Jon Voight should leave the political activism to his daughter, Angelina Jolie.
She’s worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Council on Foreign Relations. He’s just been spouting his political opinions in an attempt to stay relevant.
Voight made headlines last week for posting a video to Twitter in which he said President Trump is “the greatest president since Abraham Lincoln.”
To my fellow Americans. Part 2. pic.twitter.com/uhqpbzwHhS
— Jon Voight (@jonvoight) May 25, 2019
In March, Trump appointed Voight to serve on John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ board of trustees, but that stamp of approval doesn’t explain the actor’s sycophancy.
Even many Trump voters would find his claims outlandish. Maybe that’s why Voight begins his monologue by addressing the Republican Party, in order to drum up support for the president ahead of 2020.
Short of facts, he relies on hyperbole. “I am here today to tell you my fellow Americans that our country is stronger, safer, and with more jobs because our president has made his every move correct,” Voight said.
Alyssa Milano, an actress who is known more for her Twitter stunts than her actual acting roles, said the video explains “why Republicans like to discredit actors and our political views.”
Now I understand why Republicans like to discredit actors and our political views.
“Stay in your lane, Jon!”
“Has been!”
“F-lister trying to stay relevant!”
“Nobody cares what an out of touch actor thinks!” https://t.co/LcIGgBO9az— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) May 25, 2019
Never mind that she is actually a leading reason why the general public has little respect for celebrity political opinions. People don’t care what celebrities have to say about politics not because they always have bad ideas, but because they lack credibility.
Angelina Jolie has succeeded in humanitarian and political activism because she’s worked on the ground and developed partnerships with credible organizations. Other celebrities, though, such as her father, just like to spout their opinions to gain notoriety.
Fellow actor Albert Brooks quipped that Voight “might be the greatest actor since John Wilkes Booth.” The joke plays on Voight’s absurd hyperbole, the kind of ridiculous political rhetoric that undercuts arguments on both the Left and the Right.
It doesn’t matter which side of the political aisle you’re on — speaking without credibility, especially while relying on superlatives, is no way to change minds. It’s a lesson both Voight and Milano would do well to learn, but the infamy from their cheap stunts may be too juicy to pass up.
