Jon Voight's message to America

[cjwils3]

For anyone who is interested, Jon Voight will be delivering a "message to America" during the Huckabee show, which is going on right now. I'm sure the clip will be on the FOX News website and elsewhere after the conclusion of the program.

As someone who was once a darling of the countercultural left, Voight's journey to traditional conservatism has utterly fascinated me. The only thing more shocking would be if "she-who's-name-will-not-be-mentioned" had the same transformation...that's highly doubtful though!

[PSM]

Originally Posted by cjwils3

As someone who was once a darling of the countercultural left, Voight's journey to traditional conservatism has utterly fascinated me. The only thing more shocking would be if "she-who's-name-will-not-be-mentioned" had the same transformation...that's highly doubtful though!

The reason he was "a darling" was, mostly, his performance in Coming Home (and winning the Best Actor Academy Award) with Henry's daughter. Playing a part in a movie does not mean that you are, or are even sympathetic with, the character. I don't remember him actually engaging in "leftist" activities.

Pat

[Trapper John]

Actually RR's switch to the Republican party preceded his run and election as the Gov of CA. http://content.time.com/time/special...894518,00.html

[cjwils3]

Originally Posted by PSM

The reason he was "a darling" was, mostly, his performance in Coming Home (and winning the Best Actor Academy Award) with Henry's daughter. Playing a part in a movie does not mean that you are, or are even sympathetic with, the character. I don't remember him actually engaging in "leftist" activities.

Pat

FWIW, he was a fervent anti-Vietnam activist (even protesting along Hanoi Jane) and a strong supporter of McGovern and his voter registration efforts in LA. He later recalled how he was caught up in the hysteria brought about by Marxist propaganda. I've found that more often than not (though of course it isn't always the case), actors tend to take on roles they sympathize with, especially where political messages are concerned. One could argue that his role as Joe Buck in Midnight Cowboy had political undertones. At the very least, it stands as one of the most significant countercultural films ever made.

Here's a good article Voight wrote in '08 about escaping the 60s hysteria:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/28/voight/