Ben Affleck

[Monument]

What do you think about Ben Affleck travelling with Kerry's campaign? He's actually on stage with him during some/all of the campaign stops which are drawing big crowds.

(not sure exactly if he's there all the time but he was on stage during two televised appearances I saw on TV during the past two days)

Personally I despise the celebrities and their sense of entitlement who have no idea how the common folk live and work their lives. I hope to see no more of Ben or any other glitterati during this campaign. I don't know why but I find these celebrities incredibly offputting to me. Am I in the minority, or do others feel the same way?

Anyway, Ben - please go home and leave us normal people alone. How can you lecture me on your tax break when I can barely make my mortgage payments. Anyway, I digress. i just htink that these celebrities provide too much ammo for the republicans.

[WI_DEM]

1. he traveled with Gore in '00 too

doesn't matter to me.

[terrya]

2. He's only voted ONCE in 10 years...and he's doing a "get out the vote"...

campaign??

Not good, IMO.

[otohara]

38. Really, I Thought It Was Matt Damon

who didn't vote -

[Andromeda]

50. When I was his age I didn't vote more than

once in ten years either. I hated politics because I thought it was boring.

When the Repukes started beating up on Clinton in 1992 (I did vote in that election) it woke me up to the realization that the politics of the party of Lincoln is corrupt and he would turn over in his grave if he knew how Republicans are abusing their powers.

It made me good and angry and I knew I couldn't ignore what was going on in this country. I imagine Ben Affleck and others are just as disturbed as I and millions of other people are and they are in a better position to get people to pay attention.

Ben Affleck is articulate and knowledgeable and I welcome his involvement in the campaign. We need all the help we can get!

[Myrina]

3. It irks me trhat this is his pet project now

... since he doesn't have a woman in his life.

Why was he too busy to show up to vote in 2000 ?

Did he vote in the 2002 senate races, if they applied ?

:shrug:

[WI_DEM]

9. I think he did vote in 2000, it was his friend Damon

who has never voted, but is going to make sure he did vote this time.

[el_gato]

4. whatever

I've got more important things to worry about.

[Bombtrack]

um

[LTR]

5. If it brings out the crowds, I have no problem with it

I heard Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) will play a free set when Kerry comes to Milwaukee.

[Bombtrack]

6. um

[SoFlaJet]

7. I think it's great

he's exercising his right as an AMERICAN not as a celebrity to try and exact positive change for OUR once great land.Don't fall for their Hollywood elite bullshit.It's OK for THEM to use Arnold and whoever else attaches themselves to THIR RW cause-but NOT OK for the dems.F-them

[Cha]

39. Ben wouldn't be there if he weren't interested in politics like

he says he is..finds it more interesting than acting..who says someonce can't change career paths.

I agree with you..."as an American"!

[JI7]

8. he is from Boston, same as Kerry and has been into politics for a long

time.

[doctorbombeigh]

10. He's okay - but he's no Alec Baldwin...

I realize that's a personal thing.

With the celeb thing in general, I don't know what to think re smart/dumb for the campaign. It brings people out to the rallies, so that's good. Still, too much Ben is not a good thing (for anyone) so maybe he should do voter registration away from the candidate for a while, or something else that would be useful.

I must admit, Affleck has bigger stones than I ever gave him credit for. He knew he'd take a beating for this and he did it anyway.

[Caution]

11. People often forget that celebrities

come from similar backgrounds as they do. Just because someone becomes successful and wealthy does not mean they have lost all sense of their origins and the struggles of those they grew up with. If Ben Affleck chooses to use his celebrity to help a campaign then all power to him I say. Why shouldn't he? And why shouldn't Kerry take advantage of that?

The reason celebrities provide ammunition is because there are a lot of people out there who resent people like Affleck. Well what is to resent? He's a talented actor, who has been successful and who is now trying to do his part in taking our country back. Sounds good to me.

And don't forget that these people have troubles too, money doesnt solve all problems, it just solves those that money would solve. Being rich doesnt mean you can't be a recovering alcoholic like Affleck. Being rich doesn't make trying to hold a relationship together any easier like Affleck, being rich certainly doesn't guarantee you have well-adjusted kids who stay out of trouble.

You ask him why he can't understand what it is like to fill your shoes, well put yourself in his. If you had the ability to sway the opinions of voters because of your celebrity and you felt that Bush was destroying our country, wouldn't you use that celebrity?

What does Affleck get out of this? Money? no. Influence? to what end? publicity? If anything Ben Affleck suffers from massive over-exposure and that exposure led to the breakdown of what he has clearly and repeatedly stated was a loving committed caring relationship.

Instead of buying into the Republican attack machine, embrace him for his views and the time and effort he is donating to our cause, to the cause which will in the end allow you to more easily make your mortgage payments. Remember, Republicans are only attacking him because he's a Democrat. If you honestly believe Bush wouldn't trot him out at every opportunity if he were a Republican you are deluding yourself.

[cmkramer]

24. Celebrities

The one thing celebrities do, frankly, is get people to attend rallies and to donate money.

There's a book called "The Power and The Glory" which is a history of Hollywood and political campaigns from FDR to the beginning of the 1992 campaign. Pick it up if you have the chance.

[ArnoldLayne]

36. Republicans would

love to have a Ben Affleck campaign for them. Well at least they can always bring with them Wayne Newton or Fred Grandy from his illustrious fame on The Love Boat.

[cally]

54. Exactly

I like Affleck working for Kerry. He's using his celebrity for his values. Affleck has voted, it his friend who did not.

[skygazer]

12. Bad argument

You sound like the GOP when they hammer about Edwards and Kerry and their personal wealth and how they can't possibly understand what its like to be the "common man". What do you mean by "normal people"? Just because someone is a celebrity does not mean they've revoked their right to participate in the election process. Personally, I prefer people, from any walk of life, who care enough to get involved on whatever level. Sure beats airheads like Britney - "I think we should stand behind the President no matter what."

[Momof1]

13. If you don't want to listen to celebrities...well thats your choice

But Friday night I was flipping out watching Maher & Michael Moore take on Drier. And when those two got on their knees begging Nader to drop out was priceless.

I hope like hell when Kerry/Edwards gets around to my area that Ben is with them.

I'm also hoping that Martin Sheen or Rob Lowe start traveling with them. Or The Dixie Chicks. The more the merrier.

[Monument]

15. Ben just rubs me the wrong way....

I watched his reality show "Project Greenlight" and he was abysmal. Drunk all the time, trying to act like a bigshot.

I'm anti-greed, anti-excess. I'm pro-choice, pro-gay marriage, and pro-legalization of weed. It might sound funny to hear from a liberal, but I just can't support the values of these celebrities.

In my house we watch the Lehrer report. We don't watch Entertainment Tonight. Celebs appeal to the gutter, at least that's my opinion.

I understand he brings people out to these events, which is good, but he's just so undesirable that I can't take it. By the way, I was in Boston this week (live here, worked as a volunteer for Kerry during his Weld senate race) and I witnessed the Hollywood elite in action. It was depressing. The Republican parties will not have nearly the amount of star power in attendance.

[Momof1]

22. I also watched both seasons of Project Greenlight

And I came away with a totally different view. Matt & Ben are trying to help people break into the business. People helping people.

Would any of those directors of gotten a chance like that from a big Corporate Studio without their help?

Ok, both movies ended up sucking, "Stolen Summer" was a good script but it failed to transfer to the screen, probably because the director was so inexperienced. And nobody thought of finding a child actor that could actually swim.

The Battle of Shaker Heights would of been better if they didn't try to make it into a comedy.

I read somewhere that this year Wes Craven is going to help out and the next movie will be a horror flick.

Those guys don't have to put in the time or money to help people but for the last few years they have chose to help people break into the business. I think that they should be applauded for their efforts.

But that is just MHO :)

[fudge stripe cookays]

18. Has Rob Lowe gone back to being a Democrat?

Cuz last time I heard, he was saying we needed to support the president.

Idiot.

[saracat]

20. Rob Lowe is trash.

He worked for Arnie against his own party. And betrayed Alan Sorkin and the whole cast of West Wing over his insatiable demands for money. After Sorkin dragged him up from the slime and gave him the break of his life he stabbed him in the back.Martin Sheen was also wonderful to Lowe and gave him another chance ,only to be dissed by someone who thought he should be a bigger star than Sheen.

[Maine-i-acs]

14. I'd rather see him campaign than sit through one of his movies.

Seriously, he is the most overhyped actors of our time.

But if he gets a few thousand young people to vote, I am his #1 fan.

[tandt5044]

16. Amen, I agree ..

"..... he is the most overhyped actors of our time."

[fudge stripe cookays]

19. Agreed.

But I can forgive a lot for him getting Matt Damon involved in the process, and making that tasty $20,000 contribution that he made to ACT, or True Majority, or whichever group he gave to. I can't remember exactly.

I find both of them highly annoying, but at least they're OUR annoying actors, and aren't giving air time to the other side.

[olddem43]

17. Unlike many celebrities, Ben is knowledgeable and articulate,

especially on politics. I was skeptical too, until I watched an interview with him on this campaign. I'm glad he is helping us elect John Kerry and I thank him.

[saracat]

21. I think Affleck likes being near the seat of power.

I also think he likes Presidential or Vice Presidential daughters.He dated Chelsea breifly and now seems interested in Cate Edwards.

[dolstein]

23. Perhaps Affleck is thinking about running for Congress

He's already said several times that he doesn't want to spend the rest of his life acting. He's actually more intelligent than his reputation would suggest and his interest in politics is sincere.

I wonder whether there's any chance that Affleck could end up running for Congress. Several members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation are eyeing Kerry's senate seat. If one of them wins, that will free up a House seat which will need to be filled in a special election. I don't know if they have a run off requirement for House races. If not, Affleck might have a real shot in a race that would likely attract several candidates, none of whom would have as much name recognition or money as Affleck.

[Pepperbelly]

25. There is talk of running him for Kerry's seat in the special election ...

after Big John takes office as President. There are worst examples ... Ah-nold springs immediately to mind. Isn't Affleck a life-long resident of Massachusetts?

[dolstein]

33. Talk? By whom? Sorry, but I doubt that'll happen

I could imagine him POSSIBLY running for a House seat if someone from the Congressional delegation gets elected to fill the senate seat.

But even that strikes me as somewhat unlikely. While Affleck appears to have a break in his schedule right now, I'd be very surprised if he doesn't already have film projects lined up for next year.

[marlakay]

26. He left and Kerry made a joke about it!

I saw on the news about a hour ago that Ben left, they didn't say why but Kerry made a joke about being with two sexy looking guys or something like that don't remember exact statement but Ben went home. So I guess they realized what you are saying.

[saracat]

27. Kerry said what with Ben being the sexiest man alive and Edwards

being the sexiest politician, he wasn't sure about being seen with both of them or someting like that .I can't remember the exact quote. It was sort of lame though.But hey, he tried!

[sandnsea]

29. It was always going to be a few days

He went because he wanted to know what it was like out on a campaign. That's what he said in Boston and it was always going to be just a few days.

[wish_I_could_vote]

28. Good grief ! Have you heard him speak?

As an actor I do not like him, but at the convention he kicked butt big time. He went head to head with the bobble heads and did better than the democrats whose job it was to counter the republican speakers. And he did better because the whole damned thing is so scripted they all have their lines. Afleck went off script with intelligence and a quick wit and creamed the opposition.

[Carolina]

34. exactly

knocked the socks off David Gergen and Tweety AND was time enough for O'Liely.

Ben Affleck opened some whoop-ass on the punditocracy. And he did so in such an engaging way so that they didn't know what had hit them. That he is such eye candy doesn't hurt either!

Unlike theirs, OUR celebs have brains. Ben also hails from the working class and again, unlike repukes, he has neither forgotten nor forsaken his roots. He and Ron Reagan should have their own shows.

[sandnsea]

30. oh brother

If Britney Spears were performing with Bush, they wouldn't be stupid enough to complain about it. :eyes:

[TexasSissy]

31. I am impressed that he'd take the time and believes in Kerry or

anti-Bush enough to do that. And that he's a youngish person who has lots of $$$$ who could easily have gone to Hawaii on vacation instead. That he cares so much about politics is great!

[Cha]

40. I just got interested in politics four years ago myself so I can

easily see how someone could see the light, so to speak.

And now I think it's the most important thing anyone could be doing!

[OnionPatch]

32. In response

to those calling him "elite," I had thought that Affleck came from rather humble beginnings. Or am I wrong?

[Carolina]

35. you're absolutely right

he comes from humble, working class background and as I said in a post above, he has not forgotten nor forsaken his roots.

[JI7]

43. yes, this is true of many actors and other entertainers

this is probably why the entertainment industry tends to be more liberal. many of the people who make it big there tend to be those who worked many low paying jobs before making it big. so they understand how it is to struggle. they didn't all have parents in the industry to open doors for them. they had to go through many auditions and many rejections before their big break.

[Cha]

41. Not "wrong"...Ben came from middle class America...in

Boston. I think he was brought up by his mother who is a teacher and his father had some problems with alcohol but has since been clean and sober.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

37. I disagree.

I thought he did a better job battling the right than some of the left wing pundits the news networks had on. He is not a stupid guy by any means. Before becoming an actor, I believe he went to UVM (and majored in middle eastern studies).

Having a bigger voice is never a con... I want to avoid this cliche, but celebrities are people too. They have every right to have an opinion and express it. It so happens that media pays more attention to celebrities, and if they are on our side- isn't it a plus? If it was a little old grandmother traveling along on the campaign with Kerry helping when she could, people would think it was adorable. But since it's an actor who happens to qualify for a Bush tax cut, everyone jumps down his throat.

[doc03]

42. He helps bring out the crouds

In Wheeling WV population about 31000 we had 17000 people show up for Kerry. There were a lot of young people that came out that otherwise would not have. We need all the votes we can get.

[ArnoldLayne]

51. I agree with you

there were alot of young people in the crowd that day I was really surprised. :dem:

[w4rma]

44. Affleck is awesome. Did you know he is also a screenplay writer? (nt)

[Democat]

45. You are spreading right wing talking points

What you are saying is what Rush Limbaugh says on his show.

Why aren't celebs allowed to have an opinion?

Rush Limbaugh is a rich celebrity elitist who hates celebrities because they are rich and elite.

[hope42mro]

46. 60% of Undecided are Women. Maybe he'll attract them...

to vote for Kerry.

Ok, so we're not that superficial. But seeing a hansome celebrity onstage with Kerry could postpone changing the channel for a few influential seconds; just long enough to hear Kerry's key points. Same goes for the Kerry girls and Cate Edwards for the undecided male voters.

Andre Heinz isn't too bad either....yeowza:loveya:!

[JSJ]

47. he's a babe magnet n/t

[Feanorcurufinwe]

48. You despise people you don't know because of what you imagine they feel?

:eyes:

OK

[joanne]

49. He's a lot cuter than the Gropinator

And I agree he helps bring out crowds.

No harm at all.

[Monument]

52. You're right

Thanks for letting me vent.

I went to school in southern california and the celebrity culture drove me nuts there too. Repub or Dem, I just don't get it. Anyways it's good at least that Ben is on OUR side and you're right, if he's bringing people out to the polls it's a good thing!

[Lex]

53. If he can get people to show up at the rallies and then they HEAR

what Kerry has to say, or are listening to what Ben has to say about how important it is to vote, then who cares?

It only bugs the republicans and people like Rush Limbaugh . . .