Reply #23: In a (mild) defense of "the other movie stars"

[Atman]

George is a very brave man. No one ever gave out awards in Hollywood for bravery. In fact, Hollywood, perhaps more than any other "industry" or town, bore a oversized brunt of the McCarthy witch hunts, during which many big stars found themselve unable to work.

To be sure, the old studio system under which that was allowed to happen no longer really exists, but I'd be willing to bet that especially the old-timers have a special recollection about what happens to public figures when you speak out against the government.