Eastwood's 'Empty Chair' Speech Gets Under Big Labor's Skin, Provokes Violent Reaction

NewsBusters ^

[chessplayer]

The Politico, in its report on what turned out to be the center-right's "Empty Chair Day," covered the reaction of one prominent member of organized labor to Clint Eastwood's supposedly horrible (if you believe leftist pundits) speech at the Republican National Convention.

If it was really that awful, they would be taking pity on Clint. Instead, they're getting hostile, meaning that the Hollywood Academy Award winner really got under their skin, as seen in an understated report by the online web site's Tim Mak and Juana Summers (bolds are mine througout this post):

AFSCME President Lee Saunders, capping off a fiery speech to the Wisconsin delegation Monday morning, held a conversation with an invisible Eastwood.

An empty chair had been brought on stage before Saunders started speaking, but he ignored it for most of his speech.

“I don’t know if you noticed, but you see this chair? I don’t know if you noticed that he actually walked in with me. He’s invisible, he’s sitting right here. He’s been listening to everything I had to say,” Saunders said. “So I want you to welcome Clint Eastwood.”

“I’ve got a couple of questions. I’ve got a couple of questions I want to ask Clint Eastwood,” Saunders continued as dozens of attendees cracked up. “But first, buddy, what do you have to say for yourself? I didn’t hear you.”

“Clint’s been sitting here for the past hour. He doesn’t have anything to say for himself. Mitt Romney has nothing to say for himself. Paul Ryan has nothing to say for himself,” he said. “We’ve got to make our voices heard. We’ve got to speak loud and clear. If we do that, we will win in November.”

“Dirty Harry, Dirty Harry, make my day,” Saunders yelled, knocking the empty chair off of the stage.

Buzzfeed's report by Rosie Gray indicates that Saunders was a bit more over the top than the Politico pair indicated (HT Blue Crab Boulevard via Instapundit):

"Mitt Romney doesn't have anything to say," Saunders continued. "Paul Ryan doesn't have anything to say."

Suddenly, the tone changed: Saunders, finishing his speech, began to kick the chair, threw it, and yelled "Dirty Harry, make my day! We're gonna kick ass in November!"

The crowd was cheering, and the humor had gained a palpable edge.

So it appears that Politico may have decided to appoint itself the official language cleaner of organized labor and perhaps the entire Democratic Party.

There appears to be no direct reference to "Empty Chair Day" or Saunders' speech at the Associated Press based on related searches done at about 10:30 PM ET. It would appear that the self-described Essential Global News Network is still waiting for instructions from the Obama administration and/or campaign as to how or even if it should report the chair-related events today.

[chessplayer]

Other than playing the skin color card, violence is what libs do best.

[tired&retired]

Is there video of the event available? I watched the Clint chair conversation and found it very humorous.

[chessplayer]

Is there video of the event available?

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Not yet. I hope there is.

[sten]

Saunders yelled, knocking the empty chair off of the stage.

would this be considered assault on the president? should the secret service investigate?

[doc1019]

Many on the left have laughed and made fun of Eastwood’s speech, yet it has gone viral and has evidently bothered everybody from the WH on down. Go Clint ... still got it.

I placed an empty chair in my front lawn today in recognition of his speech.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Typical violent union-RAT. He probably went out afterwards, and murdered somebody’s wife.

[profit_guy]

Was he allowed to move that chair by himself?? Why weren’t two union employees there to do the job?! I think I may file a grievance.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

“Suddenly, the tone changed: Saunders, finishing his speech, began to kick the chair, threw it, and yelled “Dirty Harry, make my day! We’re gonna kick ass in November!” “

That seems to lack, I don’t know, subtlety? Understatement? (Perhaps that’s more of an English thing.) Civility? Humour? Logic? Perhaps all of those things. Don’t quit your day job Mr. Saunders.

[ThunderSleeps]

Ah, when you don't have anything meaningful to say, no logical arguments to stand on... Go for petty personal attacks.

The entire democratic party (aka big government socialists) are an empty chair. They've got nothing left. We tried things their way and it has failed. Wow, socialism fails, again. Who would've thought... (hint for you lib lurkers - who would've thought? Everyone who has ever tried it knows it does not work, cannot work)

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Wow! I just learned something about myself.

I saw Terd Kennedy, back from the grave, yelling on C-SPAN...I flipped him off.

[timestax]

You Talkin at ME ?

[TChad]

That seems to lack, I don’t know, subtlety? Understatement? (Perhaps that’s more of an English thing.) Civility? Humour? Logic?

Sanity?

[wjcsux]

The Looney Left goes crazy when the truth is brought to them in a such a manner they cannot deny.

[bray]

Looks like the communist convention is in meltdown mode? They have found out they have nowhere left to hide.

Pray for America

[Golden Gate]

Obama FAIL *Must See* Video:

"We've Heard It All Before" 1:02

YouTube Video: "We've Heard It All Before" 1:02

Right rallies for 'Empty Chair Day' [post your pics in this thread, FREEPers!]

Also, a New Website: Obama Isn't Working .com
ObamaIsntWorking.com

[Orange1998]

Clint Eastwood “skit” was brilliant in so many ways. A silly chair has caused the Dems to go nuts.

[upchuck]

Is that snow on the ground? When was that picture taken?

[windsorknot]

Hey, Mr. Union Thug! Go pick on a chair your own size!

[devolve]

Thursday's event is certain to draw comparisons to 2008, when Obama accepted the Democratic nomination before a capacity crowd at an 84,000-seat stadium in Denver. There was little concern back then over whether Obama would fill the stadium, in part because he was easily attracting tens of thousands of people to his campaign rallies across the country.

This time around, Obama's crowds are far smaller. He drew his biggest audience at his campaign kick-off rally in May, a 14,000-person crowd at Ohio State University. About 13,000 people attended Obama's rally at the University of Colorado in Boulder Sunday. 

The campaign says the size of Obama's events this summer have purposely been kept low. Large rallies are more expensive and security requirements are more intense for a golfing precedent than a candidate. 

Convention organizers in Charlotte may have more control over the crowds than their other big concern: the weather. Heavy evening rains doused Charlotte over the weekend, and thunderstorms are in the forecast for Thursday. 

Officials say the outdoor event will go on rain or shine, except if there is maybe a little blow.

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[timestax]

You talkin to US ?