Rob Reiner's Informed Activism and Enduring Optimism

Key Quotes

"when people would say to me 'well what do you think of his politics ' i would say 'i think rob reiner is a great patriot do i agree with some of or many of his ideas on how that patriotism should be enacted to celebrate the america that we both love ' no but he doesn't agree with me either but he also respects my patriotism"

James Woods, a self-described die-hard conservative, argues that Rob Reiner's political engagement stemmed from patriotism, even if they disagreed on specific ideas. Woods highlights that Reiner's approach was one of mutual respect for differing views on how to best serve America. This perspective suggests Reiner's activism was rooted in a shared love for the country, rather than partisan division.

"he acknowledged that we're seemingly in a dark and backward moving time but that in the arc of american history as martin luther king said you know the moral arc of the universe does eventually or justice and he seemed very hopeful about the ultimate future of the united states and of our experiment with the you know 250 years of a democratic republic as he put it"

Todd Purdum explains that Rob Reiner, despite recognizing contemporary challenges, maintained a profound optimism about America's future. Purdum notes Reiner's belief in the long-term trajectory of justice, referencing Martin Luther King Jr.'s philosophy. This quote demonstrates Reiner's hopeful outlook on the endurance of the American democratic experiment.

"he learned that an entertainment person could have a role in public life especially if he did his homework and he was determined always to do that he didn't want to be mocked by the right with half baked views and hadn't done his homework on the issues that he cared about"

Todd Purdum recounts Rob Reiner's lesson learned from Norman Lear about civic engagement. Purdum emphasizes Reiner's commitment to thorough research and preparation before engaging in public discourse. This shows Reiner's dedication to informed activism, aiming to avoid superficial arguments.

"he explained the effort to interviewer charlie rose when i hit on this i knew this was a way to go this was an answer to really having an impact on crime teen pregnancy drug abuse child abuse welfare dependency and virtually every other societal problem"

Rob Reiner, speaking to Charlie Rose, describes his initiative to tax tobacco for early childhood education. Reiner articulates his belief that this program was a comprehensive solution to a wide range of societal issues. This quote illustrates Reiner's proactive approach to addressing complex social problems through policy.

"it's the last piece of the civil rights puzzle that's being put into place it's the the uh lgbt community is the only community that is not looked at equally under the law now"

Rob Reiner, speaking on MSNBC, frames the fight for transgender rights as a continuation of the broader civil rights movement. Reiner asserts that the LGBT community was the last group facing unequal legal standing. This quote highlights Reiner's perspective on the ongoing struggle for equality under the law.