Georgia versus Hollywood

Ashley Bratcher, Alyssa Milano

​The cultural divide in the US came into focus again this week with the release of the new film "Unplanned." The film is based on the true story of Abby Johnson, a former abortion-rights advocate and clinic worker who became an outspoken pro-lifer after viewing an ultrasound-guided abortion. This past weekend, the movie made 6 million dollars in its first week, which is about equivalent to its production costs, and even performed better than Captain Marvel by some metrics. The impressive showing happened despite the fact that the film was denied ad purchases on many networks and had its Twitter account temporarily suspended the week of the movie release.

The debut of "Unplanned" happened to occur right after the Georgia legislature received national attention for passing the "Heartbeat Bill" making abortion illegal after fetal heartbeats are detectable. This measure is virtually a complete abortion ban, since the heartbeat is detectable by the time most women learn they are pregnant. Outraged by this draconian infringement on women's rights, over 100 celebrity culture warriors, led by B-list actress and "resistance" leader Alyssa Milano, signed a pledge to "stop feeding the GA economy" through the hundreds of film projects that bring the state several billion dollars a year.

Ashley Bratcher, the leading actress in Unplanned, is a Georgia native. She responded to Milano in a bold open letter. "I'm incredibly proud of my home state for taking a stand in the fight for life" she wrote. "Let me make something very clear to you. In Georgia, we care just as much about being pro-life as being pro-film. We don't believe in putting  a price tag on the value of a human life... You want a working environment that is safe, respectful, tolerant, and full of love? I know a place like that and I call it home... Georgia has its own identity and it won't be bowing down to Hollywood any time soon."

Consumed with indignant rage, Milano had the gall to storm into the Georgia state capital while legislature was in session. (You may view the entire incident here, but be forewarned that viewing this imperious tirade may result in the overwhelming urge to throw your computer out the window). When asked by a representative what Georgia district she voted in, she stated that she did not vote in Georgia but worked in the state in an industry that employs Georgia voters. (I suppose we are to presume she speaks for them). She sneered as she gestured towards "the MEN that are voting on what goes on inside my uterus."

After exiting to the foyer of the capital building, she read the text of a letter she had delivered to Governor Brian Kemp, then handed the microphone to a woman she described as a Georgia voter. Introducing herself as the owner of a movie prop-rental business, she spoke with a decidedly non-Southern accent as she reminded the gathered crowd that North Carolina had suffered loss of entertainment industry businesses when they "infringed on people's liberties," by passing the "bathroom bill" affecting transgender people. Milano spoke again, declaring that it was "evil" for Kemp to sign a bill that would drive billions of dollars from the state. Responding to a question, she stated that Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey have offered tax incentives to move film projects there.

Actress Alyssa Milano speaks at the Georgia state capital about the "Heartbeat Bill."

Typical Southern responses to huffy pronouncements that our betters will take their ball and leave usually range from indifferent shrugs to "Good riddance!" or "I wish they would boycott my state!" Because of their staggering arrogance, these elites cannot conceive that the unwashed masses might actually prefer NOT to be graced with their presence or enlightened with their wisdom.

But what about their money? Milano tweeted her complaint about the Heartbeat Bill with the hashtag "#HB481IsBadForBusiness." That may be true, but as Bratcher said, "We don't believe in putting  a price tag on the value of a human life." It is unfathomable to our soulless ruling class, but there are quite a few things Southerners value more than money. Freedom, peace, community, traditional culture, and self-determination, to name a few. I have often heard members of the intelligentsia smugly say that Southerners "vote against their own interests." What they mean is that we vote for small government, when our relative poverty would make our states the beneficiaries of government programs. They don't understand that what we see as "our own interests" are not benefit checks, but the ability to live independently, free from government interference, and in a fiscally responsible manner that does not leave unnecessary debt to our children. They think that since we're turning down "free money," that either we do not understand, or that we are motivated more by racist hatred than self-preservation.

Thankfully, Georgia has a real governor, despite the best efforts of Milano, who had stumped vigorously for Kemp's opponent Stacy Abrams in the gubernatorial election. "I can't govern because of what someone in Hollywood thinks of me." Governor Brian Kemp spoke in response to the controversy. If more people like Bratcher and Kemp speaking up for Southern values, maybe we can get the Golden Swamp creatures to write us off for good!