WASHINGTON — Had the decision been up to a casting director, Dan Glickman might never have gotten a callback to play Hollywood's leading man in Washington.
First, there's his look. The Motion Picture Assn. of America president wears cowboy boots in lieu of Gucci, off-the-rack sports jackets instead of Armani.
Then there are his previous roles: 18-year Democratic congressman and six-year Clinton Cabinet member. Not exactly a resume to open doors as a lobbyist in a partisan town where Republicans control Congress and the White House.
So far Glickman is playing against type, both in looks and in the job. He's trying to prove that Democratic-tilting Hollywood can play ball with the Republicans in power if it means making legislative inroads on such issues as trade and movie piracy.
To that end, Glickman recently made two key hires: John Feehery, a former aide to House Speaker Dennis J. Hastert (R-Ill.), as his chief spokesman and veteran GOP lobbyist Stacy Carlson to head government affairs. Glickman also made his first-ever Republican contribution at a Los Angeles fundraiser, joking that his hand trembled as he wrote the check.
"I recognize I need to build bridges to the Republican Congress," Glickman said, adding, "I'm certainly not going to run from the fact that I'm a Democrat."
Glickman had to move quickly. When he took over the MPAA last September, Republicans greeted him with skepticism.
Predecessor Jack Valenti, who retired after 38 years, was a Democrat, but over the years he worked his legendary charm on both sides of the aisle. Glickman's hiring came as Republicans were in a firefight with scores of Hollywood celebrities and executives, who raised money for Democratic candidates and were often scathing in their criticisms of President Bush.
Some Republicans believed Glickman might prove too partisan. Grover Norquist, a Republican operative and president of Americans for Tax Reform, called the former Agriculture secretary's hiring "a studied insult."
But Glickman's efforts to reach out to all sides are easing the concerns of Norquist and other initial skeptics, who say Glickman is making clear that he is putting the MPAA's agenda above politics.
"Dan's from Kansas, the reddest of the red states, and these issues that he is pursuing are bipartisan issues ... concerning jobs, economic trade and protecting intellectual property," said Erik V. Huey, a Washington lawyer who represents such clients as the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
