Kal Penn Takes Sabbatical from Acting to Serve Obama Administration

Kal Penn, star of House on Fox network is taking a sabbatical from acting to work for the President. Yes, the real President. To free him up from his role on the show House, the producers had his character, uncharacteristically shoot himself. And why? They couldn't have given him a little more respect?

Instead Kal will earn more respect serving the nation as Associate Director to the White House Office of Public Liason. Where Kal easily earned over 40,000.00 per episode on House, he'll be lucky if he earns more than 40,000.00 in his position at the White House. But for Kal, it's not about the money. "There's not a lot of financial reward in these jobs. But, obviously, the opportunity to serve in a capacity like this is an incredible honor."

Penn, has been silently making a name for himself as a serious actor despite his comedic roles by strangly enough becoming a political speaker. Although Penn defines himself as neither a Democrat or Republican he has solidly thrown his hat into the ring of political activism in respect to helping his own constiuents, that of the Asian-Pacific community.

It all started with one of Kal's own friends. Penn tells the story of a friend in Texas earning minimum wage at a trucking company. 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's job will be as a liason to the working Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities, and since he is an actor by trade he will focus on the groups related to the arts, so don't expect to see Kal at a podium near you. Kal has the background for it, despite what he may appear. Films like Harold and Kumar don't exactly underscore his education. Political Science was a favorite of his in High School and he studied international affairs at Stanford University. Kal has also taught (Images of Asian Americans in the Media) at the University of Pennyslvania.