Actor Sean Penn arrived at the Cannes Film Festival to serve as the president of the prestigious Palme d'Or jury judging the best picture. But Reuters reports from France that Penn predictably lashed out at President Bush as brainless, and even puzzled reporters by praising Barack Obama, except for his "phenomenally inhuman and unconstitutional" voting record:
Penn, who is known for his vocal political activism, also took the opportunity to lash out at U.S. President George Bush and said politics should be about helping people.
"It is almost a wrong phrase -- the politics of George Bush. It is kind of the inane stupidity and for lack of good, the absolute evil of it. And I think that films are about love and that art is about love and so you have the insight that the brain actually has a purpose in connecting to the heart and when somebody operates without a brain and without a heart they kill hundreds of thousands of people around the world, so it is not something that is hard to disagree with. I am just, it is a shame that we have to bastardise the term politics and attributing it to people like that, because politics again should really be an organization of helping each other," said Penn.
What? Politics should be an organization? Frank James blogged at the Baltimore Sun that he didn't know what Penn was talking about as he half-criticized Obama:
Asked if he would be joining other Hollywood A-listers in pledging support for Obama, Penn gave him a less than ringing endorsement and warned that he has an awful lot to live up to.
"I don't have a candidate I'm supporting and I'm certainly interested and excited by the hope that Barack Obama is inspiring," he said, but went on to accuse him of a "phenomenally inhuman and unconstitutional" voting record.
"I hope that he will understand, if he is the nominee, the degree of disillusionment that will happen if he doesn't become a greater man than he will ever be," Penn said. "This is the most important election, certainly in my lifetime, and maybe ever."
"Phenomenally inhuman" and "unconstitutional?" Disillusionment that will happen if he doesn't become a greater man than he will ever be?" What the heck is he talking about?
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.




















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Comments Policy
How Can Such A Good Actor Be Such A Bad Nut?
May 15, 2008 - 22:41 ET by The7SticksIt's like Michael Medved has always said about his overall opinion on Sean Penn: he loathes his politics, but he loves his acting and directing chops. Well, at least when it wasn't applied on the failed remake of All The King's Men. Medved's belief is that you have to seperate the artist from the art. From that, he said he thinks little of Penn's beliefs that President Bush is evil or a tyrant, but loved his performance in Mystic River and his direction of Into The Wild.
If you loathe his politics ...
May 16, 2008 - 15:06 ET by EllisWyattIf Penn was just mouthing off, I could probably look the other way. Unfortunately, he has shown himself to be a "True Believer" and as such, we should not separate the artist from the art. Every dollar you spend to watch one of his movies is a dollar used to advance an agenda which is 180 degress from the ideas you support. So, unless you can watch one of his movies for free, I would strongly urge you to boycott his works.
If you're not outraged at the media, you haven't been paying attention.
Clueless and proud of it
May 15, 2008 - 23:02 ET by general companyAnd I think that films are about love and that art is about love and so you have the insight that the brain actually has a purpose in connecting to the heart and when somebody operates without a brain and without a heart they kill hundreds of thousands of people around the world
Somebody please remind me of the last flick this guy played in where he wasn't a sorry excuse for a person? He played it well, I for one don't think it was his acting ability. He must be trying bump Brad and Whatsherface from the cover of NE
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Who is he speaking of with
May 15, 2008 - 23:14 ET by RESTLESS 1Who is he speaking of with that comment, Lenin, Stalin, Chavez, bin laden, Guevara...?
Well, Penn certainly
May 16, 2008 - 11:57 ET by misterbee241Well, Penn certainly operates without the brain part. I cant speak for his heart, but his vacant brainpan is obvious. He cannot string together a complete and coherent sentence.
There is none so blind as they that won’t see. Jonathan Swift 1667-1745
Kum-bai-YAH!
May 15, 2008 - 23:09 ET by harry flashmanWhat a punk! This is the actor in "Taps" that, after firing every round of his ordnance, turns to the camera and says - "It's fuc*king great, is'nt it?"
The only thing I can say for the guy is that hes' been in a fight or two - unlike Obambi.
Sean Penn might have enlisted in the Lincoln Brigade during the Spanish Civil War.
Obama and the other hero, Alec Baldwin, wouldn't think of serving a cause greater than themselves.
Sean Penn is spectacularly
May 15, 2008 - 23:53 ET by rammingspeedSean Penn is spectacularly incoherent, a rambling hater who talks in circles and non-sequiturs. If ever the phrase "shut up and act" applied, it is to him.
Embarrassing.
RS,
May 16, 2008 - 09:56 ET by MassConservWell put, incoherent. I was getting a headache just trying to figure out what Penn was attempting to say.
"Phenomenally inhuman" and
May 15, 2008 - 23:53 ET by Schnikeys"Phenomenally inhuman" and "unconstitutional?" Disillusionment that
will happen if he doesn't become a greater man than he will ever be?"
What the heck is he talking about?
Tim, it's the cocaine hit he last took...it hadn't worn off by the time of this interview.
------------------------------------------------------------
Grizzly Bear '08
Hey,Sean!
May 16, 2008 - 00:18 ET by harry flashmanIt seems I can't paste the gif in this box that I wish I could but - Hey! You're an actor - Try the "Method" system used by Brando.
There's this G.I. with a canteen cup. He looks like the quintessential "All-American Boy." Million dollar smile - warmth, yet heroic in nature.
He's offering the viewer a share of his canteen cup and the caption is -
"How about a nice warm cup of S.T.F.U!"
I got some some for your friend Alec, too.
Sincerly yours
Sgt. USMC, '65-'71.
Put The Crack Pipe Down
May 16, 2008 - 00:39 ET by elf1024Dang... One too many hits off the crack pipe!
Remember kids, this is your brain on drugs!
Sean Penn is Absolutely Stupid.
May 16, 2008 - 00:45 ET by R D HelmAnd lucky he didn't blow his three remaining brain cells out while toting this.
Legalize Freedom-Vote Libertarian
Let's kick their asses...
May 16, 2008 - 02:22 ET by AgentAmericanThese lefties are asking for a whoopin. Just saying.
Drill ANWAR
Good actor, huh?
May 16, 2008 - 05:44 ET by badger.Good actor, huh? Actors like Sean Penn and Tim Robbins are living proof that anyone can win a Oscar at those worthless Academy Awards spectacles.
I remember commenting on Harrison Ford (I admit I do like Indiana Jones Adventures) awhile back as being one actor that belongs at the bottom of the worst persons acting list. Penn comes in dead last right under Robbins. Absolutely the worst Hollywood has to offer. Without a good supporting cast, Penn's movies are just flat out bloody awful. I bet Penn has 40-50 movies to his credit, and I can only think of 3 movies I like. Though, not because of Penn's fine acting abilities.
The Thin Red Line -True story / many actors.
The Falcon and the Snowman - Fact based story / I like Timothy Hutton.
Casualties of War- Inspired by true incident / I did like Michael J. Fox.
The rest of Sean Penn's Filmography is horrible.
Dogtown and Z-Boys, The Beaver Trilogy, Hugo Pool?????? I think the titles alone warns me away.
I can't believe Hollywood pays this Nimrod 20 mil a picture to act in, and waste millions to direct/produce other movies that make no return profit for the staggering investment needed. It must be a Mr. Drysdale / Jethro Bodine type of back door deal just to get this A-lister to star in future box office flops. I guess I'm a little on the dense side, I don't get the entertainment world philosophy of throwing away money to make a statement about something or for political reasons.
I feel sorry for his son Hopper Jack, might is well throw in Rabbit while you are at it Sean. Name the kid Dennis Jack or Jack Dennis. This is a mind on some serious drugs. I can't believe Robin Wright went along with this name, poor kid having to go through life with a name Sean the genius Penn thunk up in minute in honor of his liberal friends.
Colors
May 16, 2008 - 12:01 ET by misterbee241I liked "Colors" but Robert DuVall carried that film.
There is none so blind as they that won’t see. Jonathan Swift 1667-1745
God said of Sean Penn:
May 16, 2008 - 06:01 ET by sentforth5"...And even as they did not like to retain GOD in their knowledge, GOD gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, HATERS OF GOD, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobediant to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Who knowing the judgement of GOD, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."
It's a real eye-opener to actually see the folks God has warned us about. Ah well, the blind shall remain blind even as they are looking right at you!
The Lord is mightier than
May 16, 2008 - 06:12 ET by Jack BauerOuch. Sorry. That was punilicious!
LOL....Good one, Jack.
May 16, 2008 - 06:28 ET by JerLOL....Good one, Jack.
right on
May 16, 2008 - 07:54 ET by ort777I knew I voted for him on that crappy poll a few days ago for a reason. He still gets my vote.
The guy is just too far gone to worry about
May 16, 2008 - 07:54 ET by kdizzydazeI am simply desensitized to the ramblings of this guy. He makes no sense and you can predict the crux of his ramblings all the time - -Bush is a nazi, Bush is stupid, Bush is evil, etc.
Whatever.
And We Care?
May 16, 2008 - 08:05 ET by ChasvsWhy does anyone CARE what this high school drop out has to say?
I am amazed with the facination of the population with the opinions of the likes of this ignorant a$$.
We are SO SCREWED!
Jeff Spicoli: That was my
May 16, 2008 - 09:06 ET by GeoGolfJeff Spicoli: That was my skull! I'm so wasted!
I am Sam
May 16, 2008 - 09:34 ET by LionKingPenn's best work. Someone should tell him its time to get "out-of-character."
Bush is so stupid, but he keeps outsmarting the Dumbocrats.
btw, have there been any more terrorist attacks on US soil? US Embassys? US Naval ships?
Sean Penn?
May 16, 2008 - 09:56 ET by Kirk TurnerWhy does Sean Penn have a platform at all? Does anyone care what he says?
Sean Penn is like my crazy neighbor down the road who wears Che t-shirts, Birkenstocks, and raves about the bourgeosis--a poseur, a loser, and a thoroughly hateful person who then projects his own hate and loathsome personality traits to his imagined enemies.
Again, WHO CARES WHAT SEAN PENN THINKS?
Sean Spicoli...
May 16, 2008 - 11:24 ET by ontheright...should climb back into the "pot van" he tumbled out of years ago. The two brain cells he has left are in a state of perpetual flux...
Sean Penn and Alec Baldwin,
May 16, 2008 - 11:54 ET by misterbee241Sean Penn and Alec Baldwin, if they have to speak without a prepared script, cannot, as with many politicians (two come to mind). They are inarticulate, and if I may use the word, stupid. My best advice to Penn is, get somebody else to write what you need to say then stick to the script. That way you might be something near coherent.
There is none so blind as they that won’t see. Jonathan Swift 1667-1745
Whoa, dude! Spicoli, take
May 16, 2008 - 12:42 ET by mattmWhoa, dude! Spicoli, take another hit and chill man! Go make a movie or somethin', wouldja?
"Phenomenally inhuman" and "unconstitutional"
May 16, 2008 - 12:47 ET by Gary HallTim. I read this yesterday and my first thought was, my goodness, if any conservative (actor, politican, journalist, radio host, etc.) had made a similar comment about Obama, all hell would have broke loose and the wall to wall coverage of President Bush's speech in Israel, whould have quickly morphed to attacks on that person and demands that he be called for that which they would see as more "swift-boating."
This will stay under the rug, however, as the MSM does not want the voters having fodder for any doubt as to who Obama is. (;~/ gary