Money and Politics Bulworth Politics in Film Braunwarth

Campaigns "Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other" - Oscar Ameringer "Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other" - Oscar Ameringer

Money and Politics Contemporary mass-mediated political campaigns are very expensive and money is very important to candidates Contemporary mass-mediated political campaigns are very expensive and money is very important to candidates It is a necessary but not sufficient ingredient for electoral success It is a necessary but not sufficient ingredient for electoral success Money is also very important to interest groups as a way of signaling their preferences and influencing the political process Money is also very important to interest groups as a way of signaling their preferences and influencing the political process Money has essentially become a form of speech, politicians use it to get out their message, interest groups and individuals use it to express their preferences Money has essentially become a form of speech, politicians use it to get out their message, interest groups and individuals use it to express their preferences

Whats the Matter with Money? Politicians are never bribed outright like in this movie Politicians are never bribed outright like in this movie However there is a strong correlation between donations and political action However there is a strong correlation between donations and political action Money can buy access and well orchestrated lobbying and donation efforts can skew public policy toward those with money Money can buy access and well orchestrated lobbying and donation efforts can skew public policy toward those with money Not everybody has equal opportunity to use this form of political participation Not everybody has equal opportunity to use this form of political participation Inequalities in wealth translate into political inequalities Inequalities in wealth translate into political inequalities Politicians must spend up to half of their time raising money for re-election Politicians must spend up to half of their time raising money for re-election Note how these are shown in Bulworth Note how these are shown in Bulworth

Efforts to Limit the Influence of Money Money is insidious and it has been very difficult to stem its flow into politics Money is insidious and it has been very difficult to stem its flow into politics When one avenue is blocked, it flows in other areas When one avenue is blocked, it flows in other areas For instance, when hard money donations to candidates was limited, donators gave soft money to parties For instance, when hard money donations to candidates was limited, donators gave soft money to parties When this was limited, donators began producing their own issue ads When this was limited, donators began producing their own issue ads When donations from corporations and unions were disallowed, they formed PACs When donations from corporations and unions were disallowed, they formed PACs

Ideological Shift Note the pictures on the wall at the beginning of the film Note the pictures on the wall at the beginning of the film Warren Beatty with Civil Rights and other prominent liberals (MLK, Malcolm X, Thurgood Marshall, Bobby Kennedy, Angela Davis, etc.) Warren Beatty with Civil Rights and other prominent liberals (MLK, Malcolm X, Thurgood Marshall, Bobby Kennedy, Angela Davis, etc.) What is the message of Bulworths new campaign ads? What is the message of Bulworths new campaign ads? Trying to paint himself as a conservative to ride the popular tide of conservatism (reminiscent of Bob Roberts and Bill Clinton) Trying to paint himself as a conservative to ride the popular tide of conservatism (reminiscent of Bob Roberts and Bill Clinton) Hes a fraud whos sold his principles and progressive policies to the highest bidder Hes a fraud whos sold his principles and progressive policies to the highest bidder Because hes tired of the bullshit he decides to commit suicide and becomes liberated Because hes tired of the bullshit he decides to commit suicide and becomes liberated Much like Network Much like Network

Other Issues Raised in Bulworth Note the contrast with his support for family values and his own familial relations Note the contrast with his support for family values and his own familial relations Pay attention to the TV images in the background Pay attention to the TV images in the background Note how he chides Hollywood for their dumb, violent, and dirty films designed for maximum profitability Note how he chides Hollywood for their dumb, violent, and dirty films designed for maximum profitability Free Media Time for Political Campaigns Free Media Time for Political Campaigns Single-Payer (socialized) health care Single-Payer (socialized) health care Excellent analysis of the problems facing the African- American community and the lack of contemporary leaders (transcript) Excellent analysis of the problems facing the African- American community and the lack of contemporary leaders (transcript)transcript Note the emphasis on scandal throughout the film Note the emphasis on scandal throughout the film What do they mean by you have to be a spirit but not a ghost? What do they mean by you have to be a spirit but not a ghost?

Bulworth Note, again, the use of documentary film maker/reporter as a vehicle to transmit information about politics Note, again, the use of documentary film maker/reporter as a vehicle to transmit information about politics Try not to be to distracted by the clothing and the bad rap Try not to be to distracted by the clothing and the bad rap Do note the message of the campaign Do note the message of the campaign Some recreational drug use and foul language is used in the film, this class does not condone such practices Some recreational drug use and foul language is used in the film, this class does not condone such practices

The Media How does the news cover the new Bulworth campaign? How does the news cover the new Bulworth campaign? Emphasis on the strategy and the image, not on the substance of what he is saying Emphasis on the strategy and the image, not on the substance of what he is saying Are the media prepared to cover a substantive campaign? Are the media prepared to cover a substantive campaign? Would a message like Bulworths appeal to the public? Would a message like Bulworths appeal to the public? Why dont candidates offer a more substantive message? Why dont candidates offer a more substantive message? Dont want to offend key constituencies Dont want to offend key constituencies

Warren Beatty Warren Beatty directed and co-wrote Bulworth Warren Beatty directed and co-wrote Bulworth He has always been active in Democratic politics He has always been active in Democratic politics Interestingly, he has recently been making a number of public political appearances Interestingly, he has recently been making a number of public political appearances Perhaps a run for Governor or Senator is in his future Perhaps a run for Governor or Senator is in his future How similar will the message of his campaign be to that of Bulworths? How similar will the message of his campaign be to that of Bulworths?

The Contender What message does this film make regarding the appropriateness of personal character attacks in politics? Do you agree? Can you think of any contemporary examples of this practice? Is this film making any message about gender equality? Is this film making any message about gender equality? If so, what is it? If so, what is it?

The Congressional Address The section on the Congressional address is a bit unrealistic The section on the Congressional address is a bit unrealistic What if you were a conservative member of Congress What if you were a conservative member of Congress Oldman and his friends have abused their positions – OK, they may be traitors, OK Oldman and his friends have abused their positions – OK, they may be traitors, OK But he says the only reason they did it was because she was a woman? But he says the only reason they did it was because she was a woman? What about her liberal politics? What about her liberal politics?