Take that, losers!
That's the gloves-off message from a trio of billboards that have gone up near the Kodak Theater to tweak anti-Bushites such as
Michael Moore,
Barbra Streisand,
Sean Penn,
Ben Affleck,
Martin Sheen,
Chevy Chase and
Whoopi Goldberg on Oscar night.
The billboards, viewable from the red carpet, show a beaming President Bush juxtaposed with the stars. The basic idea: to credit an anti-celebrity backlash with helping re-elect Bush.
"4 more years. Thank you Hollywood!" reads one.
The sore-winner campaign comes from Citizens United, the same org that tried unsuccessfully to prevent "Fahrenheit 9/11" distribs from advertising on TV and then financed
Lionel Chetwynd's pro-Bush docu, "Celsius 41.11."
Exec director
David Bossie is unapologetic about delivering a strident message on Oscar night, citing "hate-filled" attacks on Bush by the stars.
"It's a not-so-gentle reminder to them that the American people don't take them seriously when it comes to issues of war and peace," he asserts. "
John Kerry paid dearly for their support. And I hope that Hollywood supports the Democratic candidate in the same way in 2008."
Bossie says cost of the billboards is about $40,000, but Citizens United is looking to offset some of the expense. It's selling copies, in poster form, on its Web site for $15 a pop.
Contact Dave McNary at
dave.mcnary@variety.com