SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Clint Eastwood’s bizarre GOP appearance

Aug 31, 2012, 7:48 AM | Updated: 8:32 am

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

Seattle News Archives & Features

This NOAA satellite image shows the magnitude of the storm moving inland from the Pacific Ocean. (P...

Ted Buehner, KIRO Newsradio Meteorologist

What to expect as Western Washington’s first big fall storm arrives Saturday night

The fall season’s first strong weather system will sweep through Western Washington tonight, bringing strong winds and rain.

6 minutes ago

Associated Press

3 dead, including suspect, and 2 deputies critically injured in eastern Washington state

SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. (AP) — A shooting and subsequent firefight with responding officers left three people dead, including the suspect, and two deputies critically wounded in eastern Washington state Tuesday. Deputies responded to a home in Spokane County, which borders Idaho, around 2:30 p.m. after a woman told her neighbor that she had been shot […]

4 days ago

Sedro-Woolley medications missing...

KIRO 7 News Staff

Student medications found missing or diluted at Sedro-Woolley schools

Students’ medications are missing or diluted at multiple schools across the Sedro-Woolley School District, according to a district statement.

17 days ago

In this photo taken with a smartphone, Mike Herrington, the FBI special agent in charge, speaks to ...

Associated Press

Washington resident charged with conspiracy in Canada shool shooting is ordered detained

SEATTLE (AP) — A Washington state resident charged with conspiracy in one of the worst school shootings in Canada’s history has been ordered detained pending further hearings in the case. Melody Bryant, also known as James Cody Bryant, of Bellingham, Washington, was charged this month with conspiring to murder people in a foreign country. Investigators […]

25 days ago

The location of the Vertical Evacuation Tower will be near the Westport Marina. It will be the thir...

Tom Brock

Rising above the risk: Westport breaks ground on Washington’s newest tsunami refuge

The city of Westport broke ground Saturday on what will become Washington state's latest tsunami-safe location: a new vertical evacuation tower.

1 month ago

Andre Sayles (2) bite of seattle shooting suspect...

Tom Brock

Texts on hold: SPD delays Bite of Seattle shooting records

Interim Seattle Police Chief Andre Sayles says he needs more time before he can release the police department's internal communications the night of the deadly "Bite of Seattle" shootings.

2 months ago

Clint Eastwood’s bizarre GOP appearance