I think the UK papers are getting gossip tips from my mom. Seriously. Ever since George Clooney announced his engagement to Amal Alamuddin, my mother has been theorizing that George is getting ready to run for office. I kept telling her that her theory made no sense. How would marrying a British-Lebanese lawyer – who coincidentally represents Julian Assange of all people – help with George’s would-be political career? But it looks like the UK editors took my mom’s calls. And they published her theory!
George Clooney is planning a move in to politics, sources claim. The actor, a noted political activist, is said to be planning the move after he weds Briton Amal Alamuddin in September. The Democrat is said to be looking to take on an official role in the party and is believed to have aspirations to run for office, one source claims.
Clooney, 53, is known to have numerous political contacts – and even counts President Barack Obama as a close friend. A friend told The Mirror: ‘He has big ambitions and aims to get into politics imminently. He wants to do more humanitarian work and hopes to join the Democrats’ 2016 election campaign.’
Amal Alamuddin is one of the best-regarded human rights lawyers in the world. The source claims that Clooney believes his credibility will be boosted following the pair’s engagement.
‘George is thinking of how he can get more involved. Now he has Amal by his side it will give him more credibility to run for office.’
Yeah… probably not…? I don’t know, I still don’t see how marrying Amal is going to be some huge asset for his political ambitions. If he was marrying a Kennedy woman, sure, I would think he was definitely going to run for office. But Amal’s professional and home base is in London. She doesn’t have many political connections in America. Why would she be a political asset again? Plus, she wants him to move full-time to London. She isn’t going to want to move to Kentucky or California so she can what? Campaign with him for state-wide office?
As for the wedding… last week, People Mag confirmed that the wedding will take place in Italy, probably in September. For those of you who put your money on Venice, winner winner chicken dinner. George took Amal on yet another “vacation” (they vacation more than Prince William and Duchess Kate, for realz) to Venice late last week. Yeah… it will probably be in Venice.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Yeah… not going to happen.
To be fair, given that Amal lives in London, a trip to Italy isn’t really much of a vacation but just a quick weekend getaway.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS401CI7TZg
I’m of the thought that until this wedding takes place I won’t believe it will happen. I don’t see George moving to London permanently or from what I see of her, her giving up her career to move whereever George wants to live. JMO.
What career? She’s always on vacations. lol
ditto. I like her less and less. To be honest, I don’t see any different to all the other “Clooney girls”.
EXACTLY @Swack. And in true celebrity fashion, when the inevitable separation is announced a handful of years from now-if they even make it that far-they’ll use the classic “We’ll remain the closest of friends but our busy schedules, distance and different places of residence made it too difficult to see each other…blah blah blah” totally BS excuses as the reason for it.
You know, because none of those things is their reality RIGHT NOW. Ugh.
LOL @PJ – You better go get that press release copyrighted right now. They may be using it sooner than later.
I was taken to task when the engagement was announced for daring to even suggest such a thing as I was wrong and ignorant of his desire to be in a loving relationship with a woman his intellectual equal.
He may or may not be doing this for a run in the political forum. I guess only time will tell
This was my first thought when the marriage was announced. He’s said previously that he couldn’t run for office because he’s slept with too many women. I think the “getting married to a political rights lawyer” thing is his way of getting more of a family values type of persona. Yeah, he’s not Arnold marrying a Kennedy, but I don’t think his fans care about that. I think he’s trying to loose the playboy image and run for office, and it will certainly up her credibility, too, if he wins.
She doesn’t need him. She isn’t a trophy GF like many of his others were. George’s usual type is a good looking pet who can make sandwiches.
@steth that’s what everyone keeps saying, but she actually seems no different to all his exes. She seems to have stopped working altogether and enjoys the attention of the media a little bit to much for my taste.
I guess you and I should be labeled pariah then, because I’ve been saying the same thing. I’m always cynical where celebrities and their true motivations are concerned. Clooney is as calculating as the day is long, and there’s no way there isn’t something else behind Mr. Privacy suddenly opening a door on the minutiae of his private life. He’s either switching gears career-wise, or he’s building a barrier between himself and a coming scandal.
Epiphany : I think you have hit the nail squarely on the head – re: a coming scandal. And a marriage to a human rights lawyer would help clean him up image wise. I wonder if Amal is being paid like all the others before her? I hope she’s getting paid more as she brings a lot to the table image-wise.
Exactly!
I can say for all of us: “Called it!”
My thoughts exactly, been banging on about this since the story first broke – now I’ve got bored of it all (but then I’m fickle!) 🙂
Hmmmmmm…all the craziness makes sense now. They”ll never be able to spend time together because they both have busy careers about 12-14 hours apart by plane. No worries if it’s a sham marriage, at least not in the (very) short run.
Amal is no fool. I wonder what she’s getting out of this? More money than she already has? I am sure her salary is six figures (in British pounds) and that Mummy and Daddy have some cash to throw around, too.
Time will tell…
Ugh. If he is tidying up his image in order to run for office, I find it incredibly insulting that he thinks America is so blinded by his “star power” that we wouldn’t feel just a little bit cynical and manipulated by the “lifelong bachelor finally meeting Miss Right, and is now ready to change the world” transformation. All this pre-wedding publicity is nauseating.
The problem is there are many Americans who are influenced by star power. I love that people will go along with anything a celebrity says , even the ones who have absolutely no education. For some reason people equate celebrity with supreme being that knows all. Blows my mind.
I kind of assumed he was trying to be taken seriously by people. So he dropped the waitresses in favor of a lawyer and is “settling down.”
I wouldn’t be surprised
Kinda hate to be the first to say it.. But I toldya so! Its the only thing that makes sense. She is already into law. He has already wanted to run as Democrat. That’s the only reason why he expounded on the argument he had with that guy that called Obama an ugly name, so he can make known to the public that he supports our current POTUS. I just hope he doesn’t turn into Schwazzanegar because as a Republican, he did nothing for the people. I don’t mean that Republicans don’t do anything for the people, because even though I’m a Democrat I agree with some Republican policies, I just mean that the Terminator didn’t do much for Cali.
If he gets involved, it won’t be in an elected position, rather appointed… like the ambassadorship to Ireland, which has been vacant for nearly a year. All the glory without having his past dug up during a campaign. And Amal will look good on his arm. Blingo, blango, SOLVED!
exactly.
He’s so obvious it’s boring. This time the deal’s for a career switch instead of a red carpet walk. I think the cold-bloodedness of it all says more than his smile-and-joke-for-the-camera shtick.
*pulls hair*
I find it sad that being taken seriously as a politician entails having to marry and settle down. Marrying and settling down doesn’t change his political views, or does it?
It would be so much more fun if he were a politican that was openly gay (not saying that he’s gay, just acknowledging the rumours) and still lived with Max.
It’s because being married means you are “wholesome” obviously, and politics is a PR game to get the sheep masses to like (and therefore vote for) you.
I would like for a candidate who is single to run and win. Male or female, I don’t care.
@Val: Yes, it’s rampant hypocrisy. And it’s never gonna change…
Former governer of California Jerry Brown was a single man.
I think they are going to be a power couple of sorts but he won’t seek a political elected office.
I agree. I don’t think he’s looking to any office as I don’t believe he has the discipline for a 365 day, 24/7 type of career. Three months on a movie set followed by nine months off with lots of “vacations” … I doubt he’s looking for the kind of workload a political job, elected or appointed, would force him to live.
OMG, you guys. He’s not gonna run for any office. He’s George Clooney. Can we let this go now?
I agree too many skeletons in the closet but I guess depends on WHAT he would try to run for.
Agree that getting married does not erase anything. Not sure why marrying an English Barrister would help with US politics? As classy as it all sounds, some of the folks her firm represent are kind of “out there”, (isn’t the firm defending one of Khadafi’s henchmen–deserves defense yes, but not sure how it looks otherwise) even if she is not directly involved. So, don’t get how it would help. Maybe he just wants to settle down. Why now is another question, but who knows.
The brit press is always so full of crap. From what’s public about her caseload, she’s a defense attorney..second chair, to wealthy clients . In a million years this ‘human rights’ lawyer wouldn’t take up the cause of Muslim women being tortured or children massacred by Muslim extremists. You can probably count the weeks Clooney spends in the US a year on your fingers..and they say all politics are local. Perhaps he does want an ambassador gig as payback for campaign money, but he has a list of films he’s contracted to do in the next couple years. The sudden 180 switch in everything he’s ever done or said? Who cares..anything for the spotlight I guess.
Referring to her as a “human rights lawyer” makes me stabby. She is hired by the people who VIOLATE human rights. Plus as an independent barrister she doesn’t appear to actually, you know, work.
She is not going to earn him political points. Maybe he wants heterosexual street cred.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but he doesn’t even live in the US…right?? Can he run for an office here if he’s not residingt? (I know he’s a US citizen so maybe I sound stupid and way wrong.) So is he trying to piggyback off of being besties with O? Why are they rushing this marriage?? It does seem a bit suspect. So many questions, so little care… these two bore the crap outta me.
George is a U.S. resident. He has a very large home in Studio City that he has owned for years. He has a house in Italy, but he only spends his summers there. The rest of the year, he’s at his home in Los Angeles or traveling.
I think it makes a lot of sense what he is doing. Everything in politics and movies is an illusion. He can present her as a brilliant lawyer world renowned.
I don’t care what anyone says I am American and I am drawn to the English the accent, it automatically makes you think someone has something to say, that sounds intelligent.
I use to think Hugh Grant was so hot, I think a lot of the reason is his accent.
@ Kcarp – you must be me. I am obsessed with the English people. I guess actually all of Great Britain. I think an English accent is so hot. It is funny but someone said, don’t remember who, that Americans automatically assume a person is smart if they speak with a British accent. Which of course is not always the case.
I would think if that was the case he would marry American and not a British woman no matter how intelligent she may be. Nope, I think he met his match and that is why he is getting married.
I took the pledge I would not click, and yet, here I am, hanging head in shame. George is not electable, IMO. As he has said, too many skeletons in his closet. While I’m still not buying into the “George has found the love of his life, blah, blah theory”, I do believe Amal and company are definitely part of an overall strategy to spiffy up his image. To what purpose? That remains to be seen.
Running an office doesn’t necessarily mean being a congressman. How about an appointment to be a special envoy to, say, Middle East countries or of a Middle East issue?
Since when to be a successfull actor/director is the first step to move a political career?
Two words : Ronald Reagan.
More words : Clint Eastwood, Sonny Bono (both mayors of Carmel, California) and of course, Arnold.
And that guy that played “Gopher” on the Love Boat on TV. I think he is/was in Congress.
No one is going to take George the fart king Clooney seriously. Amal has major issues yet to come out and when they do it will put the kaput on any political plans for Clooney. Waste of a wedding really cause this aint no love match. He is such a fool for thinking people are going to buy he suddenly wants marriage the pictures show the truth. Amal isn’t very nice by most reports she won’t help him, but she will cost him.
On the contrary, he has more credit in political issues compared to most actors.
The British lawyer of Julian Assange is George Clooney’s path to the White House? Uh huh.
Marrying her will improve his political chances. He doesn’t need her to be “connected” in the U.S.–he has enough money and connections and connections to other people with money himself. He needs her to be professional, articulate, and if she can speak about foreign affairs with insider knowledge, all the better. The rushed nature of the engagement, however, may have been spurred by the Singer lawsuit, as he’s a rumored witness.
When he got engaged, and it suddenly seemed like Stacey Kiebler had knowingly preempted him by getting married and knocked up first, all I could think of was that line in Legally Blonde where Elle is told “You’re a Marilyn. I need a Jackie.”
yea that Singer lawsuit will be interesting…Personally, I don’t think clooney is straight and this current PR realtionship, regardless of his personal life, has been so obviously an ‘arrangement’…I’m guessing she gets someting out of this, as well as far as political clout or influence or perhaps she wants to go the route of celebrity lawyer or lawyer as talk show anchor type of thing? Journalist/entertainment/news lawyer? It’s a business arrangement for sure since Clooney famously doesn’t allow his private life in the news.
My first thought was that if he were to run for office, Amal’s background would be a serious hindrance on several levels. However, socially and politically conservative people wouldn’t vote for George anyway — and the constituency that he would appeal to wouldn’t be troubled by her ethnicity or clients.
And his past history won’t necessarily do him any harm — everybody knew that W was a party-boy back in the day, and it was no secret that Clinton was a womanizer before he was elected.
If this is why he is marrying her for a political career , than that is pretty sad for her.
I remember him saying in an interview, in response to the question, that he would never run for political office. He was happy being an advocate, and besides, he’d lived, an “ahem”, full life and somewhere, there was a picture of him drinking the bong water. I tend to believe that.
I also tend to believe, that he sees in her, a chance to live a different kind of life away from films and Hollywood that might suit him more just now. Believe it or not, youngsters, you can find yourself later in life asking yourself what you want to do for the second half of it an what kind of people you’d like to spend it with?
This. He is in his fifties and has been chasing the dream for the last fifteen years building an A list acting career after leaving ER, producing career, director, screenplay writer. He has traveled the world. He is very involved in humanitarian issues. His back injury really affected him also. So he’s accomplished all he wants and is in a good place to where he can pick and choose projects to produce, like Argo, and direct or even still act. I think he’s at a crossroads in his life and she came in and he was totally smitten with her and the right time probably fell in a way he didn’t expect to and wanted change.
I would believe this if not for the entire in your face PR offensive that has been launched.
Completely inflated and delusional. Seriously, he’s an actor. Again I am going to comment like I did on the Leann and Eddie post : BARF. Hollywood is completely unrealistic
Am I the only person here who’s seen The West Wing? OF COURSE that’s what he’s doing – it’s cynical, and somewhat distasteful but it happens all the time! After his parade of younger, less successful ‘hires’ (allegedly) – along comes an age-appropriate, success in her own right human rights lawyer? You’d have to be naive to not see this!
I said it once and I’ll say it again: Kaiser’s mom is a gossip genius!! Want to see her as guest blogger at Celebitchy! 😀
He has said repeatedly he has no desire to run for office and that he can do more in other ways.
Hmmm….He has also said repeatedly he has no desire to marry again… The last time was early March in France during the promotion of Monument’s Men while he was dating her.
If this story turn out to be true, I will take my hat off to you Mr. Clooney!
If this story turns out to be true, Clooney deserves to run for and win an office. Because this shit is called DEDICATION!
No, I don’t think he wants to run for office. He knows he’s not THAT smart. Also, Amal wouldn’t be an asset in the States, and he would loose the chance to do his Satellite Sentinel Project in Sudan. I simply think he wants to clean up his image, but I don’t think he is willing to dedicate the rest of his life to politics in general. He prefers to do things on his own terms, travelling places, reporting from there- I actually see him going more into journalism, making documentaries in areas that require more of our attention. For that, he can use his fame, and a lawyer wife comes in handy as well. He knows politics is a 24/7, and a lot of powerplay- I don’t believe he’s willing to do that. It’s a marriage out of convenience for both, a sort of different deal than the ones before.
Clooney doesn’t have what it takes to go into politics, nor does he have the mindset for it. Didn’t he recently get into a petty fight with someone just because they did not agree with his views on politics? He seems very self-opininated and thinks whatever he says is right.
I don’t think people want another actor turned politician. From what I have heard and read people have had enough of that. I think he wants to take his life in a new direction and with their political connection they together could do a lot of good to bring more attention to hi s humanitarian work/efforts and that MIGHT be a bigger focus for him now.
.
Of course he has ambitions to run for office, but I am not sure if marrying an attorney from a country outside of the USA will help him with that.
Human rights lawyers do not necessarily make alot of money. Lawyers, beleive it or not, are also humans and of course his money and fame will be drawing cards for her. One does not have to be an airhead to be into the fame and glamour. Also because one has gone to law school, memorized alot of dry information, learned a way to approach things, learned a way to think, practiced the fine are of semantics etc., does not mean one is intelligent, smart, of even clever. Stacy could be more inteeligent that Amal, who knows. Being a lawyer does not make her necessarily resourceful either…….Drop the two of them on individual islands without anything, see who survives. My bet is Stacy. (no sour grapes as I had a PhD)
The way Stacy handled this whole matter makes me believe she would even get pregnant on a remote island without anything 🙂 But seriously, intelligence is a very relative thing, you’re completely right about this. And it usually has very little to do with dealing with life’s surprises. Amal doesn’t strike me as someone very practical, or down-to-earth. And I’m sure she likes ‘fame and glamour’, too, just in a different way. One can get tired of endless political discussions as well- and than, what’s left? But I guess George has some idea of their life together, mutual ‘projects’ perhaps. It’s gonna be interesting how this all turns out.
Earth to George. Please move to London and stay there. The US already has too many mindless Liberals trying to ruin what was until Obama got his hand on it the greatest country in the world.