Sean Penn Thrives On Political Activism

Actor Says He Has Experienced Backlash For Talking Politics

(AP)  Sean Penn has experienced backlash for talking openly about his political beliefs, but sees such discussion as more respectable than promoting movies.

"There's baggage attached to coming out publicly on stuff, but there's baggage — in my view, more damaging baggage — to goin' and (appearing) ... on Jay Leno's show, philosophizing about 'Uncle Buck' or whatever you're hawkin'," the Oscar-winning actor tells Esquire magazine in its September issue, on newsstands Wednesday.

Penn, 46, has bitterly criticized President Bush, toured Iraq to observe the war there and helped rescue workers with door-to-door searches for survivors after Hurricane Katrina swamped New Orleans.

"The exemption they make for actors — because you occupy the position they only dreamed about as a child, you can't be an American, too," he says. "You don't get both, because that's just too much."

When asked if he wants the United States to win the war in Iraq, Penn replies: "I think we're past that point in human evolution where there's such a thing as winning wars."

He met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez last week, the latest in a series of celebrities and public figures to visit Chavez, including Danny Glover, Harry Belafonte and Cindy Sheehan, who became a peace activist after her soldier son was killed in Iraq.

During his trip to Venezuela, Penn said he was visiting "as a journalist and so I owe it to that medium to wait until I've digested, fact-checked and finished my journey here" before saying more. He thanked Chavez for the visit.

Penn's next project is behind the camera, as co-writer and director of "Into the Wild," which will be in theaters Sept. 21.

[ralan40]

I bet Jane Fonda feels much better about herself, now

[house015]

Agnim, have you read anything at all about Venezuala? Chavez has control of the media. Bush may arguably have control of Fox news, but otherwise everyone else, including the Dixie Chicks, are welcome to say whatever they want. They just had people disagree with them, which is quite unlike censorship.
As for the Native Americans, there's no way to defend that situation and I won't even try. Bear in mind, though, that the Native Americans were prone to overtaking other tribes, too. The only reason they' didn't officially "invade" was their idea of land ownership. It was another time and you can't directly contrast today's ethics to that day and age standing on a soapbox.

[rational_1]

"See how many people are walking around carrying placards that read "{Insert name of despot here} is a d!ick". Wonder how long you could wander around Venezuela or Cuba carrying something like that.
Posted by rational_1 at 08:03 PM : Aug 06, 2007"

I'm sure they will last as long as the very intimidated and frightened Dixie Chicks lasted from saying even less.
Posted by Agnim at 01:44 AM : Aug 07, 2007


Not so fast - big difference here. We're talking about totalitarian GOVERNMENTS here. The Dixie chicks have been excoriated by the American people, but the government hasn't touched them. If you go around Cuba or Venezuela making nasty comments about Castro or Chavez, the government will stop you (by generally unpleasant means) and the people are generally too scared to say anything. I was in Yugoslavia while Tito was alive and it was made clear to me by my hosts that I shouldn't shoot off my big mouth about what d!cks I thought the communists were. That's what ticks me off about Jeff Spicolli playing footsie with Chavez; he's as clueless as he was in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

[mike71067]

HEADLINE: Sean Penn Thrives on Liberal Idiocy.

The dude's a re-****, plain and simple. Hugo Chaves was praising him last week. Bottom line: With very few exceptions, Hollywood is out of touch with middle America. Sure, we love their movies, but as human beings, we have no respect for those morons.

[jscribe58]

I agree with Sean Penn on one thing - you can be an actor or an American but not both (quoting him). THe reason for this is not from any misguided justice, but because so many actors seem to be mentally blocked when it comes to political views. Just in Penn's case, we have people who because of their talent, justifiably make more money than they will ever need in a lifetime, most from a past where that kind of money and privilege was at one time just a dream.

I think the money and power distorts their opinions. Penn can go to places and help all he wants, but his credibility thins when he goes back to his castle and servants.

I think it would serve their country best if Penn,
Streisand and their ilk would stop trying to sell their distorted political views on people and do what they're supposed to do. It would go a lot further with credibility if they would each give only a fraction of their vast fortunes to rebuilding areas destroyed by Katrina, the area would be like new in a very short time. Put your money where your mouth is, guys.

[agnim]

"See how many people are walking around carrying placards that read "{Insert name of despot here} is a d!ick". Wonder how long you could wander around Venezuela or Cuba carrying something like that.
Posted by rational_1 at 08:03 PM : Aug 06, 2007"

I'm sure they will last as long as the very intimidated and frightened Dixie Chicks lasted from saying even less.

Anyway, being able to disrespect your parents/elders/leaders is low class, is beastly; so more dignified societies the world over will ALWAYS seek to discourage such behaviors.

Leave it to Americans to not know our priorities; imagine we (unlike the Venezuelans) have a MASS MURDERER as so-called leader; and we can't realize that something seriously is wrong and we need to change course to avoid some serious karma; because human lives are not cheap.

[keithle1]

Stay out of politics, Sean. You're a great actor.

Don't be hanging with that idiot Hugo Chavez.
I'm no fan of Bush either but you don't have to go that far to the left!

[rational_1]

"Matter of fact, you prolly got the word..."
Posted by Agnim at 07:53 PM : Aug 06, 2007

Sorry but I just can't resist - what the he!! does "prolly" mean? Is it related to proletariat?

And whether or not Venezuela (or any other banana republic) is less totalitarian the the U.S. can be tested very easily. See how many people are walking around carrying placards that read "{Insert name of despot here} is a d!ick". Wonder how long you could wander around Venezuela or Cuba carrying something like that.

[agnim]

"America, for all its problems, is still the most free civilization in history. ...... Here you don't get crucified for having a difference of opinion,
Posted by house015 at 03:42 PM : Aug 06, 2007"

The persecuted Dixie Chicks would beg to disagree with that expression of ignorance.

And we hope that in inviting people to 'move' that you are Native American and not one of the invading robbers, rapists and murderers who violently entered this land UNPROVOKED?

FYI, Venezuela does not have a so-called 'patriot act' and spy programs directed at its citizens, rather than at the enemies. So Venezuela has to be far less totalitarian.
Matter of fact, you prolly got the word 'totalitarian' from the domestic legislations we have been passing to further limit the freedoms of Americans? LOL

[dogsoul]

"What a joke. He's an ACTOR. Who cares what he thinks"

Amen - let's not forget... the ONLY reason people listen to him is because he's famous, for acting. So, if you really break down his qualifications... he's one of the very best at involving himself in fantasy, fiction, and make believe. Now he may well be able to rebuild a carburetor - but the reason he's there preaching to everyone at all, is because of his acting.

So like the Dixie Chicks, Streisand, Garafalo, Baldwin, Springstein, Tim Robbins & wife Susan or whoEVER - if you're using your celeb status to promote your political agenda, than people who don't like your political agenda will cease supporting your celeb status - that's your choice, that's theirs...

But most of those actors have made such unGODly money they no longer have to care about who they do or don't alienate... it's a bit easier to be all indignant when you're rolling in piles of cash that'll never run out...

Of course, they'll still whine on about it - and probably convice someone to make a movie about how unfair it is... They'll talk all day about freedom of speech - even though they along w/ everyone else in Hollywood would absolutely crucify an actor espousing conservative views...

It's all part of the self dellusion & fantasy world that is Hollywood and liberalism... and it explains why they often shake hands with the likes of Hugo Chavez & desperately seek surrender against our nation's enemies.