Republicans needs to work within the Hollywood system, not against it.
My reason for writing this post is to further the cause of the arts. There is no political message beyond that.
Sean Penn's Oscar speech may well work as a lighting rod to shame the supposed "bigots" who would deny equals rights to gay men and women and thier desire to marry.
Right wing talk radio has Hollywood all wrong though. Hannity and Rush demonize actors and attempt to deter thier rabid listeners from paying heed to celebs. They are failing. Celebrities have more power to fashion public opinion than Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and John Boehner combined. Why? Americans love thier stars. Especially young Americans. Future voters are listening to Sean Penn and creating thier worldview based on his (and other hollywood types) assesment of what is right and what is wrong. This may shock you. This may enrage you. You may want to deny this, but consider: Our country has moved constently and rapidly to the left on social issues from abortion to womens rights to civil cases to interracial dating and to yes "gay rights" over the last 30 years. Essentially, on social issues, our country has taken it's lead from Hollywood.
If the right wing was smart (they are not) rather than fighting Hollywood they would join them. Conservatives would work within the system to promote "tradtional values" films with celebrities who embraced their moral code. I know there are social conservatives who would like to embrace the arts but they need to be supported by the right...not ridiculed. They need to be ecouraged. The "traditional values" message is currently not competetive on Hollywood.
Remember the movie "Wall Street"? Gordon Gecko's message "greed is good" was embraced by a generation of wall streeters. It defined the wall street message through the 80's untill today. Alex P Keaton made being a Republican fun. Yet, Republicans denounce spending on the arts. Even now they are trashing NEA spending rather than embracing it and working within the system to promote art that would strengthen thier message.
Like it or not celebrities are giving moral cues to the next generation. Cultivate another Jimmy Stewart and Republicans will understand the power of the Oscar.