Anguish of the Apostate: Second Thoughts Are Best
by Adam Baldwin“Intellect loses its virtue when it ceases to seek truth and turns to the pursuit of political ends.” – Robert H. Bork
In a “Big” way, Andrew Breitbart has injected into our modern cultural/media zeitgeist a foundational reminder of why it is so intellectually critical, even fun, to inspire and embrace the notion that “there’s nothing better than having convivial relations with people with whom you disagree.”
To that end, may I humbly share my own ideological apostasy and second thoughts that began in 1989.
In that year, my oldest child was born and I found myself – as do many Los Angeles parents — driving around the city to various ‘play-dates’, supermarket excursions, pediatrician visits, and the 12-miles-distant playground of the ‘progressive’ pre-school where my wife and I intended to enroll our children. (I also began more closely scrutinizing and fearing the withholding taxes from my paycheck increasing the governmental intrusion into my young family).
It was during those hours of drive time that I would engage our little ones with music from a Raffi jingle or the Beatles on my car’s now obsolete cassette player (yay, iPods!). When they’d invariably be serenaded to sleep — in their child-safety seats with the Bert & Ernie steering wheel attachment – I’d tune in the Howard Stern Show on 97.1 KLSX FM radio.
I’d been enjoying Mr. Stern & Co. for years, and found his provocative, often hilarious and creative show reminiscent of the crude, in-your-face counter-cultural style to which I’d grown so attached in my teen years during the ‘70s. A style (with all due and biased respect to Mr. Stern) innovated by his broadcast predecessor, Chicagoland’s iconic Steve Dahl.
“Shock Jock” radio’s inherent vulgarities aside, for me its main troubles are the inevitable programming lulls. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate and admire the challenge of sustaining a three-hour comedy and variety show in any medium – let alone without visuals — and the herculean team effort that goes into such undertakings on a daily basis. Bravo!
However, as any objective listener and talent might do, during those lulls I tended to channel-surf.
It was during those car radio surfing safaris, in particular the nine-to-noon slot, that my fingers led me to KFI-AM 640 Radio. I began listening to what I first thought was just another loudmouth Shock Jock. Except this guy was different. He played little if any music beyond his bumper rotation. His material was intellectually-based, creatively entertaining, and unabashedly biased in ideological terms.
As a young & liberal parent, I’d discovered Rush Limbaugh. I’ve been a dedicated listener ever since.
Rush’s countless words and twenty years of wisdom, provocations and humor is an inspiration to me and his tens of millions of listeners to read and investigate further controversial issues, current events, history, and philosophy.
Most beneficial have been the corroborating authors and resources he admires and/or recommends to this day: from Jesus to Blaise Pascal, John Adams to Ronald Reagan, the American Thinker to IBD, John Locke to Mark R. Levin, Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sowell.
As Mr. Limbaugh distilled it so beautifully:
“I love being a conservative. We conservatives are proud of our philosophy. Unlike our liberal friends, who are constantly looking for new words to conceal their true beliefs and are in a perpetual state of reinvention, we conservatives are unapologetic about our ideals. We are confident in our principles and energetic about openly advancing them. We believe in individual liberty, limited government, capitalism, the rule of law, faith, a color-blind society and national security. We support school choice, enterprise zones, tax cuts, welfare reform, faith-based initiatives, political speech, homeowner rights and the war on terrorism. And at our core we embrace and celebrate the most magnificent governing document ever ratified by any nation–the U.S. Constitution. Along with the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes our God-given natural right to be free, it is the foundation on which our government is built and has enabled us to flourish as a people.”
How can reasonable Americans ‘convivially’ argue against that?
The modern media (“Algore’s Internet”) has, Moses-like, led us to the promised land of instantaneous access to the widest diversity of information and accountability that mankind has ever known. There is no better example I know of human freedom.
So, how should people take advantage of that, and what does all of this have to do with the Anguish of the Apostate?
Hi, my name is Adam, and I am an apostate to the faith of Modern Liberalism whose ‘anguish’ has been relieved.
Anyone with second thoughts out there care to join in that relief?
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158 Comments
Welcome home, Adam.
Ditto….
As a 17 year listener and raiser of 5 Rush babies (shh–don't tell my husband) I couldn't agree more!
That was awesome Adam! That mirrors my experience and subsequent transformation from liberal to conservative. Rush has been an inspiration to me from the day I stumbled on him nearly twenty plus years ago to the present. Unabashed love for the USA, the greatest country in the history of mankind without exception. God bless America!
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Dear Adam,
It’s heart warming to hop in the car in the morning, to turn on the radio and hear the father of consevative talk radio, the voice of Rush, the talant on loan from God. Thank the Lord for what Rush brings to the table – he is the forfather of all those that follow in his footsteps. Thank you Adam for reminding me of the days of Reagon, when the voice of conservatism was our leader. Obama and his radical mob want to silence free speech and take away our freedoms of choice in media – their leftist grab for power in the takeover of the private sector – their tyrannical bid to silence the opposition by an attack on Fox News, our Internet freedom, to marginalize Glenn Beck, Rushbo and the Rightful conservative media. This is what our Founders warned us of – we must fight to save the republic from this grab for power by the Obamanable left radicals in big government. Down with the Oba-Mao diception and lies – down with tyranny!
I listen to Rush quite often. He is very entertaining.
Born and raised a Democrat,–so, of course I didn't know any better– I have to give credit to Jimmah Carter's election (I voted for him! Ack!), starting a business, and starting a family for the political awakening. Ronald Reagan just happened to step into a ready-made mind and heart. The rest is, quite literally, history.
Welcome back to the land of freedom.
Welcome to reality. I wonder how many of those who reflexively bash Rush have ever listened to him.
Adam,
Well said (or written)! very ball-sey in LA to admit any affection for Limbaugh, I can only imagine the knee-jerk reactions from your fellow angelinos to your coming out conservative, "that's like mean, right?" or "isn't Rush Limbaugh like the president of the KKK?", 'HOW CAN YOU BE AGAINST THE PLANET!!!" and on and on and on (probably also in caps if you've ever corresponded with a liberal)
Also, weren't you in Full Metal Jacket? If so, awesome job, great deadpan psycho!
I'm not sure why, but I often find myself agreeing with Rush, no matter what the topic is.
I wonder why that is?
True dat, true dat, true dat!
Thank you for the excellent write-up. I love it that conservatives are so smart, that we can articulate our goals in a (relatively) few words.
There is a saying — from whom i can't recall — that the best scientific theories can fit on a tee-shirt. I think the same is true of core beliefs in political science. This is so unlike the Liberal programs, policies and theories, where one group's aims have to be tuned and calibrated, to prevent another group withholding their endorsements.
Collectivism is dead. Long life individual liberty and responsibility.
What most don't realize on the left is that you don't always have to agree with what Rush Limbaugh has to say. While there is plenty that I do agree with sometimes there are subjects I don't. He just gets the conversation started.
One sided arguments are what lead nations to war.
Great article Adam.
Thanks Adam for a great post and as an aside one of my alltime favorite Firefly epidsodes was "Jaynestown". It was funny, insperational and tragic all at the same time. Your portrayal of "Jayne" in that episode was spot on and it filled in a lot of backstory blanks as well.
Even conservative 'critics', I know personally, of Rush Limbaugh, quickly admit that their opinions were formed by second and third hand sources. So few trust, but verify these days. That is another way intellect loses its virtue; when it fails to seek the truth, by lazily accepting a false assertion.
Because you (and myself) are a Racist,Homophobic,Islamophobic,knuckle dragging consevative .!!
The MSM and Obama keep reminding us
Adam! Babe! You are the best! As a Denizen of the Valley and a long-time participant in the Hollywood scene I have had to be very quiet about my politics since day one. If I hadn't I would have lost a lot of clients, and a lot of on-set jobs. I just let people form whatever opinion they want of me and usually they THINK I am a leftist. It's hilarious. In the meantime, being an unapologetic American Conservative Citizen of the United States is as natural and warm as a footbath – no guilt, no shame, lots of compassion – but I will be damned before I will let a World Gov't leftist -anti-Capitalism – 'everyone's needs are more important than mine, all of our money has to go to the Third World Guilt Fund' define my existence or anyone else's. John Galt lives and the underground work we are doing every day to undermine this Treason is important – but not as important as what you have done by showing your face. Balls to the wall, man – you are the Bomb! (and a very fine actor)
Ditto…
Yes! Carter was the cure for many a liberal. Let’s hope Barry has the same effect.
As I read this, I could honestly hear the cries of leftard Browncoats. I predict "Cunning Hat Burning Parties" will be organized by DailyKos and Democratic Underground within the hour.
Firefly is probably my favorite American tv series ever made.
I also love being a conservative. Unfortunately, Limbaugh is no more a conservative than Obama is a progressive.
Keep learning and moving, and you'll reach conservatism some day.
Oh, and I would suggest anyone beginning the series to watch, but hold off judgement based on, the opening scenes. It is so cheesy I had one friend not watch it until I told him just to get past that. He eventually became such a fan that he bought the DVDs and got two more people to buy the DVDs when he proseletized to them about the show.
I applaud your courage for having outed yourself as an unapologetic Conservative in the Land of Liberal Lunacy. I pray for your continued excellent work in the career you have chosen.
No, it was Vincent D'Onofrio, who also was the "bug" in Men in Black and currently stars as Det. Goren in Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
Adam,
Being able to think for yourself and come to your on conclusions puts you way ahead of a lot of your fellow Angelenos. People should not have to worry about expressing their views, if they aren't that far from the main stream. Conservative values are more mainstream than the media and the leftie hacks wants us to think. It's only by more people coming out that we can turn the tide of this ideological jihad they have been running against us "apostates".
The truth is, THEY, not us, are the ones out of touch with reality. All you have to do is watch how increasingly absurd and mindless their justifications are for what they think. Their beliefs are getting more and more absurd while those of us who are grounded just keep plugging away with the belief in our own rights to liberty, freedom and self defense. They seek more and more reasons to ban things, impose more restrictions on individual freedoms while we seek to regain what is rightfully ours.
Welcome to the side of real human rights.
Spoken like a true self-delusional self-important elitist twit – Matt Damon, is that you?
Adam,
Wonderful essay!
Been a fan since "My Bodyguard" back in 1980. Now I am a real fan of Adam Baldwin, the man.
Thank you.
Had the pleasure of meeting Adam quite a few years ago on a golf course (Rancho Park in L.A.). He was in the group in front of us, and my friend and I struck up a conversation while waiting together on a backed up tee box. He made a bet with me for the rest of the nine holes, and after destroying me, he wouldn't accept my five dollars. All around a great guy, and I'm happy to have him on our side.
Well said. I went through my deprogramming on conservative talk radio in the early '90s.
Exactly! President Reagan's "trust but verify" is axiomatic to intellectual virtue.
Modern Libs have recanted that fundamental exercise towards seeking the truth in even their pagan religion's holy dogma: Science.
How else could MLs rationalize Algore's 'Climate Change' diktat: 'The debate is over'?
People have always had thirst for the spiritual, as well as the scientific and intellectual. When liberals viscerally deny the former, they make the spiritual among them, vulnerable to the cult of unscientific environmentalism and the cult of personality in dangerous ideological leaders, such as our president.
Yeah, that was a very special movie for me when I saw it in the theater as a kid. His performance was terrific.
I'm really glad he turned out the way he did. Thanks for the great article Adam.
Being squarely in Flyover Country, my first Rush Experience was his television show, then came a long drought until I discovered his website. It was only relatively recently I discovered a local AM station now carries his radio show, but I've only listened a few times as I've gotten used to the online text presentation, actually reading his words.
And those words still remain a great source of inspiration and wisdom. Go Rush.
He WAS in FMJ, in the second act as "Animal Mother".
1989. We met on occasion at a Sunset Plaza cafe where I worked as a teenager. Agnus had plenty of good things to say about you and boy was she cut from a different cloth than my fellow 'co-workers' there. And my co-workers?
1989. I didn't consider myself to be a 'conservative' but after spending months working with unemployed actors and artists who took lunch and dinner orders from (insert stereotypical Sunset Plaza dweller) I could tell you unequivocally that I was NOT a liberal. And around the same time I came to the horrific conclusion that not only were all my co-workers liberal but West Hollywood, Hollywood, Santa Monica, West LA, Malibu and vicinity were also not only liberal but….HYPER-LIBERAL.
"Unlike our liberal friends, who are constantly looking for new words to conceal their true beliefs and are in a perpetual state of reinvention, we conservatives are unapologetic about our ideals."
Fast-forward 20 years. That statement sums it up. Giving benefit of the doubt is the exception and rarely the rule. I gave Agnus the benefit of the doubt – score one for the 'exception.' I know the hyper-liberals think they are the 'cool kids' but the really really cool kids are here at Big Hollywood. So glad that you are one of them Adam.
Hear, hear. Well said.
I'd had a feeling ofr years that there was a certain wrongness to liberalism, yet I still tended to think that way. Then my father's death in 2003 made me reflect on life a lot and see the light.
Thanks for sharing, AB!
Your saying Howard Stern is a gateway program to Rush, there is hope for my son. Will there ever be a Serenity reunion movie? Your character had some good development, just like from Howard to Rush, a human evolving from concrete humor to rational constructs with humor.
Adam, great post. Welcome home. I applaud your courage, and thank you for shining a light on my otherwise gloomy read of the news today. There are more of us out here than you think. My wife and I recently decided to stop restraining ourselves from mentioning our political views. It's too important now to choose a side carefully. As an aside, we watched your work on Firefly last night and lo – here you are again! Thanks and keep it up…..have you started a business yet?
LOL – good one!
Adam,
Great piece. Thanks. As a fellow actor, conservative, Big Hollywood contributor, it clearly resonated with me. There are many of us who owe a great deal of gratitude to Andrew Breitbart for creating a forum such as this to express our points of view. Somewhere down the line, it would be great to meet.
I hope this is cool with you, a link to my first piece for BH published back in March:
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jarone/2009/03/...
All the best,
Jimmy
I think I was always a conservative, though I didn't know it. I carried a NOW card, voted for Clinton and (eek) Al Gore. I have squishy views on pro-choice that I still have a hard time with. I thought Rush Limbaugh was hateful and horrid. But I had never listened to him…
Then 911 happened! I started listening to Rush, as I tried to keep updated on the NY attack. I actually heard what he said, realized that he was not the evil man I had thought he was. I was shocked that I had been duped by the Limbaugh haters.
I also realized that most people who slam him, just don't listen to him either.
Rush is a great American. Anyone listening realizes he is all about "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness."
I began listening to Rush around 1999. I can't tell you how wonderful it was to finally find someone who thought the same as I do! I certainly never found my views expressed in newspapers or on network news programming.
I was a teenager when Reagan was President and could never understand the vitriol expressed by the media toward the guy when I liked him so much. Through Rush I found out I wasn't alone in my opinions.
Like I posted earlier, welcome to reality. I think 9-11 was a wake-up call to many Americans, sadly lots have gone back to sleep. Rush is a voice for many of us who feel shut out of the national debate, if you can call it a debate when only one side is represented in the mainstream media.
I firmly believe that the majority of Americans are conservative in their views. But, because the mainstream media and culture are so hostile they tend to keep it to themselves.
I think the real question we all want to ask Mr. Baldwin is; what's Yvonne Strahovski like?
I was a Liberal Democrat for twenty-six years before I liberated myself from their overbearing litany of indoctrinating rhetoric. How liberal was I? My first presidential ballot was casted for George McGovern and I followed that up with a vote for Jimmy Carter. Ick, I just had an acid reflux mental moment. Whenever I would raise my voice in agreement or ask a pesky why question they would start talking over me…drowning out any independent thoughts I may have to offer, even if those thoughts were in agreement with theirs. I should mention that those liberals of whom I speak were from SDS (Students for a Democratic Society); the lectures were all starting to sound like recitals and less like discourse. It must have been all about the talking points and staying on message. I never became a parrot or as I like to call those rhetoric spewing voids, echoes.
After breaking free from the groupthink, I followed my natural instincts and started to "question everything and everyone." Ironically that was a paraphrase utilized by the liberals in the late sixties and early seventies (“Question authority!”, “Don’t trust anyone over thirty!”. After traversing the evil age of thirty, and then some, I started to trust myself in spite of previous liberal teachings.
Critical thinking became a philosophical way of life for me. I highly recommend that all peoples of the world adopt this method of analysis and thereby become the sole proprietor of your thoughts and philosophies.
So let me just say this in support of the conservative believer, I celebrate, admire and thank you for your solidarity of and adherence to our country’s founding principles. The foundations of those principles are core to my ethos.
As much as I truly do like visiting the various conservative camps I continually find that I am not a member of any heard. The thought of having anyone nudging me in any direction not of my own choosing is abhorrent to me.
Therefore my brand or label I choose remains an independent thinker with strong conservativist leanings. If and when a better idea comes along I will view it with the open mind of an independent thinker.
I recently had the stupidity to publicly voice my support for tort reform; working in medicine I see what the lack of it does to our practice's bottom line, job security, etc. An unapologetically flaming liberal got worked into such a tizzy that he actually accused me of being "just like Rush", even down to the "prescription pain med addiction" (which is hysterical as I take Lyrica for fibromyalgia).
What did I learn from that? I learned that people with certain ideologies don't bother to learn about the issues they love to scream about, & react rather than research. They go for personal attacks rather than debating the issues. Case in point: I work with 2 diametrically opposed ladies. One, we'll call Rush's Girlfriend as she listens to him all day at her desk. The other, we'll call Hippie Chick. Rush's Girlfriend goes out of her way to help patients secure financial aid, drops everything to help a coworker, and is (admittedly a somewhat angry) ball of sunshine. She is informed & interested about the world around her. Hippie Chick, a self described people person, is rude, does the minimum required by her job, constantly talks about things she wants to buy, perceives everything as a slight, & says the news is annoying.
Guess who I like working with more? Conservatives aren't the dark side, but they do have cookies!
Almost my story, too, except I managed to find myself before voting for Clinton! It was close! I had been one of those idiots, badmouthing Reagan without actually ever having listened to him. After my near brush with Clinton, I decided I needed to educate myself. I started listening to a conservative talk radio station that featured Rush and The Black Avenger, Ken Hamblin. That led to exploring the many books and articles they talked about on their respective shows. I am now a card carrying member of the VRWC!
The modern media…has…led us to the promised land of instantaneous access to the widest diversity of information and accountability that mankind has ever known.
A dual-edged sword…it has also let us to huffpo, dailykos, etc. Not exactly sites that I would call accountable or even informative. But overall, the internet is a Good Thing(tm).
Oh Adam Baldwin you are the effing man. I loved you before, and play two of my all time favorite TV characters (Jayne on "Firefly" and Casey on "Chuck"). Now it's a total man-crush!
It must be a delight to work on a conservative-friendly show like Chuck (for those that don't know, Zachary Levi is a conservative as well, and the writing is imo the most right-leaning of any network show). I hope more than anything now that both of you are essentially "out" you won't find yourself blackballed by the conformist leftist Hollywood. Hasn't seemed to hurt your so far (unlike some of the horror stories we hear on this site).
Good luck, and God bless you for the courage of your convictions and keeping it real.
Everybody watch Chuck!
Your tale mirrors my own right down to the year 1989 when Dr.Laura went12-3pm and Rush took the 9-12 slot,Who the hell is this ? I'd yell,but then I listened and my world changed for the better,Great read!
Bob
Can't wait for Chuck to get back on the air. Support Chuck on NBC. Star Zachary Levi has also been on tour to visit the troops.
As a cradle — and relapsed — Catholic, I have rediscovered the joy in my faith through the stories of converts who struggled to find their way to a new way of thinking. As a cradle — and never lapsed — conservative, it's so exciting to hear how the fire of thought is ignited in minds lulled into complacency by liberal indoctrination. It makes me smile; it gives me hope. Bless you, boy. Time for coffee with Mamet?
I'm right there with you.
The characters that Mr. Baldwin plays and the honesty with which he plays/played them have been a big part of why I like Firefly and Chuck. Not just bearable, but good.
"A man walks down the street in that hat, people know he's not afraid of anything."
Now I know he's not afraid of anything.
Wow. I thought you were great in Chuck (yeah, a Johnny come lately, so what). Now I'm even more impressed with you. Say, is the saluting of Major Casey's Reagan photo your idea?
Well said!
"Time for coffee with Mamet?" Wouldn't that be interesting!
Great write up Adam. I loved your work on Firefly/Serenity and am anxiously awaiting the return of Chuck! How you can put up with the likes of Whedon is beyond me:)
That's why I offer a challenge for any liberals out there to listen to Rush Limbaugh for a week. See if they don't turn out like we all did.
Kudos for your Steve Dahl reference. I grew up on Steve & Garry, and although most people don't know it, Stern "borrowed" from their show liberally (excuse the pun). He went on to far greater heights (at least in terms of money and listenership), but it's nice to see someone to give credit where credit is due.
It's so funny because Rush actually turned me off to Conservatism. I found him so annoying (and often disingenuous) that although I enjoyed the show on it's entertainment merit, I didn't take anything he said seriously. 9/11 got me more interested in politics, the Democrats embarrassing behavior towards Bush moved me more toward the Right, and Dennis Miller (among other more Conservative hosts) has gotten me the rest of the way.
LOVE it! Great piece Adam!!
First listened to Rush on 790 WAKY in Louisville in 1991. It was two years later that I started to realize that I might have not been the liberal democrat I thought I was (every election I voted straight democratic). By 95, I was a 'conservative democrat' fully against President Clinton. In 2000, I switched parties when Janet Reno sent jack booted thugs into a miami house to kidnap a young child and send him back to a hell on earth. Now, i don't see myself as either a democrat or republican since neither party fully speaks for me. I AM A CONSERVATIVE!
And it's all because of Brother Rush Limbaugh.
That's pretty much the way I went. Carter cured me of liberalism—I had a wife and a baby and was scratching around for as much work as I could get, and he was telling me about wearing more sweaters.
Reagan showed me how everything can change radically with the right guy in charge.
And then Bob Grant, and then later, Rush, explained it all.
I found Rush Limbaugh the same way. I was living on Long Island, where I was stationed with the Coast Guard, and Howard Stern was my daily morning routine. While driving one of our guys down to DC, my boss turned on the radio to Rush Limbaugh. I think I heard his name, but never actually listened to him. I found that I agreed with most of what he was saying. So from the libertarian Howard Stern in the morning and conservative Rush Limbaugh in the afternoon, I would never leave my electrical shop until 3pm. Unless someone was drowning then duty called.
Lovely post, Adam! I remember you from the X Files days and am so happy to see you writing here.
I would bet it's below 10% ever listened to him. Just out of context sound bites and lies like what we saw during the recent Rams embarrassment from the main stream media.
Really, Rush turned you around, weird. I had heard the drugs were good in LA, well I guess this is proof
I really thank you for your column. I am one of those Libertarian Conservatives that has loved your work ever since "My Bodyguard". I hope exposing your thoughts doesn't injure your work. I am glad to see that "Chuck" has 13 more episodes coming out with a possibility of several more. Keep it up!
Kudos Adam!
God bless you, Adam.
I grew up in a conservative household. My father was in the Army and I was raised to call everyone Ma'm and Sir and to take responsibility for my actions. My first vote in a presidential election was for Ronald Reagan. I've never been a liberal or held liberal views…and the more I see of them the more I am convinced of two things … 1) I dodged a bullet and b) my father would have locked me a way until I had come to my senses.
Great article Adam…and welcome to the Right side.
Hey Jimmy, Nice to see you here blogging again.
My Bodyguard was fantastic. I'm not much into tv shows but I rented Firefly on dvd and it was great; Adam's character and all the others were a lot of fun; it's too bad that show wasn't continued.
In Hollywood it's Conservatives that are in the closest while leftwing gays run around like little tyrants in tutus ready to pinkball anyone that dares have a different view. Good article Adam.
Well said, Adam.
Any chance of Serenity II?
Matt, somehow you wandered off the Huffington Post..
That was great. KFI 640 also had a huge impact on my political evolution after 9/11. I was a huge fan of Phil Hendrie and, along with him, began to realize the importance of 9/11 and the reality of global terrorism. I was pushed out of my apathetic "liberal" criticism into a worldview which was unashamed of this country and in full support of the work done by our troops.
Glad you're with us!
I was always here on this side, because I was always a misfit.
As a non-conformist and a thinker, the other side just never made any sense to me.
Nice article, Adam. And thanks for the shout out to The Stever, Steve Dahl!
I'm always hovering around the hive. Hope you're well.
Adam:
I was never terribly liberal, but I was a lifelong registered Democrat from turning 18 in 1971 until last year (by which point I had been a DINO for some years). Here's a post last year about my own breaking point:
http://andstillipersist.com/2008/09/the-incoheren...
..bruce..
you are confused, rush is pure conservatism. he hits you over the head with it. if you are faux conservative you will be offended by him, that is the irony and brilliance of his wit. weeds out the twits…. lol
I had the honor of attending a dinner where Thomas Sowell was the key speaker. Someone asked him what book that he wrote was his favorite. He responded that he felt "A Conflict of Visions" was his most important work. That week I purchased it.
I am so glad to see you link to pages of it Adam. Great Post!
**********************
rush is pure conservatism. he hits you over the head with it. if you are faux conservative you will be offended by him, that is the irony and brilliance of his wit. IRONY is a wonderful tool used by brilliant people. how ironic that elitist liberals would isolate themselves by their own priggish snobbery and miss the mark with Rush. they call him egomaniac, racist, stupid, redneck, hater, bla bla, bla. nothing could be further form the truth. it is pure sport to watch the flawed reason of the liberal mind struggle with the likes of Limbaugh… lol
his method weeds out the twits..
adm, you sir are no twit.
Brilliant stuff, Adam. Though, as a Browncoat, I'd still love ya even if you were the other A. Baldwin. Just not as much.
Becoming a small business owner is one of the best cure for liberalism.
Ever watch the Oscars and notice how often they use the term "brave" and "courageous" to describe actors acting in a movie? Well, I find a lot more courage in Adam Baldwin stating publicly that he listens to and agrees with Rush Limbaugh than in any Oscar-winning performance.
I will also predict that there will be many claims by previous fans of Adam's that he "can no longer act".
Inevitably, when an entertainer "goes rogue" from the Left, the first claim is that they are no longer talented.
Adam –
Awesome, just awesome to hear that you are actually somewhat like John Casey (minus the violence, I suppose?)
Speak out, man. People love you on "Chuck." You have the power of being a "celebrity" in a society where many people who will not listen to Reason WILL listen to a celebrity.
So now two of the Baldwin Brothers ROCK, when will the other two come to Sense and Sensibility?
Thank you….there is hope!
John, older than you, not as handsome, but just as cool
http://www.alongtrainofabuses.info
there is hope
Well spoken "Animal Mother" !! Welcome home!!
I've never been a liberal, either. Liked Ronald Reagan at the Republican convention in 1976 when I was 10 he challenged Ford, even though the relative I watched it with couldn't stand him. My first vote for President was Ronald Reagan in 1984 and I've voted Republican since. There is a saying that goes that if you aren't a liberal as a youth, you have no heart, and if you aren't a conservative as an adult, you have no brain. It's not that I didn't have a heart. It's that I've realized all along that liberalism doesn't work, doesn't deliver on it's promises, and only makes thinks worse for everyone. That was painfully obvious during the Cold War (and even since) where communist countries have to build walls to keep the people in and America has a problem keeping people out.
Good article Adam,
It was listening to Rush that began to change a lot of my notions and reminded me that I'd been raised to think for myself.
I had never listened to Rush and just absorbed my liberal friends' opinions of him: that he is a reactionary firebreather and a dolt. Then, one day, I watched his address to CPAC last year and then caught his radio show. And then it hit me that my friends had never listened to him either: I may not agree with everything he says, but he's intelligent and thoughtful, and certainly not the demon I was told about. Just goes to show that, even deep in middle age, you can still learn a lesson or two.
Sounds similar to the book "How I joined the vast right-wing conspiracy and found inner peace" Glad you are speaking your mind, just worried for your career. It's so lame the way Hollywood discriminates against conservatives. Always enjoy seeing your work on the big and little screen.
Adam, like you, I had my turning point, my moment of Amazing Grace later in life. Mine was just after 9/11 when I realized that Democrats and liberals had gone off the rez. Though I was never really that leftist. Though I did realize later that I never really was leftist at all. I was always conservative, I just didn't know it. Talk radio brought me the rest of the way as well – KABC that is. Doug McIntyre, and Larry Elder (to work and from work!). Later it was Dennis Prager, Mike Gallagher, Laura Ingraham, Glenn Beck and Mark Levin.
It's odd, but it was so freeing to admit to my conservatism. I feel happier, I feel more secure, I feel like the wool was lifted from my eyes. It's wonderful. Love you on Chuck, loved you in Firefly/Serenity. Glad to see Jayne is on OUR side! LOL!
Ditto. Lifelong lib. 9/11 took a bat to my psyche and the crap I had been spouting no longer made sense. It was like mud in my mouth; mud in my mind. Followed the threads of my thought to their illogical conclusion and realized a drastic change was in order. It wasn't easy. Rush helped.
Too bad his a-hole brother didn't fulfill his promise to move the frak out of our country should Dubya win back in what, 2000? Or did he promise that in 2004, and it was Streisand in 2000? Whatever, they both need to go. Nice to hear that not all of the Baldwins are wacko Stalinists like Alec (which is really too bad, I personally think he was the best Jack Ryan). I just hope that Adam's "coming out" doesn't affect his job prospects. You've already been re-upped for this season of "Chuck" haven't you, Adam?
Yea Brother, my sentiments exactly except I predate your conversion slightly. I was a Republican
in 94 and became a conservative approx 2 years later. Thanks to Rush of course but also because
of McCain, Spector, Snow and the rest of those opportunity seeking moderate Rinos.
Fantastic article! I, too, discovered Rush about the same time, but for me he was sanctuary for a life-long conservative in liberal Los Angeles. He was on-air espousing the very principles I was raised with. Refreshing, inspiring, articulate, entertaining Maha Rushie.
I bet Hollywood will be overjoyed to read your article, but not to worry.. You have the support of countless like-minded fans and supporters.
To set the record straight, Adam isn't related to the other Hollywood Baldwins (check his IMDB bio).
About your article, all I can say is "Amen, brother!" It's nice to see more and more actors, directors, writers, and others in the industry coming out into the light and proudly sharing their conservatism. Can you clue us in as to whether any of your fellow Firefly actors share our viewpoint?
BTW, I'd be glad to have Jayne Cobb in a foxhole with me in any firefight, as long as the bad guys weren't offering him a bigger cut!
I've been a loyal Rush listener since '08, when I realized that my happy life as a mom and wife were in jeopardy. I worry for my generation though. My teen years were in the 90's.
And I love Firefly and Serenity.
Thanks for sharing your Conservative Renasaince with us Mr. Baldwin. Even when you did not realize your conservative intentions, your fans could sense your natural "Moral Compass" (as Rush would call it). Your caliber of acting is greatly appreciated by many, and now we have an additional talent of yours to enjoy. We all hope you will continue to write about conservative issues and want to encourage you to support the Tea Party movement.
I fell in love with Mr. Baldwin in 1980 watching "My Bodyguard." How thrilled I am that he has found his way home.
And I'm proud of myself as well. Is that wrong?
I new there was a reason why I've liked this guy ever since I saw the movie My Bodyguard in which Mr. Baldwin starred with that kid from Meatballs…
Hm. I sure wish Adam had piped up when I knew him and was praising Limbaugh and conservatism in front of him and our liberal friends. Not a peep or chirp from him then as I took it on the chin socially and professionally.
Hey, better late than never. And kudos to the ghostwriter, too.
My Rush story: In 1987/88 I was a "worker bee" at a division of ABC-TV in NYC. Part of my job was … Xeroxing! Every time I went into the "Xerox Room" (yes, the copy machine had its own room) there were pages all over about some "Rush Limbaugh" fellow. Mostly it was promotional stuff, as his national radio show was in its infancy. I had no idea who he was, but as I would read his press releases while waiting for my own copies to finish, I became very interested in this man, who obviously worked in the same building. I knew I should go introduce myself, but I was planning a wedding, and I never got around to it. Thirteen months after the wedding I quit my job to be a stay-at-home mom.
And so it goes.
They both were in "Full Metal Jacket."
Me too & quite proud to be one!!
Amen!!
Hi Adam, its nice to see another one of your well presented and articulated blogs. I have a question though, if America is the great land of the free then why is admitting ones political affiliation such a big deal?
Everyone is entitled to there own opinion and views. All this talk of 'coming out' seems wierd.
Congrats on getting the extra six Chuck episodes. Can't wait to see season 3.
You and me both, my father served in the Navy, and I was taught the same as you. Also MY first presidential vote was for Reagan, Carter was so hopelessly over his head.
However, going to college had me drift over to the dark (read liberal) for awhile and started to come back around the OJ trial.
This is also my experience. I'd been liberal, even an activist, for decades. Then I was kidnapped 12 years ago, made forcibly listen to Rush for hours by a friend I was then furious with, outraged! He would not let me out of his truck, which he had driven aside of a wall so the passenger door would not open. I would never listen to such a blow hard! How dare he! Forced to turn to the same "friend" by circumstances when I had car trouble a week later, he did the same thing again! I was outraged again, but less so. This time I listened without so much fuss. The third day I turned on the radio voluntarily and have listened ever since. What I heard was far different from what I'd been lead to expect. It was very smart and informed. Fearing that I was being hypnotized somehow, I spent six months testing myself to see whether I could better argue liberal or conservative viewpoints. Conservatism won and it's been a happier way to live.,, except for the attacks from people who would rather shoot the messenger than stay on subject and discuss the issues. Part of the price of freedom.
That would be me!
Why don't you mosey on back and report to those who sent you?
Okay, it's about time to head on back to the cave and report to your handlers, wouldn't you agree?
Adam's not a "Baldwin brother," at least not to those particular Baldwins.
He's a distant relative.
My epiphany came when I was mugged by PC at work, watching affirmative action hires advance without merit or get good annual reviews because my fellow white guys were afraid to write the truth about their performance for fear of EEO action against them. That conversion has been reinforced in too many ways to enumerate here, but once the scales fell from my eyes, I've remained a conservative even when being so was not in my immediate interests. I came to understand that keeping our original Constitutional values intact was the only way my children would remain free in the longer term. I consider the setbacks I've experienced as a result of a free market and Constitutional freedom to be merely temporary inconveniences and small, necessary sacrifices that allow me to keep the freedom I have to both pay for my mistakes or errors in judgment and to benefit from my hard work when it pays off. Once you truly understand the rules and values of our free society, there is no limit to what you can achieve. If that means lazy people who choose to remain ignorant and wards of the state spend their lives as have-nots, then it is usually their own damn fault.
Today, Adam Baldwin is a friggin' awesome human being. Good for you.
I'd love to be at the table at Thanksgiving with you and your brother Alec.
That was a great post, and goes to show that when intelligent people stop and think about what they believe, then Rush usually articulates it. I'm not a fan of Glen Beck or the talking heads at Fox 'News', which is more of a reality TV show, but Rush more often than not hits the nail on the head and is unapologetic about being right. I've been a listener for years, having found him much the same as you.
PS: Bring back Firefly!
thanks for the replies to my question about Full Metal Jacket, yeah I should have been a little more clear-I meant the role played by Adam, apparently, set in Hue City, the bad-ass Marine with the M-60, NOT the melt-down psycho that kills poor Lee Ermey in the first act (Lee's was maybe the best role ever, even if he was just reprising his real-life former drill instructor role, the dialogue alone whether he used it in real life or was written for the movie, -ex: the Happy Birthday song to Jesus on Christmas-, is maybe the best thing about the movie)
Wow. Love how conservatives feign horrified outrage when it comes to "government intrusion" into their young families. (AHHHH, PAYING TAXES IS SOCIALLLLISM!!!!).
However, "government intrusion" into reproductive rights, sexual choices etc. is A-OKAY though. That's morality!
Warrantless wiretapping and vast expansions of federal police powers?? Those "government intrusions" are fine too, so long as we're being protected from the terrorists.
But where were we?? Oh yeah, "NO GOVERNMENT INTRUSION!!!"
Excellent excerpt of Limbaugh's definition of conservatism. In answer to Baldwin's question 'How can reasonable Americans ‘convivially’ argue against that?' Reasonable Americans don't, but liberals do. There is a distinct difference between the two.
Adam, I sincerely hope that exiting the conservative closet doesn't hurt your paycheck. We all know what its like to work for someone with whom we disagree, but I think in your business its taken to a whole other level. So, good luck. My own conversion came from disillusionment with Bill, whom I voted for both times. 911 only solidified my more conservative leanings, and aside from feeling I was expending more energy defending GW better than he or his administration seemed to be capable of doing, I'm comfortable with it. Of course, I know when to keep my mouth shut at work.
Nah, nothin' that fancy. I just know a load of horse dung when I hear it.
"Progressivism" is a big load.
Oh, and maybe you're next column should be explaining that you ARE NOT related to the Baldwin bros acting and political troupe. Keep walkin' the walk, Mother.
[...] and Chuck’s Adam Baldwin on how he discovered liberalism [...]
Actually, Adam's never been a stealth conservative. He used to pwn lefties in political conversations on the official Firefly boards, and his character on "Chuck" has lots of Reagan memorabilia in his apartment which Adam himself supplied according to the writers.
Amen brother! You speak truth without fear of reprisal from the Hollywood left. What a breath of fresh air my friend.
I wonder how many sheeple who accuse Rush or Glenn Beck of being racists have ever heard their shows, or for that matter, ever heard them utter one racist comment!
Rush played a huge part in my conversion too.
Several years ago I used to listen to straight talk radio, NPR. I was taking bass lessons at the time, and if I listened to music, I stopped paying attention to what I was doing (you know, like driving) and would concentrate on the bass line. So talk radio.
Periodically NPR does what I call 'gay week' where pretty much every story focuses in solely on gay issues and stories. Well, I'm not gay, so I quickly got bored and started channel surfing, and came across Rush on AM.
I listened for a week, and discovered I could anticipate what the knuckle dragging, racist, homophobes conservative in the next cubicle would say, because she was repeating Rush. So I had a lot of fun with that for a couple of weeks.
The I kept listening, and I was absolutely stunned at what was not being reported by the MSM, but Rush had on tape. The pure BS democrats and liberals were spouting was the exact opposite of what they were reporting in the MSM. Politicians that I thought I knew were completely different when they though We The People were not listening.
I've been hooked ever since, and am listening to him right now.
Is there any way some on can contact Mr. Breitbart and ask if he can try to get Rush to writew some essays for BH?
I must've seen "My Bodyguard" a dozen times back in the early days of HBO when they would show the same cycle of movies over and over for a month or two. Also a very important movie for me when I was 8 or 9, and I think Adam's performance when he was what, 18? 19?, showed some serious chops. Glad he's made a career.
Adam needs to address why his 2 most famous roles had female names :Animal Mother and Jayne…I'm just sayin'…
Ditto on "Firefly" – but, hey, there's just SO MUCH outstanding creative, original, well-acted, and well-written material on TV, there just wasn't enough room for Mal, Jayne, River, and friends.
>"Wow. Love how conservatives…."<
Your membership in the Cult of Indiscriminateness betrays you.
How Modern Liberals Think:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaE98w1KZ-c
Just saw the link to this on the Weekly Standard, and since I am a HUGE Chuck fan, I had to read. I LOVE how Casey admires Reagan and loves his country. It is great to know it's not just good acting, but that Adam really embraces these ideals. I like Chuck even more now…
On the favorite shock jock front; mine was and still is "The Greaseman" and his all his bits with the goat cheese pizza's. Rush has been gaining volunteers in the conservative movement for 2 decades and nothing is stronger than the heart of a volunteer. Mr. Baldwin, a personnel request to all of you conservatives in hollywood, I'm tired of watching all my old favorite movies and not being able to find movies that I can part with my hard earned dough to go see; at your nearest convenience please make a few. Don't forget to vote tomorrow for real conservative candidates!!!
Adam is not Stephen's brother. Same last name, but not related. Adam does, however ROCK, as John Casey on NBC's CHUCK, which I can't wait for it to return to TV!
Thanks Adam you are great!
I was never a liberal. But then I was never a conservative either. I was a straight up Libertarian, big L, even before there was a Libertarian Party. On 9-11, the Libertarians went off the rails. When your country is attacked, you don't say — oops. You go get those who attacked you! While I'm still Independent, tomorrow I'll vote a straight Repub ticket even tho' the Dem representing my district has done a good job, is attentive to his constituents and I like him personally. I'll do it to send a message to DC.
I found Rush just the way Adam did, while looking for an Oldies station that had moved. Suddenly I heard this voice saying all the things I thought but never said because the echo chamber was only and always leftist cant.
I don't always agree with Rush, esp. his attacks on social liberals/fiscal conservatives, but it's a lot better than living under the Socialist jackboots' thumb.
Yep, discovered El Rushbo around the beginning of Bill Clinton 1st term and have been with him ever since. He never fails to both entertain and enlighten. Mr. Baldwin has entertained me since Independence Day but I became a true fan with Firefly. Its great to find him such an interesting thinker and writer. Double barreled talent!
At my first job in Canadian film production years ago I'd just tell the nosy leftists that I was "so far left, I'm right." That seemed to satisfy the witch-hunting Uriah Heeps. Nowadays I just rock Nixon and Reagan campaign buttons. The Reagan buttons say I'm a conservative. The Nixon button says I will happily ruin their shit.
[...] more here: Anguish of the Apostate: Second Thoughts Are Best This entry is filed under America – Blogs, Big Hollywood. You can follow any responses to this [...]
Very well said!!! Thank you for actually thinking about what is true instead of just going with the flow like (sadly) many Americans today. Also, I just finished watching Serenity and the Firefly Series and I have to say, one of my favorite shows ever (along with Chuck =-) )
[...] Anguish of the Apostate: Second Thoughts Are Best Jayne likes Rush (tags: opinion) [...]
I too live in L.A. and I just love to roll my windows down and turn up Rush in heavy traffic. It is delightful to see some of the other drivers turn all red in the face and start shouting obsenities, then drive off in a huff while flipping the bird. I must say it makes my day. Play Rush LOUD, be conservative and be proud!
I first heard Rush on the telephone, yes the telephone. I heard the local am radio station in the background ever so slightly one day while I was on hold. I think it was 1990. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I just thought that maybe I was imagining it because what I was hearing was like a breath of fresh air to a very frustrated conservative with no conservative ideas anywhere in the media. After the telephone call I found a radio, tuned in and have been listening whenever possible ever since.
Thanks for sharing Adam.
Been there. Done that. (Although I did NOT vote for Jimmy Carter!) Born and raised in a Dem family, but even I could not vote for the Peanut Farmer. Then my suspicions were confirmed and Reagan stepped in to begin my enlightenment. Rush does, indeed, host the one show that is truely home to Advanced Conservative Studies. And you can learn something there Every. Single. Day. I know I have.
Oy – get it, already people! Adam Baldwin is in no way, shape, or form related to the shallow gene pool that is Alec, Daniel, Billy, and Stephen!!!!!!!
Or perhaps we'll allow some dissent, if that's all right with you?
Had it been all right with me, I would've said so and obviated the need for a reply.
I love this article! As a life long conservative, it is fantastic to see people from the other side joining our often forgotten cause, true American liberty via the U.S. Constitution. Rush hit the nail on the head; who do we need to apologize or explain ourselves to? Keep it up Adam and Rush!!
I actually watch Chuck mostly for Casey. He makes the show for me.
Actually, Browncoats are the ultimate conservatives, if you think about it.
Well, you are sincere and straightforward, but I don't understand people who experience mid-life "conversions" and suddenly turn against all they ever think they once stood for. I've learned a lot in my life, tried new possibilities, abandoned commitments that were turning into dead ends (no, I'm not talking about bad marriage and quick divorce), but I can look back at my life and see that there is a consistent thread of principle running through all my choices and associations. I guess, since I didn't have much to throw away, I didn't make a wild leap to Rush Limbaugh. He is an articulate speaker, he is right some of the time (loved his critique of entitlement culture, after survivors of the Timothy McVeigh bombing started clamouring for parity with the money handed out after 9/11/2001), but he has a business model that keeps 20% of the people happy, and it just isn't good politics when you need 50% + 1 to win elections. Also, in my seldom humble opinion, he is often wrong. I never liked Howard Stern either — not what I'd call a family values kind of guy.
"I don't understand people who experience mid-life "conversions" and suddenly turn against all they ever think they once stood for."
I think what you're missing is that in many cases the people who undergo these conversions hadn't given much thought to their beliefs before their respective epiphanies. That's why there's the old saying, "If you haven't been a liberal in your 20s you had no heart; if you hadn't become conservative by the time you;re in your 30s you have no brain."
Starting a business, joining a band, much the same… ok… I was weird, but even as a musician, I still could see to vote for Reagan over Carter.. can't say I was a conservative then, or what that meant, but I could still tell Carter was worthless.
Hi Joan!
Adam, good post – amazing what those first born's will do to you… mine was 1988, and all the 'Fun Stuff', soon began to be seen in a new light…
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