Ed Asner -- Stalin Misunderstood

Gordon B · October-13th-2003, 02:20 PM

I know he's only an actor but it's beyond my comprehension how anybody can be a Joe Stalin fan.

Ed Asner: 'Hannity's next ... just like we went after Limbaugh'
Posted: October 10, 2003
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

In the news this week are several reports of an exchange between syndicated talk-show host Mike Gallagher and actor-turned-leftist-poster-child Edward Asner.

The account goes like this: Mike Gallagher approached Asner at a recent cocktail party promoting the new film "Elf" in which Asner stars as Santa Claus. As Gallagher introduced himself, Asner asked his profession. When Gallagher replied "radio talk-show host," Asner replied, "I love going toe-to-toe with you guys.''

''I know,'' Gallagher replied. ''I've heard you on Sean Hannity's show.''

''Hannity's next, you know,'' Asner responded.

''Huh?'' said Gallagher.

''Hannity's next,'' said Asner. ''We're going after him just like we went after Limbaugh. And you saw what happened to Rush this week, right?''

I can attest to these news reports because I was there. Standing not more than 10 feet from where the conversation was happening. Shortly afterward, as Mike and I were exiting the party, we were chatting on the elevator of the Empire State building.

"Kevin, did you hear what he said?" Mike exclaimed, "That was a truly strange experience." And he then proceeded to relate the story to the rest of the folks riding with us in the elevator.

The following day, as a part of the same film junket, I found myself sitting in a room with Mike and several others waiting for Mr. Asner to field his questions from us regarding the release of "Elf" – a movie that I believe will be huge at the box office this holiday season.

As Mr. Asner walked in, he saw both Mike and me sitting at the end of the table closest to him and quickly quipped, "What is this? The Salem witch trials?" This, of course, being a play on words alluding to Mike being a syndicated talk-show host for Salem Radio Network (and heard on better than 200 stations), and that I had just taken over as the host on the legendary New York's WMCA 570 "Home of the Good Guys," also a Salem property.

Upon seating himself at the end of the table and making small talk about cookies and cupcakes – he did seem to be in a particularly jovial mood – he asked point blank: "Does anyone at this table hate me? Hate my work as an activist or in any other way?"

It was such an odd question that the room fell dead silent for a moment before breaking into the short amount of time he had for questions about the film.

As he answered questions about the film, he often broke into stories about his days gone by, and even his reasons for getting involved in left-wing politics. He even talked somewhat reflectively about one of his first acting gigs, playing Santa for the downtown Chicago Marshall Field's store.

"It was the worst job I ever had," said Asner. "All I could do was put these poor – extremely poor – kids on my lap and say to them, 'Well Johnny, well Susie, Santa's gonna see what he can do about getting that for you. Knowing full well that these kids' parents were so poor that more than half these kids had no chance of ever seeing the gifts they asked for. It was just awful.'"

By the end of his time with us, I had not asked him a specific question yet, and in my mind I could not get away from the scene from the party of the night previous.

"Mr. Asner, I do have a question – unrelated to the film," I said. "In your long and distinguished acting career, going back to your earliest days in Chicago all the way up to present days working with Will Farrell on 'Elf', you have had the chance to do almost anything you could ever wish to do. But if you had the chance to play the biographical story of a historical figure you respected most over your lifetime, who would it be?"

Remembering the sad story he had told about the poor kids in Chicago, I half expected him to come out with a political name of some sort.

"I think Joe Stalin was a guy that was hugely misunderstood," said Asner. "And to this day, I don't think I have ever seen an adequate job done of telling the story of Joe Stalin, so I guess my answer would have to be Joe Stalin."

Suddenly the time had run out, and for the third time in less than 18 hours, Ed Asner had puzzled the room he was in, into a stunned and disbelieving silence.

Mr. Hannity ... I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Monte Smith · October-13th-2003, 02:23 PM

I defintely would love to see Hollywood make a film about Stalin and the horrors of the Soviet experience. I think that would be a different film from the one Ed Asner has in mind.

--That's an incredible admission, Gordon. Thanks for posting.

Brian Olewnick · October-13th-2003, 02:27 PM

The last couple of times I've seen Asner on one talk show or another, I've (in all seriousness) gotten the impression that he's suffering from some form of age-caused mental fuzziness, maybe senility (is he a drinker? maybe excessive alcohol). He sounds like your grumpy grandfather who's slowly crossing the border into a semi-pitiable state.

Jimmy Cantiello · October-13th-2003, 02:32 PM

He claims to be a non-drinker which probably means he's a sober asshole.....................

Gordon B · October-13th-2003, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy Cantiello
He claims to be a non-drinker which probably means he's a sober asshole.....................

Don't tell me he doesn't smoke cigars, either!

stonemonkts · October-13th-2003, 03:24 PM

Perhaps he meant the term in the literal sense? It is possible that non-Soviets misunderstand Stalin, which does NOT imply the pedestrian use of the word, as in to view unfavorably, but instead means the world could only have part of the man's story?

I'm not in any way apologizing for Asner and Stalin. Just offering another view based on semantics.

Asner's appearance on Dinner For Five left one with the same impression. He may have early onset of senility, or he may simply be a vague and obtuse sort of fellow on the outside when dealing with others. We've all known strange sorts.

RBS · October-13th-2003, 03:29 PM

Ed Asner has been causing trouble in my union, the Screen Actors Guild, for some time now. He seems to have absolutely no idea what he's talking about half the time and he also appears to be living in some hazy past. I think something may be off, too.

We had a merger consolidation proposal with another union, AFTRA, which would have benefited all. Ed Asner was the recipient of misinformation and wrote a letter to the members which influenced many of them to vote against it.

A lot of the information in his letter was simply wrong.

Gordon B · October-13th-2003, 03:37 PM

Stone, at first I thought what you did, but Asner was replying to the question,

Quote:

But if you had the chance to play the biographical story of a historical figure you respected most over your lifetime, who would it be?"

Maybe he didn't catch "respected" in the sentence but that would be giving him a huge benefit of the doubt.

stonemonkts · October-13th-2003, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gordon B
Stone, at first I thought what you did, but Asner was replying to the question,

Maybe he didn't catch "respected" in the sentence but that would be giving him a huge benefit of the doubt.

Good point. Looks like he could be saying it in an admiring way. Bizarre.

Jazzmoose · October-13th-2003, 07:57 PM

I'll go along with Stalin being misunderstood. Although it sounds like Asner misunderstood him more than most...

Salvador Dali Lama · October-13th-2003, 08:27 PM

uh ok, but now look at that website: its a super christian right wing news site. damn near everything they ever print is very, very blatantly colored. i used to read it just for shits and giggles, y'know, try to have a diverse news diet. but after a while i just couldnt take it anymore.

Pete C · October-13th-2003, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Salvador Dali Lama
uh ok, but now look at that website: its a super christian right wing news site.

Should that concern Gordon?

Tom Storer · October-14th-2003, 02:58 AM

Asner sounds like a lunatic, all right. Poor misunderstood Joe Stalin? What? Reports of his strange demeanor, hazy connection to reality and propensity for trouble-making all point to the conclusion that is he is a strange-acting, hazily-connected-to-reality trouble-maker.

What's really bad is that crack about "the way we went after Limbaugh." This ought to crank up the rumor mill on conspiracy sites - Limbaugh the victim of a vast left-wing conspiracy.

clinthopson · October-14th-2003, 11:38 AM

Remember that Harry Truman called Stalin "Uncle Joe."

Even though I probably agree with Eddie on a lot of issues, that comment was a result of either senility, booze or stupidity or any combination of the three. Take your pick.

Monte Smith · October-14th-2003, 12:26 PM

Maybe Ed is just out of touch, but he wouldn't be the first fellow traveler to be so.

GA Russell · October-14th-2003, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by clinthopson
Remember that Harry Truman called Stalin "Uncle Joe."

Even though I probably agree with Eddie on a lot of issues, that comment was a result of either senility, booze or stupidity or any combination of the three. Take your pick.

Clint, I disagree. I think he's a communist, pure and simple.

October-14th-2003, 03:06 PM

That was an interesting comment, although I don't necessarily interpret it to mean that Asner admires Stalin.

Asner is not alone among his generation in having mixed thoughts about Stalin. Stalin is remembered by many as a war hero who played the key role in bringing down Nazi Germany. At that time, there was little reliable information in the West about what was going on inside the USSR. People wanted to believe that Stalin was not a tyrant. Now that the evidence is conclusive and overwhelming that he was a tyrant, completely rethinking political convictions is not an easy task for everyone.

Clay Fink · October-14th-2003, 03:57 PM

The "Hannity's next" comment sounds like a joke, as does the Stalin quote.

Speaking of people playing Stalin, F. Murray Abraham played a good one in "Children of the Revolution".

FWIW, I think Stalin was a great man who did a lot of good for his country and the world. I think it's sad that people just can't, or don't want to, appreciate him. We've been so brainwashed in this country about Communism by the right that I don't think that anyone can think straight anymore on that subject. So in a way, I guess, I hope Asner wasn't joking. I think it's high time we reeavaluated Stalinism now that it's becoming pretty aparent that capitalism illserves all but the most afluent people.

Salvador Dali Lama · October-14th-2003, 04:07 PM

goddamn clay fink. I can understand re-evaluating communism, and even "marxism-leninism" (oxymoron?), but stalinism? i think the reason people (russians included?) don't like stalin because he uh..... arbitrarily killed so many millions of people.

is there an ethnic group anywhere in the former soviet union that did not suffer genocide at the hands of josef stalin?

Brian Olewnick · October-14th-2003, 04:11 PM

I'm guessing Clay wasn't serious, though I wonder how a similar joke would go over with Hitler's name substituted for Stalin? It's ok to make light of a mass murderer of millions of Ukranians, I suppose....

Clay Fink · October-14th-2003, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian Olewnick
It's ok to make light of a mass murderer of millions of Ukranians, I suppose....

Have you ever actually tried to deal with a Ukrainian?

Clay Fink · October-14th-2003, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Salvador Dali Lama
goddamn clay fink. I can understand re-evaluating communism, and even "marxism-leninism" (oxymoron?), but stalinism? i think the reason people (russians included?) don't like stalin because he uh..... arbitrarily killed so many millions of people.

is there an ethnic group anywhere in the former soviet union that did not suffer genocide at the hands of josef stalin?

You know, you got to break a few eggs to make an omlette. Uncle Joe got a little carried away once in a while, but he wasn't like totally bad, you know.

Clay Fink · October-14th-2003, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian Olewnick
I'm guessing Clay wasn't serious, though I wonder how a similar joke would go over with Hitler's name substituted for Stalin?

I don't know. I think history has been a bit hard on the little guy. I know he killed a few million people, but who here hasn't made a few mistakes in THEIR own life.

Monte Smith · October-14th-2003, 04:41 PM

Martin Amis' book on Stalin, Koba the Dread is subtitled Laughter and the Twenty Million in reference to the weird fact that people tend to make jokes at the expense of Stalin's victims.

Clay Fink · October-14th-2003, 04:42 PM

How dare you! Mass murder is funny no matter who's doing to it whoever else. Unfortunatley when you start talking about slaughtering millions of people undeservably, people just completely loose their sense of humor. I really can't think of a more consistantly human activity than genocide. All my 12-step work tells me that you have to own, and learn to laugh about, all the traits you're born with. Why not start with the propensity to kill off people you don't like or that you just find anoying.

October-14th-2003, 05:39 PM

In 1938, Ivan Ivanov heard a knock on his door:

"Come out immediately with all your essential belongings!"

Ivan fell on his knees. No, please, no.....!!!!!!

"No, don't worry. It's just that your house is on fire."

Monte Smith · October-14th-2003, 05:52 PM

A Soviet judge walks out of the courtroom, barely managing to suppress his wild laughter. A colleague asks, "What is it you are laughing about?

"I just heard the most hilarious joke," cackles the judge.

"A joke? Tell me!"

"Are you crazy?" the judge says. "I just sentenced a man to five years for that joke!"

October-14th-2003, 06:23 PM

Stalin couldn't find his pipe one day. He asked Beria to investigate the matter.

An hour later, Stalin found his pipe and called off the investigation.

Beria replied, "Too bad. We already had three confessions."

Captain Hate · October-14th-2003, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Salvador Dali Lama
is there an ethnic group anywhere in the former soviet union that did not suffer genocide at the hands of josef stalin?

That's what has always, for me, put Stalin alone at the top (maybe bottom is more appropriate) in terms of tyrants: At any time you, no matter who or what you were, could be identified as the enemy of the state. With Hitler, if you weren't a Jew, Pole, Slav, gypsy or somebody who tried to kill him, you were ok and didn't have anything to worry about until the Russians arrived.

Maybe Mao was like that too?

Monte Smith · October-14th-2003, 07:30 PM

How do we know for a fact that Adam and Eve were Soviet citizens?

Because they were homeless, naked and had just one apple between the two of them--which they weren't allowed to eat--and they were told it was Paradise.