Sean Penn: calls Bush "a Beelzebub -- and a dumb one." [View All]

[LynneSin]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003120850

Always a Challenge: Sean Penn Meets the Press at Film Festival

By E&P Staff

Published: September 12, 2006 11:55 AM ET updated 12:10, 12:30 PM

NEW YORK Sparks usually fly, from one quarter or another, when actor Sean Penn meets the press, and it happened again this week at a news conference for the Toronto International Film Festival. Chances were greater, as he was touting a long-expected political drama screened there, the re-make of "All the King's Men."

Among the highlights on Sunday, Penn asked photographers to stop snapping so he could hear questions, and he called President Bush "a Beelzebub -- and a dumb one."

Penn stars in the new movie as a Huey Long-type populist politician in Louisiana, with Jude Law playing a crucial role as his friend, an alcoholic reporter.

"One could make the argument that George Bush is a good politician," Penn said at one point, seemingly offering praise. Then he added: "I think the issue is how you define politician. Once upon a time, politics was the organization of things to benefit the people."