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]

"Everyone leaves everyone else alone."

A frightening and foreign idea to some conservatives here, sadly.

[Conservative til I die]

Sorry for the mischaracterization. W/o knowing where you were coming from, it would be easy to read your comment the other way (using the anarchy buzzword that the true haters use).

I'm no fan of the party myself, but am moving more and more towards that philosophy. The solution is to libertarianize the GOP.

[Eris]

That seems accurate from my short tenure.

Oh well, more work ahead is all. :)

[thoughtomator]

You can always click on my profile... should clear matters up

[Conservative til I die]

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.

The Libertarian Party's best hope is to become a third party that dangles endorsements in the Big Two's faces.

Now I live in NY, where we have a somewhat unique and effective third party system, where the third parties basically exist as endorsement carrots for the Republicans and Democrats. They rarely nominate their own candidates unless the Big Two don't hold to liberal or conservative values.

The Libertarians don't have muc of a presence in NY on the ballot because they try to act like a real national party, endorsing their own candidates. They need to start saying, like the other third parties, "Hey, it's going to be a close race, we've got xx thousand members, and if you stay libertarian enough, we'll endorse you, and those votes will be yours."

[Conservative til I die]

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.

The problem is, as much as the LP likes to think they are purists, when dealing with people and politics, purity goes out the window the first nanosecond the Party exists. The problem is, with some of these issues, it's a certain faction's interpretation of what libertarianism that holds sway. Unfortunately, that's the kookier Harry Browne faction.

[No Dems 2004]

I find this interesting ... he knows the Democrats are zeros, but he doesn't want to identify with the GOP, either, because he obviously doesn't like the Republican approach on social issues.

While I have a certain amount of respect for Mel Gibson, Willis and Arnold, I don't think much of Eastwood.

[tkathy]

These ideas are fine on paper, but in the real world, "everyone does not leave everyone else alone".

[Conservative til I die]

While I have a certain amount of respect for Mel Gibson, Willis and Arnold, I don't think much of Eastwood.

You don't like him because he isn't a conservative Republican? Or because you think he's ashamed to admit he is one?

Either way, it's your choice, your opinion, but have you considered the possibility that Clint might actually be a libertarian and not a conservative Republican?

[Mike-o-Matic]

   "Talk about making my day," said the Libertarian Party's National Director, Perry Willis. "Having Clint Eastwood declare himself 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."

Is this a legit quote? What a bootlicking dork!

[fnord]

LP does not equal libertarian

political parties have there own agendas, removed from the underlying philosophies

[international american]

I do not believe for one second that Tom Selleck or Mel Gibson are Libertarians.

[ShadowDancer]

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

As you can see, I substituted Rep for Lib. And yet, the GOP has an even more abysmal record of reaching out to conservatives than the Libertarians do.

[truth_seeker]

Reposting from 1997 that Clint is a libertarian won't undo the insane position regarding 9/11/2001 taken by the party's 2000 presidential candidate.

Any party putting forth such a rubbish-brained candidate has problems.

[Conservative til I die]

Reposting from 1997 that Clint is a libertarian won't undo the insane position regarding 9/11/2001

That wasn't the purpose of my post.

Any party putting forth such a rubbish-brained candidate has problems.

Learn to differentiate the party from the philosophy. The Libertarian Party equates to libertarianism as much as the GOP equates to conservatism.

[blackie]

Clint made that statement six years ago ~ he's 73 now. :)

Be Well ~ Be Armed ~ Be Safe ~ Molon Labe!

[swilhelm73]

Lol.

The Republican party has a terrible record on actually enacting conservative ideals, that's certianly true.

However, the party is a conservative one, and has, for example cut taxes recently.

The LP, OTOH, has no interest in reaching out to conservatives or advancing conservative ideals and never has. Make no mistake, if the LP, in its current incarnation, could trade every American freedom to the hard left for the bone of drug legalization they would do it in a heart beat.

Why do you think they supported the recent Judicial rewrite of the the Constitution vis a vis the new "sodomy right"?

All the real Libertarians are either in the Republican party or vote that way. To paraphrase Orwell, LP members are objectively fascist, err, leftists.

[joesnuffy]

"Flinch" Eastwood would be more honest to call himself a "liberal vegetarian"
- imo

[No Dems 2004]

"Either way, it's your choice, your opinion, but have you considered the possibility that Clint might actually be a libertarian and not a conservative Republican?"

I'm a strong conservative, and I just don't think that Clint Eastwood is - therefore, just because he's not a Democrat, doesn't mean that I regard him as an ally of conservatism. While other actors like Willis and Arnold have identified themselves with President Bush, I've never ever heard of Eastwood even having a nice word for the man.

If he is a libertarian, that's his business, but I personally don't agree with libertarians on various issues.

[Moonman62]

I think of them as the libertarianism on the fringes of society party. Dope, prostitution, loan sharking, Linux consulting, etc.