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?