Jon Voight On His Obama Slam: 'We Are Losing Freedoms Every Day'

Access Hollywood - June 17, 2009 12:11 PM PDT
Story photo: Jon Voight On His Obama Slam: 'We Are Losing Freedoms Every Day'Jon Voight speaks to Access' Maria Menounos at CineVegas<br />Access HollywoodAccess Hollywood

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Jon Voight made headlines last week after calling President Barack Obama a "false prophet" at a Republican congressional fundraising event, and in a new interview with Access Hollywood's Maria Menounos, the star stood by his words.

"What I said is what I said," Jon told Maria exclusively at the 11th Annual CineVegas Film Festival Awards in Las Vegas, which she hosted and where he was honored with the Marquee Award. "I'm not backing down from it."

And Jon extended his critique, explaining he has been worrying about what's going on in Congress and "many different parts" of government.

"In my opinion, we are losing things every day," he said. "And I'm talking freedoms and I'm talking about, you know, drifting toward... what I would call socialist. But it's more serious than that. When I said this, [Russian news service] Pravda came out and said that it's amazing how fast America is rushing into Marxism. I mean, that's pretty much what's happening and nobody is talking about it over here.

"Russia and China and India only rescued their economies by going against socialism," he added. "And here we are going towards it. It's a bit of a tragedy."

Jon's remarks weren't the first time he'd taken aim at Obama - prior to the 2008 presidential election, the actor penned an op-ed column for the Washington Times in July 28, 2008, forecasting a "socialist era that American has not seen before" should the then-candidate become president.

While his views are a far cry from the pro-Obama stance of many Hollywood stars, the actor said democracy "doesn't work without dialogue."

"We all have to speak up," Jon said. "When people say, 'Oh, you're neo-conservative' - I'm a guy looking for the truth. If you want to know my opinion, I'll give it to you. And if people have the difference of opinion, grab me. I'm available."

Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Stars Supporting Their Candidates
PLAY IT NOW: 2009 CineVegas Awards
PLAY IT NOW: On The Scene: Stars At Obama's Inauguration

MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Jon Voight - Politics - Barack Obama - Las Vegas - Maria Menounos

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  • Hippie Chick
    I agree 100% too and applaud Voight for having the guts to say it AND stand behind it. The way direction we're heading is scary and everyone should shocked and outraged that it's happening in a vacuum and we the people are being TOLD about it later.
    report abuseposted July 1, 2009 3:07 PM PDT
  • blahhhh
    totally agree with him finally someones not afraid to speak up against obama and the scary road he's taking our country down.
    report abuseposted July 1, 2009 2:46 PM PDT
  • Reverend Sherm
    I voted for Barack Obama in hopes things would change --- He did well for the first hundred days or so but he is swiftly becoming nothing more then sheer rhetoric--- what a shame as well as sham!!
    report abuseposted June 26, 2009 5:30 AM PDT
  • Taleisha
    First of all, to call Obama a "prophet" is extreme! He is simply a man who has had to take over a government that was already sinking. He even said that it would take 4 years before everything turned around. We have more freedoms than most countries could imagine in a lifetime. I don't think anything any person in Obama's position would be right with anyone!
    report abuseposted June 24, 2009 6:39 AM PDT
  • marlie
    Point taken. But I think there are instances when government must intervene. And I think that when capitalism goes awry, mostly due to greed and corporate RECORD profits (I'm not talking about reasonable and fair profits), on the backs of the poor and lower middle class, that some form of interventions is in order.
    report abuseposted June 23, 2009 5:17 PM PDT
  • tikiman
    I just call it like I see it. I respect your opinion too. If it makes you feel better I think bush was an idiot too! But, big government is going to destroy the rights of the people in the end. It is a pattern happening over and over again around the world and now it is the usa. What follows is a dictatorship.
    report abuseposted June 22, 2009 3:36 AM PDT
  • tikiman
    obama follows the same fomula of socialistic takeover as chavez and castro did.
    report abuseposted June 22, 2009 3:27 AM PDT
  • marlie
    I vote to the left. And I don't respect everyone's opinion, left or right. What I do respect is their right to have it.
    report abuseposted June 20, 2009 9:19 PM PDT
  • lazyJ
    I love how people who vote to the left say that they respect everyone's opinion, but when a man who is a conservative speaks up he gets called out. I'm not against people saying their political opinions, what I am against is people trying to shove their thoughts down my throat. I like how he put it if you have a difference of opinion call him. He's happy to talk about it wi
    report abuseposted June 20, 2009 6:50 AM PDT
  • marlie
    Since when do we base domestic policy on what Chavez and Castron said or think. That's not even a relevant statement.
    report abuseposted June 19, 2009 5:40 PM PDT
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