Commentary: From Rob Reiner, a life of political activism driven by compassion. From Trump, a grave dance

"I had lunch with him once at Pete's Cafe in downtown L.A., where he was far less interested in what was on his plate than what was on his mind. He was advocating for local investments in early childhood development programs, using funds from the tobacco tax created by Proposition 10 in 1998, which he helped spearhead. I remember thinking that although political activism among celebrities was nothing new, Reiner was well beyond the easier tasks of making endorsements and hosting fundraisers."

""He was deeply passionate," said Ben Austin, who was at that lunch and worked as an aide to Reiner at the time. "He was not just a Hollywood star ... but a highly sophisticated political actor." Reiner, who was found dead in his Brentwood home over the weekend along with his wife, Michele, also was co-founder of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which was instrumental in the fight to legalize same-sex marriage in California in 2008."

"Michele Singer Reiner was her husband's "intellectual partner" as an activist, Austin said, even though he was usually the one whose face we saw. But Michele made her voice heard too, as she did when emailing me about the inexcusable crisis of veterans living on the street, including on the West L.A. veterans administration campus at a time when it was loaded with empty buildings."

Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner were found dead in their Brentwood home. Reiner unapologetically stated his positions and led local efforts to limit commercial development in Malibu. He advocated funding for early childhood development using tobacco-tax dollars from Proposition 10, which he helped spearhead. Reiner co-founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights and helped legalize same-sex marriage in California in 2008. Michele Singer Reiner was his intellectual partner and raised concerns about veterans living on the street and empty VA buildings. Ben Austin called Reiner deeply passionate and a highly sophisticated political actor beyond routine celebrity activism.

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