Drew Carey, a Man of 'Reason'

By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts
October 29, 2007

So it turns out Drew Carey isn't practically the only Republican in Hollywood after all. He's practically the only Libertarian!

"Just because I make fun of Democrats doesn't make me a Republican," the comic smirked when we asked about his politics at a Dupont Circle reception Saturday for the Reason Foundation, the libertarian think tank that helped Carey find his way. "I picked up an issue of [its] magazine and agreed with every word in it. You don't know what you are sometimes until someone puts a name to it."

Now he's returning the favor with a series of Web videos (the latest extols private-sector roads to reduce congestion) that try "to take the wonkiness out of Reason. . . . I want to make it all pie charts and bright colors." Is it hard for libertarians to make their case? "Clearly!" he said with a laugh. "The free-market part of it the Republicans like, but they don't like the free-mind part, while the Democrats like the free-mind stuff but not the free markets."

The former Marine reservist (who put on his trademark glasses here only to pose for photos) arrived with a gaggle of young women in sparkly black dresses -- co-hostesses from his new "The Price Is Right" gig who visited Walter Reed with him Thursday.

So are these free-market/free-mind kind of ladies, Drew? "I don't know -- I've never really talked politics with them."
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Drew Carey leads 'smoke-in' to protest ban

April 1, 1998

WEST HOLLYWOOD, California (CNN) -- Fuming over a "stupid" California law that bans smoking in bars, comedian Drew Carey took action -- and a cigarette -- into his own hands.

"I don't think there should be a total ban," Carey said Tuesday through a cloud of smoke inside Barney's Beanery, a bar, restaurant and pool hall in West Hollywood. "It should be up to each bar owner and patron to decide if they want to smoke or not."

About a dozen other protesters also puffed away on cigars and cigarettes in a publicity stunt sponsored by Reason magazine, which was promoting a newly released book on the "anti- smoking crusade."

Smoking in bars became illegal in January to protect California's 850,000 bar employees from the health hazards of secondhand smoke.

State legislators banned smoking in most indoor workplaces in 1995, including the non-bar areas of restaurants. But a temporary exemption was granted to some 35,000 bars, casinos and bar-restaurants.

Comedian not penalized; bar owner faces fine
Owners who allow smoking can be fined several hundred dollars for each infraction. Customers can also be fined. Employees of Barney's Beanery did their duty, telling the protesters they were breaking the law.

Carey and the others did not receive a citation from police, but West Hollywood Mayor Steve Martin told reporters that bar owner Irwin Held would face a "small fine."

"Ultimately, if there are other infractions, he's going to be shut down," the mayor added.

"It's smoking today," Held said. "Tomorrow it will be beer, and the next day liquor. Hopefully they'll rescind the ban and give people freedom of choice."

"We're losing our freedoms right and left," said Gordon Wilson, a nonsmoker who held a burning cigarette inside the bar. "It's time people stood up or it will continue to go downhill. I have nothing against people who don't want smoke blown in their faces. I avoid it myself. But this is going way too far."

Carey, whose popular TV sitcom airs on ABC, is the first celebrity to speak out against the smoking ban. But Martin said he's "disappointed" in the comedian.
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