Stephen Baldwin: Alec considering run against Lieberman

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By Joseph Weber

Actor Stephen Baldwin said Thursday his older, more-famous brother Alec Baldwin is seriously considering a challenge to Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman.

"Sure, I think Alec has some very interesting ideas that are common sense and logical that he would like to share with folks," he said. "And the best way to do that is to hold political office."

Mr. Baldwin said the commercial success of the TV show "30 Rock" in which Alec, a Democrat, stars has finally given him enough financial security to run for office, whether it's challenging Mr. Lieberman, independent, or somebody else later.

"I don't know what he's going to do, but I believe he's going to do something," Mr. Baldwin told The Washington Times' "American Morning News" radio show.

He also said brother Alec, 51, had been considering political office before such talks surfaced about a year ago.

"We had this conversation a long time ago," said Mr. Baldwin, a Republican and founder of Breakthrough Ministries.

Alec has expressed his interest on "60 Minutes" and in "Playboy" magazine. More recently, an Ohio law firm reportedly contacted the outspoken actor about running for governor.

His liberal views have attracted critics, but he says he never vowed to leave the country if George W. Bush was re-elected.

Mr. Baldwin also said President Obama should take a lesson from the cocaine-fuel remake of the '80s gangster movie "Scarface."

"Don't get high on your own supply," said Mr. Baldwin, quoting moll Elvira Hancock, played by Michelle Pfeiffer.

Mr. Baldwin thinks the president became so intoxicated by his surprising run from junior Illinois senator to the country's first African-American president that he made promises he now cannot keep -- including swift changes to U.S. health care.

"I really think Barack Obama believed a lot of his own hype running for president and he just said anything," he said. "He was so focus. He had is eye so on the prize, and now it's severely coming back to bite him."

Mr. Baldwin also blamed the news media, which he said has become more critical of the president to re-establish credibility.

"Obviously, it goes without saying you had a huge percentage of the media that was totally mesmerized by Barack Obama and that bubble is bursting as we speak," said Mr. Baldwin, a Republican and founder of Breakthrough Ministries.

"I really feel bad for the guy," he added.