John Krasinski: It’s ‘a shame’ candidates politicize Benghazi film

Actor John Krasinski dislikes White House hopefuls using his new film about the terrorist attacks in Benghazi, Libya, for wooing voters.
“I think it’s a shame that a movie like this would be used as a political football,” he said of “13 Hours,” according to The Daily Beast.
{mosads}“What I don’t think is fair, and what I think is a shame — and actually, I’ll go so far as to say a total dishonor — is to not at least acknowledge what this story is: acknowledging these six guys,” Krasinski said of the movie’s main characters.
“They represent the men and women who serve all around the world,” added Krasinski, who plays CIA security contractor Jack Da Silva in the film.
“Just by taking this as a political football of ‘this movie is a total propaganda piece,’ you are robbing people of the ability to see what these men and women are actually going through.”
Krasinski argued that political commentary over “13 Hours” is part of a greater trend toward using America’s armed forces for partisan ends.
“I am actually slightly disgusted at the idea that applauding our military has become a political thing rather than universal,” he said.
“That should be an immediate acknowledgement, and then all the political opinions, conversations and punditry is part of the process,” the former “Office” star continued.
“The truth is we should all be all be proud of these guys, and the moment you politicize it, the more you’re moving us toward a world that I don’t want to live in: a world where people want to score political points at all costs.”
Conservatives praised the release of “13 Hours” earlier this month for refocusing attention on the Sept. 11, 2012, terrorist attack in Benghazi.
Presidential candidates Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) have all used the film for criticizing Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton.
Clinton, who was secretary of State during the Benghazi incident, said earlier this month she is “too busy campaigning” to catch the controversial movie.
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