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.

[Cultural Jihad]

Exactly. It may come as a surprise to social-Darwinian ideologues, but the DOI Preamble doesn't say that our inalienable rights include "an early death, slavery to vice, and the pursuit of unneeded suffering."

[cinFLA]

The WOD is really the war on freedom.

I hope you never find out that George Soros has his sights on your freedom and your guns. 'Useful idiots' help bring him closer to his goal.

[Nanodik]

doesn't say that our inalienable rights include "an early death, slavery to vice, and the pursuit of unneeded suffering."

I take it "life" being that my life is my own and should I choose to end it early, that is my choice to make and mine alone. I don't know what you would define "liberty" as, but I define it as self-determination without being beholden to another. As for "pursuit of happiness", one man's vice is another's virtue. If you choose to make these decisions for others, then according to our founding fathers you are usurping God's plan for all humans.

[Nanodik]

I'll let Soros speak for himself. As I have said, the only way Soros can do harm to me is to use the powers of the govt. The founding fathers realized that govt could be undermined to serve the will of the few and impose it on the many. That is why I support a very, very limited govt. It's not Soros I am afraid of, it is the prospect that the govt may do some of the things he would like them to do.

[Cultural Jihad]

Ah, the old "laws somehow thwart God's plan of freewill" argument. Supposedly we should legalize bank-robbery, since laws against bank-robbery rob would-be robbers of their freewill choice on whether to rob or not.

If our inalienable rights can be abrogated then they are not really inalienable. We can infringe on our own inalienable rights, but we may not abrogate them.

[Nanodik]

Please do me a favor and pick up some philosophy books, preferably from the Scottish enlightenment, and do some reading. The govt does not grant rights, but it has been created to safeguard them. Bank robbers are violating someone else's property rights. Rapists are violating someone else's right to freedom of association. Murderers are violating someone else's right to life. Right now the govt is violating virtually all of these rights instead of protecting them. Can you think of anyone's rights that I might be violating if I sit at home and spark up a big fatty? Or do you suppose you have the God-given right to dictate to others what they should eat, drink, smoke or have relations with?

[Cultural Jihad]

... if I sit at home and spark up a big fatty?

You'll have to learn to speak English.

[cinFLA]

That is why I support a very, very limited govt. It's not Soros I am afraid of, it is the prospect that the govt may do some of the things he would like them to do.

Ah, but you are an enabler of Soros and his quest for MORE government control, a national police force, more UN power and total gun control. Sleep well.

[cinFLA]

More good news for you CJ! The feds are going to ban ephedra. Get ready to have the DEA swooping down on fat people and athletes and locking them up to keep society safe!

Because in your Libertarian society, companies were marketing it as a safe additive. So much for your Libertarian society.

[Nanodik]

Sorry, how am I an enabler of Soros? If you mean do I respect his right to spend his own money to express his views, then yeah I guess I am an enabler but I don't agree with many of his ideas. I don't even think that we are that close on drug laws.

[Nanodik]

... if I sit at home and spark up a big fatty?

That means have myself a Bud Light....

[headsonpikes]

Or do you suppose you have the God-given right to dictate to others what they should eat, drink, smoke or have relations with?

BINGO!

Didn't take you long to figure out CJ's angle!

So long as his mob is larger than your mob, CJ believes that 'Gott Mit Uns'.

Believe it or not, CJ actually is a soi-dissant 'conservative'. LOL!

[Nanodik]

And now that some bureaucrats have determined that it is far too dangerous for you to take, do you feel safer? Personally, I was hopelessly addicted to having 3 ephdra laced Red-Bull and vodka cocktails every night. I hope they will have a govt funded rehab program as part of the package so that I can go straight again...

[tpaine]

"The WOD is really the war on freedom."


I hope you never find out that George Soros has his sights on your freedom and your guns. 'Useful idiots' help bring him closer to his goal.
322 -cin-
_________________________

Cultural Jihad, a social-Darwinian ideologue wrote:

-- the DOI Preamble doesn't say that our inalienable rights include "an early death, slavery to vice, and the pursuit of unneeded suffering."

---

JR wrote, on the issue:

"There is nothing in the U.S. Constitution that authorizes the federal government to wage war against the citizens of the United States, no matter how well-meaning the intent.
The Bill of Rights means just as much today, as it did on the day it was written. And its protections are just as valid and just as important to freedom today, as they were to our Founders two hundred years ago.
The danger of the drug war is that it erodes away those rights. Once the fourth amendment is meaningless, it's just that much easier to erode away the first and then the second, etc. Soon we'll have no rights at all. "
Jim Robinson, 5/9/01 155

[cinFLA]

In your Libertarian world, 14 yo's were buying ephedra; in your Libertarian world, 14 yo's would be buying cocaine, LEGALLY!

[cinFLA]

Personally, I was hopelessly addicted to having 3 ephdra laced Red-Bull and vodka cocktails every night.

Now we know what happened to your mind. No, it had to have been fried earlier. No one in their right mind would buy such junk, much less ingest it.

Never mind the ephedra, RB is a TOTAL waste of your money! Besides, it tastes awful.

[cinFLA]

Why don't you put up what he said about the states' WOD's which is 99 percent of the WOD's!!!!

[Nanodik]

Personally, in my world (state) I would like to see laws prohibiting potentially dangerous substances from being sold to minors. But right now kids can buy cocaine and what does the current law do to rectify the situation? Make sure that the criminal element is the only supplier. And don't get me started on the ephedra... where is that damn Red-Bull anyway, OH GOD I THINK I AM HAVING WITHDRAWL SYMPTOMS ALREADY!!!

[Nanodik]

Never mind the ephedra, RB is a TOTAL waste of your money! Besides, it tastes awful.

Not if you mix it with enough vodka - the ephedra adds a nice after-taste as well!

[tpaine]

Feel free to post it yourself..

I doubt that I & JR agree on the specifics of 'states rights'.. -- But I can agree totally with his quote I posted..