Send In The Clowns: Which Presidential Candidate Is Best For The Cinema

CMG takes a hard look and exposes how the remaining Presidential candidates would impact the cinema. 

We are down to four

The remaining candidates for the Presidential nomination are essentially four (at this time) - two Democrats  (Clinton and Sanders) and two Republicans (Trump and Cruz).  Lets take them one at a time and judge their cinema-friendliness, while keeping in mind that all four are flawed and come with major Presidential short-comings.

The Dems

- Hillary Clinton is all about power. She has 100% name recognition and as Pres, if it is good for Hillary it will be done irregardless of what side of the political spectrum the issue resides.  Hillary may be many things but she is first and foremost a power-hungry, legacy-driven pragmatist - not unlike many past U.S. Presidents.  She gets lots of cash and verbal support from Hollywood and would be an advocate for the cinema industry.  She is very comfortable with tinsel-town honchos and the relationship between H'wood and DC would be very friendly and cordial.

- Bernie Sanders is a grumpy old Marxist.  As a college student I remember reading (the condensed version) of 'Das Kapital', Karl Marx's manifesto, for a philosophy class. Sanders' stump spiel is right on Marx's theory - that social progress can only be obtained through class struggle. For Sanders, the struggle is for income equality - the 1% ers vs. the lower and middle classes, and that struggle can be carried out by organized actions. We currently see this manifest itself with the protesters (Bernie's bullies) which endeavor to disrupt Trump's speeches.

Bernie is bad for the cinema. Hollywood's movers and shakers would be taxed to the hilt. Movie admissions would rise, and there could possibly be a move to film censorship. "Religion is opium for the masses" is a quote from Marx. Just substitute cinema for religion and you may have a President Sanders' quote.

It started with 21

The GOP

The Donald - what can be said that you don't already know.  Trump too, has 100% name recognition and uses it to his full benefit.  To his credit, he manipulates the media like a circus ring-master and would, like Hillary, be a pragmatic and ego-driven President.

As far as the cinema goes, it would be no harm/no foul so long as Hollywood didn't pick any major fights with a Trump led administration.  Trump has no political philosophy (left or right) and he's not an ideologue.

Ted Cruz, on the other hand is an ideologue. Cruz is a conservative and the antithesis of Sanders, both have rigid political views and would try to impose those policies as President.  Cruz would have success at the fringes but could not 'go to the people' for support the way a Donald or  Hillary could. Cruz is not a cinema guy or Hollywood supporter and therefore he disqualifies himself.

To summarize, it's time to send in the clowns and we are left with two - Clinton and Trump.  Flip a coin, draw straws, pick a name out of a hat, both would be cinema/entertainment supporters.  Hillary may have the inside track but on Trump's side is his ability to 'wag the dog'.  You choose.

Just saying,
Jim