Money and Politics Bulworth

1. Money and PoliticsBulworth Politics in Film Braunwarth

2. Campaigns • "Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other" - Oscar Ameringer

3. Money and Politics • Contemporary mass-mediated political campaigns are very expensive and money is very important to candidates • It is a necessary but not sufficient ingredient for electoral success • Money is also very important to interest groups as a way of signaling their preferences and influencing the political process • Money has essentially become a form of speech, politicians use it to get out their message, interest groups and individuals use it to express their preferences

4. What’s the Matter with Money? • Politicians are never bribed outright like in this movie • However there is a strong correlation between donations and political action • Money can buy access and well orchestrated lobbying and donation efforts can skew public policy toward those with money • Not everybody has equal opportunity to use this form of political participation • Inequalities in wealth translate into political inequalities • Politicians must spend up to half of their time raising money for re-election • Note how these are shown in Bulworth

5. Efforts to Limit the Influence of Money • Money is insidious and it has been very difficult to stem its flow into politics • When one avenue is blocked, it flows in other areas • For instance, when hard money donations to candidates was limited, donators gave soft money to parties • When this was limited, donators began producing their own issue ads • When donations from corporations and unions were disallowed, they formed PACs

6. Ideological Shift • Note the pictures on the wall at the beginning of the film • Warren Beatty with Civil Rights and other prominent liberals (MLK, Malcolm X, Thurgood Marshall, Bobby Kennedy, Angela Davis, etc.) • What is the message of Bulworth’s new campaign ads? • Trying to paint himself as a conservative to ride the popular tide of conservatism (reminiscent of Bob Roberts and Bill Clinton) • He’s a fraud who’s sold his principles and progressive policies to the highest bidder • Because he’s “tired of the bullshit” he decides to commit suicide and becomes liberated • Much like Network

7. Other Issues Raised in Bulworth • Note the contrast with his support for “family values” and his own familial relations • Pay attention to the TV images in the background • Note how he chides Hollywood for their dumb, violent, and dirty films designed for maximum profitability • Free Media Time for Political Campaigns • Single-Payer (socialized) health care • Excellent analysis of the problems facing the African-American community and the lack of contemporary leaders (transcript) • Note the emphasis on scandal throughout the film • What do they mean by “you have to be a spirit but not a ghost”?

8. The Media • How does the news cover the new Bulworth campaign? • Emphasis on the strategy and the image, not on the substance of what he is saying • Are the media prepared to cover a substantive campaign? • Would a message like Bulworth’s appeal to the public? • Why don’t candidates offer a more substantive message? • Don’t want to offend key constituencies

9. Warren Beatty • Warren Beatty directed and co-wrote Bulworth • He has always been active in Democratic politics • Interestingly, he has recently been making a number of public political appearances • Perhaps a run for Governor or Senator is in his future • How similar will the message of his campaign be to that of Bulworth’s?

10. The Contender • What message does this film make regarding the appropriateness of personal character attacks in politics?   • Do you agree?  • Can you think of any contemporary examples of this practice? • Is this film making any message about gender equality?  • If so, what is it?

11. The Congressional Address • The section on the Congressional address is a bit unrealistic • What if you were a conservative member of Congress • Oldman and his friends have abused their positions – OK, they may be traitors, OK • But he says the only reason they did it was because she was a woman? • What about her liberal politics?