Clint EastwoodClint Eastwood came to my hometown (Macon, Ga.) this summer to shoot his latest film, "Trouble with the curve," a film about a baseball player struggling to get back to the big leagues.
When Mr. Eastwood came to my attention, he was Rawdy Yates, riding ramrod on a herd on the television series, "Rawhide."
By the time I had reached college he had became the sniper I saw tonight at the GOP convetion, playing "Dirty Harry" in a series of movies that gave Ronald Regan a catch phrase that he used to talk tough to the Soviet Union after he received intelligence that the Soviet economy was about to collaspe.
Then there was a "Fist Full of Dollars," "For One Dollar More" and the "Outlaw Josie Wells." The Romney campaign turned to Dirty Harry tonight to inspire the faithful to get behind his candidacy.
Clint Eastwood came onto the Republican stage tonight and like the actor he is he was given an empty chair as a prop. He began by deadpanning the fact that there are 22 million Americans out of work. He was roundly applauded for this comment. It was as if having 22 million Americans out of work was just what the doctor ordered to give the Republicans a chance to recapture the White House.
But Eastwood did not stop there he went on to lampoon America's engagement in the wars in Iran and Afghanistan. Wars which the country untook rightly or wrongly in frighten times. The audience applauded and cheered his comments. Also as if they liked the fact that thousands of American soliders have either lost their lives or limbs or minds fighting to protect their fellow Americans from those who threaten our shores. After all political points could be scored at the soliders expense. The end goal of replacing President Obama justified the means.
At a time when students are struggling to afford college, Mr. Eastwood lampooned the Presidents efforts at addressing their concerns. Again the audience erupted in hand clapping and cheers. Because they know the misery of the people is cause to argue it is time to replace the President.
Eastwood's lampooning the President by talking to an empty chair tended to cheapen the office of the presidency in ways that a Saturday Night Live skit never has.
While competing in the NCAA Mid-Eastern Regional Baseball playoffs in 1973, I learned that if I buckled my knee I could wait back and drive the curve ball into a gap.
Go ahead Clint, make my day, throw another curve ball, because Americans need a president working to relieve the pains of 22 million unemployed people, the pain of thousand of families torn apart by war and the thousands that cannot afford to attend college.
What America does not need is a group thriving on the misery of others because it could spell political doom for one and political victory for another.
