Woody Harrelson: Republican Talk 'Makes Me Weep For Humanity,' Talks 'Game Change'

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Woody Harrelson: Republican Talk 'Makes Me Weep For Humanity,' Talks 'Game Change'



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/12/woody-harrelson-republicans-game-change_n_1339388.html

Woody Harrelson may have played GOP strategist Steve Schmidt in HBO's "Game Change," but that doesn't mean the actor has much admiration for Schmidt's fellow Republicans.

In a recent interview with Men's Journal, Harrelson was asked if he had more sympathy for Republicans after filming the screen adaptation of a book by the same name that promised a glimpse behind the scenes of the 2008 McCain-Palin campaign. He didn't mince words: "“F**k, no!" Harrelson is quoted as saying. "The s**t those people say just makes me weep for humanity!”

Harrelson did, however, have some sympathy for Schmidt himself. He said he spent some time with McCain's campaign ace and was surprised by what he learned. "I really found myself liking him," he said. "He’s a political animal, but I feel like he’s an idealist and not bogged down in all the bullshit."

Schmidt had some kind words to say about the film as well, telling MSNBC today that the movie "really rang true" for those involved with the campaign.

[Robeysays]

1. one of the most under rated actors of all time.

so good in so many roles.

glad he's intelligent.

[CoffeeCat]

10. I agree...

...and he's able to play such a diverse array of characters.

He was so hysterically brilliant as Woody on Cheers. He was equally terrific in
Natural Born Killers and No Country For Old Men.

He's incredibly talented and I'm no film expert. I just love going to the movies.

I seriously think he'll win an Oscar some day. He's such a terrific actor.

Can't wait to see him in Hunger Games!

[tblue37]

15. Also excellent as Larry Flynt in _The People vs. Larry Flynt_.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

20. I agree...he's a great actor that doesn't take every role out there. He's underexposed. Courtney

Love was great in that film. It's sad that she didn't take the ball and run with an acting
career. For a brief moment, she had so much promise.

[Old and In the Way]

2. Watching Schmidt on MSNBC, I get the impression he really is a no-bullshit, straight shooter.

The scene at the end of the movie where Schmidt (Harrelson) tells Palin (Moore) that she WILL NOT BE GIVING A CONCESSION SPEECH is a great acting moment and I found it to be totally believable. Harrelson nailed Schmidt in the movie, IMHO....and I really didn't expect that he would.

[CoffeeCat]

11. I agree...that scene was incredibly well done...

It was so tense and so full of emotion. As I watched that, I wanted to leap
at Sarah Palin and choke her. She'd been such an ignorant, narcissistic brat
throughout the entire campaign--and now she deemed it tantamount that SHE
give a speech on that important night.

Sarah Palin giving a speech during that somber and serious night for the Republicans--would have
been tantamount to someone showing up to a funeral wearing a purple boa.

That scene was really well done. Schmitt drove home the point that in the history of this Republic--the
candidate who loses always gives the concession speech, with no other speeches. It is a serious
moment, and that night--we had just elected our first African American president.

She was oblivious to what this moment meant for the country. It was all about her getting a few more
minutes of face time.

That scene really showed what a pathetic person she is. Someone who didn't know what the Fed was, expected
that history would be set aside for her and her prancing. Unbelievable. Can you imagine how Schmitt
felt at that moment--and also after Palin didn't take no for an answer, went over Schmitt's head and told
McCain that she would be giving a speech?

I bet everyone around Palin needed months of therapy to decompress after being around her toxicity 24/7 during
the campaign.

[Old and In the Way]

14. It was that 'dark side of populism' that Schmidt or McCain mentioned in the movie.

I just finished watching it again with my son. He had caught the Lawrence O'Donnell show with Schmidt and was so interested, we decided to watch it off the DVR.

It's pretty obvious that Sarah would have devoted 2 sentences to John McCain and spent the next 35 minutes conducting a pep rally and starting her 2012 Presidential race. The purpose of the concession speech totally escapes her. It's supposed to signify the end of the divisive politics that occurs in a Presidential campaign and reunite the country, at least temporarily, under the idea of a legitimate acknowledgment of the winner's campaign and that person's rightful ascension to POTUS. Sarah was ready to restart the 2012 campaign that night. A narcissist with no self-awareness is a very dangerous person to be running this country.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

21. You know, I was just like you, all on the narcissism bandwagon since 2008, but I feel slightly

different now. I have always been troubled that she was mentality impaired because a normal person would think, "I don't know enough to be VP." A rational approach. She never did. I thought it was narcissism to the nth degree. But, after watching this film, I now think it's something different that I can't quite put my finger on. Now I think she is just plain ignorant. Completely unaware of what it takes as far as background and education to run the country. She simplified it all by saying "it was god's will that she run."

I think she was totally shocked to the core that she had to learn all that stuff. She probably never learned a lick of anything to get to be mayor or governor. In her small world (no exposure; no reading or awareness of the world outside Alaska) all she had to do was be herself - she had no reason to think it would be different for VP.

[Ruby the Liberal]

3. In many of the reviews I have seen, Harrelson is

lauded for this role. One even suggested it may have been the best acting gig Woody ever did.

I can't wait to see the movie.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

6. Like a lot of people, I had my doubts about this movie.

That all changed when I watched it yesterday. It's a real spell-binder.

[Ruby the Liberal]

8. I have it in my Netflix queue, but there isn't a date yet.

Hopefully will be released soon!

[CoffeeCat]

12. I've watched it twice so far...

This movie really is spectacular. The acting is wonderful, the story is very compelling and there
is so much to absorb. The whole thing is not just commentary on Palin, but it's commentary on
the marketing of candidates.

Schmitt's commentary on news not being serious, but "a form of entertainment" that is soon forgotten
after 48 hours--was sad commentary on our society.

The fact that Palin was even selected--demonstrates how reality television has impacted politics. Does
anyone else find that revolting, sad and frightening? They picked Palin because she was a good story
and had an interesting past--and because she was attractive and articulate. Yes, she was all of those
things, but she sure as hell wasn't qualified to run a Dairy Queen--let alone be the Vice President of
the United States. But voters demand that their candidates look terrific, have Stepford-like pasts
and speak in beautiful sound bytes. Is it any wonder most elected officials are psychopaths, liars,
narcissists and fakes?

So much to this movie. Can't wait to watch it again!

[Old and In the Way]

17. It seems to be a significant differentiation between the typical Republican voter and

his Democratic/Independent counterparts. Republicans buy the sizzle, we tend to buy the substance (not that we don't like sizzle). I always go back to Reagan and marvel how Republicans hold him up as their ideal candidate. He did an 8 year acting gig and was stage managed by Mike Deaver, Howard Baker, and Don Regan. Nancy, of course, managed his image. But at least he understood the value of comity and working with Congress. Bush, Sr. was obviously the most capable and connected - but he didn't have the image the Republican voter wanted...and he only last 1 term. Son W. had neither Reagan's acting skills or his father's political smarts, yet somehow survived 2 terms (election gaming notwithstanding). And Palin, in spite of the fact that she was clearly over her head and totally unable to perform at the level required for this political office, was clearly the one who made the base turn out and they loved her. Not because she was qualified, but because they liked how she looked while she delivered her toxic messages.

Would Democrats accept a Sarah Palin as VP? Doubtful...not that we have a say over who a candidate chooses...but we'd not have been enthusiastic about having an idiot selected...I remember how disgusted and disappointed I was when Lieberman was announced as Gore's VP...but I knew he had the basic qualifications. Had a Sarah Palin type been selected by Obama, a lot of Democrats would have had big problems supporting Obama. You see it even now in the 2012 Republican race - they really want Santorum - not for his accomplishments in office (there are none)...but for his rhetoric. Romney, for all his faults, was a competent Governor in Massachusetts, yet the base hates him almost as much as we do. The Republican base is shrinking and those left want candidates that think like they do - which is as little as possible.

[Scuba]

19. +1,000 on the Lieberman comment.

[tblue37]

16. Mostly good--but far too kind to Palin. In her public behavior and

in well sourced news reports we saw none of that loving mama homebody who didn't want all those fancy clothes or all that hair and make-up styling.

In real life she never was seen holding Baby Trig up to her shoulder or facing her. Always she held him facing away from her, gripping him carelessly around his waist and never cuddling or supporting him at all otherwise. The most common comments on how she handles Trig are that she holds him like a sack of potatoes or a loaf of bread. Also, Bristol and Pper were the ones holding the baby in most public appearnces, not Sarah.

We also never saw any of that family loving and attention to the children, nor have any researched books or reports turned up any evidence that she (or Todd for that matter) pays any attention to the kids.

[Old and In the Way]

18. Still no BC on Trigg that's ever been released.

Just saying.

[RebelOne]

4. I love Woody Harrelson.

He is a man after my own heart. He is a vegetarian, an environmental activist and an atheist.

[tridim]

5. Still one of my favorite celeb sightings ever..

Saw him in NYC at a vegetarian restaurant, in his bare feet.

This was right after Natural Born Killers came out, so I didn't even consider speaking to him.

[CoffeeCat]

22. LOL!! I can understand...

...your hesitance in trying to chat it up with him after he played that role! Too funny.

A friend who lives in LA was walking her dog when Alec Baldwin walked up to her, acknowledge
the dog, petted the dog and said, "So who's this little slut?" Classic!

[B Calm]

7. That movie was spot on

It's no wonder why republicans are screaming!! They hate the truth!!!

[Lifelong Protester]

9. Says it all...

He didn't mince words: "“F**k, no!" Harrelson is quoted as saying. "The s**t those people say just makes me weep for humanity!

”

[2ndAmForComputers]

13. "F**k, no! The s**t those people say just makes me weep for humanity!"

When I grow up, I want to take potshots at the right wing like Woody Harrelson does.