Clint Eastwood - American Hero

Clint Eastwood -American Hero.


This might be a little late to post, being that Clint Eastwood's speech at the RNC convention is now old news but the subject came up again during the weekend (mostly because the RNC said will not use it in their ads). The previous weekend it was up for discussion with a circle of friends that have a very diverse collections of backgrounds but a common interest in politics. One person in that circle has more than a passing knowledge of the movie industry.

So what was going on with Clint Eastwood? That long rambling debate with an empty chair made a lot of people wonder if Clint was ready to be taken out to pasture. The whole event seemed contrary to his reputation as being physically fit and mentally sharp.

Clint was always a life long Republican; pro business, fiscally conservative with an extremely strong Libertarian streak concerning personal behavior. This was part of the now extinct "liberal branch" of the Republican Party that was once typified by Nelson Rockefeller and Ronald Reagan. Yes once upon a time Roland Reagan was like that. People tend to forget that Ronald Reagan once promoted abortion rights and helped craft as well as sign into law the act that made abortion available in California back in 1967. The California law also gave legal precedent to Roe vs. Wade. Ronald Reagan also toyed with the decriminalization of marijuana until he saw how the issue polled with young mothers.

So what can be said? -people are complex. Clint Eastwood was a close friend of John McCain's. The two men knew each other since 1973 when McCain was released by North Vietnam and returned home. In 2008 Mitt Romney made a play to be the party's Vice Presidential candidate but McCain choose Sarah Palin instead -which was a huge boost for Tia Fey's career. Supposedly Clint Eastwood didn't think much of  Mitt Romney either.

In the movie industry Clint Eastwood is a lone wolf. Like Woody Allen and the Coen Brothers, Clint works outside the studio system. This gives him greater control over the content and production but it also means that he has to find investors the hard way. It's been said that several heavy hitters in the Republican Party dragged Clint out to a party fund raiser back on August 3rd and made a Godfather type proposal that Clint should become the "surprise" speaker the RNC convention or someone might shut off the money faucet.

The party officials loved the idea. Clint Eastwood would reinforce the party brand with white men who see themselves as strong and independent but feel the country is going in the wrong direction. It would be a call to action for all the men hit hardest by this recession; men who are financially insecure, under employed or unemployed. Men who always fantasized saying "make my day' without a hint of irony.

What was Clint to do? He already disliked Mitt and probably resented being pressured like that. Clint retaliated in the most clever and passive-aggressive way possible. He delivered a speech that was totally useless to Mitt and yet didn't make it look like he was "taking a dive". To confirm this theory the RNC announced on September 1st that they will not be using any of Clint Eastwood's speech in their TV ads, web casts or film presentations.  

If this is all true, I think Clint Eastwood is a hero. If you think he's a hero too, then pass this post on.