Ex-Bush Aide: "Swing Vote" Stolen From Me

NEW YORK — A former presidential aide claims in a lawsuit that plot and marketing elements of the Kevin Costner and Kelsey Grammer movie "Swing Vote" were stolen from him.

Political commentator Bradley Blakeman, a former deputy assistant to President Bush for appointments and scheduling, said in the lawsuit filed Thursday that he gave a copyrighted screenplay entitled "Go November" to Grammer in 2006.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court on Long Island, claims Grammer agreed to develop the project and star as an incumbent Republican president but ended up portraying a similar role in "Swing Vote," which was released Aug. 1.

A spokesman for Grammer and his production company, both named in the lawsuit, dismissed the claims as frivolous.

"I am not sure why Kelsey was even named in this suit," spokesman Stan Rosenfield wrote in an e-mail. "He was an actor who signed on to the project AFTER the script was written."

Blakeman's lawsuit, however, claims the former "Cheers" and "Frasier" actor told him to consult a producer who later told him repeatedly that they were interviewing potential screenwriters and planned to go ahead with the project.

The lawsuit claims Blakeman's screenplay shared a basic premise with "Swing Vote," although it focused on an election hinging on multiple swing voters instead of one swing voter.

Blakeman claims "Swing Vote" incorporated other elements that he proposed, including: the timing of the film's release, the use of real-life newscasters as actors playing themselves, the use of dirty tricks by both major political parties, marketing strategies and other plot points.

"Essentially, except for the character names and the relationship developed between the main characters played by defendant Kevin Costner and his daughter, the entire concept of 'Swing Vote' ... was taken from the copyrighted work," Blakeman's lawsuit claims.

The Walt Disney Co. is named as a defendant in the suit, as is Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group Inc. and Disney division Touchstone Pictures, which distributed "Swing Vote." Costner and the writers of "Swing Vote" also are among those named.

Spokeswomen for Disney and for distributor Treehouse Films said they hadn't seen the lawsuit and wouldn't comment. A spokesman for Costner, who helped finance the movie, said the "Dances with Wolves" and "Field of Dreams" actor was on vacation and couldn't be reached.

Blakeman's lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

Grammer was hospitalized in New York in late July after feeling faint, which Rosenfield said was possibly due to his heart medication. Grammer suffered a mild heart attack in late May.

Comments

[PATina]

Is this that craxy dude that shows up on all the political news shows spouting Republican talking points? hahahahahahahahaha. I'd take this more seriously if this dude ever seemed to have an original thought... however, all he does is show up on tv saying all the same ridiculous statements over and over and over again. I could even recite his spiel by heart.... hahahahaha­hahahahaha­ha

[bolobill]

This is not an original screenplay by this Republican con man. Is it surprising that he claims ownership of somebody else's idea?

This is clearly based on Garson Kanin's screenplay and movie, "The Great Man Votes" starring John Barrymore in his last role worth watching. Sobered up to make this movie, and it is wonderful. And, oddly similar to "Swing Vote". Take a look, you'll like it.

[jukesgrrl]

I thought Republicans were supposed to be against frivolous lawsuits. Suck it up, Brad.

[Boboday555]

Here we go again, another filthy republican trying to take credit for something they had nothing to do with.
Whether it's Ronald 'Ray-Gun' taking credit for the Berlin Wall coming down (when it was clearly the Pope and oil going from $10/ barrel to $80/barell) or silly republicans on capital hill taking credit for the recent drop in oil by the sheer power of their hillbilly intellect, these childish republicans are a shameless.
But, you really can't blame these publicity hunting republican politicans, everytime they float one of these ridiculous ideas, their mouth breathing base gobbles it up as Gospel.

[BushBites]

I love watching one Repub sue another.

After he's done with Kelsey Grammer, maybe this goof can go after Jon Voight and Ron Silver.

[josephbua]

Thanks, you saved me some typing. Which of course I have now not saved because I'm spending it thanking you for this comment.

[MBryant]

Well since the GOP stole the last two last elections - including in 2004 in New Mexico which was a margin of only a few hundred votes and Gonzales was willing to fire a raft of Federal Marshalls to cover up - I guess it's only fair that one of theirs gets the screenplay rights to that tragedy stolen from him.

Only fair? i guess there's nothing fair about it.

[leftLibertarian]

Boo Hoo Hoo. I'm playing my tiny violin for you.

[tfred]

Jeez, a Bush aide got screwed in a Hollywood deal. How's it feel? You all have been doing it to the country for seven years now.

[youknowwhat]

Two words anybody in the Bush neocon crime family administration should never use are, stolen and votes.

[mscriblerus]

This is funny....b­ecause it's true.

[GuyFawkes]

Blakeman+C­ostner+Gra­mmer= 3 right wingers suing each other.

Great news!

[MiddleRoadLiberal]

I can't find anything that shows Costner as a right winger, but here's a site that shows he's contributed to mostly dems, especially in more recent years. There were contributions to Phil Gramm in 1990 and 95 though. He also donated to Gore and Kerry.

[MiddleRoadLiberal]

Oops. Here:

http://www.newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/Kevin_Costner.php

[xargaw]

I am no fan of Blakeman. His appearance on Dan Abrams program is generally annoying and without truth. Grammer on the other hand is a good actor, but personally, a GOP apologist as well. In a dispute between these two it is not possible to root for either one. You want both of them to loose.

[MiddleRoadLiberal]

I agree. I actually sometimes won't watch Abrams solely because I cannot stand to watch Blakeman. He is such an apologist in the worst ways, and it's annoying that Abrams has to look impartial by allowing his b.s. go unchallenged. He sometimes even gives him the last word. Blakeman is also never shy about accusing others of that famous liberal media bias. Fortunately Abrams has that plastic face-looking editor from HuffPo on to correct him.

[Hughsie]

If we had more people like Blakeman in America, we'd have a lot less people in America. THIS GUY IS NAUSEATING!!

[catsmom]

He's such an idiot!

[levibatgirl]

I can't stand him! What a little whiner.

[unitron]

Isn't this guy too old to be the reincarnation of Isaac Asimov, who wrote the short story from which the "one guy does the voting for everybody" idea came?

'Cause that's the only way he can claim credit.

[kellygrrrl]

Blakeman is one of the most annoying and dishonest idiots on TV these days

is he just trying to get publicity - get his name out there?

every time I see him on MSNBC I want to throw something

[rbrinega]

Brad Blakeman's uprightness and truthfulness have made his claim about the "Swing Vote" movie perfectly plausible -- NOT!!!!!