Actor and activist Sean Penn personally rescued forty people in New Orleans, according to the New York Daily News. This was attested to by presidential historian Douglas Brinkley, who is covering the hurricane forRolling Stone. See this story and photograph here.
I was rescued from a disaster over twenty years ago by a foreign commercial freighter. They had a lot of crew members taking videos of our rescue, but they saved our lives when our own government failed to answer our distress signal.
What did you do today?
Ed/Pub:LM
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
I saved money on car insurance
but seriously, we have a real discrepancy here on what Penn was actually accomplishing in the former Big Easy
2 - Cerulean
What did he do? Where did you get your information? Where is he exactly?
3 - Cerulean
The negative reports were from before. Apparently he got it together and did rescue people. It matters.
4 - Lori
Congrats to Sean Penn for his rescuing efforts. At least he went out and did something. I think the laying blame is not needed. Leave your political views and your Photographer at home for another time and just unit in the effort for all of us to do what we can to help!!!!
5 - Bob A. Booey
I guess he did good, regardless of whatever egotism leads one to fly out and do that himself.
Sean Penn really does seem to care about social issues, he's just so self-serious, earnest and passionate it's easy to make fun of.
That is all.
6 - JCT
Shall we all get on our knees and thank the almighty Sean Penn for his self rightious, photo op? Whatever....
7 - Cerulean
No you should get off our ass and do something before you criticise someone who is.
8 - Jewels
Sean is a passionate guy about everything it seems, but my God, hauling your own photo-op guy along? Too Much.
Bet he experienced a little anxiety over just having that damn plastic cup to bail that fishing boat with...gators in them waters...
9 - Jewels
Cerulean, here you are; to back you up:
Rolling Stone magazine reporter told me:
(This was in response my saying that it would be sad to think anyone would make a photo-op over this situation...)
"I was on the boat with Sean Penn this weekend. That's me in the background of the above photo. (he saw the boat bailing photo) The article you (spoke about) is completely mistaken. He did not bring a personal photographer. He came with me and his friend, a New Orleans writer named Douglas Brinkley, and the reason he came was because a friend of his had asked him to help him find a family member still stuck in her house. He did not consent to any photographs taken. The boat did spring a leak, but only at the end of the trip, after one of the people we pulled out of the water kicked the plug out by accident. The articles you read probably based reports on came from an Australian writer who was angry that Sean had declined an interview... "
He angrily goes on to add...
"I don't understand why people like you insist on believing that kind of reporting. Probably because you want to
believe it."
Sincerely,
M. Taibbi
Reporter
Rollling Stone Magazine
Well Mr. Taibbi, I was not in the boat now was I? Just seeking some clarification. (My head is now missing.)
ouch!
10 - Cerulean
Thanks Jewels. Good information. How did you get in contact with the Rolling Stone reporter?
That was what I was thinking. No one who is that vain is wading in waist deep flood water when he could be home in his luxurious mansion.
When you think about what it even took to get to those areas of New Orleans and the lack of the most basic creature comforts or safety, that is not an idle enterprise. Possibly he could not have gotten in without someone's press credentials.
I used to be quite adventurous, sailing and hiking and going all round on my bike. When I got into trouble, the people around me got me out, not a government agency. Similarly, I have helped stranded hikers and people unfamiliar with the ocean. Sean Penn surfs and it's not uncommon for surfers to save people from drowning who've gotten overwhelmed by the currents and waves. So nothing that I've read about his activities surprised me.
That Australian journalist should be fired.
11 - Cerulean
E Online Item at Yahoo News confirming that Sean Penn did indeed rescue 40 people and summarizing his recent Larry King appearance about same. So this Australian guy just lied and everyone dutifully repeated it.
The system here won't accept the URL but you can go to Yahoo News or E Online and find it.
12 - Cerulean
Gawker, a blog for media and celebrity gossip cited this thread for confirmation that the person behind Sean Penn in a photograph of him bailing out his boat is indeed Matt Taibbi, Rolling Stone writer. Thanks again to Jewels for providing that information.
http://www.gawker.com/news/matt-taibbi/democracy-prevails-in-new-orleans-124596.php
Yeah, o.k. Gawker, but you really seemed to have missed most of the larger points of this story.
13 - MIKE DAVIS
IT SEEMS ALL HAVE FORGOT WHAT OUR COUNTRY STANDS FOR "I disagree with you but will defend your right to say it with my life" So sean i hope you do understand there are many people defending you right to free speach while your traveling the world.
Do you believe chevaz, stalin, all muslim leaders
mao, pol pot and a host of other dictators of history would defend your right to critizize them. Be careful sean that liberal bubble might burst.
14 - Mike davis
whoops
I GUESS I WAS NOT REALLY RESPONDING TO THE PICTURE. WHY WOULD SEAN EVEN BE WEARING A VEST? IT WOULD SERVE NO PURPOSE EXCEPT TO LOOK KIND OF COOL, I GUESS. ALSO, WITH ALL THE CHAOS AROUND THAT AREA AFTER KATRINA WHY WOULD AN UNTRAINED, OUT OF SHAPE, UNSKILLED (EXCEPT FOR ACTING) PERSON PLACE THEMSELVES IN A RESCUE AREA AND WITH NARCISSTIC ODASITY THINK YOU COULD BE HELPFULL. HE ACTUALLY BELIEVES HIS BUMBLING PRESENCE COULD PERSUADE THE WORLD THE US IS INCOMPETANT AND SOULD BE RUN BETTER BY PC LIBRALS. THE KATRINIA HURRICANE WAS A HUGH TERRIBLE TRADGY THAT WOULD OVERTAX ANY GOVT. AGENCY MODERATE OR LIBRAL. OH, BY THE WAY THIS TRADGY DID EXPOSE MORE THEN DISASTER RELIEF. WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE POOR BLACK FAMILIES WITH ALL THOSE CHILDREN LIVING ON WELFARE. THERE SEEMED TO BE FEW YOUNG BLACK MALES HELPING THERE FAMILIES. YOUNG BLACK MALES OF AMERICA ITS TIME TO TAKE A LESSON FROM BILL COSBY AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS. HAVING LOTS OF ILLIGETIMATE BABIES WITHOUT TAKING RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CARE AND WELFARE OF YOUR CHILDREN IS SENDING TERRIBLE MESSAGE TO BIGOTED AMERICA THAT WANTS TO PROFILE AFRO-AMERICANS. THE YOUNG BLACK WOMEN OF AMERICA SHOULD DENY THESE YOUNG MEN AND HOLD THERE VALUES TO A HIGHER STANDARDS. MIKE
15 - TJD246
I AND SOME FRIENDS WERE REMENICING ABOUT HURRICANE KATRINA. WE WHERE AT THE CORNER OF NAPOLEAN AND CAMP WITH SEAN PENN. WHERE THEY BEGGED AND BARROWED THAT BOAT FROM THE CNN CREW.ALTHOUGH SEAN WAS CERTAINLY OF SOME HELP.....HE IN NO WAT RESCUED ANY 40 PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE WE RESCUED THAT DAY WHERE HOLD OUTS. THE GOV HAD DECLARED MARTIAL LAW AND ORDERED EVERYONE OUT. ALL SEAN DID WAS RIDE ALONG IN A BOAT THAT WENT OUT AND PICKED THESE PEOPLE UP WHO WHERE ORDERED OUT. RESCUED MY BUTT. RODE ALONG YES.