Jane Fonda endorses Barack Obama; there goes his crossover vote

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 antiwar 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 antiwar 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.

--Andrew Malcolm

                                       Photo: Nihon Denpa News / Associated Press

Comments

[Is Charles Manson his next endorser ?]

Is anyone surprised ? Watch his numbers plumet as
governor Judas ,the racists and America bashers unite with traitors and socialists to give us the greatest political
flopsicle of modern times. After the pig book, Hanoi Jane
introduces the sow book.

[O. E. Vey]

"There were no formal ceremonies for the endorsement."

Really?!? You don't say.

"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."

By this standard, she also "endorsed" roasted Chilean Sea Bass and sauvignon blanc.

Stop it, please. Just knock it off.

[Al Tinsley]

Who's Jane Fonda and why would I take her word over Obama's own words and policy positions. What, am I back in middle school?

[Bob Mulholland]

Jane Fonda is an American that the Founding Fathers would be proud of- she stood up to the Washington DC power structure who got it all wrong on Vietnam. Over 58,200 American troops died there as well as millions of Southeast Asians. Today America has full trade & diplomatic relations with Vietnam. We could have done that without the war. Some who still criticize Jane Fonda, advocated in the 1970's that Americans should continue to die in Vietnam for 100 years ( sound familiar ). I wish America had more people who stand up to government officials that are so wrong. Bob Mulholland, 101st Airborne, Vietnam, 1967-68

[smrivers]

What a lame and inaccurate post. The reality is that most people like Jane Fonda, especially women (even Republican women). The only demographic group that does not like her are older Republican men, who will never vote for a Democrat anyways. She has endorsed and campaigned for candidates and causes for decades, without any big problems. Few people think of her as Hanoi Jane. The people who still call her Hanoi Jane are some (but not all) Vietnam vets, and the Republican right-wingers, who call her that because they know gullible and lazy journalists will repeat it.

[NickNas]

Hey you coward who posted as : Is Charles Manson his next endorser ?

The rules here state you have to be over the age of 13 to participate.

Go tell mommy to help you turn off the shiny machine now mmKay Pumpkin??

[katherine]

I don't think we should worry about a Jane Fonda endorsement. We should be worried, however, about Obama's string of strange bedfellows: Rezko, Wright, Meeks, and serving on the board with Ayers, a former Weather Underground member. The press calls the relationship with Ayers "loose" because they only served on a board together. Well, when was the last time you had a presidential candidate serve on a board with a former homegrown American terrorist? I don't think Hillary or McCain could "Weather" that one, and Obama might not in a general.

I mean the Republicans will have all that I've mentioned and his crazy wife running around saying, "we are a nation of cynics, sloths, and complacents." Why would she want to be the First Lady of such a nation? Oh, let me guess, she and her messiah husband will bring us all together. If Obama is the nominee, McCain is my man.

[verycold]

I would have to disagree that most people like Jane Fonda. I like her as an actress, most of the time, but detest her politics and detest her personal choices. She is a "typical Hollywood actress" which means she lives in a bubble.

[Gretta]

Jane Fonda is a woman with strong conviction, integrity, and spirit. Fonda is in the age group of HRCs base supporters, ohhh finally a very public figure showing HRC that her once tight base has eroded nicely in favor of Obama08.

Jane you are a great role model for woman everywhere., thank you.

[NinaK]

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.

Okay fair enough. Now why don't you tell us about BILL CLINTON OPPOSING THE VIETNAM WAR? Why don't you tell us HOW BILL CLINTON AVOIDED THE DRAFT? Why don't you tell us HOW BILL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ATTENDING OXFORD, BUT INSTEAD WENT TO A COMMUNIST COUNTRY TO DEMONSTRATE AGAINST THE VIETNAM WAR???

Remember how BIll Clinton campaigned boasting about being an "OXFORD SCHOLAR"? That, too, was a big LIE! The Clintons have since said he only "attended" Oxford---NO DEGREE FROM OXFORD---NOT AN OXFORD SCHOLAR!! His attendance was short-lived, he was too busy elsewhere demonstrating against the Vietnam War!!! How he ever got elected as President is beyond me.

[jc]

Who is Jane Fonda? A singer from the 1970's?

[Chuck]

The National Journal is not non-partisan, but is, in fact, quite partisan for Republicans. In 2004 John Kerry received the most liberal tag from them just in time for the election. This is becoming a regular tradition from the National Journal and should be discounted along with other campaign chaff.

[NotALemming]

Get ready -- all of the Obamazombies are going to start the whining. God forbid anything negative be said about their avatar, B. Hussein.... Let the tirade of lemmings and delusional idiots begin!

[Hogarth]

Jane Fonda is an American that the Founding Fathers would be proud of...

Yeah, they were beside themselves with pride for Benedict Arnold too, I'm sure.

[Lou Ohls]

When is the press going to depict Fonda in her real light? "Jane Fonda, whose celebrity allowed her to avoid prosecution for bringing back dope from Viet Nam, while claiming to be an anti-war activist." When is Jane going to do her 30 years under the Doyle Act? I'll forgive you Jane, when you do your 30 years.

[britt brown]

The previous comment asking if Jane is a singer says it all. The US is changing with the generations. We all know this, but it's still a bit hard to watch. There will always be the older folks (and am now in that group!). Too, there will always be the new glass-breakers. I still understand the excitement that young politicos bring forth. I think that Obama supporters feel that way.

[Jay Rosen]

"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."

Good grief: That's an "endorsement?" Are you kidding, Andrew? Anytime someone tells you who they are voting for it becomes an endorsement, and you're free to build it up into an "issue" in the campaign? Your Drudge is showing, your item is weak, and your journalistic instincts have been overcome.

Who are you voting for, Andrew? I wanna let the campaigns know whom you've "endorsed." That will get you in good with your boss. This post is creepy.

Jay Rosen (pressthink.org)

[John]

You have to wonder how much good some of these endorsements do. "Hanoi Jane', for example. And "Judas" Richardson. Not only will he stab you in the back, heck, he'll even stab your wife in the back for good measure. All all the white haired men who want "change". If they want it so bad they should resign. That would be change.

[P Graber]

A vote for Hillary Clinton means never having to say you're sorry to the citizens of the United States of America.

[DBCooper]

So Hanoi Jane endorses Obama the day after her Ex Ted Turner, announces that Global Warming will lead to mass extinction and cannabalism. No news here, just an average whacko left day!

[Michael]

Jane is just one more nail in Obama's coffin.

[LogicalSC]

Here is what this miserable creature said about the POWs including John McCain:

"when American POWs finally began to return home (some of them having been held captive for up to nine years) and describe the tortures they had endured at the hands of the North Vietnamese, Jane Fonda quickly told the country that they should “not hail the POWs as heroes, because they are hypocrites and liars.” Fonda said the idea that the POWs she had met in Vietnam had been tortured was “laughable,” claiming: “These were not men who had been tortured. These were not men who had been starved. These were not men who had been brainwashed.” The POWs who said they had been tortured were “exaggerating, probably for their own self-interest,” she asserted. She told audiences that “Never in the history of the United States have POWs come home looking like football players. These football players are no more heroes than Custer was. They’re military careerists and professional killers” who are “trying to make themselves look self-righteous”

Plus the episode when she turned over notes given to her secretly by the POWs she visited on her tour with the enemy which lead to many of them to be beaten. The notes where to let love ones know that they were alive and the skank gave them to the jailors.

If you still respect this woman then I think you should take a little time to truly look into your soul and reexam your values.

She should have been convicted of treason and punished accordingly in 1974.

[rand]

Please stop the biased reporting LAtimes.

For one thing Clinton has an ENORMOUS past with many questionable friends and actions...
but every little chance you can say ' a ha' with Obama it get front page.
AND this isn't even actually ABOUT Obama!!!!
Geeeez, give the usa a break from the lame media!

[Hal Muskat]

McCain was eventually freed by those he had bombed from the air. Imagine if American patriots in Kansas, or Arizona, shot down a foreign bomber and captured it's pilot. What body parts would be left to be shipped home? They never would have been classified a POW! Don't blame Jane, blame the war , blame the reasons we invade other nations. But when you scream hate about Jane Fonda, be aware please how your lack of intelligence so obviously blooms. Like the sewer sludge that must coarse through your hearts. This Vet honors Jane Fonda!

[Fisch]

She is an actor, Barbarella and some Godard comes to mind, a scene, where she is walking along a supermarket, she is a label.