Warren Beatty in Presidential Run?
By JENNIFER BOWLES, AP
LOS ANGELES (AP), Ronald Reagan became president, so why not fellow actor Warren
Beatty, who played a brutally honest politician in the 1998 movie ``Bulworth''?
Beatty, 62, has reportedly been considering a run for the 2000 presidential bid
as a Democrat or perhaps an independent. While party insiders say he would have a
``slim-to-none'' chance of winning, the lure of celebrity politics is strong this year.
Testimony to a celebrity's instant access to headlines, the ripples of a possible
Beatty campaign quickly grew to a swell. Ditto with recruiters boosting TV slugfest
host Jerry Springer for a U.S. Senate seat from Ohio.
In Memphis, wrestler Jerry ``The King'' Lawler, whose claim to national fame is
slapping comedian Andy Kaufman on ``Late Night With David Letterman,'' wants to be mayor.
``Mickey Mouse and Howdy Doody must not be available,'' sniffed Cleveland's
Plain Dealer at the thought of a Springer candidacy. Harvard political analyst Laura
Liswood chalked it up to Capitol-sized Hollywood egos. ``They do start believing their own
press releases.''
It was unclear Thursday whether Beatty, the actor who created the dangerously
honest senator in ``Bulworth,'' was for real about joining Campaign 2000 - or just
stirring publicity.
After the morning newspaper made him a potential candidate, Beatty sounded
apologetic on the phone to progressive Washington activist Robert Borosage.
``I'll bet you're surprised to hear you're an adviser to me since we've never
talked,'' Beatty told Borosage, co-director of the progressive Campaign for America's
Future and a veteran of Jesse Jackson's 1988 presidential bid.
Under the headline ``Actor hinting that he'll run for president,'' in Thursday's
New York Times, Beatty had falsely named Borosage one of his political consultants and
railed on about money corrupting politics.
Beatty did not return press calls on Thursday, apparently content to watch the
buzz he created gather momentum - or not. ``He's anxious to use it to start raising
some of these issues'' such as campaign finance reform, Borosage said. ``I don't
think he's in the process of seriously putting together a presidential campaign. He's not
a fool, so he knows he has lots of difficulties in being taken seriously.'' Beatty's
talk of the need for a liberal alternative to Democrats Al Gore and Bill Bradley - someone
fresh, different - echoes in some of the talk surrounding Springer, the controversial
talk-show host, and his possible candidacy in Ohio.
``I think this guy would spice things up to the point that people would use it
as an opportunity to express their dismay at the mainstream politicians,'' said Dan
Martin, head of the state AFL-CIO.
The attraction between celebrity and politician is magnetic, said Janet Staihar,
a PR agent whose portfolio includes Cafe Milano, Washington's only real celeb hangout.
But giving in to the hunger carries risk, said Washington pollster Mark Mellman.
And celebrities may be misreading Gov. Jesse ``The Body'' Ventura's election.
Ventura, the pro wrestler costumed in feathers and Lycra shorts, sparked such
voter interest that his gubernatorial election last year witnessed a record 60.4 percent
turnout in Minnesota compared to a national turnout of 37 percent.
He benefited from same-day voter registration, which is not available
nationwide. In the same year's congressional races, voters rejected millionaire candidates
with flash but no public record. ``That sent the message that experience counts,'' said
Mellman.
Still, he added, ``There is a portion of the populace that will be turned on by
something new, different and mischievous.'' California's Democratic Party Chairman Art
Torres said the party's presidential race between Gore and Bradley already has ``two
candidates who bring qualifications and seasoning to the ticket. I don't think we need any
more candidates.''
