George Clooney Meets With Obama

LOS ANGELES — George Clooney apparently had a good reason for skipping out on Oscar night: He had a meeting with President Barack Obama.

The Oscar-winning actor appeared Monday on CNN's "Larry King Live" and spoke of his visit earlier that morning with Obama to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Sudan's Darfur region.

Clooney said he told the president of his visit to camps in Chad where 250,000 refugees live, but he downplayed the risks he took to witness the suffering firsthand.

"I don't think people should be going there and coming back and saying how it affected them," Clooney told King via satellite from the White House lawn. "I think somehow we should all know that these people are hanging on by the skin of their teeth."

Clooney, a U.N. Messenger of Peace, said he asked the president to appoint a full-time regional envoy who reports directly to the White House, and to ask China to set aside its business interests in the region and pressure Sudan to prevent atrocities.

The refugees need "what we do best, what we have done best since the start of this country _ which is good, robust diplomacy all across the world," he said.

Clooney said he delivered 250,000 postcards gathered by the Save Darfur organization to the president and Vice President Joe Biden. The actor said both were receptive.

Fighting erupted in 2003 as Darfur's ethnic African rebels took up arms against Sudan's government complaining of discrimination and neglect. Nearly 2.5 million people have been displaced by a conflict that has killed about 300,000 people.

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Next week, the International Criminal Court is scheduled to rule on whether to proceed with an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for crimes in Darfur.

Clooney said his latest visit _ his sixth to Darfur and Chad _ was privately arranged. He traveled with journalists, including the New York Times' Nicholas Kristof and NBC's Ann Curry, but the Sudanese government denied him a visa.

The 47-year-old actor also confirmed that he was going to appear in the last episode of NBC's "ER" with Julianna Margulies. "So it should be fun," Clooney said.

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NBC is a unit of General Electric. CNN is owned by Time Warner.

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On the Net:

http://www.nbc.com/ER/

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/larry.king.live/

Comments

[ZimboChick]

Thank you Mr Clooney!

[RJII]

clooney and obama w/ a little brad-- yum yum.

[duze]

Ha anyone noticed that the feel good image of this President seems to be spreading throughout this country. I don't know if you've noticed it in your personal situations, but, people just seem nicer to me lately, more careing, courteous and considerate of one another. Let's just hope it stays this way. Hopefully, we've all reconciled ourselves to the fact that we're all here together, might as well enjoy it.

[RJII]

except for this economy, i feel really positive about the future for the first time and do meet strangers who seem happier. often, someone will mention Obama and we'll bond for a brief moment.

[ZimboChick]

You will not believe it but its like the entire world had a makeover. I am not in the US but I now have an urgent sense of duty and have a spring in my step

[duze]

Ha anyone noticed that the feel good image of this President seems to be spreading throughout this country. I don't know if you've noticed it in your personal situations, but, people just seem nicer to me lately, more careing, courteous and considerate of one another. Let's just hope it stays this way.

[KatDawgATL]

Seems like a proverbial "mountain of class" is forming at our "washington molehill"

[FairTalk]

Just more movie star politics. This was surely planned to grab headlines. What better way for a movie star to get noticed than to forgo the huge stage of the Oscars for a meeting with the President.

That being said, US policy should be formulated on genuine facts and what is in the best interest of the US, not on quixotic infatuations of the rich and famous.

[Samalabear]

You wouldn't be saying that if you read Kristof's latest editorial in The TImes. Clooney said if the cameras like to follow him so much they can follow to Dafur. However, the paparazzi wimped out when it came to following George to Dafur. They couldn't take the heat or the danger.

[ClaudiaJean]

Just more kneejerk, anti-Hollywood rhetoric, failing to delve into the issues brought to light.
Yeah, I'm sure his publicist was over the moon about his wandering into a war zone without a visa or UN support just so his self-admitted over-exposure could draw attention to a genocide to which the world is turning a blind eye. His father was/is a journalist; he himself has been active in social and political issues for some time. Yeah, it's a great career move? Honestly? You believe that? What, like if he were killed his status would go up?

There's plenty of lame celebrities who jump on the cause & campaign bandwagons. But if one fails to admit there are also many intelligent, educated, committed, sincere individuals/artists in the entertainment and/or film communities who realize the advantage to the disproportionate amount of media attention their work solicits can be put to use to better the lives of others, then the message is that the one criticizing is merely a dismissive, anti-"Hollywood", anti-"liberal", anti-"elistist" party loyalist uninterested in openmindedness.

[ceindependence]

Just think, the movie could be set in the sands of the africa with Brad, Sean, George and Barak riding in on the camels to save the day! Oh, we can only dream! I think my heart is just swelling with pride for Amerika.

[MossyOak]

Sounds like that's not all that's swelling...

[ZimboChick]

lol

[RJII]

yummy

[Just2stressed]

I am not a fan of George Clooney (doesn't mean I dislike him or have anything against him), but what I do appreciate about him, is that his humanitarian effort seems genuine and not for show. He seem to TRULY care about what is happening in Darfur. He's also very articulate, unlike a lot of those Hollywood.

[BobQueuePublic]

Clooney does seem to be a good, intelligent representative of Hollywood. Those on the right who bash Hollywood - and the non-Fox major media - need to realize they are bashing one of the few industries this company hasn't totally* outsourced. I'm glad celebs with a conscience are doing what most of us haven't and/or can't do. Who cares if it's a lawyer or an actor or an engineer or a farmer who supports good causes?

*Most animation studios including Pixar outsource to India and elsewhere these days.

[Theresa Pickel]

I don't understand why it's so terrible for "Hollywood" actor's and actresses to voice an opinion when the cable new's put's people on who I've never heard of dribbling their opinion's all the time.

[LuLuMax123]

That had to be the sexist meeting EVER!!!!!!! Oh to be a fly on the wall, what a MANWICH!!

[nuvisiongirl]

AMEN to that!!!!

[KatDawgATL]

You ladies are insatiable!!!! lol

-Don't make me get the "water hose" out!!

[tsktsktsk]

Ha ha! True that!

[luvangelHussein330]

I was just thinking that same thing!! EXACTLY!! LOL!!

[MossyOak]

Whew... I thought someone turned the heat up in here....

[Emeline]

Kudos to someone who is clearly serious and very smart. If he was just trying to "look" like a caring person, there are a hell of a lot less dangerous places in which to do that.
Keep up your good work Mr. Clooney!

[nycwerewolf]

Clooney's father Nick is one of my heroes.

[ResearchII]

Thanks George for the work you're doing. If there's anything I can do let me know. Again Thanks

[Clavis]

I like George Clooney. He's like a white Barack Obama. A class act all around.

[JTCan]

amen to that....

[kellygrrrl]

I, for one, really appreciate that Obama was smart enough to have Clooney and DiCaprio and Affleck and the rest of H'wood maintain a very low profile during the campaign.

[TooCoolForSchool]

Hahaha.