Tom Hanks says that he endorses Barack Obama because of his integrity, honesty and ability to get the job done. He recorded a YouTube statement that is full of historical references and clear reasons why he supports Senator Obama’s bid for the presidency. He says that Obama took the high road and is someone who has the characteristics we look for in a president with personal qualities that are found in great leaders of the past like FDR and John F. Kennedy. Hanks says that Obama can turn the country around, and he quipped that of course we’ve made up our mind after hearing his endorsement.

For those of you who say that Obama is all impressive rhetoric but is unclear about his policies, read his Blueprint for Change on his website, which very clearly outlines his plan. He does have a very good health plan that is not free but affordable, and includes measures to make it available to all. He has specific plans to cut taxes, revive the economy and jobs, and stop predatory lending by credit cards and banks. He also proposes to make all government transactions and spending public and searchable, and will strive to stop the influence of lobbyists in Washington.

Obama just won the North Carolina primary, with 57% of the popular vote. In preliminary results, Clinton won Indiana by less than two percentage points. Indiana has only 72 delegates as compared to North Carolina’s 115, which means that Obama is still ahead and that things look desperate for Hillary. There are just 6 primaries remaining.

Barack Obama is shown below on 4/1/08 in a Town Hall meeting at the Dumore Community Centre in Dunmore, Pennsylvania, thanks to WENN.

Obama read the top ten list on David Letterman last night, which was the “Top Ten Surprising Facts about Barack Obama.” Obama was on via satellite and recited the list with a smile, which was predictably cheesy but well delivered:

10. My first act as president will be to stop the fighting between Lauren and Heidi on “The Hills”
9. In the Illinois primary, I accidentally voted for Kucinich
8. When I tell my kids to clean their room, I finish with, “I’m Barack Obama and I approved this message”
7. Throughout high school, I was consistently voted “Barackiest”
6. Earlier today I bowled a 39
5. I have canceled all my appearances the day the “Sex and The City” movie opens
4. It’s the birth place of Fred Astaire (Sorry, that’s a surprising fun fact about Omaha)
3. We are tirelessly working to get the endorsement of Kentucky Derby favorite Colonel John
2. This has nothing to do with the Top Ten, but what the heck is up with Paula Abdul?
1. I have not slept since October
[From CBS.com]

Obama is gradually getting positive press again after a controversy involving his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who spouted ridiculous conspiracy theories in sermons leaked online and was generally mocked in the media. Obama has denounced Wright’s statements after initially hoping that the issue would die down on its own. He is now neck and neck with has about a 200 delegate lead over Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary after a wider early lead.

Hillary was on The O’Reilly Factor on Fox yesterday, and she said that voters would decide if the Rev. Wright controversy mattered to them. She called Wright’s remarks “offensive and outrageous.”

Obama’s segment starts at about a minute into the clip below:

Kim Kardashian supports Barack Obama in his frustrating but noble bid for the presidency, and claims to have had dinner with him. Her reasoning for voting for the handsome senator from Illinois seems a bit shaky, but maybe she didn’t have a chance to properly explain herself. As for having dinner with Obama, she clarified to a confused E! reporter that she was at an event and it wasn’t like the two of them were alone, although it sounds like she wishes they were:

“I had dinner with him [Obama] once, and he just seemed very firm about the change, and that’s, like, his motto,” Kardashian said, referring to the slogan “Change We Can Believe In.”

Wait a second! Obama and Kardashian had dinner together?

Not exactly. When asked for more details, Kardashian quickly clarified, “It wasn’t just him and I. I was at an event.”

[From Marc Malkin’s E! Online column]

Isn’t an endorsement from Kardashian like an endorsement from Heidi Montag? It’s not like they’re going to help get the word out or attract voters. Do they have fans that would be influenced by their political opinions? Because you can’t see those type of people actually voting. More power to them though I guess. We’re all for Obama here, which makes it more annoying that Kim Kardashian claims to have had dinner with him. I want to be the one to turn a fundraising dinner into a romantic evening alone by candlelight, fantasizing about America’s future as Obama speaks his sweet promises, reaching over the steak to lightly touch my hand.

In related Kim Kardashian news, the reality star is going to be “in a major studio film,” according to her own admission. It’s a comedy and E! Online reports that it’s “a spoof flick in the vein of Scary Movie.” Does that mean Kardashian is going to be playing herself? The film starts shooting in May in Louisiana. Look for less photos of Kim Kardashian shopping and tooling around LA during that time.

Kim Kardashian is shown on 4/10/08 at “National Lampoon Presents One, Two, Many,” thanks to PRPhotos.

Democratic presidential nomination hopeful Senator Barack Obama was on “The View” this morning and had an amazing interview. The first part of the interview focused on Obama’s longtime reverend, Jeremiah Wright, and the anti-American comments Wright has made over the course of his career. Obama hasn’t renounced Wright, but hasn’t wholeheartedly defended him either. He explained that when he joined the church, he didn’t have his revered vetted. Wright was a powerful speaker and Obama was generally just another member of the congregation. He and his wife Michelle were married in Wright’s church and their daughters were baptized there, but as he pointed out, he hadn’t read every church bulletin, or gone over Wright’s old sermons. He also pointed out that a key point is that Wright is retired now, so it’s not as though there needs to be a call for him to step down from anything. Obama did a good job of gracefully walking a very fine line.

In the second part of the interview, host Whoopi Goldberg ask Barack Obama what the first three things are that he’d do in office. Obama replied that he would start withdrawing the troops from Iraq, and doing his best to make sure it was done in a safe and fair manner for both the troops and Iraqis. He said he didn’t think the Iraqis were going to take responsibility for their own country as long as American troops were there. Obama said the second thing he would do is work on getting healthcare for every American, and even went so far to say that for people that didn’t have healthcare, the government would offer plans similar to the healthcare he has as a senator. He pointed out how important it is to return to a focus on preventative health care, which over the long-term saves costs. Finally he said he’d deal with America’s energy crisis, focusing on developing new technology to lesson our reliance on foreign oil.

Some of Obama’s most powerful remarks came in the final part of the interview, where he talked about the differences and similarities between republicans and democrats. He noted, “I am not somebody who believes that the democrats have a monopoly on wisdom,” and said that he would consider having republicans in his cabinet. He also made a dig at President Bush, saying, “I’ve got some very strong views about how we need to move the country forward, but I don’t presume I’m right all the time; I want to listen to people – something that I think our current president hasn’t done – [and] get a diversity of opinion.” Obama also touched on one of his common themes of optimism and hope, and the unity he feels Americans actually have, noting, “The one thing I’m convinced of as I travel around the country is we have so much more in common than what drives us apart.”

A new report from the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston reveals that both Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are tied to two political candidates by blood. Barack Obama is a distant cousin of Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie is a distant cousin of Hillary Clinton.

This could make for one odd family reunion: Barack Obama is a distant cousin of actor Brad Pitt, and Hillary Rodham Clinton is related to Pitt’s girlfriend, Angelina Jolie.

Researchers at the New England Historic Genealogical Society found some remarkable family connections for the three presidential candidates — Democratic rivals Obama and Clinton, and Republican John McCain…

Genealogist Christopher Child said that while the candidates often focus on pointing out differences between them, their ancestry shows they are more alike than they think.

“It shows that lots of different people can be related, people you wouldn’t necessarily expect,” Child said.

Obama has a prolific presidential lineage that features Democrats and Republicans. His distant cousins include President George W. Bush and his father, George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Lyndon Johnson, Harry S. Truman and James Madison. Other Obama cousins include Vice President Dick Cheney, British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill and Civil War General Robert E. Lee.

Obama often jokes about his cousin Cheney at campaign appearances.

“His kinships are across the political spectrum,” Child said.

Child has spent the last three years tracing the candidates’ genealogy, along with senior research scholar Gary Boyd Roberts, author of the 1989 book, “Ancestors of American Presidents”…

Obama and President Bush are 10th cousins, once removed, linked by Samuel Hinkley of Cape Cod, who died in 1662.

Pitt and Obama are ninth cousins, linked by Edwin Hickman, who died in Virginia in 1769. Ben LaBolt, a spokesman for the Obama campaign, declined to comment on the senator’s ancestry.

Clinton and Jolie are ninth cousins, twice removed, both related to Jean Cusson who died in St. Sulpice, Quebec, in 1718.

[From Yahoo! News]

If this proves anything, it’s that the gene pool on this planet is getting way too close for comfort. No wonder the new generation is so stupid– they’re all cousins! I have never been curious about my ancestors, and with reports like this coming out, I want to know where I came from even less. With my luck, I’d turn out to be related to Hitler or Jack the Ripper or something. Who needs that kind of pressure? It’s bad enough that my immediate ancestors had a history of cancer, mental illness and heart disease!

Note by Celebitchy: I didn’t see what the big deal was here, except to highlight that we’re all related somehow through genealogy.

Ben Affleck and wife Jennifer Garner were in the Boston area over the weekend to host and appear at a fundraising dinner for presidential candidate Barack Obama. Affleck has never been one to shy away from political causes– he and buddy/co-star Matt Damon campaigned in favor fair health benefits for labor unions back in 2004 and Ben not only appeared on the Bill O’Reilly show, but held his own against the host. Affleck told O’Reilly during that broadcast that he is a social liberal but didn’t consider himself a Democratic “party guy.” But since meeting Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention on Boston, Affleck has become a big fan of the candidate.

They may have been drawn by a chance to meet Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, but the hearts of the 450 people who packed Rumor last night belonged to one man: Barack Obama. The sold-out fund-raiser at the Theater District nightclub was hosted by the Hollywood power couple to rally support for Obama’s bid to win the White House. “I’m here because I’m trying to raise money for a campaign and a candidacy that I believe in,” Affleck told the media shortly after hopping out of a black Chevy Suburban with his wife and his mom, Chris. “I’m just trying to do my part.” Affleck met the Illinois senator when they were both in Boston for the 2004 Democratic National Convention and said his “admiration of [Obama] has grown” since. The Oscar winner seemed particularly proud to participate in a gathering that regular folks could go to, noting “it’s not a $1,500-a-plate event for the elite.” (Tickets were $250 for a VIP reception and $50 for the main party.) Among those spotted were Senator John Kerry and his wife, Teresa, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein ’s brother Paul and his wife, Saskia Grinberg, and Wellness Community-Greater Boston CEO Ron Lipof. The politically savvy Affleck, who has donated at least $4,600 to Obama’s campaign according to public records, wasn’t going to be drawn into the recent flaps between Obama and Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton, who won the Massachusetts primary. “This is not about casting aspersions,” the “Gone Baby Gone” director said. “If I were to choose between the two, it would be Barack.” Garner stayed above the political fray, saying she really likes Boston and “would move here in a heartbeat, but it’s six hours from where I work.” But Garner, who’s in town filming “The Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” quickly corrected herself saying, “Whoops, I’m working here at the moment.”

[From Boston.com]

I liked that Ben chose to throw this fundraiser in his hometown instead of Hollywood. It would have been so easy for Ben and Jen to turn this into a Tinseltown glamour event, but instead, he decided to keep it a little more low-key and focus more on the candidate than his own star power. My only complain was that his new life partner, Jimmy Kimmel, couldn’t make an appearance.

Pictures of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner were taken on Sunday outside Rumer nightclub where the fundraiser for Obama took place, thanks to Splash News.

Hillary Clinton is back in the game, but just barely. Prior to the yesterday’s primaries Clinton was trailing Obama based on her performance in earlier primaries. Clinton won yesterday’s primaries in Ohio, Texas, and Rhode Island. Obama won in Vermont. The race between the two is still very close and hard to call, with the front runner seeming to change every week. While they’re both still insisting that they are the very best candidate and can beat Republic John McCain, Clinton is hinting that there may be a possibility of a Clinton-Obama ticket – with her as the presidential candidate.

Asked on CBS’s “The Early Show” whether she and Obama should be on the same ticket, Clinton said:

“That may be where this is headed, but of course we have to decide who is on the top of ticket. I think the people of Ohio very clearly said that it should be me.”

Obama, who had hoped to knock Clinton out of the race on Tuesday, said he would prevail despite facing a tenacious candidate who “just keeps on ticking.” Clinton acknowledged the race was close and said it would come down to her credentials on national security and the economy.

[From Yahoo! News]

Obama still came away with a lot of delegate votes, and said that his lead was still “insurmountable.” Clinton and Obama are so close that neither has enough delegates to secure the nomination. Whoever gets it will have to get the support of the almost 800 party and elected officials, or so-called “superdelegates .”

“New questions are being raised, new challenges are being put to my opponent,” she said. “Superdelegates are supposed to take all that information on board and they are supposed to be exercising the judgment that people would have exercised if this information and challenges had been available several months ago.”

She said voters are being drawn to her argument that she would be the better commander in chief, the best steward of the economy and that she can better confront McCain in the general election.

[From Yahoo! News]

Obama attacked Clinton for voting for the war in Iraq along with her foreign policy skills. Yesterday Clinton picked up a minimum of 115 delegates and Obama picked up at least 88. Results are still pending for the remaining 170 votes. That leaves Obama with a total of 1,477 delegates, including superdelegates. Clinton now has 1,391 delegates. To get the democratic nomination, the winner will have to secure 2,025 votes. At this point, it’s still way too close to call.

Clinton is shown on 1/18/08 at a rally in Henderson, Nevada. Obama is shown at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas on 1/11/08. Images thanks to PR Photos.

Hillary Clinton appeared on Saturday Night Live this weekend after their introductory skit parodying the latest Democratic debate. It featured SNL cast members Amy Poehler as Clinton and Fred Armisen as Obama. Vincent D’Onofrio of Law & Order: Criminal Intent made a cameo to interrogate Poehler.

The skit tried to portray how the press softballs Obama while giving Clinton a hard time. It wasn’t hysterically funny, but I found it pretty amusing.

Clinton came on after the skit, and was introduced as “An Editorial Response.” She said:
“The scene you just saw was a re-enactment, sort of, of last Tuesday’s debate, and not an endorsement of one candidate over another. I can say this confidently, because when I asked if I could take it as an endorsement, I was told ‘absolutely not,’ but I still enjoyed that sketch a great deal, because I simply adore Amy’s impression of me.”

At that point Poehler entered wearing the same outfit as Senator Clinton, saying “My ears are ringing.”

Clinton and Poehler complimented each other’s outfits, with Clinton telling Poehler “I want the earrings back.” Poehler laughed hysterically and Clinton asked “Do I really laugh like that?”

Poehler asked “How’s the campaign going?” Clinton said “The campaign is going very well. Very very well. Why what did you hear?”

She then said she was just going to relax and didn’t want to talk politics, but then made a joking reference to the upcoming primaries saying “I would like to take this opportunity to say to all Americans, be they from the great state of Ohio or Texas, Rhode Island or Vermont, Pennsylvania or any of the other states, ‘Live from New York it’s Saturday Night!’”

Here’s the full skit followed by Clinton’s appearance.

And here’s just Clinton’s appearance.

Senator Clinton told her supporters last Monday to watch Saturday Night Live to see a skit they did last weekend about how the press gives her a hard time while fawning over Obama. She used it as an example of how the media tide was turning in her favor.

The state primaries determine by popular vote which Democratic party delegates representing a state will vote for a candidate at the National Convention in August. These are called “pledged delegates,” because they have pledged to vote according to the popular vote in the primary election. Clinton trails Obama in total Democratic delegate votes based on primaries held in January and February. Upcoming primary elections in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont on Tuesday are very close and hard to call.

There are more superdelegates, or upper-level Democratic party delegates, who are thought to support Clinton, and their votes can nullify the popular vote of party members. Unlike most other delegates, who are pledged, they are not required to vote according to the popular vote in their respective states. Clinton has drawn criticism for urging the superdelegates to disregard the popular vote and support her candidacy in place of Obama. It is thought that this strategy may backfire on her, and that her chances at securing the Democratic nomination are dwindling as Obama’s star rises.

The primaries on Tuesday have been described as “make-or-break” for Clinton, which can explain why she made an appearance on Saturday Night Live. She came across as good-natured and willing to poke fun at herself, but it may be too little too late for Clinton. We’ll have to see how she fares on Tuesday.

Clinton is shown on 1/18/08 at a rally in Henderson, Nevada thanks to PRPhotos.

The stars are coming out in droves to support Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama. Scarlett Johansson, John Legend, Herbie Hancock, Kate Walsh, Nicole Scherzinger and Nick Cannon were among the celebrities in Will.i.am’s first music video for Obama, “Yes We Can,” and now another video in support of Obama has been released by Will.i.am called “We are the Ones” featuring music and statements from celebrities including Jessica Alba, Ryan Phillippe, Kerry Washington, Macy Gray, George Lopez, Eric Mabius, John Leguizamo, Benjamin McKenzie, Macy Gray and the Black Eyed Peas.

“We are the Ones”

“Yes We Can”

Disclosure: JayBird, MSat and I all support Obama. No matter who you support, just make sure you vote on election day in November. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that Obama will be on the ticket.

I’m torn in my feelings for Barack Obama. On the one hand, I think he’s amazing. On the other, I find it distracting to see someone so attractive running for president. Do you all remember that photo of him on the beach a few years ago? Yeah, distracting. Can you imagine trying to focus on his State of the Union speech? Although I will admit with much embarrassment that I occasionally had the hots for Clinton, so I guess I can get over it. Obama gave a celebrity-friendly interview to Us Weekly in which he said his daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, are aware of Britney Spears and her ilk, but think she’s “yuck.” Anyone with kids that smart is good by me.

Do your daughters Sasha and Malia ever ask about Britney Spears?
Actually, yeah. But they’re very sensible. They’re pretty down on Britney and Paris and all of that. They think that’s very “yuck.” They’re way more into Hannah Montana and Beyonce. They got to go backstage and meet Beyonce and they just love her to death.

Your supporters include Oprah Winfrey. Ever been starstruck?
I don’t really get starstruck. Everyone I’ve met has been very nice and friendly, like Kal Penn. During the writers’ strike, he was like a staffer! And Scarlett Johansson has been traveling a lot. George Clooney is a good friend. He and I worked on Darfur issues together. I’m always impressed by people who do their homework… and use their celebrity to advocate for issues. George does that just about as well as anyone I know.

[From Us Weekly]

But leave it to Us Weekly to make sure an interview doesn’t accidentally sink into something with a little bit of elegance and class. They had to launch into the trite and lame “boxers or briefs” question. But Obama put them into their place pretty quickly – but still gave a good answer.

So, boxers or briefs? Bill Clinton said he wore boxers in a 1992 interview with MTV.
I don’t answer those humiliating questions. But whichever one it is, I look good in ‘em!

[From Us Weekly]

I would be that’s a very true answer. I’m just waiting for some reporter to ask Hillary Clinton what size bra she wears. Or maybe “underwire or soft cup?” “Maxi pads or tampons?” What ridiculousness. I curse Bill for ever answering the question. Actually it’s fine that he rolled with it; I curse whoever asked in the first place. You’ll notice that no ever asked Bush what was going on underneath his trousers. Shudder at the thought. No one would dream of asking Huckabee what he’s sporting down there. Though I think McCain is still fair game.

Here’s Barack Obama campaigning at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas on January 11th. Images thanks to PR Photos.