THE POLITICS OF OSCAR WHEN WINNERS BRING THEIR OPINIONS TO THE PODIUM, CONTROVERSY FOLLOWS.

Byline: Valerie Kuklenski Staff Writer

Oscar's spotlight brought out comments about Iraq, the forthcoming election, gay marriage and even Vietnam on Sunday as some winners, presenters and others took turns making their views known.

Filmmaker Errol Morris, claiming the documentary feature award for ``The Fog of War,'' was the evening's most outspoken trophy winner, offering pungent political comments on and off stage.

``Forty years ago, this country went down a rabbit hole in Vietnam and millions died,'' he said after thanking former defense secretary Robert McNamara, the subject of the documentary. ``I fear we're going down a rabbit hole once again, and if people can stop and think and reflect ... on the issues in this movie, perhaps I've done some damn good here.''

Morris's comments drew rousing applause - and a quick quip from show host Billy Crystal: ``I can't wait for his tax audit.''

Best supporting actor winner Tim Robbins, who often uses awards podiums to air his feelings, saved his strongest opinions for reporters backstage when asked what he would do to prevent President Bush from winning a second term in November.

``Don't beat around the Bush,'' he replied. ``All I can say is register to vote, get involved in the process, make sure other people register to vote. And I do think someone has to ensure the elections are fair. I'm really nervous about computer elections (without paper receipts). For the first time in the history of our country you can't have a recount. And I think people need to think about that.''

Asked if the telecast's five-second delay had caused him to hold his tongue on stage, Robbins, wearing a peace sign in his lapel, said if we're going to live in a free society, ``Sometimes what somebody says is going to make you uncomfortable on both sides of the coin. We should be finding more ways to encourage dialogue.''

Best actor winner Sean Penn made an allusion to the Iraq war in his acceptance speech, saying, ``If there's one thing actors know - other than that there were no WMDs (weapons of mass destruction) - it's that there is no such thing as best in acting.''

Others couched their comments in humor. Crystal fired a few shots at the current administration, comparing the state of the nation to his hosting duties 13 years ago, when ``Bush was president, our economy was in the tank, and we had just finished a war in Iraq.'' He also thanked the academy for allowing him to ``come and go'' as an Oscar host, ``kind of like the Texas National Guard.''

Later, presenter Robin Williams clutched Crystal's hand: ``Look at us - the San Francisco wedding cake.'' And on a different theme, Crystal said, ``Will the children of Strom Thurmond please pick up a white or black courtesy phone.''

Whenever movie stars voice political opinions, they hang in the headlines for days, carried on a wave of talk-radio chatter and late-night punch lines as observers debate the appropriateness of such expressions.

Before appearing on the telecast as an announcer, actress Jamie Lee Curtis was not optimistic when questioned about the apparent trend of darker-themed movies.

``It's a dark time,'' she said. ``I think we're all having a growing understanding of just how dark this time is. I think where we are as a country, I think the way we've been led by our president who's sullied our reputation around the world, that it's a dark time. We're going to have to resurrect our reputation around the globe, and I hope we get another chance to in November. To actually take it back and be able to represent the United States with great, great pride. I mean, I am incredibly proud of our troops, but I really think the president has led us down a dangerous path.''

Also off stage, best actor nominee Sir Ben Kingsley sported a silver dove pin he said was given to him by Robbins to symbolize unity among actors ``who prefer a more peaceful world.''

But it was Morris who provided talk-show fodder. Continuing his thoughts backstage, the documentarian warned that ``we live in a very dangerous time and it's important for people to be thinking about discussing these issues. It's an election year. We should all be thinking about what we're doing and whether we want to go on doing it.''

Asked to extrapolate on his televised reference to Vietnam, Morris said he believed the U.S. occupation of Iraq could become another Vietnam.

``I find our foreign policy atrocious, appalling, and if this movie 'The Fog of War' contributes to the debate, I am awfully pleased,'' he said.

Noting that his earlier documentary ``The Thin Blue Line'' helped free a man on death row, he said he hoped ``this movie can make a difference as well.''

In a related note, many of the stars arrived at the ceremony in gas-electric hybrid cars. Global Green USA, an environmental group, provided the energy-efficient hybrid cars to Robbins, Williams, Charlize Theron, Sting and Jack Black.

Valerie Kuklenski, [phone]

valerie.kuklenski(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(1 -- 4 -- color) Tim Robbins, above, sports a peace sign lapel pin as well as an Oscar; documentary maker Errol Morris, left, warns of going down a ``rabbit hole'' in Iraq; Jamie Lee Curtis, below left, criticized President Bush before the telecast; and Robin Williams and Billy Crystal do their impersonation of a ``San Francisco wedding cake.''

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

John McCoy/Staff Photographer

(5 -- 6) Sting, above, one of several celebrities to arrive at the awards in a hybrid car, poses with a Toyota Prius the day before the ceremony; Ben Kingsley, left, said the silver dove pin on his jacket was given to him by fellow nominee Tim Robbins.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer