Clint Eastwood: I'm A Libertarian

Libertarian Party press release ^ | 2/18/97 | Not sure

[Conservative til I die]

NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100 Washington DC 20037 ----------------------------------------- For release: February 18, 1997 ----------------------------------------- For additional information: George Getz, Deputy Director of Communications Phone: (202) 333-0008 Ext. 222 -----------------------------------------

Clint Eastwood announces: I'm a "libertarian"

WASHINGTON, DC -- Watch out liberals and conservatives -- Dirty Harry is a libertarian.

That's what movie star Clint Eastwood announced this month in Playboy magazine.

In an interview in the March issue, the Oscar-winning actor and director candidly affiliated himself with the growing libertarian movement when he was asked: "How would you characterize yourself poli- tically?"

The laconic Eastwood answered, "Libertarian" -- and then went on to explain the philosophy in simple terms: "Everyone leaves everyone else alone."

He also took a swipe at the Republicans and Democrats, noting that neither of those political parties "seems to have the ability to embrace that sort of thing."

"Talk about making my day," said the Libertarian Party's National Director, Perry Willis. "Having Clint Eastwood declare him- self a libertarian is better than a fistful of dollars. We hope his announcement will have a sudden impact on the public's awareness of the libertarian philosophy -- and the Libertarian Party, too."

However, voters shouldn't expect to see "Dirty Harry For President" bumperstickers appearing soon; Eastwood flatly rejected a career in politics. "Being a politician is about the last thing I'd want to do," he said. "It's a lot of work and a lot of frustra- tion."

But if the star of the new movie "Absolute Power" ever changes his mind, Willis says he'd love to sit down and talk to him.

"If Mr. Eastwood ever decides to join the Libertarian Party or seek public office on our ticket, we'd be happy to discuss with him how that could advance the cause of liberty in America," he said. "Until that time, however, we're delighted that he's on our side philosophi- cally."

The 66-year-old Eastwood has been an increasingly outspoken critic of government abuse in recent months -- echoing the Libertarian Party's criticisms of the federal government's role in the bloodbath at Waco, Texas, and the shooting of Randy Weaver's family at Ruby Ridge, Idaho.

In an essay he wrote for the January 12, 1997 issue of Parade Magazine, Eastwood noted: "Abuse of power isn't limited to bad guys in other nations. It happens in our own country if we're not vigilant."

For example, he wrote: "At Waco, was there really an urgency to get those people out of the compound at that particular time? Was the press going to make it look heroic for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms? At Ruby Ridge, there was one guy in a cabin at the top of the mountain. Was it necessary for federal agents to go up there and shoot a 14-year-old in the back and shoot a woman with a child in her arms? What kind of mentality does that?"

And Eastwood displayed a keen cynicism about the lure of political power. "Those in power get jaded, deluded, and seduced by power itself," he wrote. "The hunger for absolute power and, more to the point, the abuse of power, are part of human nature."

Eastwood joins a growing number of individuals in the entertainment industry who have identified themselves as libertarians. Included on that list are TV star John Laroquette, humorist Dave Barry, author P.J. O'Rourke, movie actor Russell Means, magician Jillette Penn, author Camille Paglia, TV reporter John Stossell, and comedian Dennis Miller.

Since 1954, Eastwood has appeared in dozens of movies and become one of the leading box office draws in the world. His films include "A Fistful of Dollars" (1964), "Dirty Harry" (1971),"Any Which Way You Can" (1980), "In the Line of Fire" (1993), and "The Bridges of Madison County" (1995). His 1992 Wester"n Unforgiven" earned him Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director. His one foray into politics was as mayor of Carmel, California, from 1986-1988.

[Conservative til I die]

An older article, but an interesting one nonetheless. I like how most of the "man's man" type actors in Hollywood lean conservative or libertarian: Mel Gibson, Arnold, Kurt Russell, Tom Selleck, Clint, Bruce Willis

[thoughtomator]

If the Libertarian Party were actually libertarian, they might have a real following. But it's really more like the anarchist party than anything. Libertarianism is not anarchy!

[Drango]

Libertarians are worse than the French.

[eastforker]

Pinging Inspector Calahan,hello inspector,are you still here??

[Conservative til I die]

Man! The haters sure do come out quickly! And with uninformed opinions too.

[thoughtomator]

Pfft. I'm no hater. I am a libertarian appalled by the Libertarian Party. Clint is a good guy!

[glock rocks]

I'm a librarian.
You have a problem with that, punk?

[swilhelm73]

Actually, the problem with the LP is that it has distorted itself to appeal to the only group willing to vote for it in large numbers - stoners in college.

Yes, libertarian philsophy should be opposed to the WoD. However, between that and the fundamentalist nature of the party they are more irrevalent then the Greens and Socialists for God's sake. The latter, especially, have shown *remarkable* ability to control the Democrat Party by compromising and accepting non-flashy long term victories.

If the LP was really interested in advancing libertarian thought they would try rather harder to reach out to conservatives - and the majority of Americans - and first work on areas where Libertarian philosophy is widely held; tax cuts, gun rights, limiting enviromental laws, etc.

[InterceptPoint]

Eastwood joins a growing number of individuals in the entertainment industry who have identified themselves as libertarians. Included on that list are...

author Camille Paglia

Hardly. Camille is a very intelligent gal, an interesting person and does not toe the line with your average run-of-the-mill NOW feminst. But she is a hard core socialist at heart and cannot be considered libertarian based on any definition of the term that I can imagine.

[Hugin]

Good point. There is nothing in libertarianism that conflicts with nationalism. Indeed a strong nation is the cornerstone to domestic liberty. The Libertarian Party's crackpot ideas on eviscerating our national defense, ending the war on terror, and open borders make no sense in terms of defending our liberty in the real world.

[Consort]

The Libertarian Party went out of style. Now the Constitution Party is the new choice for disgruntled whiners.

[thoughtomator]

The first and foremost of all liberties is the right to life. As long as the Libertarian Party avoids this central truth, nothing they can do will have any credibility whatsoever.

[vladog]

I don't think much of the 'Libertarians', they seem to be prone to tin-foil-hat ideas.

[headsonpikes]

Hell, I knew it from his movies. ;^)

Just like John Wayne.

"Live and let live, or I'll kill you," works for me.

[MarkL]

If the LP was really interested in advancing libertarian thought they would try rather harder to reach out to conservatives - and the majority of Americans - and first work on areas where Libertarian philosophy is widely held; tax cuts, gun rights, limiting enviromental laws, etc.

I believe that Neal Boortz is right... That the #1 place the Libertarian party should start would be in protecting property rights. Between the asset forfeiture laws of the WOD, to the recent abuses in eminent domain we're seeing over and over again, that would be an issue that could resonate with the public.

Mark

[Snuffington]

Hey Libertarian Party, not sure you should be trumpeting about all these self-proclaimed libertarians when they decline to join your party. I mean, some of the ones cited here - P. J. O'Rourke for example - are outspoken Republicans.

[bray]

Republican=Republican

Independent=Republican who swore he would never be a Republican

Libertarian=Independent who smokes dope

Pray for W and Our Troops

[Paul C. Jesup]

WASHINGTON, DC -- Watch out liberals and conservatives -- Dirty Harry is a libertarian.

This is news to everyone. I known this since I saw the last parts to the movie 'Magnum Force'.

[thoughtomator]

Once, a long long time ago in a land far far away, 'libertarian' meant one who cherished human freedom.