President Obama is challenging the notion of an "enthusiasm gap" this evening at the kickoff of the DNC's Gen 44 event --- but it also was before a crowd that came to be enthused.

Among Democratic donors and progressives, there's a lot of worry over young turnout on Election Day, even among those in the entertainment industry who so enthusiastically backed his candidacy in 2008. Although industry donors have been showering candidates with money, the level of energy going into get-out-the-vote efforts or leading rallies hasn't come close to matching 2008 or 2006. On Wednesday, at Heather Thomas' LA Cafe, a monthly gathering of activists, she tasked those gathered to each reach out and volunteer to one of seven get-out-the-vote college orgs, and to get five more people to volunteer themselves to these groups. to five college-age students who could in turn get-out-the-vote.

But that is about to change. Among those slated to appear at this weekend's One Nation Working Together march in Washington will be Danny Glover, Paul Rodriguez and Harry Belafonte. The nonpartisan Rock the Vote will soon launch a Get Out the Vote effort called "Vote Fearlessly, in which Casey Affleck, Joaquin Phoenix, Kate Walsh and others taped spots at Jesse Dylan's Free Form Studio in LA.

The big fear is not just losing Congress --- but also giving Pat Boone a great sense of satisfaction for turning out the Tea Party.

The Other Dylan: In Obama's latest Rolling Stone interview, he explains why Bob Dylan showed little sign of enthusiasm when he performed at the White House in February.

Obama tells Jann Wenner, "Here's what I love about Dylan: He was exactly as you'd expect he would be. He wouldn't come to the rehearsal; usually, all these guys are practicing before the set in the evening. He didn't want to take a picture with me; usually all the talent is dying to take a picture with me and Michelle before the show, but he didn't show up to that. He came in and played "The Times They Are A-Changin'." A beautiful rendition. The guy is so steeped in this stuff that he can just come up with some new arrangement, and the song sounds completely different. Finishes the song, steps off the stage — I'm sitting right in the front row — comes up, shakes my hand, sort of tips his head, gives me just a little grin, and then leaves. And that was it — then he left. That was our only interaction with him. And I thought: That's how you want Bob Dylan, right? You don't want him to be all cheesin' and grinnin' with you. You want him to be a little skeptical about the whole enterprise. So that was a real treat."

Salahis Threaten to Sue: They are not --- repeat, are not --- "party crashers."

Rosie Speaks Out: Rosie Perez, in a spot for FightbackNY, is taking aim at New York State Sen. Ruben Diaz for his vote against same-sex marriage.

Another Viewpoint: With immigration reform at the forefront of so many midterm races --- as well as a certain controversy involving a California gubernatorial candidate --- Roy Germano is releasing his movie "The Other Side of Immigration" on digital on Oct. 5 and DVD later in the month. The pic is being released by Conor Oberst and his Team Love Records and won the Founders Award at the first Politics in Film festival in DC.

Weekend Itinerary: On Saturday, progressive activists head to the National Mall for the One Nation Working Together rally...Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown meet for their second debate at Cal State University Fresno...Nancy Pelosi is at the Bel Air home of Roz Wyman for a "Last Call to Hold the House" fund-raiser...Howard and Cami Gordon host an event for Kirsten Gillibrand, with cohosts including Paris Barclay, Jennifer Garner, Chris Silbermann and JJ Abrams

On Sunday, Gavin Newsom and Rick Jacobs will raise money for the Courage Campaign's get-out-the-vote efforts at the Santa Monica home of Karen and Lindsay Gardner...UCLA Film and Television Archive hosts a screening of Jeff Reichert's "Gerrymandering" doc, followed by a Q&A moderated by Kitty Felde and including Reichert and former Gov. Gray Davis.

Tony Curtis, who died on Wednesday, was an eyewitness to one of the most momentous events of the 20th century: The Japanese surrender to the Allied forces in 1945. He had been a signalman on the submarine U.S.S. Proteus, and watched through a pair of binoculars.

But he also got an advance listen to one of the great speeches of the postwar period: John F. Kennedy's inaugural address.

As relayed in his book American Prince: A Memoir, Curtis had been introduced to Kennedy, when he was still a senator, by Frank Sinatra. Curtis and then wife Janet Leigh held a fund-raiser at their home for Kennedy, and also struck up a friendship with Kennedy's father, Joe, and it helped that Curtis could introduce him to starlets. On a visit to the Kennedy compound in Palm Beach in January, 1961, President-elect Kennedy called to his dad, and started reciting his inauguration speech. Joe Kennedy, Curtis wrote, "motioned for me to come over to the phone, lifted it away from his ear and said, 'I want you to hear this.' I put my ear to the phone and I heard Jack Kennedy say, 'Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.' The words were absolutely electric; the gave me goose bumps, and I told the president-elect so."

The night of the inauguration, Kennedy spotted Curtis at one of the evening parties and told him he'd got an advance look at one of Curtis' latest movies, "The Great Impostor," the night before, and praised it.

"I knew I wasn't ever likely to get a compliment to top that," Curtis wrote.

Karen Ocamb of LGBT POV also writes of Curtis' backstory on the infamous scene with Laurence Olivier in the movie "Spartacus."

Rupert Murdoch testified for immigration reform on Capitol Hill on Thursday, but was challenged by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) on why those views weren't coming across on Fox News. "We don't censor that or take any particular line at all. We are not anti-immigrant on Fox News," he said.

A campaign has probably had a bad day when it's spending so much of it defending itself with document dumps to TMZ. Meg Whitman's undocumented housekeeper, appearing with Gloria Allred, tearfully told of how she was mistreated by her former employer, right down to the day in 2009 when she got the boot for being too much of a political liability as an undocumented worker. Whitman immediately responded with documents showing that her housekeeper had presented herself as legal, as well as denials that Nicky Diaz Santillian was mistreated.

The she said, she said claims may not make much of a difference in the race --- the household help has a way of tripping most politicos up --- but it's a signal that things could get much more ugly with less than five weeks to go. It was an unneeded distraction for Whitman, who is even or slightly behind Jerry Brown in the latest polls, and it also served to resurrect stories about a shoving incident at eBay in 2007 with ended with her reaching a settlement with one of her employees. His campaign easily could have avoided chiming in, but he released a statement calling the former maid's story "compelling."

Update: Calbuzz: "Finally, a political story TV can understand."

Bill on the Trail: Bill Clinton will campaign with Brown and Gavin Newsom, candidate for lieutenant governor, on Oct. 15 at UCLA and on Oct. 17 at San Jose State University.

Duffy's Ad: Former "Real World" star Sean Duffy, running as a Republican for Congress in Wisconsin, is out with a new ad spot featuring a lumberjack logrolling a career politician into a lake.

Hollywood's Left: Pat Boone may have Tea partied in Beverly Hills, but there's more proof that the entertainment industry's political affinities really haven't budged. The Huffington Post is out with its fund raising database that shows that 97% of those listing themselves as "actor" gave their money to Democrats, up from 94% in 2008. The level from musicians was 96% and from producers 92%.

On the Lobbying Front: Rep. Henry Waxman's net neutrality bill is dead, and while a tough Senate anti-piracy measure has been softened a bit, Hollywood is making a big push to make sure it stays alive.

Arthur Penn: The famed director, who died on Tuesday, played a significant role in the presidential debates of 1960. He advised John F. Kennedy to respond to questions by looking directly in the camera, a tip that surely improved the candidates delivery.

Surprise, Surprise: The Daily Beast profiles activist/filmmaker David Bossie, the dirty trickster notorious for going after the Clinton in the 90s. He now acknowledges Clinton was more of a moderate than they feared but says Obama is "truly a radical," and he's ready and waiting if the GOP regains Congress and launches investigations.

Thursday Itinerary: Kamala Harris, running for California attorney general, raises money at the Regency Club in Westwood and later at the Hollywood nightclub Wonderland...The Atlantic Ideas Forum starts in Washington with featured speakers Rahm Emanuel, Elizabeth Edwards and Michael Bloomberg...B.o.B performs at the kickoff concert of the DNC's Gen44 at DAR Constitution Hall followed by a speech by President Obama.

DADT Debut: Funny or Die spoofs opposition to Don't Ask, Don't Tell in its latest video.

G.A.Y.S. (Guys Against You Serving) from Thomas Lennon

During a town hall in Virginia today, President Obama gave his endorsement to Jon Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity" on Oct. 30 --- although Obama mangled the name of the event.

As he has done many times before, Obama was riffing on cable news talk shows, calling them "purposely provocative," when he compared them to Stewart's efforts to tone down the rhetoric.

Per MSNBC, Obama said, "Use Jon Stewart, the host of the Daily Show. Apparently he's going to host a rally called something like, 'Americans Who Favor a Return to Sanity or something like that." He said that he was "amused" by the concept of the event.

He agreed to Stewart's concept of a "busy majority."

Obama said, "They're looking after their families. They don't go around calling people names, they don't make stuff up, they may not be following every single issue because they just don't have time, but they are expecting some common sense and some courtesy."

Will this settle it?

"Dancing with the Stars" offered "raw and unedited" footage the showing just who was booed.

Not even Tom DeLay was jeered last year --- although his tenure on the show was pretty short.

A big Hollywood fund-raiser for Jerry Brown is planned for Oct. 14, but the money is rolling in well before that. According to state campaign finance records, recent donors include Rhea Perlman and Danny Devito, Barbra Streisand ($5,000), Ari Emanuel ($20,900), Bob Daly ($25,000), Norman Lear ($10,000), Tom Ford ($25,000), Rob Reiner ($1,800), Stacey Snider ($10,000) and Max Mutchnick ($12,500). Whitman has picked up support from nightclub magnate Sam Nazarian ($1,000) and former AOL CEO Bob Pittman ($10,000).

Stumping for Angle: Sharron Angle is raising money in Los Angeles on Friday for her Senate bid in Nevada, and Dennis Miller will headline a fund-raiser for her on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Wednesday Itinerary: Jack Black, Ben McKenzie, Malcolm Jamal Warner and Taylor Dane will be at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for "Education, Creativity and California's Future," a forum on the plight of arts education in the state's public schools. Also scheduled to be there are Larry Aceves and Tom Torlakson, two candidates for Superintendent of Public Instruction. The event is presented by the California Alliance for Arts Education and the Los Angeles Music Center.

And...the Politics of Food: CNN and Foursquare are teaming in a campaign to promote healthy eating, where users can check in at their local farmers' market to get "healthy eater" badges.

I'll be doing some live blog posts during the debate between Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown at UC Davis. The event is their first meet up and certainly one of the most anticipated debates of all of this year's midterm contenders.

6:05 p.m.: On the budget mess, Whitman says the process needs to start earlier, after rattling off her campaigns key talking points in creating jobs. Brown tries to show how conservative he is fiscally, and vows to "lead by example" and cut 15 to 20% out of the governor's office, then turn the legislature. "Don't believe it when people say they have cut to the bone," he says.

6:08: Whitman makes first hit on Brown as beholden to the public employee unions, which has been a key line of attack. Brown makes a dig at Whitman that she's made that attack on him "ad nauseum" in ads. Then he slams her as a billionaire, a class that has felt little of the recession.

6:13: The return of Rose Bird: Whitman notes Jerry Brown's support of Bird, the controversial former chief justice of the state Supreme Court, and a fierce opponent of the death penalty, to show that he is soft on crime. Brown notes his support of police officers associations.

6:15: Whitman calls on eliminating the "factory tax" as a way to become competitive with neighboring states, and warns that Texas Gov. Rick Perry told her that he likes to come to California for "hunting" --- i.e. poaching businesses.

Brown: "She has the values of Wall Street...and if you just follow the George Bush playbook, things will be fine." He infers that Whitman in favor of measures that will benefit billionaires like her --- a reference to her proposal to cut the capital gains tax. He then makes a plea for investing in green jobs to create a new California industry. "I did it before and I will do it again," he says.

6:20: Responding to criticism of his pension after years in public office, Brown quips, "If you elect me as governor I won't collect until I am 76. If I am reelected, I won't collect until I am 80. I am the best pension buy in the pension system."

Whitman says that "you can't be beholden to the public employees." She says that the retirement age should rise from 55 to 65 and vesting periods have to be raised. "This will not be easy. The next governor of California will have to have a spine of steel."

Brown says, "This is a little like the pot calling the kettle black." He refers again to her capital gains tax cut and her support by big campaign contributors.

6:26: Whitman on her scant voting record, "No one is more embarrassed by it than me." she once again apologizes for it. She argues that the huge sums in her campaign are a positive for her. "I won't owe anything to anyone."

6:27: Asked what assurances he can give that he will focus on the job, and not make a run for president like he did in his previous tenure, Brown says, "Age." He then makes the link of Whitman and Schwarzenegger, noting that both ran on their private sector experience. He didn't say it, but Schwarzenegger is currently one of the most unpopular governors in the country.

6:35: Whitman is asked why her ads are misleading, and she says she doesn't agree with the premise of the question. But she cuts to the chase and goes right to the ad in question, the one featuring a 1992 clip of Bill Clinton charging that taxes went up during Brown's tenure during 1975 to 1983. She defends the ad, even though Clinton has disowned his statement back then.

Brown also defends his response, a spot in which Whitman's nose grows like Pinocchio. "I thought it was a hell of an ad," he says.

Whitman notes that Brown opposed Proposition 13.

"Yes, I opposed Proposition 13, her campaign chair Pete Wilson also opposed it, and we are now seeing some of the problems with all of the power going up to the capitol and gridlock," Brown responds. He also notes that after Prop 13 passed, the father of the initiative, Howard Jarvis, did an ad supporting his 1978 campaign.

6:42: Immigration reform: Lots of nuance on this. Brown is in favor of comprehensive immigration reform, including a path to citizenship, but says that those who have committed a crime should face deportation. "Any time one of these people commit a crime, they will be subject to deportation," he says.

Whitman says she has been "very balanced and very fair about this," noting her opposition to Prop 187 and the Arizona law, even if she took a harder line at recent efforts at immigration reform and a path to citizenship during the primary.

6:46: Who is beholden to whom? Brown: "The chamber of commerce has a secret slush fund for her to attack me." Whitman once again says that Brown is beholden to the public employee unions, using the sound-byte ready quote that it would be like putting "Dracula in charge of the blood bank."

6:53: Water crisis: Brown says "the beneficiary has to pay, not the general taxpayer."

Whitman says that she was a supporter of the water bond that was defeated. She acknowledges that there was pork, but that you have to be realistic to get things done. "We have a humanitarian crisis going on in the central valley," she says.

6:57: In closing remarks, Whitman cites her business-like three point plan and vows to keep focus on it. She tries to emphasize her fresh approach to California and strikes a note of inspiration about the state's residents and their entrepreneurial spirit.

Brown doubles down on being a career politician. "I have got the know how, the experience and at this point in my life I have the independence," he says.

Surprises: As expected, Whitman went after Brown as a career politician, to the point of even turning her massive campaign outlay on its head and noting that she won't be beholden to anyone in the way that her opponent will owe public employees unions. But given the blitzkrieg of her ads across the state, she was not nearly as hard hitting as expected, projecting a softer image and certainly downplaying the fact that she is a Republican. I don't even think she mentioned it at all. Instead, she began many sentences with, "Here's my plan." She looked nervous at times, recited from her campaign script and grabbed for somewhat contrived snappy lines, but certainly did not stumble and held her own.

Brown has a tendency to drift, and at points he was on the verge of doing that, but he showed a genuine vigor that belied his age or the image of a life-long bureaucrat. He is no Gray Davis. His humor was off the cuff but not a gaffe. He tried to go after Whitman as a billionaire beholden to Wall Street, but that populist message was somewhat muted. Neither candidate offered that convincing a case of solving the state's budget crisis, but he tried to project an independent streak that bordered on being a tightwad. "Nobody's tougher with a buck than I am."

Update: Variety's Brian Lowry reviewed the debate, and says that Whitman came across as the "frankencandidate," with strategically placed smile, while Brown was self-serving but genuine.

He writes, "Neither choice speaks very well of the current state of politics, but the televised debate was illuminating. Jerry Brown didn't look old or tired. And Meg Whitman looked like the unsavory byproduct of a system where it's possible to string a candidacy together entirely out of dollar bills. "I don't think you can buy elections," Whitman said near the debate's end. She had better hope that she's wrong."

California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman has blanketed the state with TV and radio ads, shattering all self-funding records. And now her spots don't just promote campaigns, but movies.

She started running radio spots today in which she gives her endorsement to "Waiting for Superman," Davis Guggenheim's documentary calling for reform of the school system. Guggenheim, responsible for "An Inconvenient Truth" and Barack Obama's convention film, aims substantial criticism at the teachers unions. The unions have been running spots opposing Whitman's candidacy.

"I'm Meg Whitman, and I don't normally recommend movies," Whitman says in the spot. "But every parent of a school-aged child in California should see 'Waiting for 'Superman.'"

"This documentary may make your blood pressure rise. But I believe it will galvanize us to work together across party lines to overturn the status quo and bring about real education reform," she says.

Is this an exercise in cross promotion? Paramount Pictures, which is distributing the movie, contributed $5,000 to Whitman's campaign on Sept. 21, according to campaign finance records. But the studio contributed that same amount to her Democratic challenger, Jerry Brown.

Joe Mathews sees this as a gambit on Whitman's part to push the issue of education reform and force Brown's hand with teachers. But he writes, "What does all of this mean for schools? Probably not much. In California, we never seem able to have direct discussions about schools and how they're funded. Instead, we talk indirectly, about films (the movie Stand and Deliver about unexpected academic success at East Los Angeles' Garfield High has been a conversation starter in previous campaigns) and other narratives as a substitute for real scrutiny of education particulars.

The spot is here.

Blame it on the media or herself, but Sarah Palin's appearance last night on "Dancing with the Stars" once again confirmed that no matter what she does, no matter how innocuous it is, controversy follows. As she was read to go on with some guest commentary, booing could be heard in the background. ABC denies that it was for the ex-governor, and rather over unhappiness with the way that judges were scoring Jennifer Grey's performance. (Update: One blogger who says he was there insists the booing was at Palin.)

White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel is getting ready to depart to pursue a run for mayor of Chicago, multiple reports say. Emanuel, the brother of WME Entertainment chief Ari Emanuel with a penchant for the same Hollywood-style linguistics, is expected to make an announcement at week's end. 

Sarah Off the Stage: Spotted at the taping of "Dancing with the Stars" this evening: Sarah Palin, cheering on daughter Bristol. Not along for the trip: Alaska's cooler weather.

Sarah Off the Stage II: Palin's appearance may be the closest she gets to ABC or any other network. Politico reports that Fox News has contributor contracts with Palin, Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich and Mike Huckabee. All are 2012 hopefuls, putting other news outlets in the odd position of having to get clearance from a competitor in order for the possible candidates to make an appearance.

"C-SPAN Political Editor Steve Scully said that when C-SPAN tried to have Palin on for an interview, he was told he had to first get Fox’s permission — which the network, citing her contract, ultimately denied. Producers at NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN and MSNBC all report similar experiences."

Obama on "Superman": President Obama gives his endorsement of David Guggenheim's "Waiting for Superman," calling it "powerful," Politico reports. Obama recently screened the movie in the White House Family Theater. Guggenheim directed the Obama biopic short for the Democratic National Convention. "Superman" did a solid $141,000 of business in its debut weekend in four theaters.

Against the Bill: Hollywood may be lining up in favor of Sen. Patrick Leahy's bill to restrict Internet sites that traffic in pirated content, but opposition is mounting. David Segal, a Rhode Island state representative, calls it an "Internet blacklist."

A Date for the Dinner: The finale of "Real Housewives of DC," featuring the aftermath of the Salahis state dinner fiasco, will air on Oct. 7 on Bravo followed by a special, "Watch What Happens: Live," featuring the couple and Bravo's Andy Cohen talking even more about the incident and taking viewer questions.

Going to the Dogs: Raising money for Tom Tancredo, making an independent bid for governor of Colorado: Dog, the Bounty Hunter. Tickets cost $35.

McNally's Play: Terrence McNally is staging his play "Some Men" on Oct. 4 at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills as a fund raiser for the Courage Campaign's Testimony project, an effort to spread the word about the Prop 8 trial. The play chronicles the lives of gay men over the past 80 years and will be read by Alan Cumming, John Glover, Justin Kirk, Luke MacFarlane, Jason Ritter, Jeffrey Tambor and others. Jacobs, meanwhile, joins Gavin Newsom on Sunday for at benefit for Courage Campaign's get out the vote efforts.

O'Donnell's Debut: On the debut of his new MSNBC series "The Last Word," Lawrence O'Donnell defended Stephen Colbert's testimony before a House subcommittee after Majority Leader Steny Hoyer called it an "embarrassment." O'Donnell pointed to an instance where Colbert got out of character and defended the rights of migrant workers.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Tuesday Itinerary: Ben Harper performs as President Obama leads a rally on the campus of University of Wisconsin, Madison...California gubernatorial candidates Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman have their first debate at UC Davis.

Sept. 26, 1960 was the date of the first debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy, signalling a new era where television would be a dominant force in politics. Kennedy speechwriter Ted Sorensen dispels some myths about the debate in a New York Times piece, and Walter Shapiro of Politics Daily writes that, as much as we like to think that the format has become more stylistic and less substantive since then, in truth there was duplicity and triviality on display even in these first match ups.

He writes, "During the third 1960 debate, a reporter asked Kennedy if he felt obligated to apologize for the profanity of Harry Truman's campaign remark that anyone who votes Republican can (horrors!) "go to hell." That gave JFK the opportunity to show off his dry wit: "I really don't think there's anything that I could say to President Truman that's going to cause him, at the age of 76, to change his particular speaking manner. Perhaps Mrs. Truman can, but I don't think I can." Even more comic in hindsight (especially in light of the expletive-deleted Watergate tapes) was the way that Nixon unctuously responded, "Whoever is president is going to be a man that all the children of America will either look up to -- or will look down to.""

Video of the first debate here.

Entertainer Pat Boone led a Tea Party rally in Beverly Hills --- a first, apparent in the mix of the designer dressed and patriotically attired --- with about 350 to 400 people in sweltering heat. A bagpiper played "God Bless America," a 10-year-old sang the National Anthem and an actor performed as Patrick Henry, while Boone wrote and performed a song he wrote for the occasion, "I am an American." "I think we have had enough of career politicians. They go there, they set up camp and then everything is designed to stay there as long as they live on our dime," he said. Boone has long been involved in social conservative politics, and there was some mention of preserving "traditional" values and families, the emphasis was on government debt, bailouts and taxes.

More here. Also speaking were Andrew Breitbart and Victoria Jackson.

There's plenty of anxiety, anger and angst in show biz, with its traditional leftward tilt. But a look at the numbers shows that the industry is still betting on the Democrats, even if there is a lot of fear over what will happen if the GOP wins one or more chambers of Congress.

I posted a link to my story on the midterms earlier this week, but now have the complete version below:

As departing NBC U chief Jeff Zucker has said before, he has an interest in entering the political arena. He tells Bill Carter of the New York Times, “Am I interested in politics? Yes,” he said. “Is it something I am going to do right away? No.”

Updated

"I certainly hope my star power can bump this hearing all the way up to C SPAN 1," Stephen Colbert quipped this morning as he joined with United Farm Workers officials to testify before a House Judiciary Subcommittee.

His five or so minutes of testimony was laced with humor, but, as my colleague Jon Weisman points out, it was a bit uncomfortable. He actually got his message across, but I wonder if some of the Democrats on the committee are miffed about the joke about them losing their jobs after Nov. 2 as well as a few other digs. And he also declared that he endorses "all Republican policies" without question --- and a reminder that he was still in character.

That didn't seem to matter to Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), who took the opportunity to highlight the GOP Pledge to America provision that all lawmakers read the entirety of legislation proposed. He seemed to take Colbert seriously when the Comedy Central host agreed with him.

Colbert's irony will be on full display on Oct. 30 when he leads a rally on the National Mall. But his speaking before Congress is a first for him, after previous efforts to step into politics have been rebuffed. An effort to get on the ballot for South Carolina's presidential primary in 2008 was rejected.

His appearance before the subcommittee came at the invite of Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.).

"This is America," Colbert said. "I don't want a tomato picked by a Mexican. I want it picked by an American, then sliced by a Guatemalan and served by a Venezuelan in a spa where a Chilean gives me a Brazilian."

The point of his testimony was to share his experiences of working in the fields for the day, part of the UFW's "Take Our Jobs" campaign. After that day, Colbert said, "I don't even want to watch 'Green Acres' anymore."

One of the bigger laughs came when he said, "I trust that after hearing my testimony, both sides will work in the best interests of the American people on this issue as you always do."

Lawmakers on the subcommittee, however, were not amused. At the start, Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) even asked that he "leave the committee room completely" and just submit his statement. But Lofgren insisted that he stay.

Colbert slipped in and out of sincerity and satire, to the point where it would be difficult for the uninitiated to tell which is which. Some Democrats were wary of the invite, but many are scared of their own shadow these days, and how different is this really from any other celebrity figure who parades a cause before Congress? The UFW got more attention on this than they could have imagined, even if it probably had no impact in swaying lawmakers one way or another.

Most absurdist moment: Colbert defending the fact that he was "packing corn" when he spent his day as a laborer. "I know that term is offensive to some people, because I know that 'corn packer' is a derogatory term for a gay Iowan."

Update: Some reaction: Jonathan Allen of Politico writes, "Amid a high stakes struggle to connect with voters, House Democrats turned Friday to celebrity comedian Stephen Colbert to highlight the plight of migrant farm workers. He promptly returned the favor by turning Congress — specifically a Judiciary subcommittee — into his personal comedy club." A Democratic strategist tells him, "No doubt we just locked up the Comedy Channel vote. My opinion, we should forget social satirists. Given Congress' low approval, maybe we should invite the Glee cast to perform next." 

Time's Katy Steinmetz: "When you're suffering from lack of attention—be you a speed skater in full-body Lycra, a soldier in an unpopular war or a union leader in an uphill battle—there's one man you definitely want coming to your aid: Stephen Colbert, the newsman-satirist of Comedy Central's “The Colbert Report.”"

Nancy Pelosi: "Of course I think it’s appropriate. He's an American, right? He came before the committee. He has a point of view. He can bring attention to an important issue like immigration. I think it's great.”

John Conyers: "I thought he was pretty profound."

One more thought: Who got skewered more: Congress, or celebrity activists?

Ashton Kutcher, among the Hollywood figures at this week's Clinton Global Initiative, was asked at one of the forums about the democratizing power of social media. As moderator Arianna Huffington put it, if "everyone is his or her own Ashton Kutcher, who needs Ashton Kutcher?" "I have been asking myself that for a number of years," he replied.

With wife Demi Moore in the audience, Kutcher said that they are about the embark on an advocacy campaign to end child sex trafficking, an extension of their work in stopping human slavery. 

In the activist world, Kutcher's Twitter-led campaign to point to the problems of malaria in Africa helped generate more than 200 "consumer impressions" on the web, he said, underscoring the power of social media to highlight issues that wouldn't get play elsewhere. A case in point may be the fact that much of the coverage of CGI has focused on former President Bill Clinton's impressions of the upcoming midterms.

Kutcher said, "I believe that issues like (child sex trafficking) have a hard time coming to light in a media sphere that populates our media with issues that generally can be seen as profitable."

He praised Lady Gaga for her campaign to lobby senators to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. "Just her standing up and saying that out loud, and rallying other voices that go, 'Wait a second, maybe this is an old idea that needs a new solution. I think her making that commitment publicly could be just as powerful as anybody standing up on stage and making that statement to the press standing in the back or to a live video stream."

Also at the Clinton conference were Barbra Streisand and James Brolin, Ben Stiller, Shakira and Jim Carrey, among others.

Carrey appeared on a panel to talk about sustainable agriculture, and he highlighted his Better U Foundation's work on a system to help farmers cultivate higher yielding rice crops that require less water and seed. "I am not a farmer, but I did grow a couple of plants in the late 70s that were confiscated by our parents," he quipped at the panel, which also included Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

More Bush Whacking: Vulture has the details of the Wachowski brothers' next project, "Cobalt Neural 9," about a Marine who falls for an Iraqi soldier, and they then plot to assassinate President George W. Bush. That is the sanitized description.

Democracy Is: The six winners of the State Department's Democracy Video Challenge screened their works at the Directors Guild of America on Tuesday. The challenge, co-sponsored by the MPAA, NBC Universal and YouTube, asked participants around the world to submit three-minute videos answering the question, Democracy Is... The winners from Ethiopia, Indonesia, Spain, Iran, Nepal and Colombia. Iranian Farbod Khoshtinat's entry, "Attn. Mr. Democrat," is below.

Friday Itinerary: Paul Hodes, running for Senate in New Hampshire, raises money in Beverly Hills at an event co-hosted by Michael Lombardo, Patricia Mayer, Janis Nelson, Jennifer Perry and Andy Spahn.

And for the Weekend: On Saturday, Rhea Perlman and Danny DeVito are co-hosts of a fund-raiser for Barbara Boxer in Hidden Hills, with Melissa Etheridge providing entertainment.

On Sunday, Pat Boone leads a Tea Party rally in Beverly Hills...On the opposite end of the spectrum, the ACLU of Southern California honors Ryan Murphy, Mike Farrell and Assemblywoman Julia Brownley at its annual Garden Party at the Brentwood home of Stanley and Betty Sheinbaum...Bryan Lourd hosts a fund-raiser for Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.), in a competitive race to hold on to his congressional seat.

Updated

Stephen Colbert talks to "Good Morning America" about his plans to go to Capitol Hill to push for immigration reform.

Update: Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), objects to Colbert's planned appearance, saying that it "commercializes the committee." He tells Roll Call: “Picking vegetables for 10 hours doesn’t make him worthy of testifying before a committee."

Over time, the significance of tonight's Manhattan fund-raiser for the American Foundation for Equal Rights, the org of industry activists backing the suit against Prop 8, will not be for the $1.2 million it raised or even for the collection of Wall Street leaders, conservatives and Republicans who attended, but for the message it sent. Support of same-sex marriage is very quickly losing its stigma as a political risk.

It's evident in the numbers: An Associated Press poll earlier this week showed 52% of Americans support gay nuptials, important because it confirms a CNN poll from last month showing a similar result. What's interesting is that this shift in opinion is a swing of 6 points from just last year, but also that it occurred largely without the blitz of 30-second spots and PSAs with crafted slogans and snappy lines.

Probably the biggest reason for the shift is in demographics: Support improves with each successive generation.

But the coverage of the Prop 8 trial and decision, along with another federal case overturning the Defense of Marriage Act, has had at least had some impact. Ted Olson and David Boies have proved to be effective in framing the issue in a way that takes it out of the partisan political realm and casts it, in the words of Olson, as an issue of "fundamental rights." They've had success in framing the issue in terms of "freedom," which carries an emotional pull, as opposed to just solely "equality," also a shared ideal but a word that, depending on the audience, can be a bit more loaded in its meaning.

Karen Ocamb of the LGBT POV blog credits Olson and Boies in particular. "I think it's hugely important," she says. People "are moved by the humanity and sincerity of these two men." What comes across with Olson, she says, "is that he is fighting not only for our rights but for what the Constitution stands for."

The American Foundation for Equal Rights has accompanied the court case with what it calls a public awareness campaign, but it has focused on the lives of the plaintiffs and has benefited from the publicity of events, like former Republican National Committee chairman Ken Mehlman (co-hosting with Peter Thiel and Paul Singer) coming out to organize tonight's fund-raiser. The org's president, Chad Griffin, called the event an "unprecedented gathering of bipartisan political leaders and political titans," including many people "who have spent their careers working against each other." The guest list included John McCain's chief strategist in 2008, Steve Schmidt, President George W. Bush's communications director, Nicolle Wallace, Alex Castellanos, Christie Todd Whitman, Dick Gephardt, John Podesta and Mark McKinnon.(For a list of those who attended, including George W. Bush's daughter Barbara, see here.)

There was a time, a generation ago, when not even Democratic politicians would take "gay" money. Now they are giving to the movement.

As Ocamb pointed out, the gathering was especially notable in the polarized political environment, of the Tea Party protests and the backlash. Even when it comes to gay rights, on other fronts the rhetoric and wrangling tends to be more frenetic and even a bit schizophrenic. In Washington tonight, two of the Republican senators who voted against an effort to bring a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell to the Senate floor were honored by the Log Cabin Republicans, the very group that is leading the legal effort to overturn the ban on gays in the military. In New York, cries of protest from repeal supporters were directed not at the GOP, but at President Obama, speaking at New York fund raiser for congressional candidates.

There certainly will be more twists and turns: What will Lady Gaga say next? But as Mehlman told the crowd at his event (below), there's now clarity on where history is headed. Per Towleroad, he said: "As someone who regrets very much not being involved, and not being on the right side of this important effort until recently, let me just say this. This will be my first but not my last event and I hope you will stay involved too."

He's staging a satirical rally in Washington on Oct. 30, but Stephen Colbert will be on Capitol Hill on Friday, apparently in all states of semi-seriousness, to testify for immigration reform.

Colbert will be before the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law along with Arturo Rodriguez, president of the United Farm Workers.

The two appeared on a segment of "The Colbert Report" in August in which the Comedy Central star spent a day working at a farm in New York, UFW has been in the midst of a "Take Our Jobs" campaign in which U.S. citizens are invited to take the jobs of immigrant field workers.

California gubernatorial hopefuls Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman will take the stage with the current governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, on Oct. 26 at Maria Shriver's Women's Conference in Long Beach.

The session, titled "Who We Are, Where We Are Going," is not being billed as a debate but a "conversation." Brown and Whitman have scheduled three gubernatorial debates, but none are in Southern California. Matt Lauer will moderate.

It also is an indicator that Schwarzenegger intends to stay neutral at least until then, as it may be awkward for him to have endorsed a candidate and then have to share the stage with his or her opponent. Schwarzenegger has had a good working relationship with Brown, and has praised him, but he also is a moderate Republican. He's been critical of both candidates for not being specific of how they would balance the budget and grow jobs in the state.

It comes as no surprise that broadcasters are the big beneficiaries of a volatile election, the prospects of a GOP takeover and the recent Citizens United Supreme Court decision that freed up corporate spending in the heat of campaign season.

What is a bit shocking is that the expected increase in ad spending. SNL Kagan, the research firm in Monterey, Calif., said today that TV station political revenues could grow by 25% over 2006, to $2.5 billion. 

Among the companies reaping windfalls are CBS and Univision, which have extensive station holdings in toss-up states.

The biggest beneficiary among "pure play" companies --- those who own only TV stations --- stands to be Sinclair Broadcast Group, which has the largest footprint among such firms in 16 states with contested elections.

Radio ad revenue also is expected to rise, to $560 million, with Cumulus and CBS the big gainers.

Tony Lenoir, an analyst for SNL Kagan, said in a statement: “In 2010, we expect that the combination of political unrest, high-profile congressional and gubernatorial races, and the Jan. 21 Supreme Court ruling that struck down certain laws restricting corporate and labor contributions to campaigns will lead to a political ad revenue treasure trove for broadcasters.”

The entertainment industry often gets dismissed by lawmakers as denizens of a rarefied red carpet world, but there's at least some effort afoot to create a constituency for Hollywood, the high and low arts and other parts of the culture: The creative economy. That was the title of a panel at the Center for American Progress on Tuesday, co-sponsored by Comcast, in which director Paris Barclay, columnist Thomas Friedman, former NEA director Bill Ivey and economist Steven E. Siwek, with Judy Woodruff moderating.

Each had ideas for boosting creativity in the culture. Barclay, for instance, argued for tougher piracy protections. "I need to count on my government to make this industry a profitable industry," he said, adding that he doubted that a filmmaker like Spike Lee would have the same opportunity to make "Do the Right Thing" today knowing that pirated copies would proliferate on the Internet. But Ivey, now director of the Curb Program for Art, Enterprise and Public Policy at Vanderbilt University, said that "fair use" policies have shrunk, making it all the more difficult for artists to build on the legacy of others. Friedman said anti-immigration laws threaten to halt "the single most competitive advantage of this country."

"We have fallen into this dumb as we want to be attitude, where everything gets turned into a wedge issue," he said.

Many of the creative industries have weathered the recession better than others, but that does not mean that they are faring well. Asked about Hollywood's health, Barclay said, "We are walking around. We are on two feet, but we have lung cancer. And we need to go to the doctor to see what this cough is all about. It could be certainly treated, but I believe that right now not as many of us as should be are aware that there is an ailing in this industry. This industry is profitable for the most part if you look at the corporate giants but ... unless we are really engaging and encouraging this high imagination and actively doing so there will not be as good a future."

The full video is here.

Best moment: Barclay, who has been directing "Glee," shared the tidbit that when he was in high school, he and fellow classmate John Roberts, the future chief justice, starred in their production of "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown." "I was Snoopy and he was Patty," he said. He has searched for photos, but has so far come up empty.

All Rights Reserved: The show biz lobby will be on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, again making their case for copyright, at the Copyright Alliance's Exponential. Speaking will be Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), along with a series of events to remind that the best things in life are not free.

If You Haven't Seen It: Bristol Palin's debut on "Dancing with the Stars" on Monday night. The opening episode helped ABC win the night and brought in a bigger and younger audience than its bow last year, when Tom DeLay made his debut. (Adding insult to injury, the biggest bomb of the night was Fox's Texas-themed, "Lone Star.")

Wednesday Itinerary: Lee Fisher, Democratic candidate for Senate in Ohio, raises money at the Hancock Park home of Dean Hansell...Tommy Sowers, the Iraq vet running for Congress in Missouri, raises at the Hancock Park home of Howie and Susan Mandel...Markos Moulitsas speaks at Alliance Hollywood's event at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles.

Here's a test for the Tea Party movement.

Longtime conservative Pat Boone's reps say he'll be hosting a Tea Party rally in Beverly Hills on Sunday.

It sounds kind of like an oxymoron, but Boone's reps assure that the event will be "not just a bunch of Beverly Hillbillies" and that it will be for an "upscale, connected crowd."

They've invited Victoria Jackson, Connie Stevens and Ben Stein to attend, but there's no word yet on who exactly will be there.

The event will be at Beverly Hills Park off of Santa Monica Boulevard, between Canon and Beverly in Beverly Hills.

The Senate fails to bring a Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal to the floor.

Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, says, ““Today’s Senate vote was a frustrating blow to repeal this horrible law.  We lost because of the political maneuvering dictated by the mid-term elections.  Let’s be clear: Opponents to repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ did not have the votes to strike those provisions from the bill.  Instead, they had the votes for delay.  Time is the enemy here.   We now have no choice but to look to the lame duck session where we’ll have a slim shot. The Senate absolutely must schedule a vote in December when cooler heads and common sense are more likely to prevail once midterm elections are behind us.’”

Chad Griffin of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, said, "our constitution requires that every American is treated equally under the law and by our government. It is shameful that Congress did not act accordingly."

David Mixner, via Facebook: "The President's lack of Action is pushing DADT compromise is appalling. He is totally MIA and sitting this one out. Remember, this is just a compromise and not total repeal and he isn't even pushing it."

Lady Gaga's lobbying fell short, but former White House adviser Richard Socarides told Keith Olbermann on Monday night: We've found our fierce advocate.

ESPN columnist LZ Granderson calls her a "one person Tea Party" who can even outshine President Obama, but he wonders whether she is just preaching to the choir.

Other reactions: Kathy Griffin: "Crestfallen." Jane Fonda: "Awfulness." Al Franken chokes up, relating a USO tour in which, through humor, challenged Don't Ask, Don't Tell and met gay soldiers.

John McCain, who led the filibuster effort, sparred with reporters, including the Advocate's Kerry Eleveld, afterward.

Apparently Democrats are fretting (what's new?) about all that can go wrong with Jon Stewart's Oct. 30 Rally to Restore Sanity. It's the weekend before the election, when get-out-the-vote efforts are critical. There's another rally on Oct. 2 that is serious serious, instead of satirically serious. But there's also the prospect that come late October, the party's message will be just as muddled as it is today, and the media coverage by then will be something on the order of Can Jon Stewart Save the Democrats?

All of this will be answered by Stewart himself on that day: Chill out.

That said, the event will be a balancing act for Stewart, who will have to actually be funny yet not be frivolous, somewhat sanctimonious without the smugness. In fact, I'd say the biggest risk for Stewart is that he actually goes the route that he did with James Cramer, a takedown interview that crossed the line into seriousness. I'd say that even more important than turnout to the event is that there is memorable humor, for that will be the key to highlighting the absurdities of the hollering classes if there is hope of garnering the attention of independents and undecideds.

Last night, Stewart interviewed Jimmy Carter, who seemed to yearn to go to the event himself.

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Lady Gaga's speech in Maine today was certainly strategic. In her lobbying effort to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, with a cloture vote scheduled for Tuesday, she has chosen not to do the typical trek to Washington but to Portland, Maine, where the state's two Republican senators are considered critical votes in  heading off a filibuster.

Taking the fight to the home turf of two on-the-fence lawmakers also is a much more brazen way to get attention, which the singer matched in her statements in which she said, “Equality is the prime rib of America. But because I am gay, I don’t get to enjoy the greatest cut of meat my country has to offer. Shouldn’t everyone deserve to wear the same meat dress I do?”

The Service Members Legal Defense Network saw a huge spike in traffic to its website with Gaga's help, so we'll see how successful their call-your-lawmaker campaign is in persuaded those still on the fence.

Her speech is below:

Updated: Gaga apparently has succeeded in getting media attention to the upcoming vote, even if it's not clear if she has convinced lawmakers.

Here's a clip of Al Franken and Christine O'Donnell on "Politically Incorrect," circa 1997, discussion a provision of welfare reform which containted a moralistic provision about teaching sex education in schools. Franken is proof that you can withstand an extensive video and audio trail to get elected, although O'Donnell is sure putting that to the test.

With these clips, her candidacy also is bringing more publicity to some show biz careers than they've had in more than a decade.

O'Donnell's opponent in Delaware, Chris Coons, is in Los Angeles tonight for a fund-raiser at Mastro's Steakhouse.

Here's a rundown of the most competitive congressional races that are drawing Hollywood donor dollars, based on figures from the Center for Responsive Politics and the Federal Election Commission.

California: Barbara Boxer (D) vs. Carly Fiorina (R)

Anticipating a nail-biter of a race somewhere down the road, Boxer has for years been amassing a war chest, with $711,612 collected from industry donors, including sums from events at the homes of Ron Burkle and Tom Rothman and a long list industry backers including Barbra Streisand, Hugh Jackman and Ron Howard. By comparison, Fiorina's showbiz support has been scant. Her donors include Burt Sugarman.

Nevada: Harry Reid (D) vs. Sharron Angle (R)

Hoping to avoid the fate of Tom Daschle in 2004, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is fighting off a challenge from Sharron Angle. Reid has made multiple trips to raise $436,250 at industry functions, including events hosted by Haim Saban and a CEO-heavy list of supporters including Michael Lynton, Alan Horn and Bob Iger. Angle's support has been negligible.

Colorado: Michael Bennet (D) vs. Ken Buck (R)

Bennet, the appointed senator from Colorado, is a former finance executive for Philip Anschutz, but his tenure as Denver schools chief has helped him draw education reform-minded industry donors, including Casey Wasserman, Chris Silbermann and Eric Paquette. He's slated for a Sept. 20 event at the home of Martin Shafer and Carol Fuchs. He's raised $187,000 from the showbiz sector, compared with Buck's $12,400.

California: Mary Bono Mack (R) vs. Steve Pougnet (D)

Mack has drawn more support from showbiz than any other 2010 Republican candidate -- $121,050 so far -- in part because of the legacy left by her late husband, Sonny Bono, who was elected during the Newt Gingrich wave of 1994. Although in a GOP-resurgent year Mack has a good chance of retaining her House seat, she faces a strong challenge from Palm Springs mayor Pougnet, who has collected contributions from David Geffen, Bruce Cohen and Nancy Sinatra. She's drawn from Gary Sinise, Mary Hart, Philippe Dauman and Brad Grey.

Florida: Marco Rubio (R) vs. Kendrick Meek (D) vs. Charlie Crist (I)

Recent polls show Rubio leading, but the dynamics are different in a three-way race. With just over $100,000 raised so far from Hollywood, Meek has drawn contributions from J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath and Clarence Avant.

Illinois: Alexi Giannoulias (D) vs. Mark Kirk (R)

This is one of the few races where both candidates have made strong appeals to the entertainment biz. With the aim of keeping Barack Obama's former Senate seat in Democratic hands, Giannoulias has drawn support from Ken Solomon, Tom Rothman, Stacey Snider and Tom Hanks, while Kirk, who trekked to L.A. for an April event, has garnered Jon Voight, Lionel Chetwynd, Bruce Ramer and David Zucker.

Updated

From Christine O'Donnell's Twitter account this evening: "I did comment that if I were a witch, Rove would be a supporter. I would have turned him into a "Newt", because Gingrich says we win."

Bizarrely, witchcraft has entered into the brew of background issues a candidate has to answer for, instigated by Bill Maher's Friday night showing of a clip of O'Donnell admitting that she once "dabbled" in witchcraft, or something of that sort, but never joined a "coven." (Is that a little like not inhaling?) The admission was made on a late 1990s appearance on his "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher."

Maher is now holding hostage the entire collection of O'Donnell's appearances on "Politically Incorrect," threatening to release one embarrassing clip a week until the election until she comes on his show. This clip was already circulating on the Internet before he made his threat, so Republicans didn't need to be told why they should have wariness about her campaign: As a former pundit, who craved the attention, she has an extensive video record.

O'Donnell treated the revelations with humor --- but didn't elaborate on whether she was Samantha or Serena.

She did cancel a planned appearance on "Face the Nation," to which Bob Schieffer said, chuckling, to the New York Times, “I’ve covered politics for a long, long time, but this is the first time witchcraft has ever come into it.” 

Out for DADT: With the Senate vote on Tuesday for repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Lady Gaga is continuing her lobbying campaign. She'll be in Portland, Maine on Monday at a rally to try to persuade that state's two senators, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, to break Sen. John McCain's filibuster.

More here on how Maine was chosen for the rally. And her video in which she urges supporters to call their senators (and she makes a call of her own) has generated some 1.4 million views on YouTube.

Next for Arnold: William Bradley writes on Huffington Post, that after "The Expendables" passed $100 million, "It seems clear that movies are in Schwarzenegger's future. But there's plenty of politics to come before he's done being governor next January, and plenty after as well, though he probably won't be running for office again."

The Hollywood columnist and AP reporter, who died today at age 96, was of another era when stars actually hung out regularly with journalists, and stories stayed out of the news in a kind of tacit agreement.

That's what made a conversation with Bacon so memorable, for in the passage of time he was not shy about sharing the nitty gritty details of his friendships and encounters with just about any legendary name from the 50s and 60s. I'll never forget an interview I did with him over lunch about 10 years ago at Musso & Frank Grill, a meal over French onion soup that extended right up into happy hour. Just about any star or politico from that era elicited some kind of story from Bacon about an amusing romp or high octane evening. You always got the sense that Bacon was nothing but professional --- he worked for the AP for most of his career --- but you also understood that it was another time, the rules and standards were different, and he fit quite well into the role of drinking buddy and confidant.

That was perhaps no more so true than with what Bacon said he knew about Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy, and why he and his bosses didn't publish it. 

"I think [the affair] started in 1960 and I think he came to Palm Springs," Bacon said in the interview. "I think that is where she first met him. He always had someone down there when he was in Palm Springs. Jackie never came to Palm Springs."

"Marilyn told me about it," Bacon added. "She just told me how much she loved him. I told my bosses about it. They said, 'Well, we can't put anything on the wire.' It was her say so." 

"I was lucky. I worked for the AP. I couldn't get dirt on the wire if I wanted to. The wouldn't accept it. ...You had to have your facts documented before you could put anything on the wire, so I couldn't put on rumor or gossip. Those were just the guidelines from which I worked. It made it easy for me in a way because a lot of the stars figured I was favoring them. I wasn't favoring them. It was just the way the job operated."

Bacon had his own affair with Monroe, which lasted for about three or four months, but he said that they were "friends through it all."

Of course, he never broached the subject with Kennedy, whom he covered on his visits to Los Angeles.

"I used to always cover JFK when he went to Mass (at Church of the Good Shepard in Beverly Hills) on Sunday. I always sat right behind him. And on Sunday the collection box came by and it looked like he put a hundred dollar bill in the collection box. So I wrote a story about it. Page one across the country, because a hundred dollar bill in the collection box was always a big story, even in Beverly Hills. [Kennedy aide] Dave Powers told me that the next day Kennedy read my story in the Washington Post and he said to Dave Powers, 'Did you give me a hundred dollar bill to put in that collection box? And Dave Powers says, 'No, I knew Jim Bacon was behind us so I took a ten dollar bill and folded it up so it looked like a hundred dollar bill. JFK says, 'Wait until I see Bacon. I will kid him about that.'"

As expected, a number of industry groups, including the Motion Picture Assn. of America and the actors, directors and writers guilds, have filed a friend-of-the-court brief calling on the Supreme Court to reject a California law that prohibits sales of violent video games to minors.

The orgs also were joined by the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists, the Producers Guild of America, the Independent Film and Television Alliance and the National Assn. of Theater Owners.

The orgs argued that if the law were upheld, it would have a "dramatic chilling effect on the motion picture industry," as laws could be passed preventing the sale of violent movies or TV to minors. Like the movie and TV business, the vidgame biz has a self-regulating labeling system to identify violent content. The orgs said that if the law is held as constitutional, "the government would presumably be empowered to proscribe the distribution or viewership of violence in motion pictures, television and books, as long as the content qualified as sufficiently 'violent' to trigger the categorical exclusion" from the First Amendment.

“While parents have an undoubted interest in making informed judgments concerning the suitability of exposing their children to potentially objectionable content, [California has] failed to show that the government’s assistance is necessary to serve that interest,” the organizations said in their brief.  “And the fundamental lesson of the motion picture industry is that self-regulation can sufficiently enable parents to exercise their right to make informed judgments concerning movie content. 

"The movie rating system has widely been praised for its effectiveness, and society’s long experience with the movie rating system demonstrates that a properly designed voluntary rating system can serve the relevant parental interest without the need for content-based government regulation.”

California's Attorney General Jerry Brown is defending the law, which was passed in 2004 and imposes fines on retailers who sell violent video games to minors. His office has filed briefs arguing that it is narrowly focused on minors, and does not restrict the sale of games to adults. A district and appellate court each overturned the law.

The date 10/30 has been set for competing D.C. rallies from satirists Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, who plan to step into the political limelight, in what are clearly skewerings of Glenn Beck and polarized discourse.

The Comedy Central hosts appeared on each other's shows to announce the events --- each with opposite tacks. Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity" is described on his site as "Woodstock, but with the nudity and drugs replaced by respectful disagreement." 

His site says, "Ours is a rally for the people who've been too busy to go to rallies, who actually have lives and families and jobs (or are looking for jobs) -- not so much the Silent Majority as the Busy Majority. If we had to sum up the political view of our participants in a single sentence... we couldn't. That's sort of the point."

On his show, Stewart mocked shout-filled rhetoric and conspiratorial talk of all types, playing clips of anti-war protesters calling George W. Bush "Hitler" and Tea Partiers doing the same with President Obama. He even got a clip of a screaming Lady Gaga at last year's rally for gay equality.

Colbert's event is the opposite, the "March to Keep Fear Alive."

He describes it this way: "America, the Greatest Country God ever gave Man, was built on three bedrock principles: Freedom. Liberty. And Fear -- that someone might take our Freedom and Liberty. But now, there are dark, optimistic forces trying to take away our Fear -- forces with salt and pepper hair and way more Emmys than they need. They want to replace our Fear with reason. But never forget -- "Reason" is just one letter away from "Treason." Coincidence? Reasonable people would say it is, but America can't afford to take that chance."

While these events are all in the name of comedy, don't doubt that there will be a fair amount of political punditry on the effect that these satirical rallies actually have on the process and as a mitigating effect on the Tea Parties, particularly if there is a sizable turnout.

"Superman" Stunted?: Last night's premiere of "Waiting for Superman" in D.C. featured a panel that included Washington's schools chancellor, Michelle Rhee, who is in the documentary as an example of a reformer taking on the system. Trouble is, her tenure is now in doubt with the defeat of Mayor Adrian Fenty.

Per Politico, she said at the event, “Let me not mince words, and say that yesterday’s election results were DEVASTATING – devastating. Not for me, because I’ll be fine. And not even for Fenty, because he’ll be fine, too. It was devastating for the children of Washington, D.C. [applause] … The biggest tragedy that could come from [the] election results is if the lesson that people take from this is that we should pull back. … That is NOT the right lesson for this reform movement. We cannot retreat now."

Peace Plan: Mike Murphy, campaign strategist for Meg Whitman's gubernatorial campaign, is no fan of the GOP's Delaware Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell, but he says he has a suggestion "to the snarling combantants in the GOP's looming civil war."

He writes, "I think the architects of the O'Donnell putsch, namely S.C. Senator Jim DeMint and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, should both temporarily move to Delaware full time and personally lead the O'Donnell campaign. Control it, direct it, and own it. Show that Georgetown cocktail party addicted and hapless GOP establishment how it's really done. I've got my notebook out, and I'm ready to learn. Call me a peacemaker."

So much for that. O'Donnell has already raised $1 million since her victory.

More on the Money Trail: Melissa Etheridge will perform at a Sept. 25 fund-raiser for Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), with Rhea Perlman and Danny DeVito also headlining. The tickets start at $200-per-person and the event will be held at the Hidden Hills home of Syd and Linda Leibovitch. Sheryl Crow is set to sing for Boxer at an event Sunday at the home of Magic Johnson.

Paul Hodes, running for Senate in New Hampshire, returns to L.A. on Sept. 24 for a $500-per-person event in Beverly Hills. Co-hosts include HBO's Michael Lombardo and Andy Spahn and Jennifer Perry.

Lady Gaga Lobbying: Here's her message to the Senate as it prepares to vote on the appropriations bill that includes a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Coming Up: The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center's honorees at its anniversary gala and auction on Nov. 13 will be Jane Lynch from "Glee" and Harrah's Entertainment. Matthew Morrison will present the award to Lynch, and Lily Tomlin will host.

Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen are hosting a fund-raiser for California gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown, hoping to provide his campaign with a cash infusion in the remaining weeks of the race.

The $5,000-per-person event will take place at the Soho House in West Hollywood on Oct. 14. There will be a general reception and a private reception for co-chairs who write checks for $25,000 and/or raise that amount. Already there's a lengthy list of co-chairs including J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath, Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, Bob Daly and Carole Bayer Sager, Heather Thomas and Skip Brittenham, Cindy and Alan Horn, Tom Gores, Ari and Sarah Emanuel, Steve Tisch, Tom Gores and Casey and Laura Wasserman. Andy Spahn is organizing the event.

Spielberg, Katzenberg and Geffen endorsed Brown in fall of last year, even before he was an official candidate, and raised about $1 million at a November event at the home of Sandy Gallin.

Brown's rival Meg Whitman this evening appeared at a Newport Beach fund-raiser with singer-songwriter David Foster providing the entertainment. Her campaign also is having a $1,000-per-person event with Foster on Sept. 21 at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport, with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also a guest.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is lined up for a fund-raiser on Oct. 2 at the home of Roz Wyman called "Last Call to Hold the House!" In other words, it's a siren to Hollywood Democrats a month before the election.

Tickets for the event start at $300 per person, with those who donate $1,000 or more getting to step into a line for a photo with Pelosi and those who chip in $500 or more receiving a "special Diane von Furstenberg Team Pelosi multi-purpose bag." Money goes to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Also appearing at the event will be Karen Bass, running for the congressional seat to succeed Diane Watson (C-Calif.), Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet, running to unseat Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-Palm Springs), Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.).

Wyman is a legendary figure in Los Angeles politics, and in case you haven't read it, Los Angeles magazine captured her account, 50 years ago, of setting up a fall fund-raiser for John F. Kennedy at the home of Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis. Original estimates of just 300 people showing up were far off; more than 1,000 RSVP'd. The event grew so big that Wyman had to convince the couple's Republican neighbor to use his backyard, which also meant tearing down a brick wall and replacing it the next day. But the biggest feat was convincing Frank Sinatra to sing at 11 in the morning from Leigh and Curtis' diving board.

Wyman tells Los Angeles mag, "And until the day he died, he always said, “I had never in my life, at 11 o’clock in the morning, sung on a diving board, but that lady”—and if I were in the room, he would point at me—“that lady right there had me do it. That crazy lady.”"

Payback time?

Fox News and Chris Wallace are suing Democrat Robin Carnahan's campaign for Senate in Missouri, charging that one of their ad spots infringed on the network's copyright of an interview Wallace did with Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), in 2006. Blunt is running against Carnahan in a heated battle for the state's open seat.

Fox News, in a filing in U.S. District Court in Missouri, says that the Carnahan ad makes it appear as if Fox News is endorsing her. The spot, titled "Clean Up the House," features a clip of Blunt being put on the spot by Wallace, questioning him about his interactions with lobbyists, including Jack Abramoff. The suit was first reported on the THR Esq. blog.

The suit states, "FNC is a news organization that has not endorsed a candidate in the 2010 Missouri senatorial race. The value of its news reporting is based in part upon the public’s faith in the accuracy and integrity of those reports. By including the FNS Interview in an advertisement endorsing a specific political candidate, Defendant harmed the value of the original work by compromising its apparent objectivity."

They say that the way the spot was edited makes it appear as if "Wallace --- a trusted journalist --- is speaking as a campaign operative.

"Wallace's tough questions were included, but Blunt's answers and explanations were not."

Carnahan's campaign has taken down the ad from its website with the message, "The interview with Roy Blunt that Fox News doesn't want you to see has been temporarily removed. Check back soon." Campaigns routinely run clips from news interviews in their ad spots, with the legal defense of fair use.

The animosity between Fox and Democrats spilled out into the legal realm earlier this month when the Democratic Governors Assn. filed a complaint against the network charging that a Fox News appearance by Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate John Kasich amounted to an in-kind campaign contribution, as Kasich solicited contributions for his campaign.

Update: A video of the ad in question is here.

Carnahan's campaign is now raising money off the lawsuit, and is not wasting the opportunity to just repeat what the ad says. "We stand behind our ad -- because we believe we have the right to make sure voters see it. We'll continue to tell the truth about Congressman Blunt’s attempt to slip a secret provision into the Homeland Security Act to benefit tobacco giant Philip Morris, while he was dating the company’s lobbyist. And we will tell the truth about Congressman Blunt’s 14 year record of wasteful spending, corruption and sticking it to the middle class, a record that represents the very worst of Washington."

There is little sign that the midterms will be anything other than a horrendous night for Democrats and, by extension, President Obama. But Rock the Vote on Wednesday unveiled the results of a new poll of young voters, aged 18-29, haven't turned their backs on the party in power at the same rate as other demographics.

While there has been erosion in the past two years, Obama and the Democrats still have the highest favorable ratings, 56% and 46% respectively. Republicans score 36% and their most formidable figure, Sarah Palin, is at a mere 28%. Some 25% see the Tea Party favorably.

What Obama and the Dems have not done is restore faith in the process, as some 59% say they are more cynical about politics than they were in 2008. In fact, a plurality, or 36%, says that it doesn't matter which party is in control of Congress.

In contrast to Tea Party appeals against big government, an overwhelming number of young voters, 76%, said that big corporations have too much power. The top national concerns were unemployment and the national debt, but that was followed by the influence of corporations and special interests in the political system.

Moreover, when a series of policy proposals were tested, the ones that scored highest were all about increased government action, topped by increased investment in renewable energy sources and followed by increased government grants to make college more affordable. A majority, 57%, supported the new healthcare reform law. Also scoring high: Pulling troops out of Afghanistan.

Overall, a plurality of young voters is disappointed in Obama's performance. But of those who actually voted for him --- he trounced McCain in that age group in 2008 --- 49% are pleased with his performance.

Rock the Vote, which is non partisan, is making its greatest effort yet to boost midterm turnout, and that is where it gets dicey for the Democrats. Like they do in other age categories, Republicans have an enthusiasm advantage. Some 64% of 2008 young voters say they are very likely to vote in November, including 62% of Obama voters and 73% of McCain voters.

A plurality of young adults --- 49% --- say that the country is going in the wrong direction, including 60% of whites. But a majority of African Americans, 63%, and Hispanics, 51%, say that it is going in the right direction.

The complete results of the poll are here.

The org Voto Latino also has launched an effort to boost turnout among young voters, called United We Win, using statewide movements, like those in Arizona, to pass laws approving racial profiling "under the guise of immigration reform." Appearing in the spot are Wilmer Valderrama, Eva Longoria-Parker, Rosario Dawson and Jessica Alba, the spots will be shown on NBC Universal's mun2 network.

The GOP hopes of capturing Joseph Biden's former Delaware Senate seat appeared greatly diminished with the unexpected victory of talk show pundit Christine O'Donnell over establishment candidate Mike Castle. O'Donnell is already under fire for extremist views, coming not just from Democrats but D.C. Republicans, worried about controversies over her handling of past personal finances. She's even bringing Mel Gibson into the equation: She was a marketing consultant on "The Passion of the Christ." (OK, maybe that is a bit of a stretch).

Anyhow, anticipating turbulent times for O'Donnell, prognosticators are starting to move the race over to the Democrats, although who knows when it comes to Tea Party endorsements? The Democratic nominee from Delaware, Chris Coons, will be in Los Angeles on Monday for a fund raiser at Mastro's Steakhouse in Beverly Hills, with tickets starting at $250 per person. Co-chairs include Andy Spahn, Lara Bergthold, Ted Chervin, John Emerson, Noah Mamet and Ari Swiller.

The MTV Class: O'Donnell was, perhaps infamously, on MTV's "Sex in the 90s," but Yahoo's Holly Bailey points out that she's not the only alum from the channel to be running for Congress this year. She tweets, "Former Real Worlders Sean Duffy & Kevin Powell are running."

Pennsylvania Station: Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.), a big champion of efforts to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" who is battling to retain his seat, raises money at the home of CAA's Bryan Lourd on Sept. 26, with a long list of co hosts including Kevin Huvane, Bruce Cohen, Michael and Jamie Lynton and Dustin Lance Black. Tickets start at $500 per person.

Gaga Hearts Reid: Lady Gaga urged her Twitter followers to call Harry Reid's office to make sure that a repeal of DADT goes to a vote, and he responded, promising a vote next week. She wrote back, "God Bless and Thank you @HarryReid, from all of us, like u, who believe in equality and the dream of this country. We were #BORNTHISWAY." Reid's response: ."@ladygaga It's the right thing to do. Come back to Vegas soon! #nvsen #DADT"

Look Familiar?: Dreamworks Animation's "Megamind" poster is a spoof on Shepard Fairey's Obama '08. No action yet by the Associated Press.

Mayberry Malaise: Missed this last week: Public Policy Polling says that Andy Griffith's favorability rating has fallen by 25 points since 2008. Apparently he was put to a poll because he's long endorsed Democrats, including Barack Obama and soon-to-be governor Bev Perdue that year. But Griffith did a Medicare PSA this year that supports healthcare reform, prompting GOP senators to complain that it was a misuse of taxpayer funds because it was bolstering Obama's policies. Jon Stewart featured the whole affair on "The Daily Show" on Tuesday.

GOTV at Last: Rock the Vote on Wednesday announces the results of its young voter poll, an indicator of interest, enthusiasm and opinion for the midterms that will be a strong signal of turnout among twentysomethings this year.

Meanwhile, the org is sponsoring an event on Friday at the Ford Ampitheater in Los Angeles to promote voting in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Among those performing are Questcrew, Satellite, Dawen, Esna Yoon, and also appearing will be Kelly Hu, Beau Sia and Lisa Ling.

Update: ABC is developing an hourlong drama about a vice president and his chief of staff. The project is bring written by Sheldon Turner, screenwriter of "Up in the Air," and Shaun Cassidy. Variety's Michael Schneider calls it "the political equivalent of 'Glee'," albeit with no music.

And here's above mentioned "The Daily Show" clip on how Mayberry is turning against Andy.

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The calendar of candidates swinging through L.A. is getting so populated over the next few weeks that some night have two and even three events competing against each other for Democratic donor attention. Last night it was Jack Conway, running for Senate in Kentucky, at the home of Steven and Dayna Bochco; tomorrow night it is Alexi Giannoulias, running for Barack Obama's Illinois seat, at the home of Ken and Lissa Solomon. Raising money today was Robin Carnahan, running for an open Senate seat in Missouri.

No one has been more aggressive in raising money, and over a longer period of time, than Barbara Boxer. She anticipated a tough race --- she was raising Hollywood money in earnest back in 2007, when it looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger may be eyeing her seat --- and has collected more than $700,000 from industry sources, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

On Sunday, Sheryl Crow will perform for Boxer at a fund-raiser at the Beverly Hills home of Magic Johnson and his wife Cookie, with tickets starting at $250 per person. Co-chairs include Clarence and Jacqueline Avant, Rob Burkle and Sim and Debbie Farar.

Mindful that so many are maxed out to Boxer, Beverly Hills real estate agent Joyce Rey is hosting a fund raiser for Brave New Films' "Unmasking the Real Carly Fiorina," ostensibly to get it some airplay. During the 2008 campaign, Robert Greenwald produced a series of vids on John McCain called The Real McCain, but this video is an effort to argue that Fiorina is to the Tea Party right.

Comcast and the Center for American Progress are teaming up next week for an event in D.C. called "The Creative Economy."

It's another effort to cast entertainment and the arts not as a profession for the elites, but a jobs creator and multiplier.

The speakers at the Sept. 21 event will include director Paris Barclay, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, the center's Sarah Rosen Wartell and Stephen E. Siwek, author of "Video Games in the 21st Century: Economic Contributions of the U.S. Entertainment Software." Invited but not confirmed is Bill Ivey, director of the Curb Center for Art, Enterprise and Public Policy at Vanderbilt University. Judy Woodruff will moderate, and Comcast exec VP David Cohen will deliver opening remarks.

Barbra Streisand has posted a blog item on her site blasting the Republicans as obstructionists and defending President Obama's tenure, arguing that he inherited such a big mess that it will take much longer to get the economy back on track.

In a post headlined "Stop. Think. Breathe," she writes, "Week after week, on the 24 hour cable news cycle, Republican officials and prominent GOP leaders twist, distort and misrepresent the facts in order to place blame on others, while they continue to obstruct progress. It’s like the old saying that if you tell a lie big enough and you keep repeating it often enough, people will eventually come to believe that it is true. Whether they are discussing financial regulation, health care, jobs, the economy, energy policy…virtually every important issue our country is grappling with today, the Republican Party that once stood for something, now refuses to engage in constructive conversation about anything, all the while, offering virtually no new policy alternatives in return.

"Since President Obama took office, the Republican narrative has been to serve their party over serving the people. They have been committed to blocking progress at all costs in order to insure the failure of this President. But now is the time to give President Obama a chance to fulfill his promise of reviving the spirit of hope and possibility that has always allowed our country to dream and to make the impossible possible. The only way he will be successful is if he has a Congress that dreams with him and an American electorate that gives him the chance!"

Her willingness to step into the fray reflects a stark, post-Labor Day realization in the entertainment community's progressives that the Democratic majority in Congress is in peril. It's also somewhat of a rallying cry to disaffected progressives who are apathetic about the midterms, in part because of the disappointment over the stalled climate bill, a watered-down financial reform bill and a health-care bill without a public option.

The message from California's gubernatorial race today is letting bygones be bygones.

Bill Clinton is endorsing Jerry Brown for governor, after the latter questioned his truthfulness and even broached the subject of Monica Lewinsky in a Sunday campaign stop. It was a high profile gaffe for Brown, who apologized on Monday and called his 1992 primary rival an "excellent president."

"I strongly support Jerry Brown for governor because I believe he was a fine mayor of Oakland, he's been a very good attorney general, and he would be an excellent governor at a time when California needs his creativity and fiscal prudence," Clinton said in a statement to The Los Angeles Times.

What's more, Clinton disavowed what led to Brown's criticism in the first place: A Meg Whitman ad featuring Clinton and Brown in a 1992 debate, in which Clinton accuses Brown of raising taxes as California's governor from 1975 to 1983, and of being against Prop 13 before he was for it.

In his statement on Tuesday, Clinton said that his claim back then was based on an erroneous report.

“Moreover, the tough campaign we fought 18 years ago is not relevant to the choice facing Californians today," Clinton said. "Jerry and I put that behind us a long time ago.”

Clinton also said that he endorsed Gavin Newsom, in the gubernatorial race up until last October, because of the San Francisco mayor's support of Hillary Clinton's presidential bid.

Still to be determined is whether Clinton will campaign for Brown, as had been rumored up to Sunday's flap.

Brown's campaign, meanwhile, unveiled a new response ad aimed at refuting Whitman's claims. They've been urging her to pull the spot, but so far her campaign has refused.

The theme of the spot: "Whitman's nose keeps growing by the millions." Unusual, but at least they're not talking about her hair.

Brown issued this statement in response: "I am deeply honored to have been endorsed by former President Bill Clinton, who, after his accomplishment-rich presidency, continues to demonstrate his commitment to bettering our state, our nation, and our world, each and every day."

Here's something to surely feed 2013 speculation: Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti will appear as the mayor of Los Angeles on tonight's episode of TNT's "The Closer."

Garcetti, a member of the Screen Actors Guild, already appeared earlier this season on "The Closer," albeit in a background part as his father, former Los Angeles District Attorney Gil Garcetti, played the chief of police (he's also a consulting producer of the series). The younger Garcetti, who did some acting as a child, also appeared recently on an episode of "All My Children" along with L.A.'s real mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, after they were involved in efforts to persuade the show to move from New York to Los Angeles.

The episode will be posted online here.

Villaraigosa's term expires in 2013, and Garcetti long has been rumored as a possible contender.

Lady Gaga used last night's MTV Video Music Awards to push the Senate to repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell this week --- hoping to drum up momentum before the upcoming midterm elections.

She appeared on the red carpet with four service members, and also urged fans to go to her website with a link to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.

Karen Ocamb of LGBT POV points out that this piece of celebrity lobbying is working. She writes, "A U.S. Soldier in Balad, Iraq watches Lady Gaga on MTV, calls the Senate switchboard, and writes a thank you note: www.SLDN.org/Gaga – “Thank you Lady Gaga!  I called my Senators from Iraq…it took all of three minutes (one minute was dedicated to all the numbers I had to push on the telephone). Let’s keep the pressure up!”"

Updated

Jerry Brown, speaking at a campaign stop on Sunday, offered a curious response to Meg Whitman's ad. Her spot featured Bill Clinton circa '92 charging that his then-presidential challenger Brown raised taxes when he was California's governor in the 1970s. As is clear from this video, the 2010 Brown has not warmed up to Clinton --- he calls him a liar --- and the strategy behind it is perplexing. (via The Page).

Update: Brown apologized to Clinton this afternoon, calling him an "excellent president."

 

Here's my latest column, on how an upcoming Supreme Court hearing is likely to ignite a new debate over violence in videogames.

You can read it here, or below.

So far, the midterm campaigns have been largely free of the kind of cultural flare-ups that make Hollywood wince: The attacks on sex and violence in the media, making content creators out to be akin to smut peddlers and arms dealers.

But just in time for Election Day, on Nov. 2 to be exact, the content debate promises to gain new vigor. That's when the Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on the constitutionality of California's ban on the sales of violent videogames to minors.

More than likely, election politics that day will trump the court proceedings, but that certainly will not be the case when the high court delivers its verdict. If it upholds the law, there likely will be an outcry from content creators of all stripes that the justices have carved out new territory of unprotected speech, that of excessive violence. If it overturns it, as the lower courts have, there could be a backlash from parents groups and lawmakers, perhaps leading to new legislative contortions that could pass constitutional muster. A spokesman for state Sen. Leland Yee, a Democrat who authored California's law, said they are prepared to do so if that happens and expect the court to "give us direction on where to go."

With plenty more urgent needs, sex and violence in the media have faded from policy debates. But as courts consider not just the vidgame law but the FCC's efforts to limit indecency on the airwaves, the issues of entertainment content are perpetually lying in wait.

The American Foundation for Equal Rights, the org of entertainment and political activists that has been backing the Prop 8 case, issued this statement on the federal court ruling that the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy is unconstitutional.

“Today’s court decision declaring “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” unconstitutional is yet another significant and long-overdue step toward full equality for all Americans.  Along with the recent federal court decisions on DOMA and Proposition 8, it is clear that our nation is moving toward the day when every American will be treated equally under the law, as is required by our Constitution.”

The Courage Campaign released this statement from founder Rick Jacobs: "Today's ruling is not just a victory for the LGBT community, but for our military, our security and for U.S. taxpayers. Asking soldiers to lie about who they are destroys the trust on which an effective fighting force is reliant, and discrimination of any kind undermines the values that generations of Americans --- including LGBT Americans --- have fought and died to defend."

The interesting twist is that central instigators in both cases are Republicans: Ted Olson in challenging Prop 8, and the Log Cabin Republicans in filing suit against the ban on gays serving in the military.

Ted Koppel mirrors Fareed Zakaria in making the argument that America's response to 9/11 has been an overreaction, noting that the "insidious thing about terrorism is that there is no such thing as absolute security." He and he cites that mosque-near-Ground Zero debate and the pyrotechnic preacher.

He writes in the Washington Post, "We have raced to Afghanistan and Iraq, and more recently to Yemen and Somalia; we have created a swollen national security apparatus; and we are so absorbed in our own fury and so oblivious to our enemy's intentions that we inflate the building of an Islamic center in Lower Manhattan into a national debate and watch, helpless, while a minister in Florida outrages even our friends in the Islamic world by threatening to burn copies of the Koran.

"If bin Laden did not foresee all this, then he quickly came to understand it. In a 2004 video message, he boasted about leading America on the path to self-destruction. "All we have to do is send two mujaheddin . . . to raise a small piece of cloth on which is written 'al-Qaeda' in order to make the generals race there, to cause America to suffer human, economic and political losses."

The preacher, with his 50 followers, never would have made the news in another era. He'd have been dismissed along with all of the other attention-seekers who tantalize newsrooms every day.

Or maybe I should say George C. Scott...

Here's the stump speech for a Republican candidate for treasurer in Stark County, Ohio.