It’s safe to say that Barbra Streisand now has in her possession just about every award under the sun. The legendary entertainer has now crowded her mantle even further (thank God her Malibu estate has that underground mall as a back-up storage facility) with the most prestigious award in all the land — the Presidential Medal of Freedom. During a ceremony at the White House on Tuesday, President Obama bestowed the honor upon seventeen deserving individuals, including Steven Spielberg and Gloria Estefan, who have left their indelible mark on politics, entertainment, athletics and the United States itself.
Before placing the ribbon around Streisand’s famous neck, Obama cracked that she “has collected just about every honor and award that there is – I couldn’t believe she hadn’t gotten this one. Off the stage, she has been a passionate advocate for issues like heart disease and women’s equality. I’m getting all verklempt just thinking about it.”
Streisand, who is always refreshingly-outspoken especially when it comes to politics, chatted with ABC about the honor and referred to Obama as “so eloquent, so dignified and smart.” The reporter asked what she’d have done if it was bigoted GOP hopeful Donald Trump who’d had his hands around her neck and the the superstar replied, “I probably would’ve choked. It’s terrifyingly scary, but it’s funny. But scary.”
A longtime Democrat and close friend of the Clintons, Streisand unsurprisingly announced, “I want Hillary Clinton to be president. We need a woman president, we need compassion, we need to have a person who comes from the heart.”
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Like the rest of the thinking country, Streisand imagines a televised debate between Clinton and Trump would be “one of the greatest moments in television history.”
Related: Donald Trump Stumbles Through Explaining His Opposition To Gay Marriage
“Everybody would watch,” she said. “I can’t even imagine. I mean, I’m not worried about her.”
Watch Barbra express Herself below.
Kieran
And for all you cynical people out there…..NO……her lavish fundraising for Obama had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with her receiving this award. So just shut up.
AtticusBennett
LOVE YA BABS!
she’s an extraordinary talent, and has long known the truth – the democrats are the true party of the working class.
she’s a self-made success, who would benefit from the GOP’s fiscal policies: but she’s better than that. she knows she doesn’t need the tax breaks – those who need it are the working and middle-classes. she’s a class act.
congrats, Barbra. well deserved.
RIGay
What absolutely… stupid a$$ questions!!! I really wish EVERYONE would STOP OBSESSING over Donald Trump! Or for f-k sake! Is there no other perspective to look at?
The interviewer is a total moron and truly has proven Bill Maher right; “Americans are stuck on stupid!” And it’s these media idiots who are keeping Americans there. Come on, raise the level of conversation upward! Don’t keep kicking up the dregs hoping some new turd of wisdom will float to the surface!
Love ya’, Bab’s! Congratulations!
1EqualityUSA
I just cannot imagine Trump or the freaker brain surgeon in the situation room. They wouldn’t even know how to pronounce names. The learning curve is too arduous for them, mistakes will be made unnecessarily, which will derail a political plebe. While they’re trying to figure out which fork to use, the dinner guests have formed an opinion. This is no place for beginners.
Brian
What has Streisand ever done for freedom? If you’re talking about the freedom to make millions, there’s no doubt that she’s exploited that freedom. If there is anything concrete that she’s done for the freedom of others, I’m all ears.
Streisand was a great singer. She deserved the accolades for her singing. But for freedom? Puh-lease……
money718
@1EqualityUSA: I guarantee both are smarter than you. Plus, the guy currently in the White House hasn’t made the most intelligent decisions.
1EqualityUSA
money718, I’m good at what I do. I wouldn’t dream of running for a job that had this much responsibility, even though I’m good at what I do currently. That takes experience, a deep comprehension and knowledge of foreign affairs. I suppose if I were elected, I would do what Trump or The surgeon would do and turf it out to those more experienced in the the big, bad complicated world. It would be prudent to have the President at least be able to point out where on the globe. The brain surgeon even got the map of the United States screwed up. If he can’t even present a correct U.S. map, how much worse would it be in other parts of the world? Scary as Hell.
1EqualityUSA
Here’s the article where Ben Carson presented at map of the United States that was so screwed up it’s scary that he is considering holding such a high office. We laughed, but it also made me think that the guy has no business in a position of power.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/11/18/ben-carsons-campaign-made-a-u-s-map-and-put-a-bunch-of-states-in-the-wrong-place/
K Patrick McCarthy
A face frozen in time!
o.codone
Just be gracious Babs and accept the medal without feeling like you have to bash the opposition. This isn’t time for politicking. But, being the crass Jew from Brooklyn that you are, you had to make your comments, say nasty sh it, take sides, because you couldn’t keep your mouth shut. You shoulda just accepted the award graciously, but gracious is something you know nothing about. Partisan pig.
AtticusBennett
@o.codone: bitter amounted-to-nothing troll says what? 😉
Doug Coone
Because everyone knows a celebrity’s opinion is more important
Paul
@AtticusBennett: Great response to hate!
SeeingAll
@Brian: I agree. EXTREMELY talented person. But also vulgar crass bossy and bigotted, with ungodly bad taste in decorating.
Snapper59
With Dame Joan Collins and Dame Maggie Smith and Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney is there any question that Barbra Streisand would be a “Dame” if she was British? She has an illustrious career, a #1 release in each of 5 consecutive decades, the only person I think to have done that.
SeeingAll
@Snapper59: They never made Quentin Crisp a Dame ???
Snapper59
@SeeingAll: Interestingly, I think I read two of my British faves, “French and Saunders” actually declined the honor. I guess that’s allowed.
SeeingAll
@Snapper59: Well, when you decline it I guess it meaans you think it’s a dumb honor (like George C. Scott refusing the Oscar), or you’re humbly saying you don’t think you deserve it.
youarekiddingme
@o.codone: OXYCODONE! Going through withdrawl again? Take your syboxone…it will help!
Anti semite? YES! You sure as hell sound like it! Don’t like Jews much huh? How about Jewish People? How about not bringing up her religion at all? “Jews” are not a RACE…they have never been classified as such. Jewish people are those who celebrate the Jewish Religion. You are truly uneducated, prejudiced and bigoted.
I have no idea what your race, religion, color, creed, sex, or sexual orientation is…I do know that you’re a fucking loser moron!
ButtStuff
@youarekiddingme: Yeah, OK. Giancarlo… you dizzy bitch.
youarekiddingme
@ButtStuff: Heyyyyy BUTFUCK!! Wow, Been a while since your stupid ass showed up to try to communicate on this site!
Is OXYCODONE your BFF or your “alternate” screen name? Or is it that you are antisemitic as well? Either way no one here cares to hear any of your bullshit either.
Can’t make any coherent argument about Jewish People so the best you can do is, “Giancarlo…you dizzy bitch.” You are indeed a weak, mentally deficient little man. Good night!
martinbakman
…and since they mentioned that underground mall, if you haven’t seen that play that takes place in her basement….well….if you are a fan, try to see that play!
dwbyers1960
I know people who worked with her and she is totally a hateful bitch.
lauraspencer
@AtticusBennett:
Streisand is very talented, but not sure what about your comment about the working class. Streisand has been a multi-millionaire for the past 5 decades. The Clintons are one-percenters. There are plenty of working class Dems and Republicans. Working class can be found in both parties.
NoCagada
@lauraspencer: ” Working class can be found in both parties.” And the republican ones vote out of ignorance
NoCagada
@SeeingAll: Did you hide in her uterus?
NoCagada
@dwbyers1960: And my brother’s neighbor’s sister’s mother who employed her ex-pool man who slept with her gardener while humping her dog told me EVERYTHING!
o.codone
OCodone says: For all those who have recognized my contributions to this lovely site and who have tried desperately, but failed to deny me my Constitutional right to express my opinion through protected speech, I sincerely thank you. I’ll have my medal of freedom now please.
And, to youarekiddingme, yeah, I guess I am running a little low. How do you know about suboxone? A few problems of your own?
o.codone
@youarekiddingme: clearly Giancarlo85 = youarekiddingme.
youarekiddingme
@o.codone: Everyone on this site despises your WORTHLESS contributions here. Your petty contributions and your mindless arguments are not welcome here.
How do I know about Suboxone? Unlike you, I don’t sit at home (or in a hosipat treatment room), I actually retired from two different careers. One of them was as a first responder, so yea, I know about Suboxone…Yes it’s for people going through withdrawls (look it up). Again you are showing your lack of intelligence and your inability to grow intellectually. You mindless troll.
Btw, Giancarlo’s writing style is NOTHING like mine…get a life loser!
Giancarlo85
@Brian: WHat have you ever done… for anyone or anything? What have you done for yourself? Please go out and get a job… and maybe a life while you’re at it. You right wingers are all about “working hard” right? Well jacking off in your parent’s basement doesn’t count as “working hard”.
@o.codone: Oh look it’s the fucking meat head again. I’ve said it under the other article… freedom of speech isn’t a one way street. You can voice your stupid, pathetic and downright desperate viewpoints all you want, but you will get criticized for it.
Nobody is “denying” you the right to do anything. Stop acting as if your opinion is protected from criticism under freedom of speech or the Constitution. The Constitution does NOT say “Conservatives have a right to freedom of speech, BUT also have the right to not be criticized”. You are destroying out freedom of speech and Constitutional protections if you think that way.
By the way, nobody has a freedom of speech on a privately owned internet site. The “no shoes, no service” slogan has relevance here. Unfortunately for you, you left your brain out of the equation.
Idiot republicans and conservatives, stop acting as if you’re protected from criticism on here. Are you really that weak that every article about Obama offends you so deeply? Obama is better and more popular than your sorry asses. We get it already.
By the way, I work full time now… so I am not on here for long stretches of the day.
@ButtStuff: This little douche tends to show his face every now and then. Ironic he does it when OCodone is posting too. Hmm, how interesting.
Giancarlo85
To everyone else that isn’t a right winger… I hope you’re having a nice holidays. While I don’t view Thanksgiving too highly, have a great extended weekend (if you’re afforded that). As far as the politically conservative types on here… get off the computer and go with your family if they’ll even talk to you anymore.
o.codone
@youarekiddingme: so, you’re going to tell me I’m a hater. that’s a laugh. this site is full of Christian haters from start to finish, but somehow you don’t feel the need to police them. remarkable. the president has said “we have racism in our genes”. maybe he’s right. muslims have a built -in hatred for Jews because they took the historic homeland of Palestine and called it their own. it is not now nor will it ever been the jewish homeland. but no, i am not muslim. you should check yourself for hatred. look at all the name-calling and derogatory venom you spew. you and so many other queerty haters cannot look at their own hatred because, after all, you guys, being gay, are so special.
actually, this site and gay hatred is starting to get genuinely scary. i want to see who steps up to combat the hate filled terrorism that is on the way. i probably will end up saving your azz. and you are so undeserving.
can’t you stop talking about yourself and your two careers and all that? no, oh right, it’s alla bout you. all the time. narcissism.
o.codone
@Giancarlo85: does anybody here care if you finally became full time Christmas help at Walmart? you apparently still have way too much time on your hands. can you ever post something where you don’t talk about yourself?
SeeingAll
@SeeingAll: Sorry, the film I meant was “The Price Of Tides” (1991).
youarekiddingme
@o.codone: Let’s address this one-by-one shall we? Try to keep up ok? “…you guys, being gay, are so special.” Let’s see now, after all this time, you have been saying you’re gay…now it’s YOU GUYS, BEING GAY! LIAR!!
I’m spewing derogatory venom? I’m not spewing lies mister! Not about who I am or what I have done.
You stand up to “hate filled terrorism that is on the way…i (sic) probably will end up saving your azz.” Are you fucking kidding me? Have you ever picked up a weapon? Have you ever had to fight for your life? That’s what I thought…Coward. Absolute coward. You couldn’t protect me or anyone else from anything.
Ok, pissed off about what I “brag” (the fact is that you are insecure about your existence) about? What the fuck have you done? You talk all your lies and inconsistencies, please do tell…I’m very interested to hear about your bio…education, training, work experience. You talk a lot of shit. Where does it all come from. The best most here can tell–it comes from straight out of your ass!
Yes, I did talk about your drug abuse. I talked about your lack of education. I talked about your lack of intelligence and your unwillingness to grow intellectually (also proven by your constant sentence and syntax structure errors).
Yes, I did talk about your anti-semitism (the worst kind of hate). You can debate Palestine for another 1,000 years if you want…you can’t debate the horrific murder of over 6,000,000 innocent civilian Jewish and gay people in WWII.
Now, go back into your closet in mommy’s room (and give her the keyboard back) and stop bothering the grownups on the good website…Troll!
Giancarlo85
@o.codone: what a chest beating idiot. You shop at Walmart for all those dirty wifebeaters you buy. Nobody likes seeing your belly in those. You are probably on the people of Walmart site. The wifebeatet and short shorts… Ewww… With a thong on.
No. I work for a full salaried position now (albeit at a different company I will leave unnamed). Trust me I make well pass $20 an hour now if you broke it down. Full benefits. And I am just starting off.
o.codone
@Giancarlo85: congratulations and have a successful career. i may be bitchy sometimes to you, okay all the time, because when my belly sticks from under my wife beater and gets cold, i get cranky. and when i spill beer all over myself, i blame you when it;s not your fault. and, i thought you liked the thong. that’s what you said before. come over here you cute little mexican bon bon. i could eat you up with one bite. your friend Ursula.
o.codone
@youarekiddingme: I cannot even respond to all of that. But I can respond to some of it. I’m a fa*g, but I’m not gay. I do not subscribe to the gay political agenda, and gays were better off before all the pushing and shoving for acceptance. Gays are less accepted now in the mindset of America and the world than they were before they started pushing their agenda down everybody’s throats.
I am not a coward. Yes, I have had to fight for my life (I beat the guy just barely but ended up with many injuries including a TBI). I will fight for the rights of gay men when it comes to that. I would defend you on principle, not because I like you.
My education on the books is pretty impressive, however, admittedly my syntax and grammar may not be the top of my game. But, that’s all I’ve got in that category. It’s the best I can do. I don’t apologize for it. but it DOES leave me open to petty criticism from crotchety bit*ches like you.
I’m not a big*ot, rac*ist, anti-sem*ite or christian ha*ter. What about you? Am I a drug addict? probably so. but you cannot call me out for that. you don’t know why. you cannot judge. so, ^ that’s my bio. you had a lot of unwarranted assumptions. big mistake for you. you should know better than to jump to conclusions before conducting due diligence. it put you at a disadvantage.
you have a strong personality. I believe your politics are misinformed. you believe the same about me. so what. we have to co-exist, like it or not. in the future, you stay on your side, i’ll stay on mine. life on queerty will be better that way. and finally, none of the readers are necessarily interested in this feud. so, for me, i will not continue it. go about your business, i’ll go about mine, staying out of each other’s way. that’s how it’s going to be.
Giancarlo85
@o.codone: The meathead is still yapping. His right wing politics borderline on insanity. You are a nasty hateful idiot who subscribes to insane political viewpoints that show your own mental insanity.
SeeingMoreClearly
SOMEONE working for Queerty is being rude enough to delete any comments that bring up Streisand’s alleged homophobia. Knock it off. You can’t hide the truth from everybody forever. Anybody out there can look up her strained relationship with Jason Gould, about his HIV status, his “masculinity”, etc.
SeeingMoreClearly
http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/gossip/babs-straight-talk-son-gay-article-1.757314 In fairness, Streisand is supposed to have gotten more comfortable with her son’s sexuality in the last few years, some even say supportive.
Alistair Wiseman
Two people of the left had to take a pleasant non-political event and turn it into a partisan rant. Classy, Ms. Streisand. Very classy.
youarekiddingme
@o.codone: Ok, you’re a fag. Not gay. You don’t accept the “gay agenda”…whatever that means. The “gay agenda” (for me) has gotten me the right to get married (after 24 fuckin years of waiting)! The “gay agenda” has gotten friends and loved ones the right to serve openly in the armed forces. The “gay agenda” has gotten the first gay Secretary of The Army. The “gay agenda” has ensured that Federal Employees can’t be descriminated against because of sexual orientation. The “pushing and shoving for acceptance” is what has changed the laws so that there are now hate crimes legislation in place in many states (perhaps the one you were attacked in)? If the “pushing and shoving for acceptance” put off a minority of people–too fuckin bad! Overwhelmingly (by most polls), the US public SUPPORTS gays in this country. The majority of states had already passed same-sex marriage legislation in their states before the SCOTUS Decision. So the “pushing and shoving” that you “despise” started at Stonewall and continues to this day. If you don’t particularly approve of people fighting for YOUR rights…go to a country where they don’t have “fag” rights! At least there you won’t offend anyone with your “gay agenda!”
Your fight. Ok so you were involved in a fight. Resulted in a Traumatic Brain Injury. I’m truly sorry to hear that and I wish the best for you. I guess that does explain some things. Perhaps as you eluded in your comment (but you didn’t say directly), it may have to do with your being a drug addict…Your battle to fight. Good luck with that.
You say you’re not an anti-semite, yet your above comment is. Perhaps attributable to your injury. Idk.
My statements were NOT far off the mark. You say your education “on the books is pretty impressive.” I really don’t know what that means…You said “that’s my bio…” You sorta left out the part about your education/job didn’t you?
You also say you’re not a bigot, ra@ist, anti-semite or christian hater..what about you (meaning me)? To answer that question, I have NEVER once made a bigoted, ra@ist or anti-semitic statement on this site. I do not ascribe to those thoughts or beliefs either. As to christian hater…I’m not a “christian hater.” I have said on other occasions that I have problems with “organized” religion because of the greed and power often associated with them. I have a problem with some kristians (those who call themselves christians who when they leave the church doors are the most hateful, evil people to walk the earth). That’s why I refer to them using the letter “k.”
youarekiddingme
@youarekiddingme: to o.codone, I am athiest and if you wish to know why…it has something to do with scientific reasoning as I got older, being raised in a catholic church, being an altar boy, and being used by one of those “devoted” priests…
Any other questions?
So yea, you stay about your business. I will stay about mine. Agree to disagree. Be sure of this though…Make inflammatory, derogatory statements and be assured that I WILL respond to them.
Good Night.
o.codone
@youarekiddingme: MA, Psychology, New School for Social Research, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, NY. Licensed Psychologist, NY.
BA Nursing, West Connecticut State U, Registered Nurse, NY and CT. Infusion Certification, CT.
It doesn’t really matter but you might have thought i was hiding a sh itty education b/c I wasn’t specific. But, I am not hiding anything education wise. Pretty good education. I paid for it all myself. (grants, loans, work study). No family help.
youarekiddingme
@o.codone: Awesome! again, good luck with the TBI and the treatment for the other condition you mentioned.