Clooney has kind words for Obama, Democrats

Venice, Italy – Barack Obama has the aura of a rock star, says George Clooney, who also had some kind words for other Democratic presidential candidates.

“You’ve been in a room once in a while with a rock star. He walks into the world, and he takes your breath away. I’d love him to be president, quite honestly,” the actor told reporters Friday at the Venice Film Festival, where his legal thriller “Michael Clayton” was premiering.

Clooney, who banked a check for Obama at a private $1.3 million fundraiser in Beverly Hills last February, praised the U.S. senator for speaking out early against the Iraq war.

But with more than a year until the election, Clooney also said he liked Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and former Sen. John Edwards – and pondered whether former Vice President Al Gore might vie for the presidency again.

‘Family Ties’ actor gets 2 years’ probation

Boulder, Colo. – Brian Bonsall, who played Andy Keaton in “Family Ties,” pleaded guilty to third-degree assault in a case involving his girlfriend and was sentenced to two years’ probation, prosecutors said.

Three other charges against Bonsall, 25, were dismissed under a plea agreement entered on Friday. He was arrested in March after his girlfriend told police he poured an alcoholic drink on her face while she slept, put her in a choke hold and threw her onto a bed when she tried to leave.

Bonsall told investigators he pushed her down in self-defense after she cut his arm and face with a steak knife. She denied the claim and wasn’t charged in the case.

Comedy club not happy with Andy Dick

Columbus, Ohio – David Stroupe said it was one of the worst experiences with a performer in the history of the Funny Bone Comedy Club.

He was referring to Andy Dick, a former co-star on the 1990s sitcom “NewsRadio,” who appeared at the Funny Bone last weekend.

Stroupe, the club’s managing partner, said the 41-year-old actor-comedian made inappropriate comments while on stage, groped patrons, took women into the men’s room and urinated on the floor and on at least one person.

A limousine driver was to meet Dick early Monday morning at a hotel near the club, Stroupe said, but he couldn’t be found and missed that morning’s flight to Los Angeles.

Dick was across town, where he was issued a citation for urinating on the sidewalk by Columbus policeman John Fantin. Police eventually escorted Dick back to the hotel, Stroupe said.