Penn/Swalwell Movie Flap Raises Questions of Consistency, Integrity, and Loyalty

“Crew Walks Off Set of Anti-Gun Film Backed by Sean Penn and Eric Swalwell,” Daily Wire reported Friday. “About 40 people demanded a union contract.”

That’s a huge contradiction of their publicly professed values. Penn is notorious for far-left activist, right down to his friendship with the late “socialist” Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez (he revealingly demanded those who called him a dictator should be jailed!). And Swalwell, currently a congressman with sights set on California’s governorship, is a prominent Democrat whose political career has depended on endorsements from major union groups. That they’re involved in a project where they are enriched and those they purport to champion have to strike to demand a “fair share”  seems a major disconnect.

“‘Workers of the world unite’ — unless it affects our bottom line?”

As for the movie being “anti-gun,” that’s hardly a surprise, albeit with its plot being one cop “accidentally” shooting another cop (and then hitting on the widow), it’s tough to see how it makes the case that police should be the “Only Ones” with guns.

Penn (with his connections no doubt bolstered when he played former  San Francisco Democrat political icon– and “Rev.” Jim Jones pal– Harvey Milk) was as one of the few residents able to get a carry permit denied to all his “fans,” and then losing both guns he was licensed for when he left them in his car, which was broken into. That he was not disqualified from owing them after it was reported he beat former wife Madonna with a baseball bat may be due to elitist privilege or simple envy for  job well done, but in any case, he gave up his “cowardly killing machines” and had them “decommissioned” to satisfy Charlize Theron, a gal with issues of her own, who then promptly ghosted him.

Swalwell’s another gun prohibitionist with cognitive dissonance realities, starting with his once having been given an “A” grade and endorsed by NRA before turning into an avowed “enemy” (his words). It’s fair to wonder what he promised the Association he stood for on its candidate questionnaire, especially since now that he has political power he not only opposes everything the membership stands for, but has even floated the idea of “nuking” gun owners who resist confiscation.

As for what motivates Swalwell to lend his name to the project, his comparatively small net worth to other Democrat politicians suggests it’s not just power he’s pursuing, and his name could open doors with the “right” people. What other qualifications does he have to be listed as an “executive producer,” one who insists he has “had no involvement in the business decisions”? What else has been expected of him? He gets name credit and doesn’t have to do anything? One could almost speculate it’s a workaround from campaign contribution and/or expenditure laws.

“The move apparently prompted Penn’s Projected Picture Works and its partners to remove their names from the film, the Daily Caller article continues, and Swalwell is not far behind in once more abandoning allies in favor of self-interest.

“Should [fair outcome] not be achieved, I will remove my name from the film’s screen credits,” he promises.

Removing his name from being seen in the credits is one thing—being an executive producer involves contracts and lawyers. Will it also remove financial obligations, and can that be done unilaterally without provoking a lawsuit?

In any case, adding this to his dissolution with NRA, his first wife, and Chinese spy Fang Fang, severing relationships appears to be one thing he’s good at, making it fair to wonder why any constituent would trust him to remain true to them.

About David Codrea:

David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” is a regularly featured contributor to Firearms News, and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.