Rundowns of our favorite right-wingers.
Stephen Baldwin
The brother of Alec Baldwin and star of movies like Threesome and The Sex Monster has started up a conservative youth ministry. He decries Hollywood while desperately clinging to his C-list status.
By Rebecca Foerg-Spittel
February 18, 2010
Stephen Baldwin talks about how trashy Hollywood is while starring in skeevy reality TV shows. (August J. Pollak)
Stephen Baldwin is the star of such films as The Sex Monster, Threesome, and Bio-Dome, and such culturally enriching TV shows as the UK version of Celebrity Big Brother and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. Despite his acting career, the role Baldwin really relishes is that of born-again Christian trying to lead a young flock with the lure of extreme sports into his youth ministry. Baldwin’s newest venture is XPAC, the new subset of the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) for the young, Facebook-savvy, conservative. XPAC and CPAC kick off today in Washington, D.C.
Stephen Baldwin is the youngest of the Baldwin clan, and lives in the acting shadow of his older brother, Alec. He was born in Massapequa, New York, in 1966 to Carol Newcomb, a breast cancer survivor who founded a breast cancer care center at the University Hospital and Medical Center at Stony Brook, and Alexander Rae Baldwin Jr., a high school teacher and football coach. He has three brothers – Alec, Daniel, and William — each famous in his own right, and two sisters. Baldwin married his wife, Kennya, in 1990, and has two daughters.
Early in his career, Baldwin led a morally questionable Hollywood lifestyle—drinking excessively and doing cocaine, but a month after the attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, Baldwin was baptized and became a born-again Christian. His spiritual transformation was inspired by his wife’s earlier embrace of Christianity, who in turn was inspired by the vibrant faith of their housekeeper.
Since then, he’s embarked on several attempts to bring young people into the fold of the conservative movement by giving it a cool factor with extreme sports, loud music, and a just-one-of-the-guys attitude. To accomplish this, he founded the Breakthrough Ministry, which he describes as “hardcore,” bringing the world of “Xtreme” sports together with a Christian ministry. The ministry brings sports stars across the country on “AsSalt Tours” to cities and communities to get them interested in Jesus. The website, with little mention of God, Jesus, or Christianity, even has the tagline “Adrenaline Central.”
The charming and goofy Baldwin tells his story in his 2006 book, The Unusual Suspect, published by the niche publisher Faith Words. Since then, Baldwin has been the celebrity staple at conservative events like the Family Research Council’s Value Voters Summit and CPAC. He’s put his two cents in on politics, endorsing Mike Huckabee for president in the last election, then John McCain, even going so far as to declare on Fox that if Obama won, he would leave the United States. He hasn’t.
Baldwin also talks about conservatism and Christianity on his radio show with Kevin McCullough, a conservative talking head, with whom Baldwin is co-sponsoring the XPAC venture. XPAC is another attempt to get kids interested in conservatism as though it is something “Xtreme,” with a contest based on changing your Facebook “Profile Pic,” and a series of “Epic Nites,” a series of discussions culminating in “Conservative Awards” night, which plans to honor conservative "investigative journalist" James O’Keefe, who has recently been arrested by the FBI for charges of illegally tapping the phones of U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu.
All this glitz and rubber, these attempts to make following Jesus seem akin to a video game is pretty weird, and feels like a bait and switch (here, look at this incredible BMX rider, oh wait, join the church). But Baldwin is nothing if not a showman, and has always loved sports and adventure. There’s definitely a sense on his website that he truly embraces that macho “Xtreme” vibe.
Baldwin’s career has been more bizarre than his "Xtreme" ministry. While he’s been embracing Jesus and trying to spread the word, he’s also been clinging to his pitiful amount of Hollywood fame by participating in reality TV shows like The Celebrity Apprentice, Celebrity Mole, Celebrity Big Brother, and—perhaps the most embarrassing—I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here. At the Christian conservative Family Research Council’s Values Voters Summit in 2008, Baldwin went on a rampage about Gossip Girl and its irreverent advertising campaign. He raged against the breakdown of culture due to Hollywood’s disgusting choices, and declared that there will be no America in thirty years, “if this keeps up.”
As Baldwin speaks to audiences at conferences, on his radio show, and in TV interviews about culture needing to be saved, he clings to the image of “Stevie B,” the offbeat Baldwin brother, hobnobbing with reality TV stars who don’t lead Christian lifestyles, just so that he can still be an actor and maintain his celebrity status. Reality TV shows contribute to the so-called cultural breakdown that Baldwin rails against. Gossip Girl can’t be worse than much of reality television.
When Baldwin met Miley Cyrus and showed her some of his tattoos, she suggested he get a Hannah Montana tattoo. If he did it, she would get him a guest spot on her show. Baldwin did just that, burning an “HM” tattoo into his skin soon after. The guest spot on her show has yet to materialize. His pathetic attempts to cling to celebrity status don’t seem to be doing much good: Baldwin slid into bankruptcy last summer.
In His Own Words:
“What is freaky to me is the media and Hollywood is so convinced that Middle America and mainstream America cares what it thinks.”
—On Hollywood (and himself?), Just in with Laura Ingraham, June 25, 2008
"Why do they say that four more years of McCain is four more years of Bush? That’s the most stupidest thing I’ve ever heard in my life."
— On Laura Ingraham’s "Just In" show on FOX News before the 2008 election
“You’d do far more good if you just preached the gospel of Jesus rather than trying to get rid of third world debt relief.”
—On Bono’s work in Africa, The Guardian, Jan. 17, 2010
“Not a lot of individuals get to refer to the Lord in their prayers as ‘Dude,’ but he’s doing a new thing with me.”
—On his relationship with God, The Guardian, Jan. 17, 2010
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Baldwin’s sponsorship of XPAC is pretty funny. It’s supposed to be the “cool” place to be at CPAC. But their own promotion says it’s just a place to play video games and eat junk food. Because that’s all kids are into?
— News Corpse - Feb 18, 11:48 AM - #It also sounds like XPAC isn’t very popular. Way to go Stephen?
— ksteiger - Feb 18, 04:13 PM - #“Xtreme”??? Doesn’t he mean “Christreme”? Why do elitist Hollywood types hate the name of Jesus Christ?
(I think I’ve been watching too much “Colbert Report.”)
— Keith F. Odom - Feb 18, 04:18 PM - #Come to know a lot of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and threesome at B i M i n g l e . C o m . they are brave enough to explore more of life.
— Lindaonting - Feb 20, 04:57 AM - #THE EARLIEST “HATE” CRIMINALS
If you can’t guess the people I have in mind, I’ll give you some clues—-clues found in a major world religion that is many centuries old. I’ll call it Religion X. Religion X traces its roots back to the First Couple, Adam and Eve. They were on earth before any other form of worship—-before Islam (appearing 14 centuries ago), before Hinduism or Buddhism (appearing 25 centuries ago), before even the worship of various gods in Mesopotamia (60 centuries ago). Early on, Religion X’ers were told by their God: “Love your neighbor—-and even the stranger who dwells among you—-as much as you love yourself.” But it wasn’t long before Religion X began rebelling against the laws of the One who had blessed and preserved it so much. In response God warned: “All those who hate me love death.” After centuries of hating their God (which predictably led to hatred of fellow humans, God’s creations), Religion X’ers were allowed by God to be conquered and transported to ancient Babylon where they experienced a 1,600-year-long “vacation.” If you haven’t guessed yet, the religion I’m describing is Judaism. But don’t stop reading. The most shocking stuff is just ahead! While in Babylon, the “wise men” among the people began formulating new laws which supposedly supplemented and explained the time-tested Old Testament writings. But the new rules actually contradicted and eventually replaced the original laws! The “new and improved” laws are collectively known as the Talmud. Even though rabbis are Talmudic experts, probably not one Jew in a thousand (and not one non-Jew in ten thousand) knows what is in the Talmud. Without further delay, here’s some of the Talmud’s “wisdom” (plus sources): (I) THE TALMUD HATES SCIENCE: Hyenas turn into bats after seven years, and later on turn into thorns and demons (Baba Kamma, 16a). Being naked in front of a lamp causes epilepsy (Pesahim, 112b). There’s medicinal value in dirt found in an outhouse’s shadow, also in a white dog’s excrement (Gittin, 69a,b). (II) THE TALMUD HATES FEMALES: The birth of a girl is an unhappy event (Baba Bathra, 16b). It is never good to talk too much to women including one’s own wife (Aboth, 1.5). All women are “temperamentally light-headed” (Kiddushin, 80b). It is okay to divorce your wife if she spoils your food, or if you find a more beautiful woman (Gittin, 91a). (III) THE TALMUD HATES CHILDREN: It is lawful for a girl three years old to have sexual intercourse (Abodah Zarah, 37a; Kethuboth, 11b,39a; Sanhedrin, 55b,69a,b; Yebamoth, 12a,57b,58a,60b). When a man commits sodomy with a boy under nine years of age, it “is not deemed as pederasty” (Sanhedrin, 54b,55a). Sexual intercourse with a boy under the age of eight is lawful since it isn’t fornication (Sanhedrin, 69b). (In other words, Religion X became X-rated! Is it any wonder that many Jewish persons today are liberally involved with the current sexual revolution and are even favorable towards legalization of adult-child sex?) (IV) THE TALMUD HATES ALL NON-JEWS: Since all Gentiles are only animals, all Gentile children are bastards (Yebamoth, 98a). When a non-Jew robs a Jew, he has to pay him back, but if a Jew robs a non-Jew, he doesn’t have to pay him back. Moreover, when a Gentile kills a Jew, the Gentile must be killed, but when a Jew kills a Gentile, “there is no death penalty” (Sanhedrin, 57a). It is okay to “use subterfuges” in a court of law in order to cheat a non-Jew (Baba Kamma, 113a). (V) THE TALMUD HATES CHRIST AND CHRISTIANS: Jesus was born a bastard (Jewish Encyclopedia, “Jesus”; Yebamoth, 49b). Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a whore and “played the harlot with carpenters” (Sanhedrin, 106a,b). Jesus “practised sorcery and enticed Israel to apostacy” (Sanhedrin, 43a). Jesus was punished and sent to Hell where he ended up in “boiling hot excrement” (Gittin, 56b,57a). Christians will go to Hell “and be punished there for all generations” (Rosh Hashanah, 17a). Those who read “the works of the Judeo-Christians, i.e., the New Testament” will end up in Hell (Sanhedrin, 90a). The books of the Christians “may not be saved from a fire, but they must be burnt in their place, they and the Divine Names occurring in them” (Shabbath, 116a). (Now you know what’s been inspiring many of the anti-Christian attitudes and actions these days.) By roughly 500 A.D. Jewish scribes had completed the voluminous Talmud, the written version of what had long been the Jews’ oral tradition—-the tradition that Jesus condemns in the 23rd chapter of Matthew and other parts of the New Testament. Whenever anyone claims that for 1500 years the Talmud needlessly aggravated Gentiles (who in turn put Jews into ghettos and even the Holocaust), Jews can look at even earlier history and claim that the “anti-Jewishness” of the New Testament forced Jews to hit back with their printed version of the Talmud. Actually the New Testament, like a newspaper, merely reflects the true condition of Judaism at that time. If someone could prove that damaging descriptions of Jews never appeared before the New Testament, that would be one thing. But during many centuries prior to Jesus or any Christians, Jews were saying and doing the same things that we find them still saying and doing during New Testament days! If the New Testament record of their words and works is “anti-Semitic,” is the Old Testament record of the same rebelliousness just as “anti-Semitic”? A while ago I was talking with a young woman in Los Angeles who is training to become a rabbi. I asked her about the Talmud. (She seemed shocked I should know so much about it already!) “Oh,” she said, “I don’t think it’s as relevant as it once was.” When I told her that the “hate” movie “The Last Temptation of Christ” was an amazingly accurate reflection of the Talmud—-and that more such “hate” films are in the works because Hollywood takes the Talmud seriously—-she had no explanation. In the future when “hate” laws are passed, will the incredibly hate-filled Talmud and some hate-promoting film studios be swept under the rug?[You are allowed to publish this non-copyrighted article. To avoid the prevalent internet censorship, feel free to change the title to “The Original ‘Hate’ Criminals” (or Crooks, etc.) or “The Earliest ‘Hate’ Rebels” (or People, Persons, etc.) or “The History of Hate” (or the Jews, the Hebrews, Judaism, etc.) or any other meaningful title, or no title.]
[Also Google “David Letterman’s Hate, Etc.”]
— Sophie - Feb 28, 01:01 AM - #[The bird-brained HELLywood shmucks affect even our Kansas birds – the HELLywoodized ones with their blaring boombox “mating calls” which scare our little feathered ones. So I am sharing this with all non-shmucks. Karl]
Our songbirds here in MitcHELL County, Kansas want to give the following update on the insane boombox noise here: “The noisiest kid over in the city of Beloink drives an older white sedan with license number 178-BJW. Our owner’s friends in Beloink have told the police about him several times, but it never dawns on the Keystone Kops there that they could use an unmarked car to verify the noise; the kids have cell phones and can warn their friends when they see a marked patrol car coming. “And it never dawns on the anti-social psychopaths (who may be making up for the lack of noisy rattles in their infancy) that their unlawful noise may be harming a sick baby or someone whose night job forces him to sleep days – or even some veteran who can get “flashbacks” of battlefield cannon booms! “It’s obvious that many Kansas kids are no longer Christians, or patriotic Americans, or even human because they have been slowly brainwashed and mentally enslaved by leftist, anti-family, perverted, unAmerican, Jesus-bashing, Marxist shlemiels and shmucks in HELLywood who exercise their first amendment rights by dangling every known vice before Kansas farm kids while secretly viewing them as red-state “hicks”! After America falls we’ll be able to blame the buyers of HELLywood’s videos and devil music as much as the HELLywood devils themselves! “If you think such music doesn’t create devils, why do little piggy Beloinkers blast quiet neighborhoods even on Sunday mornings during church time? Do those paranoids really think everyone is out to get them and they have to have growling tailpipes for the same reason a dog growls? Since we don’t get to democratically vote whether we want to hear their music or any music, will those “dictators” be happy when God responds in kind by letting America be taken over by a big dictator who will likely ban all “dirty capitalist” noise! Until then, maybe a tornado – or even a nuclear war – will cover up at least some of the noise! “Many other places (like Albuquerque and Reno) have huge fines for boombox noise and even impound offending cars! How can high-crime, gambling towns have better “Kansas values” than a north central Kansas town? “Have the little piggies here heard of headphones? We don’t care if they’re smoking pot and fornicating in the middle of our road at 3 a.m. as long as they’re quiet! North Bell St. over in Beloink is the noisiest place in the county. Would the BELLies care if one of our friends is a veteran a block east of them who might go postal over the noise? As long as the cops do nothing about this, we songbirds will keep singing to the whole world about MitcHELL County!” See what smart birds we have? Karl (in Karl’s Kastle) — Karl - Mar 15, 02:26 AM - #FOR NOISE HATERS
Well, our noise hating songbirds here in MitcHELL County, Kansass have another update on the boombox plague nearby. They tell us that the No. 1 day-and-night boombox champion way over there in the city of Beloink is Aaron Adams in his white 1989 Merc, license no. 178-BJW. (We’ll be happy to publicize any other lowlifes also and also notify their parents.) I wonder if the folks supervising Aaron (when he has on his blue nurse-like clothing) are aware of his great impersonation of someone with neurotic – or worse – impulses! Sometimes it’s hard to tell doctor look-alikes from patients. Speaking of doctors, if any doctor will verify that the No. 1 noise-maker and law-breaker over there in Beloink has caused substantial injuries to at least one person, the city of Beloink and its Keystone Kops, who are well aware of erring Aaron, may soon be sued for damages if they can’t put the clamps on Aaron! PS – The “values” in Kansass are now no better than the “values” in New Yuck or Hell-A !(from Karl in Karl’s Kastle in MitcHELL County, Kansass)
— Karl - Apr 13, 12:30 AM - #