Kal Penn Shifts From 'White Castle' to White House

By Connect Mason Reporter Sharmin Islam
Photos by Connect Mason Photographer Audrey Whitham

Actor Kal Penn visited the Fairfax campus on February 9, 2008 just days before the Virginia Primary, as part of the "College Students For Obama" tour, advocating the Illinois senator for presidency in an event sponsored by the College Democrats..

Penn, known for roles in films American Desi, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and The Namesake, met with Mason students to discuss his reasons for supporting Barack Obama's campaign, and his own status as a political independent.

"I'm not a democrat or republican," said Penn. "I certainly have voted for members of both parties in the past as well as third parties."

Penn told the story of a friend in Texas who was working for a trucking company at minimum wage. Back in 2004, his friend got a call from Halliburton and was offered $90,000 to drive a truck in Iraq for one year.

"I remember thinking that it was really sad that in the world’s richest, most powerful country, the only two options we could offer our friend for a college education is minimum wage or 90 grand in a war zone," said Penn. "So the cynical independent side of me got even more cynical. I looked at why politics operate the way they do and how politicians operate the way they do."

Penn explained that a few weeks later, he was listening to the Democratic National Convention on his computer. "I heard somebody say, especially after 9/11, we shouldn't be divided between red and blue states, we should focus on the United States. I just looked up and I was like, 'Who is this dude?' I've never heard of him before!" That dude was Obama.

When asked what he would say to convince an unsure voter, Penn gave this response: "He's making us proud. He studied in constitutional law, has the intelligence to make a difference in all our lives. JFK's daughter [Caroline Kennedy] pretty much passed the torch on to Obama."

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine's son, Nat, was also there in support of Obama.

Aside from visiting colleges in support of Barack Obama, Penn is currently a guest lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania.