Matt Damon Honored By "Joe The Plumber" Shout-Out, Campaigning For Obama

SAN FRANCISCO — Matt Damon is honored that the most recent celebrity of the presidential campaign _ "Joe the Plumber" _ dropped his name in an interview.

"That was a surprise. I hadn't heard that Joe the Plumber dropped my name," Damon said. "I'm honored to be in the little passion play, to be an extra."

The plumber, whose real name is Samuel Wurzelbacher, became an overnight media sensation after he was referred to constantly in the final presidential debate. When the press arrived at his Ohio home, Wurzelbacher, a Republican, said he hoped he wouldn't make a fool of himself with all the attention, "I don't have a lot of pull. It's not like I'm Matt Damon."

Damon _ a hardcore Democrat who has spent as much time campaigning for Barack Obama recently than he has acting _ was in San Francisco promoting a charity, OneXOne (pronounced One-by-One).

Along with hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean, Damon was promoting the group's work to end hunger and suffering for children in poverty in the U.S. and Africa.

The actor said he's headed to Florida this weekend to work with the Obama campaign on getting out the vote in a key battleground state. After that, Damon is off to Morocco to finish shooting a movie, but he said he would stay engaged with the Obama campaign.

"I'm sure I'll be on the phone over there after filming every night," he said. "I'll do telephone interviews or whatever they'll have me do. I want to sprint to the finish with the millions of us who really have been desperate for this change."

Damon previously had been openly critical of John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, calling the campaign's pick for the vice presidency "a disaster." On Thursday, Damon said he would not comment on the Republican ticket.

"The Obama campaign has decided to focus on the positive, and I should be a bigger man and be able to do that with them," Damon said.

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On the Net:

http://www.onexone.org

Comments

[Msteadt]

Matt Damon rules. I'm glad he's on my team.

[kappa08]

yeah we get Damon and they get Steven Baldwin...like they need "another" little d*** on the team.

[LindyLee]

Damon is a jerk and a die hard Democrat. He has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Moveon.org during the past twelve years. He wonders why his movies aren't doing so well? He should speak to Sean Penn...and realize how important all those Republican viewers are and how much they don't appreciate his lies on the campaign trail. By the next election, he will be nothing, either as a celebrity draw or otherwise. His buddy, Ben Affleck, is worse. Had to laugh at the Democrat Campaign when he was asked basic questions and didn't know the answers. One commentator stated they felt sorry for him. Affleck, Damon and Garner all attend the Democrat Convention with Spike Lee and a few others. This year, there were not that many and Hollywood has not embraced Obama...but then again, he wants to raise their taxes and those poor guys, some of them only make a movie every three years, but will be taxed so heavy, that their income averaged over three years will be paltry.......

[LiberalHick]

Just because he got that restraining order against you is no reason to be vengeful. You can always stalk Todd palin....

[mooses4obama]

Matt will still be working and making movies after Nov 4.

[nevadagirl]

I would like to smoke whatever you are smoking...

[TMacChicago]

LindyLee - what a wonderful country where a moppet like you has access to a computer and also to the internet and where you can drip your small-mindedness to the rest of us. What a wonderful country. Seems like you ran out of words en route to realizing your brilliance. Denied of your wit, I can only guess that it was something along the lines of rain dripping on a tin roof. That being the case, I wish you the best. But more so i bid Obama supporters everywhere to bear witness to the fact that each and every vote possible must be cast for Barack. That's you, your family, your neighbors, your mates at school or work, the folks whose paths you cross every day - Obama/Biden 08 - because our future is now and it is ours to take.

[maribelle1963]

Why the hate? Why shouldn't Damon be a Democrat (or Affleck or Garner either)?

You don't mention one policy that you disagree with.

Interesting how
~ Democratic actors who speak out about politics are attacked by the right
~ Republican actors who speak out about politics are VOTED INTO OFFICE AS REPUBLICANS.

What's the big deal?

[thrilla]

So many people put down actors who voice their support for candidates, which is ridiculous to me.

Whether we like it or not, people listen to what actors have to say. Perhaps we discredit them more quickly if we disagree with them, but people do listen.

To have Matt Damon supporting Obama is a huge asset to me. Damon is a highly intelligent and articulate person, not to mention a great entertainer. So I am very pleased that he is so vocal.

Vote and VOTE EARLY!!!!

Obama / Biden 08!!!!

[marisyl]

Damon and Affleck are also Harvard alumni.

[Abbily]

Actually, only Damon attended Harvard...and he dropped out. But he's won an Oscar, so Harvard still claims him.

[Clayton139]

*I really believe in Matt Damon’s politics* ! *I think he is very smart, and see’s the world in a smart way* !
Matt Damon is also a favorite actor of mine. I think he has that Robert Deniro, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen and Kurt Russell quality’s to him.
Besides the Bourne trilogy that could go on forever as far as I am concern with (Doug Liman- Director) and (some very smart writing) ! He has also done (numerous other great movies) !

[GetoffMylawn]

Joe the Plumber
1. His name is not Joe, it's Samuel Wurzelbacher
2. Samuel is not a licensed plumber, Joe is not Joe and is not a plumber.
3. Joe who is not Joe and is not a plumber owes back taxes, and will actually get a break on his taxes under Obama's plan.

Joe the Plumber is as real as McCain's chances for winning next week.

[Agnim]

'Joe the plumber' is as phony as McCaint claiming that he's not 92% bush. lol

Is as phony as Falin's 'thanks but no thanks' for the 'bridge to nowhere' , even though that phony female kept the taxpayers money anyway. lol

[thrilla]

Instead of having said, "I'm not Matt Damon", Samuel should have said, "I'm not Joe the Plumber!"

[sonoffestus]

Also, even if Joe had a license he is definitely not smart enough to run his own business.
Joe the plumber is a fraud. John McCain is a fraud and pals around with frauds.

[Fromageball]

yet they still manage to have Palin yap about Joe the Plumber forcing Obama to "come clean" about his intentions...ha

[PeaceOnEarth62]

Everyone should show their support on October 31 - get some pumpkins!!!
Check out this cool website http://yeswecarve.com/

Go Obama 08/12

[LeftCoastLefty]

Matt...when you get tired of that lovely wife of yours, I can get rid of Mr. Lefty. Matt....hello?

[RobHughey]

Grrr... get in line Lefty. The line begins after ME. lol

In all seriousness: I've become a bit more impressed with Matt Damon throughout this campaign. I've never really taken him all that serious, but he's made some great points over the past couple of months. I'm thankful to have his voice added to the cause for Progress.

[FlamingLibrul]

Matt is a great humanitarian. I don't know many millionaire actors that would hire a helicopter to personally bring supplies to a hurricane devasted Haiti. He did this with Wyclef Jean. The so called 'Christian' repubs who frothed at the mouth when Damon expressed his views should take a lesson.

[hypnotoad72]

Right on.

And Plumber Joe has little pull indeed. Unless he's making $250,000/yr the way must plumbers can't.

Most people work for corporations and don't make even $50k and work pretty damn hard too; corporations, some of which who come in and help remove small businesses by offering low low prices - wait until Wal-Mart expands into plumbing. If Plumber Joe has anything to pull right now, just wait.

[Bitsko]

"the little passion play..." Well put, Matt.

[myst79]

Nicely put, Matt.

[cher2]

"The Obama campaign has decided to focus on the positive, and I should be a bigger man and be able to do that with them," Damon said.

Finally, someone in Hollywood (I am sure Mr. Damon is not the only one, but he is among the few)has stepped out of fame and narcissism to look beyong themselves and "the carpet" to give to those who are less fortunate and to work at building a better, kinder and compassionate world.

[rachel2012]

just becaues you don't hear about them on entertainment tonight doens't mean a lot of them are not doing the good deeds behind the scene.

[hypnotoad72]

Exactly. At some point, they'd be branded just how Brangelina are. Understandable, those two kids go out of their way to make sure the media reports whenever he plucks an eyebrow or when she blows her nose.

Roseanne Barr is probably a better example of celebs who raise issues but don't get narcissistic like how Brangie have. And, as I recall, she has spoken up against narcissists too...

[blackfriday1978]

Despite many human flaws of Hollywood Democrat have, I see ALOT of these entertainers participate in charity projects for US AND overseas - Matt Damon is one of those great examples. Meanwhile, I rarely see any Republican do anything (the ONLY example I have in mind are Jon Voight complainting about his own daughter publicly and Hasselback screaming on the View)... maybe just that I don't know much...

Can anyone educate us on ANY (any at all) some solid good charity work initate by Republicans?

[olephart]

Population control in Iraq?

[Nancy84]

Matt and Obama don't have to say the bad stuff. That's left to the smart republicans who are jumping ship.

Alaska's largest newspaper has endorsed Obama. ?...... what a kick !

[artimus711]

My wife and I have settled on a new financial goal for the next year.....we aspire to earn enough to reach Obama's threshold of 250k next year......we will honestly write the I.R.S. check with a smile.....last year we made about 80k......this year she started working a new job and i was able to pay off some debts that were severely constricting my income.....250k will be tough......but not impossible.....if we are fortunate enough to make it......we will pay the taxes with gratitude for living in a country where we are able to make that kind of income.....the extra 3% on income OVER 250k will be a pittance compared to the lifestyle improvement the rest of our income will provide for our family......GO OBAMA!.......

[rhetoricdog]

What a great way to put it: "pay the taxes with gratitude for living in a country where we are able to make that kind of income." People rarely look at it that way.

[blackfriday1978]

thanks! well-said!!!! The world will be a much better place if more people adpot this attitude, you are making a difference to this world!!

[olephart]

You realize that with Obama’s confiscatory tax policy that the first $100,000 over $250,000 will reduce your total net income by $3,000. Extrapolating that out to $1,000,000 in total net income would mean an extra $22,500 in taxes would have to be paid. I don’t know about you but I agree with Joe, that’s enough of a disincentive for me to stop at $250,000. Why should I bust my butt just to make an extra $457,500 instead of the full $480,000? How does Obama expect us to live on that, I’ll have to cut my staff back and that will cause more unemployment. Obama is against jobs and working people! Vote McCain, I promise that what trickles down will not be a yellow malodorous liquid this time. You can trust me, I work on Wall Street.

[aflyinyoursoup]

That was a JOKE...RIGHT???

[artimus711]

LOL....i had to read your response twice to catch the sarcasm.......i have long been describing trickle-down economics in the same way......don't trickle down on my back and tell me it's raining...­.lol......­.i think history will soon do to reagan's economics policies exactly what congress is doing to Mr. Greenspan right now......d­emonstrate that Obama is right to postulate that our economy is best served from the bottom up.....and not top down as the repubs have insisted..­.......aft­er years of breaks for the top....we have huge unemployme­nt.......g­ive breaks to the wealthy and they keep it......give it the middle class....and they spend it......and that moves the economy forward.....

[MIVOTE]

You're cute Matt! I know it's hard not to comment on SP, and I'm going to try to stop too! ;-)