TVSquad

Non-profit advocacy group People for the American Way are hosting a ten-day charity auction that includes some mighty tempting television-related items. If you've got the cash, TV-loving friends and an altruistic spirit, consider your holiday shopping complete. Up for grabs are set visits to Desperate Housewives and CSI: Miami, tours of South Park Studios and the Playboy Mansion, signed scripts from Family Guy and Oz, signed books by Al Franken and James Carville, lunch with Elvira at the Magic Castle and an invite to a table read with the cast of Family Guy.

How did a Washington-based advocacy group get so connected to the Left Coast? One of the organization's founders is none other than Norman Lear, the man who created The Jeffersons, Good Times, Maude and All in the Family.

In their own words, People for the American Way "seeks to counter the forces of social discord and fragmentation with an affirmation of 'the American Way.' By this we mean respect for diversity; freedom of thought, expression, and religion; equal justice; and a sense of community." Sounds like something you can get behind? It's general enough, but just in case you're not fully-aware of their political leanings, here's another way they put it: "PFAW has been fighting the Religious Right for twenty-five years, protecting against the Right's backward vision of bending America's politics to reflect their narrow political vision." That's a little more to the point.

Norman Lear's involvement in the organization, which recently celebrated its 25th year in existence, started when he began to see televangelists conflating Christian belief with politics. He was concerned that the idea of "being a good Christian" would come to mean holding a prescribed set of political views. He basically foresaw the rise in power of the Religious Right. In response, he created a television ad, which you can see here. That television spot was so popular that it led to the creation of People for the American Way.

You don't need to count yourself among Hollywood's "liberal elite" to support the organization. Their principals are ones that most anyone can get behind - including South Park's Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who usually hold everyone suspect. The best thing to do is check PFAW out for yourself by visiting their website. And, if you've got the disposable income, buy the TV Squad reader in your life some behind-the-scenes magic. Auction ends on December 13th.