Jane Fonda endorses Obama

[GaryC 7]

Posted April 3, 2008 7:00 AM

by Andrew Malcolm

Jane Fonda, the actress and ardent anti-Vietnam war advocate who visited North Vietnam during those hostilities, has endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president.

There were no formal ceremonies for the endorsement. In fact, the Obama campaign may just be learning about the actress's approval now as word spreads like lit gunpowder via the Internet.

Fonda was eating out last night and exited the restaurant, ignoring as celebrities often do the assembled press contingent.

But a video camera was rolling as she approached the street and someone, perhaps just trying to get her to turn around for a picture, shouted out at her back, "Who are you going to vote for?"

There was a moment of silence. Then, the actress did turn around toward the cameras, paused and with a smile said simply, "Obama!" Then she got into a car and drove away.

Many people question the value of celebrity endorsements, whether they actually.attract anything other than simply more publicity, not to mention votes. The imprimatur of Fonda, who's been an antiwar activist for decades, certainly supports Obama's anti-war credentials.

Less examined is whether some celebrity endorsements may actually cost a candidate votes. This could be one of those less desirable votes for part of the country, especially if Obama was hoping to attract some crossover Republicans if he's the Democratic candidate come fall.

Obama, who was recently named the most liberal member of the Senate by the nonpartisan National Journal, has sought to portray himself as the earliest anti-Iraq war opponent and tagged his sole remaining opponent, Sen. Hillary Clinton, with voting to authorize the use of force in Iraq.

The problem for those of a certain generation that endured the Vietnam war and the sometimes violent domestic conflict that accompanied it at home is that during Fonda's controversial wartime visit to North Vietnam, she was photographed at a Communist anti-aircraft gun battery.

According to the photo caption distributed at the time, she joined North Vietnamese soldiers there in singing an anti-war song while preparing to shoot at attacking Americans.

This earned her the nickname Hanoi Jane (indeed, that's the TMZ headline this afternoon) and an enduring image as a polarizing figure, especially regarding patriotism.

As it happens, the Republican presidential candidate this time is Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who was one of those American fliers shot down over that same city by those same anti-aircraft forces, tortured and spent nearly six years in a POW cell while Fonda returned home.

http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/pol...onda_obama.html

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

People need to get over Hanoi Jane.

[Heracles 417]

Jane Fonda. The world's biggest loser. It is scary to think that these hippies actually breed with one another.

I still like her logic:

Fighting for somebody else's freedom = bad

Abusing drugs and refusing to work = progressive thinking

[Nagishkaw 510]

Jane Fonda. The world's biggest loser. It is scary to think that these hippies actually breed with one another.

I still like her logic:

Fighting for somebody else's freedom = bad

Abusing drugs and refusing to work = progressive thinking

Actually, we don't .

[Fandango 1,440]

Thanks, Jane!

[kaydee457 13]

People need to get over Hanoi Jane.

Do you mean Viet Vets such as myself? Why do I need to get over Hanoi Jane, a traitor?

[Jenn! 918]

What is this anti-war nonsense? Disgusting, Jane Fonda!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You mean - other than that it was 40-odd years ago?

[HAL 9000 96]

This guy is a traitor too. So are these guys.

Its 2008. The Cold War has been over for how long?

[GaryC 7]

This guy is a traitor too. So are these guys.

Its 2008. The Cold War has been over for how long?

I don't see how these guys can be called traitors. They didn't give aid and comfort to an enemy at time of war. In case you haven't heard the Vietnam war is over.

[Heracles 417]

This guy is a traitor too. So are these guys.

Its 2008. The Cold War has been over for how long?

Yes the war is over and Vietnam is friends with the US and AUS now.

But that does not excuse Jane Fonda's actions. Way to go Clownda. Maybe she can go to Bin laden and embolden him as well. She can go tell him what she thinks of GWB.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

This guy is a traitor too. So are these guys.

Its 2008. The Cold War has been over for how long?

Yes the war is over and Vietnam is friends with the US and AUS now.

But that does not excuse Jane Fonda's actions. Way to go Clownda. Maybe she can go to Bin laden and embolden him as well. She can go tell him what she thinks of GWB.

Yeah - that's what we need. A big fat helping of melodrama.

[Mags 112]

What is this anti-war nonsense? Disgusting, Jane Fonda!

I agree, how dare she be against war! Heavens forfend! *shocked*

(I'm sure that Jenn is slowly morphing into VJ Troll....)

[Chica Yeyé 41]

What is this anti-war nonsense? Disgusting, Jane Fonda!

I know sister.... here we're all for WAR and hate mongering amongst the world population

[HAL 9000 96]

This guy is a traitor too. So are these guys.

Its 2008. The Cold War has been over for how long?

I don't see how these guys can be called traitors. They didn't give aid and comfort to an enemy at time of war. In case you haven't heard the Vietnam war is over.

Tell that to GI Joe.

(It was following his logic- Fonda did what? Sing to them? These bozos are making money with them.) Last time I looked, it was illegal to do biz with countries we consider enemies, but it is OK to have concerts there. Look at North Korea for starters. Of course, wouldn't it be hilarious to find out that the NVC pictured with Fonda actually wound up on the Vietnamese side of these biz deals?

So yes... lets get over the Cold War rhetoric...

This guy is a traitor too. So are these guys.

Its 2008. The Cold War has been over for how long?

Yes the war is over and Vietnam is friends with the US and AUS now.

But that does not excuse Jane Fonda's actions. Way to go Clownda. Maybe she can go to Bin laden and embolden him as well. She can go tell him what she thinks of GWB.

Ask her about it, not me. I am pretty sure she's made public apologies for her behavior. If her deeds were indeed that treacherous back then then she would have been dealt with as a traitor. Common sense 101.

Off now.