At least no real emergency response crews had to stop working to go rescue the little boy out playing "hero" in the water.
Sean Penn has shown up in New Orleans to save the day!…
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
Sean Penn's Katrina PR Stunt Springs A Leak - Comments Page 2
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - Matthew T. Sussman
It's a good thing to save lives.
But a true hero does not exalt onesself through the media in an attempt to be heralded as such when others are doing the same job without nearly the same glory.
27 - Gary
So here's Sean Penn in New Orleans trying to rescue people and we have right wingers posting that they wish he would be shot/shot at.
Nice way to promote your agenda.
28 - steve
Where is Team America when you need them?
29 - Ed
And you.... you're doing WHAT exactly?
Oh, right. NOTHING.
How superior are you, now?
30 - Disgusted Brit
My God - what has happened to America?
Sean Penn was hauling your fellow countrymen out of the water - he was saving lives - thousands of your own people are dead and all most of you can do is bitch about party politics!
Dont you care about your own people? - you've got a million refugees and your shameful government's response has been pitiful - most people around the world have been disgusted by the Bush administration's sickening, callous disregard for the suffering of American citizens last week - what are you doing to help? Send some cash to the US Red Cross - I have - and grow up!
31 - steve
sean penn is a communist. he should move to france and live beside johnny depp
32 - dr Dave
Indeed, what a cheap PR stunt... so very much unlike unnamed top-ranking politicos who would never do such a thing as showing up on the locations of national disasters with not much else than an army of photographers, stupid one-liners and an utter inability to actually do things...
Come to think of it, maybe there's worth than Sean Penn and his toy-boat mission...
33 - dr Dave
arf... damn typos...
34 - steve
I think tim robbins and susan sarandon should share the same dingy as Penn. what a sight that would be! then they can all start a commune in France together
35 - Al Barger
Let's leave Tim Robbins and the missus out of this. There's plenty of time to monkey with them another day, but I haven't seen anything of them rushing out to play hero in front of cameras like this.
They do enough silly stuff to criticize without invoking them when they don't.
36 - James
I wonder if anyone knows about political hierarchy. Everybody is so quick to point the finger at Bush, When it all started at the city and state levels. Initial responsibility should start at the State level with the governor. Governor Blanco should have had the ball rolling two weekends ago. Federal government does not get involved till it is realized that the state cannot handle the situation.
37 - Gary
How about those pictures yesterday of Bush smirking for the camera with his arms around some emaciated black girls.
38 - Matthew T. Sussman
Well Gary if you want to be consistent, "at least he tried to do something."
39 - Matt Taibbi
I was on the boat with Sean Penn this weekend. That's me in the background of the above photo.
The article you wrote 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 probably based your reports on came from an Australian writer who was angry that Sean had declined an interview.
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
40 - steve
so you were with sean penn, eh? did you drop your canon rebel slr into the mississippi?
did your sports lens get a good picture of spicoli saving lives?
does sean have a movie coming out soon? or was he down there because his face hasnt been in the news lately?
41 - LAH
Good try. What was he doing there? I saw the pictures, the boat was packed and clearly unstable. And why a reporter anyway? What is Sean Penn doing rescuing a friend's family member, is he trained in such actions? And what about his flak jacket? Who is this mythical "Australian" writer? Sean Penn is a clown.
42 - steve
sean penn is making a natural disaster documentary...you didnt know? LoL
43 - Dave Nalle
All he needs to do to film a disaster is point the camera at himself all day long.
Dave
44 - Hardy
In a funny but not so surprising development, the National Post, a major Canadian daily paper, featured that very same picture of Sean Penn in Monday's edition. The funny and not so suprising part is that they cut off the picture at Penn's forearm, thus leaving the bailing can out of the frame. So instead of a PR hungry actor looking like a bumbling moron, he looks like he's dramatically making eye contact while reaching for a faceless victim.
This was accompanied by a picture of John Travolta who, according to the caption, flew his own plane to New Orleans laden with supplies. Its cool he got clearance to land as a civilian in a disaster zone in the midst of an evacuation.
Also, on the front page was a picture with Oprah in the Superdome...which I thought was mostly evacuated and now secured.
Still, worthy of a front page in a national newspaper...as opposed to unrecognizable pictures of firefighters, medical staff, policemen or army.
45 - DaveOne
Bush was late with a response AFTER the hurricane was overwith. Period. And to say Bush has been faced with obstacles is ridiculous- he has created most of the obstacles himself, and he still found the time to take a 5 week vacation in the middle of a WAR!!!!! Face it, the guy was late in offering help to Tsunami victims, and he only responded to New Orleans when it became a political issue, and that's when he showed up and started hugging African Americans in front of the cameras to prove to America that he really cares lol. Please don't tell me you are still fooled by this administration and their lack of concern for our welfare?
46 - Al Barger
Okay M. Taibbi, your version is that this Douglas Brinkley from New Orleans called Sean Penn in LA or wherever over a missing family member, and he comes roaring in like Mighty Mouse. "Here I come to save the day!"
This story doesn't really make good sense. An untrained rich guy a thousand miles away would maybe spend a few bucks to call the closest in competent help he could. But if for example I were stranded in an Indiana snowstorm, I wouldn't be calling somebody in LA to come dig me out. I'd be froze to death (or in this case drowned) before they got there.
And he needs a reporter from Rolling Stone magazine with him on this "rescue mission" why? I assume that you did NOT have a camera to record his heroics, right?
47 - Merry
Gary: Bush is the President and is the HEAD of State. The people working under him are responsible for informing him of what is needed. The requests were all low balled and as a result the efforts where not enough. But people, such as you, should stop using this tragedy as a political platform for bash Bush. He can not do it all himself, everyone failed these people not just one man.
48 - ukexpat
If you think Sean Penn's only reason for being there is shameless self-publicity, what about Oprah and Jesse Jackson??
49 - augrad
This is in response to GARY who said, "If Bush took care of things properly you wouldn't have to see Sean Penn in a bass boat at all."
Instead of blaming the president for something that could have been avoided, lets take a few steps back and reason this out.
I live in Pensacola, FL. On Friday morning before the hurricane, we woke up to the fact that it was going to hit us. We were all making the necessary plans to pack up and get out. Then, fortunately for us, but unfortunately for NOLA, we woke up Saturday and breathed a sigh of relief. We go to NOLA quite frequently for weekend trips, so knowing something about the city, I thought to myself, "the people who live there don't even have cars, how can they evacuate?" I just assumed the governor and mayor of the city would be chartering buses, and coordinating evacuation shelters with neighboring states. They had 2 DAYS to rescue the people of NOLA. I was shocked that they did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
Now, I'm not a rocket scientist, but it occurs to me that these people could have been long gone by the time the hurricane hit with a little effort by the local government, and FEMA wouldn't have even been needed--except for the dummies who had a means to leave, but chose to stay anyway.
I have found that when you don't know much about a situation, it's best just to not say anything.
50 - billy
what morons bush supporters show themselves to be. when things go wrong the boss takes the hit, not the low level employees. bush supporters havent learned the basics in life. thats why nearly everything they say is worthless.
51 - augrad
Billy--
Apparently you are not aware of how this country works. The states govern themselves until things get too big for them to handle. That's when the Federal Government steps in. IT WAS NOT THE PRESIDENTS RESPONSIBILITY TO EVACUATE NEW ORLEANS, NOR WAS IT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS RESPONSIBILITY TO EVACUATE NEW ORLEANS. It is documented (by the governor of LA) that the president called her and asked her to mandate an evacuation of New Orleans and surrounding areas. Again, if you don't know what you are talking about, then don't say anything at all--people will think you are intelligent if you do that. Opening your mouth is what gets you in trouble.
52 - Al Barger
Perhaps Dubya should have grabbed the closest rowboat and headed out to sea in New Orleans looking for survivors with Monsieur Penn and his Rolling Stone reporter. That'd help.
53 - billy
augrad you just lied. blanco declared a disaster early on and even that didnt get bush off his vacation. ehat dont you keep your mouth shut you right wing nutcase. bush is at fault, not some lowly officials. the more you spin, the more republicans look like the pussies they are.
54 - Merry
Dear, Dear Billy. It's simply common sense that individuals like yourself don't stop long enough to factor into a situation before you begin speaking. This is the United States and the 21st century and not the days of Kings and Emperors. The president definitely holds some blame for the catastrophe that the south is faced with, but to place all the blame on one individual is simply ridiculous and political propaganda. What a shock you provide no intelligent discussion just insults that have no merit. Thank goodness the Republic party will one day take over the remaining branches of government leaving you, the simple folk, to hold your protest signs while drooling.
55 - billy
will one day take over the remaining branches of government leaving you,
luckily the RepubliKKKans are finished. they have maxed out. the best they can do is 51% for their biggest star in a generation (BUSH) and they had to cheat to get that. you will be bitching like the right wing moron you are real soon. republicans only go down from here.
56 - augrad
I am not sure where you get your news from, Billy, but you are terribly misinformed. I heard on CNN (not FOX) that Bush and the governor had spoken on the phone and mutually decided it was best to evacuate the city 2 days before the storm hit.
Does it make you feel better about yourself to call people names?
57 - Merry
Poor, Poor Billy. I think it might be time for a nap. Have a nice day :)
58 - johnnybub
I heard this morning that mr penn had a photographer with him at all times,,I guess that bullet proof vest ( which is illegal for private citizens to own and wear in public) just was put on by accident,,,
what a friggin publicity hound,,why doesnt he go back to Iraq ,,,
59 - Meg Lee Chin
Bush hired someone with no experience in disaster management to head FEMA - one of his buddies. Before the storm, flood prevention budgets had been slashed for 3 years in a row. Then, instead of rescuing people who clung on rooftops and died, Bush busied himself by lending a hand instead to his oil buddies by releasing some oil from the nation's petroleum reserves. They'll be making money from this disaster. It's really getting pretty hard to defend George Bush. Time for people to wake up and realize that America has been robbed and raped. The man who went AWOL from the National Guard and hid in a bunker during 911 is showing his true colors. You really gotta look this time cuz it's staring you right in the face.
60 - Gary
At least Bush visited the general area of the disaster within a week or so of the hurricane and had his picture taken with his arms around two honest to god negroes at the same time.
We didn't see any heroics of this sort from your precious Sean Penn and he's a famous actor.
p.s. Move to France.
61 - Meg Lee Chin
All of this Sean Penn backlash makes me admire the guy even more. I'm glad he was courageous enough to go out there, even with the critics baying at his heels. If he managed to save just one life, its priceless and worth all the flack.
Human beings are motivated by ego, that's a fact. I'd rather this human trait lead to the creation of something good. If more celebrities jump on the bandwagon with this becoming the latest trend, then the more the merrier. better this than than some stupid new fashion look or hairdo. The point is, you don't have to be Jesus or Mother Teresa, and you're motives needn't be 100% pure - we're human and they rarely are. The main thing is that anyone can do some good now. Anyway, Sean Penn probably isn't that desperate for publicity anyway.
62 - Meg Lee Chin
By the way. I moved to England!
63 - Gary
I seriously doubt you're in England. With a name like Meg Lee Chin you're obviously French.
64 - Meg Lee Chin
C'mon Gary ,you and I both know George Bush is far from heroic. With all of the money oil companies poured into his election and PR, even Saddam could be president! The guy is a con and Americans have been duped. He has taken America and sold it down the river. This disaster makes it all clear. You only have to open your eyes to see. America has become an embarrassment. Your patriotism, while admirable, is misguided.
65 - Gary
You know what Meg? You're right.
66 - Meg Lee Chin
Yeah I left the US. America is not the place it used to be. The media is far too censored and controlled by corporate interests. I worked in sales and trained in media and advertising. I learned early on about the deregulation Reagan brought about which ruined America. The population has since been drip-fed a steady diet of propaganda ever since. When I was a kid, the newspeople used to actually report the news! I'd live anywhere in Europe before the States right now. I don't mean to be insulting, but it sounds like you've never really traveled. You maybe oughtta get out and have a look around, ya know? There's a whole big world out there.
67 - Mark
Yeah you guys lost me with your scathing criticism of Sean Penn. Regardless of his motives, bullet proof vest or anything else, he is out there trying to save people and do some good in this tragic circumstance while 99% of us sit back saying how horrible it is. A life saved is a life saved. Sounds pretty simple to me.
68 - Gary
Awesome! Meg you are like some kind of Obi Wan Kenobi. I hear they call burritos "bangers and mash" over there in France. Is that true? Someday maybe i'll just pack my suitcase and leave this old apple orchard in East Pallookaville. Until that day I can only listen to your magical tales from around the globe....and dream....
69 - Halo Askew
I'd heard about his "rescue attempt" on the radio yesterday, but thanks to a quick search on the ol' Google tonight, I received not only the PICTURE (worth a basquillion words) but the stellar wit from your site. By the way, I linked to your site from mine with the words: "Donate to the Send Sean Penn Back to the Safety of His Ego Fund." I'm pretty sure Madonna isn't missing him anymore.
70 - Darth Syphilis
>>Bottom Line: If Bush took care of things properly you wouldn't have to see Sean Penn in a bass boat at all.
Bottom line: If the looters had taken care of things properly, there would be no Sean Penn...and no bass boat.
71 - Robert
If the local and state authorities should have taken care of business before this disaster even occured, we would have seen better progress being established afterwards.
72 - Eric Olsen
what a wildly heterodox gathering on this thread: from Al to RS reporter Matt Taibbi to Meg Lee Chin (and if you are THE Meg Lee Chin, who recorded for Invisible, you ROCK - come back your nation needs you) to Gawker.
What a country.
If would be cool if Sean would stop by and shoot the shit
73 - RJ
Sean would stop by, I'm sure, but he's still busy trying to bail out a sinking bass boat with a red Dixie cup...
74 - BB
Doug Brinkley is the caretaker of Hunter S. Thompson literary works. He is a close friend of Sean Penn, who was also close to Thompson. That he would at least try to help is admirable. That because you don't like his politics would make him a subject of lies, ridicule and innuendo is an example of how fucked up this country has become.
75 - RJ
Hey, I'd be down there "trying to help" too, if only I had millions in the bank and a personal photographer to take pictures of my "heroic" actions for all the world to see...
But I would NEVER be stupid enough to try to bail out a boat with a fucking DIXIE CUP!