And Aroostook County gave a taste life in northern Maine to Sarandon as she was greeted with a wintery mix of precipitation during her quick visit to the County.
Sarandon has been in Maine, and across the country, drumming up support for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. About 60 individuals came out for the event, which was announced Tuesday afternoon.
Actress Susan Sarandon speaks on Wednesday at the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians’ community center in Houlton. Sarandon was in Maine campaigning for Bernie Sanders.
(Joseph Cyr)
Sarandon met with tribal chiefs Brenda Commander (Houlton Band of Maliseets) and Edward Peter-Paul (Aroostook Band of Micmacs) during a question-and-answer session held at the HBMI’s Community Center Wednesday morning.
Sarandon, an Academy Award and British Academy Film Award winner who is also known for her social and political activism for a variety of liberal causes, did not linger to visit with the public after her question-and-answer session as she had to be in Waterville for a similar session at Colby College later Wednesday afternoon.
“I’m the oldest of nine, so I feel like I come from a tribe myself,” Sarandon joked in her opening remarks.
Sarandon said she is no stranger to Maine, having vacationed many times with family in the Mount Desert Island area. Her father, Philip Leslie Tomalin was a year-round resident of Maine later in his life and passed away in Hampden in 1999.
“I’m here because I am so excited to have a candidate that I can back 100 percent” she said. “It hasn’t really happened in my lifetime. I have had people that I was more excited about than others, but there has never been a candidate like Bernie.”
She said what impressed her the most about Sanders was how far he has gotten in his political career without the use of Super Pac, a type of independent political action committee which can raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, and individuals.
“It’s crazy how we have gotten away from helping each other and having a shot at living a good life in this country,” she said. “I think most Americans have gotten to a place where they are ready to say ‘We deserve this shot.’”
Sarandon asked how many people in the audience had ever attended a caucus. And after only a smattering of hands were raised, she strongly encouraged all of those in attendance to attend the caucus of whichever political party they belonged to, in order to help see the best candidates move forward.
Commander said she appreciated having the opportunity to not only host the event, but to ask some pointed questions about tribal relations with the federal government.
“We really have to start thinking about the election and who we want to support for president,” Commander said. “I was so pleased to see so many young people here today. They are inspiring.”
Duncan Bradshaw, a youth from Houlton who attended the session, was impressed by Sarandon’s political knowledge.
“I’m really glad that not everyone is fooled by big industries,” Bradshaw said. “”I’m also glad to hear Susan Sarandon, and so many others, are giving their voices to help Bernie Sanders out.
Bradshaw, who admitted he was a fan of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” which helped launch Sarandon’s career, was one of a handful of youths to pose questions to Sarandon, and could barely contain his excitement when he stood up to speak to her.
“She’s a great woman,” he said. “Any humanitarian is great, because I am one myself, but she came here to Houlton and I think that’s great.”
