Is it the pinnacle of an anti-American, socialist actor's career to be praised by an anti-American, socialist dictator?
If so, Sean Penn is on quite a high today -- which of course is nothing unusual -- as the so-called president of Venezuela -- the lovable Hugo Chavez -- had wonderful things to say about the actor made famous as a pot-smoking surfer in the teen movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High."
As reported by the Associated Press (emphasis added throughout, h/t Dan Gainor):
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has praised Sean Penn for his critical stance against the war in Iraq, saying the two chatted by phone and soon plan to meet in person.
Chavez said Penn traveled to Venezuela this week wanting to learn more about the situation in the country and walked around some of Caracas' poor barrios on his own.
"Welcome to Venezuela, Mr. Penn. What drives him is consciousness, the search for new paths," Chavez said Wednesday in a televised speech. "He's one of the greatest opponents of the Iraq invasion."
Rumor has it that in accepting Chavez's invitation, Penn responded, "Hey bud...let's party!" But I digress:
Chavez read aloud from a recent open letter by Penn to President Bush in which the actor condemned the Iraq war and called for Bush to be impeached, saying the president along with Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice are "villainously and criminally obscene people."
The socialist president, who shares those views, said he and Penn talked by phone _ "with my bad English but we understood each other more or less."
Chavez said the two plan to meet Thursday. He called the actor "well-informed about what is happening in the United States and the world, in spite of being in Hollywood."
Yes, this about a man who so adroitly described the Declaration of Independence:

What Jefferson was saying was, Hey! You know, we left this England place 'cause it was bogus; so if we don't get some cool rules ourselves - pronto - we'll just be bogus too! Get it?
Chavez certainly does.
Penn's parents weren't available for comment. Suffice to say, they're very proud.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.




















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The LA times tried to paint
August 2, 2007 - 13:24 ET by FishFace222The LA times tried to paint Fred Thompson a racist because of a role he played in a movie. Which persona best describes Penn, Spicoli or Sam.
He is Sam - he said so
August 2, 2007 - 13:26 ET by Dee BunkHe is Sam - he said so
sam ???
August 2, 2007 - 13:54 ET by LionKingI had several people saying that Penn should have received many meritorious awards (especially from the Film Actors Guild) for his role in I Am Sam. I had to disagree with them because I countered that the role he played required no acting on his part.
[All kidding aside, no matter what your leanings, I would think that Sean Penn has to be embarrassed by this.]
Film Actors Guild ...
August 2, 2007 - 15:13 ET by thoridflyFilm Actors Guild ... F.A.G. ... greaaat organization.
Team America ... great flick.
http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/team_america/large.html
The surfer dude
August 2, 2007 - 21:15 ET by Senior ChiefThe surfer dude Spicoli...Even his politics are still blurry, fuzzy and foggy. Is he still smoking...?
In spite of Hollywood
August 2, 2007 - 13:38 ET by Jerry MackSeems that Hugo is aware of what the majority of Americans think of actors and actresses opinions on politics and global matters.
Hugo's Friend
August 2, 2007 - 13:52 ET by PAPA LIsn't it time that Sean pays the price for his anti Americanisms just as the three Texas singing bimbos did. That goes for the rest of Hollywood. Their opinions aren't worth crap and all they do with their missinformation is hurt this country.
Papa... Not to worry,
August 2, 2007 - 14:26 ET by Clear thinkerPapa...
Not to worry, Sean is like teets on a bull, useless!
Double for Hugo!
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Papa, Those three bimbos
August 2, 2007 - 15:39 ET by awffp1890Papa,
Those three bimbos were given a Grammy recently by people that forgot about the past. Anit-Americanism is the in thing now amongst the Hollywood Liberals. Sean is like a god to them. The only way any of these people will ever be hurt is to take money out of their pockets by boycotting anything they do. Problem with that is, for every one of us boycotting, there will be a liberal supporting.
"Not for fame or reward, not for place or rank, not lured by ambition or goaded by necessity. But in simple obedience to duty." - From the barracks at Ft. Benning
Time to alert
August 2, 2007 - 14:22 ET by CrimsonfistedTime to alert Cynthia!
WhatAMaroon
Hugo & Sean Two Idiots in the same Pod
August 2, 2007 - 14:46 ET by ConservativeRexFor some reason, my memory keeps going back to some history I once read that equated actors with prostitutes.
As long as I keep that image in my mind, anything actors say or do means little or nothing to me. See if it doesn't help you do the same.
Actors take other peoples'
August 3, 2007 - 00:07 ET by daveinbocaActors take other peoples' money and make awful product that often provides no pleasure or profit except for themselves. Even hookers do provide pleasure every time they do THEIR job!
ROFLMAO!
August 2, 2007 - 14:55 ET by Maverick313Thank you for proving that not all of our young people are ignorant! That young woman was so dang funny I was laughing, while at the same time shaking my head at the only idiot clapping their hands at his "speech". What was he high when he delivered that? I assume he wrote it, why couldn't he understand his own drivel?
If you don't stand behind our troops; please feel free to stand in front of them!
Wicked Stupid
August 2, 2007 - 15:05 ET by stratmanI first thought of this video while reading the NB article. Thanks for the link so I could savor that moron once again.
Eres Sr. Penn del bolso del douche. Tú también Diablo Chavez.
Killing them with kindness isn't working. Time to get scrappy with the Donkeys.
Ah! Mob Rule! Saw it on Dr. Zhivago!
August 2, 2007 - 18:21 ET by drillanwrDoesn't this half-corpse and his bulimic wife live OUTSIDE the USA? Yeah, he's sooo pro American.
"Let's make this crystal meth clear ...
I've got a question for your daughters, Mr. Bush, and they're not children anymore ... Can I have their private cell phone numbers, dude, because they're HOT! I'm hungry for a woman with some meat on her bones!"
Fast Times at DNC High -
August 2, 2007 - 14:44 ET by thoridflyFast Times at DNC High - Starring Chancellor Nancy Pelosi, Sinator Hairy Reed, and Howard Ahmedinejad Dean
Democrats - The Antichrist Party
If chaos and disorder are your cup of tea, then the DP is your Lipton's.
Penn is an useful idiot.
August 2, 2007 - 14:46 ET by florida_chadPenn is an useful idiot.
Spicoli is awesome!!!! Gotta
August 2, 2007 - 14:52 ET by Mr. KafirSpicoli is awesome!!!! Gotta love typecasting...
Mr. Kafir... For some
August 2, 2007 - 14:58 ET by Clear thinkerMr. Kafir...
For some reason we had a lot of "Spicolis" in my High School. At least 6 come to mind. I don't know what happened to all of them, but 3 ended up as follows.
1. Fried his brain on Acid and became a permanent veg.
2. Died from overdose.
3. Died from overdose.
Spicolis may be cool to some but for me they are tragic.
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Had a couple in my high school class too ...
August 2, 2007 - 18:25 ET by drillanwrOne became a women's fashion buyer for K-Mart (Yeah, hanging the new merchandise on the rack after hours at the local store ... he-he-he)...
Another poured gasoline on himself and set himself on fire ...
Lets all take up a
August 2, 2007 - 15:42 ET by charlietexasLets all take up a collection for a one way ticket for Seany.
Does Hugo know that all his doctors are fleeing his country?
Why do we have so many nut jobs here in America??
Is it all the drugs Sean did in his youth??
Oh what a ringing
August 2, 2007 - 16:53 ET by Airforce_5_OOh what a ringing indorcment for dear Sean. It is just wonderful to see two of the worlds great soicalist get togeather and "blow" up each others egos. How sweet to see two men who find a common ground "pump" each other up the way they do.
Man can you feel the love!!!!
I sure do.
The only thing you should feel when shooting insurgents is the rifle recoil.
Venezuela
August 2, 2007 - 17:17 ET by BlondeI'd always wanted to go to Venezuela...it's one of the prime Big Game Fishing destinations on the planet.
No longer.
Chavez & Penn are two peas in a pod....does anyone remember Penn going to Iraq before we kicked over the first Gulf War?
What a maroon.
Sean Penn
August 2, 2007 - 19:30 ET by Emma GrumpHis Mom and Dad must be so proud.....
Sean Penn is important
August 2, 2007 - 18:53 ET by bigtimerSean Penn is important how?
Even Madonna whom I despise got rid of a useless brain-dead idiot.
Does Sean Penn still appear
August 2, 2007 - 19:34 ET by drillanwrDoes Sean Penn still appear on the cover of Tiger Beat Magazine???
Who knew "dreamy" meant in a complete and total fog for life.
2 peas - pod
August 2, 2007 - 20:23 ET by acumen2 peas - pod
Good one
August 2, 2007 - 20:26 ET by bigtimerGood one acumen...
Perfect!
Penn's latest cinema effort
August 3, 2007 - 00:05 ET by daveinbocaPenn's latest cinema effort was of Robert Penn Warren's book on Looosyana politics, a flick which bombed so badly it didn't repay the advertising budget, let alone the cost of making the dud. Sharon Stone, the Stupid, had the same thing happen with her remake of her only successful film. She & Penn are Stuck on Stupid as are a bunch of their leftie bore-whores in Hollyweird.
Penn isn't the only cinematic has-been to globe-trot while his career withers; another bozo is Richard Gere whose movies make zero money, but whose mouth is yammering non-stop about all sorts of nonsense. Harry Shearer is another example, this time as a stand-up comic with no audiences, so he goes to Puffington Host. They should all get together for a reality show called "Second Childhood: How to Make a Fool of Yourself After Your First Act Has Completely Fizzled."
Kind of reminds me of Al Gore and his non-existent political career, which doesn't stop him from saving the world, does it?
Some choice Sean Penn
August 3, 2007 - 13:29 ET by fitzfongSome choice Sean Penn comments from his meeting with Venezuela's dictator...
Heh, heh, that was my skull!
If we don't get some cool rules, and pronto, we'll just be bogus too.
Mr. Chavez, are you going to s---, or are you going to kill us?