Tom Hanks Apologizes for Calling Mormon Supporters of Proposition 8 'Un-American'

[John Kerry VonErich]

Source: Fox News (Unfortunately)

Tom Hanks Apologizes for Calling Mormon Supporters of Proposition 8 'Un-American'
Friday, January 23, 2009

Tom Hanks says he's sorry he told FOXNews.com that Mormons who supported California's constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage were "un-American."

"Last week, I labeled members of the Mormon church who supported California's Proposition 8 as 'un-American,'" the actor said in a statement through his publicist. "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," the statement continues. "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."

The "Big Love" producer made his original remarks at the Los Angeles premiere of the HBO series last week.



Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,482266,00.html

[Tom Kitten]

1. Tom Hanks is a Big Star

Tom Hanks should apologize for some of the movies he's appeared in...

[mackerel]

2. LMAO - It's true!

[Lance31]

3. Sounded pretty accurate to me.

[Tom Kitten]

5. He has the right to say whatever he wants

And I know his heart is in the right place and to tell the truth I shouldn't have have stuck my foot into this...

[IndianaGreen]

12. Mormonism is a racist and homophobic cult

and it is divine revelation to Mormonism that polygamy is desirable, and that Blacks wear the mark of Cain.

[razorman]

11. What? You mean there's NOT going to be a "Joe Vs. The Volcano 2"?

[Divine Discontent]

4. bah! he said what he said, this was the typical apology to come from a publicist saying "Tom,

you're getting lots of calls from people very upset", and they tell him to let them issue an apology. But, he knows damn well those asshats are against the principals of the Constitution.

[scytherius]

6. Well, they aren't un-American as bigotry is VERY American. n/t

nt

[jrobert484]

7. Requiem For A Dream: The Decline Of American Values

Are Americans merely uneducated about the difference between a republic and a democracy? Or have we as a country changed, and now we aspire to be the type of tyranny our ancestors feared?

http://www.broowaha.com/article.php?id=4488

[Township75]

8. I was hoping once we got into power that the "you're unamerican" stuff

would stop, but I guess some just want to be like republicans.

[Demeter]

9. We've Got to Stop Apologizing for Telling the Truth

Just because you are born in this country doesn't mean you have a clue what being an American means. And after decades of GOP indoctrination and debasement of public education, children aren't learning citizenship.

The religious-first people don't get it. It's American principles first, freedom of religion and freedom FROM religion being secondary and subordinate.

I've been learning about Jehovah's Witnesses lately. They don't do holidays, don't do competitve sports, and don't do politics, because they are waiting for the "God" version. I'm surprised they even pay taxes.

[Acadia Blue]

10. Hey they call us un-American for not supporting con policies.

[GinaMaria]

13. of all the things that have been labeled un-American

working to take away human rights of citizen's of this country seems to fit the descriptor. Haven't we always expanded rights for people, included more people into the circle of democracy? Their actions were about reducing rights, and excluding others from democracy (not very democratic).

[lunatica]

14. I like Tom Hank's unapologetic apology.

He didn't mention being sorry about implying they're bigots and homophobes, or that even though what they believe may not be un-American it's still stupid and utterly wrong.

Hanks is cool and I love him

And I rather liked Joe v. The Volcano up until the part where they land on the island. After that it crossed the line from quirkiness to just being silly.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rocktivity]

16. They may not be un-American, but they're definitely un-Constitutional

rocktivity

[No Elephants]

17. Tom Hanks is a very decent human being. He's right: supporting the wrong side of an

issue is not un-American. Wrong, yes, immoral, yes, but not un-American.

[and-justice-for-all]

18. Those smucks deserve no apology...nt