Three years ago, Ben Affleck was doing research for his role in thriller State of Play.
When he needed advice from a real politician, he turned to none other than New York Congressman Anthony Weiner, who this week admitted that he had lied about sending sexually suggestive photos to several women via the Internet.
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According a 2009 story in the
New York Times (unearthed Wednesday by the
L.A. Times), the duo became fast friends, getting together for numerous dinners and discussing such things as what Affleck should not do should he decide to run for political office.
In a 2009 interview with the Times, Weiner said of Affleck: “I developed, I must confess, a grudging respect for him. He has good political instincts. He said Barack was going to win and he turned out to be right.”
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And the admiration was mutual.
“There is something beautiful about a politician who is a real fighter,” Affleck said. “Anthony is a guy who hits so hard and so clean.”
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Affleck isn’t the only Hollywood celebrity with ties to the congressman:
Jon Stewart also is an old friend of Weiner’s and has
defended him on his late-night
Daily Show.
