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Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Newsom responds to Trump's gutter politics
SACRAMENTO — In fighting President Trump, Gov. Gavin Newsom reminds me of actor Gene Hackman's hard-nosed character in the movie 'Mississippi Burning.' Hackman plays a take-no-prisoners FBI agent, Rupert Anderson, who is investigating the disappearance of three young civil rights workers in racially segregated 1964 Mississippi. His partner and boss is stick-by-the-rules agent Alan Ward, played by Willem Dafoe. The 1988 film is loosely based on a true story. The two agents eventually find the victims' murdered bodies and apprehend the Ku Klux Klan killers after Anderson persuades Ward to discard his high-road rule book in dealing with uncooperative local white folks. 'Don't drag me into your gutter, Mr. Anderson,' Ward sternly tells his underling initially. Anderson shouts back: 'These people are crawling out of the SEWER, MR. WARD! Maybe the gutter's where we oughta be.' And it's where they go. Only then do they solve the case. Newsom contends Trump is playing gutter politics by pressuring Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the GOP-controlled Legislature to redraw the state's U.S. House seats in an effort to elect five additional Republicans in next year's midterm elections. House seats normally are redrawn only at the beginning of a decade after the decennial census. Democrats need to gain just three net seats to retake control of the House and end the GOP's one-party rule of the federal government. Trump is trying to prevent that by browbeating Texas and other red states into gerrymandering their Democrat-held House districts into GOP winners. Republicans currently hold 25 of Texas' 38 House seats. Democrats have 12. In California, it's just the opposite — even more so. Out of 52 seats, Democrats outnumber Republicans 43 to 9, with room to make it even more lopsided. 'We could make it so that only four Republicans are left,' says Sacramento-based redistricting guru Paul Mitchell, vice president of Political Data Inc. Mitchell already is crafting potential new maps in case Newsom follows through with his threat to retaliate against Texas by redrawing California's districts to help Democrats gain five seats, neutralizing Republican gains in the Lone Star State. Newsom and the Legislature would be seizing redistricting responsibility from an independent citizens' commission that voters created in 2010. They took the task away from lawmakers because the politicians were acting only in their own self-interest, effectively choosing their own voters. As they do in Texas and most states, particularly red ones. But the governor and Democrats would be ignoring California voters' will — at least as stated 15 years ago. And Newsom would be down in the political gutter with Trump on redistricting. But that doesn't seem to bother him. 'They're playing by a different set of rules,' Newsom recently told reporters, referring to Trump and Republicans. 'They can't win by the traditional game. So they want to change the game. We can act holier than thou. We could sit on the sidelines, talk about the way the world should be. Or we can recognize the existential nature that is the moment.' Newsom added that 'everything has changed' since California voters banned gerrymandering 15 years ago. That's indisputable given Trump's bullying tactics and his inhumane domestic policies. 'I'm not going to be the guy that said, 'I could have, would have, should have,'' Newsom continued. 'I'm not going to be passive at this moment. I'm not going to look at my kids in the eyes and say, 'I was a little timid.'' Newsom's own eyes, of course, are on the White House and a potential 2028 presidential bid. He sees a national opportunity now to attract frustrated Democratic voters who believe that party leaders aren't fighting hard enough against Trump. Newsom continued to echo Hackman's script Friday at a news conference in Sacramento with Texas Democratic legislators. Referring to Trump and Texas Republicans, Newsom asserted: 'They're not screwing around. We cannot afford to screw around. We have to fight fire with fire.' But yakking about redrawing California's congressional maps is easy. Actually doing it would be exceedingly difficult. 'Texas can pass a plan tomorrow. California cannot,' says Tony Quinn, a former Republican consultant on legislative redistricting. Unlike in California, there's no Texas law that forbids blatant gerrymandering. California's Constitution requires redistricting by the independent commission. Moreover, a 1980s state Supreme Court ruling allows only one redistricting each decade, Quinn says. Trying to gerrymander California congressional districts through legislation without first asking the voters' permission would be criminally stupid. Newsom would need to call a special election for November and persuade voters to temporarily suspend the Constitution, allowing the Legislature to redraw the districts. Or the Legislature could place a gerrymandered plan on the ballot and seek voter approval. But that would be risky. A specific plan could offer several targets for the opposition — the GOP and do-gooder groups. In either case, new maps would need to be drawn by the end of the year to fit the June 2026 primary elections. Mitchell says polling shows that the independent commission is very popular with voters. Still, he asserts, 'there's something in the water right now. There's potential that voters will not want to let Trump run ramshackle while we're being Pollyannish.' 'The reality is that a lot of Democrats would hit their own thumb with a hammer if they thought it would hurt Trump more.' Mitchell also says that California could out-gerrymander Texas by not only weakening current GOP seats but by strengthening competitive Democratic districts. Texas doesn't have that opportunity, he says, because its districts already have been heavily gerrymandered. Democratic consultant Steve Maviglio says Newsom is 'trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube' and doubts it will work. 'Unilaterally disarming was a mistake. 'But Newsom's not wrong. They play hardball. We don't.' Newsom and California Democrats should fight Trump and Texas Republicans in the MAGA gutter, using all weapons available. As Hackman's character also says: 'Don't mean s— to have a gun unless you (sic) ready to use it.' The must-read: Texas Republicans aim to redraw House districts at Trump's urging, but there's a risk The TK: The Age-Checked Internet Has Arrived The L.A. Times Special: Trump's top federal prosecutor in L.A. struggles to secure indictments in protest cases Until next week,George Skelton —Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here to get it in your inbox.
New York Times
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Gailard Sartain, Character Actor and ‘Hee Haw' Regular, Dies at 81
Gailard Sartain, a character actor who moved easily between comedy, as a cast member on the variety series 'Hee Haw'; music, as the Big Bopper singing 'Chantilly Lace' in 'The Buddy Holly Story'; and drama, as a racist sheriff in 'Mississippi Burning,' died on Thursday at his home in Tulsa, Okla. He was 81. His wife, Mary Jo (Regier) Sartain, confirmed the death but did not specify a cause. Mr. Sartain spent 20 years on 'Hee Haw,' the country equivalent of 'Laugh-In,' hosted by Buck Owens and Roy Clark, which combined cornpone sketches with music. The characters he played included a bumbling store employee, a chef at a truck stop and Officer Bull Moose. At the same time, he also developed a movie career that began with 'Nashville' (1975), Robert Altman's improvisational drama set against the background of the country music industry. In that film, Mr. Sartain played a man at an airport lunch counter talking to Keenan Wynn. 'I just said, 'Ask Keenan what he's doing in Nashville,' and he did,' Alan Rudolph, the assistant director of the film, said in an interview. But Mr. Rudolph saw something special in Mr. Sartain and went on to cast him in nine films he directed over the next two decades, including 'Roadie' (1980) and 'Endangered Species' (1982). 'I only wish I could have fit him into another nine,' he said. 'Gailard had a certain silly magic about him. Most of my films are serious and comedic at the same time. In 'Roadie,' he was opposite Meat Loaf, as beer truck drivers, and that was about 700 pounds in the front of a beer truck. That should be funny.' One of Mr. Sartain's most notable roles was in 'Mississippi Burning' (1988), Alan Parker's film about the F.B.I.'s investigation into the murders in 1964 of the civil rights workers, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, who were buried in an earthen dam. Mr. Sartain played Ray Stuckey, a county sheriff whose deputy was among the Ku Klux Klansmen who killed the men. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
News18
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Gailard Sartain, Hee Haw And Mississippi Burning Actor, Dies At 81
Last Updated: Gailard Sartain, known for his roles in Hee Haw, Ernest films, The Buddy Holly Story, and Mississippi Burning, has died at 81. Veteran actor Gailard Sartain, whose career spanned decades of television, stage, and film, including a 20‑year run on Hee Haw and memorable roles in Spider‑Man and Mississippi Burning, has passed away at the age of 81. His wife of 36 years, Mary Jo Sartain, shared the news with The Hollywood Reporter, saying he died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 'Actually, he died of silliness," she added. His friendship with Everybody Loves Raymond star Doris Roberts stood out as one of his most long‑lasting bonds; they lived together until Roberts's death in 2016. She even directed his play Screen Test: Take One, based on his love for soap operas. Sartain first captured attention on local Tulsa television as Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi, he hosted the spooky The Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting—before finding fame on Hee Haw in 1972. He stayed on the show for nearly two decades, playing everything from Orville the cook to rambling clerks. His film résumé is vast and varied: he debuted in Nashville (1975), portrayed Jerry 'The Big Bopper" Richardson in The Buddy Holly Story (1978), and dabbled in spaghetti Westerns. On TV, audiences loved his cameos on shows like Seinfeld, Frasier, and Friends. A key turning point came with his chilling depiction of a racist sheriff in Mississippi Burning (1988), a role he felt broke his comedy mold. 'Nobody likes to be typecast as a barefooted hillbilly… that kind of turned things around," he told the Tulsa World in 2017. Sartain's film career included nine collaborations with director Alan Rudolph (Choose Me, Songwriter, Love at Large, and more), as well as roles under Carl Reiner in The Jerk and All of Me, Francis Ford Coppola in The Outsiders, Stephen Frears in The Grifters, and Michael Mann in Ali. In the 1980s, he teamed up with Bill Byrge to play Chuck in Hey, Vern, It's Ernest!—a role born from local commercials and later featured in Ernest films like Ernest Goes to Camp, Ernest Saves Christmas, and Ernest Goes to Jail. He even took on Broadway, starring in Dracula beginning in 1977, and lent his voice to creating Leon Russell's album art in 1975. But by 2005, with Elizabethtown, Sartain quietly stepped away from acting. Survived by his wife Mary Jo, their three children – Sarah, Esther, and Ben- along with granddaughter Chloe and great‑grandson Teddy, Sartain leaves behind a legacy. The Beverly Hills Playhouse paid tribute to his memory on Instagram, writing: 'There was only ever one like this, and we are the richer for having his presence in our theatre. Rest in peace, Jack." May his soul rest in peace! First Published:
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Gailard Sartain, ‘Hee Haw' and ‘Fried Green Tomatoes' actor, passes away at 78
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Gailard Sartain, the beloved character actor known for his comedic flair on Hee Haw and memorable performances in films like Fried Green Tomatoes and Mississippi Burning, has passed away . He was 78. His death was announced Thursday night by The Church Studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Gailard Sartain was a regular visitor and his wife, Mary Jo, was a longtime volunteer. The cause of death has not been disclosed, though TMZ cited a 'long decline in health.' Big break in 'Hee Haw' Born on September 18, 1946, in Tulsa, Sartain's journey in entertainment began in the early 1970s with the creation of "The Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting," the city's first late-night sketch comedy show. His big break came in 1972 when he joined the iconic variety show Hee Haw, where he appeared over 170 times during a nearly 20-year tenure. He became a fan favorite as Sheriff Orville P. Bullmoose. Final Destination Scene Turns Real? Ceiling COLLAPSES on Moviegoer Mid-Screening | WATCH A memorable film career Sartain's filmography spans decades. He portrayed Big Bopper in The Buddy Holly Story (1978), appeared in the Francis Ford Coppola-produced The Outsiders (1983), and held significant roles in The Big Easy, Blaze, and The Spitfire Grill. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 임플란트 29만원 이벤트 임플란트 더 알아보기 Undo In the Oscar-nominated Mississippi Burning (1988), he played the menacing Sheriff Ray Stuckey opposite Gene Hackman. One of his most recognized roles came in the comedy drama 'Fried Green Tomatoes' (1991). He played the memorable character Ed Couch, the distant husband to Kathy Bates' character, Evelyn in the comedy drama. A respected artist and illustrator In addition to his acting career, Sartain was also a respected artist and illustrator. He worked in New York City as an assistant to famed illustrator Paul Davis and contributed to national magazines. Sartain even designed the album cover for Leon Russell's 1975 record, "Will O' the Wisp." A double loss for 'Hee Haw' fans Sartain's passing marks a second recent loss for 'Hee Haw' fans. His co-star Lulu Roman, known for her comedic skits on the show, passed away in late April. Together, they represented a golden era of television variety shows that blended country charm with humor.
Fox News
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
‘Hee Haw' actor Gailard Sartain dead at 81
"Hee Haw" star Gailard Sartain has died. He was 81. The actor, who also appeared in "Mississippi Burning" and "The Buddy Holly Story," passed away from natural causes at his home on Thursday, his wife Mary Jo Sartain confirmed to Fox News Digital. "Everyone has a Gailard story that they tell with a smile. Keep telling his stories," Mary, his wife of 36 years, said. Sartain joined the "Hee Haw" cast in 1972. He appeared on the show for 20 years as a variety of different characters, including Orville the cook and clerk Maynard. He also portrayed Willie Billy Honey on the spin-off, "Hee Haw Honeys," from 1978-1979. Lulu Roman, Kathie Lee Gifford and Misty Rowe also starred in the spin-off. "Everyone has a Gailard story that they tell with a smile. Keep telling his stories." Along with "Hee Haw," Sartain appeared in nine feature films that were directed by Alan Rudolph: "Roadie," "Equinox," "The Moderns," "Love at Large," "Songwriter," "Endangered Species," "Choose Me," "Trouble in Mind" and "Made in Heaven." During an interview with Tulsa World newspaper in 2017, Sartain told the outlet that he enjoyed working with Rudolph because he "would just turn me loose. So I would come up with character accents and stuff, and he would go for it." A career high for Sartain was his role as a racist sheriff in "Mississippi Burning," which was released in 1988. During his Tulsa World interview, Sartain admitted it was difficult being cast in the same role. "Nobody likes to be typecast as a barefooted hillbilly, so when I had the opportunity to do other roles, I happily did it. I was cast in that, and that kind of turned things around. I wasn't just typecast as a funny guy. That was a little bit pivotal," he said at the time. Sartain was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1943. The actor is survived by his wife, their children, Sarah, Esther and Ben, his granddaughter, Chloe, and his great-grandson, Teddy.
