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'The Dictator' Endorses Mitt Romney: Sacha Baron Cohen's Character Gives GOP Hopeful A Nod (VIDEO)

The Huffington Post  |  By Posted: 05/09/2012 12:29 pm Updated: 05/09/2012 12:29 pm

The Dictator Mitt Romney
"The Dictator" is a fan of Mitt Romney.

Mitt Romney earned an endorsement from someone in the movies, and he probably wishes he didn't. Sacha Baron Cohen's character Admiral General Aladeen (from the upcoming film "The Dictator") gave the GOP hopeful quite the nod during a press conference at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel, saying Romney "has the makings of a great dictator."

In the film, Cohen plays a dictator who believes other rulers like him are being unfairly maligned by the West. Cohen appears in character for all promotional appearances for the film, so his endorsement was not personal. After making a throwaway joke about how Democrats should be applauded for geting "a Kenyan" to the White House, the General dug in:

"I support and I give my full support to Mitchell Romney. He has the makings of a great dictator. He is incredibly wealthy, but pays no taxes, and it's not much of a leap to go from firing people to firing squads, and from putting pets on top of the car to putting political dissidents on the top of them. He taught me how to do that."

(Of course, the "pets on top of the car" story actually happened.)

Cohen/Aladeen admitted he would have preferred former candidate Rick Santorum, "despite his liberal views."

"In terms of policies, I would have to say the Republicans, if they could only become a little less extreme," he added. "What people call genocide in my country is just the judicial system in Texas."

The character's most piercing comments focused on the West's reaction to the humanitarian crisis in Syria. "Thirteen months and still no U.N. Security Council Resolution, you guys are amazing," he deadpanned. "You have done nothing for the Syrian people, but remember, you can always do less."

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  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen poses during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen climbs on a camel during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen falls as he climbs on a camel during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen climbs on a camel during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen falls as he climbs on a camel during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen falls as he climbs on a camel during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen falls as he climbs on a camel during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen sits on a camel during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen poses during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen falls from a camel during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen poses during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen poses during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen poses during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen poses during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen walks with a camel during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen walks with a camel during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen walks with a camel during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen walks with a camel during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen sits on a camel during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen poses with a camel during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen poses with a camel during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen poses with a camel during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen walks with a camel during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen poses during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • 'Dictator' At Cannes

    British actor Sacha Baron Cohen dressed as Admiral General Aladeen puts a scarf around a camel during a photocall to promote the film 'The Dictator' in front of the Carlton Hotel at the 65th Cannes film festival on May 16, 2012 in Cannes. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP/GettyImages)

  • "The Dictator" Press Conference

    NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07: Sacha Baron Cohen as 'The Dictator' Press Conference at The Waldorf-Astoria on May 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

  • "The Dictator" Press Conference

    NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07: Sacha Baron Cohen as 'The Dictator' Press Conference at The Waldorf=Astoria on May 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

  • "The Dictator" Press Conference

    NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07: Sacha Baron Cohen as 'The Dictator' Press Conference at The Waldorf=Astoria on May 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

  • "The Dictator" Press Conference

    NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07: Sacha Baron Cohen as 'The Dictator' Press Conference at The Waldorf-Astoria on May 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

  • "The Dictator" Press Conference

    NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07: Sacha Baron Cohen as 'The Dictator' Press Conference at The Waldorf=Astoria on May 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

  • "The Dictator" Press Conference

    NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07: Sacha Baron Cohen as 'The Dictator' Press Conference at The Waldorf-Astoria on May 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

  • "The Dictator" Press Conference

    NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07: Sacha Baron Cohen as 'The Dictator' Press Conference at The Waldorf-Astoria on May 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

  • "The Dictator" Press Conference

    NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07: Sacha Baron Cohen as 'The Dictator' Press Conference at The Waldorf-Astoria on May 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

  • "The Dictator" Press Conference

    NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07: Sacha Baron Cohen as 'The Dictator' Press Conference at The Waldorf-Astoria on May 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

  • "The Dictator" Arrives In Sydney

    SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 01: Actor Sacha Baron Cohen arrives as 'The Dictator' at Sydney International Airport on May 1, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold/Getty Images)

  • "The Dictator" Arrives In Sydney

    SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 01: Actor Sacha Baron Cohen arrives as 'The Dictator' at Sydney International Airport on May 1, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold/Getty Images)

  • "The Dictator" Arrives In Sydney

    SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 01: Actor Sacha Baron Cohen arrives as 'The Dictator' at Sydney International Airport on May 1, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold/Getty Images)

  • Sacha Baron Cohen disperses the fake ash

    Sacha Baron Cohen disperses the fake ashes of late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il as he arrives on the red carpet at the 84th Annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2012 in Hollywood, California. AFP PHOTO Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

  • 84th Annual Academy Awards - Arrivals

    HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 26: Actor Sacha Baron Cohen, dressed as the character General Aladeen from his movie, 'The Dictator,' arrives at the 84th Annual Academy Awards at the Hollywood & Highland Center February 26, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

  • 84th Annual Academy Awards - Arrivals

    HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 26: Actor Sacha Baron Cohen, dressed as his character 'General Aladeen,' arrives at the 84th Annual Academy Awards held at the Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

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Mitt Romney earned an endorsement from someone in the movies, and he probably wishes he didn't. Sacha Baron Cohen's character Admiral General Aladeen (from the upcoming film "The Dictator") gave the G...
Mitt Romney earned an endorsement from someone in the movies, and he probably wishes he didn't. Sacha Baron Cohen's character Admiral General Aladeen (from the upcoming film "The Dictator") gave the G...