Proof Mel Gibson is not a Republican...

[SaveElmer]

He apologized for his behavior...

Republicans do not apologize!!

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/07/28/gibson.dui/index.html

[Jade Fox]

1. See this......

An interesting take on his "apology"....

http://www.jameswolcott.com/

[SaveElmer]

3. Read Gibson's statement...

It is not benign as Faux makes it sound...it is an abject complete apology and acknowledgement of his despicable behavior...

[liberal N proud]

2. Republicans just rely on a judge to let them off for their illegal acts

Maybe Gibson could call Rush Limpballs lawyer.

[Beelzebud]

4. He also said the Bush regime used fear like the Mayans did.

I dont' think Gibson is a neo-con bush follower at all.

[GCP]

5. He wants to keep on the good side of the fundies

That's the only reason he apologized IMHO. :puke:

[SaveElmer]

6. You can think what you like...

But you have no proof of that...if he wanted to stay on the good side of the fundies he would have recanted his criticism of Bush and the Iraq war.

[idgiehkt]

7. amen to that.

He doesn't want all this bad p.r. ruining the box office for his movie on Mayan whatever.

Mel succckkkkkssss. Period.

[SaveElmer]

9. It's amazing how uncompassionate we can be...

When comeone of a different political persuasion has personal problems...

[jackbourassa]

14. Jesus...

The guy was driving VERY DRUNK and then attacked a police officer and then went off on a profanity-laced AND VERY ANTI-SEMETIC rant.

Is it totally unreasonable to think the guy is kind of a jerk?

Elmer, why is it you always find it in your heart to defend jerks (or conservatives), but then turn around and attack liberal Democrats?

[SaveElmer]

17. Unlike most hard left liberals...

I do not believe everyone who is not in 100% agreement with me is evil incarnate...

For people who profess to care about people and believe they are compassionate, Liberal ssure don't seem to be able to muster any compassion for people they know may be political opponents.

I did not defend Mel Gibson's actions...I acknowledged his apology and noted how out of character that was for the average Republican...and I accepted the sincerity of it just as I would if it were someone I agreed with.

[Ian David]

22. If he'd gone off on Bush and the Repukes instead of the Jews...

I think I would have offered to post bail.

I might have even been willing to overlook the "Sugar Tits" comment, if that had been the case.

[Libby2]

8. Maybe not.

But he is a first class asshole.

[Bucky]

10. Am I the only person to find Gibson's "alcoholism" reveal convenient?

Don't get me wrong; if I did something stupid and vile I certainly hope I'd have the fortitude to do a full monty mea culpa like Mel Gibson has. But extreme stupidity is best put behind you if you can come up with an extreme explaination for why you were being stupid. And so we come to... wallah!... alcoholism.

This reminds me of Chet Atkins's joke when he came out onstage at the Grand Ol' Opry in the 80s and "admitted" that he was seeking drug addiction treatment at the Betty Ford Clinic. The audience reacted with a bit of shock, until Atkins confessed that he wasn't really on drugs, but that it seemed like a good career move.

[SaveElmer]

11. Well to be fair...

It is well known that Mel Gibson has long struggled with Alcoholism...this is not something he just pulled out of his ass at the last minute...he's talked about it a bunch of times before

[zanne]

12. Republican actors apologize...

to save their asses.

[gulfcoastliberal]

13. Correction: His publicist apologized,or had Gibson apologize

Gibson founded his own cult church in Malibu and meant everything he said.

[wicket]

15. May he overcome his addiction

n/t

[lonestarnot]

16. Fuck mel dipson

[last1standing]

18. Lincoln was a Republican and Fred Phelps was a Democrat.

Not everyone falls neatly into nice little stereotypes. Gibson doesn't like bush's policies, but he also doesn't like most progressive policies either. He's an old school fundamentalist who actually believes what he's saying unlike the falwells and robertsons of the world.

If you really want to know Gibson's political leanings try here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Gibson#Politics

He's not a neo-con or a repub and he's not a progressive or a Democrat. He's just your garden variety nutjob who thinks gays are evil and that women have no right to decide what to do with their own bodies.

[SaveElmer]

19. Well I guess I should have posted this in the Lounge...

I was really more interested in pointing out the Republican inability to apologize...

Oh well...

For the record a person's political views don't really dictate whether I have compassion for them when they have a disease like alcoholism...it sucks no matter the political stripe

[acmejack]

23. In all seriousness, that is an admirable thing.

There is a lesson in what you had to say, I hope at least a couple of other people took a second and read what you wrote. Compassion is something that there is all too little of in this World, especially at this present moment.

We rarely agree on anything, but I thank you for pointing this out now.

[last1standing]

24. Sorry, I wasn't trying to attack you.

I was just trying to point out the ridiculousness of trying to either villify or canonize this guy. Your's was just the thread I happened to do it in. Personally, I don't give a damn about an apology someone I don't know issues about a drunk driving arrest. It's just none of my business - but I do wish him well on the road to recovery, just as I would anyone else. What I do care about is what a public figure says and does when it gets airplay and Gibson has definitely been vocal in his socially conservative leanings.

But yeah, when a something's posted in GD or GD:P, I tend to think it's there for more political leaning discussions. If this had been in the lounge I would have responded differently.

[uppityperson]

20. Apology is a good 1st step indeed. Now, get into treatment, make amends

otherwise also. Words are a good start, it is difficult to say "I was wrong" and good of him to do this. Now, on to the actions to support these words. Good luck Mel in working with an extremely difficult condition.

[hyphenate]

21. While Mel Gibson

has, in the past, been vocal about his political persuasions, he has not been an overtly political celebrity. If nothing else, when you are quite drunk, you tend to say and do things you would never have done otherwise when your mind is able to stop you from saying things that are less than discreet.

IMO, I think criticism of Gibson on the event of his arrest should stick to the facts, and not speculate on his beliefs or things blurted out during a drunken stupor. Many of us keep our counsel on what we say or do about some things, and if we are not in agreement, most of us will keep some more volatile thinking to ourselves.

I do believe that this incident is just another one of the right wing bias in the US, because despite the many arrests of other celebrities, we don't get to hear the sleazy side of those celebs who harbor more conservative views. I personally don't care one whit about the incident, because it sounds more like sour apples and that he was merely acting like a jerk and showing a conceited air of privilege.