Left darling Jane Fonda to play Right darling Nancy Reagan

In one of the more bizarre casting decisions in memory Variety is reporting that Jane Fonda, darling of the Left, anti-war activist and feminist champion has been tapped to play Nancy Reagan, darling of the Right, staunch conservative and champion of so-called "traditional" values, in the upcoming film "The Butler". The film follows the story of White House butler Eugene Allen who served presidents from Harry Truman to Ronald Reagan until retiring in 1986. Perhaps Fonda is taking her lead from noted liberal Meryl Streep who did pretty well for herself playing the Iron Lady (and Reagan ally) Margaret Thatcher.

The movie will be directed by Lee Daniels ("Precious") and several roles are yet to be cast with Liam Nesson reportedly in talks to play President Lyndon B. Johnson.