Veteran actor Ernest Borgnine, still acting at age 91, does not represent the mainstream ideology of the Hollywood elite, or even a potential first lady named Michelle. Borgnine, unlike most of his fellow Hollywood elitists, believes America is "an amazing country" and that one has to "prove" one is "a good American by being an American."
Appearing on the August 12 edition of "Good Morning America," Borgnine promoted his new autobiography. When given the opportunity, Borgnine, the son of Italian immigrants, offered praise to America.
"It hit me when I was given the Medal of Honor over at the Ellis Island thing, you know, because my parents came over from Italy although I was born here in New Haven, Connecticut. But, you know, I took it upon myself to speak that day about the people that were around me, generals, admirals, police chiefs, everything that you could possibly imagine, all from different parts of the world who have come to this country to make this great country.
And people forget that, you know, people forget that they came from people from the other side, you know. It’s an amazing country. People just don’t realize how wonderful this place is. And they just take it as a lock and ‘oh yes, I deserve this.’ You don’t deserve anything. You’ve got to prove that you’re a good American by being an American. That’s what I feel anyway."
The audience followed with loud applause.




















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I like him even more now.
August 12, 2008 - 14:46 ET by Dan The Man 2I like him even more now. Too bad he did those awful disaster movies in the 70's. Borgnine is from teh old school of actors who actually cared about America. The same class as John Wayne. Born in 1917, wow.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
Do you have any idea
August 12, 2008 - 14:51 ET by sarcasmoWhat he made off those crappy movies? I really can't blame the guy...
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
Hey!
August 12, 2008 - 15:24 ET by Dr_LibertyFirst, he was on an episode of "Walker Texas Ranger" which makes him one of the finest actors in my book. Plus, he did a number of very good westerns back in the 50's and '60s including "Jubal" and "The Wild Bunch". He was great in Jubal as the ranch owner, one of the best westerns (and I don't mean a hotel) ever made.
<insert witty signature here>
Though I've never seen it,
August 12, 2008 - 16:36 ET by bws53Though I've never seen it, he did win a Best Actor oscar for Marty.
b53... I forgot about
August 12, 2008 - 16:48 ET by bigtimerb53...
I forgot about that movie...I do remember it was very good in my opinion.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Don't forget about
August 12, 2008 - 20:32 ET by HillbillyKinghis role as the cab driver in Escape from New York (1981)
If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you.
Don Marquis 1878-1937
"Too bad he did those
August 12, 2008 - 21:39 ET by Kenny Bunkport"Too bad he did those awful disaster movies in the 70's."
Awful? The Poseidon Adventure was excellent. My favorite dialog is when the purser Acres (Roddy McDowell) is killed climbing the shaft. Rev. Scott (Gene Hackman) lays in Lt. Rogo (Borgnine) and Rogo dishes it right back. Milktoast James Martin (Red Buttons) tries to run interference.
Rogo: We lost Acres.
Scott stares at him.
Martin: In the shaft - he fell.
Scott pushes toward Rojo.
Scott(sharply): Where the hell were you?
Rogo: Is that supposed to mean something?
Scott: I told you to keep everybody rounded up.
Martin: Mr. Rogo tried his best to get him out. But it wasn’t…possible.
Rogo(to Martin): You don’t have to defend me. (to Scott, flaring angrily) I’ve had enough of you, Preacher! Who do you think you are – God Himself?
Scott: The man was hurt! He needed your protection!
Rogo: All right, so he was hurt. The boat tilted and he fell. The shaft blew up and he died. That’s it. Unless you want to make something more out of it.
Borgnine nailed the role with the proper amount of over the top. The Hackman/Borgnine dynamic was fantastic.
A gun in your hand beats a cop on the phone.
The Poseidon Adventure is a
August 12, 2008 - 21:40 ET by balboaThe Poseidon Adventure is a great Saturday afternoon movie. It's not great literature or anything, but it's a lot of fun. Gene Hackman yelling at those passengers that they were going to wrong way...great stuff
I like him even more now.
August 12, 2008 - 14:46 ET by Dan The Man 2I like him even more now. Too bad he did those awful disaster movies in the 70's. Borgnine is from teh old school of actors who actually cared about America. The same class as John Wayne. Born in 1917, wow.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
Interviews
August 12, 2008 - 14:48 ET by addeigloriamI've seen several recent interviews with Mr Borgnine and he is consistantly praising America in each. It's amazing he can still find work in Hollywood with that attitude.
Commander McHale, I salute you!
August 12, 2008 - 14:49 ET by goldenthroat"And they just take it as a lock and 'oh, yes, I deserve this'. You don't deserve anything. You've got to prove that your a good American by being an American."
God bless Earnest Borgnine! Did he hit the nail on the head or what? America, thanks to left-coast, bleeding-heart, 'do as I say, not as I do' liberals, has become a nation full of lazy, unambitious people who live by a sense of entitlement. It is a plague on our society and is fueled and pandered by the MSM. It's about time someone went on one of the lib networks to tell it like it is.
Jumpin' Jehosophat, Commander McHale! I salute you!
"I think we're all bozos on this bus!" - Firesign Theatre
the great
August 12, 2008 - 14:52 ET by TruthMongerthe great generation
Journalism is the opium of the liberals
yes, basically sounds good
August 12, 2008 - 14:50 ET by Calypso JonesIn today's media environment...
August 12, 2008 - 15:25 ET by Dr_Liberty"neutral" comes off as very conservative.
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neutral sounds conservative
August 12, 2008 - 16:08 ET by Calypso Jonesonly to a conservative. Media will play it as he thinks it's patriotic to dissent. I like him, always have. AND i think the old timer stars are predominantly conservatives. I guess i'm just looking for an aggressive conservative. They're few and far between.
Lookd to John Voit. Tommy
August 12, 2008 - 16:41 ET by bassndudeLookd to John Voit. Tommy Lee Jones, Tom Sellick...there are others...
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Tommy Lee?
August 12, 2008 - 17:20 ET by Dr_LibertyTommy Lee Jones? Conservative?
Really?!
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Just to be clear
August 12, 2008 - 17:23 ET by thebronzeTLJ is NOT a Conservative. He's a Lib/Dem.
Jones
August 12, 2008 - 17:26 ET by Cool ArrowYou mean Al Gore's college roommate?
He's as Liberal as a $3 bill.
I ♣ my seal
Oh no! Better go burn my VHS
August 12, 2008 - 18:13 ET by balboaOh no! Better go burn my VHS copy of Man of the House!
Tommy Lee Jones
August 12, 2008 - 17:25 ET by ort777Jones was a roommate of Al Gore's in college. He is NOT a conservative, no way.
It's obvious from his movies.
August 12, 2008 - 18:49 ET by Calypso JonesHe always manages to get a plug in for open borders and welcoming illegals into the country.
Three cheers for Ernie!
August 12, 2008 - 15:05 ET by CrashIt always amazes me how fast trustafarian's condemn their country the second they hit college. What amazes me more is that some lefties never appreciate how truly blessed they are to be American. Freedom of expression is allowed in tiny minority of countries.
earning your citizenship one day at a time
August 12, 2008 - 15:29 ET by wizardjrI grew up believing you had to earn your citizenship every day. That's what they taught us in the 50's when I grew up. Members of my family have served in the military for at least three generations. It was one way for us to "pay" for living in the greatest country on Earth.
Then came the Baby Boomers and all sense of obligation and duty went right out the window and was replaced with "rights" and entitlements.
I mourn the loss of American Exceptionalism as written by a French friend of America waaaaay back in the beginning.
Hear...Hear Ernie!You
August 12, 2008 - 16:18 ET by bigtimerHear...Hear Ernie!
You have my applause all the way, loud and clear....many thanks to you sir.
My tag-line follows your thinking...
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Medal of Honor
August 12, 2008 - 17:26 ET by thebronze"It hit me when I was given the Medal of Honor over at the Ellis Island thing"
Can someone elaborate on this? He hasn't been awarded the MoH that I know of, so what's he talking about?
Hey what about...
August 12, 2008 - 17:38 ET by HeavyChevyAIRWOLF I lived and breath that show!!!
Anyway Ernest Borgnine, John Voit (see how Hollywood is going after him) and John Ratzenberger are just a few that proves not everyone in Hollywood is totally off the deep end for the libs.
"9 out of 10 doctors agree that flag burning is the number one killer of liberals."
Marty and Jonathan (the Angel) on Little House On The Prairie
August 12, 2008 - 18:33 ET by deedledeeare two of my favorite roles he has done. I was glad to see him last year as a Grandpa on a Hallmark Christmas movie.
Ernest Borgnine
August 12, 2008 - 20:17 ET by Redrowan2000Ernest Borgnine great actor even when he played the despicable Fatso in "From Here To Eternity" or the gorilla who tried to intimidate Tracy in "Bad Day at Black Rock". He did "Marty", got the academy award for best actor , and other movies and then went onto Quentin McHale in "McHales Navy" Good actor great American. He was also very very good in Peckinpahs "Wild Bunch". Don't mak them like that anymore.
"Don't let the bastards grind you down."
Red
Ernest Borgnine great
August 12, 2008 - 22:18 ET by motherbeltErnest Borgnine great actor even when he played the despicable Fatso in "From Here To Eternity"
I would leave out the "even" in that sentence.
Ernest Borgnine was also a WW II vet-10 years in the Navy.
August 12, 2008 - 20:33 ET by R D HelmIt is a great American story.
LOL-And McHale's Navy was one of the funniest shows ever made.
-Dave.
We are not going to save this country by being polite to those who are working tirelessly (and succeeding right handily) at destroying it.
You're right about Ernest
August 12, 2008 - 20:34 ET by cocodrieYou're right about Ernest Borgnine and his movies. Too bad Hollywood doesn't have anyone to replace great actors like him.
Medal of Honor
August 12, 2008 - 20:41 ET by steve2526Mr. Borgnine was awarded the Elllis Island Medal of Honor:
http://www.medalofho...
"The Ellis Island Medal of Honor allows us an opportunity to honor the bestin America - those who lend their talents, time and energy to making ourcountry a better place for us all."
A member of the right-wing media
WOW
August 12, 2008 - 20:43 ET by HillbillyKingTake a look at his list of work spanning 57 years. Glad to see he is still going strong.
If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you.
Don Marquis 1878-1937
OT and late, as usual for me
August 12, 2008 - 22:01 ET by JoggerNotHeard the other day that Paul Newman is not doing too good these days, and I have been sad for him and family.
He is one of my favorite actors of all time, and I dont really know about his political views, or care.
He just did what he does, did it perfectly, and did not get involved with the political mess that Rob Red etc involved themselves in.
God bless Ernie, and Paul.
I didn't know that; that's
August 12, 2008 - 22:16 ET by motherbeltI didn't know that; that's too bad.
I have always been impressed by the fact that all the profits from his food products have gone to charities.
Not to mention, his 50-year marriage to Joanne Woodward, an epic achievement in Hollywood!
He is a good man, and it shows.
Newman makes a good
August 12, 2008 - 22:19 ET by balboaNewman makes a good spaghetti sauce, too.
Any time you see an actor with a long-standing marriage, ya' gotta feel like there are solid people behind it. The nature of Hollywood doesn't lend itself to long-term relationships.
Paul Newman is a liberal
August 13, 2008 - 00:13 ET by Calypso Joneshe wrote a letter with Bill Clinton to raise money for democrats. He also suffers to a degree from BDS.
http://www.wilshireandwashington.com/2007/06/paul-newman-bus.html
GWB is the biggest international threat.
He's no better than redford.
Ernie's a HOOT !!!!
August 13, 2008 - 00:57 ET by MrShyWow, Ernest Borgnine is really funny. Here are some hilarious quotes from him, courtesy of IMDB:
"I didn't see it and I don't care to see it ... If John Wayne were alive, he'd be rolling over in his grave." - On Brokeback Mountain (2005)
[on his feud with Mickey Rooney]: I've got the Oscar, he's got a therapist. Checkmate.
I like my women a little big. Natural. Now, they shave this and wax that. It's not right. I love natural women. Big women. This trend in women has to go. Bulomia, anorexia. That's just wrong. You know what will cure that? My special sticky buns. One lick of my sticky buns and your appetite will come right back.
[On Womens Rights]: They tried it the wrong way. You can't expect anyone to take you seriously if you burn your undies and tell me I'm a pig. That's why it failed. Too many ugly broads telling me that they don't want to sleep with me. Who wanted you anyway?
* * * SOCKS THE CAT '08 * * *
For REAL Change
Ernest and America
August 13, 2008 - 07:43 ET by welderforeKenneth J Roberts
I must say the old gent has a lock on it ,he understands while about 40 % of us don't get it . It is up to the individual what they do wiith their life . No one is garanteed anything but the chance to try. When we become a nation of expecters instead of doer's then we are doomed to fall into the trap of communist rule. One must get out and try as hard as they can to make something of their life, everyone is garanteed that right under our constitution and that is all it garantee's we must make the most of it .There are opportunity's yes in government but it should not be pure hand outs . Once I needed help and there was only one time I needed that help I went to the government and was turned down . I had a problem I was the only wage earner and I had three children and a wife, I just had open heart surgery and bills and food to buy and had 100 a week to do that on and all I wanted was a bill of groceries and was turned down . I would have had to sell my home and live with that money until I get back on my feet. Sure I seen others who was living off of the government and I felt oh well I do not want to be in the bunch . I did get some help I got one voucher for three weeks food suppy from the V.A. . But it also showed me what I was made of and it wasn't welfare material . so yes we must prove we are Americans by pulling ourselves up and going on with our heads held high and do not seek a life of hand outs.
Also...
August 13, 2008 - 08:10 ET by Tom1969caDon't forget all the communists and terrorists he helped blow up on Airwolf! ;-)
==
Conservation doesn't get us more energy. It's as if we were running out of food and the Democrats were telling us: "Just eat a little less every day!"
--Anne Coulter
ATTA BOY, ERN!
August 13, 2008 - 21:01 ET by BobAnthonyLook, I know Ernest Borgnine from being on Airwolf, McHale's Navy and those 1970's disaster films and of course Marty. But what he said on GMA that day and I did see a little piece of it, makes me as a CT resident glad at least someone from this state gets it right.
And being of Italian dissent like myself, well that's, if you'll pardon me saying, a little extra powdered sugar on the cannoli!
Now no way in hell is Ernie 91! Good living I guess.