Tom Hanks Apologizes for Calling Mormons ‘Un-American’

Headlines (Scroll down for complete stories):
1. Tom Hanks Apologizes for Calling Mormons ‘Un-American’
2. Liam Neeson Upsets PETA Over Horse Carriage Controversy
3. Could Obama Be ‘President for Life’?
4. Obama’s Extraterrestrial Fans
5. Obama's Star Power Embarrassing
 

1. Tom Hanks Apologizes For Calling Mormons ‘Un-American’

Tom Hanks deserves some credit.

The actor has apologized for his over-the-top remarks about Mormons in California.

He had criticized members of the Latter-Day Saints Church who had supported the campaign to pass Proposition 8, which outlawed same sex unions in the Golden State.

“The truth is that a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop. 8 happen. There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American, and I am one of them,” the actor had said.

As pointed out many times before in this column, freedom of expression is the essence of American citizenship.

Evidently, Hanks was moved to write the following statement and provide it to People magazine: “Last week, I labeled members of the Mormon church who supported California's Proposition 8 as 'un-American.' I believe Proposition 8 is counter to the promise of our Constitution; it is codified discrimination. But everyone has a right to vote their conscience — nothing could be more American.

“To say members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who contributed to Proposition 8 are 'un-American' creates more division when the time calls for respectful disagreement. No one should use 'un-American' lightly or in haste. I did. I should not have,” he stated.

It should be noted that Hanks is an executive producer for the controversial series, “Big Love,” which features a polygamist Mormon splinter group.

2. Liam Neeson Upsets PETA Over Horse Carriage Controversy

Liam Neeson has Pink peeved.

He’s also made Chrissie Hynde crabby.

Why are the two singers steamed?

It’s over New York's tradition of offering tourists horse-drawn carriages.

Forever in search of a cause, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) group has started a protest over the carriages because of alleged mistreatment of the horses.

Neeson, a self-professed horse person, claims that horses are not mistreated but actually pampered.

“They've been there for a 100 years and they're an iconic part of New York,” the actor said. “I know many of these guys, and I just hate how the horse-drawn carriage industry is being attacked by animal activists.”

“These are the fittest, well-fed, best-kept horses I have ever seen. I'm a horse rider and lover for many years. They have a good life. They work nine-hour days and they have a holiday. Seriously. If you've ever seen these stables . . . I'd move in tomorrow,” Neeson added.

PETA officials responded, saying, “Liam, maybe you're right; let me ponder this for a moment . . . It does seem like horses would prefer to endure the freezing cold and the panicky booms, noisy traffic, and exhaust fumes of the city over living in a lush pasture.”

Guess only Mr. Ed can answer the question.

3. Could Obama Be ‘President for Life’?

Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore teamed up with MySpace and Katalyst Pictures to produce a “Presidential Pledge” video featuring Cameron Diaz, Courteney Cox, Nicole Richie, Lucy Liu, Jason Bateman, Dakota Fanning, David Arquette, Kevin Connolly and other celebrities.

The stars excitedly pledged to serve the new president.

But are one or two terms long enough to satisfy the hypnotized Hollywood celebs?

Congress may be coming to the rescue.

Democratic New York Rep. Jose Serrano has introduced a bill to abolish the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which limits the occupant of the White House to a maximum number of two presidential terms.

The 22nd Amendment has been the law since 1951. Franklin Roosevelt is the only U.S. president who served more than two terms.

The mainstream media and Democratic Party members complained incessantly about the increase in presidential power initiated by the Bush administration.

Proposing to remove presidential term limits during week one of Obama’s tenure so the fledgling president can Barack-on and on is another example of the growing Dem delusion.

4. Obama’s Extraterrestrial Fans

The presidential celebrity mystique has even affected those who watch the skies for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence.

In a piece aptly titled “The Empire Strikes Barack,” the U.K. Sun reports that aliens in UFOs may have attended the Obama inauguration ceremony.

Reportedly, a shadowy object streaked across the sky in CNN footage taken immediately before Obama’s inauguration speech. The object flew behind the Washington Monument and vanished into the clouds.

UFO expert Nick Pope said, “We know it is not an aircraft because a strict no-fly zone was imposed over the area. It seems to have been going a little bit too fast for any type of bird.”

Why would visitors from other galaxies go the distance to attend the inauguration of Barack Obama?

The answer comes from pop singer and former boy band member Justin Timberlake who reflected on Inauguration Day in this way: “We are cool now.”

5. Obama's Star Power Embarrassing

President Barack Obama is walking, talking, and acting like a conservative.

There’s daily footage of him as the devoted husband and doting dad. He speaks reverentially about the founders of the nation and the need to serve the country and each other. He wears his faith on his sleeve, even inviting famed pastor Rick Warren to the inauguration to ask for God’s blessing.

But the conservative symbols and imagery stand in stark contrast to the left-of-center agenda that is emerging from his administration: executive orders that weaken America’s national security and safety, taxpayer funding of abortions, three-quarters of a billion dollars in pork included in the bailout bill, etc.

We’ve seen presidential liberalism in action before. But what’s different this time around is that Obama is in a better position to move the country to far-left regions than were any of his predecessors.

It’s a given that whoever sits in the Oval Office is a bona fide celebrity. It’s always been that way. But Obama’s star power rises to a level that his predecessors could only have dreamed of.

The media helped move the needle up on Obama’s fame meter with embarrassing, one-sided, royalty-like coverage during the campaign season. The needle continues to be further pushed thanks to the minute-by-minute gushing on the part of news and entertainment venues.

There are additional factors that are contributing to Obama’s celebrity cachet including good looks, confidence and take-charge attitude.

He’s the hottest celebrity on the planet, affirmed by the number of magazine covers his face adorns, with People and Us Weekly leading the pack. And “Entertainment Tonight,” “Extra,” and “Access Hollywood” just can’t seem to get their fill of the Barackstar. Obamamania shows no sign of diminishing.

The presidential merchandising is in full swing, too. There’s the “official” souvenir plate that’s available via late-night TV commercials, and over 36,000 Obama-related products are currently offered on eBay.

Cable is getting in on the presidential celebrity act. National Geographic has set aside time for a special presentation on Obama and his travels on Air Force One. Not to be left out, filmmakers are jockeying for the rights to a big-screen Obama.

Our new president may be the biggest celebrity on Pennsylvania Avenue, but he’s not D.C.’s only one. The high CQ (celebrity quotient) of his wife, first lady Michelle Obama, was demonstrated by a recent comparison in the U.K. Sunday Times, one in which Mrs. Obama was called “America's Lady Diana.”

“Not since Diana, Princess of Wales, has there been such a glamorous role model at the apex of society. The First Lady has excited the fashion world, but like Diana she would rather champion the less fortunate than be a clotheshorse,” the newspaper opined.

The GOP has a challenge in trying to deal with a media avalanche of images, symbolism, and rhetoric that is systematically constructing Obama, the myth.