John Cusack Stars In MoveOn's New McCain Ad (VIDEO)

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Pop quiz: Why has John Cusack jumped into the political arena with a video saying John McCain is a clone of President George W. Bush who would continue policies the actor says benefit war profiteers?

"I know my opinion doesn't matter more than anyone else's and I just make films," he told The Associated Press in a phone interview Wednesday. "But I do feel you have to speak out, and that's what I'm doing."

The 30-second video, which went out to members of the liberal political activist group MoveOn.org on Wednesday, will begin airing on television Thursday. In it, Cusack offers a "pop quiz" to voters, asking them among other things: "Who supports keeping our troops in harm's way in Iraq but not the bipartisan G.I. bill of rights to support them when they return home?"

McCain and Bush both do, Cusack says, adding, "Bet you can't tell them apart."

The cost to air the ads is $45,000. They will appear nationally on the Bravo cable channel and in Washington, D.C., on CNN, MSNBC and Comedy Central.

In his latest film, the war satire "War Inc.," Cusack makes no secret that he believes the Iraq war was created to profit private businesses like Blackwater Worldwide, Bechtel Corp. and others that hold war-related contracts worth millions of dollars.

"I'm not going to pretend this thing in Iraq was some kind of free market utopia to spread the gospel of democracy through the Middle East," he told the AP from London, where he's at work on another project.

Cusack says he supports Democrat Barack Obama.

Although he has made such films as "War Inc." and last year's "Grace is Gone," in which he plays the husband of a soldier killed in Iraq, Cusack notes this has been his first such video for MoveOn.org.

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Watch the ad:

Comments

[fedupcitizen]

01:39 AM on 06/13/2008

Love the clarity of the ad...

No confusion Bush McCain... same sh*t different day

[HopeGirl]

11:30 PM on 06/11/2008

Love John Cusack, always have always will.

[Rosey]

10:42 PM on 06/11/2008

Well, duh! That is why McCain is now called McBush! And Bush still remains as the worst President in history!

[themodestagnostic]

10:47 AM on 06/13/2008

or McSame ...

[incontempt]

10:01 PM on 06/11/2008

Great work fella;-)

[JUNIORSBOX]

07:55 PM on 06/11/2008

Well, I've been confused with all of the campain talking heads.
Especially throughout the Democratic nomination process.
It's been continuous negativity with very little supporting facts.
More often than not, from people who misinformed.

Thank you John Cusak. Just like the Dixie Chicks and Julia Roberts
before, you have really helped me open my eyes.

Your films have almost always been excellently written and produced.
The life you breath into your characters is fantastic.

The opinions you express have merit, to the millions of sheeple who
fall in line along with those in your circle.

Being a talented actor does not qualify you to offer any valid opinions.
It's just more propoganda, to help elevate your candidate and sway
the most ignorant of voters.

I suspect that you're part of the Right Wing alienation movement,
attempting to "program" less informed voters.

[surrytops]

08:35 PM on 06/11/2008

He didn't offer opinions. He offered FACTS. Facts are always valid. If you are pro-war and pro-rich go ahead and vote for McCain. Sounds like you've got your head up Anne Coulter's ass.

[JUNIORSBOX]

08:45 PM on 06/11/2008

Don't underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

[JUNIORSBOX]

10:20 PM on 06/11/2008

Don't underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
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surrytops - I absolutely don't. W got elected, didn't he?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to many Democrats, only in 2004.
The Hand of God guided the Supreme Court in 2000.

[dadw5boys]

09:01 PM on 06/11/2008

TAKE THE CHALLENGE!!!!!
CAN YOU TELL THEM APART?

[surrytops]

09:13 PM on 06/11/2008

I took the challenge. McCain is worse. However, the most interesting thing I found on the website was the video of Cheney in 1994 explaining why invading Iraq would be a mistake.

[Agentlady007]

09:36 PM on 06/11/2008

Bush has better teeth.

[dragonfly777]

07:47 PM on 06/11/2008

Well I guess publicity is publicity. That's what all the singers and actors are getting...a little bump on the Obama socialist wagon. I really doubt Bush started the war just for Blackwater and contractors. That doesn't give John a lot of credibility in my eyes. But it's good to know John supports sweetie Obama. The racist, elitist, who will lead us all to be a nation of socialism. Then we can stand along side of Rissia, China and all of the socialist countries. Won't that be fun! Unity at it's best. Better wake up boys and girls. Maybe a good dose of history would help...

[goldnchyl]

08:27 PM on 06/11/2008

"I really doubt Bush started the war just for Blackwater and contractors."

dragonfly, really? Based on the many developments that have occurred over this recently, I really doubt Bush or his gang have anything but greedy intentions, in war and everything else.

[57basque]

09:42 PM on 06/11/2008

Since when in the Constitution does it say that Socialism is unconstitutional? The whole Federal Reserve is only Private Banks owning the Federal banking system we have now. So it's ok, for those who have the trash/cash to profit from us, but we can't from them?

There is something wrong with this picture that is driving US apart at the seams. I hope enough get together, for a fall is coming if we don't!

In this land, it does seem like more fun (than now) to be United on the bottom than stuck in limbo now.

[incontempt]

09:59 PM on 06/11/2008

You wake up....we already have socialism...sorta. We have the costs of socialism but none of the benefits!

[Krikkit]

07:56 AM on 06/12/2008

We have the costs of a bloated layer of super-rich and corrupt corporations, as well as a war that costs $3 BILLION a week. It doesn't take Socialism to fix that -- just a good old fashioned dose of economic and monetary sanity.

[JackLivigni]

07:21 PM on 06/11/2008

I love this! John rocks!

[noneIn2008]

06:45 PM on 06/11/2008

Wrong commercial, wrong target. McCain must be stopped. But, having far left pitch to far left will only push central swing voters in swing states to McCain. There is no need to worry about appealing to the far left, nothing about McCain will appeal.
The neocons love McCain, forget them.

The core Obama pitch needs to be positive to centrists. Do not pitch scare tactics. Obama's typical positive message of a more positive future is the path. Yes we can works. Together we can. I'm asking you to believe.

Again, positive message to the middle. Keep the far left off the main stage, don't scare the middle.

[delysia]

07:19 PM on 06/11/2008

Great analysis!

[hannitizer]

10:40 PM on 06/11/2008

Pointing out the policies and actions that McCain and Bush have in common is not negative campaigning. It is defining the differences between Obama and McCain using factual proof. We whom are opposed to the policies and abuses of power during the last seven years must use all the material out there that is truthful and illuminating to awaken those who have been asleep at the switch. Namely, independents and moderates who fell for the Bush lie. They must be informed and awakened.

If the Democratic Party does not educate the citizenry who will? It surely won't be the majority of the corporate run media.

[delysia]

06:36 PM on 06/11/2008

Thanks, John! You and MoveOn did a great job with this one! I love it!

[scottellington]

06:28 PM on 06/11/2008

Betcha can't defeat just one.

[newsjunkie8]

06:58 PM on 06/11/2008

Ha, going against two is in the repubs favor.

We all know poor McNasty needs all the help he can get.

[incontempt]

10:01 PM on 06/11/2008

Thats great;-)

[PoliticalJNKY]

06:18 PM on 06/11/2008

I knew there had to be a reason I liked you!

EXCELLENT! Thanks!

[sanywhere]

06:01 PM on 06/11/2008

exellent

[riverhouse]

05:52 PM on 06/11/2008

There you go. That's all you need to know.

[itsyourthang]

05:50 PM on 06/11/2008

The Military-Industrial complex continues to frame fascist warmongers appetites for power and profit. It's a cowardly and exclusionary short-term fix for their Napoleonic egos. They are small minded little men smoking big cigars in the backrooms of power brokers who would sale their children (and yours) for a fee (see Iraq War). The opportunity to cut the throats of these tyrants and reclaim a rightous and dignified America is imperative in this election. An opportunity I might add that only comes once in a lifetime, and we are looking at it right now. I implore you "do the right thing" this time America. DO THE RIGHT THING.

[lthuedk 1]

05:49 PM on 06/11/2008

That's one fact-packed and powerful video, John. Thanks.

No, you can't tell them apart. Both are militant corporate socialists working not for the people in defense of the Constitution, but for the security, wealth, and power of elitism's biggest protections racket.

http://www.light-to-dark.com/McBush.html

This is our country. Let's take it back.