Natalie Portman Defends Hillary Clinton

Natalie Portman Defends Hillary Clinton

Elle Magazine   |   March 6, 2008 09:18 AM


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Natalie Portman graces the April cover of Elle magazine to promote her period flick "The Other Boleyn Girl." Whole interview here.

Highlights:


On Hillary Clinton:

A lot of the stuff people say about her, I hear it and my stomach falls because it's so sexist. You ask people why they don't like her and it's because her husband cheated on her! That was obviously not her choice. She's so much more polished and experienced than anyone else. Last night, a friend, a social worker in L.A. who works with underprivileged kids, was saying how these girls who have never been interested in politics before are so excited that a woman might be president. I mean, look how many women are in government...Hillary's one of, what, [a handful of] female senators?

I also like Obama. I even like McCain. I disagree with his war stance--which is a really big deal--but I think he's a very moral person. I met him and Hillary on the same day, actually, when I went to Washington with Finca [a nonprofit that gives loans to businesswomen in developing countries]. Hillary was by far the smartest person I met that day. Just totally focused, and knew more about the issues than anyone else, and was so able to go from one thing to the other.

On starting her own production company:

It is proactive. It gives you more control over creating things, as opposed to having to get hired every single time. After you've worked for so long it's kind of annoying to have to be dependent in that way. With acting, getting work can be very passive. You're sort of subject to the whims and fashions of your moment. I've been working 15 years, and I know some years I get everything first and some years I read only uninteresting parts. I didn't want to just be at the mercy of whoever is making those decisions. Having your own company is a nice way to concentrate your ideas and make the kinds of movies you want to see.


 
 

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Do feminist values include supporting men who are prey on interns that are not much older than their daughters? You're right Natalie--that wasn't her choice--her choice was to support him for it. I guess it's okay to support these ideals for the greater good of feminism so that you can ultimately vote for a woman and commit a "feminist" act. I guess you need to attend Harvard or Wellesley to understand feminism (Phew! I am glad the "brainy" Natalie Portman cleared it up for me.) You people are right, she's "like" soooo smart...

This same actress said that she " understood what it felt like to be black." Apparently, this deep empathy doesn't move her to vote for a black man, even though she "likes" him, but some "underprivileged" school girls in L.A. (what the "underprivileged" part has to do with anything, I have no idea, but we are following Portmanian logic here) who is excited that a woman might be president make her want to vote for a woman. Are the underprivileged school girls even of voting age? Does the fact that they're female override the fact that their underprivileged (because following that logic they should be excited to vote for an underprivileged candidate)?

Does this make sense to you people? Do you really think this person is smart? Apparently Harvard doesn't teach critical thinking skills...or public speaking skills...or common sense. I am glad I went to a state school...

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:30 PM on 03/10/2008

Dearest Natalie,
Hillary offended many women by her own sexist actions. When Bill had affairs or was accused of sexual harrassment, Hillary would characterize the women as stalkers, mentally unbalanced or liars. Hillary sought to destroy the reputation of any woman who dared come forward with complaints of Bill's inappropriate behaviour. Very honorable women were humiliated and degraded by both Bill and Hillay. She likely stayed with him because he was a popular politician and she needed him to campaign for her. Looking back it really seemed as if Hillary created most of the anger and infighting that began the terrible division that remain in Washington today.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:41 PM on 03/08/2008

People don't like her becuse her husband cheated on her? That's a new one. Hill-Billy

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:49 PM on 03/08/2008

She sucked in Star Wars, she looked like she didn't even want to be there.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:34 PM on 03/08/2008

Typical sexists, immature, rambling responses to thoughtful comments. Ignore them. You are echoing what all who meet HRC seem to say: that she is SMART, affable, caring ... I think what her campaign is making abundantly clear is that Women who want to exercise their power in this world are still very frightening to many people. I'm glad you like her ... me too!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:58 PM on 03/08/2008

Ms. Portman, you should educate yourself with the history of Hillary Clinton and examine how she has behaved before you were born. I am sure you might have difficulty in believing that Hillary was an ardent marxist and worked hard to support Black Panther members who murdered one of their own, and that she worked side by side Jessica Mitford and her husband both card carrying communists, as well as some books describe her Sr. thesis along the lines of that the true nature of mankind is that they are not good enough to do the right thing, so people, like Hillary, know better, must achieve power to protect us from ourselves, and only she is qualified to do so. A little reading would enlighten.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:59 PM on 03/08/2008

This coming from the chick who jumped on the Heath Ledger bandwagon and helped squash his drug tape from the public light, yet doesn't lift a finger to denounce the paparazzi's treatment of Britney? And I can't stand Britney, but the double standards are apparent. Miss Portman you just lost another paying customer. And it adds up....

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:10 PM on 03/08/2008

"I also like Obama. I even like McCain. I disagree with his war stance--which is a really big deal--but I think he's a very moral person."

Yeah, hire me as your foreign policy guru, please, because you definitely need one: here's the truth:

Of the three people running to be president, only Barack was against it from the beginning. The other two are very similar in that one is a moderate, and the other is a moderate/hawk. *Both* refuse to admit that the Iraq war they enabled -- *and which has resulted in 1,000,000 DEAD (it's actually more than that) -- was a mistake. It's comfortable here in the United States. It's nice to be comfortable. But we're living in a comfortable dream, while ignoring the brutal reality of what our (yours and my) tax dollars have wrought --> nothing short of a mini-genocide.

If the equivalent number died here, it would be in the neighborhood of 11,000,000 people. DEAD. People are outraged at everything but this number. It's depressing.

There is only one choice this election, and that's the only person who had the wisdom to see the folly of this war against humanity from the start. John McCain is moral? Hillary rawks? Neither of them ever mention the numbers of dead; the mass murder that they helped create. I don't think they're moral or accountable (and in that sense, not unlike the current president). And the families of the million dead? They probably don't think so either.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ORB_survey_of_casualties_of_the_Iraq_War

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:32 PM on 03/08/2008

All Portman did was lose a lot of would-be movie goers, and she doesn't sound to bright in these quotes... You can't defend the dirty campaign Hillary is running, and what's unfortunate is that her tactics, and her always playing the victim are setting women back. Even if Hillary steals the nomination she'll lose to Mccain (her tired and old politics is turning off lots of Dems, like myself, who will never support her now) and that will make it radioactive for the next woman that comes along who wants to be president.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:59 PM on 03/08/2008

Natalie, the logic is a bit off: Just because people don't like Hillary doesn't mean that they're sexist or misogynistic. A lot of people don't like her because of her behavior; because of her tactics; because she uses Rovian tactics to attack Barack Obama, and that's the politics of assassination that is often associated with the Bush administration. Some people are sexist, but a LOT of us are pro-woman, but like Barack better. Read this:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-cooper/clinton-genocide-and-a-c_b_90436.html

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:33 AM on 03/08/2008

My, my, my. Movie stars defending politicians, and people actually paying attention to it like it has significance.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:28 AM on 03/08/2008

I've got some bad news for the phalanx of posters here. For the Democrats to win the presidency this November, the unity ticket of Clinton and Obama (listed here as such simply for alphabetical purposes) must be enacted. All they have to quibble about today is who gets to be at the top.

I know, I know, one is a living saint on Earth and the other is a demon from hell. 'Tis a pity that Jesus returned must ally with the devil incarnate to win, but that's politics in America. The sooner you all get over your revulsion for the "other", the less damage you'll cause the Democratic Party.

Or would you rather have President McCain than for C., or is it O.?, to be anywhere near the White House?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:31 AM on 03/08/2008

Well if Natalie Portman says it, it must be true. She was Senator from Naboo for piss sake. LOL.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:00 AM on 03/08/2008

As a woman, you must be very proud of a female candidate who so believes in winning ugly. She takes the low road and you become her apologist. Miss Portman, not only have you failed in convincing me to vote for her, you've lost one more paying ticket to your movies.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:14 AM on 03/08/2008

Natalie Portman is like millions across the country. Hillary's political machine crafts a solid persona for those whom don't delve too deeply, or listen too attentively.

She has a right to want a woman in the white house. She just doesn't understand that Hillary is not the right woman.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:19 AM on 03/08/2008

I think she's a bit ignorant, but that's to be expected. A lot of A list Hollywood actors and actresses don't have the time to sit around watching cable news and reading blogs online all day. She never defended any of Hillary's recent insidious campaign tactics. Also, how often does Elle go to print? This was probably at least a two week old interview. Isn't it a tad bit reactionary to forever boycott any future Natalie Portman films?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:31 AM on 03/08/2008

she sounds like a 12 year old

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:58 PM on 03/07/2008

Somebody needs to go back to school. . .

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:25 PM on 03/07/2008

I'm surprised at the level of hating going on here. I am not a Hilary fan, and I think that her support of Hilary is misguided. But the implication that Natalie Portman is dumb, unschooled etc. is a weak ad hominem attempt to discredit her and to ignore her point of view. Similarly, I would disagree with Natalie Portman's views on Israel, but given her Jewish background they are hardly surprising. As it is, she is uncommonly well-educated for an actress in Hollywood. For sure, disagree with her - I do - but let's be objective about it.

While I am here: let's also be a little more objective about Hilary too. I no more want to see her win the nomination than others here, but she is not the utter disaster-area that she is caricatured as. She is unquestionably a smart person, experienced and very good at what she does. Has she allowed her sense of personal ambition get in the way of her feelings for the country and the democratic process? Yes, I think so. Gary Hart's comments, I think, are accurate. But once again, let's not paint her as a monster. Otherwise, we make the same mistakes that she has, and give more fuel to the GOP come November should Obama not achieve the nomination (which is hardly a foregone conclusion).

Objectivity - it's good, isn't it?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:26 AM on 03/08/2008

Portman is a mall chick starring in roles that appeal to a mall rat audience. She's in the prequel to Wes Anderson's latest film: Daljeling Express and the butt of the joke.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:33 AM on 03/08/2008

Natalie Portman this is perhaps your best acting job to date. I can see an Oscar ahead of you for playing out this Hillary fiction. Congradulations, you are now officially part of the irrational women who support Hillary, just waiting to pick up your very own broom stick and fly with them to Salem.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:21 PM on 03/07/2008

Are you really surprised that someone who believes the genocidal government of Israel is "moral" has good feelings about Hillary and McCain?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:55 PM on 03/07/2008

Comment: "are so excited that a woman might be president. I mean, look how many women are in government...Hillary's one of, what, [a handful of] female senators?"
Answer: People all over the world are extremely excited about Obama not only because he is an African-American but because of what he stands for!
Comment: "Hillary was by far the smartest person I met that day."
Answer: Did you meet stupid people THAT day as well or this, by itself, says nothing.
Comment: "Just totally focused, and knew more about the issues than anyone else, and was so able to go from one thing to the other."
Answer: Who was there to compare her to? Was Obama there as well? No, right? Your comments are very superfluous.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:31 PM on 03/07/2008

John-war'n'torture-McCain is a 'very moral person' ???
Tim Russert used to call Dick Cheney 'honorable'. Apparently the more war crimes one commits the more 'honorable' one becomes.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:42 PM on 03/07/2008

I am not supporting John McCain but he is an honorable man. Do not compare Dick Cheney to John McCain. Dick Cheney is a gutless draft dodging piece of shit and John McCain was a hero. John McCain has committed no war crimes. I am an ex-Marine and I would be proud to serve under John McCain.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:52 AM on 03/08/2008

You mean like the huge 5 and a half year war crime committed against him as a POW! You are such an ingrate. That man stayed there contingent upon all of his fellow soldiers being released as well. You have all become so cynical. I think maybe we need to start drafting some of you "boys" so that you know what people like McCain go through so that you cans spew your hateful diatribe.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:29 AM on 03/08/2008

Thank you Natalie!!! The sexism is a huge disappointment. But I have to say, there are alot of female Hillary haters. I am not sure why, jealousy? Cattiness?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:28 PM on 03/07/2008

Jealousy, not really.

I just prefer clean campaigns, talking about real issues, not falsely smearing/sliming your opponent.

Give Portman a break, she is like lots of celebreties-trying to overlook the negative aspects to Hillary's campaign.

Some of us just know we can not afford to. We have lived through it with Bush/Rove and, would prefer it did not enter into the Democratic standard for campaigns.

Negative campaigning covers a multitude of sins of the person resorting to it. Watch out, voters!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:41 PM on 03/08/2008

or because she's run a horrible, negative campaign

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:58 PM on 03/07/2008

Maybe women who dislike Hillary dislike her for reasons having nothing to do with her sex. Maybe they are holding her accountable for her vote to enable Bush to go to war in Iraq. Maybe they find her to be inauthentic and opportunistic. But, to suggest that women should support Hillary solely because or her sex and to dismiss their failure to support her as "jealousy" or "cattiness" strikes me as the epitomy of sexism.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:28 PM on 03/07/2008

Too true. I just think this is the Wrong woman. It's one thing to fight but Hillary lives to fight and divide people just for the joy of doing it. Not good qualities for a leader.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:55 PM on 03/08/2008

There's a lot of female Hillary haters, heck there's a lot of Hillary haters because the media tells people to hate Hillary. I'm sure there are right-wing folk that hate her just on the fact that she's a democrat. But I'm willing to bet money, that a lot more people have been influenced by the media rhetoric than they will admit to.

A lot of people don't stop to think how watching MSNBC or other mainstream programming has influenced their sphere of thought. They don't stop to think about the programming they watch or the books they read (if they read). Most people like to think their ideas are their own, but I think the majority of people (including myself) have all had ideas put in our heads by some other person or entity (including corporate media) and these implanted ideas influence our believes and our norms. So I think Hillary hating has become akin to a cultural norm. People say they "hate" her, but nine times out of ten the reasons I hear for "hating" her are full of fluff. Things like: "I just do" or "I like the idea of a female president, I just don't like HER" or "I don't want Billary as my president" or "she's corrupt" or "she lies" or "she's hawkish" or "she's just too _____ (insert media rhetoric here)" It's all the same stuff and the one thing all these "I hate Hillary-isms" have in common is that I've heard them all before, coming from the TV. I'm not saying I'm a Hillary supporter, or I'm voting for her, but I think the Hillary hating phenomenon is interesting. Most of the reasons are full of fluff, since you almost never hear "I don't like Hillary because of -policy stance X, or her position on Y". The other phenomenon is the sexism, but I don't think that this is anything new, because if you paid attention before all this started, you would know very well that sexism and misogyny are rampant - in our media, in our workplace, in our government, in our culture, it's everywhere and it's always been there, Hillary just brought it to everyone's attention.

My final thought is this, I don't trust the MSM at all, so I get suspicious when they go off on Clinton, all the while they treat Obama as their golden boy. Doesn't anyone else find that suspicious?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:24 PM on 03/07/2008

Funny,

I had been thinking the exact opposite that Hillary has been playing the MSM like a fiddle.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:21 AM on 03/08/2008

Woman doe NOT EQUAL feminine values. There are such women as falic women, those who just want power for power's shake just as most men.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:34 PM on 03/07/2008

The news outlets are human and they want the Democrats to win the general election. Hillary has done the mud slinging and gutter politics then she blames the media. The Hillary campaign threatens the media for not enough favorable reporting but MSM is not part of any political campaign and doesn't owe the public any more than reporting the news. If Hillary had her way all negative reporting would be censored.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:02 PM on 03/08/2008

Reality? Clinton isn't a feminist. She's treated women like fodder on her way to the White House. It's so hypocritical that 'feminists' swallow Hillary's sexism just to get what they want. Clinton took money from a firm she KNEW had the worst complaint record in EEOC history (but 'eh', those "broads" were only yakking and whining, right? There's not PROOF they were physically and verbally savaged. They were just trying to work their way to the top and turned on the boys and lied when they didn't. )

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:35 PM on 03/07/2008

Denni, Please do yourself a favor and read Hillary's bio on Wikipedia. It will open your eyes. Hillary Clinton Wikipedia ----------------------
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillary_clinton

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:01 AM on 03/08/2008

Denni, you seem to have had a lot to say about the Obama picture that was displayed on Drudge's site. Here's my take on that.

I just can"t imagine how any of you can not be suspicious of this!

"In their 2006 book The Way To Win, Mark Halperin and John Harris report that Ken Mehlman, the Republican Party chairman, kind of brags (as CNN host Howard Kurtz puts it) about utilizing the Drudge channel. They also write that:
"Drudge, with his droll Dickensian name, was not the only media or political agent whose actions led to John Kerry's defeat. But his role placed him at the center of the game -- a New Media World Order in which Drudge was the most potent player in the process and a personification of the dynamic that did Kerry in."
Matt Drudge. (2008, March 4). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 04:02, March 5, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matt_Drudge&oldid=195810241

The photo that has you all atwitter showed up on the Drudge Report website along with claims that it came from the Hillary campaign. This was a stone that hit two birds. It associated Obama with the Muslim religion and made Hillary"s campaign look like it doesn"t play fair. Neither campaign made an appropriate reaction to it and the damage was done. This should serve as a warning to you that the right wingers are not going to play with kid gloves. They have the right wing smear machine up and running on all eight cylinders and winning the presidency will not be a cakewalk.

The Republicians have already admitted to meddeling in our election. Why are you so anti-Clinton? Are you part of the Right Wing Slime Machine? You might as well be!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:36 PM on 03/07/2008