Are Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park) Bush supporters?

[YEM]

Any know where the stand? I can't tell what they are doing with their new "Team America" movie.

[Malikshah]

1. They've been typified as libertarian, moreso

they are issue-based folks as far as I can tell. They absolutely despise Barbra Streisand and Mel Gibson, but have very little love for the regime either.

[YEM]

2. So who are they bashing in their new movie?

Have you heard about it yet? It's called "Team America" and it uses puppets as Bush a Co. as they fight the war on terror.

[Malikshah]

10. They Bash

Moore, celebrities, Bush et al-- it's in the trailer.

[Democat]

56. Every celeb they list in the trailer is on the left - why is that?

What about the right wing talking heads?

[nightperson]

33. I'll just throw

this info up at the top of the thread. I don't follow their work and don't know much more. :shrug:?

[indigobusiness]

52. I'm surprised that Trey submitted to labeling

Trey Parker: A Libertarian

Despite the Libertarian messages in the work, they seemed sort of basic loose cannon liberals to me. Labeling Trey a Libertarian seems odd, maybe an L.A. Libertarian would be more accurate.

They do believe in being left alone to do what they please.

[indigobusiness]

3. They are classicly maverick liberals

hardly libertarian...or worse.

[Elginoid]

16. not really.

they are traditional-type moderate repugs, not the kind of wacky right-wing religio-crazies that have taken over the party.

[indigobusiness]

53. Moderate Republicans?

Are you kidding?

[rinsd]

68. If they're moderate republicans.....

Than the Democratic Party is in serious doo-doo. Because most people in their 20s & 30s seem to have the same views these guys do.

[rooboy]

4. Didn't Trey Parker appear in "Bowling for Columbine"?

and didn't they have a show called "That's my Bush"? Don't sound like GOP regulars to me.

[Cha]

5. He did appear in "Bowling For Columbine" because he

had gone to Columbine High..but I don't remember what he had to say.

[Pepperbelly]

6. link ...

shitty source but ...

-snip-

Parker said it's ironic that he and Stone are getting heat, both because they personally lean Republican and because their series intends to lionize Bush, not ridicule him.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=21568

[indigobusiness]

7. And you believe that?

Consider the source...

These guys are wily.

[RoyGBiv]

9. Parker himself...

"We're not out to skewer a president. We're out to do something very, very subversive and actually make you like this guy!"

They hold Bush in as much contempt as they do any politician or activist, but they are not to be admired. Before That's My Bush was put on the air, the final format was in as much doubt as the outcome of the election. Had Gore been rightfully elected, the show would have centered on him.

They are equal-opportunity cynics and self-promoters. Much of the bad, yet false things that are claimed for Michael Moore actually apply to Parker and Stone.

[indigobusiness]

13. "Not to be admired"? ????

How one can NOT admire these guys is beyond me.

They are true Americans...living the REAL American dream.

on edit--- Nobody has accurately psychoanalyzed this duo, as of yet...they have not been pinned down. But clues abound.

[RoyGBiv]

14. The American Dream

Perhaps they are living some version of it. It's not my dream, though.

Intellectualism is a vice to these guys. I don't admire that. I never will.

OnEdit: I can find them entertaining, for limited periods. But their art has as much substance as a random splash of paint on a canvas.

[indigobusiness]

17. Nobody said anything about your dream or jugments....

The American dream as is commonly defined. They have succeeded wildly, doing things their way - unaffected by pressure from the herds.

Your snobbish notions of art betrays a limited grasp of aesthetics. And to say that intellectualism is a vice to these guys...well, that is just plain laughable. It could be argued that their humor is highly sophisticated...but the complexities and subtleties are lost on those overwhelmed by the content.

[RoyGBiv]

21. Oh please...

I don't want a flame war here. I'm not real clear what has inspired the defensive tone of your comments in these threads.

I have an opinion of Parker and Stone you don't happen to share. So be it.

There's no need to cast aspersions on my so-called "snobbish" attitude or imply that I'm incapable of examining the subtleties of art. You know nothing of what I might know or be capable of understanding on this point, and I doubt it would do me much good to try to explain to you exactly what I do know. I've apparently hit some sort of nerve, for which I'm sorry, but if you're content to fling vaguely shrouded insults in my direction when I was doing nothing more than criticizing two film-makers, I have little else to say.

[indigobusiness]

22. I am merely arguing

against what you represented. You revealed quite a bit, I only characterized it and called it into question.

I understand that you "have little else to say".

[mitchum]

36. How about they are smug little libertarian shits who create satire...

at, and for, the idiot level?
They can't draw very well either.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

45. Deleted message

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[mitchum]

47. I guess I touched a nerve with that "for the idiot level" part...

didn't I?
Sorry

[indigobusiness]

48. If you touched yourself

I'm sure you're very proud. But I don't really care.

[mitchum]

93. Now, that's the type of witty riposte one should expect from...

"The Sludge Report" Downright Swiftian.

Apparently, you do care. I'M not the one mounting a shrill defense of those twits.

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jdj]

50. Second. Most "libertarians" seem to end up being just

republicans for whom alcohol is not their drug of choice. If their preferred dope were legal they'd be as repuke as the next guy. They start out as the old Dennis Miller, smoke their last weed at 40 or so, and climb right up the ass of the local republican party, a la the new Dennis Miller, as if they'd been there their whole lives...which, essentially, they have.

[BillZBubb]

85. Perfect!

I've never seen it expressed better. Once the pot phase of life is over, they emerge from the libertarian cocoon as full fledged Freepers. It happens every time!

[Kipepeo]

82. wily my ass

They'd much rather skewer liberals than BushCo. They don't hide that.

Have you seen the trailer for this new movie? I think they'll be the anti-Howard-Stern in this election: rallying straight white men around Bush. Or at least rallying them agianst Democrats and liberals.

[indigobusiness]

12. 'Shitty 'is putting it mildy.

It refers to Chef's "black salty balls" instead of choclate salty balls...

to wit:

Another character, Chef, the school cook, carried the voice of singer Isaac Hayes. Hayes explains that when he first went to audition for South Park he "had a bad attitude," because he thought he was auditioning for a Disney film. But then he "read the script and started cracking up." Hayes has released a new song, encouraging everyone to "suck on black salty balls" -- a candy confection he cooks up, but with obvious sexual double-entendre.

======

This source offers no insight, just info...sometimes misinfo.

[Mike Daniels]

69. The program was going to be about whoever won the election

If Gore had won it would have revolved around Gore. Since Bush won the program was about Bush.

[wndycty]

8. Some on the DU immediately labeled them Bush supporters. . .

. . .because (heaven forbind) they dared to make fun of some liberals. We need a life, I am not into trying to pin down the political leanings of every actor, athlete, musician, et al, we sound like Freepers when we do it. If someone wants us to know their beliefs that is great, but there so many people out there who are not as partisan as we are and when they speak on one issue we assume that they are either on board or off board.

A saw a Freeper site that claimed Brian McKnight was a Republican, however he did the National Anthem at the Democratic Convention. Depsite "Passion of the Christ," don't be too surpised to see Mel Gisbon vote for John Kerry.

[RoyGBiv]

11. I don't label them Bush supporters...

I label them as self-described subversives who have no respect for anything but the sound of their own voices.

I don't think they support Bush. Neither do they not support him. They intentionally skate a fine line because their so-called comedy is based on trashing the idea of "being involved."

But make no mistake. They are the enemy, or a part of that enemy's army. They advance the idea that is is cool not to care, that if we were all left to our own devices, without organized government influence of any sort or activists who support various causes, we'd all be living in paradise.

[indigobusiness]

19. I challenge you to justify your claim:

"They advance the idea that is is cool not to care, that if we were all left to our own devices, without organized government influence of any sort or activists who support various causes, we'd all be living in paradise."


That is an obtuse and misguided characterization, at best.

They consistently make points opposing all the base values you accuse them of.

Do you never grasp the overarching messages in their work?

They are morality plays for chrissake. They are The Aesop of the 21 century.

WTF?

[piece sine]

23. the enemy??!

I hope you're just spouting-off. That's just plain daffy.

[Cha]

26. If they "advance the idea that it is cool not to care" then they

are "the enemy"..but I wouldn't know because that "South Park" kind of thing doesn't appeal to me.

[indigobusiness]

37. It is an acquired taste.

It took some convincing, for me. Much like Beavis and Butthead, it took me awhile. Once you get it...it is amazingly insightful. There's so much more to it than a superficial glance will allow.

[mark414]

65. it's a joke

who cares, they're hilarious. it's called satire, and comedy for comedy's sake.

[leftistagitator]

25. I don't know if they are Bush* supporters

but you are in denial if you refuse to allow yourself see that they are not on our side. They are not liberal, they are quasi Libertarian, and they blame us for the world's problems, not Republicans. They don't like religion, and they appear to tolerate drugs and gay people, but that doesn't make them progressive.

I want them to be on my side, I really do, I've watched the show ever since the beginning, but they just aren't. Who did they blame for the drug user = terrorist ads? Ultra Liberals. Which celebrities do they attack constantly? Ones who have dared to express liberal beliefs. In their minds the just Revolutionary War is a perfect analogy for our little misadventure in Iraq. People who opposed the war are little pussies who refuse to fight when the country is in danger. Sexual harrassment laws are equivilant to a fascist state. Global Warming isn't true, the rainforest sucks and should be cut down, poor people are only poor if they are alcoholics and lazy, (they do cut starving Africans a little slack on that one). They simply aren't liberal, they're just funny. They seemed liberal all the way up to season three, and at first I thought they were just being equal opportunity satarists, but season 5 cured me of that pleasant delusion. I'm sure dedicated followers will know the episode, the one where enviromentalists use Jedi mind tricks to trick stupid people into believing there are enviromental problems out there in a conspiracy to attack Republicans. They are conservatives, who may or may not support Bush*, but they don't support us. Which sucks, I hate it when people I like don't like me, but that's just the way it is.

[indigobusiness]

28. You make a great point...

It is not about being in lock-step. It is about debating ideas honorably and legitimately and then it is possible to respectfully disagree. The flaws of any system will resolve themselves when revealed for what they are.

The struggle between both extremes of any polarity is what makes things what they are, politically or otherwise.

Trey and Matt just told Drudge they try to not to take sides, but to show that we are all idiots... That is how they get at the heart and soul of the absurdity of it all. That is their genius.

They just skewer dragons where they find them. That is as it should be.




Matt Stone.............................Trey Parker

[papau]

15. They are putting out a movie - now in final edit - on 10/15 that makes fun

the constant terror threats.

:-)

[ASanders84]

18. I couldn't see those guys as Republicans

They bash religion, big business, and rednecks on South Park. I always figured they would be out in left field with me.

[indigobusiness]

20. And they bash the bashing

of those things.

[lectrobyte]

29. they did a pretty good job on "The Passion"

I don't think they are friends of either party, but does it really matter?

[customerserviceguy]

30. All I can tell you is this

Every right wing person I know considers them part of the "Hollywood liberal establishment" they always rail against. None of them would watch "South Park" long enough to get any comfort from any of its messages, which are delivered at the end of the episode. All the fundies would change the channel, or have the TV exorcised after hearing little kids being depicted as swearing, bleeped or not.

[indigobusiness]

40. That's because they are all morons

with the collective depth of a birdbath.

[customerserviceguy]

42. It's more like

they're just too damn easily offended to keep an open mind long enough to see past the "naughty words". But, sometimes, to reach someone, you have to get up or down to their level.

[indigobusiness]

46. That is a pretty good definition of shallow.

And it is definitely "down" to their level.

[Bombtrack]

84. Can you provide instances of them bashing big bussiness.

The whole theme of the underwear gnomes episode was about bashing the liberal sensibility of supporting small bussiness over large. And it's point was basically the right-wing mantra that consolidation and monopoly are good and efficient and correct in the free market blah blah blah.

They also had an episode devoted to standing up for big tobacco and demonizing Rob Reiner, and an episode devoted to scewering environmentalists.

They "bash" the ignorant poor, wether they be rednecks or not, and that is hardly a progressive value. Even if it is a value of uncaring middle class people.

[LTR]

24. Something I read somewhere

Don't take it as gospel.

They claim to hate Republicans, but also hate liberals.

So they hate everyone. Fitting.

[Cha]

27. Like mo dowd! Terrific!

The ultimate fence sitters.

[savistocate]

31. anarchist--misanthropy

Leftist.. A+ analysis..printing it for friends.

"overarching msgs".. wtf? aesthetics of shit...phew.

[indigobusiness]

34. You sound suspiciously shallow.

Print that.

[arwalden]

32. I Thought They Were Boyfriends

or lovers... aren't they? Are they?

-- Allen

[indigobusiness]

35. It's amazing

how people rise to all of their bait.

[jdj]

51. If they had the balls they would be.

Since they don't, as an outlet they have visited SouthPark upon the world, for better or worse.

This is why we MUST fight for equal civil rights for gays.

[indigobusiness]

54. We MUST not do anything

that's the whole point of living in a free country.

[nose pin]

39. They called into Drudge's radio show an hour ago

They saw the story on Drudge, and called in to defend themselves. They say that neither Bush nor Kerry appears in the film (though they are not finished yet, and do not rule out adding them in).

They claim to have no agenda, and do NOT bash the soldiers, firemen, police, etc. But they DO bash many actors who have been speaking out.

They told Drudge that he will like what happens to Jeanine Garofolo in the film, and they hit Moore pretty hard too. They also make fun of terrorists, but not terrorism.

[indigobusiness]

41. They said they tried to show we are all idiots

they are so beyond what their critics see. That makes it better.

[Democat]

43. They claim to bash "celebrities" but they only mention left celebs

What about Rush, Drudge, Arnold, Miller, all the right wing idiots at Fox, etc.?

Usually when someone says they are a libertarian it really means they vote Republican.

[indigobusiness]

49. Wait for the movie

before you judge it. Making fun of Moore and Garafalo might be a riot, even if they are your heroes. The ideas are beyond the bashing.

[Democat]

55. O'Reilly bashes the left too - it's all part of the media effort

We'll see what the movie looks like, but it is interesting that when they talk about bashing celebs they do not mention any celebs on the right.

Remember, part of the job of the media is to make being a liberal uncool. The Southpark guys can be very funny, but they themselves admit to being Bush supporters and being right of center. Don't think that they aren't working to undermine what we are working for.

We call all can laugh at their work, but just because it's funny doesn't mean it's not political or biased.

We will see what they come up with - hopefully it will bash equally.

[indigobusiness]

61. Calling them right of center is preopsterous

Look at the guests they've had on their show---all liberals.

Look at the messages in their shows----all liberal.

Poking fun at liberals doesn't make you a conservative. It is a sly approach....that gets lost, somehow.

They pick on liberals, in particular, to strenuously resist being pigeon-holed.

[Bombtrack]

79. The messages in their show are almost never "liberal"

The only liberal messages come down on the issues surrounding religious zealotry and things like that, but that only accounts for maybe like 10 percent of their "messages"

They made an anti-hate crime law episode.

An anti-environmentalism episode

a pro-tobacco company episode

a pro-big bussiness/consolidation episode

I can go on and on and probably give you 15 more examples

[indigobusiness]

80. You are missing the point.

They are not advocating those things. They are showing how absurd those things are. They are far too subtle in their messages to hit you over the head with most of them. Ever heard of irony?

[Bombtrack]

81. Oh Please. I do know what Irony is and I have no frigging clue what you

are trying to use/bastardize it here. The only way your point could possibly be taken is that your saying they're advocating the reverse of what they actually seem to be promoting, both by demonizing things/people and with there "what have we learned" segment at the end where the sensible kids, Stan and Kyle(Trey and Matt), put it all together. But by that measure it would mean that they love Barbara Streisand and the religious fringe.

[indigobusiness]

86. Well, if you put in literalist, blockhead terms, then

yes.

[DoNotRefill]

57. Having watched Southpark for quite a while...

I'd say that they're equal opportunity bashers. Nobody and nothing is sacred to them.

[jayctravis]

58. They're neutral, similarly as

Comedy Central and Jon Stewart/Daily Show.

They're satirists, and good people, who've raised awareness, lampooning censorship, sexual politics, racism, German internet porn...

[durutti]

60. They are right-wingers.

And don't give me this "libertarian" crap. Libertarianism is little more than an attempt to sell conservatism to college kids who didn't want to give up sex and drugs.

[Rich Hunt]

62. not necessarily

I've known a lot of people who call themselves 'libertarian' because it sounds neutral and tolerant to them. They're looking for a place free of zealotry. They generally don't know too much about the Libertarian Party, its right-wing ties, and how extreme it is. Once people like that become too active in it and realize it's just another bunch of fanatics, they leave. I wouldn't call such people right-wing. They're just looking to disassociate themselves from ideologues.

I would classify South Park as irreverent without being mean-spirited. I'm a big fan, and they've never offended me. I don't care what their politics are as long as they remain irreverent.

[indigobusiness]

87. Exactly...they are iconoclastic and apolitical

and take no prisoners.

People unable to laugh at themselves deserves to be skewered, and offended.

[Rich Hunt]

90. exactly

I guess you're not a good liberal if you laugh at Barbra Streisand.

:eyes:

[indigobusiness]

91. Personally, I laugh hysterically

at plenty of folk that vote the way I do. All types of people are inadvertantly comedic, or are worthy of sending up.

Especially Barbara.

[rinsd]

64. Libertarians are conservatives?

Libertarians (both small and large L) don't derive their ranks from social conservatives. Libs & conservs agree on two things; defense and low taxes. They have more in common with anarchists than the typical conservatives.

Libertarians can be allies in the battles against neocons and facists. In fact many of them are.

[Rich Hunt]

88. you misunderstand

I didn't say that libertarianism was conservative. However, the official organs of libertarianism have become, for the most part, reactionary, hysterical and unpleasant. Must be all of that Bush-loving money that has supported their ventures over the years....

Have a look:

http://www.mediatransparency.org/search_results/cato_results.htm

[Radio]

67. So you know them personally?

[Rich Hunt]

89. Did I say that?

Did I say that?

I'm just saying that some people become libertarians with the best of intentions. One shouldn't assume anything about the beliefs of people who say they're 'libertarians'.

BTW, welcome to DU!

;-)

[mitchum]

95. If he does, I know someone who is gonna be sooooooooo jealous

(Not me, I can't stand the smug little pricks)

But someone just seems to adore them

[Radio]

63. I like them and their work

I don't care who they support as long as they can make me laugh. I think an entire topic dedicated to figuring out what someones label is seem odd. Petty even. But that is just my opinion. Please don't attempt to label me.

[Jack_DeLeon]

66. Who cares...

I enjoy watching South Park regardless.

[Danger Duck]

70. As a longtime fan....

They have always been against Saddam, and were major supporters of the War in Iraq. They did an episode where they had two groups, one for, the other against the war, and the last line of the episode characterized those against the war as "pussys" who if in control, would allow the country to be taken over.

[Causidicus]

71. Equal opportunity bashers....

..and funny as hell.

Ever hear the "Hate Crime" speech (from when Cartman threw a rock at Token)? Priceless!

http://home.arcor.de/pla-scripts/scripts-401.htm

[Bombtrack]

74. That's wishful thinking. Combined they lean slightly right, but Trey is

basically a republican. Matt is an ideological independant. They're both libertine, but they have a much stronger anti-liberal stance as their overall driving force than anti-conservative. Bill O'Reilly say's he's equal opportunity as well but you can just see the facts for yourself. You should remember that their hate crime episodes "moral" was anti-hate crime laws. They also have episodes that Basically are anti-environmentalism, anti-Tobacco-company regulation/restriction (but even more anti-Rob Reiner), they have an episode which STUPIDLY calls the anti-Marijuana commercials "ultra-liberal".

The difference between them and O'Reilly, or at least Trey and O'Reilly(as Matt probably actually is equal opportunity towards the parties), is that they aren't frauds because they are extremely talented entertainers, not pundits.

[Causidicus]

76. I'm just saying they take shots at both sides,

And yes, the hate crimes speech was anti-hate crime for all the right reasons. Trust me, we do not want hate crimes laws because they work both ways. Eventually, sites like this one would be shut down because of "hate speech".

[Bombtrack]

78. Yeah, again, so does O'Reilly, but it's like 10 to 1.

[Mike Daniels]

72. Their main target seems to be "the arrogantly self-righteous"

And most of the slams and barbs are aimed at the forces that wish to dictate our "legal behavior" under the claims of "what is best for this country".

The slams at the liberal celebrities seem to come from a desire to expose the hypocrisy of how celebrities expound without reservation on how the rest of us should live our lives while constantly being exposed as charlatans that don't practice what they preach (Barbara S. seems to be frequently guilty of this and it makes her their favorite target).

The right gets slammed on the key "morals" issues that the Repubs like to champion and their attempts to force them upon the rest of the us.

I think they speak out equally against the forces of political correctness and the forces of greed and intolerance and that's just fine by me.

[Bombtrack]

77. Your last line is rediculous. They speakout against "the forces of greed

and intolerance" ? We don't need to be revisionists just because we like their show. Trey has made many statements that show he's an unapolagetically greedy person. He typifies the basic "I don't care about people I don't know" mentality of much of the right.

I mean, their show became known by having a poor kid die in every episode. Think about that.

I love South Park. But I hate alot of what they, particularly Trey, stands for and tries to sneak in. Because I think he's kind of an uncaring prick.

All too often people don't understand that tons of talent often comes from people who aren't great people.

[indigobusiness]

83. And you buy into that facade? Look behind the mask...

these guys are clowns, after all. They are tricking you whenever they can.

Look at the content of their shows. They always reveal the folly of pettiness, greed, ego and corruption.

It is shocking how many DUers take this stuff at face value and can't read the deeper significance. This doesn't bode well for the future of the Democratic party. That is something I would expect from rwers, but not DUers.

[Uzybone]

73. I love their shows

but I think they are full of shit personally. They did an interview after CC ran the 25 most outrageous South Park episodes where they sat in a hot tub with an Asian guy who never said a word. The seem to stand for nothing, and they only do this for the money. If its controversial and enables them to make money, then thats what they will do. They'll bash anyone and everyone, as long as the dollar signs keep showing up. Pretty shallow if you ask me.

[ContinentalOp]

75. I for one have always found their humor to be quite reactionary.

The people here who think South Park isn't conservative because fundies wouldn't watch it are missing the point. Their misanthropic humor strikes me as the same kind of attitude you would find in a young republican. Add in some drugs and move them to Hollywood and the label changes to Liberatarian but that doesn't change the basic conservative worldview that drives them.

[Democat]

94. Great summary

Most "libertarians" that you meet today are Republicans who don't want to admit it.

[rniel]

92. to sum it up

I think they are right wing, but anti religion so it must be somewhere in the middle.

[Johnny B. Goode]

96. they seem like

democrats to me. But I don't really know for sure.