Scarlett Johansson Gets Patriotic For Magazine Voting Push 10/9/08

Newlywed Scarlett Johansson is showing off her patriotism on the cover of the new U.S. Cosmo Girl - by posing in a pair of stars and stripes short dungarees.

The sexy actress agreed to appear on the cover of the upcoming November (08) issue of the publication if she could use her accompanying interview to urge young people to vote for a new U.S. President.

The staunch Barack Obama supporter tells Cosmo Girl she first became interested in politics in her mid-teens, during the Al Gore versus George W. Bush election recount in 2000. She says, "It became apparent to me, 'Oh, this really does affect my life.'

Four years later, during the Bush-Kerry election, I knew I had to be politically active because I was so affected by the war in Iraq. "I, like many Americans, have known someone killed in Iraq and know people who are grieving the loss of a loved one or have a loved one stationed overseas.

"I wanted some change and I knew that I had to be vocal. That was the first time I was legally able to vote." Johansson goes on to urge young voters to "educate" themselves about the candidates and "make a decision for yourself." She adds, "I think your political affiliation is the first big decision that you make when you're young."