Proving, to me at least, that Sheen, Whitford and Schiff are some of the smartest, most well-spoken and genuine people working in Hollywood.
From the Boston Globe –
Some TV occupants of the White House are getting in the middle of the high-stakes fight over a bill that would make it easier for unions to organize.
Today, actors from “The West Wing” will join workers and members of Congress to unveil a new ad and grassroots campaign called “Faces of the Employee Free Choice Act.”
Then, the actors — Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford, and Richard Schiff — will join in lobbying on Capitol Hill for the legislation, according to the labor coalitions pushing it.
The pro-business Workforce Fairness Institute responded with this missive: “Today’s event on Capitol Hill with actors who played fictional political powerbrokers addressing a fictional problem is like a work of fiction that would be better suited for a comedy if their proposed ‘solution’ wasn’t so devastating to our nation’s economy,” said Katie Packer, executive director of the Workforce Fairness Institute. “Job creators don’t need policy prescriptions from out-of-touch, Hollywood elite who want to drive up costs and encourage a hostile takeover of American small businesses.”
On an interview I just watched on MSNBC, Whitford was composed, educated and sincere – signing off with the words: “Remember the Workers.”
Politico puts the best (so far) headline on the story:
President Bartlet, aides push EFCA
“The West Wing” is back — sort of.
The award-winning NBC drama went off the air in 2006, but on Tuesday, “West Wing” stars Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford and Richard Schiff will try to use their celebrity status to promote the Employee Free Choice Act, the divisive labor union bill that has stalled in the Senate.
The three actors will unveil a new program called Faces of the Employee Free Choice Act, sponsored by the pro-labor group American Rights at Work, at a news conference at Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s office…
Get on the phone, folks and make two phone calls today -and tomorrow – and the next day – for however long it takes.
Senator Hatch: (202) 224-5251
Senator Bennett: (202) 224-5444
