What is it about the artsy crowd that makes them think that everyone who practices a form of artistic expression, vis a vis, writing, painting, music, etc., must be a progressive liberal? We're all too familiar with the Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon photo ops with 'bastions of democracy' like Hugo Chavez.
 
Only recently has the American public been introduced to members of the Hollywood elite who are professed conservatives-I suppose with the reawakening of America and the preponderance of town hall meetings it is now more acceptable to admit you are a fan of the Founding Fathers and the rule of the Constitution.
 
I am constantly confronted with the specter of political preference in the world of writing as I worry when I submit a piece if the editor has partisan biases. I wonder if I should scale back my language to hide any political leanings that might peek through. Outside of the magazines that are obviously about politics, it is often hard to tell in which direction editorial staffs lean-the left or the right-even after reading back issues. Do I query the editor about their particular political bent when submitting an article or idea for consideration? That seems rather unprofessional to me; so, I am left hoping that nothing I say will offend the editor's partisan sensibilities.
 
It is not uncommon to see artists, most particularly visual artists and authors, who have invented a demeanor, a costume, if you will, for themselves, not unlike the characters and scenes they create. They seem obligated to act differently than everyone else and espouse ideas such as artists should.
 
Many artists brag that they have 'gone green'. Some of them may indeed follow strict enviromental lifestyles, but, outside of Ed Begley, Jr. who actually walks the walk, I bet it's their maids who put the recycling bins out by the curb!
 
They protest any and all war because they want us to know they are against violence of any kind. They are not worried about Al-Queda-they want the Muslim world to be our friends. They have no problem, though, punching out a paparazzi when he maliciously intrudes on their private space. I suppose it's easier not to worry about a terrorist attack when you have a mansion with security guards, intricate alarms and several bodyguards.
 
They want us to know they are dead-set against nuclear weapons so they chain themselves to the fences outside nuclear facilities. The rest of us are evil sorts who obviously are itching to put a mushroom cloud over the heads of our enemies!
 
Then there's the NEA(the National Endowment for the Arts) caught on a conference call last month promoting the use of art as political propaganda. Despite critics pointing out the similiarities between such a campaign and those of horrific dictators like Stalin and Hitler, the artists protest that this could never happen- they are merely using their talents 'to make this world a better place'. May the heavens protect us from humanitarian zealots!
 
The likes of Will Ferrell and Jon Hamm starred in a pro-universal healthcare ad put out by the Democratic National Convention where they pretend to be standing up for insurance company executives while in reality they are making fun of them. These artists have the same credibility problem that Michael Moore's anti-capitalism movie had-where do a bunch of multi-milllion dollar stars get off accusing someone of having too much, of having a small zoo in their backyard? It's like the Hope diamond calling the North Star "shiny"!
 
No one can make a liberal agenda seem so truly just and necessary as an artist whose bleeding heart stains the pages of his books, the pictures he draws and the films he stars in. He thinks that in the light of his unusual creative talent he knows what is best for us. Since us ordinary Joes don't have the time with our sunup- to- sundown nundane lives, he willingly sacrifices his wealth and prestige to enlighten us poor, dumb masses! It doesn't matter to hin that he is seriously out of touch with the average American who lives far from the reach of stage lights ad print news blurbs.
 
The belief behind much of this attitude of those in the arts comes from the belief that they must be different-they have to be different to distance themselves from the everyday in order to find the truth in their art. I disagree. The truth is already there-for your audience to discover-not for you to brandish and fall back on when you've created nothing of real value. I am perfectly capable of doing both of these activities: sitting in front of my laptop constructing the fine points of an article or lines of dialogue and railing loudly at the latest liberal lie coming down the pike from D.C.
 
I can keep my politics separate from my art. I can't help but wonder so many in the arts and entertainment world cannot do the same. With very public displays of their attitudes towards such topics as war, the enviroment and the poor, they insinuate that those of us artists who don't support such causes are not worthy of that title.
 
Whether you put pen to paper or brush to canvas, an artist is part of who you are, like the unsual freckle pattern on your arm. It is not a badge you wear on your sleeve that you must regularly polish with partisan rhetoric. Confusious should have said this" Beware of filthy rich artist with a cause and too much time on his hands!