Sean Penn’s Colors costar Maria Conchita Alonso has written an open letter to him on the website Newsbusters in response to the actor’s recent comments in support of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Alonso, who was raised in Venezuela, wrote the letter in response to Penn’s interview on the March 5 episode of Real Time with Bill Maher in which he said that Chavez had won the presidency in “14 of the most transparent elections in the globe, and been elected democratically.” She writes: “Even though I have great respect for your artistic talent, I was appalled by a recent television interview where you vigorously showed support for the regime of Hugo Chavez. Therefore, I’ve decided to set the record straight for you regarding the Chavez regime, supporting my case based not only on my political ideologies, but on proven facts you choose to ignore. Otherwise, I believe your position would be different.” She says that the Chavez regime has been marred by lack of free speech, disputed elections, violence, and poverty. “My intention isn’t to convince you, but to let you know what is truly happening in this beautiful country of noble people, Venezuela,” she says. “I would encourage you to investigate in depth the ‘inside story’ and realize for yourself the dark side behind the person you choose to idolize.”
Mar 30
2010
06:47 AM ET
Sean Penn's politics criticized by former costar
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Sean Penn’s a tool. He’s an idiot.
Sean Penn is, perhaps, the biggest idiot of all time!
Another Hollywood celebrity who has no education and is a complete d*mbass. He has no clue waht is happening in the world. None!
Sean Penn, you’re a PUNK!
Sean Penn might be an odious little ferret, but he’s still entitled to his opinions.
He might be entitled to his opinion, but he should not be endorsed for being tolerant and close minded to the tragedies that befall the nation of Venezuala under its totalitarian regime.
An opinion is how best to handle the health care crisis. Sean Penn’s alliance with Chavez is not an opinion, it is simply a man burying his head in the sand.
Opinions, yes. But facts? No. And the facts are that Chavez is ruling with an iron, dictatorial hand. He just arrested the head of the last free media outlet merely because he was being criticized publicly. Dissent is NOT allowed in Venezuela anymore but Penn and he’s seized utilities and private businesses like they were going out of style. The facts, without embellishment, speak for themselves.
I’m sorry ‘joblo’ but you understanding is far from correct… Only one was arrested and it was not just because criticized publicly, he was accusing the government without a single evidence of really BIG crime. Just imagine that you appear on CNN or even FOX News telling that president Obama is a terrorist, the white house is a date house and drugs are been sold without any control in the congress. Do you think those statements will not have any effects?????
And I feel entitled to say he is a complete and total idiot. I doubt Mr. Penn would have received the opportunities he received in the states if he had instead grown up in Chavez’s Venezuela. Go get rectal cancer Mr. Penn.
…speaking of idiots DESMO
How so?
Way to go Maria. I love Sean Penn’s films, but what I notice about him is that if someone (within our democratic land) does not share his viewpoint they should all get cancer of the rectum (his words). Just like Chavez, Sean Penn is completely close minded and individualistic. The only difference is that he has yet to commit the heinous atrocities of his idols like Chavez and Castro.
He is a retard
I believe that it is pronounced ruh-tard. Allan said so…
This is what happens when “celebrities” are given a platform but they do not investigate or educate themselves on their topic of the month. His heart is in the right place in Haiti and all the help he has provided towards their recovery, but on this, he is soo off base.
Sean Penn, like most liberals, will never let facts get in the way of what he “believes.” He has hurt this nation in immeasurable ways. He’s a moron and I too hope he develops rectal cancer in the near future.
Sean Penn and the like are of course entitled to their opinions, but they ARE NOT entitled to actually change facts. Facts are facts and they’re out there for all to see. If they choose to keep their heads in the sand and ignore or manipulate the facts in order to support their opinions, then so be it. But it’s laughable when someone like Penn, so uneducated and ignorant, would then go on TV to demonstrate these traits to the world. It’s sad what he’s become.
BTW, the fact that Penn doesn’t have the stones to sit across from someone like Maria to have a discussion about his wealth of knowledge on the subject should tell us something.
Wow! I am amazed at the HYPOCRITICAL negative comments directed towards Sean Penn. He is entitled to exercise his first amendment rights to support a political regime that the US may not agree with. Has anyone on this forum visited Cuba or Venezuela? No. But Sean Penn has. He does not allow the media to dictate or disuade his perceptions towards another country. America needs to stop imposing their Constitution on countries who are resilient toeards their policies on government. America does NOT own Cuba! I think the people on this forum need to get their hands out of the sand. Get your brains out of the media and try visiting a country FIRST before commenting!
So does Maria, who was raised in Venezuela, have her head in the sand and her brain in the media? Sure Sean Penn “visited” these countries, she lived there.
She was originally from Cuba, but raised in Venezuela. This simply means that like many Elitist Battista right-wing Cubans, she fled to Venezuela after Fidel. Please read your history and observe the race/class system in Cuba prior to Fidel before you comment. Ask yourself, were Afro-Cubans allowed to immigrate to the US or Venezuela!
You sound like you got your info from a brochure from the student union. FYI most Cubans and Venezuelans are part black and I am talking about those living in the USA like myself, many full black. Though I’m white and Cuban, like most Cubans being from such a racially mixed country I have black/mulato family members. In Miami where I lived I can barely even think of a white Venezuelan and Venezuelans these days are as numerous as Cubans in Miami LOL.
I like millions of other people living in the USA was actually born and lived in Cuba. Let me put it in a way an obvious simpleton like yourself can understand. You don’t see people immigrating to Cuba for the last 50 years, yet you’ve had millions emigrate out of Cuba. Even Haitians on leaky rafts avoid Cuba. The only people that go to Cuba are asshats like Penn and tourists who stay in luxorious hotels that Cuban citizens are not allowed in.
I’m not a simpleton. I’m Haitian. I speak from experience. A very educated one! So please avoid using political satire you can’t back up! And as for the leaky rafts reference, I’m not impressed, considering a defaulted boat will not make it to America. Try using an accurate consensus. During 1994-1995, Only 20,000 Cubans per year were granted Visas. So if you’re refering to illegal immigration in Miami, then your point is invalid! Haitians fled under President Duvalier, not President Aristide. Please avoid commenting. Your ignorance is beginning to show. If you think the US is really concerned for the people of Cuba or Venezuela, then you’re dumber than you look. BTW, Ms Simpleton, please read up on the Cold War, and the trillions of dollars spent (directly by the US taxpayer) to sustain their control over many countries during 1947-1991, through economic competition. Counter-attacking Communism is a farce now as it was back then! Maybe you might learn something!
Yes, I have been there, many times and yes, I know many people there and they are miserable and they hate what’s going on, but they are afraid to say anything. Penn is truly a rich moron.
Typo…toeards-towards. Please forgive me.
i like how she thinks we have a democracy here in the us! ask her how many choices she has for toilet paper compared to the next president or congress-person? democracy????? haha
2000 us supreme appointed bush
2004 bush surrogates stole election
2008 gop ran a sacrificial lamb
some democracy!!!!!!!
Exactly! We are not a democracy we are a Republic.
We’re not a democracy? We are a Republic! Mmmmh, interesting, when our motto is “To counterattack Communism, we must spread Democracy. Are you really this naive? No pun intended, I mean seriously!
Hahaha… what an idiot.
As for Maria, was she challenging former President Bush when Cuba or Venezuela was trying to give aid {and was denied}to the citizens of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina? During the mid 1960′s when Haiti was ‘shunned’ by the Western world, it was Cuba who ALWAYS opened doors to the people of Haiti. Was she boycotting celebrities who opted to visit many countries on the Asian continent whose government supported NAMBLA, and human trafficking. Or what about the Patriot Act, supported under GW Bush? Or what about the Afro-Cubans who were denied citizenship in the US during the 1960′s? Ask yourself this people! When she is in Venezuela, ask her where does she vacation. In the poverty slums of Venezuela? I think NOT! 5 star hotels to be exact. Do I support Communism? No. I don’t support “International Bullying” as well. Stop trying to impose our Constitution on countries that we have no jurisdiction over!
Finally some intelligence! Well said, AphroditeBull!!
For those that don’t know … Maria Conchita’s brother was part of a plan to try to kill the president of Venezuela some years ago. He lost all his properties in Venezuela after that crime and escaped to Miami. That’s the reason why Maria is criticizing… I suggest the people who writes here that take some time and travel to Venezuela and then we can talk about it.
too bad he wasn’t successful
oh, and you mean the dictator of Venezuela, just to clear that up.
C Martinez—
And for simpletons who can’t read between the lines, ALL his property was taken away from him. Poor, suffering people don’t own properties. It sounds like her brother was well-off!
Yes , he wasn’t successful, and fled…similar to White-Cuban cowards like you. Pot meet Kettle!
Free? who? the USA? hahahahahhahahahha! you are run by jews! haven’t you noticed? hahahahahhah!
He should move to venesuela instead of talking trash while living in a free country
In a free country, elections are not rigged. Remember the election that was stolen from Al Gore! Let’s not forget the Patriot Act either, Juan.
Idiot!
Fight the good fight AphroditeBull. For those who pay attention to history, facts, reality, and choose to not rely on media outlets that are only interested in protecting their most profitable status quo, we know you are right. As for some of these other sheep, to put it bluntly, you may be waisting your energy. I know there are some though who will choose to find out for themselves what the reality of the situation is, while others won’t have the will to do so. That is the reason we have gotten into our current sorry state in the US and around the world. Positive changes are happening though, and Venezuela is just one of these.
Whoever support Thugo Chavez should move to Venezuela. Period.
You Canadians should just give your country to us Americans, so we could put that country of yours in good use.
Glad to do so. Free education K-graduate school, free health care, great pension programs, lots of support for small and medium sized business; sign me up!