

53. Ben Whine would sell his mother for a scriptwriting gig.

I can't believe anybody listens to this opportunistic assclown. For several decades, Ben Whine has been simultaneously flogging his simple-minded right-wing scripts and aggressively ass-kissing every person, living or dead, who showed the slightest interest. And at the same time, he's peddled this Medved-Lite "liberal Hollywood" nonsense.

Subtext: just PLEASE buy one of my awful movie ideas/scripts and I won't call you Hollywood Liberals anymore. PLEASE!!!

Let's briefly review Ben Whine's career:

--His TV mini-series idea "Amerika." Never heard of it? There's a good reason. That masterpiece made "Red Dawn" look like "Citizen Kane." An insidious Fifth Column invades America, led by Lib'rul schooteachers and the awesome military might of...the U.N.

:rofl:

--His thinly fictionalized Beach Novelette "'Ludes." That was about a shallow, sleazy, materialistic salesman who migrates from NY City to LA. Only to be shocked, SHOCKED, to find that his corner of L.A. is shallow, sleazy, and materialistic. I was falling off the couch laughing at Whine's self-righteous sneering about "L.A. materialism." At the same time, Whine was carefully listing the menu items he himself hogged at overpriced L.A. eateries.

By the time Whine sold this turkey as a movie, Quaaludes were way passe and the Drug Of Choice had to be changed to cocaine. To the no doubt eternal chagrin of Mr. Whine, the studio bought his book but hired a real, actual writer to do the script (Darryl Ponicsan).

--A couple of movie walk-ons and TV commercials.

--"Win Ben Whine's Money"

--Oh, and there was Whine's memoir about getting his Big Break In Hollywood. He got that big break from a man he cutely referred to in the book as "a famous Hollywood Liberal TV producer." That would be Norman Lear. Whine hopes everyone has forgotten that by now.

--And I almost forgot his column for the old and now mercifully dead Hearst rag in L.A., the HERALD-EXAMINER. Some of his columns were hilarious, but never intentionally. Mr. Whine loved to drop in references like, "our tiny little condo in Malibu, which we only bought as a tax exemption."

[Skittles]

54. fuck you Stein you fucking republican whore

our soldiers were SNUBBED the day your boy george sent them to war based on a pack of LIES

[SoCalDem]

55. Not the place...not the time...Ben Stein knows better

he's just a right wingers with an agenda, so that's what he would say..

The "war" has been going on for years now...it;s been exposed as a phony war for profit...

Why WOULD the Academy awrds NEED to "pay homage" to a bogus war?? It;s bad enough that so many soldiers have top be there, without hollywood being expected to kiss up to the war thing??

[greblc]

56. Ben is a REP. putz but he has a point.

There was no metion of the war or ackowledgement of sacrificies made by our Military Service Members.
I understand the importance of movies like Brokeback Mountain but it seemed to steal all the political energy of the event.
I'd like to think that someone in Hollywood is creative enough to put something together in ackowledgement of the hardships
in Iraq and the sacrifice of our service members. For it or against we are at WAR.

[Orsino]

59. Our troops are at war, anyway.

Most of us sit comfortably, watching mindless schmooze-fests like the Academy Awards, at which a mention of the troops would have seemed perfunctory. Our Congress didn't even see fit to declare war, so the neglect didn't begin with Oscar.

Our troops are running errands for an imperial President, not fighting a war for their country. This simple fact does diminish their sacrifices, and is perhaps the greatest disservice we're doing them.

[Raine]

57. *Sigh* same old, same old

villianize the Liberals (Democratic side) via Hollywood insensitivity, such an old and predictable tactic. :boring:

[drm604]

58. I thought conservatives didn't like people talking about dead soldiers.

Can't they make up their minds? :shrug:

If they had done what he's suggesting, right now they'd be getting criticized for that!

[Javaman]

60. and just why is ben stein still relevent? nt

[Goat or Panic]

61. Ummmm

And didn't Bush forget to mention the Katrina victims during the SOTU? But yeah Hollywood needs to feel shame.

Why has Stein suddenly decided to stick his neck out for BushCo? He must not be very bright...you're supposed to jump off a sinking ship not on.

[GCP]

62. Why is this in LBN?

It's not news and shouldn't it be in GD?