As some progressives become increasingly vocal in their grumblings against the once-revered President Obama, leftist movie maker Michael Moore has decided to show his support for an unlikely candidate: actor Matt Damon.
Damon has never expressed an interest in running for elective office, but Moore is lavishing praise on the liberal film star anyway.
“I think that he has been very courageous,” Moore said Sunday in a discussion hosted by the blog FireDogLake, “in not caring about who he offends by coming out and saying the things that need to be said here.”
The “Dude, Where’s My Country?” author argued in no uncertain terms that the “Goodwill Hunting” icon could win the presidency simply because of his name recognition and his position amongst the Hollywood elite.
“And if you want to win,” Moore insisted, “the Republicans have certainly shown the way that when you run someone who is popular, you win. Sometimes even when you run an actor, you win.” (RELATED: Gravel names his price: $1 million to challenge Obama)
While it may be a stretch to compare Matt Damon with the late President Ronald Reagan, Damon’s political presence has been felt more in recent months. Specifically, Damon has raised eyebrows in the media for his profanity-laced policy statements.
At this year’s “Save our Schools” March in Washington, D.C., Damon lashed out on education policy, calling the current American system “intrinsically paternalistic.” He went on to blast those who accuse teachers of becoming lazy once they have the job security of tenure.
“A teacher wants to teach,” Damon said at the event on July 30. “I mean, why else would you take a shitty salary, and really long hours, and do that job, unless you really love to do it?”