A-List's Trump Snub Hits Him Where It Hurts - by Joy-Ann Reid

[DonViejo]

Ultimately, denying Trump and Trumpism the cultural cosign they crave is an important statement.

JOY-ANN REID

01.01.17 12:01 AM ET

Republicans are putting on their “smug faces” and scoffing at the raft of celebrity performers, Rockettes and now even a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, who are refusing to raise their microphones, kick up their bare-legged heels or otherwise perform for Donald Trump at his inaugural.

Bristol Palin, despite her own tenuous grasp on celebrity status, took to her blog to snipe at the refuseniks as ”sissies”.

But make no mistake, this disdain drips with envy (and Bristol would be snapping selfies with those A-listers in a heartbeat if they’d have her.) Republicans and conservatives know full well that denying Trump the celebrity and cultural imprimatur he so desperately craves matters, and not just because of the awkward headlines after each new rejection.

America is, in many ways, as much an idea as it is a country. And Americans have long marketed that idea around the world through our popular culture. From jazz, the blues, country and rock to Hollywood movies, culture has in many ways been our greatest export (or our most obnoxious one, depending on your point of view). In decades past, “The Western” defined the image of a cowboy nation; something both Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush revived to their domestic political benefit and to the world’s chagrin. The Hollywood of Frank Capra’s era, when Reagan became a minor star, sold the world an image of American pith and patriotism in many ways as defining as the moon landing or the A-bomb.

Our love of Hollywood-style glamour helped elect two presidents: JFK and Reagan, who fulfilled the prophecy that a country so enamored of actors would eventually make one their president. “All in the Family” chronicled the racial and cultural upheavals of the Nixon era. Bill Clinton captured the zeitgeist of young voters in the early 1990s by playing his saxophone on the “Arsenio Hall” show and survived sexual scandal and impeachment in a country reared on “Dallas” and “Dynasty.” It’s arguable that without the mainstreaming power of entertainment shows like “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” and the “Cosby Show” and portrayals of black presidents that became routine in film and on television, it would have been that much harder to get to a real first black president.

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http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/01/01/a-list-s-trump-snub-hits-him-where-it-hurts.html

[Madam45for2923]

1. the germaphobic pouter who lives in an all-gold penthouse built from cheap materials by undocumented

He can try to deflect with pathetic tweets about really wanting to be surrounded by “the people” on his big day, but the truth is transparent: the germaphobic pouter who lives in an all-gold penthouse built from cheap materials by undocumented Polish migrants wouldn’t wipe his nose on his core supporters. Just look at his billionaire cabinet for a clue.

Even the proto-Nazis unleashed by Trump’s campaign, some of whom are organizing an inaugural event pitifully dubbed the “Deploraball,” seem to crave pop culture normalization, based on their apparent desire to have Kanye as a special guest performer. One wonders how awkward it would be for the rapper to be on stage when the “Sieg Heiling” begins.

Argh! Can it all get more disgusting? Sure it can!

[Fast Walker 52]

5. good stuff there, writing-wise!

[Madam45for2923]

6. Yes! She's not mincing words! The media has to choose sides! With America or against us!

[Fast Walker 52]

9. I fear too many in the media will choose Trump over country

[Ford_Prefect]

12. They already have. That willing suspension of disbelief by the MSM enabled Trump's rise.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

15. Absolutely!

The Christian right screaming about the lack of morality while voting for a thrice married self admitted sex offender.

[Madam45for2923]

2. Americas ascendant majority will not so easily slink off into that good night, and will not quietly

America’s ascendant majority will not so easily slink off into that good night, and will not quietly ingest what Trump has foisted on the electorate.

That. Is. Right.

[tblue37]

3. K&R for visibility. nt

[yuiyoshida]

4. I know Bristol Palin doesn't care but the term "sissies"

is probably as derogatory as using the term "that's so gay". She really must have grew up with a LOT of pent up hate in her life.

[lunatica]

20. It's very rednecky

which is exactly what the Palin family is. They're proof that you can take the redneck out of stupidville but you can't take stupid out of the redneck.

[pangaia]

22. I suspect people like her, gingrich, trump, giulliani, and all of their ilk,

experienced some horrible abuse and hatred, negativity as children.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. "portrayals of black presidents that became routine in film and on television"

Huge part of how we got a Barack Obama (in addition to his impeccable credentials). A "POC" (President of Color) had to somehow be "normalized" (sad that such had to happen in the first place however), through popular media in order for the "real thing" to finally happen. In fact, during the 2008 campaign, the backdrops and other settings in which he appeared were designed and very carefully crafted to help skeptical Americans to "visualize" him in the position.

[Pacifist Patriot]

8. Fantastic read. Thanks!

[smirkymonkey]

10. He will never get the respect, acceptance or admiration of those who he so

desires to have it from. All he has are his pathetic deplorables and it's eating him alive.

[Ford_Prefect]

13. If you piss into the the wind you cannot expect to stay dry, can you?

[DinahMoeHum]

11. Trump: Living proof that money can't buy class.

n/t

[FredZim]

14. Follow the example of A-Listers

To their credit A-Lister are taking economics risks in taking a public stance. But so must all Democrats speak publicly about the importance of voting. At work, church, social events and wait staff and chatting eith Uber drivers etc ask people if the voted and to register to vote for 2018.

[Lithos]

16. One truth which never came out about the A-Listers

And the general hatred by the GOP towards them, but "The Donald" has spent 40+ years trying to hob-nob and be one of them; they have had a better introduction to him than the rest of the US and know him for what he is. They want no part of "The Donald".

L-

[NastyRiffraff]

17. Great point

They know him, and they don't like him. Even as a reality-show "star."

[Vinca]

18. Somewhere this morning I heard a serious discussion about Trump's abbreviated inaugural festivities

and a journalist who is normally sane was promoting the notion that Trump wants to "get to work" and that's the reason for the brief celebration. I think it was on CNN. In any case, I immediately broke a New Year's resolution and started yelling at the television. LOL. If Der Fuhrer could attract A-listers to his events, they would go on for weeks and weeks, not a couple of hours.

[bdamomma]

21. He will say let's get to work

and to start dismantling the USA. Not to make it great again................

[gulliver]

19. It will strengthen his support among his voters.

The A-listers are great, but people don't see them as leaders. There are probably a lot of Beyoncé and Katy Perry fans who voted for Trump. True, by not showing up for the inauguration, the A-listers don't strengthen Trump's support among his non-voters. But among his voters, it's just further proof of the left being headlined by "elitists and entertainers."

Liberals are going to have to out-reality Trump. We need to be what people want to be.

[KittyWampus]

24. Trump -IS- one of those entertainers. It's part of why they voted for him.

[gulliver]

27. I agree

[tavernier]

23. Pulitzer!

[oasis]

25. Joy Reid telling it like it is. (eom)

[Gothmog]

26. I love AMJOY

Joy Reid is the best