Money and PoliticsMoney and PoliticsBulworthBulworth
Politics in FilmPolitics in Film
BraunwarthBraunwarth
CampaignsCampaigns
"Politics is the gentle art of getting "Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other" - Oscar protect each from the other" - Oscar AmeringerAmeringer
Money and PoliticsMoney and Politics Contemporary mass-mediated political Contemporary mass-mediated political
campaigns are very expensive and money campaigns are very expensive and money is very important to candidatesis very important to candidates
It is a necessary but not sufficient It is a necessary but not sufficient ingredient for electoral successingredient for electoral success
Money is also very important to interest Money is also very important to interest groups as a way of signaling their groups as a way of signaling their preferences and influencing the political preferences and influencing the political processprocess
Money has essentially become a form of Money has essentially become a form of speech, politicians use it to get out their speech, politicians use it to get out their message, interest groups and individuals message, interest groups and individuals use it to express their preferencesuse it to express their preferences
What’s the Matter with What’s the Matter with Money?Money?
Politicians are never bribed outright like in this moviePoliticians are never bribed outright like in this movie However there is a strong correlation between However there is a strong correlation between
donations and political actiondonations and political action Money can buy access and well orchestrated Money can buy access and well orchestrated
lobbying and donation efforts can skew public policy lobbying and donation efforts can skew public policy toward those with moneytoward those with money
Not everybody has equal opportunity to use this form Not everybody has equal opportunity to use this form of political participationof political participation
Inequalities in wealth translate into political Inequalities in wealth translate into political inequalitiesinequalities
Politicians must spend up to half of their time raising Politicians must spend up to half of their time raising money for re-electionmoney for re-election
Note how these are shown in BulworthNote how these are shown in Bulworth
Efforts to Limit the Influence of Efforts to Limit the Influence of MoneyMoney
Money is insidious and it has been very Money is insidious and it has been very difficult to stem its flow into politicsdifficult to stem its flow into politics
When one avenue is blocked, it flows in When one avenue is blocked, it flows in other areasother areas
For instance, when hard money donations For instance, when hard money donations to candidates was limited, donators gave to candidates was limited, donators gave soft money to partiessoft money to parties
When this was limited, donators began When this was limited, donators began producing their own issue adsproducing their own issue ads
When donations from corporations and When donations from corporations and unions were disallowed, they formed PACsunions were disallowed, they formed PACs
Ideological ShiftIdeological Shift Note the pictures on the wall at the beginning of the Note the pictures on the wall at the beginning of the
filmfilm Warren Beatty with Civil Rights and other prominent Warren Beatty with Civil Rights and other prominent
liberals (MLK, Malcolm X, Thurgood Marshall, Bobby liberals (MLK, Malcolm X, Thurgood Marshall, Bobby Kennedy, Angela Davis, etc.)Kennedy, Angela Davis, etc.)
What is the message of Bulworth’s new campaign What is the message of Bulworth’s new campaign ads?ads?
Trying to paint himself as a conservative to ride the Trying to paint himself as a conservative to ride the popular tide of conservatism (reminiscent of Bob popular tide of conservatism (reminiscent of Bob Roberts and Bill Clinton)Roberts and Bill Clinton)
He’s a fraud who’s sold his principles and progressive He’s a fraud who’s sold his principles and progressive policies to the highest bidderpolicies to the highest bidder
Because he’s “tired of the bullshit” he decides to Because he’s “tired of the bullshit” he decides to commit suicide and becomes liberatedcommit suicide and becomes liberated
Much like Much like NetworkNetwork
Other Issues Raised in Other Issues Raised in BulworthBulworth
Note the contrast with his support for “family Note the contrast with his support for “family values” and his own familial relationsvalues” and his own familial relations
Pay attention to the TV images in the backgroundPay attention to the TV images in the background Note how he chides Hollywood for their dumb, Note how he chides Hollywood for their dumb,
violent, and dirty films designed for maximum violent, and dirty films designed for maximum profitabilityprofitability
Free Media Time for Political CampaignsFree Media Time for Political Campaigns Single-Payer (socialized) health careSingle-Payer (socialized) health care Excellent analysis of the problems facing the Excellent analysis of the problems facing the
African-American community and the lack of African-American community and the lack of contemporary leaders (contemporary leaders (transcripttranscript))
Note the emphasis on scandal throughout the filmNote the emphasis on scandal throughout the film What do they mean by “you have to be a spirit but What do they mean by “you have to be a spirit but
not a ghost”?not a ghost”?
The MediaThe Media
How does the news cover the new How does the news cover the new Bulworth campaign?Bulworth campaign?
Emphasis on the strategy and the image, Emphasis on the strategy and the image, not on the substance of what he is sayingnot on the substance of what he is saying
Are the media prepared to cover a Are the media prepared to cover a substantive campaign?substantive campaign?
Would a message like Bulworth’s appeal to Would a message like Bulworth’s appeal to the public? the public?
Why don’t candidates offer a more Why don’t candidates offer a more substantive message?substantive message?
Don’t want to offend key constituenciesDon’t want to offend key constituencies
Warren BeattyWarren Beatty
Warren Beatty directed and co-wrote Warren Beatty directed and co-wrote BulworthBulworth
He has always been active in Democratic He has always been active in Democratic politicspolitics
Interestingly, he has recently been making Interestingly, he has recently been making a number of public political appearancesa number of public political appearances
Perhaps a run for Governor or Senator is in Perhaps a run for Governor or Senator is in his futurehis future
How similar will the message of his How similar will the message of his campaign be to that of Bulworth’s?campaign be to that of Bulworth’s?
The ContenderThe Contender
What message does this film make regarding the appropriateness of personal character attacks in politics?
Do you agree? Can you think of any contemporary
examples of this practice? Is this film making any message about Is this film making any message about
gender equality? gender equality? If so, what is it? If so, what is it?
The Congressional AddressThe Congressional Address
The section on the Congressional The section on the Congressional address is a bit unrealisticaddress is a bit unrealistic
What if you were a conservative What if you were a conservative member of Congressmember of Congress
Oldman and his friends have abused Oldman and his friends have abused their positions – OK, they may be their positions – OK, they may be traitors, OKtraitors, OK
But he says the only reason they did it But he says the only reason they did it was because she was a woman?was because she was a woman?
What about her liberal politics?What about her liberal politics?