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If you were casting a young charismatic politician, you could do worse than Ben Affleck, who, by the way, played just that in the movie State of Play. But for Affleck, politics have always been more than just a a role to play. Back in 2004, he lent his celebrity and charm to John Kerry’s presidential bid, and the next year, some Virginia Democrats reportedly wanted Affleck to take on incumbent Republican senator George Allen. Though he obviously did not run then, he’s never closed the door on a future in politics, and his passion has been showcased in his multiple appearances on Real Time With Bill Maher.
Inevitably, all those questions and wishful rumors reemerged this week, with Affleck in Washington to speak to Congress about atrocities in the Congo. Affleck founded the Eastern Congo Initiative in 2010, and he’s visited the war-torn country nine times to help alleviate the suffering. (He testified to Congress that approximately five million people have been killed there in the last 14 years.) While on the Hill, he reunited with Kerry, who just happens to be the frontrunner to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State… meaning his senate seat might be open very soon.
So how did the 40-year-old director of Argo and EW’s Entertainer of the Year respond to a question about the possibility of succeeding Kerry: “That’s not what I’m here to talk about,” he told Politico. READ FULL STORY »
