Actor Tom Hanks Endorses Barack Obama

Time Magazine's Mark Halperin reported late Saturday that Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks is endorsing Barack Obama for President:

Actor/activist who had given money to both the Illinois Senator and Clinton posts compelling video on his MySpace page explaining his choice.

Watch Tom Hanks' endorsement of Barack Obama:

Beware: Celebrity Endorsement

Comments

[kae]

A celebrity more concerned about the future of this country than his tax breaks ; )

thanks Tom!

[meanguy]

another 'celeb' more concerned with jumping on the PC bandwagon than in helping to win an election

[Pammy1151]

This is how I see these endorsements. They can't hurt and they are 1 more vote in the voting booth for Barack in November!!! I will take them anyway we can get them!!

[Poised]

Celebrity endorsements can hurt the celebrities who are making them.

Oprah discovered to her dismay that after she backed Obama, her own popularity plummeted by 20 percent.

I cannot imagine why anyone would be influenced by actors, who are generally not very intelligent people. Sensitive and artistic, perhaps, but without high IQs for the most part.

I might be influenced by a think tank that took a candidate's positions and carefully and scientifically predicted what would happen in the future if his/her policies were implemented. But an actor?

[Nobrun]

'...her own popularity plummeted by 20 percent. ...'

It's not always about the individual.

'...genera­lly not very intelligent people...'

Where's your scientific basis for this nonsense?

[sleepycoder]

Let's face it, we live in a nation where people care more about politicians shedding tears and whether they seem like a good guy to have a bbq with, rather than actual policies. Gut feelings and emotion are what get people elected in this country.

[GinnyinCO]

"I cannot imagine why anyone would be influenced by actors, who are generally not very intelligent people. Sensitive and artistic, perhaps, but without high IQs for the most part. "

Your support for this very sterotyped statement is? I grant there are some actors and actresses who appear to have limited knowledge or interest in anything but their own fame. There are plenty who clearly have become informed and active in many charitable causes.

Hanks has been a phenomenlly reliable performer in quality productions, some that have reversed the 'rewriting' of history. His personal life has also been exceptional, even for regular Americans, let alone the fame and fortune group he works with.

Many of us have a great respect for the guy. Just because he chose acting instead of politics doesn't mean he has no basis to offer his opinion.

I was pleased with the reminder to the 1797 shock to the world: when Washington left the presidency and John Adams took over. Peacefully, based on an election, not a coup or a family relationship, or any of the other stupid reasons power and leadership had been changed in history.

[freshnotbitter]

"...but an actor????"

Tom Hanks is far more than an actor. He is a producer with a lot of clout in Hollywood and he can pick his roles. He is also concerned with his country's destiny and is a true patriot.

Believe me, Tom Hanks didn't endorse Obama because it would help his career. Nor did Oprah.

Surely it must mean something when people of such caliber come out for Obama!!!!

[gigi09]

This is America sweetie and even actors get a chance to vote! Ophra don't give a rat's ass about 20% drop in ratings...­she can always retire!

[wm1066]

Tom Hanks has that Carey Grant class.
Thanks Tom for endorsing Obama.
Boy the Trolls are on this site trying in vain to smear Hanks.
Glad to see it is not working

[Amennyc]

Tom Hanks, the other John Travolta..­..

[maxwellinformed]

What Obama needs is someone with a and a cowboy hat, a pick-up truck, too tight pants, and broken heart to endorse him. I wonder who Trace Atkins endorses?

[freshnotbitter]

I honestly believe Joe Six-Pack may be looking for the most elite candidate after 8 years of Bush and 8 years of the Clintons.

Vote Elite, Vote Obama 08

[applehead]

dear tom...i once wanted hillary, i gradually became an obama man --- then it was back and forth, tho much more passionately for obama, nostalgically for hillary...­i think she would be a great president, but i think he might be the greatest president since lincoln.

you, dear sir, i have always loved you. between my aunt and i we have all your movies, all of them great. i remember once you chewed out some people in a outdoor restaurant who did nothing while a hobo laid in the street --- after you stopped and helped him. you say your endorsement might be of little value, but for what it's worth, it means enough to me to feel to say, final answer, i'm locking in, i'm an obama man.

ps,as an aside, i love your son too. i think orange country is a wonderful and wonderfully inspiring film and he did a beautiful job in it.

one last thing, the scene with you on the raft in awe beneath the humongous moon in 'Joe verses the volcano', thanking God for your life, always brings me to tears.

God bless you dear sir, God bless you real good forever,

sincerely, robert

[FreeThinkn1]

FYI. Martin Sheen endorsed Barack on this week's Graham Norton Show.

[abellofgrace]

God bless you Mr. Hanks for speaking from your heart, as well as your brain.
Obama for president for the change this country so desperately need. Yes, we are the ones we've been waiting for. I'm praying enough people get on board.

[unscum]

Could the character of William Hurt in Iron Man be compared to Charlie Wilson in the movie or real life?

[nton]

not a big fan of Tom but kudos - contrast it with the buffoonish Jack Nicholson endorsemnt and u see what Obama inspires in people vs Billary

[LeftLeaner]

Tom = good = Obama

Jack = bad = Clinton

TOO FUNNY

[freshnotbitter]

The Clinton people insult our intelligence. They pretend that they are "for us". Look at funny Jack Nicholson. Look at Hillary declaring a tax holiday. Look at Hillary obliterating Iran.

Obama's people don't pretend that Obama is perfect or tough or God's gift to mankind. We just want to move forward because we are Americans who are tired of the way the Bush/Clinton dynasty has turned us into the "can't do" nation.

Can't have health care. Can't have peace. Can't develop alternative energy. Can't do nuttin' no more.

Yes, we can, vote Obama 08

[hmmmmmer]

So?

[LeftLeaner]

Tom is a great actor, but he's preaching to the choir - namely, the base of the Democratic Party, and maybe a few undecided.

That's my opinion.

[freshnotbitter]

Tom Hanks' choir is middle class white America.

Let him preach.

One of the best endorsement productions I've seen.

Hollywood has matured a bit politically, if you ask me. There is no "knee-jerk" quality in Hollywood politics these days. The Hollywood crowd sees America's place in the world better than most of us because they travel around and have to do business in every country of the world - and succeed there.

We need to move on beyond the Clintons' sixties liberalism to a more mature politics for a new generation and Obama represents that best. He isn't perfect but he comes the closest to what we need.

One warning to future celeb endorsements: "Honest" is a fickle word in the world of politics. the MSM will not allow an honest man to take the oath of office, no matter what it takes. They like 'em dirty.

[LeftLeaner]

Maybe Tom Hanks' acting attracts middle America, but the Hollywood connection is viewed as liberal leaning to most middle America.

[Melissa]

He will be as effective as the Kennedy Family was in Mass.

[BetterAmerica]

Great...an­other celebutante trying to get McCain elected...

[Bagger]

Huh?

[barackobama4prez]

apparently this person thinks Hillary would provide a betteramerica. Still a stupid comment about getting McCain elected. The poster has obviously taken talking points from HRC that "he cannot win, Bill. he cannot win."

[wm1066]

You make no sense!

[doc1400]

Are you sure it is not BITTERAMERICA???

[olivia]

Beautiful endorsement. Direct, humble, honest.

Thank you Tom Hanks. I've always admired you and your gorgeous smart wife.

[Freedomscap]

With the Indiana primary just days away, three more Midwestern newspapers formally endorsed Barack Obama in this morning's Sunday editions: the Muncie Star Press, the Gary Post-Tribune, and the Louisville Courier-Journal (which has a large southern Indiana readership, and endorsed Barack both in Tuesday's contest and Kentucky's May 20th primary).

[kellygrrrl]

Great News!
I heard the largest paper in NC did the same today

[TrueThis]

"The" smartest man in the entertainment industry shows that he's above the fray where he's able to look above the color of person skin or their gender. This has nothing to do with polling but the understanding of our history and the leaders that guide us to equality. Tom Hank you have my upmost respect--thanks for showing your true leadership.

[bfc1968]

Ditto!!!! and thanks to charlie wilson too! ..... and the great job you did.. and the haunting message to us all you included at the end of the film.. before the credits!!!!!!

and thank you.... thank you... thank you... for the inspirational Adams series....

your message was thoughtful, and clearly crafted to help reach the towards the best of rather the worst of....us..­..

and I loved the visual image... of gw.. watching barack take the oath of office....

it reminded me of one of the move on.org 30- second adds... the one entitled..­. 2012.....

Hopefully your powerful message.. might inspire others of your caliber to do the same... although. probably very few of them would have the

"voice" you included between each line... thanks for helping remind us.. what's really at stake here.. and how important the caliber of a person's character and ethical principles and visionary judgement.­.. the character traits after all... we should be expecting in a leader of our nation

and yes... the whole world is watching..­. and what a powerful message that picture will provide the planet... on inauguration day... 2009...

hurrah!!!! bueno!!!! bravo!!!! and thanks... much more powerful than a flag pin

[Trill]

TrueThis..­..you said it. I second your post. Congrats!

[SaulGoode]

If Hanks is the smartest man in enetertainment, that's a pretty damning indictment of the industry.

Tom obviously doesn't know his history. He made the completely ridiculous claim that Adams’s succession of Washington was the first peaceful transfer of power to a non-relative in history.

The Romans were doing that two thousand years ago.

[jhink465]

What? Roman succession was at the cost of the encumbant Emperor's life either by poison or the blade. Ask good old Julius, Augustus, Caligula, Marcus Aurelius and the list goes on. They''ll tell you. A machine gunner at Anzio had a better chance at longevity than a Roman Emperor. What color is the sky in your world?

[freshnotbitter]

No, Saul, the Roman Republic died when Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon before the birth of Jesus and declared himself emperor. The subsequent 500 years were Empire not democracy.

Of course the Greeks had some democracy here and there but what Tom Hanks is saying is that in our time it was the USA that led the way with democracy and we will lead again with the right leader. At the moment we are going backwards.