You can’t stay mad at Mel Gibson for long Americans are a forgiving people, at least when it comes to movie stars. So we’ve learned in the aftermath of Mel Gibson’s recent drinking/ driving/ anti-Semitizing episode. In a CNN poll (summarized by PollingReport.com), just 7 percent of adults said they’ve ceased to be fans of Gibson due to this incident, while 58 percent remain fans. (Most of the rest weren’t fans in the first place.) Meanwhile, a Rasmussen Reports survey finds 52 percent of adults saying they regard Gibson’s apologies as “sincere”—nearly double the 27 percent who view them as insincere. Just 24 percent said the whole incident has affected their opinion of Gibson (for the worse, one would hope). And he retains a favorability rating that most politicians could only dream of: 56 percent of respondents view him favorably, vs. 28 percent unfavorably. By way of comparison, a Rasmussen poll earlier in the summer found lower favorable votes for the likes of Jennifer Aniston (53 percent), Vince Vaughn (41 percent) and Tom Cruise (32 percent). The favorable tally was lower still for America’s Hardest-Working Heiress, Paris Hilton (13 percent), demonstrating anew that life is unfair.  —Posted by Mark Dolliver

August 8, 2006 | Permalink

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Comments

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tom cruise's low rating might be linked to the fact that he and steven spielberg (a jew) are responsible for the war of the worlds.

not sure if that makes any sense.

Posted by: HighJive | Aug 8, 2006 6:31:44 PM

Actors aren't people. They're like models. I don't care who they are personally, because they're there to entertain me--like dancing monkeys. Ecept they're overpaid dancing monkeys.

Posted by: Lenolo | Aug 8, 2006 11:06:51 PM

Come on people - he is human!!! Can any of you say that you have never done anything political incorrect or have not made some kind of unkind words about a race other than your own. Give me a break!!!!!!!!!!!! We all live in glass houses. They only difference here is Mel is a celebrity and is out there in the lime light. He is a person too. Get off your high horses and mind your own business!! Leave the poor guy and his family alone! He's done nothing but speak his mind - Don't we have freedom of speech anymore in this country!!! What is it with everyone!!!

Posted by: Mary | Aug 9, 2006 12:30:53 AM

Sure, Mary, I've said plenty of off-color, politically incorrect things...but I don't claim to be some holier-than-thou, ultra conservative Christian/Catholic/whatever religion Mel is...of course Christianity has somehow become synonymous with hatred, bigotry, homophobia and denial of rights in this country, so I guess he wasn't being a hypocrite...
But enough about THAT...how come everyone is MORE interested in his Anti-Semitism than his drunk driving. Last time I checked, words could never harm me, but sticks and stones (and cars driven by drunk jack*sses) can KILL...why isn't THAT what he's being raked over the coals for???

Posted by: gakker | Aug 9, 2006 2:11:11 AM

Excellent point, gakker.

Here’s a thought: Because people view alcoholism as a disease that can be overcome, while bigotry and racism have never enjoyed such a status.

Hollywood stars caught drunk-driving (or abusing some other substance) are a dime a dozen. Displaying passive bias, when your career depends upon being loved by the masses, is slightly more unique.

Just a thought.

Posted by: HighJive | Aug 9, 2006 11:41:03 AM

Possibly the poll results indicate America is not far off Mel's views. Scary.

Posted by: Anon | Aug 9, 2006 11:46:52 AM

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