By Crystal Garcia
TERRE HAUTE — Terre Haute was star-struck Wednesday when movie and television award-winning actor Jeremy Piven came to town to campaign for presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama.
“… I get to learn about someone like Barack,” Piven told the crowd, “and the more I learn, the more I like.”
Piven, a two-time Emmy Award-winning actor and Golden Globe Award recipient, spoke to a crowd of 150 to 200 in the Sycamore Lounge in the Hulman Memorial Student Union at Indiana State University.
He has played in HBO’s “Entourage,” and in movies such as “Old School,” “Grosse Point Blank” and “PCU.”
With his work taking him all over the world, Piven spoke about how people from other nations perceive Americans, and it isn’t good.
“ … We have to mend a lot of bridges that we’ve burned this past administration,” Piven said. “And to have that guy out there speaking for us, I’m all for it.”
The most recent example Piven used about Obama was how he’s handled the past few weeks with controversy surrounding his former preacher.
“ … He gets up there and he speaks openly and honestly about his journey, where he’s from, his heritage, how he deals with it, how different people deal with racism, where it comes out and how it comes out,” Piven said. “ … Basically a guy who is speaking more honestly than any other candidate I’ve seen in my life.”
During his speech, Piven encouraged people to register to vote because the Democratic primary is going to be close and all the votes count.
Audience members wanted to know how Piven thought Obama could beat Sen. John McCain, who has more foreign policy experience, what kinds of candidates Piven supported in the past and some of the things Piven would tell fence-sitters about Obama.
“I’ve been a little discouraged,” Piven said about not supporting previous politicians. “It’s hard to get behind what’s been going on.”
About Obama’s chances against McCain, Piven said he couldn’t theorize about it. However, Obama’s experience comes from 12 years of public service “and being brilliant at it,” he said.
“So when that call comes at 3 in the morning … McCain may be up, he’s probably peeing,” Piven said, noting that comment would probably be the one thing aired on local news programs as audience members laughed and applauded.
Track records, honesty, not being in people’s pockets and admitting to being human are some of the things Piven touts about Obama to the undecided voters, or Hillary Clinton supporters, he said.
Aaron Rothgerber, 21, a junior from Mariah Hill, attended the speech because he’s a fan of Piven and an Obama supporter.
Having done a lot of research on Obama’s views, Rothgerber said it was good to hear someone else talk about those views and support them.
“You know you’re not alone, he said, “and it’s a good choice.”
Another Rally for Change will be at 12:45 p.m. today at DePauw University, where Piven will address voters.
Crystal Garcia can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or crystal.garcia@tribstar.com.
