Damon: Public fury burns leading into election
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Matt Damon says there's a sense of fury in the U.S. over banking scandals and financial inequality that neither Democrats nor Republicans are addressing in their presidential campaigns.
The 41-year-old actor made his comments at Comic-Con in San Diego, where he was promoting the sci-fi thriller "Elysium," about a future in which the ultra-rich escape a dying Earth to live in a poverty-free, illness-free orbiting habitat. The film is set for release next March.
Damon said he expects President Obama to be elected to a second term in November but isn't as staunch a supporter as he once was.
"I'd be shocked if (Mitt) Romney won. You know, I think Obama is the clear choice. But I've said before I'm really disappointed in him, and I am, particularly because of the banking stuff. He so misread that," Damon said. "That sense of unfair - the sense that we don't have a country anymore when people don't feel like they have a chance, like it's going to be fair. ... If people feel like the deck is stacked against them, then they stop playing by the rules. Because why play by the rules? The game is fixed, right?"
Damon said both parties and the mainstream media haven't paid enough attention to groups like the Tea Party and the Occupy movement.
"I don't think the Republicans or the Democrats really understand the level of anger at the sense of unfairness that the majority of people in the country feel," he said.
The star of the "Bourne" trilogy, known for speaking out about politics in the past, pointed to a Bruce Springsteen concert he attended several months ago at Madison Square Garden. Springsteen sang a song from his new album titled "Jack of All Trades," which criticizes the gap between haves and have-nots and the greed of Wall Street bankers.
"He says: 'If I had me a gun, I'd find the bastards and shoot them on sight.' Now when he says that, when he's saying that, the place roared. I mean, roared. Like 30,000 people involuntarily screamed their approval. And it was so alarming," Damon said. "I went backstage after and saw him and it was the first thing he said to me. He's singing to firemen and cops and real people. And the fury that's there is very, very real."
The 41-year-old actor made his comments at Comic-Con in San Diego, where he was promoting the sci-fi thriller "Elysium," about a future in which the ultra-rich escape a dying Earth to live in a poverty-free, illness-free orbiting habitat. The film is set for release next March.
Damon said he expects President Obama to be elected to a second term in November but isn't as staunch a supporter as he once was.
"I'd be shocked if (Mitt) Romney won. You know, I think Obama is the clear choice. But I've said before I'm really disappointed in him, and I am, particularly because of the banking stuff. He so misread that," Damon said. "That sense of unfair - the sense that we don't have a country anymore when people don't feel like they have a chance, like it's going to be fair. ... If people feel like the deck is stacked against them, then they stop playing by the rules. Because why play by the rules? The game is fixed, right?"
Damon said both parties and the mainstream media haven't paid enough attention to groups like the Tea Party and the Occupy movement.
"I don't think the Republicans or the Democrats really understand the level of anger at the sense of unfairness that the majority of people in the country feel," he said.
The star of the "Bourne" trilogy, known for speaking out about politics in the past, pointed to a Bruce Springsteen concert he attended several months ago at Madison Square Garden. Springsteen sang a song from his new album titled "Jack of All Trades," which criticizes the gap between haves and have-nots and the greed of Wall Street bankers.
"He says: 'If I had me a gun, I'd find the bastards and shoot them on sight.' Now when he says that, when he's saying that, the place roared. I mean, roared. Like 30,000 people involuntarily screamed their approval. And it was so alarming," Damon said. "I went backstage after and saw him and it was the first thing he said to me. He's singing to firemen and cops and real people. And the fury that's there is very, very real."
"He says: 'If I had me a gun, I'd find the bastards and shoot them on sight.' "Â
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The above was front page news on all the major networks. "Springsteen Wants To Kill The Bankers!"
No?
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So... how's that orchard or farm of yours working out Bruce? Still not paying your fair share of property tax? Glad you don't have armies of accountants seriously seeking every loophole in the tax code. Say, why don't you release YOUR tax return, oh "Man of the People?"
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http://www.humanevents.com/2012/03/12/bruce-springsteen-a-taxdodging-farmer/
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Glad his man crush Obama has absolutely NOTHING to do with Wall Street and the Big Banks. Nada. Zilch. Takes no money from them. Has no one in his Administration that comes from there. Hasn't helped arrranged billions in bail outs. Doesn't let them bundle campaign donations. He is like Ghandi himself.
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If Damon's so disappointed with Obama, why does he vote for him? Why not do a write-in vote or vote for a third-party?
 @keeper While I agree in principle, the truth is that our next president is still going to come from either the Democrat or the Republican party. I'll admit I don't think much of President Obama but I think even less of Governor Romney. Between these two men I have to choose Mr. Obama.
Sadly, I felt compelled to click on this to read about Matt Damon's most recent political comments. At least they put it in the "Entertainment" section where it belongs.
The Tea Party and their ilk have been useful for the GOP.
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I note however that since the Taliban have been successful destabilizing governments they are now complaining about Al Qaeda. Sort of an unfortunate "sorcerer's apprentice" situation.
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Nyuk.
If he can play Jason Bourne as well as he did, that guy would make a better president than anyone.
I respect Damon for saying this, I thought he was another extremist celebrity. I vote from the heart and it sounds like Damon is almost ready to make that jump. Stop supporting the blind/deaf political party and vote who you feel best represents your interests.
Right on Jason Bourne!
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Even though you reservedly support the current administration I respect you for saying what so many aren't. The politics and greed in this country are sending us in the wrong direction.
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Remember, those "greedy bankers" are currently serving this administration in capacities such as Treasury Secretary and others.
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Once again, I invite people to watch the movie "Too Big To Fail".Â
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Those are the exact people running us off the inevitable fiscal cliff and you all know who appointed them!
Damon for president 2012
 @BrodyRodyPartDeux We've already had one film actor become president, so why not another one? He can't be much worse than the two worthless guys running right now.
@BrodyRodyPartDeux thell ya the truth over the 2 running id vote for matt
 @BrodyRodyPartDeux Damon/Springsteen 2012?