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]

Love the clarity of the ad...

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

[HopeGirl]

Love John Cusack, always have always will.

[Rosey]

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

[themodestagnostic]

or McSame ...

[incontempt]

Great work fella;-)

[JUNIORSBOX]

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.

[navyman08]

Hey Junior THAT PIECE WAS RIGHT ON THE MONEY. I an ex navy and My GRANDFATHER WHO IS A WWII VET made it possible for people for Cusack to do what he does that includes acting. HITLER NOT ONLY TRIED TO KILL ALL THE JEWS BUT ACTORS, MUSICIANS, GYPSYS, ANY LIBERALS. "GOT THAT", Cusack. I can't believe these people,(LIKE CUSACKWHO NEVER SERVED IN THE MILITARY) try to make decisions for MILITARY VTERANS. Cusack and I are the same age and I thought he was smart enough to know the ALL FACTS about the issue before promoting propaganda. It almost reminds me of Josef Goebbles.

[Hallucinocynic]

Hilarious, Junior! Great satire. What will you think up, next?

[JUNIORSBOX]

} : ' P

[richardgordon]

So you think this is a vast left wing conspiracy to alienate the heartland of America from the patriotic Republican Right?

In fact, Cussack is dead right regarding Iraq. Is it unpatriotic to point out that America's future has been ripped off by military contractors and political operatives and companies like Halliburton? In fact Iraq people high up in the Bush Administration have admitted that Iraq is "a free fraud zone. There have been numerous books and documentaries and articles about all the abuses of power. Starting he war in Iraq is just the first of the many litany of corrupt (if not criminal practices) that have taken place behind the American Peoples backs. There is literally billions of dollars missing. Not to mention the fact that the tab for the Iraq war is not even paid for yet. The money has been borrowed from the future. The Bush Administration has foisted the bill onto future generations.

So if anything you are either completely deluded or the one that is sadly misinformed.

[Rosey]

With this mentality, you will never grow up. McBush are one and the same!

[Krikkit]

Hey, Junior, in your slam I didn't see where you challenged even one of the facts (yes, FACTS -- not "opinions") given in this video. Can't, can you?

braaaatttttt!

[JUNIORSBOX]

Located online in Cusack biography.

"There was an underground movement to push him into politics. Cusack makes his liberal leanings well known, and publicly castigated Michael Moore for not supporting Al Gore.

In 2002 Cusackforpresident.com sprang up, a site dedicated to the great man's political potential. Cusack, meanwhile, made clear his distaste for coventional government. Often exaggerating/embellishing facts to further his cause.

As a great actor, and a daring producer, he stands a better chance than most. As for the presidential question, well, it looks like it's a straight race with Will Smith. "

[JUNIORSBOX]

Wow is all I can say.

Obviously you don't know Cusak.
This is only his latest.

[dragonfly777]

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...

[Hallucinocynic]

You guys are out in force tonight.

OF COURSE the Shrub didn't start the war just for Blackwater. He started it for Halliburton, Kellogg Brown Root, Bechtel, Grumman, and about five hundred other FOG's. There are now more armed contractors on the ground in Iraq than US armed forces. Each of those mercenaries is getting paid a lot more than marine or army noncoms. There are reports of 58 to in excess of 90 permanent military (defendable) bases in place, in construction or development. Most will be adjacent to extraction or distribution points for the petro industry.

Of course this was about money...nothing else.

[Krikkit]

Don't forget the neocon agenda... Perl had the plan all laid out for Israel to take on all it's enemies with US coming in after the fact, but the Israelis rejected his plan as too risky.

Read "A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm" published by the Institute for Advanced Strategic and Political Studies in 1996, written by Douglas Perl with input from Richard Feith (of "rewriting the intelligence in the lead up to the Iraq war" fame) among others.

http://www.iasps.org/index.php homepage
http://www.iasps.org/index.php strategy documents index
http://www.iasps.org/strat1.htm -- the complete text of the above referenced document urging Israel to attack its neighbors

[incontempt]

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

[Krikkit]

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.

[goldnchyl]

"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]

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.

[JackLivigni]

I love this! John rocks!

[noneIn2008]

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.

[Krikkit]

Bullshiate. The facts are the facts, regardless of who states them.

[hannitizer]

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]

Great analysis!

[delysia]

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

[scottellington]

Betcha can't defeat just one.

[incontempt]

Thats great;-)

[newsjunkie8]

Ha, going against two is in the repubs favor.

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

[PoliticalJNKY]

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

EXCELLENT! Thanks!

[sanywhere]

exellent

[riverhouse]

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

[itsyourthang]

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.