How these top celebrities became accidental members of this ultraconservative political party
Some of California's top celebrities got a surprise when the Los Angeles Times informed their representatives they were members of the ultraconservative American Independent Party.
The Times investigation revealed a majority of people in the party, which opposes abortion rights and same-sex marriage, might be in it by mistake.
That was the case for several A-listers with Democratic leanings, including Sugar Ray Leonard, Demi Moore and Emma Stone.
Kaley Cuoco issued her own statement to The Times suggesting she wants to change her registration immediately, after learning she was among those who believed they were declaring that they preferred no party affiliation when they checked the box for the American Independent Party.
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“The views of this party do not accurately reflect my personal beliefs and I am not affiliated with any political party,” Cuoco, best known for her role on “The Big Bang Theory,” told The Times. “As such, I am taking the necessary steps to immediately remove my name as a member of this voting party.”
Stone is mistakenly affiliated with the party and plans to change her registration before the June election, a representative told The Times.
A representative said Leonard, who contributed to both President Obama and the Democratic National Committee in 2012, is taking steps to correct his registration and leave the AIP.
Moore has both contributed money to and campaigned for President Obama.
She appeared in a celebrity-packed 2009 public service video proclaiming “to be a servant to our president” because “together we will be the change that we seek.”
Her registration as an AIP member is wrong, a representative said.
“Demi Moore is not, nor has ever been, a member of the American Independent Party,” the representative said.
“Any record that states otherwise is a mistake.”
Celebrity yogi Rainbeau Harmony Mars plans to vote for Hillary Clinton in California's June 7 primary. She'll need to change her registration first, since Democrats only allow voters with no party preference to participate.
“I guess I was misinformed,” she said in a phone interview. “I remember marking ‘independent,’ and I just wanted to...choose depending on who I liked.”
Mars says environmentalism guides most of her voting decisions.
“I try to be neutral, in yoga and health, to be for everyone,” she said, and she doesn’t ascribe to all of the traditionally liberal political stances. “I was raised by hippies, and I can see a lot of the falsities in that too.”
She said she was shocked to hear some of the platforms of the American Independent Party.
“I’m definitely not opposed to same-sex marriage, and I think the wall is a really dumb idea,” Mars said. “I believe in one humanity, and honestly, multiple colors.
“I feel misled. I feel that it should be more clear when you say ‘independent’ -- it should be in bold letters...very clearly, what does the party support.”
The Times found Actor Aaron Eckhart in the voter database as being registered with the American Independent Party.
A representative insisted the “Dark Knight Returns” star is “an ‘independent’ voter,” no matter what the records show.
Eckhart also appeared in the video tied to public service when Obama was inaugurated. Watch it:
Times staff writers Lauren Raab, Christina Bellantoni, Julie Westfall and Anthony Pesce contributed to this report.
ALSO:
Are you a member of the American Independent Party? Find out using our database
Your voices: Readers share how they became accidental AIP members
Colleen's story: That time I realized I was registered with the wrong party
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