George Clooney grew up in Augusta, a tiny river town 35 miles southeast of Cincinnati, but his politics are of another place, another culture. Like fellow actors Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon and Alec Baldwin, among others, he has used the bully pulpit of stardom to take on Bush and the right wing of the Republican Party.

In a profile in GQ last year, Clooney was described as a "liberal's liberal who believes Mario Cuomo should be our president, and he keeps a photo of Jimmy Carter's 'ER' set visit on display in his bathroom." In an interview, Clooney described for GQ the problem with Bush: "The problem is we elected a manager, and we need a leader. Let's face it: Bush is just dim."

There's more -- much more. If voters in Kentucky haven't heard it yet, they certainly will.

During an appearance on the Charlie Rose show, Clooney attacked Bush's policy on Iraq and likened his administration to America's favorite organized crime family. "The government itself," he said, "is run exactly like the Sopranos."

He has also taken on actor and former NRA president Charlton Heston, a beloved figure in Kentucky who's afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. Before Heston had stepped down from his NRA post this year, Clooney was accepting an award and deadpanned that Heston "announced again today that he is suffering from Alzheimer's." When chided about the comment by Newsday gossip scribe Liz Smith, Clooney responded: "I don't care. Charlton Heston is the head of the National Rifle Association. He deserves what anyone says about him."

Heston fired back in response, comparing the former "ER" star unfavorably with his Aunt Rosemary. "It just goes to show," Heston said, "that sometimes class does skip a generation."

Given his obvious enjoyment in picking fights with the right, George is probably delighted that his father is running for Congress in the heart of Bush country. Daily Variety's Army Archerd reported last week that George will "indeed" help his father by raising money from his Hollywood pals. "I don't want to overdo my presence," George was quoted as saying, "but I want to support him as best I can from afar."

Already, some Kentucky Democrats are wondering: Is that a blessing or a curse?

George will certainly attract plenty of free media and campaign contributions. The crowds of donors and voters would be huge should he make public and fundraising appearances in Augusta, where Nick and his mom Nina still live, or anywhere else in the district. That has some Republicans anxious, but for public consumption, GOP officials profess a simple response: Bring 'em on. The 4th District is the only one of Kentucky's eight districts not held by the Republicans, and they're certain to wage a furious campaign to take it.

"When I look at Clooney, I see liberal, liberal, liberal," said Carl Forti, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. "His kid will help in the fundraising, but some of Nick Clooney's own comments about the president will hurt him. Bush-bashing doesn't go very far in Kentucky."

Thus far, Nick Clooney does not seem at all uneasy with his son's politics. "I'm very proud of my son and proud of his courage to take positions on issues," Nick said. "I hope they talk about George forever." But dad could suffer political damage because of his son's beliefs -- and from his own liberal tendencies.

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