Dictator-groupie Sean Penn told Australia's The Age that Venezuelan autocrat Hugo Chavez is “much more positive for Venezuela than he is negative” and the Chavez-crafted constitution is “a very beautiful document.”
Yes, that's the same leader who is a student of the Robert Mugabe School of Economics, shut down a TV station that criticized him and just installed himself El Presidente for life.
But hey, Venezuelans, relax! Actor/director/humanitarian Sean Penn isn't concerned that Chavez is on his way to becoming a dictator. So, stop worrying that Chavez will confiscate your home or business and force you to sew “I Heart Holocaust-Deniers” onto his custom-made Commie-red button downs.
In a November 16 article about his new movie, Penn opened himself up for more ridicule as another super-wealthy celebrity who dabbles as a revolutionary wannabe (bold mine throughout):
"You don't know that I have a friendship with Hugo Chavez, you just read it in some piece," is his response to a loosely phrased question about a couple of visits he has made to Caracas. He says his interest is purely for an article he is writing on the socialist leader.
"The first thing I'm going to say is that we know more lies about him in the United States than we know truth. If you want a sound bite from me about Chavez, then I would say that, for the moment, he's much more positive for Venezuela than he is negative." (Penn subsequently appeared on Late Night with David Letterman and described Chavez as "a fascinating guy".) [Ed: parenthetical comment from article]
Is it “much more positive” than negative that Chavez is on his way to creating a Cuba-style dictatorship where there is no private property, free speech or civil rights?
Somehow I don't think Penn would praise Bush as “more positive for America than negative” if Bush announced that his new policy of jailing dissenters and confiscating wealthy Americans' homes and businesses to give to the poor(government cronies).
Of course, it's silly to theorize about how a government modeled after Chavez' Venezuela would effect someone like Sean Penn because those governments always make exceptions for the powerful and privileged, but unlike America,
Isn't Penn worried that Chavez has the makings of a dictator? "He's elected. He's not ruling by decree. The constitution is very clear, and I've read it, cover to cover, two or three times. The Venezuelan constitution is a very beautiful document." [snip]
Ah, yes. That's what Penn falls back on. Sure, Chavez follows the constitution. He wrote it. When you write (and rewrite) the rules, it's pretty easy to follow them.
And yes, we all got that message about Bush. I know, America is the dictatorship. That's why after the premiere of “Lions for Lambs,” Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep and Robert Redford were hooded and shipped to Gitmo.
One question, Sean. How easy do you think it would be for the average Venezuelan to criticize Chavez the way you criticize Bush?
Lynn contributes to NewsBusters. She can be reached at tvisgoodforyou2 AT yahoo DOT com
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Sean Penn should talk to these folks ,, mass opposition rally
November 16, 2007 - 17:18 ET by Gary HallPerhaps Sean Penn should talk to these folks. Mass oppostion rally to Chavez.
Then again, he wouldn't know becuase our media censors such news from reaching the usual nutcase in Hollywood.
Note: the picture was shown on the BBC website, last October. The byline of the article said that "Tens of thousands of people have marched." I readily admit that I'm not trained in crowd size estimates, but a quick analysis of that picture (that is one wide avenue and this goes on for a mile or so) must have somewhere in the area of a million folks in it. Bet my guess is closer than theirs.
I wish Spicoli was the
November 16, 2007 - 17:30 ET by Free ThinkerI wish Spicoli was the standard picture used everywhere for Mr. Penn. Kudos, that made my day!
Don't ya just love Sean
November 16, 2007 - 17:30 ET by charlietexasDon't ya just love Sean Pennnnnn, keep talkin Sean. It keeps us sane people laughing.
Intellectual Prowess
November 16, 2007 - 17:39 ET by MCPO AirdaleSpicoli has the intellectual prowess of a marsupial.
"What a maroon. What an ultra-maroon!" - Bugs Bunny
Heh, heh. That's my SKULL!
November 16, 2007 - 17:36 ET by fitzfongHeh, heh. That's my SKULL!
Just what we've all been
November 16, 2007 - 17:37 ET by motherbeltJust what we've all been waiting for: Spicoli speaks.
Now we can all relax in the knowledge that Chavez is a legitimate, benevolent ruler.....
Sean Penn Idiot
November 16, 2007 - 17:38 ET by American TaxpayerDirect from Hollyweird another "ACTOR" who can not find his butt with both hands commenting on world politics. These elitist weirdos should stick to what they know best acting. I am sick and tired of liberal left wing know it all actors preaching on everything from global warming to who is my favorite dictator. Does this typical Hollyweird actor even know that Chaves is responsible for the deaths of all that oppose him. Of course not he is just an actor and a bad one at that. Sean Penn does not poses the cranial capacity to remeber to open the toilet seat first and yet we must endure his opines of world politics. If I wanted the opines of idiots I would just read the New York Times...
Spicoli would be having an
November 16, 2007 - 17:49 ET by bobthemanSpicoli would be having an aneurysm if Bush pulled half the crap Chavez has pulled... I lived in Caracas in the mid '80's for a time and consider it one of the best times of my life but this beautiful city and country is being runied by this socialist ass.
http://politicsofdes...
Ok, if Spicoli, thinks
November 16, 2007 - 18:01 ET by Seabeach4348Ok, if Spicoli, thinks that Chavez's Venezuela is such a great and positive place endowed with the Road to Happiness, and that America is so lousy, oppressive, and that it especially sucks under Darth Bush, then I really wanna know why the heck is he still living HERE and not in Venezuela?
I'm sure that ol' buddy Hugo would go out of his way to make sure that Spicoli got special treatment and more perks than the usual butt-kissers who surround him, don't ya think? All the chicks he wants? No problemo amigo! (Just to name a few)
Oh. I get it. Spicoli wants to stay here to bring about awareness and positive change to Darth Bush's Empire America which desperately needs it, huh?
I'm just about had it with this cretin and other Hollyweird scum that have big mouths and small brains like Spicoli.
BTW, his movies stink!
Hey, "Fast Times" was awesome!
November 16, 2007 - 18:36 ET by Lynn DavidsonBTW, his movies stink!
I have to disagree with you slightly about Penn's movies. His recent movies aren't that interesting, but "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" was a GREAT movie. That was one of the funniest films of the '80s and still holds up today. Cameron Crowe wrote a script that defined a decade.
The scenes between Penn's Spicoli and Ray Walston's Mr. Hand are just classic. Then there's that infamous scene with Phoebe Cates...
Come on, it funnelled so many new words, like "wuss" to our culture. That alone is enough to not "stink," but it also introduced many young actors that would become stars (Nicholas Cage, Forest Whitaker, Jennifer-Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates, Judge Reinhold, Eric Stolz, Anthony Edwards)
Interestingly, Lana Clarkson, who Phil Spector is accused of killing, was in it too.
Brad Hamilton: Why don't you get a job Spicoli?
Jeff Spicoli: What for?
Brad Hamilton: You need money.
Jeff Spicoli: All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine.
[Spicoli, talking on the phone, hits his head with a shoe]
Jeff Spicoli: That was my skull! I'm so wasted!
[Spicoli has had a pizza delivered to class]
Mr. Hand: Am I hallucinating here? Just what in the hell do you think you're doing?
Jeff Spicoli: Learning about Cuba, and having some food.
Penn can read?!?
November 16, 2007 - 18:34 ET by HermanoPenn can read?!?
Chavez-crafted constitution
November 16, 2007 - 19:00 ET by Chris NormanChavez-crafted constitution is “a very beautiful document.”
Like, dude, it had way cool colors and stuff...
Scratch a liberal, find a statist II
November 16, 2007 - 20:38 ET by greenfairieIt must be hunky dory with Sean "The Paparazzi Slayer" Penn that Chavez's thugs are shooting at non-violent demonstrators. To my knowledge, nobody from the Bush administration has shot at the anarchists, Code Pinkos, stinky aging hippies, misfits, weirdos, or losers who protest against him...and I'm just talking about the Academy Awards.
It's hard to believe
November 16, 2007 - 21:08 ET by Gary P JacksonIt's hard to believe hollywood libs can be this stupid, but here it is!
Mussoli made the trains run on time and Hitler loved his dog. Doing a couple of good things don't make an evil dictator any better.
I could just describe those
November 17, 2007 - 13:21 ET by Doraemon_OReillyI could just describe those elitist moonbats who think they know that God isn't real, dictators are great, America is evil, etc. with just one word: STUPID! I am not anti-liberal in general (I idolize FDR and Truman), but I am anti-far left. The traditionalist Christian and Jewish right will always triumph over atheistic, know-it-all elitists!
"Kame-Hame-HAAAA!!!!!" - Son Goku, destroying Usama Bin Laden.