Clooney Brings Darfur To The White House

(CBS/AP)  Actor George Clooney apparently had a good reason for skipping out on Oscar night: He had a meeting with President Obama.

The Oscar-winning actor appeared Monday on CNN's "Larry King Live" and spoke of his visit earlier that morning with Obama to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan.

Clooney said he told the president of his visit to camps in Chad where 250,000 refugees live, but he downplayed the risks he took to witness the suffering first-hand.

"I don't think people should be going there and coming back and saying how it affected them," Clooney told King via satellite from the White House lawn. "I think somehow we should all know that these people are hanging on by the skin of their teeth."

CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller reported that Clooney, named a U.N. Messenger of Peace by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, asked Mr. Obama to appoint a full-time envoy to deal with the Sudanese government.

Clooney said the President and Vice President assured him the situation in Darfur was high on their agenda, and is the subject of a foreign policy review, reported Knoller. Once that review is completed, Mr. Obama and Biden told Clooney a special envoy would be named - and would report directly to the White House.

Clooney said the envoy should ask China to set aside its business interests in the region and pressure Sudan to prevent atrocities.

The refugees need "what we do best, what we have done best since the start of this country - which is good, robust diplomacy all across the world," he said.

Clooney said he delivered 250,000 postcards gathered by the Save Darfur organization to the president and Vice President Joe Biden. The actor said both were receptive.

Fighting erupted in 2003 as Darfur's ethnic African rebels took up arms against Sudan's government complaining of discrimination and neglect. Nearly 2.5 million people have been displaced by a conflict that has killed about 300,000 people.

Next week, the International Criminal Court is scheduled to rule on whether to proceed with an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for crimes in Darfur.

Clooney said his latest visit - his sixth to Darfur and Chad - was privately arranged. He traveled with journalists, including the New York Times' Nicholas Kristof and NBC's Ann Curry, but the Sudanese government denied him a visa.

[ejwharton]

What difference does it make if people are suffering in Ohio or in Darfur? I can't love an American child more than an African child. We need to focus on the plight of all children and if Geo. Clooney picks Darfur, that's OK. In hindsight if anyone had access to the death camps during the Holocaust and was maligned by Americans for focusing on Europeans, wouldn't it look oddly in perspective today?

[GODSnLIBERALS]

the first thing we need to do to save AFRICA is to take the likes of clooney OUT OF AFRICA..

these bleeding heart liberal philanthropists had been leeching off this continent of decades for money, power and fame..

[u-r-right]

Well now, isn't he a cutie-patootie? Yet another Hollywood type feeling guilty because he gets paid too much money for working a few months out of the year. Like others have said, it is time for these elite to help those at home who made them who they are. Give me a million or two George and I'll stimulate the economy. Let's face it, plenty of aid has Gone to Africa and it has ended up in corrupt hands time and time again. Call the U.N George and enlist them to deliver birth control if you want to help.

[renonv5]

Hey Mr. Clooney, did you happen to notice that people right here in this country are hanging on by the skin of their teeth?? If you want to do something to help, start here in your own back yard.

[cbsnewscomme]

You have to look past the negative comments George, because you are right. You know the US should create jobs that strengthen relief organizations. This would include our own relief efforts taking into account Katrina....But we should not be a nation that is all about using sanctions to get what we want. We need to open our hearts and do the positive thing, which is giving. You people all out there shame on you....You were born into a world and your mother gave you life.....We are all really seeking that same feeling in the world as we are adults. Instead of hate, how about giving.... How about talking about getting rid of violence and distrust, and do good acts. How about telling Darfur, if they get rid of their armies and guns, we will help them with relief supplies and bring them a better means to living. We can show them how to grow crops, and provide health care. I am proud of George Clooney. At least he goes outside the USA to see how things really are. Myself I being an American Citizen have known that a strong America is only as strong as how the people outside its borders perceive it. If we wave guns and threats, they will too. If we wave hands, and offer them our help they will too. Darfur can be helped, and so can Zimbawe...So can many African countries....but they need to stop killing people. We can not help if they carry a big stick. So trade in your guns, and come to Momma, and Poppa....let's be friends and in time our lives will be improved on this path. Bury your guns, and hate....There is no place for hate to live, except by letting it remove itself from our hearts...... There is Oil in Darfur, and it can be used to help the people there.... There needs to be special envoys of comunication and constant communication to berid the anxiety and distrust. I am for you George....God Bless...
If you need to contact me.... I am Jeronimo djermano@yahoo,com Native American in PR China..

[rushlimpdrug]

Hey George,
How about you move to Darfur. I will gladly contribute to you moving
so that you can "help" these poor souls. You can set the example,
by putting your money were your mouth is and spend some of it on
solving this problem THEY have.
I'll be waiting to help you on your move to your new home.

[azure13]

Go away Clooney.
It's time to focus on our country for a change. Tired of sending our jobs, money, people, and various other resources overseas.
We need to concentrate on the U.S.A. for awhile. Then, if anything is left, we can share.

[azure13]

f off Clooney.

It's time to start focusing on home again. Tired of us outsourcing our jobs, money, people etc.

It's time to make everything right here. Then, if anything is left over, we can share.

[winstrv]

Why does George believe it is America's job to solve the problem in Darfur? Isn't this one of the reasons the UN was created? Why doesn't he ask them and Africa to solve the African problem? I don't want anymore tax money spent or our troops sent in to solve an African problem. Africa is a continent and should use their own resources to fix their problem.