August
10
Angelina Jolie's Endorsement
It may seem as if most entertainment industry figures are aligning with Barack Obama and just a few with John McCain, but there are still a handful of famous names who are still on the fence. And both campaigns are well aware of one star who stands out among the undecideds: Angelina Jolie.
Both campaigns have reached out to her, apparently to court her support. But in a statement to Variety provided by political adviser Trevor Neilson, Jolie says that she is waiting to make up her mind.
"I have not decided on a candidate," Jolie says, "I am waiting to see the commitments they will make on issues like international justice, refugees and how to address the needs of children in crisis around the world."
Unlike many other celebrity endorsements, Jolie's carries the weight and influence of her extensive humanitarian work around the world, as the goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Her statement was an indication that she would be open to choosing a candidate.
That was in evidence earlier this year after her trip to Iraq, when she wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post, "Staying to Help in Iraq," in which she argued that the U.S. should step up financial and material assistance to Iraq --- not withdraw from its commitment in the region.
She wrote, "My visit left me even more deeply convinced that we not only have a moral obligation to help displaced Iraqi families, but also a serious, long-term, national security interest in ending this crisis.
"Today's humanitarian crisis in Iraq -- and the potential consequences for our national security -- are great. Can the United States afford to gamble that 4 million or more poor and displaced people, in the heart of Middle East, won't explode in violent desperation, sending the whole region into further disorder?"
"What we cannot afford, in my view, is to squander the progress that has been made."
She did, however, "call on each of the presidential candidates and congressional leaders to announce a comprehensive refugee plan with a specific timeline and budget as part of their Iraq strategy."
Her call for a continued U.S. presence left some conservative blogs buzzing that Jolie may in fact endorse McCain --- after some had just assumed that she would back Obama.
Jolie has said very little about the presidential race since.
In June, when Entertainment Weekly asked her whether she talked politics with Clint Eastwood, a longtime Republican, on the set of the upcoming movie, "The Changeling," she said, "Actually, we don't disagree as much as you'd think. I think people assume I'm a Democrat. But I'm registered independent and I'm still undecided. So I'm looking at McCain as well as Obama."
Jolie's father, Jon Voight, has endorsed McCain and recently wrote an op-ed for the Washington Times highly critical of Obama.
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Does Ms. Jolie have any idea what McCain would do to a woman's right to choose -- not to mention a whole host of other civil rights issues that would affect all of us -- should he become President...?
Does she not know that McCain has publicly endorsed the Bush administration's call to label some forms of birth control as abortion...?
McCain will wipe out decades of progress women have made should he be given the opportunity to make two Supreme Court appointments. I understand why world poverty is important to her, but is this not an important issue to Ms. Jolie, as well...? Women in the U.S. will be less likely to concern ourselves with the well-being of others worldwide if we have to go back to looking after our own.
McCain wants to stay in Iraq to win a war that he voted to start; not to help Iraqis. This should be obvious to Ms. Jolie. Please, think carefully about this choice.
Respectfully,
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa P. | August 10, 2008 at 02:00 PM
PLEASSSE - enough Angelina Jolie for the century!!!! Who cares? The woman is a complete narcissist that distracts from her own misery by doing some really good things. May she keep her mouth shut and do any good -doing silently! I can't believe anyone cares who she would endorse
Posted by: donna | August 10, 2008 at 02:05 PM
The notion that Jolie's endorsement carries any weight whatsoever is utterly laughable. The only thing endorsing McCain will do for Jolie is make her look like a moron.
Posted by: UCLAdy04 | August 10, 2008 at 02:12 PM
I can't believe anyone would care who anyone in Hollywood would endorse. Why is there an entire cottage industry surrounding what some starlet wore to the beach or when she will have her baby, or who is dating who? If you want to look for heroes and people to admire, look around in your own life.
Posted by: Ron Mears | August 10, 2008 at 02:16 PM
Seriously, I thought this headline was from The Onion, after reading the article, I am convinced that it's from The Onion.
Posted by: D.G. | August 10, 2008 at 02:16 PM
Look what the endorsement from her crackpot Dad - Jon Voigt - did. It made him look like the nut he is. No one cares. Obama doesn't need Angelina, or any other celeb endorsement. Message to Angie: Stick to People Magazine photo spreads and keep your nose out of presidential politics. You're not that important. You're a freakin' actor.
Posted by: BD | August 10, 2008 at 02:22 PM
In Angelina still thinking about who she will endorse that means she is a Republican just like her father. It is possible that she knows Senator Obama is the right candidate for the causes she thinks she cares about and that is why she is confused. However; considering her lifelong lifestyle endorsement is not that important. Although I admire the work she is done over the last few years, I'm not convinced that she truly cares. In my opinion it is a game she is playing to get attention.
Posted by: DKLA | August 10, 2008 at 02:44 PM
I couldn't care less, personally, who Angelina endorses. But half of the country's (People-magazine-reading) population will. Sadly, that's the only reason this freakshow will even matter.
Posted by: Josephine N. | August 10, 2008 at 02:44 PM
In Angelina still thinking about who she will endorse that means she is a Republican just like her father. It is possible that she knows Senator Obama is the right candidate for the causes she thinks she cares about and that is why she is confused. However; considering her lifelong lifestyle endorsement is not that important. Although I admire the work she is done over the last few years, I'm not convinced that she truly cares. In my opinion it is a game she is playing to get attention.
Posted by: DKLA | August 10, 2008 at 02:45 PM
Reading over the previous comments I am force to think "So much for civil and constructive comments from the Obama camp."
Opponents are called "Narcissist", "Morons" and "Nuts". That's real helpful. Even those on the fence are ridiculed.
True, too much weight is being given to people who merely excel at pretending to be someone else (otherwise known as "acting" or "entertaining"), but AJ has actually done some constructive work and has visited several of the places others only pontificate about.
And regarding McCain's impact on women's rights - have you considered that over half of the aborted babies are female? How about their rights? And what would America's futire ability to suppor social security and other social programs look like if we had not murdered 40 million babies in the last 30+ years?
It sounds to me like AJ is excercising intelligence and thoughtfullness. Good for her.
Posted by: KSM | August 10, 2008 at 02:48 PM
What a stupid article. Who cares who a celebrity endorses?
Posted by: Melissa | August 10, 2008 at 02:50 PM
For God's sake Angelina support McCain, afterall you fit right in with Paris and Britney,,,,,,,,,,,,,,stupid and irrelevant. Just can't believe a journalist ahd the nerve to put this garbage in print. What a horrible waste of good time, skill and press space.
Posted by: slvia | August 10, 2008 at 02:50 PM
Does Ms. Jolie have any idea what McCain would do to a woman's right to choose ...
McCain will wipe out decades of progress women have made
whimper, whine, snivel. decades of progress that women have made? killing unborn babies is progress?
can someone explain why you people have no problem killing defensive, helpless babies, but get all worked up if the military kill armed terrorists?
oh, never mind, i get it. it's about a women's right to choose. isn't that nice? but when a person in the military chooses to kill someone that wants to kill them, we need to cry foul. or as was the case with Jerk Murtha, he calls our soldiers "cold blooded murderers".
i'm curious, when you wacko feminazi's kill your unborn children, what was the temperature of their blood?
you libs are mental retards. plain and simple. why don't you guys go make sure your tire pressure is approved by the Messiah?
Posted by: Bert | August 10, 2008 at 02:52 PM
I cant stand McCain. He is a moron. I cant stand Obama, he has no more business running the country than I do. I have had it with Jolie. World humanitarian problems, are not my problem. My concern is my family, as it should be, and I sure as hell dont need McCain, Obama, or Jolie telling me that Im supposed to fork over more to help some distant humanitarian crisis. I have had enough of this nonsense! Enough!
Posted by: McLaren | August 10, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Angelina is no more undecided than she is ugly. She is voiting McCain but won't say it. Her quote about Iraq is a dead giveaway.
In Hollywood people who vote republicans are blacklisted. She may be very famous, but a saying that you don't like Obama seems to be considered a career killer.
No one is undecided in this race they are just afraid to say that they won't vote for Obama. In all the election primaries with Hillary, the undecided overwhelmingly went against Obama. This election won't be any different.
Posted by: coolrepublica | August 10, 2008 at 03:01 PM
I don't give a rat's behind who she endorses. Seriously, why is this even a serious question? If she can't decide, then she is more stupid than Paris Hilton who has at least put out a sensible energy plan.
Posted by: larry landaker | August 10, 2008 at 03:10 PM
Just who is suppose to stay over here, and clean up after this administration big lie for oil THAT RIGHT FOR OIL...I guess over 4000 troops lives sacrificed, lost homes, dwindling life saving, Now soldiers have to leave one war and go fight another while wondering who and what of thier lives have been effected...
"Today's humanitarian crisis in Iraq -- and the potential consequences for our national security -- are great. Can the United States afford to gamble that 4 million or more poor and displaced people, in the heart of Middle East, won't explode in violent desperation, sending the whole region into further disorder?"
Well instead of telling McCain and Obama, why not TELL MR BUSH AND HIS ADMINISTRATION, TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE HE MOVES INTO THAT NEW HOUSE WITH THE IRAQ OIL PUMPING OUT OF POCKET...
I agree this is a mess but I ask again how long are we to stay here, do we not have families, friends we might want to see or maybe just come home, WHAT ABOUT US! She must have forgot, where we are from.
.
Posted by: pam | August 10, 2008 at 03:12 PM
Carries her 2nd husbands blood in a vial around her neck, cuts herself to feel alive, makes out with her brother on the red carpet, sleeps with a becomes involved with, a married man. PLEASE ANGELINA, run, don't walk, McCain needs you...
Posted by: Juliet | August 10, 2008 at 03:12 PM
I am surprised that McCain wants a celebrity to endorse him especially as he branded Obama as 'celebrity'. McCain is really disfunctional.
Posted by: JED | August 10, 2008 at 03:20 PM
Lisa: Does Ms. Jolie have any idea what McCain would do to a woman's right to choose
----
I am sure she does. I hope she supports McCain's position, as well as of a majority of Americans', of a woman's right to choose -- LIFE.
Posted by: Tim | August 10, 2008 at 03:20 PM
If this is what America is waiting for then we truly are in sad shape!
Posted by: Susan | August 10, 2008 at 03:27 PM
As much as I respect Ms. Jolie's beauty and humanitarian work I'd be surprised if her endorsement swayed many voters. Certainly it would excite some base voters but they already are base voters. Are independents really sitting on the fence waiting for her endorsement? Doubtful.
Posted by: carsick | August 10, 2008 at 03:32 PM
Is she uses this election to focus all her attention on Iraq (a place I want the U.S. out of) I will no longer view her the same way. In other words I will lose a great deal of respect for her. Instantly.
Posted by: Maria | August 10, 2008 at 03:37 PM
Tim & Bert -
For some of us -- like me -- unplanned pregnancies end in adoption, not abortion. (She's 26, happy, and living in Chicago.) That doesn't mean I'm not realistic enough to know that others will likely need to make a different choice.
So easy for those of you without a uterus to judge. Perhaps if you were ever to find yourself in such a postion, you'd think differently...?
Again, this is the only reason I care in the least about Ms. Jolie. Unfortunately, she's likely to influence those who don't care to, or have the means to, inform themselves any other way.
Lisa
Posted by: Lisa P. | August 10, 2008 at 03:37 PM
how does little angela feel about McCain offering up his pill-popping wife for a bunch of bikers' amusement in an R-Rated beauty show where women degrade themselves for the amusement of a bunch of beer-swilling harley-junkies.
Posted by: malach hamovess | August 10, 2008 at 03:52 PM