Obama supports the WGA

Politics and Hollywood overlap again. Perhaps it’s the turf. The GOP
remains the party of actors — Reagan, Schwarzenegger, Fred Thompson,
that guy from “Love Boat,” etc. Today, Sen. Barack Obama issued this
statement on the unfolding writer’s strike:

“I stand with the writers. The Guild’s demand is a test of whether
corporate media corporations are going to give writers a fair share of
the wealth their work creates or continue concentrating profits in the
hands of their executives. I urge the producers to work with the
writers so that everyone can get back to work.”



This was gleaned from the Wonkette political blog, then reposted on
Democratic Underground. Of additional interest, was this follow up
post from a DUer named “Kestrel91316:”

“I stand with the writers, too. I happen to know Nick Counter, the lead
attorney/spokesman for the industry in this and most labor matters,
but I don’t know him well enough to call him up and call him a
BALD-FACED LIAR for his statement this AM that the WGA refused to
compromise in their last-minute talks. The WGA AGREED to give up their
demand for an increase to 8c per DVD royalties from 4c.

“Based on this LIE by the industry spokesman, I am now 100% in favor
of the WGA stand.

“Shame on you, Nick. No wonder your wife spends most her time in Santa
Fe these days – no normal person could look you in the face after what
you’ve said and not want to slap it.”

Hmm… The Poster claims to have known Counter’s wife in a
professional capacity. While we have no way of knowing the veracity of
the post, nor are the folks on the AMPTP side of the strike the only
ones in Hollywood — or the California, or the U.S., for that matter
— experiencing marital strife, it’s interesting how the strike is
becoming a Rorschach for everyone’s personal take on culture,
politics, and the general Fraying of America.

We may have more on this in the days to come, here on the blog.