On the one-year anniversary of President Biden’s inauguration, the White House touted a clip featuring Tom Hanks to celebrate the occasion, and it was yet another prediction from “The Simpsons” come to life:
Fast-forward about a year and a half, and Biden supporter Tom Hanks delivered a speech at Harvard University’s graduation:
Using metaphors from America’s superhero-obsessed culture, he urged the members of the Class of 2023 to keep “the promise of our promised land,” warning them against indifference that kills truth, endangers the struggle for equality, and which he termed worse than lies, ignorance, and intolerance.
Hanks was the principal speaker at Harvard’s 372nd Commencement, held Thursday in Harvard Yard’s Tercentenary Theatre. The event, brought to order by the tapped staff and traditional call of Peter John Koutoujian, the High Sheriff of Middlesex County, featured lengthy processions by robed students and faculty, speeches, music, prayers, and the conferring of more than 9,000 degrees on newly minted graduates of Harvard College and of the University’s graduate schools.
I’m a fan of most of Hanks’ movies but I’m also a bigger fan of irony, and something the actor said in his speech struck me as hilarious, especially coming from a supporter of both Biden and Obama’s presidencies:
“Telling the truth is no longer the benchmark for public service."
Tom Hanks spoke about American ideals and the need to resist those who twist the truth for their own gain in a commencement address at Harvard University. https://t.co/85IFaAKGNr
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 26, 2023
Those who twist truth for their own gain? Gee, what politicians would do THAT!?
The irony is, the goofball thinks he's talking about Conservatives .. https://t.co/dWhEnn8sh4
— Cyril (@Cyril22222) May 26, 2023
Tweets from the Biden White House frequently get Community Notes fact-checks, and recently the Washington Post ran out of Pinoccchios:
You know, I think Hanks is right — this dishonesty is a real problem.
Hanks was also a supporter of Barack “if you like your plan you can keep it” Obama, and you know how much “truth” he brought with him to the White House. Even Politifact couldn’t ignore it:
A certain media company could also do a little introspection after Hanks’ speech:
Like the AP https://t.co/ONLS51gxRr
— Christian Toto (@HollywoodInToto) May 26, 2023
Funny you should mention that, @AP … you spent all yesterday afternoon stealth-editing a flat-out lie about a book being banned in Florida, and you still don't have the story right.https://t.co/1Nd2OafNi4 https://t.co/oSoQvY6KQs
— Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) May 26, 2023
@AP literally lied yesterday, and they have the nerve to post this today??? https://t.co/1QA0yTS3wK
— 🌵 I am (not) a taco 🌵 (@lungsdotcom) May 26, 2023
Yes, they did have the nerve — having zero shame helps.
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Related:
WaPo Fact Checker Glenn Kessler awards Joe Biden Four Pinocchios for recent ‘fantastical claim’
