Natalie Portman Defends Hillary Clinton

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.

Comments

[qwr]

At Harvard, when there were protests against Israel's actions in the occupied territories, Natalie Portman claimed that criticism of Israel was anti-semitic. Now she equates Hillary criticism with misogyny. I'm not sure Portman could be accused of subtle thinking.

[barriosbabe]

I'm so sick of these generalizations about women, sexism, racism and so on.

Signed,
Over 50 White Feminist Who Voted for Obama

[BaManu]

You go girl.....

[rh654]

Thank God we know where Natalie Portman stands on the Democratic Race.

I think we can all sleep a lot sounder now knowing this key bit of information.

[Alvin4NY]

One of the smartest young actresses in Hollywood. Focused and determined.

[BaManu]

Who? Me?

[EspressoAtNoon]

Wow! The Israel-firster actress goes for the neo-con in Dem clothing. Big Surprise there!!

[snesich]

Would Natalie consider that it is possible to oppose Hillary Clinton entirely for substantive reasons? I'm against Hillary for many reasons. All of them relate to public policy, her specific votes on Senate matters, and her ability to actually win a general election, nationwide.

But to cite just three reasons I'm opposed to Hillary Clinton:

1. She voted for Bush's war in Iraq and refuses to acknowledge that she was wrong to do so.
2. She voted for the Bankruptcy Bill that was passed to help the big credit card companies at the expense of average families.
3. She voted to give Bush the authority to go to war with Iran any time he pleases.

Any response to those specific reasons, Natalie?

[wryter]

Of course it's possible to oppose Hillary for entirely substantive reasons. But read what Portman says, and then take a look at the bulk of the anti-Hillary comments on HuffPo, and you'll find the bulk are overtly -- and some slightly more subtly -- related to gender.

Heck, even the comments right here about the Harvard-educated actress (who's published in a scientific journal) have the stench of sexism. Adam McKay shares his political opinion and gets a "Right on, man!" Portman does and she's "dumb as a doorknob." Oy.

[furpants]

I think if Portman got a good look at whats under the skin of Hillary, she would be taken back by the uglyness hidden within.

[themightylex]

I love the double-standard. It's sexist if you don't like a person because they stand by someone who cheats on them? I don't get that argument. If Hillary were a man, it wouldn't change the fact that they criticize the decision to stick with a cheater.

At the same time Portman argues that Hillary should be president because there aren't many women in government. Now that actually is sexist. Sure she's smart and as qualified as anyone else, but the major reason she gave, was because Hillary was a woman she should be President. Wow!

There'd be a frenzy if Barack said he should be President just because there aren't enough mixed race people in government.

[Guitarsandmore]

Yeah, I know its pretty astonishing but the argument goes something like this," If Hillary was so naive that she didn't know Bill was cheating on her and she went on to put up with it then she is just to gullible to be president and people are going to walk all over her like the middle east shieks etc."

That's what the republicans are telling me.

Then they go on to say that she let GW bullshit her into the war when she should have listened to others.

[themightylex]

Still doesn't sound sexist to me.

Personally, I think that Hillary set her ambitions aside because she was so love-struck with Bill early on. I think she'd have already run for president if she hadn't spent so much of her life helping him reach his ambitions. As much sympathy as I feel for her on that issue, I just don't think she's what the country needs right now.

She's good at fighting, but is she any good at leading? Just taking the campaigns of the two candidates as an example, we see very different styles of leadership and the varied results they have produced. I like the one that campaigns in all 50 states, as says that all Americans are important.

[Denni]

No, it's not Hillary's fault her husband cheated. It IS her fault that she chose to cover up for him by attacking the credibility of the women who came forward. It's funny how the feminist hero myth is applied to Hillary when she's spent so much time damaging the reputations of the women her husband has been involved with, but she sings HIS praises. Lovely.

[Evolin]

These women did not know he was maried? and that they were going behind Hillary's back?
Some how I cannot feel sympatyy for them in regards to Hillary.

But let us get off their personal life. Hillary has not been accused of being unfaithful so why are we even discussing this?
.
It is the same old / same old stuff. Putting down ANYNONE who says something postitive about Hillary.

[DasBoot]

Well, if Natalie Portman likes Hillary I am convinced.­..NOT!

[dajay]

Well, if Oprah, Stevie Wonder, Rolling Stone magazine, endorses him I am convinced too.
NOT!

[Dalpine]

Who do Rolling Stone magazine, Stevie Wonder and Oprah endorse?

[Denni]

No, it's not her fault her husband cheated. It IS her fault that she chose to publicly attack those who came forward and tried to discredit them when she KNEW the truth. One more 'feminist' hero defending the policies of discrediting women to protect men. Hillary's been at it for a long time.

I wonder if Portman's friend would be so happy to have Hillary as a candidate given her defense of a pedophile by attacking the credibility of a 12 year old girl? THAT she defended him isn't the problem. It's HOW she defended him. She did it by portraying the child as a 'loose' girl who fantasized about sex with older men and then falsely accused them of rape --- Of course, the investigating officer states that claim was FALSE.

BTW, why does it matter? It's part of her "35 years of experience"

[Dannydel]

An actress...­with a political opinion...­gets press. And that would be why exactly?

[enoughalready13]

Amen to that.

[dajay]

Dannydel: Why exactly did all the people from the pop star world, etc., Oprah, Stevie Wonder, Rolling Stone magazine, get press.

Hmm, I wonder.

You guys are so irrational and clueless.

[BassMonk]

Perhaps because they were in the same room as a candidate, rather than just musing? Just a guess.

[VosVos]

NP should read http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070521/berman

Unfortunately, HRC, despite being very smart, is the same old D.C. operator which is bringing us to our knees. Doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result, is "dumb" defined.

[ww]

I believe you to be confused. It was Bush who brought us to our 'knees', to use your phrase.

[MagiCube]

Let's not suggest that people should vote for Hillary because she's a woman. I think it's great that she's inspiring girls and other women, but that would be as bad as saying people should vote for Obama because he's black, and a lot of young black people are really inspired by him.

And c'mon--Hillary is not "so much more... experienced than anyone else." Not by a long shot.

Can we quit caring so much what people in the talkies think?

[flasher3838]

no she is evil. she said something good about clinton and didnt droll all over obama on this site that makes her evil

[ivana]

BRAVO! How refreshing­...a gorgeous, young celeb with BRAINS AND AMBITION. Obviously these are two dirty words when talking about a female presidential candidate.

[Nicolaus]

Not really. But we have none such. We have someone who let down her Party and engaged in tactics that are beneath contempt.

Where are the 'Brains' in that?

The 'ambition' - yes: of that we have no end of "I am ready to lead" with arms stretched to grab every lobbyist the Senator from New York can see.

I wished former Senator Edwards or Senator Obama were females - at least that would silence those who put gender before the interests of the ordinary people.

[ivana]

Of course, this coming from a MALE. Men do not realize that women must work TWICE as hard as men to reach the top posts. In this process, yes, you lose a part of yourself. You become, dare I say, BITCHIER. I hate it. But ya know, Bitches Get Things Done. Hillary looks like every Bitch you've ever encountered in your life, I agree. She will do EVERYTHING she says will .... this is an UN-Glamorous job. She isn't seeking glamour. That's why - for women - she is SO Appealing. You can call this post sexist, but I am stating to you why you can never understand the true meaning of underdog : being born a female in a man's world.