E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSKENNER, La -- It was a substance-free, 12-minute prime-time performance that remains unlikely to sway a single vote, but Clint Eastwood's cameo appearance and conversation with an empty chair representing President Barack Obama in Thursday night's final hour of the Republican convention coverage remained a prime topic on the campaign trail Friday.
Mark Wilson / Getty Images
Actor Clint Eastwood speaks to an empty chair Thursday during the final day of the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
Mitt Romney's top strategist told reporters on the candidate's campaign plane Friday that the moment should be judged as a performance, and that while not everyone may have liked it, Eastwood's very presence -- and concern for out-of-work Americans in particular -- made the rambling remarks by the 82-year old Academy Award winner worthwhile.
"The fact that he’s there shows he’s speaking his mind and if somebody wants to say I would have liked this different performance or that difference performance, have it," Romney campaign strategist Stuart Stevens told reporters, comparing the remarks to two famous Eastwood films. "Some people didn’t like 'Dirty Harry,' some people didn’t like 'Gran Torino,' that’s OK."
And while Ann Romney and several of Romney's top advisers remained stone-faced during Eastwood's appearance, Stevens said Mitt Romney very much enjoyed it.
"I was backstage with him and he was laughing," Stevens said."[Romney] thought it was funny."
A Romney adviser confirmed the remarks were ad-libbed, and the use of an empty chair as a prop was not discussed by the campaign. If there was any panic during the remarks, the adviser said, it might have come from the control room, where convention planners watched Eastwood continue for more than double his allotted time.
"He did what actors do sometimes, he did a little improv. If someone wants to say this wasn’t Clint Eastwood’s greatest performance, have at it. It doesn’t matter, you know," the adviser said. "It’s I think people saw that Clint Eastwood was not only endorsing Romney but endorsing the need for change. I liked that."
Meanwhile in Virginia, Romney running mate Paul Ryan faced a question by a reporter from NBC’s Hampton Roads affiliate WAVY if Eastwood's remarks were a distraction.
Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood made a surprise appearance at the Republican National Convention, but his rambling speech, which included a make-believe conversation with President Obama, got a mixed reception. NBC's Tamron Hall reports.
"I think Clint Eastwood was just being Clint Eastwood,” Ryan said in the interview to air Saturday. “One of the most profound things Clint said was that 23 million people out of work struggling to find jobs is just unacceptable."
Vice President Joe Biden, who was the butt of several of Eastwood's sharpest jokes, didn't mention the 'Dirty Harry' actor's performance during campaign stops in Ohio Friday.
But, according to pool reports, a supporter did allude to Eastwood's chair act, insisting to Biden during an impromptu stop at an Ohio fairgrounds that "You gotta keep the chair."
Biden didn't directly acknowledge the "chair" comment but gave the woman, Bev Kalmer of Poland, Ohio, a kiss on the lips.
Ann Romney, who spoke in prime time on the first full night of the convention, told CBS that Eastwood is "a unique guy and he did a unique thing" during his RNC appearance.
Asked if she was surprised by the unusual speech, she laughed and said merely "I didn't know it was coming."
Related: Clint Eastwood's 'invisible guest' RNC appearance is a hit online
Leave a Comment:
^epic rant all the warm fuzzies you give each other change NOTHING! The quiet people show up to vote
Obama out 2012
Who do you think they're going to vote for? Clint Eastwood? No one is talking about your DUD of a candidate. Even a senile old (not so good) actor has more charisma than your candidate.
He has accomplished more in his life than most people.Old doesn't equate to senile.Clint Eastwood is a very smart and classy man.I'd put him up against Madonna,who is an Obama supporter.
if the average person made the gesture that clint did they would have be in jail for making a threat against the life of the president, no respect - this president has suffered more disrespect than any other president
new level for the GOP - both parties lie and play games with our lives - I don't like the lying and games, these are people lives - both parties are not worrying about the average person and their families they have a regular paycheck and good medical benefits and retirement plans they do not worry about if they will have a home and food to eat
really? how about the disrespect you libs showed to bush?.....obozo doesn't deserve respect....respect is earned not given.......obozo is contemptible........
Mcpaddywack,
How do you determine who deserves respect and how did Bush Jr. earn it from you? Also, what makes our current president so "contemptible?"
"we own this country"....not obozo and his gang of petty tyrants.......you libs are losing your mojo!!!!!!
Who's the "we" of we own this country? Please explain.
nicknackmcpaddywack give yer dog the bone......
Hi Cowboy, welcome back!
Hey there Missy !!
Romney might not be perfect, but what the heck is wrong with people. If someone has a bad job performance, it's time to go. I think I would vote for a turd in a suit over what we have now. I like Romney's ideas for the most part also.
How weird you democrats are, whining about actually how ON MESSAGE Eastwood was. Your only pathetic responseis to ridicule the messenger? No response more valid than that? I feel you guys hunker down, whining to each other about how awful the performance when you are completely off message, ad nominee attacks, like you always do. Why can't you just answer politely, it's so suspicious when you can't. What, that messenger must be crazy, but sorry, chump, this time there are plenty of people that heard the message, foul language doesn't impress anyone, the president has failed,he needs fired, this is our country and politicians work for us, we need to fire the sucker and move on.
So Jon Stewart comes out at the DNC and beside him sits an empty suit..Q. Governor, when you were Governor of Massachusetts your were pro choice, Moderate, and passed Obamacare......what the hell happened !!!???
Here is an area that has not been asked of Romney and Ryan.
What are their views on mixed marriages of two different beliefs or skin colors?
"Oh that is so brilliant."
"Thank you."
good luck getting an answer out of frick and frack on that one !!
A turd in a suit? Wow! That is the best description of Mitt the Twit I have ever heard!!
he was proud that Obama saved GM, and we are proud of him!
On the plus side the whole Eastwood embarrassment has given me a perfect litmus test to identify people that I need to put on "ignore". Anybody who says that it was genius, truly funny, or "on message" is somebody that I am comfortable with putting on ignore. They are either trolling or are being paid to write pro-republican comments. Clint Eastwood made things easier for me.
so.. who's appearing at the DNC this year??
I don't know but I can assure you, they won't even try to pull what the Republicans did last night!
:)))))))
The Clint Eastwood performance was not an accident. How convenient to have low brow personal attacks of President Obama during prime time and for Romney to be able to distant himself from those attacks. It was all orchestrated. This is the "meany" in Romney, desperate to get more of the working class white male vote. Disappointed that haven't heard anyone else pick up on this.
Mr Eastwood obviously has no respect for the President of the United States. He kinda reminds me of his old actor buddy and gun toter Charlton Heston.
Well he has a lot of company and I'm one of those who have no respect for Obama the dictator and thief.
Ryan Lie-a-thon, Eastwood dementia stealing the show, what a failed convention. Sort of a snapshot of the waste land that has become the GOP.
Eastwood: So tell me, Ant Man, how are you enjoying the convention? Oh, sorry, The Atom is it? My bad.
I think Clint Eastwood is a talented actor and director, I'll always be a fan.
I also got a kick watching the crowd, Queen Ann's look's priceless!
Maybe a little dementia setting in, my 84 year old Mother is slowly losing a little of her quick wit, but she still loves a good joke, said she will send a prayer out for old Clint through PTL! LOL
Geraldo Rivera's remarks about Clint Eastwood were foul and it shows why someone broke his nose because of his big mouth. He is often very arrogant and appears to be much like a liberal nut who thinks he is so superior to everyone. Who does this remind you of?? Of course Barry the weed puffer and want-a-be King. It is no wonder Rivera got slam dunked with a chair because of his mouth.
Barry the weed puffer? Really that's the best you got? Maybe better than that weed smokin, cocaine snorting, DUI alcoholic know as the shrub! LOL Oh my bad, we aren't allowed to talk about Bush&Co.
Rick Colo,Great comments.Geraldo is nothing but a windbag.
Com'on you guys. Give the delusional old nut a break. He actually thought that the President was sitting in the chair and he was engaged in a meanful discussion with him.
Clint Eastwood is a GREAT actor . Love his movies.
GOP skit... well... um... lame...
so, why did msnbc change its name? is this some sort of rebranding??
I don't know. Is your post relevant?
thanks for the insight 32maniac. i'm just asking a question--is that okay with you?
MSNBC was originally a joint venture between NBC News and Microsoft. NBC recently bought out the Microsoft side for the sight because the cable TV channel was know for Progressive leaning commentary but the network and web site wanted to be known as more impartial, straight news. So, there ya go...
thank you kindly, bluecat. i suppose the cable tv channel will follow suit and become nbcnews..
Has it occurred to you delusional right wingers that the internet should be buzzing about the wonders of your candidate, NOT the bizarre ramblings of some ancient, senile actor?
Twitt Robme is a DUD. Even a snail-race is more interesting than HE is.
daisychains, i'm new here.. who are you talking to? (ps--i don't think there are many delusional right wingers on this comment board)
You're delusional if you think Mitt Robme has a snowball's chance in hell of becoming the next POTUS.
who are you talking to?
I think a lot of people are missing the political signifiance of the Eastwood performance. No one committed to Obama or to Romney moved either way b/c of Clint Eastwood's performance, but -------.
Due to all the fuss, every undecided voter in the country now knows that Clint Eastwood was on stage at the RNC and he is a respected icon in many folks' eyes.
Anyone whose vote is influenced by any celebrity is too stupid to be voting.
Celebrities everywhere....since when was Paul Rubens the RNC Chairman ???
yes--great point!!
Like you daisy! hehehehhe
Dairy - I sure agree but the powers that be must think it matters b/c contemporary campaigning has involved celebs.
I love Clint Eastwood as an actor and respect and admire him as a man.He's out and about getting involved in politics in his 80's when many of his age sit home and gripe about the state of this country.I'm also backing Mitt Romney.You go Clint Eastwood.
Cannot wait to watch the Democrat Communist National Convention next week. I am sure they will be using a lot of red and yellow.
Joe Thomas-6624551,Good comment.
whatever Hazel.......
Two idiots just posted above me.
And no, cowboy was not one of the two.
So you remember Hazel?
One of the sane,Be polite and don't call me an idiot.It's rude and shows your maturity level which I'd put at about Junior High School.
just a cleaning lady...
Sorry, but if you consider joe's comment a good one, then you're an idiot.
I call 'em as I see 'em. Deal with it.
Oneof the same,You are still being rude.Please ignore by posts unless you'd like to debate the issue with a modicum of intelligence.
just a cleaning lady...
Fair enough. Defend calling Democrats "Communists" and believing the colors displayed will be red and yellow.
Nafta,Bill Clinton,Democrat.We now trade with China,a communist nation whose flag is red and yellow.Obama,Democrat,massive borrowing from Communist China
You are hilarious. That's all you got? Obviously, you don't understand how the real world works.
You really think that if Flipper gets elected we won't trade with or borrow from China anymore? You really think we didn't trade with or borrow from China under Bush? Weak and hypocritical argument. lol
So you've got to ask yourself. In all that commotion back there...
when was Clint ever amongst the 23 Million out of work?
when was the last time he had to accept Welfare or Food stamps because the factory he worked for went under because of Bain Capital?
He may look kind of old and worn around the edges, but I'll bet he was wearing a Rolex President edition watch and I'll bet he left in a nice limo for that private jet, so he could go back to his 2000 acre ranch in Carmel CA. Just like me. Your average working guy. Go ahead - make my day...
nice try! Phonies
so, can you not be concerned about unemployment if you're employed then? can you only support gay marriage if you're gay?
How was Bain responsible for the business not being sustainable?
Did someone say that Eva Longoria, a solid 1 per center, will be addressing the DCNC?