Tom Hanks Backs Obama

Damage Us The Oscar-winning actor anounced his suppot for presidential hopeful Barack Obama on his Myspace page.

by The Associated Press

Published: Mon, May 05, 2008 - 10:41 am CST

NEW YORK -- Tom Hanks is supporting presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

Hanks has taken to his MySpace.com page to pledge his support for Obama, who is competing to be the first black president. Obama, who faces rival Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Democratic nomination, has also been endorsed by Oprah Winfrey, Bruce Springsteen and Scarlett Johansson.

"As an official celebrity, I know my endorsement has just made your mind up for you," the 51-year-old actor says in a short video titled, "Beware: Celebrity Endorsement."

"History with a capital 'H' is going to be made this November, no matter who the president-elect is. I want Barack Obama to be president of this country, a country that once said people with his skin color were only three-fifths of a human being."

Hanks, who won Oscars for his roles in "Forrest Gump" and "Philadelphia," explains his decision: "It's because of his character and vision, and the high road he has taken during this campaign. He has the integrity and the inspiration to unify us, as did FDR and Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy and even Ronald Reagan when they ran for the job."

The actor says Obama and Clinton have each "pretended to eat cheese-steak sandwiches and go bowling," "committed gaffes" and distanced themselves from supporters who could damage their campaigns.

But Hanks thinks an Obama presidency could bring about a "seismic shift," and "live up to the great promise once shaped by our founding fathers."

Signing off, the star says: "I'm Tom Hanks, I wrote and approved this message, and I'm now going to turn off the camera."

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rosepetal Says:

Tue, Jun 03, 2008 at 7:43 am

DEW26M sorry but i disagree one he is not qualified to say he is just as much african american as any african american is not true you would also have to say that he is white in the same breath but it does not concern me about his race but his qualifications and who is backing him therefor i could never vote for him

DEW26M Says:

Tue, Jun 03, 2008 at 5:38 am

So you saying that because he’s only HALF-white he’s not an African-American??? Born to a Kenyan father and a white American mother, I think he’s more of an African-American, than ANY other black man or woman in America. Personally i think the term African-American is overly used anyway. You either an African or an American, not both . AND YES he will be the FIRST Black or Semi-Black President of the USA.

rosepetal Says:

Tue, Jun 03, 2008 at 12:21 am

sorry mycomment but obama is half white if elected he will not be the first african american president
now my favorite Dr. Condoleezza Rice is a true african american very very smart and a role model for all she really could run on her qualifications and not her color Born November 14, 1954 in Birmingham, Alabama, she earned her bachelor’s degree in political science, cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Denver in 1974; her master’s from the University of Notre Dame in 1975; and her Ph.D. from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver in 1981. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has been awarded honorary doctorates from Morehouse College in 1991, the University of Alabama in 1994, the University of Notre Dame in 1995, the National Defense University in 2002, the Mississippi College School of Law in 2003, the University of Louisville and Michigan State University in 2004. She resides in Washington, D.C

mycomment Says:

Mon, May 05, 2008 at 3:39 pm

Why do people care what “celebrities” say or do? They are no different than the rest of us, they just have more money, BIG DEAL. Most of them are on anego trip, and always need attention so they do things to get thier name out there. Worry about yourselves and your family, not what the next pop star is wearing.
The only reason that I would like to see Osama Obama elected is so that Al Sharpton, Jessie Jackson, “Rev.” Wright, and the others like them out of a job. If he is elected that can’t say that the black man is being held back and being put down.

fartman Says:

Mon, May 05, 2008 at 1:32 pm

Don’t quit your day job jackass!!

I’m Fartman and I wrote and approved this message!!