Hollywood Politics: Greek Celebrities For Giannoulias

By on September 1, 2009 in News
Greek-American celebrities Melina Kanakarides, Nia Vardalos, Michael Chiklis at the event. Photo thanks to Nia

By Alex Mizan*

Last week in a typical Los Angeles fashion, Hollywood met Washington at the fundraiser Chairman of Fox Studios Jim Gianopulos and his wife Ann hosted for Alexi Giannoulias, the 33-year old Greek-American who is running for US Senate in the state of Illinois.

Alexi Giannoulias, the youngest State Treasurer in the country, son of Greek immigrants and President Obama’s protégé announced his bid for his mentor vacated seat in the US Senate only last July and is already on the campaign trail in his effort to get a head start from the opposition and win the Democratic Party’s nomination.

The event was co-hosted by several Greek-American Hollywood celebrities, including actress, writer and director Nia Vardalos and Melina Kanakarides, starlet of CSI New York. Ms. Vardalos, who was attending the event with her husband Ian, was excited to see a young Greek-American run for the world’s most exclusive club of 100 and she said she is ready to support him without hesitation. Also present were Aris Anagnos, Vice President of the American Hellenic Council and famous for his liberal political action over the years and the new Consul General of Greece in Los Angeles, Mrs. Elisavet Fotiadou. Mr. Anagnos expressed his satisfaction that Mr. Giannoulias is a healthcare-reform supporter and has a very good shot at a US Senate seat. Despite the presence of high-profile members of the local Greek-American community and of the entertainment world, the event was relatively quaint, allowing everyone to get a chance to speak to both the hosts and the candidate.

Located in the posh suburb of Brentwood, the Gianopulos home was marked by simplicity, yet tasteful design, jiving with the low-profile family lifestyle the Chairman of Fox Studios maintains. The cool back yard provided shelter from the hot summer California sun and made a perfect setting for the visitors who flocked in to meet the rising star in American politics, exchange ideas and socialize with the celebrities.

After the attendees got a chance to taste the Greek-cuisine hoer d’oeuvres, Mr. Gianopulos warmly greeted Mr. Giannoulias with a short, sincere introduction. He stressed that he sees in Alexi a new generation that is needed in the Senate in order to bring meaningful change in the way business is done in Washington. It’s notable that even though Mr. Gianopoulos is generally not involved in political activities, he chose Mr. Giannoulias and opened his home to him.

The passion to make America a better place and motivation to do it that Mr. Gianopulos saw in Alexi becomes obvious when you speak to the candidate or when you hear him speak. Mr.Giannoulias thanked his Greek immigrant parents for teaching him to be a fighter in life and how they instilled on him the belief that in the United States anything is possible if you set your mind on it and work hard at it. He mentioned he was excited to be in Hollywood and joked that if he hadn’t had “other obligations” he would be totally content living at Mr. Gianopulos’ guest house.

The event winded down a little before sunset but not before almost everybody had a chance to speak one-to-one with the promising new star of Greek-American politics. Overall, it was a quiet event, yet one marked by the ever-increasing connection between the show business and the political arena. The catalyst this time: Greek ancestors.

*Alex Mizan is the director of American Hellenic Council



  • Not impressed

    This was about being liberals rather then Greeks. Republican Olympia Snowe is the daughter of Greek immigrants and Republican Charlie Crist is the grandson of Greek immigrants and where is their Hollywood fundraiser?

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  • Michael Stork

    How many people know the name of their US Representative? Or of any US Representative? Do you feel that you are stakeholder? Do you feel the process is evolving? It’s time for a little bit of democracy in the midst of a republic. Make the people’s house truly the people’s house. In a congressional election year, a registered voter may voluntarily have their name entered into a lottery. If randomly chosen, they will be a new US Representative. The purpose of these new legislators will not be to create new bills or serve constituents. But through the budgetary process, vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to the proposed budget put forth by the Presidency. Negotiated & finalized between the Presidency & the US Senate. The President & the US Senate should be able to argue the merits of their proposed budget by winning a simple majority of these new US Representatives. Plus supplemental spending bills.

    Over the course of time all segments of American society could be represented. From a single parent, to a vet, to a teacher, a small business owner, a student, a nurse, homeless, and so on. Society at large would be hopeful that they would be represented after the polls have closed and the votes tallied. A private citizen, would remain primarily a private citizen as a US Representative, and would return to their private life at the end of their term. An individual could serve only one term during their lifetime. Let the individuals who live with the outcomes of Washington have their opinions and voices heard. They will know the importance of their vote directly since they will have to live with the outcome of their vote. During their term and after.

    These new US Representatives would make an appearance in Washington prior to the President presenting the budget. They would take an oath. Meet with members of the Executive Branch and US Senate, who would hear the hopes and needs of these new US Representatives. Hopes for themselves, their family, their community, their region, their state, and their nation. There would be no need for an individual to raise large amounts of money or have large wealth to run for office. These new US Representatives could be part-time representatives. Temps and community could be utilized to support their jobs, or business, and commitments. Confidentiality would be utilized in dealings between the Executive Branch, the Senate, and these new US Representatives. The primary contacts for these new Representatives would be the President, Vice-President, Cabinet Secretaries, and US Senators. Hopefully this will be a humbling and a uniting experience for all.

    It could bring about the end of gerrymandering. New US Representatives would not have to associate themselves with a major party or any party. They would remain a private citizen. One person. One vote.

    Ten day delay and the hopes of a new foundation for democracy. If the President and US Senate approve a budget or supplemental spending bill, and the new US Representatives vote to reject, it will not become law for ten days or until a compromised is reached. The Presidency and the US Senate would poll individuals separately as to why they voted for or against. The nation would know if the budget was approved or rejected by the new US Representatives. But the resources of government would still continue.

    There would be a greater concentration of power in the Presidency and the US Senate. But with this power will be greater visibility. The nation will see which policies or leaders are advancing the needs of the nation. A need for a major party to distinguish itself from the others.

    The media would have to concentrate its resources on the elected and appointed officials. Not the private citizen who volunteered there name for the possibility of selection as a new US Representative, and were so chosen.

    There would be no need for 435 elected officials, who wish to remain in that office, to scurry in raising funds over the next two years and busy themselves with constantly running for office. There would be no need for a Speaker of the House. Nor a majority or minority leader.

    The citizens of this country need to witness the US government at the apex of its elected offices. And this new US Representative process would give them this chance. The citizenry need to have a mechanism that acts as a pressure valve. A new representative process could produce that result. Anyone in this country can grow up to be President. But just think of the more individuals that will have an opportunity to be involved with this new process.