Honestly, it wasn’t so long ago that even if you disagreed with a politician’s political stances, you would still have enough respect for the office and for the ideals of democracy that you could get along, in a general sense, with your political enemies. It was in my friggin’ lifetime that presidents could sit down and have dinner with congressmen of opposing parties. It was in my lifetime that politicians and non-civil servants would treat each other with equal dignity and respect. It all went to hell though. Honestly, it’s not *just* Trump, although he’s mainlined hatred, pettiness, cruelty and a culture of bullying into the bloodstream of America. Everyone on Trump’s side is tainted, and they seem absolutely shocked when regular people don’t want anything to do with them. So, Seth Rogen recently met Paul Ryan. It did not go well.
Seth Rogen told CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert last night that he refused a picture with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and his family. Rogen related that he was at an event hosted by former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney to promote brain health when the incident occurred. He had just posed for a picture with two teens when one of them said, “My father wants to meet you.” He claimed he saw Ryan approaching.
“My whole body puckered, I tensed up, and I didn’t know what to do,” Rogen said to Colbert. “And I turned around and Paul Ryan was walking towards me,” Rogen said. The two shook hands before Ryan asked for a photo. “I look over and his kids are standing right there expectantly, clearly fans of mine, and I said, ‘No way, man!’ And I couldn’t stop. I said, ‘Furthermore, I hate what you’re doing to the country at this moment and I’m counting the days until you no longer have one iota of the power that you currently have.’”
Rogen also said he felt conflicted about doing that in front of Paul Ryan’s kids, but honestly, it’s for the best. Rogen didn’t insult the children – he insulted their dad, and that’s something they need to know. I’m sorry, kids: your father is a douchebag and a traitor to the republic. When asked for comment, I’m sure Paul Ryan said he hadn’t seen Colbert’s segment and that he’ll vaguely look into it, then he scurried off to lick Trump’s taint again. Here’s the video:
Seth had one more thing to say (LOL):
Oh man. Now my TL is gonna be filled with virtue signaling snowflakes who are offended by my free speech. https://t.co/BKl44j5Dh8
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) June 23, 2018
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Good – like with the Hillbilly Sanders, there HAS to be CONSEQUENCES to their behaviour. Shunning them in public is a very good way to make the point. These DBs may get away with their garbagio when they are protected by marble columns like in the WH and Congress, but when they are out and about they need to feel the full frontal impact of their douchebaggery.
shunning is the only thing these types understand.
I hear people saying how “WRONG” it is to do something like this or what happened to Huckabilly Sanders, and how we should “go high” and “show love and acceptance” but that sh*t DOES NOT WORK with these people.
the only thing they understand is when THEY are the recipient of the “no service!”
how many times have we seen homophobic and anti-LGBTQ+ politicians come around when THEIR child comes out and SUDDENLY they “GET IT”. so, shun away…refuse service…shame them at restaurants.
Yep. Sorry they all deserve to be shunned. It’s not about political beliefs either. Their policies are literally hurting people.
It took me a moment to figure out which “Sanders” you were talking about!!
Good on him. Seth Rogen, I mean. We really have to push back against these people. They take politeness for acquiescence.
I agree with you 100%, and it’s a shame. I was taught to be polite to everyone, and now when I am courteous, it reads that I’m buying in to whatever politics they may have.
“They take politeness for acquiescence.” This is so, so well put. It does seem like the time for polite, non-assertive acquiescence is over.
I watched this segment and it made me really glad. Good for him; I can imagine how hard it is to turn someone down, in front of their kids, and then explain to them the (very valid) reasons why. Seth doesn’t want some picture of him and Ryan smiling and shaking hands circling the internet!
Awesome story haha
Taking a picture with Paul Ryan (not kidding my phone tried to autocorrect Ryan to Ayran), it would be used as an endorsement. And if Rogan criticized the government in the future they would trot out this photo – that’s how Fox News’ audience thinks. Good for him.
Rob Lowe recently caught flak for posing for a photo with SHS. He had been in DC for a show, so I assume Sarah got a selfie afterwards.
Knowing the little I do of Rob Lowe’s politics, he may have posed for that shot willingly.
@emily-100%
Yes. Seth did the right thing. And he did not “insult” Ryan, who is indeed working to promote fascism in our country.
“Virtue-signaling” is an excellent descriptive for hiding cruelty with false civility, honestly.
I love it too. I am definitely going to work that into the next conversation I have with my bestie about politics!
But then he was at Mitt Romney’s event though.
He said Romney called and asked him to speak about Alzheimer’s. I have no problem with that.
I like that Seth posed with the kids, but drew the line at their POS father.
Until that photo shows up in a Ryan feed with a caption about what a great guy Seth Rogen is, like they’re buddies.
mitt romney is a douche deluxe but if he were president there would not be children in cages and paul ryan wouldn’t be pretending not to read the news so he never has to comment on the president.
Yeah there would be. Romney has openly said he would have a harder immigration stance that U BUM.
Seth has been fighting for years regarding Alzheimer’s. He appeared on either senate or congress floor to lobby for further research and most of the politicians were absent or showed him they cared less. I’m pretty sure celebitchy ran the article too.
Honestly…while there are things about Romney I don’t like, on the list of “shit Republicans who are the worst humanity has to offer,” he’s pretty low. I can deal with him. Before he had to becoming increasingly polarized in his politics went he went national, he was borderline moderate in some of his policies.
I like how Seth pointed out that at some point these kids had to find out that probably every entertainer they like does not approve of their father’s actions. These aren’t the days when John McCain was chummy with Jon Stewart. Pretty much everyone aligned with the current state of the republican/trump party is not on the fence. They are fully in the fascist field – but they want to mingle on our super green liberal field because it’s full of nice, entertaining people who care about things. Nope!
This is my favorite thing that Seth Rogan has ever done.
Welp, Seth will be banned from the US now. The fascists will make sure of that.
Also, “scurried off to lick Trump’s taint again” has me crying from laughter!
He’s a US citizen, but still… under this administration, it could happen. Ugh.
Good for him! And Ryan needs to be called out in front of his kids.
same. i’m going to rent sausage party on iTunes.
I guess I should have already figured out that Ryan has no shame. But he asked his kids to ask Rogan for a picture? Instead of asking himself? I mean, Ryan has done far worse, but purposely putting his kids in an embarrassing position in order to get a pic with a celebrity?
ETA i misread the article.
Good on Seth for sticking to his own convictions! Yes, show these scum that there are consequences to their actions, it really is the time for people who are against tramp and his cohorts to make their voices heard. As no reaction signals to his base that this kind of thinking and actions are okay when it is far from not.
I feel bad for Ryan’s kids (much in the same way I feel sorry for Barron Trump) but totally applaud what Seth did.
They’re privileged kids and likely agree with their father or will very soon.
Eh. My parents were both very conservative, right wing republicans and I’m a liberal. People don’t always grow up to think just like their parents.
I think it’s a good eye opener, maybe it will challenge them to not blindly agree with his views. Ronald Reagan’s son and Bush’s daughters are more liberal than their politician fathers.
I’m not a huge Seth Rogen fan (though his work with Alzheimer’s is extremely commendable) but it’s his image and he has every right not to take a photo with someone he doesn’t care for or agree with. Plus, he took photos with the kids, so he didn’t refuse to have a photo taken with the family, just with Eddie Munster Ryan.
IMO, the US has gone so far down the road of authoritarianism it won’t really recover, even with the ousting of Trump and his close circle. The experts of authoritarian governments have shown how far and how quickly has the loss of democracy has been to the States. It’s devastating.
Democrats and independents need to get back the House and the Senate as soon as possible. That’s really the only hope – the US has literally has made positions in many counties (including my current country, where the youth fight for voting rights) far, far less stable. And of course it’s increased the power of China & Russia over the West.
That mealy Wapo Editorial, NYT stuff about civility of dining habits, is so F*ing infuriating to read, while Seth Rogan (who would have thought it!!) is actually doing the correct response. Any and Every small resistance is needed to work against facism. So, thanks Seth Rogan, it’s a small step forward!
One of the great problems of authoritarian states is that they make the individuals and mega-corporations powerful and incredibly wealthy. I mean, beyond imagination wealthy. For example: Putin is rumoured to have more/similar wealth as Bezos, but economists can’t prove it as he doesn’t do tax returns or transparency, ha irony. That amount of corruption and wealth has been historically shown to make it difficult to wrest power back to moderate or centrist political parties.
Seth, tiny local restaurants, helpers trying to reunite caged kids, women who want to get into local body politics, people trying to keep free press and rule of law – just anyone doing something to show their repugnance and resistance – is doing some of the work. Sorry, for the long ass post! I gotta now get to some gossip stuff now for a break.
Thank you, Seth Rogen, for having bigger balls than Paul Ryan to put him in his place. He deserves to be called out for his actions of being va jay jay (Oprah girl). Someone needs to tell him off and I am glad it is him.
“My whole body puckered.” Lol Awesome descriptor.
Good. When people are still respectable, then they deserve respect, even if you disagree with them. But when they are actively seeking out to hurt so many, especially the most vulnerable of the population, they deserve to be called on it every. damn. time.
I’m glad Seth was nice to the kids, and hopefully it’s a good thing that they saw someone they obviously admire stick up for what’s right. Maybe it will help them to question their father, or very least think for themselves a bit.
I love Seth. He was right to do that, and his kids are teenage bous so they have the right to know how America and the rest of the democratic world feels about his father, maybe that will paly a role in how they choose to conduct their lives. And if you haven’t watched the video, you should because his adventures do not end there. He also met the Mooch at the fundriser and basicaly called him brainless imbicile and yet the Mooch tried to get in contact with Seth later regarding some joint projects…seriously these people have no self respect and are total opportunists.