America's other president under attack

This new threat to free speech reminds me of the days of the 1950's HUAC, the House Unamerican Activities Committee and the age of McCarthyism.

America's other president under attack
March 5 2003
By Duncan Campbell - Los Angeles

Actor and activist Martin Sheen as President Bartlet in The West Wing.

Pressure is growing for the president to lose his job because of his uncompromising stance on the war. That's President Bartlet, as played by Martin Sheen in the hit television series The West Wing.

Sheen has been one of the leading figures in the anti-war movement, addressing rallies and spearheading the "virtual march" on Washington last week in which legislators were deluged with a million emails, phone calls and faxes.

Television network NBC is under pressure to sack him from its hit show or face a boycott or withdrawal of advertising.

Sheen said in Los Angeles that NBC executives had indicated his high profile could damage the show and had called on him to explain his views. He had also received thousands of hate emails, been accused of being a traitor and accosted in the street.

Conservative talkshow hosts have lambasted many actors and singers for expressing opposition to war.

A website, Citizens Against Celebrity Pundits, has been launched for "American citizens (who) stand against wealthy Hollywood celebrities abusing their status to speak for us". The site calls for donations for ads to counter the anti-war movement. "We believe that celebrities Martin Sheen, Mike Farrell, Tim Robbins, Rob Reiner, Barbra Streisand and others with them are using their celebrity to interfere with the defence of our country," it says.

Last week conservative cable channel Fox News published a poll concluding that two-thirds of those interviewed wanted celebrities to be silent on politics.

Organisers of the anti-war ads signed by actors and musicians say the ads are necessary because the mainstream American media has been reluctant to give coverage to the anti-war movement and the cable news channels are overwhelmingly pro-war.

Last week a new group, Musicians United, ran a full-page ad in The New York Times, quoting former NATO supreme commander Wesley Clark saying invading Iraq would "supercharge recruiting for al-Qaeda". It was signed by about 50 musicians including Lou Reed, Sheryl Crow, the Kronos Quartet, Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Massive Attack and REM.

- Guardian