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Clint Eastwood's bizarre GOP appearance

BY Josh Kerns  on August 31, 2012 @ 7:48 am (Updated: 8:32 am - 8/31/12 )

Clint Eastwood's bizarre appearance at the GOP convention is sparking plenty of conversation and head scratching.

Eastwood spoke to an empty chair, having an imaginary conversation with invisible Barack Obama.

"The speech/interview was so rambling and halting, it just became embarrassing," said KIRO co-host Tom Tangney.

"I think it may be time for somebody else to come along and solve the problem," said Eastwood, 82. "When someone does not do the job, you have got to let them go," he said as if speaking to the president.

Tangney was particularly troubled by an off-color comment when the bit turned blue.

"What do you want me to tell Romney? I can't tell him to do that. He can't do that to himself. You're absolutely crazy," Eastwood said.

Crazy or not, it drew plenty of response from thousands of people at the convention and on Twitter.

"Clint Eastwood became (a) huge star as a man of few words," tweeted NBC News veteran Tom Brokaw, an Eastwood friend. "As a surprise guest on the Tampa stage he had too many words."

"I heard that Clint Eastwood was channeling me at the RNC. My lawyers and I are drafting our lawsuit," said comedian Bob Newhart in another Twitter post.

"Still can't tell if Clint was hallucinating or president is really invisible now," wrote actor Zach Braff.

There was plenty of praise as well, especially for Eastwood's signature line from Dirty Harry. "Clint Eastwood made my day," wrote country star Charlie Daniels.

Even the White House responded, posting "this seat's taken" soon after the Eastwood appearance.

obama eastwood twitter

Love it or hate it, it's clear Clint made a lot of people's day.

By Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (47)


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  • hnuh wrote...
    08-31-2012 Clint Eastwood's...
    August 31, 2012 7:50 am
    The bit didn't turn blue. That's an old time way of insinuating blueness without actually going blue. It really isn't blue if the audience has to figure it out for themselves.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zagnut wrote...
    I was concerned the moment he walked out and his hair looked like he had just stuck his finger in an electrical outlet.
    August 31, 2012 7:57 am
    Not good, Clint. Not good at all.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • vanderleun wrote...
    Whatever the Obamadroids are paying you Tom
    August 31, 2012 7:58 am
    It isn't little enough.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SeattleNative wrote...
    Is our current president really....
    August 31, 2012 8:31 am
    ...that thin-skinned?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    yes
    September 1, 2012 5:38 am
    .
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Did three sheets to the wind replace . . . .
    August 31, 2012 8:36 am
    Palin? Also, three sheets in the wind .... Drunk, inebriated, as in After six beers he's three sheets to the wind.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    CH, do the words 'been there, done that'
    August 31, 2012 4:47 pm
    ring a bell with you?

    If you wand worse, just scroll back to your daily comments a couple of months ago. ............ Still, if Eastwood had made the sale jokes about Romney or Ryan, all you 'prudes' on the left would be laughing your heads off.

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  • davima wrote...
    I wanted to like Clint's "speech"
    August 31, 2012 8:43 am
    I've decided that ad-libbing is not Clint Eastwood's forte. I had no problem with anything he said, just the way he stumbled through it ...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Gate Keeper wrote...
    Rugged Individual
    August 31, 2012 9:04 am
    Among other qualities Clint Eastwood is a "rugged individual" and a self made man. Whether you liked his presentation or not, "most" of what he said is true and the empty chair prop was perfect and I would only suggest one improvement in that an "empty suit" on the empty chair would have completed the picture and the "well deserved" insult. Morning again in America starts on 11/07/12
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  • TheQuietMan wrote...
    I'm curious
    August 31, 2012 9:51 am
    as to what your teachers told you quotation marks meant.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Love It or Not wrote...
    Like It or Not
    August 31, 2012 12:00 pm
    Doesn't matter how his hair looked, doesn't matter what the age, doesn't matter how he chose to deliver the message, he spoke the truth like it or not and my 84 year old mother agrees.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • loulu wrote...
    Give him a break.
    August 31, 2012 9:17 am
    He's an old man for crying out loud. I thought he carried the ideas well with plenty of humor. This clip shows he's a regular guy.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HLC wrote...
    Hey tagney.
    August 31, 2012 9:33 am
    You do realize the man directs movies right. I'm he's a lot sharper than you ever have been or will be. You three stooges are really a trio to draw to. If you would look at obozo through so same eyes you would see that without his teleprompter he is a stuttering, stammering fool. How Bonneville puts up with your bias is beyond words.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Splinge wrote...
    Judging by the response...
    August 31, 2012 9:40 am
    Judging by Tom Tangney's response, (whoever he is...) Mr. Eastwood's message must have been conveyed. As you have probably noticed by now, the liberals answer to conservative thought is to return with personal attacks. Given this fact, I can say this campaign is off to a great start. As time goes on, I expect the attacks to increase. They are already at full tilt attack on prosperity, and excellence, they are very transparent about their hatred toward American exceptionalism.
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