Celebrities have always thrown their hats into the political ring.

Long before Ronald Reagan ran for governor of California, he was president of the Actor’s Guild and used his position and influence to aid Sen. Joseph McCarthy in fingering communists in Hollywood.

From Daffy Duck collecting tin to Clark Gable selling war bonds, Hollywood’s elite did their part to stop Hitler by performing in short films for the War Department.

In those days, actors worked under contract for the studios, and their politics were a matter of studio policy.

These days, actors are an independent lot. Their politics are their own, and they use their names and faces to draw attention to issues that matter to them.

In order to raise public awareness, Marlon Brando snubbed the Oscars in favor of having his award collected by a Native American woman who gave the business to the attendees.

Instances such as this do not occur without rancor. From “Firing Line” to “Washington Week in Review,” the debate over actors with an agenda has caused controversy.

Richard Gere took flack for creating an awkward moment by asking everyone watching the Oscars to send their positive thoughts to the people of Tibet.

Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins were banned for one year for using the same podium to bring awareness to the death penalty debate.

In an industry where issues turn into big budget films, Robbins has a reputation for being political. The writer and director of “Dead Man Walking” sees his role quite differently.

“I’ve never said I’m political,” Robbins told Movie Talk. “A few people have attached that label to me. A political person is able to move up ladders because they are political, I do films that raise questions. If you want to call me a humanist I’m more into that than being called political or liberal or whatever.”

Actor Alec Baldwin has been outspoken against those who criticize actors for getting involved with politics.

“If General Motors tries in their direct interest to influence public policy, nobody asks any questions.” Baldwin said in a Movie Talk interview. “And yet when someone stands up and simply wants to influence public policy or have the same access to the media as a big, important corporation like General Motors for the reason of raising people’s consciousness, people have all kinds of questions about that.”

Baldwin says the discrepancy between what is acceptable for corporations and private individuals is hypocritical and without foundation.

“It’s acceptable to not question when General Motors does it in a direct effort to line their pockets but when celebrities want to do it simply to inform people about issues they think are important, everybody gets all freaked out and wonders ‘why are all those actors doing all that talking about those issues’ and I’ve never been able to understand that.”

Even last year’s Oscar ceremony was marred by controversy when director Elia Kazan was presented with a lifetime achievement award in spite of his finger-pointing during the McCarthy era.

Many stars refused to applaud or even uncross their arms, showing their objection to the award.

Whether it ruffles feathers or not, actors do play a role in public policy. Outspoken NRA frontman Charlton Heston has taken his fair share of criticism. The veteran explained his political stance simply.

“That’s just the kind of country we live in.”