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Clint Eastwood told Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity today that conservatives in Hollywood are afraid to reveal their political beliefs. “There is a group of people in Hollywood that are conservative, but by the nature of the word itself, they’re just reticent to speak out. And they’re reticent because they feel that they’ll maybe lose work, or they’ll be chastised in some way for having political views,” he said. The interview with the Oscar winner will play on Hannity tonight at 9 PM ET. (Check out a sneak peek below). A public supporter of Mitt Romney, Eastwood made similar statements about conservatives in Hollywood during his surprise speech on the closing night of the Republican National Convention in August. Calling himself “crazy,” the actor responded afterward to the criticism he received and the distraction it caused the GOP nominee by saying his speech was never vetted. Eastwood has since appeared in a pro-Romney ad.
Related: Clint Eastwood’s RNC Speech “A Great Thrill” Mitt Romney Says
In the sit-down today, Hannity asked Eastwood about why he interviewed an empty chair at the RNC as if President Obama was sitting in it. The actor said it just came to him as he was going onstage. “At the time I thought this is — this — that was really stupid. Why did I do that? But then afterwards, I thought, you know, people started coming out and saying, well, that was fun. And maybe a little fun was what I was looking for. I don’t know,” Eastwood said. The actor told the Fox News host that he was glad for the strong reaction the routine received. “Because — yeah, well, that’s good if it makes the right people angry, and good, that’ll wake them up a little bit,” he said.
Deadline's Dominic Patten - tip him here.
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Sorry to say, Clint has become a real clown.
This is why Conservatives don’t speak out in Hollywood, intolerance by fools, similar to you, who are in power.
As a liberal, I get into it with conservatives ALL THE TIME on set. ALL THE TIME. Nobody’s hiding. This just Fox BS perpetuated by people who have absolutely nothing to do with the business, like Mark.
Right. That is baloney. Conservatives know that liberals blacklist them in Hollywwod. Leftist intolerance is rampant.
“I get into it with conservatives ALL THE TIME on set”
YEAH. RIGHT.
Of course there are conservatives in Hollywood, of course they talk about politics, and of course people have discussions and arguments at the watercooler in this industry like in any other…
People who claim imaginary discrimination are clowns. Clint Eastwood has become a real clown. And arguing with some clown who trolls in here from a link on Drudge is a waste of energy. If Mark wants to be a victim, or if he wants to wallow in the myth that people are victimized according to their political leanings more in this business than in any other, let him have his moment.
But for the record, Clint Eastwood is completely wrong. Conservatives don’t talk about politics in Hollywood because they’re afraid of persecution. Conservatives don’t talk about politics in Hollywood because they’re smart. Because it’s bad for business. Because it polarizes people. Liberals talk about politics and lose half their audience. Conservatives keep politics out of business and reap the rewards. Liberals could stand to learn a lot from Hollywood conservatives. Other than Clint Eastwood, that is.
Everything Clint Eastwood had to say on the Hannity Show this evening was true from his heart and it is exactly how I feel. There – that’s to the point!
I am so with Clint’s belief’s ! YES!
Old man with old ideas. He should go away…….
As a lesbian who pays a LOT of taxes and who is in a stable, loving 8-year relationship with a non-American who cannot get citizenship through our union because there is no federal equivalent to marriage for gays in this country, forgive me if I cannot take seriously the idea of a conservative in Hollywood being uncomfortable expressing his political views. Talk to me about your conservative views anytime. I have a lot to say to conservatives and I welcome the chance to do it. Speak up and stand for what you believe in so I can tell you, to your face, how your ideology affects my life every damn day.
Stop being a liberal, in other words stop blaming everyone else for YOUR choices. Hate is so ugly, even on liberals.
Oh be still my beating heart, give me a break. You can start by asking YOUR president why he considers gays second class citizens and why he won’t push for gay marriage if he gets a second term. If you have a lot to say to conservatives, then just come out and freakin say it already. Conservatives in Hollywood can’t work because of the intolerant left running the show, which is a whole hell of a lot different than you being able to marry.
and even better question is why our President did not feel the plight of gays and lesbians in his first term to support recognition of legal unions, however they are to be legally defined?
To come out verbally to support gay marriage with less than 3 months before an election and not do anything legally to make it happen, even by executive order, is kind of feckless and playing people for fools.
The issue isn’t speaking what you believe. The issue is the media and it’s deceptive propaganda to make and/or prompt people to believe that if you are against the homosexual agenda you are a hater and the like. It’s crazy . . .
I understand what you’re saying but think you are just as guilty of stereotyping as those who think all gay guys are sissies, all lesbians are butch, all black people carry guns and all Mexicans are illegals. Not all conservatives, even those who will be voting for Romney next week, are social conservatives opposed to abortion, gay marriage and marijuana legalization. Everyone will vote based on what they consider the most important issues to the country IN THEIR OPINION and that does not mean they agree 100% with any particular platform.
There is a very big difference between one’s IDEOLOGY impacting your life every day and one’s VOTE impacting your life every day. My ideology would call for your paying less in taxes and the government taking its nose out of your bedroom. However my vote, whomever it’s for (haven’t decided yet) will only reflect half of my ideology. However if you feel the need to give a piece of your mind to everyone who votes conservative because their top priorities are different from yours, even if you are largely ideologically aligned, then you will alienate a lot of people quickly.
I’m sorry anonymous, moderates who vote for Romney have their heads in the sand. I’m a strong libertarian in every sense of the word, but I cannot morally abide by Romney’s insistence on aligning himself with the Christian right and neither would any true moderate.
You can totally be a libertarian in Hollywood though. Tons of ‘em around here.
Poor Hollywood conservatives!! They are afraid to share their political views at their jobs for fear of social ramifications. Must be so hard to have a job you can’t speak freely about your fringe political thoughts when so many people are unemployed or underemployed in the US. Poor poor Hollywood conservatives indeed.
Am I supposed to be intimidated by you leftists whining about how conservatives have ‘ruined’ your life? I cannot gather even half a thimble full of sympathy for people who profess loudly to believe in tolerance and diversity, yet attack viciously anyone who is not in lockstep with their views. No matter how extreme, leftists demand total acceptance of their views and suppression of divergent ones.
I am socially very conservative, but so much of a libertarian that I do not want to follow the leftist approach of using federal force. If I cannot use persuasion and logic to win you to my cause, we can agree to disagree. Too bad you leftists cannot do the same.
I believe that one of the greatest things about this Country, is the right to our individual beliefs. My father, one of the greatest men I have ever known, was a self made man, a WWII war hero, & a died in the wool republican, supporting his party generously until the day he died. My Dad never took a dime that he did not earn, his entire life, although he gave to anyone in need. He & I had many a discussion, as I disagreed with a number of republican policies, although I am a registered republican. But, what was so great about my father was that as staunchly republican as he was, he never forced his beliefs on me, or anyone else & understood that I might vote for a democrat in any given election, if I felt they were the best person for the job. The same cannot be said of the fanatical Left. I do not make a big issue about my political viewpoint, unless someone wants to have a discussion, but I had a recent run in with a majorly left leaning liberal, who was so angry that I was not in support of Obama, he actually took an action that harmed my business. He caused me financial harm, simply because I was not going to vote for Obama. There was no argument, nor did I even have a discussion about this.. all I said was that his obvious & out there for the world to see viewpoint, was not necessarily my political viewpoint.. So, when I hear people say that you can be openly conservative in this town, I say.. No, you really cannot.
Good for Mr. Eastwood for speaking his mind.
It should be noted that most Hollywood conservatives are not social conservatives. Very different from the Bible-thumping types sometimes seen complaining about “immoral” Hollywood in the comments section of this site.
For someone claiming to be Conservative, you sound like a liberal. I’ve never heard a Conservative use the hate-term “Bible-thumper.” Grow up.
But I heard, darling. My parents are both Republicans and they use this word whenever they want. And they love me unconditionally, their liberal, leftist gay son with black husband and Chinese baby.
It’s called being a moderate conservative, or a fiscal conservative. And almost every republican i’ve met in hollywood falls into one of these categories. (and it’s hard to meet them — we mostly keep our mouths shut.) I’m not a bible thumper. I support Gay Marriage, and I fought Prop 8, I just think we cannot support the current entitlement system as currently structured — which means we HAVE to stop he gravy train to a lot of our entitlements. And I also look around and see a lot of Limousine liberals who openly deride the “fly-over states,” call Arizona’s immigration law “fascist” between racist jokes, and impose clean-air restrictions as they drive their hybrids to their private jets. I bet I’m a fairly typical Hollywood righty.
If you’ve lived and worked in hollywood, you know that almost every meeting around election seasons tarts with republican bashing, and some praise of Obama and Jon Stewart… If you’re voting for the other guy — you smile and nod. When the guys and gals signing your check, at every studio (but fox) and every network head but…(but Fox) publicly give a LOT of money to ‘the other guy’ – you DO learn to keep your mouth shit.
and if you live in Hollywood, you KNOW I’m telling the truth.
Hollywood does not care if you are conservative, liberal, whatever. Only one thing matters – box office. Hollywood will put up with the most vile behaviour imaginable as long as the box office pours in. If conservatives aren’t getting jobs there’s only one reason – their last movie tanked.
Agreed.
Yeah, but the hate still goes around.
I consider myself a conservative (however I am a social liberal) and keep everything to myself.
So much Romney bashing and drooling over the anointed one…who, let’s face it…ONLY came out in “support” of gay marriage when his idiotic VP blabbered his mouth of, at a time when it was politically convenient.
… because “their last movie tanked.”
You’re an idiot, and you don’t work in Hollywood, and your vision of hollywood is juvenile. less than 500 people in this town can say they ‘had a movie’ this year– the directors, producers,writers, and studio heads who’ve gotten something made, to tank, or succeed or whatever in between. There’s the other 100,000+ of us in show biz who do everything else, who’ve never ‘had a movie’ to tank.
idiot. stick to the fanzines.
I love Clint, but the “tough to be a conservative in Hollywood” is self-pitying whiny bullshit that’s become standard-issue in the Republican party. Stamos is right, there’s tons of libertarians – and fiscal conservatives – around town.
It is tough being a social conservative, though. Because people call you on that nonsense out here.
Touché. Very true.
Clint Eastwood is more libertarian than he is conservative anyway. He’s liberal when it comes to social issues (such as gay marriage) and conservative when it comes to fiscal issues. I am of the same mind and believe that libertarianism is the true future of the Republican Party. Or at least it should be.
For those who feel the Republicans are holding them back, especially the Liberals in Hollywood, why didn’t you get what you wanted when the Democrats controlled everything? You got ObamaCare? Why didn’t you get what ‘you’ wanted?
Answer: Because your side doesn’t care about you. You’re too busy blaming the Republicans because it makes you feel cool in Hollywood – one of ‘them.’ And, it would shatter your self-worth if you actually started to rock the boat, instead of ‘being cool.’ Hold your side accountable for what you want.
Stop blaming Republicans for your problems. Blame Barbara “Don’t Call Me Ma’am” Boxer. Blame Diane Frankenstein.
You don’t have what you want because you prefer to wear the hat of a victim. Refuse to be a victim.
Before the RNC and Eastwood’s speech, you would’ve done anything to be in one of his movies.
I Am
The Hollywood Republican
Clint, you don’t even live near Hollywood.
There are many more things people are afraid to admit in hollywood than they’re conservative. Like all the gay leading men who remain closeted for fear; it ain’t the liberals doing that.
“Hollywood chastises conservatives.” says the conservative and five-time Academy Award winner.
And look at the response he’s gotten on here since revealing his political leanings. Case in point.
Clint is a babbling old fool
Clint could have been President if he had run for Governor but he never had the urge to do that. An interesting note is that in 1988 when George Bush Sr. was looking for a vice president before he chose Dan Quayle they gave serious consideration to asking Clint to be VP. This was after Clint served as Mayor of Carmel for a few years. The Bush team never asked Clint they were afraid to ask him but it’s fascinating to think he might have said okay let’s give it a try. If they had asked him and he had said yes he’d have gone on to be President for sure. We’d have had President Eastwood instead of George Bush Jr.
Odd that you would bring up your sexual orientation here, since Eastwood has gone on record saying that he has no issue with gay marriage.
Just because someone says he or she is conservative doesn’t mean they are 100% for the Republican agenda, as for people who call themselves liberal and the Democrat agenda. After all, wasn’t Obama himself “officially” against gay marriage until a few months ago?
Parties don’t represent a single issue like gay marriage, and neither does Eastwood.
JC Superstar, what a freakin’ crybaby . . . no one gives a crud what this guy or any actor thinks. Just another example of someone that confuses popularity and financial success with having something important to say. Much like Mitt Romney, who’s main claim to fame is that he’s made a lot of money. Any idiot can make a lot of money and it’s proven because they all start to believe their own press. Boo hoo, “I’m someone that’s done nothing their whole life but made a lot of money living off of the generosity of the American public and now I’m all wah wah wah because I can’t be my own man.” Well, get over it you cryin’ Clint Eastwood baby. You want to be your own man, then pay the price. You want to be a rich and famous Hollywood actor, then I’ve got one question to ask you, “You feel lucky, punk? Well, do you??!!”
Would like to know who Mr. Eastwood is talking about…
I’ve been in this industry for almost 18 years with the things i’ve heard I can’t imagine anyone being aftaid to say anything…..
Oh, boo hoo, Clint. You’re already one of the most overrated directors in town, now you’re killing what dignity you had left after that embarrassing old man yelling at an empty chair routine.
Hollywood has given you millions of dollars and awards (which you mostly didn’t deserve) and now you expect sympathy?
Hollywood is nothing but Liberal McCarthyism!!!!
I very brave man, he is right of course.
Oh please, there are plenty of very outspoken conservative actors out there who are on TV and in films right now. All Hollywood cares about is money. If you help draw high ratings or big box office numbers, they could care less about what you’re political views are.
Still with Clint.
Oh, so you’re the guy who went to see “Trouble With the Curve”…
Did. Preferred it to Moneyball, too.
The one thing I tend to notice, whether it’s in real life, here, there, on another site, doesn’t matter is just how negative the conservative personality tends to be. Everyone I know who is a conservative is extremely negative. Negative personalities with negative auras surrounding them. They never have anything positive to say at all. If you told them to look around at the beauty of the trees and sky, they would say, “yeah, well I don’t live in a dreamworld like you liberals do…”, or something to that effect. I would have a heart attack if I was that bitter all the time about everything. Kind of sad really.
Cheer up, being a “negative nancy” is bad for your health.
The only thing that every Hollywood conservative I know has in common is that each complains that he is the only one. Off the top of my head, I can count two dozen successful television writers who are politically conservative — some casually, some adamantly. There are whole show staffs that are largely or entirely conservative, and they’re not at all quiet about it (nor should they be). And all anybody has to do to know Tim Allen’s politics is watch tomorrow night’s “Last Man Standing.”
Oh, Clint, you poor tortured soul you! I’m sure life has just been miserable for you during all your years working, successfully, in Hollywood.
I can only imagine how liberal studio head after liberal studio head have shunned you and you’e basically been blacklisted for decades……
Oh wait, you’ve actually been able to make just about any movie you’ve ever wanted to for decades. Even passion projects that the average filmmaker would never get to make because they weren’t financially viable.
I still enjoy many of your films. And will, in all likelihood, continue to do so from time to time. But please stop with this nonsense that somehow you’ve had to battle some kind of “left-wing” conspiracy against you.
Sums up my opinion exactly. What plight is he talking about? The one where someone has an extraordinarily successful acting and directing career, with Oscars and Oscar noms to boot? The one where someone can get just about any movie he wants made (even if it’s not at Warners)? The one where someone can blacklist people if he doesn’t like them anymore? Which plight is this? I enjoy your movies Clint, but have a seat. Furthermore, you don’t actually live IN Hollywood. Everyone knows this.