It seems like everyone wants to claim Clint Eastwood as their own. The Republicans point out that he has voted for their party in every presidential election since the Eisenhower administration. That’s seems conclusive to me. He even served as mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California as a Republican nonpartisan. The problem is that you can’t extrapolate much from Eastwood’s voting record to know where he stands on the issues. He’s pro-choice, he supports gay marriage and the Equal Rights Amendment. He’s supported Democratic politicians in the past. He has supported many environmental causes. And if you want to know where he stands on race, go see Invictus, the movie he made about Nelson Mandela’s decision to support the traditionally all-white national rugby team as a way to promote national unity. Ask Morgan Freeman about Mr. Eastwood’s heart and character.
The truth is that Clint Eastwood can’t be claimed. His politics are broader than either party. But that doesn’t keep Fox News from distorting his words. Take a look a what Eastwood said about his Chrysler commercial and compare it to the headline that Fox News decided to use.
I am certainly not politically affiliated with Mr. Obama. It was meant to be a message about just about job growth and the spirit of America. I think all politicians will agree with it. I thought the spirit was OK.
I am not supporting any politician at this time.
Chrysler to their credit didn’t even have cars in the ad. Anything they gave me for it went for charity. If any Obama or any other politician wants to run with the spirit of that ad, go for it.”
Fox emphasized that Eastwood denied any “affiliation” with the president. I would emphasize that he didn’t rule it out in the future and that he encouraged the president to run with the pro-American message of job growth.
After the way the right has treated him over this Super Bowl commercial, I won’t be shocked if Eastwood comes out and supports Obama for president. Then again, I won’t be shocked if he doesn’t. Voting for a Democratic president would break sixty years of precedent.
