Donald Sutherland: Act, Don't Act Up

It must have been all the drugs back in the day. I really hate seeing this kind of thing, as Sutherland is someone who I have always enjoyed watching perform. Oh, I'll still watch him if he does a decent movie - and I'll appreciate a good performance if it's there. But I'll also know he hovers somewhere in another reality circa 1968.

I wonder if it isn't the money and the peer groups that insulates these people and allows them to hold onto their mostly childish ideas and world view.

Choking back tears, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF star Donald Sutherland warned this week: President Bush "will destroy our lives!"

The star of the new ABC drama, which follows the first woman President of the United States, lashed out at the real White House during a dramatic sit down interview with the BBC. Sutherland ripped Bush and his administration for the war and Hurricane Katrina fallout. "They were inept. The were inadequate to the task, and they lied," Sutherland charged.

"And they were insulting, and they were vindictive. And they were heartless. They did not care. They do not care. They do not care about Iraqi people. They do not care about the families of dead soldiers. They only care about profit."

At one point during the session, Sutherland started crying: "We stolen our children's future... We have children. We have children. How dare we take their legacy from them. How dare we. It's shameful. What we are doing to our world."

Sutherland went on rip Karl Rove's "methods and means" against people like Cindy Sheehan.

"We're back to burning books in Germany," Sutherland said of NBC's editing out of Kanye West's comment on Bush during a hurricane relief telethon.

Comments

[frenchymom]

I so disagree with those few stars who air their negative opinions of the government that allows them the freedom to work in their craft and make huge amounts of money. They make their money off of the people that elected the same government they are bashing.

I don't pay to see them for their personal opinions or for being disrespectful in public. I pay them to be an entertainer. Of cours in this situation as Sutherland, his new character on television also stands against the President he works with...Hmmmm....ironic?

[TheAlamo]

I so disagree with those few stars who air their negative opinions of the government that allows them the freedom to work in their craft and make huge amounts of money. They make their money off of the people that elected the same government they are bashing.

I don't pay to see them for their personal opinions or for being disrespectful in public. I pay them to be an entertainer. Of cours in this situation as Sutherland, his new character on television also stands against the President he works with...Hmmmm....ironic?

Posted by: frenchymom | Oct 3, 2005 12:05:36 AM

I am not taking up for Sutherland..., but that is what freedom is all about.

(and I might add, you err grossly when you say that government "allows" that freedom. You have it backwards. Free people "allow" themselves to be governed by responsible people whose duty it is to protect those very freedoms that, it seems, you wish to enjoy for yourself, but deny others. When you say they "allow" you, you have reversed your role...voluntarily, and put yourself at the bottom of the barrel, when the fact is, you belong at the top, and your government is there to serve--not rule)

Freedom for all of us means that sometimes you have to hear what you don't want to hear, or see what you do not wish to see. If it were any other way, how could we call ourselves free?

As for you paying them, then the best way to protest them, while still allowing them the same freedom you enjoy is, don't go see any of their movies. Interestingly, if enough people hold the same view as you do, then you will hit them where it hurts the most...in the pocket book.

[Isanah]

All this crying in public by celebrities, do you think they all went off their medications because Tom Cruise said they should? lol

[Northerner]

Posted by: TheAlamo | Oct 3, 2005 12:47:03 AM

Exactly. Freedom of speech was not just invented for Republicans. Although with the current administration one might be forgiven for thinking that it was.

[StareGirl]

"How dare we take their legacy from them. How dare we. It's shameful. What we are doing to our world."

I have no problem with this. It is clearly an opinion and he is taking part of the blame.

It is not like he is just fingerpointing like some celebs. (Bush did this, Bush did that).

[TheAlamo]

Posted by: TheAlamo | Oct 3, 2005 12:47:03 AM

Exactly. Freedom of speech was not just invented for Republicans. Although with the current administration one might be forgiven for thinking that it was.

Posted by: Northerner | Oct 3, 2005 9:05:29 AM

Actually both parties suck. Their main goal is to dominate our lives, keep themselves enriched, destroy the free market for their monopolistic buddies, and keep us arguing aver "which" of them is best this week to fleece us dry.

IF we were a fair and free country then all political candidates would receive equal time via our "fair" press, but all we get is two parties that ACT like they are opposed to one another, when yet, the results are ALWAYS the same. Talk, talk, talk....but the more they talk, the more things stay the same. About 90% of them are corrupt, and my guess is that Al Capone, were he alive today would simply run for office, talk a bunch of crap and continue his business, laughing all the way to the bank....just as they do.

Their goal is to continue to talk, talk, talk....and hope people keep arguing over the talk (since they change nothing anyway...) so that we continue the perception of two parties, when they are, in fact...basically the same. The only difference is that the fascists on the right want to give our money out via corporate welfare, and the communists on the left wish to give it to those who will not work. What a choice.
What a country. (it used to be!)

[Donna]

Thank you Dan...for bringing this to my attention.

Donald Sutherland is now just another celebrity that I will put on my list..to not watch. No matter IF he gives a great performance in TV or movie.

And Before I hear...well HE is entitled to HIS freedom of speech....I will agree HE is....he is entitled to say anything he wishes.....

But with that so called Freedom of Speech, is a thing CALLED responsibility...as it seems NONE of these hollyweirdo's understand.

Hollywood is wondering why they are losing, ticket sales at theatres...and wondering why people aren't tuning into certains shows...well this is the FALLOUT of their stars, "freedom of speech".......anyone remember Whoopi? Her sitcom was cancelled .....Jeanne Garafolo (sp?) she can't get a sitcom ON TV....she has had many pilots..but NO one will touch her..now she is a "radio personality" on Air America..which is ready to crash and burn, from the scandals.

I will DEFEND these peoples right to FREEDOM of SPEECH.......but I'll be damned if they get my rating from their tv show, my ticket sale, or MY hard earned money buying their dvds, or music CDs. That is MY freedom.

[Aunt Em]

Personally I think you are all nuts. I hate Bush and I hate this war. This does NOT make me against the soldiers and I respect DS and his opinion, perhaps because I share it.

[!]

I think people who say they hate are are nut cases and people who blame Bush for everything that happens are even worse.

Get a life you Bush bashers.

[Aunt Em]

Im sorry that I hate a murderer of children. I hate Joseph Edward Duncan as well and he killed far less than Bush Co. has.

I have a life, and just because I hate Bush and think he is the worst president in history doesnt make it as I dont.

And NO I am not a liberal, I think for myself. You are a sheeple if you honestly think that this war based on lies is righteous.

What happened to Afghanistan? Where is OBL? Where are those WOMD?

Answer those questions and I will give you credence, if you dont have an answer I will have to say to YOU to get a life.

[TheAlamo]

I think people who say they hate are are nut cases and people who blame Bush for everything that happens are even worse.

Get a life you Bush bashers.

Posted by: ! | Oct 3, 2005 7:25:03 PM

Uh...!...if you knew just a semblence,.....just a tad,...about American History, or the function of government as it is supposed to be under the Constitution,...then you would know.....Bush bashes himself.

[Mark Stone]

Anyone who backs Bush and his corperate Nazi handlers after all the lies told by he and his administration is delusional, I'd say retarded, but that would be an insult to people smarter than pro-Bush deciples!