{"article":{"id":33152,"heading":"Sheen for President","author":"David See","created":"2003-03-05 21:34:46","modified":"2003-03-05 22:20:20","last_modified":"Thu, 06 Mar 2003 05:20:20","article":"<br>  <br> Do stars' views on Iraq matter? <br><br>    <br>  <br> Actor Martin Sheen has endured hate mail and calls for his sacking over his high profile anti-war stance.  <br>  <br> But his TV role as the American president in NBC's The West Wing is nothing to do with his championing the anti-war cause or promotion of the \"virtual march\" against the war, say executives.  <br><br> The website Citizens Against Celebrity Pundits accuses stars of abusing their status and fame to put over an anti-war message.  <br><br> Are famous personalities abusing their position by promoting political beliefs? Or is it a good use of celebrity to influence public opinion? Is Martin Sheen's TV role in too much conflict with his personal views for him to continue in The West Wing?  <br><br>   <br>  <br> I wrote.... <br>  <br>  \" I don't watch the series, but will vote for him. <br>  <br> Most celebrities are more intelligent than any member of the current US admin. <br>  <br> That's not very hard. <br>  <br> Most  keep their opinions muted because they fear financial loss and other fallout. Those brave enough to speak out for humane behaviour in international relations deserve credit. <br>  <br> Well done Martin Sheen! You will be  the next president of the US, for real. <br>  <br> And the US will need to reform its voting system to get a  real democracy and proportional representation, and never again have  an appointed president, with a small \"p\", and no brain.\" <br>  <br>   <br>  <br> Regards, David S.\n","contact":"","link":"http:\/\/news.bbc.co.uk\/1\/hi\/talking_point\/2817809.stm","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":" Tell the BBC you will vote for Sheen !","numcomment":2,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2003\/03\/33152.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":33158,"heading":"lightning rod","article":"This post should be a lightning rod for right-wing thugs. Har har har!","author":"duke of earl","parent_id":33152,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-05 22:03:10","modified":"2003-03-05 22:03:10","fileurl":""},{"id":33160,"heading":"Sheen is El Brillo !!","article":" On Mexican Indy media...and Barcelona\r\nCourtesy of the Translation  tool on LA Indy...\r\n","author":"David See","parent_id":33152,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-05 22:20:20","modified":"2003-03-05 22:20:20","fileurl":""}]}