The Unlikely Defiance of the Bannon Narrative

 

The Hollywood Reporter

Steve Bannon’s an anti-semitic, racist, homophobe who wears a KKK hood while praying at the altar of white Jobu (google it), where his pinned voodoo dolls consist of the liberal triumvirate; Hillary, Barack and Joy Behar. It’s true because I heard it on CNN. “President-elect Trump’s choice of Steve Bannon as his top aide signals that white supremacists will be represented at the highest levels in Trump’s White House,” said Adam Jentleson, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)  MSNBC spends countless hours handwringing over how much Bannon hates immigrants, Jews, and whatever that black movie was that just won Best Picture, yet no one heard of, but… #OscarsSoWhite.

It’s well reported Bannon made a fortune investing in that little 90’s ‘TV show about nothing’ as well as his successful stint at Breitbart, you know, that “white ethno-nationalist propaganda mill” (Southern Poverty Law Center). What is rarely mentioned was his extensive banking, M&A, and inside Hollywood deal-making experience. The Hollywood Reporter just published an interview with Bannon’s partner at The Firm, a talent management and production company where the uber liberal Jeff Kwatinetz manages to filet the media’s Bannon narrative while skewering almost every one of his fellow progressives. Imagine your pleasure in watching THR readers’s heads explode all across L.A.’s Westside. Better get your umbrella SoCal, as there’s a 100% chance it will be raining botox.

Jeff Kwatinetz, Bannon’s former Hollywood business partner, now says he can’t take it anymore so he has decided to go on the record for the first time with The Hollywood Reporter.

As a liberal, I don’t judge people on their politics, I judge them on their character, and from what I knew then and what I know now, Steve has great character. He’s not a racist or anti-Semitic. Things like that are absurd.

Did you ever witness anything that could be interpreted as anti-Semitic?

I know that he’s not anti-Semitic. I am absolutely positive that he’s not anti-Semitic or racist. It is absurd. I am Jewish, Roy Furman was Jewish, Andrew Breitbart was Jewish. He is not anti-Semitic. Period.

So why does MSNBC keep talking about him being anti-Semitic?

Because they’re wrong.

Why isn’t anyone else in Hollywood sticking up for him like you are now?

I don’t believe that’s true. I know of two others who talked to reporters on background whose statements were ignored, as were mine.

You speaking in defense of Bannon — is that dangerous to your career?

It’s dangerous because people want to believe what they’ve been told to believe. I’m telling you that the guy is a good person. I know it. And if it hurts my career to tell the truth about someone, then I guess it’s going to have to hurt my career, because he is a good person.

Kwatinetz sounds genuine and rich enough to not care (partly due to deals he did with Bannon). He recalled employees pleading with him to come out and tell their truth about working with Bannon. As a staunch liberal who states he has given seven figures to the DCCC [Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee], liberal presidential candidates and others, he has no reason to risk being cast out by his own tribe, other than he feels he had to tell the truth.

I have Republican friends and Democrat friends, but I saw a study last week that said most people in California who voted for Hillary Clinton don’t have any friends who voted for Trump, and I believe that. Democrats think Republicans are devils and Republicans think Democrats are devils. But Steve is not a devil. He’s a great guy, and if it gets me in trouble for telling the truth, then it gets me in trouble.

At a time when it feels we have all returned to our corners, and our communication breakdown is going from bad to worse we need more folks to speak the truth. It’s good to know some integrity remains in the Hollywood Left.

Bravo, Mr. Kwatinetz.

Published in General
Tags:

This post was promoted to the Main Feed by a Ricochet Editor at the recommendation of Ricochet members. Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 36 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. DocJay Inactive
    DocJay
    @DocJay

    The truth will set us free.

    • #1
  2. ST Member
    ST
    @

    Thanks for posting this or I never would have seen it.

    Ricochet sentence of the month in an OP:  Better get your umbrella SoCal, as there’s a 100% chance it will be raining botox.

    Too funny.

    • #2
  3. Dave Sussman Member
    Dave Sussman
    @DaveSussman

    ST (View Comment):
    Thanks for posting this or I never would have seen it.

    Ricochet sentence of the month in an OP: Better get your umbrella SoCal, as there’s a 100% chance it will be raining botox.

    Too funny.

    The Hollywood Reporter should be given credit. They also occasionally post articles featuring SABO’s conservative street art. In a town where conservatives must meet at secret events, its good to see a media outlet that pushes back against the lockstep groupthink.

    • #3
  4. Hartmann von Aue Member
    Hartmann von Aue
    @HartmannvonAue

    Thanks for posting in and for giving credit where credit is due.

    • #4
  5. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    I hope others will follow his example, but I’m not optimistic. Anyone willing to stand up to the lies and hypocrisy gets my vote–oops, did you say he was a liberal? But he’s not running, right? [sigh]

    • #5
  6. Dave Sussman Member
    Dave Sussman
    @DaveSussman

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    I hope others will follow his example, but I’m not optimistic. Anyone willing to stand up to the lies and hypocrisy gets my vote–oops, did you say he was a liberal? But he’s not running, right? [sigh]

    Don’t think he’s running for anything, but compared to the little-bus politicians currently running things in CA, I’ll take a capital L Liberal over a progressive any day.

    • #6
  7. outlaws6688 Member
    outlaws6688
    @

    It wasn’t just the left that was spreading this narrative.

    • #7
  8. Functionary Coolidge
    Functionary
    @Functionary

    Interesting, but not dispositive.

    Flynn and Bannon have both been widely criticized by the MSM in vague terms.  I was willing to withhold judgment for some time about both of them.  I even read General Flynn’s book, co-authored by the widely-respected Michael Ledeen, and was convinced that he had been unfairly characterized by the press.  Alas, subsequent events (his firm lobbying for the Turkish government, for example) have legitimately discredited him. I must admit I was wrong in assessing his character — and so was Michael Ledeen.  I wonder why we have not heard from Mr. Ledeen lately.

    This experience makes me reluctant to embrace Steve Bannon, even though I have not seen any evidence yet that the calumnies levied against him are true.

    I don’t think Andrew Breitbart would have approved with how Steve turned Andrew’s creation into an advocacy outfit that promoted Trump, with such callous disregard for the truth as it did during the campaign.  This counts heavily against Steve Bannon in my book.  But, it is clear to me that the left wing MSM smears about Bannon being an anti-Semite, right wing extremist, white nationalist are untrue.  This is pretty good evidence – Thanks for posting.

    • #8
  9. Dave Sussman Member
    Dave Sussman
    @DaveSussman

    Functionary (View Comment):
    I don’t think Andrew Breitbart would have approved with how Steve turned Andrew’s creation into an advocacy outfit that promoted Trump, with such callous disregard for the truth as it did during the campaign. This counts heavily against Steve Bannon in my book. But, it is clear to me that the left wing MSM smears about Bannon being an anti-Semite, right wing extremist, white nationalist are untrue. This is pretty good evidence – Thanks for posting.

    Thanks, Functionary. Considering your avatar, you are remarkably unbiased as more than a few Breitbart readers viewed Bannon as their raison d’etre to line up behind Trump.

    The cheerleading of Trump was certainly a thing, but I would suggest widespread across most media, especially early in the campaign when ratings and readership skyrocketed. Don’t you think capitalist Andrew would have likewise sought to enrich his empire?

    • #9
  10. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Functionary (View Comment):
    This experience makes me reluctant to embrace Steve Bannon,

    Why does it always have to be hugs? Whatever happened to the good, old-fashioned handshake?

    • #10
  11. Melissa Praemonitus Member
    Melissa Praemonitus
    @6foot2inhighheels

    I’ve mentioned this before, but Andrew Breitbart spoke at a small training session I attended during the whole Pigsford fracas, and he told us that there would come a time when it would be wise to reach out a hand and find common ground with any liberal who rejected a lie.

    Evil cannot win when all sides unite in a quest for truth.

     

    • #11
  12. Arizona Patriot Member
    Arizona Patriot
    @ArizonaPatriot

    I have only one disagreement with the OP.  I think that generally, Leftists think that Conservatives are evil, while Conservatives think that Leftists are stupid.  Oh, I think that some of them are consciously evil, but it’s a pretty small group.  Mainly they’re just wrong.

    I also know that many on the Left are not stupid.  Both Leftists and Conservatives have a certain worldview, based on stories about how the world works.  Challenges to our internal narrative are very difficult to accept, and this goes for both sides.

    • #12
  13. MarciN Member
    MarciN
    @MarciN

    Arizona Patriot (View Comment):
    Both Leftists and Conservatives have a certain worldview, based on stories about how the world works. Challenges to our internal narrative are very difficult to accept, and this goes for both sides.

    Well said. I agree.

    • #13
  14. Cato Rand Inactive
    Cato Rand
    @CatoRand

    “Because they’re wrong.” :)

     

    • #14
  15. outlaws6688 Member
    outlaws6688
    @

    outlaws6688 (View Comment):
    It wasn’t just the left that was spreading this narrative.

    Any thoughts on this Mr. Sussman?

    • #15
  16. Dave Sussman Member
    Dave Sussman
    @DaveSussman

    outlaws6688 (View Comment):

    outlaws6688 (View Comment):
    It wasn’t just the left that was spreading this narrative.

    Any thoughts on this Mr. Sussman?

    There were certainly some NT’s who perpetuated this narrative, even some podcaster’s here at Ricochet.

    Is that who you are referring to?

    • #16
  17. Dave Sussman Member
    Dave Sussman
    @DaveSussman

    Arizona Patriot (View Comment):
    I have only one disagreement with the OP. I think that generally, Leftists think that Conservatives are evil, while Conservatives think that Leftists are stupid. Oh, I think that some of them are consciously evil, but it’s a pretty small group. Mainly they’re just wrong.

    I also know that many on the Left are not stupid. Both Leftists and Conservatives have a certain worldview, based on stories about how the world works. Challenges to our internal narrative are very difficult to accept, and this goes for both sides.

    Yes, I caught that as well.  My phrasing would be ‘ill-informed’. When having non-emotional discussions with liberals, I have found open-minded souls are surprised when presented facts negating their deeply held truths drummed into them through popular culture, universities, and media. Just getting people to stop, think and realize there’s another side of the coin that doesn’t revolve around identity politics, is a success in my book.

    • #17
  18. outlaws6688 Member
    outlaws6688
    @

    Dave Sussman (View Comment):

    outlaws6688 (View Comment):

    outlaws6688 (View Comment):
    It wasn’t just the left that was spreading this narrative.

    Any thoughts on this Mr. Sussman?

    There were certainly some NT’s who perpetuated this narrative, even some podcaster’s here at Ricochet.

    Is that who you are referring to?

    Any thought to put that in your article?

    • #18
  19. Dave Sussman Member
    Dave Sussman
    @DaveSussman

    outlaws6688 (View Comment):
    Any thought to put that in your article?

    Not sure how it would be productive relitigating that fight. This is about Bannon’s business partner who knows him better than most anyone else, left or right.

    • #19
  20. outlaws6688 Member
    outlaws6688
    @

    Dave Sussman (View Comment):

    outlaws6688 (View Comment):
    Any thought to put that in your article?

    Not sure how it would be productive relitigating that fight. This is about Bannon’s business partner who knows’s him better than most anyone else, left or right.

    You talked about how the left made this a narrative (Lie) about Bannon, but don’t mention that some on the right did the same thing. You don’t see how this is relevant? So its ok for some on the right to lie because they are on your side?

    • #20
  21. JLock Inactive
    JLock
    @CrazyHorse

    I spit taked my soda at Joy Behar and will be billing you for a new monitor. (Dave, apologies while I rant at White Liberals for a sec).

    Seriously, I never hear so much concern about racism until White Liberals get involved. White Liberals, if you are reading this, it would be super resist-y of you to stop accusing everyone of racism. You’re riling up all of America “on our behalf” and then retreating to Burning Man — leaving us to deal with the repercussions.

    White Liberals, pay attention to me, stop using our natural rights as an accessory to your absurd phalanx of free-stuff demands. My 4th amendment is not tantamount to your unpaid ethnomusicology degree from Wellesley. Why do I keep calling you White Liberals? Because it is my sincere belief that Brown Liberals are currently misguided and are actually more Conservative than anything. I would make a whole flowchart explaining how you’re the racist ones — but you guys seem to be doing a bang-up job by being your usual jackass-selves. Remember when Cory Booker attacked AG Sessions — and y’all planned a counterattack against Booker for supporting a Pharmaceutical Lobbyist group that he concedes to for jobs in his state — because to you Racism/Free Drugs/College Loans: all the same. It didn’t help none of you could name any of the other 13 Democrats who sponsored that Drug bill — all of them White. Including the one who attacked Sessions after Booker, The other Senator from New Jersey.

    Its pretty transparent and once I shake some of my brethren free of your pandering, I believe things will finally start getting interesting in this country.

    • #21
  22. Nick Baldock Inactive
    Nick Baldock
    @NickBaldock

    “As a liberal, I don’t judge people on their politics, I judge them on their character.”

    Hmmm.

    I guess each side believes it of themselves, but not of the other?

    I don’t think Conservatives think Liberals are stupid. For the most part, they are the smart adolescent rebels who realise that the world isn’t perfect and who can identify something that needs fixing. They criticise established norms… But haven’t yet figured out that they ARE the established norms, right now.

    I tend to imagine them as the honest atheist who has rejected kindergarten religion, but not got any further.

    • #22
  23. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Nick Baldock (View Comment):
    I don’t think Conservatives think Liberals are stupid. For the most part, they are the smart adolescent rebels who realise that the world isn’t perfect and who can identify something that needs fixing.

    Perhaps a better word is naïve?

    • #23
  24. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    Arizona Patriot (View Comment):
    Leftists think that Conservatives are evil, while Conservatives think that Leftists are stupid.

    That’s so common as to almost be a cliche.

    • #24
  25. Randy Webster Inactive
    Randy Webster
    @RandyWebster

    The Reticulator (View Comment):
    Why does it always have to be hugs? Whatever happened to the good, old-fashioned handshake?

    For years and years, I thought my relationship with my younger brother was close enough that a handshake said everything that needed saying.  That went by the boards.

    • #25
  26. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    outlaws6688 (View Comment):

    Dave Sussman (View Comment):

    outlaws6688 (View Comment):

    outlaws6688 (View Comment):
    It wasn’t just the left that was spreading this narrative.

    Any thoughts on this Mr. Sussman?

    There were certainly some NT’s who perpetuated this narrative, even some podcaster’s here at Ricochet.

    Is that who you are referring to?

    Any thought to put that in your article?

    Are you an editor now?

    If you want an article written a particular way, write it.

    • #26
  27. Dave Sussman Member
    Dave Sussman
    @DaveSussman

    JLock (View Comment):
    I spit taked my soda at Joy Behar and will be billing you for a new monitor. (Dave, apologies while I rant at White Liberals for a sec).

    Solid rant JLock. And sorry about the monitor.

    • #27
  28. Dave Sussman Member
    Dave Sussman
    @DaveSussman

    Nick Baldock (View Comment):
    I don’t think Conservatives think Liberals are stupid. For the most part, they are the smart adolescent rebels who realise that the world isn’t perfect and who can identify something that needs fixing. They criticise established norms… But haven’t yet figured out that they ARE the established norms, right now.

    Exactly. As our friend Sabo recently said “Conservatism is the new punk”.

    • #28
  29. Keith Preston Member
    Keith Preston
    @

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Nick Baldock (View Comment):
    I don’t think Conservatives think Liberals are stupid. For the most part, they are the smart adolescent rebels who realise that the world isn’t perfect and who can identify something that needs fixing.

    Perhaps a better word is naïve?

    I consider them uninformed and brainwashed.  My classrooms were loaded with them…they mainly left my classrooms as libertarians, which is the first step in their journey towards the light.

    • #29
  30. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Keith Preston (View Comment):
    I consider them uninformed and brainwashed. My classrooms were loaded with them…they mainly left my classrooms as libertarians, which is the first step in their journey towards the light.

    Good job!

    • #30
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.