BREAKING NEWS: Rob Reiner endorses Hillary Clinton

Earlier this week, Washington's political elite took notice when Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh --- the very definition of a moderate, heartland Democrat --- endorsed Hillary Clinton's presidential bid. Now, she's scored a coup in Hollywood, earning the support of Rob Reiner, one of the entertainment community's quintessential liberal activists.

As The Times' Tina Daunt reports tonight, the announcement will be made Thursday. And Reiner, in a sequel to Oprah Winfrey's much-publicized fundraiser for Barack Obama at her spread near Santa Barbara, will underscore his commitment by hosting a fundraiser for Clinton at his Brentwood home. The event is planned for Oct. 21 --- the candidate's 60th birthday.

As we noted when Steven Spielberg signed up with the Clinton camp in June, the bigger news would have been if Reiner had strayed from the brand name that long has been a Hollywood favorite. He may have shopped around among the Democratic White House contenders longer than many in the industry. But with Clinton running a nearly flawless campaign so far, there was little reason for one with his political pedigree to take a flier on someone else.

Perhaps not by happenstance, Reiner's endorsement will be made official on the same day that a leading Republican presidential candidate is hoping to make a large endorsement splash in California. ...

Rudy Giuliani, as reported two days ago, is expected to announce that former Gov. Pete Wilson is backing him.

The Washington Post notes in a blog posting that the two "are in many ways political soul mates, both Republicans in blue states who are pro-choice but more conservative on foreign policy and national security."

Yet, as the item recollects, they were at odds, in 1994, over Proposition 187, the controversial California ballot measure that sought sweeping cuts in government services to illegal immigrants. Wilson was --- and remains --- closely identified with the initiative that many analysts believe served the immediate interests of California Republicans but seriously harmed them long-term; Giuliani denounced the proposal as "inhumane."

The Post piece wonders if the link to Wilson might damage Giuliani's prospects of wooing Latino voters in a general election campaign. Others have recently wondered if any GOP nominee can succeed on that front, given the tenor of the debate within the party on immigration policy.

While the Reiner and Wilson endorsements vie for attention on the West Coast, Democrat John Edwards is playing a celebrity card in the key state of Iowa.

A release from his presidential campaign on Wednesday announced that stumping for him there this weekend will be "America's favorite prime-time plumber." That would be James Denton, who, as the release quickly added, plays the character Mike Delfino on ABC's "Desperate Housewives."

Could be, now that we think about it, that Edwards has more to be pleased about today than either Clinton or Giuliani.

-- Don Frederick 

Comments

[Dexter Poinblather]

Unbelievable! Stop telling us which celebrity will support which democrat.
Although, word on the street is that Soleil Moon Frye is backing Richardson. Do you think she can swing the Sabrina cast behind Richardson? ugh.

[Confucious]

Wow... he really is a Meathead

[Awkins]

Boy! Rob Reiner wasn't just acting as a "meat head" on All In The Family. He really is a "meat head" - dead from the neck up.

[DH]

Guess the "Meathead" nickname still applies.

[C.E. Nelson]

What do you expect from the "meathead"? Who cares who he supports or any of the other liberals from Hollyweird land. They are so over!

[Fred Buse]

HEADLINE: Meathead endorses Hillary.

[William Minton]

Reiner is, and always will be a meathead. ie STUPID!

[Bradley Ellis]

Who cares? Is Reiner all that relevant anymore?

[Schratboy]

Big deal. Rob "Meathead" Reiner has been a Clintonista since Slick Willie's whirl through the Oval Orifice. I thinks it's funny that Reiner embodies the character he played in All in the family: a dullard liberal of low expectations.

[maxziel]

Isn't this the same gentleman that endorsed public daycare? Tell you what Mr. Reiner...the day you put YOUR children or grandchildren into a public daycare facility, I will follow suit.

[jules]

go figure - dems/out of touch hollywood/"actors" just like in vietman - at least i never spit on a soldier - but i believe this crowd had and has.

[Tom G]

Why would anyone want the Hollwood elite to back them?

[Elsa Sale]

"She will be the next President of the United States", a prediction from a guy who, in 1992, when asked if he thought he'd win an oscar, he said something like "I have better adds than Marisa Tomei". She won. I hope you're right again, Mr. Reiner!

[Pete McIntyre]

So,"The Meathead" is for Shrillery.Big news! And who cares who these limo liberals are supporting anyway?

[TT]

Ooohh, a Hollywood Celebrity backs a democrat. WHO CARES.

[Greg Webber]

Meathead never did had any good sense.

[Jeff]

This is breaking news? Who cares who these Hollywood Blowhards endorse?

This is not going to impact the votes of anyone that i know.

[Sammy Davis III]

Meathead's for Hillary? It's over now.

[J T]

Rob Reiner is still the quintessential meathead.

[aRCHIE bUNKER]

WOW! Meathead is backing HRC. That really seals it for me. Anything a Hollywood has-been thinks, I think too.

[Richard MacCarthy]

So now "Meat Head" as Archie used to call him is supposed to mean something to me the average American cditizen.

[Kirk]

Well, well...an endorsement from an overzealous, overweight has-been !
Who cares? Get a job Rob aka Meatball!!!

Kirk Orlando

[Brian P]

Still a Meathead.

[toro]

Rainer has never evolved from his TV role that gave him the name "Meathead"!

[Felipe]

Wilson’s support of 187 was based on legitimate budgetary concerns by a Chief Executive Officer of the world’s seventh largest economy. California voters voted for it overwhelmingly because of the outrage of the mounting costs, such as health care and education, that illegal immigration bore on the State. In 1994 the most expensive cost of illegal immigration was about $2.5 billion a year for educating some 400,000 illegal immigrant children. The majority of Californians voted for 187 because they saw it as the Governor’s duty to do something about such an outrageous burden to a state already in financial difficulty. By the way, today’s cost, we’re told, are $10.3 billion. Given that number and the fact that we are living in a post 9/11 world, I’m guessing that 187 would pass easily pass again today.

So Wilson's support hurt CA Republicans? How do you explain the fact that in 1994, for the first time since Ronald Reagan, the Republicans gained a majority in the legislature and had a Republican Speaker? And didn’t, in 2003, Republican Arnold Swarzeneeger openly admit that he supported 187 when he ran and won the Governorship over Gray Davis? Why did this happen? Maybe the voters were mad at Davis for not supporting their vote for 187.

[appman]

Once a Meathead - always a Meathead?

[Mike Avery]

am amazed at how many differant perceptions there are in regards to the debate last night, I mean we all watched the same thing and yet so many saw many differant things. It could be, no matter what, the blinders are on and there is no changing the minds of Clinton supporters or others, even though clearly she did not win simply by evasive answers and a self serving attitude. She acts as if she has already won, and I would call that delusions of grandeur. Vanity is not becoming on a lady, and yet, she has an aura of "entitlement" that makes one want to run from her. If only there were more people that actually can agree that she is not right for the job we can finally get somewhere with the Democrats. They won''t win the election, but atleast this game would be more appealing.

[Rue]

This only proves that he's still a Meat Head.

[David Gauss]

Archie was right about this "MEATHEAD" !

[Buffalo Bob]

Holy cow! What a surprise........NOT!

[Billy]

Wow... he really is a Meathead
Posted by: Confucious

LOLOLOLOLOLOL!
Perfect!

[lmd]

Now, she's scored a coup in Hollywood, earning the support of Rob Reiner, one of the entertainment community's quintessential liberal activists.

Are you kidding me. Hardly anyone knows who the heck he is and those of us old enough who do wouldn't give two cents what he thinks.

[Riveting]

What's next? Carrot Top endorsing Obama? Now that's some hard-hitting news.

[Beckster]

Why is it that 99% of all hollywood types are liberals?

Thanks!

[David Baker]

A significant political event... from a guy whose primary claim to fame is playing second fiddle to Archie Bunker once a week. Impressive!

[Vinny]

So wait, let me get this straight...the loyal readers in the public DOESN'T care that Reiner endorsed Hillary?

[Jim]

Where in the world can you find a bigger loser that Hitllary? In Hollywood and Rob just proved it. Meathead doesn't do him justice.

[R]

Well thank God we have that issue finally resolved. Nearly half of the country has been waiting for this morons decision with rapt anticipation.

Hey Reiner, MOVE OUT OF THIS COUNTRY!!!!! Idiot.

[Rob Riener]

Yep, just by looking at all these comments I can see where Hillery gets her smugness. She's gotta be running 16 pts ahead of everyone here.

[Buckwheat]

If your political motivation is influenced by liberal Hollywood Democrats -- then you need to get a life.
These are people who make a living pretending to be who they are not, and out-of-touch with the real world.
One has to have a VERY simple mind to be swayed by such people. Unfortunately, there are many USEFUL IDIOTS who do just that.
Those who do so usually have to tear themselves from American Idol or Jerry Springer to get their news from MTV.

[Rick]

All the good Meathead lines have been taken.

[Esteban]

Why is this 'Big News"? Did anybody think that an undereducated Hollywood dolt would support anybody besides the Socialist frontrunner? When will these people learn to shut the hell up and just do what they get overpaid to do? It's just so stupid to wipe away fully one-half of the population as potential fans of your work with public pronouncements of your stupid political philosophies.

[bill mattingly]

Are we suppose too be surprised!!!!

[Jeff]

This is BIG news. However, I'm REALLY waiting to find out who Britney Spears is supporting. Now that revelation could truly throw the election one way or the other.

[rich]

who is reiner? didn't he used to be someone?????

[Timtan]

Two words....... HES STUPID! She wont win just because some hollywood nutjob endorses her..... Get real!!!

[Pam]

Such original comments...LOL

[Phil]

Reiner endorsing Clinton is bad for Clinton. Now, that's probably good for Democrats if it keeps her from winning the primary. Reiner's endorsement undermines the center's confidence in her claim that she's changed and can represent the mainstream. Clinton is the cleverest campaigner among the current field, but among the worst candidates for the general election. Her intrinsic intelligence is high, but so was Jimmy Carter's. Presidential competence won't materialize in Clinton. If she wins, she'll set back the Democrats 20 years. For Republicans, every one of these silly actor endorsements of Clinton just has them licking their chops. They know know people like Reiner just shove Clinton into a corner for a pummeling in the general election.

[OA]

''...just like in vietman - at least i never spit on a soldier - but i believe this crowd had and has...''

Oh jeez Jules, didn't you ever get the news that the ''spittin' on soldiers'' was another one of those made-up rightwing myths? Of course, with you not ever having been there (and not knowing how to SPELL it either) what would you know about truth, eh?

[s]

You people need to get a grip. You would actually SUPPORT a republican again after our country has nearly been destroyed in the last 8 years?? Please. I hope I never see another republican administration in my lifetime. This country can't take much more of this.

ABOLISH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!