While many Hollywood stars may have raised a champagne flute yesterday to mark President Obama's signing of the stimulus package, actor Kelsey Grammer was not among them. The actor best known for his roles in "Cheers" and "Frasier" told NewsBusters's sister organization CNSNews.com recently that he was a "free enterprise guy" who feared that CEO pay caps included in the corporate bailouts were a "sort of a deal with the devil."
CNSNews.com staffer Nicholas Ballasy caught up with Grammer recently at a ceremony marking the reopening of Ford's Theatre where the actor panned the package as rewarding "evildoers" who have wrecked the economy:
Story Continues Below Ad ↓GRAMMER: I think government is responsible to make sure we go after people that are evildoers. There's plenty of those to go around, from the bottom up and from the top down. The only problem I see with the stimulus package is that as a rule, it awards all the people that are evildoers, all of them. And that's a problem, for me, personally.
[...]
BALLASY: Any example of the evildoers that you were just mentioning in the actual bill? Who you're saying it benefits?
GRAMMER: Unfortunately, if we're going to be buying up bad mortgages, all the people that were paying their mortgages are the good guys. It's a little confusing, a little difficult....
[...]
GRAMMER: It may not be a popular position to take but I honestly believe that the bill is fraught with the idea that those who did the most damage to our country -- from the bottom up and the top down -- are the ones that are actually going to get the most reward.
Asked about Obama's tax plans and if he'd mind paying higher taxes, Grammer confessed he doesn't "think it's fair" but that he's resigned himself to paying "in excess of 60 percent of my income" under the Obama administration's tax plans.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters




















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Too bad Kelsey was all coked
February 18, 2009 - 17:30 ET by guttermouthToo bad Kelsey was all coked up when he was interviewed for this. He might have otherwise given a different answer.
gm... You need to go to
February 18, 2009 - 17:39 ET by bigtimergm...
You need to go to HuffnPuff...where there is zilch for reality..you would fit right in.
Yeah, didn't he have sex
February 18, 2009 - 17:46 ET by guttermouthYeah, didn't he have sex with a 15 year old? Real upstanding guy. Passed out naked in his dressing room, all drugged up...sounds like the perfect politician.
~Did he have a gerbil
February 18, 2009 - 18:16 ET by choselife3xUp his tush?
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
He must have been
February 18, 2009 - 18:26 ET by cocodrieHe must have been thinking that he was Slick Willie who was a fine upstanding guy. No, I guess not, he didn't bomb Somalia to cover it up.
Jesus Loves You
Idiotic
February 18, 2009 - 17:55 ET by nofateYou mean he might have said something idiotic like "The more money the government can quickly pour into the economy, the better off the american people will be. Roosevelt failed because he didn't do enough, quickly enough. Barney Fwank, Cwis Dodd and all the other heroes who protected Fannie and Freddie and CRA should be hailed as the heroes they are." Something like that, right?
Idiots running the country, and trying to close down our sites. Pathetic. Go peddle your lunacy somewhere else. Better yet, stick around, it keeps us on our toes as we figure out how we're gonna kick the snot of you (in a political sense) once all this lunacy goes south.
Idiot: NOUN: A foolish or stupid person...ETYMOLOGY: Middle English, ignorant person
"The future is not set. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves."
michaelyon-online.com
WOW!
February 18, 2009 - 18:00 ET by guttermouthWhat an a-hole response.
How's this - Kelsey, a life long republican, was probably too coked up to think clearly.
Wow, indeed.
February 18, 2009 - 19:54 ET by babooHow typical of a lib. David Axlerod and Saul Alinsky would be proud. When your flimsy, wrong-headed ideology is attacked, don't respond to the actual argument. Say something about the person who said it. Drag as many people down to your gutter as possible, just to keep their attention away from the Man Behind the Curtain. It's like you *know*, deep-down, even though you won't admit it, that your ideology is fundamentally flawed, and based on the same irrational beliefs as religion (I'm gonna get from both sides, I guess).
god Gutter you are a pig
February 18, 2009 - 20:18 ET by dark_dsSo guttermouth whats your excuse for not thinking clearly? Meth, a STD that has gotten into your brain, what!! .. cuz something obviously has _______ you up .... god you are pig ... a rancid pig ... I quit being nice to you ... you sicken me
"America is on the Short Bus to Socialism"
NB Community
February 19, 2009 - 12:37 ET by nofateI've watched this truly idiot troll trash most of the people I like to read, who, even though I may not always agree with, are here to discuss, debate, and think through the pressing problems we face trying to improve the quality of our society. Wow, that was over the top corny, but you get what I mean. This low rent troll, though, comes on, takes up valuable space and generally attempts to lower the discussion to his gutter level by denigrating those who do not agree with him. I've noticed that even some of our more intelligent libs can't stand this idiot troll. He reminds me of Hater, only without any intelligence to back up his vitriol. Guttermouth is a twisted remnant of what may have been at one time, a decent human being (hard to imagine), but he has allowed his baser instincts to take over any reason that may remain. He is worthless to respond to, but it got to be too much after having read his idiot responses to people for months now, he accuses people of being "coked up". Typical. But I bit. Live and learn. He's still an idiot and my money is on him(her?) not learning.
Here's to more intelligent debate and discussion while we bury the little trolls, kicking in the walls of their putrid little dens every time they attempt to rob us of our riches. And I don't mean money, little idiot, dig?
Sincerely,
The "A-hole".
"The future is not set. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves."
michaelyon-online.com
~Gotta love
February 19, 2009 - 12:45 ET by choselife3xThose open letters....
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
Well, the President does it
February 18, 2009 - 18:05 ET by MichelleCWell, the President does it so that makes it okay now, doesn't it?
Republicans believe every day is the 4th of July. Democrats believe every day is April 15th ~ Ronald Reagan
Michelle... I had a post
February 18, 2009 - 18:25 ET by bigtimerMichelle...
I had a post along the exact same lines of yours ready to sent to gm, decided it he wasn't worth the time...
Glad you did though... ;-)
bt~ I'm so tired of the
February 19, 2009 - 01:15 ET by MichelleCbt~
I'm so tired of the hypocrisy I had to point it out - not that it will sink in or be understood, but had to do it anyway.
Republicans believe every day is the 4th of July. Democrats believe every day is April 15th ~ Ronald Reagan
gutermouth,
February 18, 2009 - 18:59 ET by R D HelmLike what?
That he is happy as hell that the Imperial Federal Government is now going to be confiscating 60% of the money he earns at the point of a gun?
I am going to LMAO watching all these Hollywood leftie hypocrites doing all they can to defer/hide/move offshore their sources of income.
Or watching them flee to Belize and Singapore in their private jets.
-Dave
Our clueless political leaders are about to drive us all over a cliff. The time to HITM is now-before we go over.
No ideas
February 18, 2009 - 21:38 ET by UnsaneToo bad you are intellectually vapid and have zero ideas.
"THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING!!! THE HOLOCAUST OF THOUGHT IS DAWNING!!!" - Nevermore, "Bittersweet Feast", from This Godless Endeavor (2005)
Evil Doers indeed...
February 18, 2009 - 17:36 ET by bigtimerKelsey spoke the truth...all of what he said is the simple truth.
I wished he would run for office in Ca., I imagine he may know it is most likely futile...still wished he would if he could afford and stomach it.
Cheers Kelsey....Cheers!
Honestly, if there was
February 18, 2009 - 17:49 ET by jiffypopHonestly, if there was anything else that would fix this economy aside from a bailout, I think that it would have been done. Support is needed right now..not Kelsey Grammer interviews
bailouts
February 18, 2009 - 18:05 ET by m1xramBailouts make it worse, stocks go down each time. Bailouts will prolong the pain and encourage more bad behavior though. This economy has to cycle through the upcoming bad times and if left alone we could get started.
Don't think so? Look at our car manufactures, they're asking for money again and still haven't addressed their internal issues.
I do agree that talking to people in Hollywood is 99.999% a waste of time. Sorry, have to leave some wiggle room. :-)
"Why can we all just get along?"
February 19, 2009 - 10:18 ET by jmtIn the rush to get out this "stimulus", there was no time to consider other options. In fact, it is obvious that those crafting the bill didn't want to consider other options.
This "stimulus" bill is a payback to liberal constituencies.
Ah, yes, bipartisan support: "we've passed this bill, so y'all on the other side need to shut up and support it."
If this "stimulus" bill would do what is supposed to, no one would be calling for folks to support it. In such a case, those who were against it would be shown to be wrong.
However, as it appears this "stimulus" bill will do no such thing, then the opposition must support it to provide cover for those that pushed it out.
jmt
http://www.jmichaelt.org
Well I think we should
February 18, 2009 - 17:54 ET by balboaWell I think we should always listen to celebrities and their opinions, right?
I've often though Kelsey
February 18, 2009 - 17:59 ET by nofateI've often thought Kelsey had his head screwed on straight. This just reinforces it more after his most recent movie which I can't for the life of me at this moment remember the name of. This will not win him points in the looney bins of Hollywood, but maybe the conservatives out there will eventually break out. Prayers for Kelsey.
"The future is not set. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves."
michaelyon-online.com
American Carol
February 19, 2009 - 09:59 ET by SQL_Sam....great movie
Kudos
February 18, 2009 - 18:07 ET by jdubyaGood job for Mr. Grammer to step up and take a stand. He is right that some people who could not afford their mortgage in the first place probably should not have been approved period.
What would Sean Penn say?
good, bad or ugly
February 18, 2009 - 18:07 ET by katainkentI really don't place any value in what actors think. In fact I try very hard not to know too much about their personal lives/problems at all. It just makes it difficult to enjoy their work.
time is wasted when we
February 18, 2009 - 18:51 ET by jiffypoptime is wasted when we listen to hollywood and politic ideas
Kelsey Grammer sounds like a
February 18, 2009 - 20:07 ET by mostlymoderateKelsey Grammer sounds like a pretty smart guy. As for the liberal above, Guttermouth, you ever notice how vile and disrespectful you sound?
how to ruin a nation
February 18, 2009 - 23:24 ET by TN MomGRAMMER: It may not be a popular position to take but I honestly believe that the bill is fraught with the idea that those who did the most damage to our country -- from the bottom up and the top down -- are the ones that are actually going to get the most reward.
It's the Bottom Up-Top Down Porkulus for sure! WELL SAID!!
Don't even care if I agree
February 19, 2009 - 06:10 ET by RR GOPDon't even care if I agree with the guy, because I couldn't care less what these Hollywood types/celebs have to say about anything. They're POV is no more informed or valid than yours or mine.
The only ones I do admire are the ones who perform for our troops (be they Lib or Con) and/or who give a voice to traditional American values through their art.
But, it is refreshing given the constant bombardment of the Hollywood Left via the MSM to hear a different view once in a while.
One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
I respect Grammer
February 19, 2009 - 07:57 ET by thebutlerdiditfor his charitiable donations and performances for the troops. Along with Jackie Mason, he sent one of the largest shipment of care packages to the troops ever. So, that gets my respect. His opinion? It's nice, I agree with it, but it doesn't affect my feelings.
All a Democrat needs is the upper-story window of public attention and the chamber pot of rhetoric. How else to explain the rise of Joe Biden? P.J. O' Rourke
Kelsey Grammer is supposedly a Republican, but as I posted
February 19, 2009 - 15:56 ET by Rush Fanhere on Feb.12 Mr. Grammer also said this at that Ford Theatre event that was captured by Arienne Thompson, USA TODAY:
"Grammer, a Republican, expressed support for Obama. "I support all
presidents," he said. "They have a very difficult job." And, he said,"it brings a tear to my eye every time I see him (Obama) on camera." As for Lincoln, "he gave his life so that a president like Obama could come along."
I'm with "Republican" Kelsey Grammer. It brings a tear to my eye when I see President Obama constantly downgrading the economy as a "crisis", and enacting a porkulus bill that is a wishlist of the democrat socialist agenda, including insuring that people who shouldn't have gotten home mortgages in the first place remain in their homes (whether they can pay their mortgages or not).
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No wonder the country is in a mess;
half the people are below median
intelligence.
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“This is not about creating jobs. This is the exact opposite. This is all about rebuilding the Democrat Party into an unbeatable entity. It's about remaking the United States of America without the Constitution as the guiding light.” ~ Rush Limbaugh
"he gave his life so that a
February 19, 2009 - 16:22 ET by nofate"he gave his life so that a president like Obama could come along."
I don't think so. He's probably rolling over in his grave over the direction Obama's taking the country. I guess I'm going to have to revise and extend some of my previous remarks if he is indeed this rino-like. Here's Lincoln:
On simplification:
On the relationship of capital and labor:
Quick, someone send this to Obama. I wonder if he's even read any of Lincoln's speeches? Oh, that's right, he doesn't need to, he's channeling Lincoln! Gimme a break.
"The future is not set. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves."
michaelyon-online.com