Tony Kushner and Others Appeal to Senators to Ease Up on Zero Dark Thirty

The Carpetbagger reports:

LOS ANGELES— Count Tony Kushner, the “Lincoln” screenwriter, among those who believe several United States Senators went too far when they suggested that Sony Pictures should somehow correct its depiction of torture in “Zero Dark Thirty.”

Mr. Kushner on Monday was among 28 supporters of a letter sent to all 100 Senators objecting to the pressure exerted by three of them — Dianne Feinstein, Carl Levin and John McCain — on “Zero Dark Thirty,” directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Mark Boal. Other supporters, according to Norman Siegel, a lawyer who helped organize the protest, included the lawyers Alan M. Dershowitz, Laurence Tribe and Floyd Abrams.

“History demonstrates, in particular the 1950s McCarthy period, that government officials should not employ their official status and power to attempt to censor, alter or pressure artists to change their expressions, believes, presentations of facts or political viewpoints,” the letter said.

Mr. Kushner has been nominated for an Oscar in the best adapted screenplay category, while Mr. Boal is up for best original screenplay.