Posted on 09/11/2005 10:21:10 AM PDT by Congressman Billybob
It is not a hold-the-presses moment when a major Hollywood actor comments on American politics and demonstrates that he/she is ignorant as a board fence on the subject. However, as a reminder that some people ARE paying attention and DO know truth from falsehoods, some comments are in order about an interview with Donald Sutherland today (Sunday).
Sutherland was interviewed at the Savoy by Jasper Gerard, and the article was published in the Sunday Times, in the UK.
After talking about acting in general, and then his role in Pride and Prejudice, now being filmed, Sutherland turns his attentions to politics. Here is the main paragraph on that:
“But is preening in a petticoat at all relevant today? ‘My God, it is,’ he booms. ‘Particularly in the United States where they talk about family values but leave people to drown.’ Sutherland enjoys rhetorical flourishes, and soon he is off: ‘In France they might not earn as much (as in America) but they work a 35-hour week and they spend time with their families; isn’t that real family values?’ Soon we have covered 9/11, touched on the ‘evil’ that is Tony Blair and been through a rant about the war in Iraq and why it is a bigger crime than Vietnam.”
Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-1773987,00.html
Readers of Newsbusters know that “America” did not leave people to drown. The Mayor of New Orleans did that. By contrast, the actor praises France for “real” family values. Apparently, he is unaware that about 15,000 Frenchmen died last August during a heat wave in Paris. The deaths were extremely ironic, when compared to Sutherland’s comments.
These were elderly Frenchmen, and women, grandparents who died alone in their unairconditioned apartments as the rest of their families were out of Paris on their legendary one-month annual vacations. Some “time with families;” some “family values.” One could not expect a mere celebrity interviewer to catch Sutherland up on his nonsense. But doesn’t the Times have any editors who can remember 15,000 deaths in August a year ago?
Concerning his friend and colleague, Jane Fonda, Sutherland says, “ ‘They can do what they want. They lie. This is one of the most mendacious governments in the history of the world.’ This is a reference to the last presidential election when photos were doctored to give the impression that John Kerry, the Democrat candidate, had shared a platform with Fonda. ‘I was there and I don’t even remember Kerry’s presence.’ ”
I know the person who created that “doctored” photo. It was labeled as such when first published, and others stripped the label off. But there is a real photograph, published at the time and many times since, which shows Fonda in the foreground and Kerry three rows up from her and slightly to the left. Kerry WAS there. Sutherland is dead wrong. And any competent photo editor for the Times would have known that.
When actors and actresses talk about their craft, their movies, plays, etc., they are entitled to respect because they know their subject. On the other hand, when they venture into areas of ignorance, which for many of them means politics, they deserve to be ridiculed as fools, when they speak and act that way.
John_Armor@aya.yale.edu
Enjoy but keep in mind the barf alert.
John / Billybob
Boycott his new TV show with Gena Davis.
Isn't Sutherland cast as the Republican to President Geena Davis in the upcoming barforama "Commander In Chief"?
I thought he was dead.
Sutherland is giving off too many of those "negative waves maaaaaan." But hey! When you're a celebrity, sometimes you've got to say stupid, controversial things just to keep your name in the spotlight.
Donald should run for office.
Tonight, 9PM, Discovery Channel. Thank you, Agent Bauer.
Wonder if Kiefer and his sister Rachel think "Dad" knows anything about family values.
Judging from the clips I've seen (and Gena Davis' track record), this show won't last long enough to be boycotted.
That show is going to be a stinker, and I hope it is cancelled within 2 weeks.
REally, what a joke. Couldn't find a real repub to play the role?
Maybe not in Hollywierd.
Who gives a crap about anything any of these babosos in hollywood think about anything.
If you do or buy or think anything from what these idiots tell you, you should just shoot yourself cause you have no brain.
No, he is her advisor. We should remember that Sutherland, a Canadian, was an active member of the FTA troupe with Fonda and Peter Boyle among others.
Gee, Sutherland seems to have forgotten it is those Frenchmen who went away on their summer vacations a few years ago and let 14,800 of their countrymen, mostly elderly, die of the HEAT. The HEAT.
The show was produced for the sole purpose of aiding the election of Hillary Clinton in 2008. Prepare yourself for a media and Hollywood onslaught regarding the "First Woman President" like you have never seen before. This ridiculous series is just the opening salvo in their propaganda war.
You insult board fences everywhere.
Except of course in the summertime when they leave old folks to DIE in the heat.
BTW Donnie-boy over 10% of those wonderful FRenchies cannot even get jobs.
I'll bet Kiefer(son) has a different take on things, just a guess.
They had Rush visit the "24" set for a whole day last year and I rather doubt it was based on affirmative action. LMAO
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