Number 301: George Clooney
posted at 12:15 pm on August 11, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Guess who’s one of Barack Obama’s foreign-policy advisers? According to the Daily Mail, it’s that other celebrity hunk, George Clooney. According to their sources, Clooney advises Obama on a regular basis through phone calls and text messages, and not just on looking his best in front of the cameras:
But Democratic Party insiders have revealed that Clooney and Obama regularly send texts and emails to each other and speak by phone at least twice a week.
One said last night: ‘They are extremely close. A number of members of the Hollywood community, including Brad Pitt, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, offered to help raise funds for Barack but it was with George that he struck up this amazing affinity.
‘George has been giving him advice on things such as presentation, public speaking and body language and he also emails him constantly about policy, especially the Middle East.
‘George is pushing him to be more “balanced” on issues such as US relations with Israel. … [T]hey text and email each other almost every day and speak on the phone at least a couple of times a week, often more.’
Obama already has 300 foreign policy advisers. What’s one more? Too many chefs can spoil the broth, but no kitchen could hold this throng anyway. Where would they plan to meet, Thermopylae?
In this case, though, Clooney seems to be right at home in Obama’s neighborhood. Jeremiah Wright often republished pro-Palestinian rants in the Trinity newsletters. Obama had to fire Robert Malley after he admitted that he had remained in regular contact with Hamas, which the US lists as a terrorist organization. Before he ran for the presidency, Obama openly sympathized with the Palestinians, although afterwards he explained that he had to be pro-Israel because he has Jewish friends.
Clooney also recently announced that he would produce a film about the detention of Salim Hamdan, recently convicted of providing material support to al-Qaeda after five years of detention at Guantanamo Bay. It seems rather doubtful that Clooney will take the position that the US treated Hamdan too leniently. Fortunately for Obama, Clooney’s smart enough not to have the film opening this year.
Clooney has tried keeping the relationship quiet, but has also scheduled a high-stakes fundraiser for Obama in Switzerland for September 2nd, when Obama might otherwise have been campaigning in America. Maybe by that time, Clooney can also get Obama’s running mate to appear for him in Geneva. Given their text-messaging relationship, perhaps Clooney might be Obama’s first pick for VP.
Update: George Clooney denies ever texting Obama:
The Obama-Clooney story was concocted from anonymous sources. Yet it spread throughout the world within hours. It was quickly picked up by The Drudge Report and television networks ranging from Fox News to NBC. The overall result served to bolster Republican candidate John McCain’s dubious contention that his rival Obama is a vapid “celebrity” rather than presidential material.
Clooney responded to the article with humor: “”I have never texted or e-mailed Sen. Obama,” he said in a statement. “And I’ll offer a million dollars to anyone who could prove otherwise.["]
Jeffrey Ressner spends the rest of his Politico piece griping about the story being “concocted from anonymous sources”. Ressner must not read newspapers like the New York Times and the Washington Post, among many who routinely run stories “concocted” thusly. Nevertheless, Clooney does deny it, and with some humor, as he says he’s actually spent more time with McCain than Obama.
Update II: Jeffrey sends me a pretty funny note saying I misquoted him slightly; I wrote that he said “concocted by anonymous sources”, when he wrote from. I should have cut and pasted it, which would have avoided the problem. What the heck would it mean to have stories concocted by anonymous sources — that the Daily Mail left the doors open at night so strangers could write their articles? Hmmm ….
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Clooney coaching on body language? Hilarious, seeing as it took director Steven Soderbergh to get Clooney to quit drooping his head to one side.
SWLiP on August 11, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Well, they could meet at Thermopylae, but that would mean taking a stand and actually fighting for something worthwhile. Socialism, appeasement, taxation and protectionism weren’t on the agenda at the time.
Leonidas Hoplite on August 11, 2008 at 12:21 PM
OK, I think it’s time for some photoshopping skills. Oceans 13 with Barry subbing in for Bernie.
http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2008-08/41529914.jpg
Sergei on August 11, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Oh Logic, Where Art Thou?
omnipotent on August 11, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Sorry George, you’re still no Frank Sinatra.
reaganaut on August 11, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Is Amy Carter available?
D2Boston on August 11, 2008 at 12:24 PM
George CLooney as foreign-policy adviser? omg
becki51758 on August 11, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Airhead celebrity advising clueless celebrity. Sounds just about consistent to me. George and Obama are meeting in neutral Geneve, Switzerland. That’s also consistent for a “world citizen”. Obama needs to keep up the European trips, the last was superbly successful for him. BHO is more starstruck than Clinton.
marybel on August 11, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Anyone see Clooney in “The Peacemaker”? I think Israel is in good hands…
Chuck Schick on August 11, 2008 at 12:25 PM
He’s in touch with the people that pretend to be people.
Kini on August 11, 2008 at 12:25 PM
So he emails Scarlett Johanssen and George Clooney but recoils from the celebrity charge? Actions… Consequences… a Messiah cares not for these things! Do not think, just bow down and worship him!
Oddly enough, George’s plan to deal with Iranian nukes involves Brad Pitt and a team of highly skilled crooks and con men. It’ll all be taken care of in about an hour and forty minutes. No Problem!
trubble on August 11, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Shut Up and Act. I have to admit, being balanced, Clooney’s a decent actor, but you won’t find me in any theaters where he’s appearing on the screen.
I won’t rent any of the movies either, the last one I saw was Brother, where art thou?
kirkill on August 11, 2008 at 12:26 PM
This is just too Camelotish…. Didn’t Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack get JFK elected.
tommylotto on August 11, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Maybe neutral but not without their own political strife.
Right-Wing Triumphs In Switzerland Elections
Not exactly a bastion of diversity, either:
Brat on August 11, 2008 at 12:37 PM
With this news, Obama has locked up a segment of the George Clooney base!
Word among the trade journals is that he’s also making inroads among the Steven Segal fan base who deplore violence.
moxie_neanderthal on August 11, 2008 at 12:37 PM
In today’s world I now feel so much safer.
TooTall on August 11, 2008 at 12:37 PM
See photos of Clooney’s most recent foreign policy trip here.
Brat on August 11, 2008 at 12:44 PM
How sweet. A bromance.
BowHuntingTexas on August 11, 2008 at 12:48 PM
It will be interesting to see what Switzerland will do with it’s criminally inclined guests. America should take in any Bosnian Muslims expelled for criminal behavior. It would help with Iraq.
BL@KBIRD on August 11, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Now all the messiah needs is an Archie Bunker clone to be fair and balanced.
Rovin on August 11, 2008 at 12:49 PM
He puts the loony in Clooney, don’t he?
ronsfi on August 11, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Announcer: This is breaking news, with Peter Jennings.
Peter Jennings: Team America has once again pissed off the entire world after blowing up half of Cairo. And now some Hollywood celebrities are lashing out. Alec Baldwin is head of the Film Actors’ Guild.
Alec Baldwin: The Film Actors’ Guild believes that what the world needs is compassion, not violence. All that Team America does is create new enemies.
Tim Robbins: Let me explain to you how this works. You see, the corporations finance Team America. And then Team America goes out and the corporations sit there in their, in, in their corporation buildings and, and and see that’s, they’re all corporationy, and they make money. Mhm.
Sean Penn: Last year, I went to Iraq. Before Team America showed up, it was a happy place. They had… flowery meadows and rainbow skies and, and rivers made of chocolate where the children danced and laughed and played with gumdrop smiles.
Peter Jennings: The actors are calling for an emergency meeting. Already expected to attend are Helen Hunt, George Clooney, Liv Tyler, Martin Sheen, Susan Sarahndon, Janeane Garofalo, and Matt Damon.
Matt Damon: [softly] Matt Damon
Peter Jennings: In the meantime, the world wants to deal with dangerous individuals… their own way.
Shivas Irons on August 11, 2008 at 12:56 PM
‘
Wonderful. That means Syriana is a must see for everybody on Barry’s staff - it’s a very informative documentary on the Middle East, which happens to show the root causes for why things are so screwed up over there.
Rick on August 11, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Heh. From the Andrew Breibart article posted in the Headlines right now:
Brat on August 11, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Just noticed that ER is about to begin it’s final season. Maybe Cloony can revive his part in taking care of children now that he’s had the experience at advising an adolescent.
Rovin on August 11, 2008 at 1:00 PM
This is getting silly.
Sillier.
I’ve got to admit: part of me wants to see Barack elected just for the entertainment value.
When he flails and fails and flounders, when people realize Utopia hasn’t instantly arrived … it’s going to be really pretty damn funny to watch.
Professor Blather on August 11, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Who is this ‘Democratic Party Insider’ that is revealing all this damaging information about Barry’s relationship with George?
My finger points toward Hillary, but that’s just a wild guess.
Buy Danish on August 11, 2008 at 1:04 PM
This is great, perfect in fact.
Obama gets coaching and encouragement from people who despise (as he does) the voters whose support he needs to win the GE, i.e. those dreary working class people who cling to their Bibles and guns.
The stupidity of Liberals never fails to amaze me.
Go Bambi!!! Go George!!!
Cody1991 on August 11, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Hey, actors are HUMAN BEINGs too. You never know, they could have some original thoughts.
/s
I can understand having advice on presentation, etc. Any PR person is paid to do that. But Clooney? Sorry if I completely missed Clooney having any outstanding acting ability. Policy advice? Yikes, DOUBLE YIKES.
Question: Who are the ones that went to either West Banks or Gaza strip thinking their star power can forge ‘peace’?
Sir Napsalot on August 11, 2008 at 1:06 PM
“300 Foreign Policy Advisers”
Starring Barry Obama & George Clooney
“This is madness!”
“THIS… IS… yeah, you’re right. This is a little nuts. Okay, guys! 300 of you is too many; some of you have to go home now. Sorry! I Hope you’ll take this CHANGE in stride!”
Frozen Tex on August 11, 2008 at 1:06 PM
Way to go, F.A.G.
Brass Pair on August 11, 2008 at 1:12 PM
The smug from George Cloony’s speech will be reaching Geneva within weeks.
forest on August 11, 2008 at 1:17 PM
See?
It’s OK.
He’s young, way inexperienced in anything that requires actually doing something.
But He’s good with teleprompters and He’s got advisors like George Clooney!
What could go wrong?
It’ll be all right.
Just go to sleep, you won’t feel a thing.
least1 on August 11, 2008 at 1:24 PM
Why, oh why, are all the pretty ones moonbatts?
“All meat and no potatoes” No truer words ever spoken about sooooo many…
dish on August 11, 2008 at 1:29 PM
You all ain’t giving George Clooney enough credit. He was a handyman, a football player, a doctor, Batman, a CIA agent, some kind of military dude, and a fisherman, for God’s Sake!!!! He’s got all sorts of foreign policy experience, all kinds of experience up the ying yang, I tells ya!!!!
mjk on August 11, 2008 at 1:31 PM
Now you’ve piqued my curiosity… does a part of you welcome a massive econmic depression as well?
1 Trillion in new spending=higher taxes=depression if Obamarx gets everthing he wants with a willing and duplicitous congress.
electric-rascal on August 11, 2008 at 1:33 PM
DID George sleep at a Holiday Inn last night??
originalpechanga on August 11, 2008 at 1:34 PM
Given the state of the Congress, It will be more like Versailles than Camelot.
Catseye on August 11, 2008 at 1:37 PM
CLOONEY FOR VP!!!!!
(said it first!)
Biffstir on August 11, 2008 at 1:39 PM
I’m proud of HA for making so few of the obvious latent homosexual references stirred by this story.
snaggletoothie on August 11, 2008 at 1:42 PM
I’m confident that if the Obamamessiah wins the WH he’ll hire Clooney as presidential physician based upon Clooney’s medical experience on ER. Come to think of it, why would the messiah need a physician. Can’t he heal himself?
sdd on August 11, 2008 at 1:50 PM
Oh George, oh yeah…!!
Oh Barry, yeah, u-huh, oh yeah, right there, u-huh, m-huh, oh my God, yeah, yeah!!
Martin on August 11, 2008 at 1:56 PM
Ummm…
So much for the maturity.
Frozen Tex on August 11, 2008 at 2:00 PM
Clooney advising Barry on Middle East policy?! Superb!
I can just imagine what his take on a ‘balanced’ view of Israel is.
Sadly Clooney is likely a foreign policy expert compared to Obama.
Ares on August 11, 2008 at 2:05 PM
This is an SNL skit waiting to happen.
swami on August 11, 2008 at 2:09 PM
Yes, but “bromance” (12:48) was pretty cool.
whitetop on August 11, 2008 at 2:16 PM
Sir George Looney, and Al Biraq Oblowme De La Sinclair are teaming up. I wonder who’s writing the script?
byteshredder on August 11, 2008 at 2:30 PM
I think Clooney is a good VP choice for Hussein…he would certainly drum up support among the white older female crowd(who Hussein is having trouble with at the moment).
SaintOlaf on August 11, 2008 at 2:56 PM
Let’s hope Barry doesn’t read Saint Olaf’s post.
Christine on August 11, 2008 at 3:16 PM
Is Clooney in Hawaii this week?
econavenger on August 11, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Not sure if he’s back yet from his latest foreign policy excursion to the Med with those renowned diplomats Cindy Crawford and Bono.
Brat on August 11, 2008 at 3:43 PM
George Clooney as a foreign adviser? How’s that workin’ out so far?
Wyznowski on August 11, 2008 at 3:47 PM
Anyone else notice how the older he gets, the more George Clooney looks like Leo Gorcey?
Captain Scarlet on August 11, 2008 at 6:13 PM