Fox News continues its promotion of the tea party, this time by touting former Northern Exposure actress Janine Turner's new web site, Constituting America where it appears she and her daughter are doing their best to indoctrinate a new generation of teabaggers. Just what we need. I guess she thinks Texas hasn't already done enough damage to our public schools.
Turner claims that her conservative views have cost her jobs in Hollywood. It doesn't seem to be hurting her male wingnut counterparts. I thought casting actresses aside once they reached middle age was just standard practice for that industry, not something reserved for conservatives. With the new blond hairdo maybe Turner's hoping they'll hire her at Fox.
Wallace: She's been facinated by the Founding Fathers since she was in third grade always wondering if they came back what they would think of this country. Now she's pushing an effort to stay true to their values. Here's our Power Player of the Week.
Turner: Our Constitution does work but if we don't understand what we have, we won't understand when it's slowly being taken away from us.
Wallace: You may recognize her from movies and television, but actress Janine Turner is now working on her most important project, a new web site called Constituting America through which she hopes to educate people about our founding principles.
Turner: To me if you want to love it or not love it at least know it, at least know it and I think that that's the goal.
Wallace: For adults there are articles and video clips about the Constitution and the Federalist Papers, but the real focus is on kids and Turner gets some help from her 12 year old daughter Julia.
The web site is putting on contests for students from grade schools through high school to write essays, compose songs and make short films about the Constitution. While the deadline is July 4th they've already gotten some entries.
Winners will be announced on 9/17, Constitution Day in Philadelphia. A DVD will be sent to schools around the country in hopes of being used as part of the curriculum.
Turner: We just want to start to permeate slowly, you know, the youth with this idea, first of all what is the Constitution? And secondly, oh it is relevant. And third, it can be cool.
Wallace: Janine Turner is best known as the Alaskan Bush pilot Maggie O'Connell on the 90's TV show Northern Exposure.
(Cut to video of Turner with Glenn Beck at teabagger rally.)
But she says her strong political views have cost her in Hollywood.
Turner: If you stand up and speak out that you are conservative you are blacklisted to a certain extent.
Wallace: When you say blacklisted do you think you would have lost jobs because you're a vocal conservative?
Turner: Um-hmm.
Wallace: How ignorant do you think Americans are about the Constitution?
Turner: Well ignorant is a pretty strong word. The Constitution is not in our conversation as Americans any more.
Wallace: And so like a modern Paul Revere, Turner will keep spreading the word about our founding principles and warning about a government she feels is infringing on our freedom.
Turner: I want every American, other children in America to know they have rights, to know that they can speak out. If they don't know their rights they won't know when they're being taken away.
