They also don't hold Arnie, Mel Gibson, or Mariah Carey to that standard. Basically, they only mean that celebrites should shut up, *unless they're supporting Republicans.*

One distinction I would make between some of those that you've named is that they're putting their money where their mouth is, so to speak. Mel financed Passion, Ahnold ran for public office. I didn't know Mariah Caray actually had anything to say, politically. Lately, I would put George Clooney in that category. I may not agree with his POV, but he's dedicating more than a little time and energy towards artistic works that serve that end -- I wish more conservatives would do that sort of thing and less would behave like James Woods. The ones that have historically gotten on my nerves are those that do little but talk or partake in high-profile rallies or throw self-congratulatory charity dinner parties.

So far, to my knowledge, Bill Cosby has done little but talk. Smug middle class white conservatives argue that it's different because he's saying what needs to be heard (because, you know, blacks have never acknowledged their internal problems... never ever ever)... but mostly it's a point-of-view.

It's ironic, however, that their rallying behind Cosby in some sense validates minority concerns over self-criticism (the minute we say something, all the wrong people (in their perspective) feel vindicated.

Anyway, I can't speak for any other conservatives (there are those that give any conservative speaker a pass and never a liberal), but I do think that some distinctions are important.

I'd hate to lose politically-motivated art, but I would like to attend apolitical music shows in peace.

Point of order: Cosby (A) lost his son to violence and (b) has been contributing to, and trying to raise awareness of, inner-city programs to get young blacks to better themselves for decades.

Also, his own show was specifically designed not to show stereotypes, but to show a middle-class black family that *wasn't* different at all from any other middle-class sit-com family out there, and in which the parents were respectable. If you've seen the DVD commentary and look-back commentaries on it, it's clear that this was HIS push - to show the world that blacks didn't need to be, and weren't, their racial stereotypes.

So when he speaks up about people not acting their racial stereotypes, yeah, I'll give him a little more weight than (just as examples) Natalie Maines raving about the Iraq War or Pam Anderson raving about kentucky fried chicken.

[edited to reflect RAW's correction]

Good point about The Cosby Show.

Glad to hear about the good deeds he's doing -- certainly does give him more credibility on the subject.

His son was killed by a white guy.

You're correct on the son. I was misinformed.

Didn't know one was even allowed to support the Cosby show anymore -- all I've heard is how it was politically motivated by right-wing interests, in that it showed black people acting like white people, and is therefore oreo/assimilationist and unacceptable.

(Then again, I work surrounded by "MexiCAN in America" signs lately....)

Re: Mariah.

She's been performing at Republican fundraisers lately. There's a bunch of stuff on it at WorldNetDaily.

WND? I wish liberals wouldn't read that page as it makes us all look pretty petty, mean, and ignorant. Of course, I wish conservatives wouldn't so that it would go away.

Tried to look it up, but didn't find anything. A few articles on pornstar Mary Carey, though.

I only read it when someone goes totally off thier rocker and it gets linked. I found the Mariah thing because Jessica Simpson refused to play the same party, and it ended up on a few blogs I read.