Has Matt Damon Lost His Passion for President Obama?

By Emily Hall Posted Mar 11th 2011 02:01PM

Hearing Matt Damon say he was not a fan of President Barack Obama last week on CNN's 'Piers Morgan Tonight' may have come as a surprise to those who have followed the popular actor's liberal politics for the past few years.

In fact, Damon spent many days campaigning around the country for Obama when he was a presidential candidate in 2008. Together with his friend Ben Affleck, Damon did talk shows, hosted events, gave interviews and allowed the Democratic Party to get as much mileage out of him as possible within the constraints of his busy work schedule.

When he canvassed the nation for Obama, Damon was impressed with the candidate's idealism and ambition to make significant change in areas like poverty, health care and education.

On those issues, Damon now believes President Obama has compromised too much.

He told Morgan, "Obama has misinterpreted his mandate and doubled down on a lot of things." The actor has also criticized the president on not finding an effective reform for Wall Street practices, and he is still waiting to hear the hows and whys of the troop buildup in Afghanistan.

Even though Damon still believes that the President is "brilliant" and a "deep thinker," he is especially upset over the state of world hunger.

"In his State of the Union speech, he didn't even say the word 'poverty,'" Damon, a spokesman for hunger relief organization Feeding America, told Morgan. "You've got millions of people languishing in it."

Now shooting the Cameron Crow film 'We Bought A Zoo,' where he plays a zookeeper, Damon would make an excellent political candidate himself if he weren't such a popular actor. He has said he is not interested in running for office, yet between his diversified acting roles, education and political activism, he could be a great asset should he ever reconsider.

Damon founded H20 African Foundation, the charity division of Running the Sahara, which merged with WaterPartners in 2009. He supports the ONE Campaign to fight AIDS and poverty in Third World countries, and he is an ambassador for OneXOne, a non-profit foundation that improves the lives of kids around the world.

But will he support President Obama for re-election in 2012? Stay tuned.

Tags: Barack Obama, matt damon

Comments

(77)

Friday 11 March

By Mike

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Sounds like Matt Damon really bought into the messianic hype and now he's disillusioned. I got disillusioned with him and all the other moronic Hollywood lefties a long time ago. Damon is a man in whom shallow thinking runs deep. I hear he's a fine actor -- he should stick to what he knows.

By john

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matt is not the only good sumeratin that is unhappy with thier choice for president last election.all you poor sapps that voted for him truth be known would like to have your vote back. well think about that nov.2012 only a fool would make the same mastake
twice.just look at some of his appointies?.its really sad for our country!.need a job?. got 4.00 for a gallon of gas to look for a job. check the price of hamberger late. o i ment hamberger helper!.vote demacratic. vote for the good life!.

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Spelling errors in John's post corrected: Samaritan, their, saps, mistake, hamburger, meant. Our tax dollars at work. (I went to public school, too, but I guess I got a little more out of it.)

Boy, is my face red! I missed appointees, Democratic and probably more!

By DARKSTARR

Damon, Obama is the president of the United States not Kenya, Sudan, India or some other third world country. Maybe that is something that you should take up with the United Nations. If you want to cure world hunger. What have you done for world hunger?

Why do we care what the celebs have to say about US/world politics anymore than the average guy in the street who is much more effected by it. Let these guys face unemployment, or decide whether to feed the family that month or pay rent. Easy to be idealistic when all the bills are paid. Obama is a smart guy and he is not evil, just not a leader and too weak to make hard decisions.

By enstncls

Damon, like so many Hollywood rabble, is a product of a deteriorating society that pays big money to see fakers like him portray secret agents, and violent fantasy characters. Then, these "fakers" prostitute their fame and money in politicians and political issues they know nothing about.

By bigtop 1804

Hey Matt--about time you figured out that politicians say one thing to get elected but then do another. And you thought it was just the dastardly Republicans!! HOW ABOUT THEM APPLES!!!!!

By richard bratton

of all the human beings of the "entertainment big top", barak hussein obama reads his scripts and prompters better than most! at least the hollywoodians are able to memorize their lines and emotions one scene at a time!!! rambling superfluous
answers to the press corps questions are the "proof of the pudding"!!

By Erika

Damon may have "liberal views", but he was on target when he said he had a conversation with a Republican who stated that "Health is a privilege" and Damon said he considers it a "right." I'm with Damon on that one

By AnnyMsMm

Here's what I will never understand...why do Americans care what professional liars think about politics? I mean, that's what they are, really, professional liars. It just baffles me that these people -- who earn millions of dollars from the public -- try to tell us what to think on a multitude of subjects. Please stick to your "job" and let us make our own decisions. We are not as stupid as you think, and frankly, earning so much for what they do is hysterical...Want to really help out America? How about using your liberal platform to insist on lower TICKET PRICES instead of feeding the world on US taxpayer dollars, etc? Oh, right...that would mean LESS FOR YOU. Got it. Liars AND hypocrites.

By kat

Matt Damon has given up on Obama? Really? Matt your not that important!

By Master

There was never any doubt that Obama was going to be held at a higer expectant rate and short shelf life.

By Sharon

I am sorry, I like Matt Damon, but why do these actors think that just because they memorize lines for a movie and make millions, that makes them powerful and everyone should listen to what they say. I say stick to making movies, that is what you do best.

By ZJ

Damon is a good actor but he should stay out of politics. We don't care what he or anyone in Hollywood thinks. They need to stop taking themselves so seriously.

Monday 14 March

By DD

We do not need to be a polititian to give an opinion about the president. He was only saying that Obama has not been a good president, and that after he went through with obama's campain, he is very disapointed of him, because everything he has done have been wrong.

Saturday 12 March

By shauntavious

damon will never acheive obamabot status unless he follows him blindly. dont judge him matt just sing his praises for it pacifies and pleases obama. reverend wright is his prophet, you may pray to obama through him.

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