-By Warner Todd Huston
Let me first say that I don’t often care much about the goings on of the denizens of Hollyweird, so this “gossip” time at Publius’ Forum isn’t something you should get used to. But, Sonny Bunch is reporting over at the Weekly Standard blog (inventively called “The Blog”) that bad boy actor Robert Downey, Jr. is saying that his personal troubles of drug addiction and jail terms has turned him toward the conservative viewpoint.
“I have a really interesting political point of view, and it’s not always something I say too loud at dinner tables here, but you can’t go from a $2,000-a-night suite at La Mirage to a penitentiary and really understand it and come out a liberal. You can’t. I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone else, but it was very, very, very educational for me and has informed my proclivities and politics every since.”
This is a sort of “mugged by reality” come to his senses that our friend Mr. Downey has had, isn’t it? I wouldn’t guess that we can expect to see Downey suddenly becoming the next Rush Limbaugh, of course, but we do have a logical and sensible progression to a conservative viewpoint made by a young man who has had some very trying times in his life (all of his own making, granted).
So, let me say, kudos to Mr. Downey. Let’s hope his newfound conservatism isn’t as temporary as his being drug free has been in past years. I wish him nothing but the best as he is a talented fellow.
Lastly, notice how Mr. Downey felt he needed not to be too vocal in extremist Hollywood about his newfound conservatism. It’s a shame that the more “tolerant” more “civilized” folks in Hollywood just can’t stand to allow people their conservatism.
(Photo credit: mugshots.com)
____________
Warner Todd Huston is a Chicago based freelance writer, has been writing opinion editorials and social criticism since early 2001 and is featured on many websites such as newsbusters.org, townhall.com, New Media Journal, Men’s News Daily and the New Media Alliance among many, many others. Additionally, he has been a frequent guest on talk-radio programs to discuss his opinion editorials and current events. He has also written for several history magazines and appears in the new book “Americans on Politics, Policy and Pop Culture” which can be purchased on amazon.com. He is also the owner and operator of publiusforum.com. Feel free to contact him with any comments or questions : EMAIL Warner Todd Huston