Rest In Peace, Paul Newman

Paul Newman, a longtime progressive who for decades donated a ton of time, energy and money to liberal causes and candidates, died last night at age 83 after battling cancer.

Newman was one of my favorite actors -- my all-time favorite movie is still "The Sting" -- but I grew to admire him even more over the years for his activism and his stalwart support for Democratic ideals. He was a very vocal opponent of the Vietnam war, had always supported Democratic candidates in his home state of Connecticut and nationally and his food company, Newman's Own, donated all profits to charities -- by 2007, the company had donated more than $175 million.

In the late 1980s, Newman founded a camp in northeastern Connecticut for children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

This is a sad day for all liberals -- Newman was proud to call himself that -- and we should all take a moment today to think of Newman, his work and his family.