Clint, in Nov. 2011: "We shouldn't be bailing out the banks and car companies."

[drokhole]

Full quote:

"I'm a big hawk on cutting the deficit. I was against the stimulus thing too," he said. "We shouldn't be bailing out the banks and car companies. If a CEO can't figure out how to make his company profitable, then he shouldn't be the CEO."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/09/clint-eastwood-herman-cain_n_1083627.html

Just remember, folks - it's all a big fucking illusion. They know how to manipulate your emotions. Noam Chomsky had it right when he called it "perception management."

[gateley]

1. Sounds like Romney. nt

[Saving Hawaii]

2. The worse American industry does, the more he can skim them for. /nt

Hopefully they all fail and our good folks in the murders and executions... erm, mergers and acquisitions department make tons of money selling off the assets.

[Firebrand Gary]

3. Maybe this is his way of saying that he was wrong?

We have all made mistakes. At least I know I have, even right here on DU.

[CakeGrrl]

4. That's how I read that commercial.

Singing the praises of the auto companies that President Obama helped save is as clear a change of mind as he could make after his previous quote.

[drokhole]

5. It's a commercial. He was paid handsomely for it.

It's his way of saying "thanks for the money, here's my gritty voice and artificial gravitas."

[Son of Gob]

6. Exactly.

Typical greedy hypocrite Republican.

[Firebrand Gary]

16. Clint would have done that on principal.

It's not like he needs the money.

[whatchamacallit]

22. +1

[The Traveler]

7. It's a very good commercial

And Eastwood is a very good actor. I cannot speculate that this fits in with his political views, or his current take on things. He is an actor. From what I know of his views, I am not overly impressed with his politics.

The commercial itself ... I think it broaches a topic we all think about ... the divisions in our society and the need to get past them if we are to "win in the second half". Of course, that can be tough when there is a significant minority of folks who are willing to burn the country down if they don't get their way imposed on the rest of us.

Trav

[Mojorabbit]

21. Or was it a way to defang OWS?

I would love to know the backstory on it. It felt like a national pep talk. I did not watch the game but wandered into the living room as the commercial started. I found the acting wonderful and I found the commercial itself odd.

[Initech]

8. The difference: the car companies paid theirs back. The banks gave it to the criminal executives.

[banned from Kos]

18. the opposite is true. GM/Chrysler are still in the hole while the big banks repaid in full

plus interest.

Bank of America $45 billion borrowed and repaid $49.5 billion (for example).

[Ikonoklast]

9. Anyone who cares what a person who is paid to pretend to be something he isn't, or

say the words written for him by another person, needs to re-think what it is actors do for a living.


I'd be willing to bet that if I gave him, or any actor for that matter enough money, he'd bark like a dog for me.

That's why I don't give much weight or credence to the political musings of any actor, any moreso than a random person on the street's opinion.

[Lugnut]

10. I highly doubt that he even wrote the script for that commercial.

Clint is a very talented actor who has been paid very well for pretending to be someone he isn't in real life.

[hlthe2b]

14. Of course not. This was an advertisement for Chrysler. They have multi million$$ ad accounts

Clint was a PAID spokesman--an actor in the ad. Geez, I can't believe some of the misperceptions people are taking from this.

[Obamacare]

11. Well, the freepers think it was an Obama ad

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2842875/posts

[hlthe2b]

15. Just a small request...

I appreciate your taking the "hit" to go over there and check out the reaction, but could you post a few representative comments? I vowed long ago never to go back over there and I know many here feel the same.

It's ok. We'll be here with a full decontamination kit to clean you back up in a jiffy.

[Ecumenist]

12. Well, if he was paid well for anything artificial, it backfired..

It really sounds as if he is STRONGLY implying that Obama deserves a second term as he's only halfway through his mission.

[hlthe2b]

13. Clint was a PAID spokesman in the ad... Do you not get that?

It is not necessarily conveying his POV. That's what actors do. And, the fact is this ad for Chrysler products is very effective--for Democrats.

[mulsh]

17. Clint was also mayor of a pricey tourist trap for a while.

Just though your astute post could use a bit of additional info.

[hlthe2b]

19. Yes he was and he is an old school Republican in "real life"...

But, like most actors, they separate professional activities from personal. He may have had a change of his personal attitudes in doing this commercial--or he may merely be doing it as a paid spot. Regardless, the commercial is one hell of an effective one--for Democrats. That comes of a good actor.

[Javaman]

20. If I remember correctly, Eastwood is a repuke. nt

[librechik]

23. yes, always. No surprise there. n/t