Clooney Denies "Advising" Obama

George Clooney issued a statement denying that he had advised Barack Obama on foreign policy --- or even the notion that he is in regular e-mail contact with the candidate.

Clooney says, "I have never texted or emailed Senator Obama. And I'll offer a million dollars to anyone who could prove otherwise. In fact, I've only talked to the Senator once in the last year and a half....on the phone. I've spent more time with Senator McCain (he did my TV show) then I have with Senator Obama.  I would hope that my friend John McCain would join me in condemning this kind of politics. Although I support Senator Obama I would never be dumb enough to offer policy advice to either candidate. They seem to be doing fine without me."

In noting "this kind of politics," Clooney seems to be referring to the recent attacks on Obama as a celebrity --- and all of the trappings that go with it. He seems to be suggesting that the stories about him advising Obama --- advanced in the London Daily Mail and picked up by Drudge --- are motivated by Obama opponents, hoping to add fuel to the McCain campaign's current line of attack.

There's been considerable talk in Hollywood of the hypocrisy of McCain attacking Obama as a celebrity while McCain himself has appeared on everything from "Saturday Night Live" to "Wedding Crashers" to "The Tony Danza Show."

Quoting unnamed sources, the Daily Mail in London reported that Clooney had been e-mailing back and forth with Obama and advising on foreign policy issues.

Clooney has offered to support Obama, even if that means keeping at arm's length from the candidate out of concern that his celebrity would distract from the campaign. He is, however, hosting a fund-raiser for Obama next month in Switzerland.

I would expect that there will be more stories leaked out in the coming days and weeks that trumpet Obama's relationships with various celebrities.