Now, 2 Obama backers, Bernie Mac and Morgan Freeman,hospitalized

A bad day for Barack Obama donors.

Morgan Freeman, the iconic voice of God in several films and reliable good-guy co-conspirator of Christian Bale's Batman in "The Dark Knight," is in serious condition in a Memphis hospital after a late-night car accident near his home in Mississippi.

The popular Freeman, who is 71, gave the Obama presidential campaign $2,300 on March 8.

And comedian Bernie Mac, popular TV-film funnyman who got a little vocally naughty at a recent Obama fundraiser, is seriously ill with pneumonia in a Chicago hospital.

His wife, Rhonda McCullough, was reportedly at his side. She also backs Obama, having donated $2,300 to the freshman Illinois senator on March 28, according to The Times' eagle-eyed money man Dan Morain.

But a publicist for the 50-year-old Mac, a Chicago native, says, contrary to internet rumors, Mac is not dead and is responding to treatment unrelated to his past diagnosis of sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease which has been in remission for three years.

According to our own Elizabeth Snead over at the Dish Rag blog, Freeman lives with his wife Myrna on a 126-acre Mississippi ranch near Charleston, Miss.

An early accident report said an unidentified woman was also in the car with Freeman, who was airlifted more than 100 miles north to Memphis for treatment. Witnesses said he was talking to rescuers as they extricated him from the mangled car, which apparently flew off the highway into a ditch.

Freeman was to undergo surgery today or tomorrow on his broken arm, broken elbow and some shoulder damage.

In July, Mac appeared as an opening act at a Chicago Obama fundraiser. he said he'd been a longtime Obama supporters but then proceeded to draw some jeers from the crowd, who'd each paid $2,300 to see Obama. But they also got some off-color remarks that included menopause, having a black first lady and promiscuity.

Part of one joke began: "My little nephew came to me and he said, 'Uncle, what's the difference between a hypothetical question and a realistic question?' Mac said. "I said, I don't know, but I said, 'Go upstairs and ask your mother if she'd make love to the mailman for $50,000.'"

Shortly after, Obama jokingly told Mac, through the audience, to clean up his act, then quickly added, "I'm just messin' with ya, man." Later, a campaign spokeswoman said Obama had told Mac he did not condone the statements and found them inappropriate. 

--Andrew Malcolm

Photo credit: WireImage

Comments

[Isi]

Does the LA Times report on every accident suffered by Obama donors? What does the fact that they back Obama have to do with being in a car accident ? This is not reporting, this is a political ad!

[Kelly]

Why is Obama part of this story? Is this what the 2 have in common? And why is that important? This is a ridiculous headline!

[eric]

With a headline like that you are only confirming what most people suspect: blogs are subpar journalism. Two fine actors, two fine gentlemen, two good human beings were hospitalized, but defining them as Obama supporters is just stupidity.

[DEM now IND]

Good God!
"Obama backers..........."

Does Everything have to be about Obama?

This was a serious car accident resulting in injury.

[Andrew Austin]

And this all has what to do with Obama?

[Me]

This kind of stuff doesn't belong in a political blog. Try again.

[Will Fenrick]

I absolutely demand that you remove the irrelevant politics from this non-political story, you worthless pieces of shit.

[Me]

Why did someone find it necessary to add "Obama Backers" to the story? Are we trying to cook up some kind of conspiracy theory?

[Peter]

I certainly hope THey are both alright., I am very found of Morgan Freeman. I am sure most Americans are. He has become an American Icon.
I guess its true. I read an article about the Dark Knight curse. Alot of crazy things have happened surrounding that movie. You can read the article at http://www.HotPres.com

[kwik2laugh]

I sure hope that Bernie and Morgan recover quickly.
My prayers are with them. I wished that they did not support Obama.,but since they are of the elite class, they would not have the same concerns that middle class citizens do, therefore; I get it. Wish them both well, I have really enjoyed them over the years.

[nodozero]

why is this headlined in relation to Obama? Talk about distraction. Stupid.

[James McDouglas]

You had to know that a decent and cool guy like Freeman would back Obama.

I'm taking all my well-wishing and giving it to Morgan... there's none left for Novak.

[j]

Wow, you guys amaze me. You are able to take two separate stories about individual suffering and turn it into another way to get Obama's name in the headlines.

[Standing in disbelief]

How in the world can any serious news organization pander to the Obamagod like this after tragedy affects Freeman and Mac? The story is that two iconic performers are in serious condition in the hospital. Obama had nothing to do with it, should not be mentioned in this, and unless he's going to lay his god-like healing hands on them to bring them out of their dark days, he is not part of the story.

I'm sick of the Obamagasms that the mainstream media is having. LAtimes, NYtimes, WashPost, Newsweek, Time...you are pathetic!

[JDW]

Morgan and Bernie are true professionals. Love those guys. As a McCain supporter I wish them a speedy and complete, absolute recovery. Mr. Freeman and Mr. Mac are incredible people. I hope there is no ill beyond their current travails that befalls them. A rapid recovery for you both.

[Mick]

"Obama backers"? Maybe I'm behind the times but I thought both Mogan Freeman and Bernie Mac are known in their own right as an A-list Hollywood Actor and an A-list Comedian, respectively.

What's next, are we going to call the dead (by suicide) Anthrax suspect the "Bush voter Anthrax suspect Dead"?

[Shawn]

They are both in serious condition. Does it really matter if the support Obama or not

[Todd B]

Ok, so someone tell me what does the fact that these two gentlemen back Obama have anything to do with the fact they are both hospitalized? Could this just be another example of liberal media bias trying to get Obama more free media time? This was really a stretch.

[Britt]

You guys never miss an opportunity to boost Obama do you?

[EyesWideOpen]

Does this really need to have Obama in the headlines. I mean 2 people were injured and this has no relation to Obama other than they were donors.

Please start doing some real journalism.

[Jay Hayes]

Gee....the LA Times just looks for any reason to put "Obama" in a headline.

I'm surprised you missed your chance for an even better headline; "Obama backers, slave decedents hospitalized"

[dubya tee eff]

Way to spin this into an Obama story.

[John]

This is two minor stories (Freeman White gets injured in a wreck, and Bernie Mac has pneumonia) the writer tried to make something big out of because they are both Obama supporters. Unless... supporting Obama is hazardous to your health! Alert the media! Spread the word!

Don't be stupid.

[X]

Way to use these tragedies as a political ad. You'll think about your lack of character on your deathbed. This was in very poor taste.

[l fischer]

How ridiculous is it to link these two unrelated accidents to Obama in any way whatsoever. What's next -- "two people who, like Obama, enjoy sunshine, sprain ankles." Must there be an attempt to connect every random occurence to Obama, McCain, or the election. Could these two accidents be less relevant?