Jon Voight On His Obama Slam: ‘We Are Losing Freedoms Every Day’

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Jon Voight speaks to Access’ Maria Menounos at CineVegas
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Jon Voight accepts the Marquee award during the honoree awards ceremony & reception during the 11th annual CineVegas film festival on June 14, 2009 in Las Vegas
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Jon Voight arrives at the premiere of Warner Bros. ‘Watchmen’ held at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
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Jon Voight

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FIRST PUBLISHED: June 17, 2009 3:22 PM EDT
LAST UPDATED: June 17, 2009 4:11 PM EDT

LAS VEGAS, Nevada --

Jon Voight made headlines last week after calling President Barack Obama a “false prophet” at a Republican congressional fundraising event, and in a new interview with Access Hollywood’s Maria Menounos, the star stood by his words.

“What I said is what I said,” Jon told Maria exclusively at the 11th Annual CineVegas Film Festival Awards in Las Vegas, which she hosted and where he was honored with the Marquee Award. “I’m not backing down from it.”

And Jon extended his critique, explaining he has been worrying about what’s going on in Congress and “many different parts” of government.

“In my opinion, we are losing things every day,” he said. “And I’m talking freedoms and I’m talking about, you know, drifting toward… what I would call socialist. But it’s more serious than that. When I said this, [Russian news service] Pravda came out and said that it’s amazing how fast America is rushing into Marxism. I mean, that’s pretty much what’s happening and nobody is talking about it over here.

“Russia and China and India only rescued their economies by going against socialism,” he added. “And here we are going towards it. It’s a bit of a tragedy.”

Jon’s remarks weren’t the first time he’d taken aim at Obama – prior to the 2008 presidential election, the actor penned an op-ed column for the Washington Times in July 28, 2008, forecasting a “socialist era that American has not seen before” should the then-candidate become president.

While his views are a far cry from the pro-Obama stance of many Hollywood stars, the actor said democracy “doesn’t work without dialogue.”

“We all have to speak up,” Jon said. “When people say, ‘Oh, you’re neo-conservative’ – I’m a guy looking for the truth. If you want to know my opinion, I’ll give it to you. And if people have the difference of opinion, grab me. I’m available.”

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