January 7, 2005

NO WONDER THEY HATE US (via Ali):

TV Appeal by Richard Gere Perplexes Palestinians (Reuters)

He's been a prostitute's rich beau, an officer, a gentleman and a gigolo, but Palestinians can't fathom actor Richard Gere's latest incarnation as a cheerleader for their elections this weekend.

Well known for his vocal support of Tibet's Dalai Lama and celebrated for his captivating good looks, Gere urged Palestinians in a television commercial broadcast ahead of Sunday's poll in the West Bank and Gaza to get out to vote for a new president to succeed Yasser Arafat (news - web sites), who died in November.

"Hi, I'm Richard Gere and I'm speaking for the entire world. We're with you during this election time. It's really important. Get out and vote," Gere says in the English-language advertisement. He repeats the phrase, "Get out and vote" in Arabic.

But many voters, already struggling with the labyrinthine politics of the West Bank and Gaza, say they have never heard of the actor who swept Debra Winger off her feet as a dashing Navy officer in the 1982 film "An Officer and a Gentleman" and were even less interested when they were told he's an American.

"I don't even know who the candidates are other than Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas), let alone this Gere," Gaza soap factory worker Manar an-Najar told Reuters Wednesday.

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 7, 2005 10:52 AM
Comments

The Palestinians don't know him? I thought he was world famous for being the first actor to portray Lancelot with a New Jersey accent.

Posted by: jd watson at January 7, 2005 11:12 AM

Is this the latest in The Guardian's efforts to guide thick-headed foreigners in their elections?

Posted by: Peter B at January 7, 2005 11:19 AM

Well if the Palestinians aren't impressed with Gere and his religion, perhaps Hollywood needs to bring out the big guns---Tom Cruise and the Scientologists. That should do it.

Posted by: AllenS at January 7, 2005 1:25 PM

Not sure why you clipped the quote short. The next line in the Reuters article is a gem:

"We don't need the Americans' intervention. We know who to elect. Not like them -- they elected a moron."

Posted by: TedL at January 7, 2005 2:23 PM

That's right Tedl, can't slip anything past you or the Palestinians. They've done just fine since 1948 without our help.

Posted by: h-man at January 7, 2005 2:29 PM

Also, like the Palestinians' former leader, Gere had had his sexual prefrences questioned for many years, so there ought to be some sort of solidarity with Yassir's fans on the West Bank and in Gaza over that one...

Posted by: John at January 7, 2005 3:04 PM

Does Gere realize that being a Buddhist is no better than being a Jew, a Christian or a Hindu to a Moslem?

No wonder they can't figure out what he's all about. He has no idea himself.

Posted by: erp at January 7, 2005 3:20 PM

Does Gere realize that being a Buddhist is no better than being a Jew, a Christian or a Hindu to a Moslem?

Actually it may be worse. In some schools of jurisprudence Jews and Christians are entitled to tolerance upon submission and payment of the appropriate tax, but a Buddhist would be deemed an idol worshiper and his only choices would be conversion or death.

Posted by: Robert Schwartz at January 7, 2005 10:36 PM
« WHICH WOULD EXPLAIN THE WRITE-IN FOR SCOOP JACKSON IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE: | Main | TOO HYPE (via Ali): »