Tom Hanks to Prop 8 supporters: Oh, hey, sorry for calling you “un-American”
posted at 3:53 pm on January 23, 2009 by Allahpundit
Turns out it’s divisive.
Now, in a exclusive statement to PEOPLE through his representative Leslee Dart, Hanks is softening his stance.
Last week, I labeled members of the Mormon church who supported California’s Proposition 8 as “un-American.” I believe Proposition 8 is counter to the promise of our Constitution; it is codified discrimination. But everyone has a right to vote their conscience – nothing could be more American. To say members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who contributed to Proposition 8 are “un-American” creates more division when the time calls for respectful disagreement. No one should use “un-American” lightly or in haste. I did. I should not have.
I guess it just slipped out. Exit question: Why the change of heart? I like to imagine he was home surfing the Net and had his heart touched by a certain clip of B-listers espousing a little bit of Hope and a whole lot of Change…
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: 1 2 3 Next »
Shyah. I quit liking your movies a long time ago. D-bag.
chunderroad on January 23, 2009 at 3:55 PM
“But everyone has a right to vote their conscience”
Phew!
Thanks for the permission.
artist on January 23, 2009 at 3:56 PM
Ha. Great line.
Spirit of 1776 on January 23, 2009 at 3:56 PM
And I’m sorry for calling you stupid, Tom. Kiss kiss.
Cicero43 on January 23, 2009 at 3:57 PM
He quickly realized how many “un-Americans” were willing to skip every one of his future movies.
Us “un-Americans” are also clever enough to know a phony apology when we hear it.
Gregor on January 23, 2009 at 3:58 PM
When did Obama have time to send this message to Hanks, he has been so busy? Well Hanks is back on Message that is all that is important.
Dr Evil on January 23, 2009 at 3:58 PM
Just like the pledges these clowns make.
They change their minds and when it comes to following through.
Kini on January 23, 2009 at 3:59 PM
“I promise to be a servant to our president”
These people truly do think he is God, don’t they? It seems like every day we have people saying that everything is solved because he was elected, states being broke doesn’t matter, people actually saying “he is Jesus”, the One himself claiming oceans will stop rising, etc. etc. There is such an overload of ridiculous comments like these, I’m having trouble even remembering them because when I hear them I’m usually so disgusted I try to forget about them immediately. But promising to “be a servant” to Obama sounds like it’s ripped straight out of scripture! WTF, you idiots!?
RightWinged on January 23, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Freudian slip there Tom?
Apology not accepted.
Skywise on January 23, 2009 at 4:00 PM
We still know what you really think, Tom. Nicest man in Hollywood … unless you disagree with him.
TheUnrepentantGeek on January 23, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Well, at least he manned-up and apologized. I’ll give him credit.
robblefarian on January 23, 2009 at 4:01 PM
I don’t recall when I ever liked Hanks.
Ryan Gandy on January 23, 2009 at 4:02 PM
Too late, Tom. You said what you thought and showed what a moron you are. You can apologize all you want, but you are still an ignorant fool who should stick to reading someone else’s words.
progressoverpeace on January 23, 2009 at 4:02 PM
Isn’t he some kind of executive producer for that show on HBO about a fringe Mormon group practicing polygamy? Sort of like biting the hand that feeds you.
Cindy Munford on January 23, 2009 at 4:04 PM
Too, late, Tom. You are still on my boycott list. But you have LOTS of company there.
pannw on January 23, 2009 at 4:04 PM
I vowed, after reading his snarky remarks about people being un-American, for voting for prop 8, that I would never pay to see another of his movies. I hold to that.
I boycotted all major news sources, newspapers, and magazines, and television shows, that oooze liberal propoganda. I have not swayed. I watch very little, and limit my reading carefully.
I have had enough of liberal media, and hollywood thinking they decide what’s best for us, with their one sided reporting.
p.s. Tom? Since you’ve become so enlightened, you might want to tell Jessica Alba it’s Switzerland, and not Sweden, that is the neutral country. ;)
capejasmine on January 23, 2009 at 4:05 PM
I didn’t realize that over 50% of California voters were Mormon.
slug on January 23, 2009 at 4:05 PM
anyone informed Hanks that Obama is against gay marriage?
jp on January 23, 2009 at 4:05 PM
Give him some credit for issuing some type of apology.
Usually being a leftist means never having to say you’re sorry.
grahsco on January 23, 2009 at 4:05 PM
I’ll bet Tom suddenly realized that his comment had deeply, deeply hurt Harry Reid.
jon1979 on January 23, 2009 at 4:07 PM
Tom , go apologize to Wilson, hes the only one who listens to you anyway.
MDWNJ on January 23, 2009 at 4:07 PM
Nice head, deek.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on January 23, 2009 at 4:08 PM
We are all Mormons now
clnurnberg on January 23, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Sitting in my empty classroom, laughing out loud.
Heh heh heh
Bob's Kid on January 23, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Since when is it “un-American” to donate $$$ towards a cause you believe in? The church itself never donated one penny to the cause, however its members did out of their own pockets. No one held a gun to their head and forced them to, either.
Dude, you lost the vote. Get over it and quit blaming others for your loss.
RMCS_USN on January 23, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Not to pick nits here, but I see no apology. I see “I shouldn’t have said it” but no “I’m sorry” or “I apologize”. That’s rule #1 in any apology.
Matticus Finch on January 23, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Tom’s apology is self-interest period. Last night FOX had a story about how Hollyweird is having problems not just at the box office but with DVD sales. Funding for movies is down. Gee, some of these hypocrite, frauds won’t be rolling in the dough so it’s time to try to make nice with the plebes who fork over the cash for their pathetic films.
Screw you, Tom Hanks. You said what you really think of us and we will do the same by not spending our hard earned money on your crappy movies.
Jvette on January 23, 2009 at 4:10 PM
Remember, dissent is patriotic!
redshirt on January 23, 2009 at 4:10 PM
Unhinged political statements are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.
Mr. D on January 23, 2009 at 4:11 PM
After “Charlie Wilson’s War”, I’ll forgive you anything
LimeyGeek on January 23, 2009 at 4:11 PM
But everyone has a right to vote their conscience – nothing could be more American.
What happened, you just remembered that particular right was bought by people such as the soldier you portrayed in ‘Saving Private Ryan’?
Bishop on January 23, 2009 at 4:11 PM
I’d say this will keep me from seeing his movies, but it’s not like I’ve wanted to see any of them in the past decade anyway.
herrevery on January 23, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Liberal mantra…now that the election is all over, now that we have our man in office…we are sorry for all the lies, all the false accusations, all the bigoted statements we made to win.
right2bright on January 23, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Sunuvagun… he IS producing Big Love
More here-
Tom Hanks – ldsfilm
Skywise on January 23, 2009 at 4:13 PM
Tom Hanks was great in The Man with One Red Shoe.
bilups on January 23, 2009 at 4:13 PM
…Before it was fixed.
ericdijon on January 23, 2009 at 4:14 PM
I like that he outright admitted he was wrong. He could’ve said “I apologize if my words offended anyone”. You know—the typical non-apology apology.
CookeyD on January 23, 2009 at 4:15 PM
They’ll pledge allegiance to the President, but I doubt most of those twits would cry fowl over a pledge to the flag.
smfoushee on January 23, 2009 at 4:17 PM
I’m guessing he’s realized how bad it reflects on Obama supporters. They claims to be all hope and changy and in the mood for unification, but then some of them say things like this.
It’s nice that he’s apologized, but this is the age of Imus, where people with verbal diarrhea are supposed to apologize even when they don’t mean it.
Esthier on January 23, 2009 at 4:17 PM
oops… should be I don’t doubt…
smfoushee on January 23, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Didn’t he make some conservative/traditional comment way back when and Speilberg and Opie came over for an intervention? Seems like he came out quickly with a clarifying statement, then, too.
Maybe Forrest Gump wasn’t acting
billypaintbrush on January 23, 2009 at 4:19 PM
why isn’t this guys still stuck on an island talking to a volleyball?
gatorboy on January 23, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Shut up and act.
CP on January 23, 2009 at 4:20 PM
How about Affirmative Action, then? Gonna come out swinging against that one anytime soon, Tom?
commenter on January 23, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Great opinion piece…
Hollywood Obama Servants are a Bad Act.
Brat on January 23, 2009 at 4:25 PM
How about Affirmative Action, then? Gonna come out swinging against that one anytime soon, Tom?
commenter on January 23, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Tosh, AA is well-meaning codified discrimination which helps people who are the same color as the President.
Bishop on January 23, 2009 at 4:26 PM
F**k you, Tom Hanks.
Being gay in un-American.
And I don’t apologize for that.
madmonkphotog on January 23, 2009 at 4:26 PM
I wasn’t actually offended by his initial comment. That’s his opinion, whatever, but I cannot stand fake apologies.
herrevery on January 23, 2009 at 4:27 PM
dammit Tom, don’t give the social cons the pleasure of retracting! never be afraid to call a bigot a bigot, religious or otherwise.
Noneya on January 23, 2009 at 4:27 PM
In my house, Sean will forever be known as Spicoli, & from now on Hanks will likewise be called Forrest, or Gump.
jgapinoy on January 23, 2009 at 4:28 PM
You just had to put that damn celebtard video up again didn’t you?
Damn you…
catmman on January 23, 2009 at 4:29 PM
being gay in an un-american sounds pretty gay to me! be proud, sista!
Noneya on January 23, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Forrest, you dummy, run, run, run back to your studio and shut and dance, dance, dance.
HornetSting on January 23, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Nah, he’ll always be Pep Streebeck for me. :-)
Doughboy on January 23, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Twat.
LimeyGeek on January 23, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Voting for Prop. 8 isn’t “un-American”…
But it is inhuman…
Are you actually saying being gay is un-American?
JetBoy on January 23, 2009 at 4:30 PM
You sound like a bigot. I hope that was a goofy attempt at sarcasm…? (trying to give you the benefit of the doubt)
jgapinoy on January 23, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Okay. You’re a bigot.
progressoverpeace on January 23, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Bulletin:
The large majority of American voters in 30 states are inhuman!
jgapinoy on January 23, 2009 at 4:31 PM
Right, ’cause only Republicans question other people’s patriotism when they’re not actually saying they’re, well, unamerican, like you did Tom? Perhaps he meant to say they were being racist and got confused.
littleguy on January 23, 2009 at 4:32 PM
I accept that — good for him.
D2Boston on January 23, 2009 at 4:32 PM
Friggest thou and the steed that bore thee hence
LimeyGeek on January 23, 2009 at 4:32 PM
So be it.
JetBoy on January 23, 2009 at 4:32 PM
For me, Rick Gaskill. “Bachelor Party” is a pisser. Whatever happened to Adrian Zmed?
J.J. Sefton on January 23, 2009 at 4:33 PM
shut up and act, Forrest.
marklmail on January 23, 2009 at 4:33 PM
Nah. Just stumbling grunts.
LimeyGeek on January 23, 2009 at 4:33 PM
That’s just silly.
Cindy Munford on January 23, 2009 at 4:33 PM
I’m glad to see that they are pledging to be better parents, I wonder if they are going to pledge to marry the woman they got pregnant, or pledge to have children by one mother/father, not multiples…
reshas1 on January 23, 2009 at 4:33 PM
You call me (& many millions of other Americans) inhuman, so I will call you…
wrong.
jgapinoy on January 23, 2009 at 4:34 PM
I pledge to drive my gas-guzzling 1966 Mustang Fastback as much as possible.
sleepy-beans on January 23, 2009 at 4:36 PM
I’ve never seen any Penn flicks; I was going by what they call him here at HA.
jgapinoy on January 23, 2009 at 4:36 PM
not to mention stupid enough to believe in 2000 year-old fairy tales and live by them
Noneya on January 23, 2009 at 4:36 PM
never be afraid to call a bigot a bigot, religious or otherwise.
Damm straight! Robert Byrd(D-WV), you sir are a bigot!
Bishop on January 23, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Meh. Once again, it is all about the money. He realized Mormons watch TV and go to movies.
Brat on January 23, 2009 at 4:38 PM
The large majority of American voters in 30 states are inhuman!
Which is how Lizard Man made the ballot up here in Minnesota.
Bishop on January 23, 2009 at 4:38 PM
F–k You
Harpoon on January 23, 2009 at 4:39 PM
That’s stupid. America is an incredible country. We should all be gay.
As far as being homosexual, that’s up to those who are into that, but being able to engage in behavior that pleases you and harms no one is pretty much the reason this country was founded. Anyone who thinks otherwise isn’t un-American but just ignorant.
Esthier on January 23, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Aahh! I always give really old guys a pass, he and Strom Thurmond were born in a different time and I think they tried to change.
Cindy Munford on January 23, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Hanks must be having a new movie coming out soon.
Doesn’t want the Mormons to launch a “Boycott Hanks” campaign.
albill on January 23, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Aahh! I always give really old guys a pass, he and Strom Thurmond were born in a different time and I think they tried to change.
Cindy Munford on January 23, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Then you are more forgiving that the left who ran off Lott damn near just for shaking Thurmond’s hand.
Bishop on January 23, 2009 at 4:44 PM
Interesting, isn’t it, how he didn’t use the “un-American” label on all those black and hispanic voters who voted to approve Prop. 8?
AZCoyote on January 23, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Don’t be ridiculous, jp. Obama is all for gay marriage; that was just another lie he felt the need to tell during the campaign to get people to vote for him.
Sort of like that crap about “we’re all Americans” and “working with Republicans” and being serious about national defense.
You didn’t actually believe that, did you?
Jaibones on January 23, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Are you kidding me?
These D listers couldn’t pledge this before simply because they disliked President Bush?
What asshats!
ArmyAunt on January 23, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Bosom Buddies.
Rick on January 23, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Ummm, you mean 5-6000 years old.
Esthier on January 23, 2009 at 4:48 PM
not to mention stupid enough to believe in 2000 year-old fairy tales and live by them
Noneya on January 23, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Especially those Christian missionary bastiges working in Haiti, Congo or even downtown Minneapolis. Who the hell do they think they are, following a fairy tale by providing aid and comfort to the poor and downtrodden based on the word of some dude who lived 2000 years ago.
Bunch of jerks.
Bishop on January 23, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Noneya on January 23, 2009 at 4:36 PM
But you do seem to believe that you and your group of like-minded believers are the most enlightened in all the annuls of history. That makes more sense?
theotherKate on January 23, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Interesting, isn’t it, how he didn’t use the “un-American” label on all those black and hispanic voters who voted to approve Prop. 8?
AZCoyote on January 23, 2009 at 4:47 PM
Sure he did. Hanks berated his Mexican gardener, gave him a good talking to. So what if the gardener doesn’t speak any english, I’m sure he got the point.
Bishop on January 23, 2009 at 4:51 PM
A-Yup. Pretty much.
Mike D. on January 23, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Let me clarify:
Being gay is un-American.
And again. I don’t apologize for that. You on the left want to attack? We on the right are going to do the same, on the same level, every time.
madmonkphotog on January 23, 2009 at 4:52 PM
That’s what I thought. You might want to clear that up, people on the 8 blog are starting to riot.
HornetSting on January 23, 2009 at 4:53 PM
Yeah, I don’t have much sympathy for people who are ugly to children and seniors. Pretty much pond scum in my book.
Cindy Munford on January 23, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Uh, nevermind. Cleared up.
HornetSting on January 23, 2009 at 4:54 PM
And what Tom Hanks said was dumb? Sheesh…
btw I’m not of “the Left”…
JetBoy on January 23, 2009 at 4:54 PM
You shall henceforth be called “otherwise”. Thank you, otherwise for showing the ultimate in irony.
mjk on January 23, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Let me clarify. Madmonk is speaking for himself. Not conservatives.
redshirt on January 23, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Here, take a look at another idiot who believes in a 2000 year old fairy tale. Why, I’ll bet noneya has done three times as much for the poor as this religious goofball:
http://www.sharingandcaringhands.org/maryjo.htm
Bishop on January 23, 2009 at 4:55 PM
first, it’s like-minded non-believers and….
Yup! after all, the fastest growing faith in America is no faith at all.
Noneya on January 23, 2009 at 4:57 PM
You don’t speak for all of us. You don’t even speak for most of us. Don’t pretend to.
Esthier on January 23, 2009 at 4:59 PM
Comment pages: 1 2 3 Next »