Actor and director Clint Eastwood has been confirmed as a surprise guest Thursday night at the Republican National Convention.

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images
Director/actor Clint Eastwood accepts the award for Distinguished Collaborator onstage during the 14th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards With Presenting Sponsor Lacoste held at The Beverly Hilton hotel on February 21, 2012 in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Eastwood recently thrust his support behind GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who will receive his official nomination at the convention tonight.
Earlier this year, a Chrysler ad narrated by Eastwood that aired during the Super Bowl appeared to endorse President Barack Obama, prompting the actor to respond that he was not backing either candidate. He then went on to voice his support for Romney earlier this month at a fundraiser in Idaho.
Eastwood will address the convention Thursday night in Tampa, Fla., before Romney accepts his nomination. Romney will be introduced by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
NBC's Kelly O'Donnell and Sue Kroll contributed to this story.


I wonder how much Eastwood is getting paid. An astute businessman, Eastwood likely not doing this pro bono. He is a self proclaimed Libertarian, and can't be trilled with the way Ron Paul has been treated.
It would be really funny if he started speaking out against the Tea Party extremism, and the racism in the party. We know he's what the Republicans call a RINO, and not any sort of "true believer". What if he went all loose cannon and endorsed Ron Paul?
You clowns are all alike.
CanYouSpellSocialism, facts ARE scary, and yes, they ARE a left-wing conspiracy, but in order to appear that you have a triple-digit IQ, you need to accept a few now and then.
What, we're worried how much Eastwood makes now? Is that the new left wing criteria for judging people? How much they make? Get serious......
I love Eastwood's movies. Whatever his political opinion, that's his business. But I am disappointed with his wife and daughters Reality TV show. Not very dignified.
Clint Eastwood has given this country (and the world) a lot. I am sorry to hear that now he is apparently losing his marbles.
Those voting for this FAILED President for the SECOND TIME are Clearly the ones that have "lost their marbles".
I will second that--ssmithlg.
I third it!
ROMNEY - RYAN 2012!
Right... the "failed" President that recovered the economy, created jobs, killed Bin Laden, stopped credit card companies from being able to cheat people, made college accessible, reformed a healthcare system that was previously killing poor and uninsured, gave women the right to the same paycheck as a man, ended the war, saved the banks, saved the auto industry... and did all this while cutting taxes on 98% of Americans.
Cameron, stop throwing facts at the baggers. It makes their brain cell explode. Gets messy.
Wonder if MessNBC wil cut Eastwood's speech, just like they cut Mia Love and Artur Davis. MessNBC can't let it's simple minded viewers think Black Folk are in the Republican party.
The silent majority will be loud and clear in November!
Romney / Ryan 2012!!!
Damn Chuck....WE'RE Republicans!!!!!
Great line from ( New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez) last night!!!!!
SHE was AWESOME!
SHE WAS GREAT! Now compare her to who the Democrats are going to trot out, Sandra Fluke no less!
A Latina Governor who can carry her own water, compared to a professional student who wants to milk even more from us and the government.
THAT says it all.
"Silent majority." He-he. That's bagger speak for, "Our candidate is losing really bad, we hope if we click our heels together and wish hard, he'll find an unknown, non-existent well of millions of voters with dim critical thinking skills."
You are criticizing and judging before he even gives his speech. Can't you open your minds and listen to what he has to say?
No...........they can't.
Clint Eastwood is a brilliant artist. I really don't give a flying **** about his political views.
Maybe you should.
Will you say the same about George Clooney?
I have been watching the RNC on C-Span, and they haven't cut any of the coverage. They even showed the band playing between speakers.
One of our American Icons is going to speak to us tonight. A man who has lived, and acquired wisdom.
We all should listen with an open mind.
Horse CaCa, the man is an actor, icon my arse!
Icon?! You've got to be kidding, he an old, over the hill actor who had a great deal of success many years ago....that's your idea of an icon?
Meanwhile, new headline:
"Pee Wee Herman confirmed as Democratic National Convention surprise guest."
That humor thing not working out for you, huh?
My gawd, the Republicans could bring out Mahatma Gandhi, and you liberals would paint even him as the anti-christ.
Get over yourselves.
Love this!
First, Gandhi and Jesus were socialists, so they wouldn't be allowed within a mile of the GOP convention. And secondly, if Gandhi did show up the crowd would boo him and throw peanuts, while yelling "this is how we feed animals".
Gandhi would never vote Republican. He had a soul.
Clint...better check your Wikipedia page asap. Bet one of these tolerant, non-racist, non-bigoted progressives will be changing your info to that you are intolerant, racist and bigoted for not agreeing with them.
LOL! Look for that change, it will be there tomorrow no matter what he says,
Oh, look. Another super rich person supports more tax breaks for himself. Quelle surprise.
TracyS clearly didn't hear Condi's wonderful speech last night.
Sweetie, there are speeches and there are facts. I believe the latter.
Sounds like he's been watching too many "Dirty Harry" movies. Guess I won't be seeing the new Eastwood movie anytime soon. Like in NEVER.
Gee, Clint, I thought you were more intelligent! Supporting the GOP, really? Guess you're a 1%'er looking after his gains and/or have been brainwashed into thinking that the GOP actually cares about anyone who is not a 1%'er. Does this mean you also believe that trickle-down actually works and deny global warming and evolution? Well, yes, I admit we all want things to be better than they are and to get there faster, but you just gotta ask yourself a few questions: If Romney and Ryan have such good ideas and they are such good leaders, then why haven’t they been able to get them implemented and thus solve (or at least start solving) many of our nation’s problems? What have they been waiting for? So why have they let so many citizens suffer in so many ways when they claim to have such great solutions? And, when do we get some substantive proposed solutions from the GOP instead of vapid generalities that promise better days ahead without saying how we will get there?
You lost me at 1%er...
Pappy - your words: same question:
"Well, yes, I admit we all want things to be better than they are and to get there faster, but you just gotta ask yourself a few questions: If Obama and Biden have such good ideas and they are such good leaders, then why haven’t they been able to get them implemented and thus solve (or at least start solving) many of our nation’s problems? What have they been waiting for? So why have they let so many citizens suffer in so many ways when they claim to have such great solutions? And, when do we get some substantive proposed solutions from the Democrats instead of vapid generalities that promise better days ahead without saying how we will get there?"
well, isn't that cute. imho, at least Obama has been trying to solve some problems and has made some progress, no little accomplishment in the face of the GOP who have basically only been working to undermine his efforts. again mho, but i doubt there are many who can honestly say the GOP has worked earnestly to solve our nation's problems preferring instead to play politics. of course you may disagree, but lacking anything substantive from the GOP there's no rational basis to prefer them. at least, i think, in Obama we can look forward to someone who will try to look out for the welfare of all americans and not just the 1%. the 1% who, may i remind, are richer than they have even been and getting richer faster too, pay less taxes than they have in decades, whose businesses are sitting on unprecedented piles of cash, yet still can't create jobs not because they can't but because, it seems, they want guarantees of continued wealth (that darned "uncertainty") and would prefer to make Obama look bad . . . and the heck with those who actually need (and are willing) to work for a living. however, respecting your monicker, yes, get rid of the deadwood and parasites of all types.
Here's a task for you Pappy - google the wealthiest counties in the US. You will find the top 3 wealthiest counties are in and around Washington DC. These are the real 1%ers. Your anger is misplaced. It's your government, taking your tax dollars so they can party at Martha's Vineyard like the so called "wealthy".
well, basically, at best that seems to be tangentially relevant or meaningful; i doubt that statistic has changed much in the past 50 years or more.
anyway, i am not angry, only discouraged that people who claim to want to do better for this country have little more to say than empty slogans (where are the specifics?), have no actual record of achievement to stand on (and i wish they did), and most of all, that they have wasted our country's time, energy, and resources when they could have been working for solutions, but seemingly would not do so because any success would cast a more positive light on Obama.
last, i don't know anyone who is very happy with politicians . . . it's a nasty business, but under our system they are unavoidable, and they will never make everyone happy. but, to me the greatest evil, so to speak, is to do nothing, to see the problems and not try to address them. if you try something and it doesn't work, then you change it to make it better so that it solves the problem better or does so more efficiently or whatever, but you don't sit there and pout so nothing at all gets accomplished because you didn't get your way . . . and then complain that things are not better and that a change is needed? this certainly helps many develop an opinion of what needs to be changed.
Clinton brought us from a defecit to a surplus, Obama wasn't up to the task. So, I'm not going to do nothing - I am casting my vote for Romney / Ryan, and hoping they can turn this thing around.
Big whoop!
You mean Condlolitas quest for the 2016 White House, with just another footnote remark mumbled about, "Oh, yeah, vote for Romney..."
What the heck is Mr. Eastwood doing there? He is pro-gay marriage & pro-choice. In fact, Sondra Locke had a fourteen-year relationship with actor Clint Eastwood. They cohabited from 1975 to 1989.
During the early years of the relationship, Locke had two abortions and a tubal ligation, which she claims were at Eastwood's request.
And this is the man introducing Mitt Romney?
Senility does weird things to people.
Well, this shows that Clint really is a great actor. His leading line at the convention should be, "In Gran Torino, I played a racist who learned to understand the plight of minorities...but in real life... I couldn't give a damn! That's why I support the GOP.
Wait, you mean Mr. Eastwood ain't a "hollywood elite" deserving of derision and slime balling by the cons? "Go ahead, make my day" a ray of f..king sunshine Reagan said. Shrub Jr. remains "unforgiven" and the Koch's "fist full of dollars" will try to shake the orangutan Republicans "every which way but loose". Turdblossom can have a ultrasound probe before he has his "million dollar baby" Mittens. Obama (the good), will beat the bad Ritt MORMONey, and the ugly Ryan. Then uncle can "gran torino" with his dog on the roof. Maybe for a "few dollars more" he can kennel the pupster.
Got nothin but lov fer ya Clint.
How good can he be, he's got a reality tv show.
Ted Nugent up next.
How can such a smart, talented man support Romney? How can anyone who's not a mean, ugly, racist, moronic, lying sack of s**t support the repub party???
Because he is not brain-washed like you.
Clint Eastwood? That's what the republicans need to excite people--an 80 year old white guy.
sueb1, ...and the Democrats will excite THEIR crowd with a 30 year old Georgetown law student that wants ALL of us to PAY For Her methods of Birth Control? I'll take Mr Eastwood thank you!
SSmith, you have a serious reading comprehension problem. The point was health insurance co-pays, not "getting you to pay for her birth control." But go ahead, wear your ignorance like a made-in-China flag pin, proudly. The rest of us will simply giggle at you and move on.
Fluke will remind us all of what the republican party is trying to take away from us...women's rights, civil rights, religious freedom, etc....Clint Eastwood made his living pretending to be a tough guy. I actually always thought he was smarter than he apparently is...I would feel the same way if the dems brought in a special surprise guest who turned out to be an actor.
No, Fluke is a professional student who has been milking the system for years. Now she wants us to even pay for her birth control.
She will remind us what a free loader is,
CARRY YOUR OWN WATER
The title of the article should have been "Actor and director Clint Eastwood has been confirmed as a surprise Republican".
Hey, I thoght we weren't supposed to like politicians who rub elbows with the Hollywood elite. What gives?