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‘Kumar’ joins ‘Superman’ at Laundry 101 rally

JEFF SCHORFHEIDE/Herald photo

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by Ken Harris

Friday, February 15, 2008

Standing on an orange bench in Laundry 101 on Gilman Street Thursday, actors Kal Penn and Brandon Routh campaigned for Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in front of a large crowd of University of Wisconsin students and community members.

Kal Penn, better known as Kumar from the 2004 movie “Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle,” and Brandon Routh, who played Superman in “Superman Returns,” finished their busy day in Madison after stopping in La Crosse, Eau Claire and River Falls.

Laundry 101 is the current site of the Students for Obama headquarters, and Penn was quick to notice the unique location.

“This reminds me I have, like, three pairs of boxers left,” Penn said. “I should have brought some laundry with me.”

According to the actors, Obama is the candidate who can truly effect change in the nation. Penn said Obama is not just a politician, but a “true statesman.”

“When Sen. Obama becomes president, I’m going to be able to see the changes that I want in the world come to life,” Routh said.

Penn told the crowd the story of a friend who drives a truck for minimum wage and was offered $90,000 per year to drive a truck in Iraq.

According to Penn, this made him aware of the problems with America.

“I remember thinking that it was really sad to me that the world’s richest country could only offer two opportunities to my friend who wanted to go to college, and those were minimum wage or 90 grand in a war zone,” Penn said.

Penn added he believes Obama already is a generation-defining leader like John F. Kennedy was in his time.

“I’ve never been as inspired by anyone since my grandparents, and my grandparents marched with Ghandi in the civil rights movement in India,” Penn said.

According to Routh, the opportunity to elect Obama is a chance the young generation cannot miss, adding, “We haven’t had our movement, our thing to get behind.”

Routh said he was wary of becoming active in the campaign because of a common criticism that celebrities have no business in politics. However, he said he had been “blown away” by Obama’s speech in Los Angeles, and Penn also convinced him to participate.

He said he decided to take the step, however, because he really believes in the cause.

“There’s a certain amount of notoriety and respect that’s there, and we don’t want to abuse that,” Routh said. “It’s important for me to invest in my future. This is my future, and I didn’t want to sit around and let others do all the work.”

Penn played a role in Season 6 of Fox’s popular drama “24,” which did not escape the notice of the crowd.

When asked after his speech, Penn said he would endorse Obama over “24” character Jack Bauer, saying one is real and the other is fictional.

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Anonymous (February 15, 2008 @ 7:10am):

If anyone cares about what the two of them say, I fear for America's future.

Anonymous (February 17, 2008 @ 4:10pm):

I think they're smart enough to know they're not going to automatically change people's minds. What they're doing is bringing some new people into the political process and that's a good thing no matter which candidate you support.

Anonymous (February 17, 2008 @ 5:25pm):

I don't think that people so much 'care' about what they say as they do care about being able to see and do fun things while supporting their candidate. While I sincerely doubt that Kal Penn is going to change anyone's mind on who to vote for, it sure would have been an interesting day to show up to volunteer.

Kurt Ozinga (February 17, 2008 @ 5:26pm):

If two successful young men are honestly thinking about their responsibility to their community, thinking about the world around them and working for a cause that they believe in, I care about what they have to say.

I fear for America's future as this country follows it's present course. We are headed to a train wreck of monumental scale and we had all better start listening to each other and working for a better way.

Anonymous (February 17, 2008 @ 9:29pm):

you know, penn was also in the movie the namesake, which is a way better movie than that stupid white castle one.

Anonymous (February 18, 2008 @ 11:22pm):

The Ballad of Hillary Clinton

Way out in the west
Where the folks are the best,
But the towns are really remote.
Rides our gun-totin' pal--
That Hillary gal,
And she's courtin' the Hispanic vote.

Yup, she's packin' a gun
And it ain't just for fun,
They say she's shot seven or eight.
She's angry and mean,
A terrible scene
When she's roundin' up each delegate.

"Howdy, ya all!"
She says with a drawl.
"I'm lookin' for Spaniards, ya see.
Now do what I says,
'Cause I'm runnin' for Prez,
Just hand them over to me!"

From the crowd comes a shout:
"I'm afraid that they're out
At a rally just down the street.
A new guy's come in
And they're votin' for him,
He's the one they all want to meet!"

She gallops away,
In tears, so they say,
Amid cries of "Obama's our man!"
A people so proud,
With voices so loud:
"Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can!"

POETS FOR OBAMA

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