Actor Jon Voight Endorses Romney, Says Newt Gingrich ‘Falls Short’ - East Idaho News
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Actor Jon Voight Endorses Romney, Says Newt Gingrich ‘Falls Short’

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Getty E 012812 JohnVoight jpg?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1327767857530Michael Tran/FilmMagic/Getty Images(PENSACOLA, Fla.) — Academy Award winning actor Jon Voight threw his support behind Mitt Romney on Saturday, telling a crowd of hundreds at a local restaurant that Newt Gingrich “falls short” of having the characteristics needed to run the White House.

“I’m sorry to say Speaker Gingrich may fall short in many ways,” Voight said. “Please join me to bring in Gov. Mitt Romney as the next President of the United States.”

Voight, who has been outspoken about his disdain for President Obama, wrote an open letter to the president last year, accusing him of “promoting anti-Semitism around the world.”

On Saturday, Voight was far less inflammatory, but seemed to hint at his often provocative language when he first approached the microphone, remarking, “Watch Governor Romney’s face.”

Romney could then be heard saying, “Uh oh, what’s he going to do? What’s he going to do?”

Sen. John McCain joined Voight at the Fish House, a local seafood restaurant, where the two men sang Romney’s praises and emphasized the importance of strengthening the nation’s military.

Before Romney launched into his own criticism of Obama’s foreign policy, he joked that he “didn’t know how to chit chat with a famous actor” like Voight.

“I started talking about my five boys,” said Romney of his conversation with Voight. “I said, you know, it’s easier to raise boys than girls. Well, after a long pause, he says, ‘Tell me about it.’”

Voight is the father of actress and one-time Hollywood bad girl Angelina Jolie.

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