Many Palestinian voters, already struggling with the labyrinthine politics of the West Bank and Gaza, say they have never heard of Richard Gere who has been recruited to urge them to vote in elections this weekend.

Well known for his vocal support of Tibet's Dalai Lama and celebrated for his captivating good looks, Gere urged Palestinians in a television commercial broadcast ahead of Sunday's poll in the West Bank and Gaza to get out to vote for a new president to succeed Yasser Arafat, who died in November.

"Hi, I'm Richard Gere and I'm speaking for the entire world. We're with you during this election time. It's really important. Get out and vote," Gere said in the advertisement. He repeated the final phrase in Arabic.

"I don't even know who the candidates are other than Mahmoud Abbas, let alone this Gere," Gaza soap factory worker Manar An Najar told Reuters.

--Seriously. Gere should shut his damn trap. "I'm speaking for the entire world." Are you kidding me? What an ego.

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Posted by Lawren at January 7, 2005 06:20 AM

You Said

It could be worse. It's not like he was saying we as a world would like for them to drink Ovaltine or anything.

Although I'd get behind that as well as voting. :-)

Says: Kevin the Interloper at January 7, 2005 08:40 AM

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