Video: Han Solo takes on the Emperor?
posted at 5:05 pm on June 5, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Earlier today, I was flipping through some of my e-mailed links and noticed a curious ad in the New York Times. It featured Harrison Ford with the tagline, “Let’s not jeopardize another 1.2 million jobs.” I decided to check it out and see exactly what cause Ford was fronting. Apparently, the White House and Congress are considering hefty new fees on general aviation — private and small-commercial aircraft — and Ford as a private pilot wants to put a stop to it:
The website itself does a terrible job explaining what exactly they oppose. It lists no bill, no particular sponsor, and no contact for protesting the hike in fees. For an organization spending a lot of money on ads in the New York Times, they seem very disorganized.
Of course, so does Ford, if you look at his political contributions for last year. While Ford rightly laments the imposition of burdensome taxes on an industry close to his heart and the massive job loss that may follow, he could have prevented it by paying closer attention to the presidential race. As Newsmeat reports from public records, Ford has overwhelmingly supported Democrats over the last 20 years — and gave over $30,000 to Barack Obama’s Victory Fund last September.
Harrison Ford was maybe the best thing about Star Wars (all six films) and terrific in the Indiana Jones films. Today, though, I’ll cast him as Captain Louis Renault in Casablanca for his shock, shock! that a redistributionist Democratic Party might tax his industry into default:
Actually, he wouldn’t make a bad Rick in a remake …
Blowback
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cry me a river, dummy.
homesickamerican on June 5, 2009 at 5:08 PM
This is reminiscent of Baldwin a few months ago, isn’t it?
Where they realizes high taxes are bad, but only high taxes on things they like to do.
lorien1973 on June 5, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Word.
ladyingray on June 5, 2009 at 5:09 PM
Yeah taxes and cutbacks and wealth redisdistribution are fine until it hits close to home. Harrison: you elected him, now you gotta deal with him. Me I’m getting off the grid as soon as possible.
Driefromseattle on June 5, 2009 at 5:11 PM
http://gaservesamerica.com/
More videos here.
Tens of millions of Americans depend on General Aviation (GA) as an economic lifeline. But with a proposed scheme for new taxes and new restrictions being considered in Washington, D.C., that lifeline is in jeopardy. You can help today. Please join the campaign, share your story, and contribute to the General Aviation Serves America Fund to make a difference today. With your help, we will educate policymakers and Americans about the important role GA plays in our local communities and our nation’s economy. We need you on board.
izoneguy on June 5, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Time to start hoofing it Hans…
Caper29 on June 5, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Bwahahahahahahaa!!!!
Up yours Ford. I hope ChimpyO taxes you into the poor house!
csdeven on June 5, 2009 at 5:13 PM
Jar Jar Binks meesaa Han Solo is a bad boom bah.
pseudonominus on June 5, 2009 at 5:13 PM
What’s the saying? It depends on whose ox is being gored? They are only beginning to wake up.
Cindy Munford on June 5, 2009 at 5:13 PM
Redemption, maybe if enough high profile libs push back and use their energy & talents to fight with us then maybe we have a chance.
izoneguy on June 5, 2009 at 5:13 PM
He’ll never work in that town again!
Star20 on June 5, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Maybe he should attend a tea party.
rw on June 5, 2009 at 5:14 PM
I wish I could figure out HOW to get off the grid, Drie.
Alana on June 5, 2009 at 5:14 PM
Indiana Jones has an EARRING?!?!?
Coooooooooooooool…
I prefer him in Patriot Games. Great flick.
alohapundit on June 5, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Jar Jar Binks meesaa George Lucas is true genius; last three film proove.
pseudonominus on June 5, 2009 at 5:16 PM
I’ll second that!!!
Sure didn’t take long for these tools to start going..”Wait….What???”
More!!!…Must have MORE!!!!
BigWyo on June 5, 2009 at 5:17 PM
I might be able to take the “scruffy looking nerf-herder” more seriously if he took that dang earring out. What is he now, like 60? C’mon. The mid-life crisis excuse is no longer valid.
XWing5 on June 5, 2009 at 5:18 PM
…. and after the last Indiana Jones movie he shouldn’t!!!!
Cadian on June 5, 2009 at 5:21 PM
The reason this is so ineffective is that they are trying to take down a brick wall with a nerf gun…they clearly don’t want to name names or identify the parties involved (Democrats), so they generate this super-fluff commercial assuming the members will figure out who the guilty parties are and do ‘something’ so they don’t have to…
And yeah, Harrison Ford isn’t about to knock the Dems, no matter what they do. He doesn’t need a job anyway.
AUINSC on June 5, 2009 at 5:21 PM
I thought from the headline that he was taking on Speilberg or Lucas, but of course if he is taking on the Obama Administration he is taking on Speilberg and Lucas.
Mr. Joe on June 5, 2009 at 5:22 PM
<blockAnd yeah, Harrison Ford isn’t about to knock the Dems, no matter what they do. He doesn’t need a job anyway.
What a true statement, was he actually the Crystal Skull?
hip shot on June 5, 2009 at 5:23 PM
Dude, Harrison Ford was the best thing about Star Wars and every other movie he has ever been on screen for.
But in real life, he’s sort of a douche.
I’ll take that back if he comes around to see that outrageous taxes are everywhere, not just on his pet issue.
myrenovations on June 5, 2009 at 5:24 PM
Harrison Ford lost me when he got that ridiculous earring.
Enjoy the hope and change, Indy. You asked for it.
patriette on June 5, 2009 at 5:24 PM
Harrison Ford, meh.
Shame on him not to put some cash into this internet message. Goes to show, all front, no content to his formulaic performances and lame brain. Since Star Wars and the 1st Indiana Jones, his every performance sucks.
maverick muse on June 5, 2009 at 5:25 PM
You know, I can almost picture that, and I think it might work. Ford is not as cool as Bogie, but then, who is?
Of course, with Casablanca being one of my all-time favorites, I am not condoning, advocating, suggesting, or supporting the idea of doing some sort of remake. Heck, I’m the guy that would turn off the color on my TV any time I saw it on TCM when they played that awful version.
JamesLee on June 5, 2009 at 5:25 PM
To me its like that card check commercial during the campaign with, oh wat’s his name? The democrat…..George McGovern. He never explicitly mentioned Obama or the democratic party and since most people don’t do the homework on their own, they had no idea what he was talking about. If someone isn’t telling them how to vote or who the enemy is, then they aren’t going to take the time to find out for themselves.
XWing5 on June 5, 2009 at 5:25 PM
Obama fired first!
profitsbeard on June 5, 2009 at 5:28 PM
Ford already did a Bogart role in the horrendous re-make of Sabrina. He was not as cool, but he played the role well. Just different.
I do not condone re-makes of classics.
myrenovations on June 5, 2009 at 5:28 PM
Harrison Ford should be driving a hybrid – not a gas-guzzling plane by dammit!
The “New Age” applies to him too!
HondaV65 on June 5, 2009 at 5:29 PM
remake Casablanca? another sign of the apocalypse.
some things are better left alone, Ed.
next you’l want to have it colorized
DrW on June 5, 2009 at 5:29 PM
I’m sure, as a socially aware liberal, sacrifices aren’t his to make…he probably did this limp commercial gratis, after all.
AUINSC on June 5, 2009 at 5:34 PM
Ford voted for Greedo!
profitsbeard on June 5, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Why would a global wrming believer like Ford oppose taxes that will reduce carbon emissions? It’s for the greater good! Mr. Ford, you are being called to SACRIFICE like the rest of us.
kooly on June 5, 2009 at 5:37 PM
Travolta and Denzel are remaking “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3″. I have a feeling they are going to butcher it with their liberal douche baggery.
csdeven on June 5, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Why would anyone wish that? You think this government would just stop as General Aviation or rich Obama supporters?
smfoushee on June 5, 2009 at 5:38 PM
The fight over user fees for General Aviation has been going on for about 5 years. It is more of a battle between the Airlines and General Aviation, mostly the airlines bitching that Biz Jets don’t pay the taxes that get tagged to per ticket sales the airlines pay.
The little aviation guy (me) gets screwed in the end game.
Currently, everybody pays for the combined cotsts of air traffic control services (I think that’s the biggest cost issue) through fuel taxes. Fair scheme. Use more fuel, pay more tax.
Airlines want to change this to a per service tax – if you call up for a weather brief, you get charged. If you use a bigger airport, you get charged. This scheme exists in Europe today, and has killed off the small aviators.
General aviation is proposing – raise the gas taxes to whatever level it takes. We are fighting big government. This is not a Democrat vs. Republican issue. Actually a bunch of Democrats have joined Conservatives ranks to avoid getting the fees passed.
Obama is in favor of the fee based scheme, of course.
If the fees pass, us small aviators will just avoid using the govt services, and get our weather briefs from the internet. Won’t be able to avoid fees if you file IFR, which is where the bigger guys fly all the time. Reduces saftey, and is not good for the country.
Jimmy Doolittle on June 5, 2009 at 5:39 PM
Like flying all the way, to New York City, for example, just for dinner and a show,it just sends the wrong message about man-made global climate change. C’mon, Ford, get with the program, make those sacrifices.
coldwarrior on June 5, 2009 at 5:39 PM
I didn’t notice the earring until it was pointed out.
For several years the FAA has been wanting to switch its funding to a “pay-for-service” model. The airlines are fine with that, since they can just pass the cost on to the customer. But if a private pilot has to pay to get a weather briefing, radar services, file a flight plan, or to talk with the folks in the control tower, he’s either going to fly less or skip those safety-enhancing services.
The reason that no specific bill of sponsor is idenitified is that there is no specific bill or sponsor to target. The threat of GA user fees is spread out across many places in the budgeting process and federal regulations.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (which is behind GA Serves America) has the insider contacts for the specific pieces of the puzzle.
What they hope to accomplish with the ads is to raise the awareness of non-pilots about the economic value to the nation of general aviation. (Pennsylvania just did a study, and the value of GA to just that state was over a billion dollars a year.)
Too many people think of “those little buzzing planes” as toys for rich men, not knowing that by far, most GA flights are made in direct support of small businesses.
skydaddy on June 5, 2009 at 5:40 PM
Do you think not wishing it will stop ChimpyO? Ford has the means to avoid ChimpO’s economic policies. We don’t.
csdeven on June 5, 2009 at 5:42 PM
Raise taxes? YAY!!!!!
Raise my taxes? Not so much.
Perhaps my favorite part… “A Washington DC plan”…
It’s called THE OBAMA PLAN, Han!
mankai on June 5, 2009 at 5:43 PM
“I don’t know, I’m making this up as a I go along”.
Indiana Jones, Raiders of the Lost Ark.
So how’s that working out of ya? Wadda maroon…
Hog Wild on June 5, 2009 at 5:45 PM
I saw this a while ago and I have to admit I was scared to watch it, lest one of my childhood heroes go totally wacky left. He may have on other occasions but I am blissfully unaware. I was pleasantly surprised I have to say.
oddjob1138 on June 5, 2009 at 5:45 PM
Bingo.
Ford does not want to call out Obama or any democrats by name. He wants to play nice with them, for whatever reason. He simply refers to the tax proposal as a “Washington DC plan.” He doesn’t want the 1.2 million people whose jobs are being threatened to be calling the Democrats in DC and leaving nasty messages for them.
Weak. Mr. Ford, you are a big disappointment.
UltimateBob on June 5, 2009 at 5:47 PM
Hey, the Obamaman created or saved 3,000,000 OTHER jobs, so who cares about these rich fly-boys? /s
Greg Toombs on June 5, 2009 at 5:48 PM
The Hopium High appears to be ovah.
Ford can chew on Obama’s bone. Everyone else in Hollywood, Congress RINO’s, Deminems, the MSM and the welfare peeps is doin it. mm-mm-good! Loves me some o-bone. Tax me harder, O, tax me harder. mmmm.
gack.
(Hat Tip Dr. CwacCwac for the “Hopium” – brilliant!)
Key West Reader on June 5, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Too too funny. Microsoft is whining too, lol.
Idiots.
xblade on June 5, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Good grief, people, he’s had that ear ring for years! Let it go…
ladyingray on June 5, 2009 at 5:57 PM
Hey, Han, you’re a rich guy. How about we just spread YOUR wealth to these airports? All’s fair, right?
mankai on June 5, 2009 at 5:59 PM
I wonder who he voted for?
I’m betting the Emperor.
Hening on June 5, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Hey Solo,
Mos EisleyDC! “You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.”Princeps on June 5, 2009 at 6:03 PM
Yaaarg….it’s a sky pirate he be.
Hening on June 5, 2009 at 6:03 PM
The problem is this isn’t just Obama or the Democrats. This idea was first proposed while Bush was in office to fund upgrades to the FAA’s archaic system. Commercial airlines would receive a major tax break, while small aircraft owners and the businesses, communities and charities that depend on small planes would be forced to shoulder a slew of new taxes and fees. Most people don’t realize how important general aviation is to our country.
Oroso on June 5, 2009 at 6:03 PM
Another Hollywood lib wakes up and smells the coffee…
But I have to give Mr. Ford his ‘props (hee hee)… He volunteers his time and equipment with the Civil Air Patrol doing search and rescue work. And the man owns and flies a mint condition DeHaviland DH-1 Beaver, which is just too cool for words.
gridlock2 on June 5, 2009 at 6:15 PM
Don’t worry yourself about the job losses in the GA industry. Those displaced workers will find new jobs as Pelosi’s life-inventory-takers or teaching Emglish to guest-workers’ children or Acorn census workers. Opportunity and Happy times are ahead for all!
kooly on June 5, 2009 at 6:18 PM
I have a friend who is a very bright guy who just happens to be completely ignorant about modern culture and movies. He lives in a very nice building in NYC, and one day he gets on the elevator and it is just him and Harrison Ford.
Harrison Ford, being a decent and likable guy introduces himself, and my friend had absolutely no idea who he was. He told the folks at work that he had met a guy named Harrison Ford in the elevator and it seemed like he should have known who he was, so he told him that he always admired his family and they make excellent cars…
True story!
gridlock2 on June 5, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Sacrilege!
Anyway, he’s too old now. Maybe 20 years ago…
juanito on June 5, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Provided 50+ million other starry-eyed boneheads had paid attention, too.
KS Rex on June 5, 2009 at 6:21 PM
“These are not the
droidstaxes we’re looking for” right Harrison?profitsbeard on June 5, 2009 at 6:22 PM
Maybe we can call these sudden revelations Whoopi-isms. Taxes for thee, but not for me.
gregbert on June 5, 2009 at 6:22 PM
Yes, I remember a few years ago he rescued two young women from a mountaintop. They had become dehydrated. One of the girls said that she had thrown up in Ford’s hat while he was flying them to safety in his helicopter, and he was cool with that.
juliesa on June 5, 2009 at 6:23 PM
But HF thought the global warming crowd just wanted to force Soccer Moms out of their SUV’s and NASCAR Dads out of their pick-ups, not elite hypocrites out of their private planes? Boo-hoo.
kooly on June 5, 2009 at 6:28 PM
Anybody who saw the remake of Sabrina knows that casting Harrison Ford as Bogart is a bad idea. And casting the wretched Julia Ormond as Audrey Hepburn is a Crime Against Humanity.
gridlock2 on June 5, 2009 at 6:32 PM
I say this not in defense of Ford but in defense of planes.
Some planes get 100+ Mpg. They aren’t jets though… and won’t get you from DC to NYC as fast as a gulfstream. We’re talking mostly single engine Cessnas and whatnot.
But they can get you there faster than driving and use less fuel in the process.
Chaz706 on June 5, 2009 at 6:32 PM
I wonder what kind of fuel efficiency he gets once he makes the jump to hyperspace.
Joe Caps on June 5, 2009 at 6:38 PM
Don’t you read the comments? Some kind gentleman (read: troll) explained to us all in the MS post that just because somebody/some corporation contributes to the Victory Fund does not mean they support him because that is like totally way different than contributing to the campaign. Sheesh.
/s
Joe Caps on June 5, 2009 at 6:41 PM
That’s a bit of a stretch there Chaz706, my Wittman Tailwind is one of the most efficient light planes out there and I can’t get 30 mpg.
lowandslow on June 5, 2009 at 6:49 PM
Not so much love for the dark side hu?
Buyers remorse,
own it!
christene on June 5, 2009 at 6:52 PM
It’s probably more efficient with a tailwind than a headwind !
Steve Z on June 5, 2009 at 7:11 PM
Will Obama raise taxes on photo-op flyovers of the Statue of Liberty?
Didn’t think so.
Steve Z on June 5, 2009 at 7:15 PM
Very entertaining Ed 2.0
Mark30339 on June 5, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Is this dude a great actor, or what? He can take any stance on any issue and justify it!
Cybergeezer on June 5, 2009 at 7:25 PM
Seems he has a bad feeling about this.
- The Cat
MirCat on June 5, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Hey Harrison! Kiss my ass pal, it’s a little late NOW!
GarandFan on June 5, 2009 at 7:37 PM
He’s well known in the GA (for you Leftist college kids, that’s “General Aviation”) community as a nice guy.
As for a remake of “Casablanca”, it’s already been done. The decades-ahead-of-their-time comedians of “SCTV” wove it into a brilliant nearly half-hour long spoof of “Fantasy Island”. The result was “Casablanca” meets “Road to Morocco” (with Hope and Crosby) meets “Wizard of Oz”.
Oh, and the late John Candy played Rick. Simply brilliant casting.
Del Dolemonte on June 5, 2009 at 7:42 PM
This lib is just upset because he’s gonna have to either pay more or get out of his BEAVER!!! So self-centered.
PaCadle on June 5, 2009 at 7:44 PM
Wow, that’s not much of an improvement over the old Piper Cub…those things can get 16 mpg and they were designed 3/4 of a century ago.
Del Dolemonte on June 5, 2009 at 7:46 PM
You guys need to go RC.. hundreds of miles per gallon and a really small carbon footprint.
PaCadle on June 5, 2009 at 7:51 PM
Here is an snipet of a 1992 article about the yacht building business and how it impacted builders/employees in Maine when a luxury tax was passed back then.
F15Mech on June 5, 2009 at 7:57 PM
That luxury tax did a number on Elkhart, Indiana as well, long before the current recession got underway and out of hand with the arrival of the new Administration. Obama went to Elkhart, the RV capital of America, and told the folks that he’d make sure they all got reemployed…then reality hit. (Elkhart, not Obama.)
coldwarrior on June 5, 2009 at 8:02 PM
Resistance is futile, Solo. You will be assimilated.
Oh, wait, wrong movie.
GA is a huge segment of our economy, and many jobs depend on its continued existence. What is more, many GA pilots aren’t rich by any stretch of the imagination.
Hey Han, ever heard of “class envy”?
-Dave
Dave R. on June 5, 2009 at 8:07 PM
I have a Piper “Cub Special” PA-11 with a 90 hp that burns about 6 gallons per hour doing about 85 mph. That’s six gallons per hour of pure fun.
lowandslow on June 5, 2009 at 8:29 PM
Ford was surprisingly good in Star Wars.
Ed?
leftnomore on June 5, 2009 at 9:11 PM
I guess Harrison thought that 95% of Americans have their very own little Piper parked in their garage.
Texas Gal on June 5, 2009 at 9:17 PM
Ford’s just like Steve Ballmer. Idiots soon separated from their huge piles of money.
Iblis on June 5, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Screw you Harry.
He supported Obama and the Dems that are bending all the aviators over the table, now let him live with the consequences. Personally, I think he owes those people an appology. MAYBE, he’ll put a little more thought into how he casts his ballots and who he campaigns for in the future, using this as an object lesson…but I doubt it.
And for the record: The best thing about ALL of the Star Wars flick is Yoda.
He got all the best lines (all the ones worth remembering and contemplating) and his power was derived entirely from his personal faith; both in himself (self-reliance, personal responsibility) and something greater than himself (religous faith).
Yoda: Conservative Icon. (Eat yer heart out Lucas!)
SuperCool on June 5, 2009 at 10:22 PM
I hate snakes!!!!
falderal on June 5, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Darth Vader is better, but unfortunately Anakin sucked.
Tim Burton on June 5, 2009 at 11:49 PM
This thread seems to have devolved into liberal’s disease.
Here’s a clue about Harrison Ford: He’s an actor. His opinions about anything but acting are consequently meaningless. Ascribing authority on political matters to performers (or, God help us, “celebrities”)is a symptom of the current malaise.
Shut up and sing…
warbaby on June 6, 2009 at 12:01 AM
The thing that gets me about this is that he is begging citizens to stand up against leftist taxation and control on our freedoms and for this I agree with him. But I have a feeling if and when his favorite industry is saved from this group of socialist parasites he won’t lift a finger or show any sympathy to help other targeted industries that he himself has no interest in. In fact, he will continue to vote for socialist leftist democrats and encourage them to punish other American industries on the hit list that don’t affect himself.
Dollayo on June 6, 2009 at 12:19 AM
Where is Cheney? Time to put a Darth choke hold on Solo.
Geochelone on June 6, 2009 at 2:15 AM
When it comes to his Obama vote the guardian knight of the grail tells Ford, “You have chosen..poorly”.
V-rod on June 6, 2009 at 6:39 AM
Leftist NIMBY. Tax, tax, tax, but not the things close to me. Don’t put a wind farm in the waters off Martha’s Vineyard, it will spoil the Kennedys’ view.
Kafir on June 6, 2009 at 8:17 AM
Oh now hush. He’s just doing his part for democracy, carving out his little niche of favortism. That’s the joke in all of this. Everyone has a pet program they can’t bear the thought of losing, so they whine and dine their pals on the inside who fix it for them. Prime example of this can be found in state sales and ad valorem tax rules. Take New Mexico for example. You pay 5% on every transaction except those involving medical care. And the film industry. And you cousin Merl’s chain of auto part stores. See how it works.
pc on June 6, 2009 at 8:31 AM
Tax Harrison Ford where it hurts. Hypocrite!
kregg on June 6, 2009 at 9:02 AM
Hey Han? Maybe King Hussein Obama can do for aviation what he’s done for GM?
Mojave Mark on June 6, 2009 at 10:06 AM
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