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.

[swilhelm73]

As I said the Republican party record has been poor. From being outfoxed repeatedly by Slick to agreeing to compromise then they don't need to to simply to appease the Leftist press, the Republicans are the stupid party.

But they are the only party that has any hope of advancing conservative (or, amusingly, libertarian) goals. And if the firebrands that claim the party is too weak kneed for them were to actually expend their efforts within the party this problem could be minimized.

The LP, OTOH, has no problem working with the hard left to sell out any other American freedom to end the WoD. Not surprising considering what the LP's base is.

[MosesKnows]

Clint Eastwood announces: I'm a "libertarian"

If the Libertarian party ever gets serious I will also announce my support. The way I will know they are serious is when they make run-off elections their primary goal.

[Nanodik]

That is like saying "If Republicans were like Republicans" - get a grip, Republicans are like Republicans because they named themselves. Libertarians are libertarians because they created the party and embraced a particular philosophy. I guess you idea of Libertarian would be Rush Limbaugh on pain killers?

[thoughtomator]

See above re: right to life

[tpaine]

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.
13 -tmator-

---

You are forgetting that women have an equal right to life, liberty & property.
-- If you think a woman murdered her baby, get a jury of your peers to agree, and hang her high.. --

-- Otherwise, mind your own business.. -- That's the libertarian way.

[thoughtomator]

Nope, that's the Hobbesian way, where life is brutal, nasty, and short... and I will add as well, worthless.

[Nanodik]

Republican = Hypocrite on pain killers demanding pot smokers be put away for life.

Conservative = Republican who hates government when it is screwing with his life, but loves it when it screws with his neighbors.

[Conservative til I die]

You are forgetting that women have an equal right to life, liberty & property. -- If you think a woman murdered her baby, get a jury of your peers to agree, and hang her high.. --

Wow. You're really off-base. I guess you were pretty torqued-off over the Partial Birth Abortion ban. I mean hey, you know a woman's life must be threatened by a pregnancy where she can actually deliver the baby 75% of the way before it's killed, er, "disposed of."

And of course, we all know 98% of abortions really have something to do with a woman's health. It's never used as retro-active contraception. Never. Definitely. Sure.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

The 66-year-old Eastwood...

Not to be a nitpicker, but Eastwood is 76 years old.

I used to work for him and for his girlfriend Francis Fisher. In fact, I have the spurs he wore in Fistful of Dollars and For A Few Dollars More, the knickers and pick axe he used in The Eiger Sanction as well as some other things, along with his scripts from other movies... Make an offer... I ain't sellin' cheap neither...

Anybody interested Freepmail me...

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

What's wrong with Hobbes?

[Conservative til I die]

The LP, OTOH, has no problem working with the hard left to sell out any other American freedom to end the WoD. Not surprising considering what the LP's base is.

Do you even know WTF you're talking about? Seriously, take a break from the discussion and come back when you grow up and start basing your claims in reality.

[thoughtomator]

Nothing is wrong with Hobbes. A Hobbesian world, however, is a world without law, justice, or freedom, or anything really that would distinguish man from animals.

[Conservative til I die]

Conservative = Republican who hates government when it is screwing with his life, but loves it when it screws with his neighbors.

I use the NIMBY analogy. Conservatives have no problem wielding the heavy hand of big government when it's against their "enemies," but not when it comes to themselves.

Imposing atheism through government = bad (and it is, I agree) but when it's conservatives imposing Christianity on others = good.

[Conservative til I die]

The article is from 6 years ago, hence his age.

[JoeSchem]

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!

There is an American Libertarian Party and it's called the Republican Party. We just have to take it back from the ego-trippers and money-grubbers who call themselves 'moderates.'

[CWOJackson]

"The article is from 6 years ago, hence his age."

That would explain the sudden interest in the lp six years ago. I wondered where they got that extra 822 votes.

[winker]

The best way to cut taxes would be to force all the Illegal Aliens in the Country on the Tax Rolls. That alone would reduce the burden on all of us and Protect Social Security!

[Paul_B]

> "Everyone leaves everyone else alone."

Dream on.

[swilhelm73]

Do you even know WTF you're talking about? Seriously, take a break from the discussion and come back when you grow up and start basing your claims in reality.

Actually, unlike you I based my statements on *fact* something you might want to try and do.

I pointed out the notable example of the LP signing on to rule by Judicial Fiat in return for the hope the new right to sodomy will be eventually extended by our judicial masters to a right to partake in drugs.

[Conservative til I die]

That would explain the sudden interest in the lp six years ago. I wondered where they got that extra 822 votes.

Oops, looks like the friendless agoraphobe has finally decided to take a caca on the thread.