Barbara Boxer Urges Hollywood, Democrats to Follow Meryl Streep’s Lead: ‘If You Have a Stage, Use it’

Barbara Boxer Urges Hollywood, Democrats to Follow Meryl Streep’s Lead: ‘If You Have a Stage, Use it’

by Daniel Nussbaum 23 Feb 2017

http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2017/02/23/barbara-boxer-encourages-democrats-follow-meryl-streeps-lead/

Former Senator Barbara Boxer defended Meryl Streep’s controversial, politically-charged Golden Globes acceptance speech and urged Democratic politicians to follow her lead during CAA’s “Take Action Day” summit on Thursday.

Boxer — who just signed on as a client at CAA after leaving the Senate last year — was one of several politicians and progressive leaders taking part in what the Hollywood mega-agency billed a “non-partisan” political summit for clients and staff.

“I don’t think she talks down to anybody,” Boxer said of Streep during a conversation with CAA agent Michael Kives, according to Deadline. “I don’t think it’s up to people to worry about how one segment of the country thinks. What did Meryl Streep say that should be offensive to the middle of the country, that Donald Trump imitated a disabled person? Believe me, people in Middle America didn’t like that one bit.”

During her acceptance speech at the Globes in January, Streep said that Hollywood belonged to the most “vilified” segment of American society in the wake of Trump’s election, and criticized what she called the president’s “instinct to humiliate,” his “disrespect” and his “violence.”

The speech was widely praised in Hollywood but sparked outrage among the president’s supporters.

While she defended Streep’s speech, Boxer said it was important not to speak out politically just “for the sake of doing it.”

“I believe in freedom of speech for every single person, whether they work in Hollywood, don’t work at all, are old, young, whatever,” she said, according to the Wrap. “Don’t do it for the sake of doing it, but if it moves your heart and you have a stage, use it.”

“It’s not up to Meryl Streep to tailor our message to middle America, it’s up to candidates who are running for office to tailor a message that resonates,” Boxer added.

CAA’s “Take Action Day” runs all day Thursday and was also expected to include appearances by Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards and Muslim Public Affairs Council founder Salam al-Marayati.

Barbara Boxer

Barbara Boxer was a U.S. Senate senator, and is a Creative Artists Agency Inc (CAA) client.

Note: Creative Artists Agency Inc. (CAA) was a donor for The Climate Project.

Norman Lear was a donor for The Climate Project, is a director at the People for the American Way, and married to Lyn Davis Lear.

The Climate Project is a merged organization with the Climate Reality Project.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Climate Reality Project, the People for the American Way, the Sundance Institute, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.  

Lyn Davis Lear is a trustee at the Sundance Institute, and married to Norman Lear.

Robert Redford is the founder & president for the Sundance Institute, a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council, and an advisory board member for the Edible Schoolyard.

Meryl Streep is an advisory board member for the Edible Schoolyard.

Mark Buell is a director at the Edible Schoolyard, and was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Susie Tompkins Buell is an advisory board member for the Edible Schoolyard, a friend of Hillary Rodham Clinton, and was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.   

Hillary Rodham Clinton was a director at the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, is a friend of Susie Tompkins Buell, and Tony Rodham’s sister.

Tony Rodham is Hillary Rodham Clinton’s brother, and was married to Nicole Boxer.

Nicole Boxer was married to Tony Rodham, and is Barbara Boxer’s daughter.

Barbara Boxer is Nicole Boxer’s mother, a Creative Artists Agency Inc (CAA) client, and was a U.S. Senate senator.

Creative Artists Agency Inc. (CAA) was a donor for The Climate Project.

Norman Lear was a donor for The Climate Project, is a director at the People for the American Way, and married to Lyn Davis Lear.

People for the American Way is a national partner with America Votes.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund is a national partner with America Votes.

Cecile Richards was the founder & president for America Votes, is the president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.