September 2, 2008 - 10:43

Mr. Santorum goes to Hollywood

MINNETONKA, Minn. -- Before launching into an impassioned speech in favor of U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), former Republican Pennsylvania U.S. senator Rick Santorum told the Pennsylvania delegation about his forays into Hollywood.

Yes, Mr. Social Conservative has ventured into the land of Robert Redford and Oliver Stone, but don't expect to see him in a starring role anytime soon. Rather, Santorum has gone behind the scenes to take his fight for conservative principles from Washington to southern California.

He's trying to persuade conservative filmmakers there to begin making movies that, unlike Hollywood tradition, espouse right-wing values.

It may seem a daunting task, but the former senator's efforts have already bared fruit -- a conservative movie will receive a major motion-picture release in October. Called "An American Carol," the movie is a parody of liberal filmmaker Michael Moore.

Santorum screened the film's trailer for the Pennsylvania delegation over its breakfast. It features Chris Farley's brother, Kevin Farley, playing the role of "Michael Malone," who is visited by the ghosts of George Patton and other American heroes after he tries to abolish the Fourth of July.

It even featured a cameo from Bill O'Reilly.

"Yes, it will offend everybody," Santorum said to laughs from a predictably enthusiastic crowd.

Santorum said Republicans need to begin engaging the culture through mediums typically dominated by Democrats.

"One of the things I'm doing is trying to change the political dynamic by doing what the other side does so effectively, which is change the culture through Hollywood, entertainment," he said.

He added culture can leave the GOP in the dust if the party does not play a role in shaping it.

"If culture is moving in a different direction, we're fighting an uphill battle," he said.

Santorum said he hopes the movie's success will convince major movie studios they can make money from conservative, rather than liberal, films.

ALSO on PolitickerPA.com:

ALSO from The New York Observer:

Correction: an earlier version of this article stated the actor's name was Robert Redman, when in fact it is Robert Redford.

Alex Roarty is a PolitickerPA.com Reporter and can be reached via email at noreply@politicker.com.

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