Where Alec Baldwin Was Before He Boarded His American Airlines Flight (Video)

With all the discussion of Alec Baldwin getting kicked off an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to New York for playing "Words With Friends," there hasn't been any mention of what he was doing California in the first place.

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People For the American Way Foundation celebrated its 30th anniversary at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Monday, where longtime board member Baldwin was given an award before J.J. Abrams then introduced PFAW founder, television writer and producer Norman Lear.

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"It's taken me 30 years in this business to learn that it's who your co-star is that helps the project works well," Baldwin said of Lear.

The 30 Rock star actually credits his first encounter with Lear -- at a 1988 fundraiser for Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis -- and his joining the group dedicated to defending Constitutional rights as the main motivator to his political ambitions today.

"It was like going to a party and meeting [George] Steinbrenner and being asked to try out for the Yankees," Baldwin said. "In terms of progressive politics, here was this guy I idolized, who had this great, great monolithic career."

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Now more focused on political activism, with acting more of a hobby, Baldwin acknowledged that its been an odd course to take in his 50s.

"I'm a well-to-do, middle-aged white man," he said. "I should be playing 18 holes of golf now and watching Occupy Wall Street footage and wondering what all the fuss is about."

Watch the complete video of Baldwin's speech at PFAW below: