Clint Eastwood: ‘I don’t give a f*ck’ if gays marry

[kpete]

Don't expect to see him marching in a Pride parade anytime soon, but gays may have found an unexpected ally in Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood.

In the October issue of GQ magazine, Eastwood said that Republicans were making a big mistake by opposing same sex marriage.

"These people who are making a big deal out of gay marriage?" Eastwood opined. "I don't give a fuck about who wants to get married to anybody else! Why not?! We're making a big deal out of things we shouldn't be making a deal out of."

"They go on and on with all this bullshit about 'sanctity' -- don't give me that sanctity crap! Just give everybody the chance to have the life they want."

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/09/14/clint-eastwood-i-... /
http://www.gq.com/entertainment/movies-and-tv/201110/le...

[kentuck]

1. "go ahead, make my day!"

[KansDem]

6. "Do you feel lucky, GOPunk?!"

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. wow. I thought he was a rightwinger

[hifiguy]

5. I think he's more of the 1970s era Goldwater Republican

which are now a completely extinct species in elective office. They were all driven out by the tealibornagins.

[obxhead]

7. A 70's winger is an extreme liberal today. nt

[hifiguy]

11. Indeed.

Goldwater was considered far right in his day, but no one, and I mean no one, including the most liberal of Democrats, hated the religious right and their agenda any more than Goldwater hated them. He considered them to be a flatly anti-American disgrace. The Goldwater of the 1970s would in no way be tolerated by todays Bircher/teatalitarian Repig party.

[AtheistCrusader]

37. Yeah, I would probably describe him as a libertarian, small-L libertarian.

Certainly not a teahadist.

[oldhippydude]

39. people don't remember

the 64 Republican party had a plank calling for guaranteed annual income

[onpatrol98]

54. I didn't know that...

Apparently that went nowhere...

[WranglerRog]

41. Thank You

for calling them what they are BIRCHERS. I keep trying to tell people don't call 'em Teapartiers, Teabaggers, etc. They are nothing more than Birchers and that name needs to be applied to them at all times.

[rasputin1952]

42. Just before Goldwater's death, I was living in AZ and there was a

live interview on one of the local stations. The reporter asked Goldwater what he thought of the "new" Republicans, to which Barry, without even the slightest of pauses stated, "These aren't Republicans, they are shitheads."

A classic TV moment if there ever was one, and one can't accuse Goldwater on not speaking his mind...

[Odin2005]

62. The Teabaggers would call Goldwater a evil Socialist.

That's how crazy they are.

I know several older folks that voted for Goldwater in '64, most of them are moderate Dems now.

[Rozlee]

26. A guy like Goldwater that said:

"You don't need to be straight to fight and die for your country; you just need to shoot straight," would never have a chance to get elected in the Rethug Party of today.

[TheWraith]

9. He's a Republican, but a decent one, which makes him an endangered species.

He's also famous for going ballistic when Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon got in trouble for criticizing the war back in 2003 or so, saying it was "outrageous" and that "they have a right to say what they want."

[KansDem]

12. Clint Eastwood made a movie on the life of Charlie Parker...

"Bird" (1988)

User review:
A dark and atmospheric biopic on jazz legend Charlie Parker, who with his fast improvisational style formed the sub-genre of bebop. Clint Eastwood directed this movie with a heart and passion that reflects back to his own love of the music which he has carried with him all his life and played a role in all his work. Eastwood himself actually was fortunate to have seen Charlie "Bird" Parker play in when he was alive. The film chronicles his life and has a tight focus on his self destructive behavior and the music itself. Bird explores the highs and lows of his journey. Playing to a sold out house in Paris, playing alongside Dizzy Gillespie, and earning a respect that few other musicians have matched. In contrast we see his heroine addiction, his suffering and depression resulting in several suicide attempts, the death of his daughter, and his wife's loving struggle to help save a man who's ill-fate was inevitable and irreversible.

Forest Whitaker plays Bird with a lot of heart and soul. Even though I have no idea if it was an accurate portrayal in capturing the man's nuances, Whitaker's interpretation was superlative. Equally as good was Diane Venora as Bird's wife, who found enough strength for the both of them and tried to hold the family together in an un-winnable battle. There's lots of rain, lots of dark nightclubs, lots of street lamps reflecting the soaked streets, and lots of feeling in this one. Having just watched another biopic, that one on Ray Charles, it's clear to see Eastwood's was the real deal, whereas Ray was merely decent.

He's been very active in jazz, using the work of Lalo Schifrin and Lennie Niehaus in many of his movies. If I remember correctly, his movie, "Play Misty for Me" (1971) has scenes of the Monterrey Jazz Festival.

I always enjoy watching an Eastwood movie...usually tongue in cheek, of course!

[FrodosPet]

15. He starred in one of the greatest anti-war movies ever

Even though he was just an actor, not a writer or director, "The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly" is an extremely powerful display of the waste and inhumanity of war.

The brutality of the POW camps, the pointless battles at the bridge, and who can forget the powerful scene of "Blondie" offering his coat and a last drag on his cigar to a dying young soldier?

[coalition_unwilling]

31. After "Unforgiven," I doubt anyone who pays attention can watch

a new Western the same way ever again. Eastwood pretty much demolishes the traditional Western as a genre in "Unforgiven," imho.

[LanternWaste]

59. Lennie Niehaus composed what I believe to be the most beautiful jazz ballad ever written

Lennie Niehaus composed what I believe to be the most beautiful jazz ballad ever written-- 'I Remember Stan', a tribute to the great Stan Kenton.

[RaleighNCDUer]

63. He's a Republican.

At one time, there was a difference.

[Taverner]

64. Goldwater-ish Republican at most.

[hifiguy]

3. That is gonna leave a mark.

Ouch.

[young but wise]

4. Right on, Mr. Eastwood.

[leveymg]

8. He's one of the better Directors. "Grand Torino" and "Million Dollar Baby" are excellent films.

Gritty, truthful, and ultimately good-natured explorations about how old-fashioned, culturally isolated white guys can open their minds and hearts to outsiders.

Well-crafted and marked by solid story-telling, his films develop compelling characters who display moral intelligence and heroism to help people they previously did not trust or understand.

America needs more conservatives (and liberals) like him.

[Supply Side Jesus]

27. Mystic River.....

that movie left a mark....haunting

[AsahinaKimi]

10. He has always been a cool person...

His movie LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA was very moving. What impressed me the most, is that he actually went to Japan to hire actors for that movie. He didn't just go out and grab any Asian actor, who could play the part of a Japanese. Not many in Hollywood would go that far. Just love this guy!!

[Bendra]

53. He makes you realize

that "cool" is defined by a combination of qualities, some of which you don't have to even LIKE, which, when pulled together, make you say "wow!".
And don't forget his contributions to jazz.

[tularetom]

13. And who can disagreee with that sentiment?

[bigwillq]

17. Obama?

[Disorientedx3]

44. Zing!

[Fumesucker]

50. I really shouldn't be laughing..

But you got me with that one, all too damn true.

[SpankMe]

51. Ouch! n/t

[Firebrand Gary]

14. Good for him.

[dtexdem]

16. Well, after all, he's the good, not the bad, or even the ugly.

Although, actually, Eli Wallach was the better character in that movie.

[FrodosPet]

22. This is true

Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez is by far the most interesting and charismatic character.

Do you throw things at anybody who talks during the movie, too? The music and scenery are the 4th and 5th stars of the movie. No distractions allowed

[Auntie Bush]

18. Good for him! I thought he was a right winger.

At least he's not totally right wing...thank goodness!

[Dawson Leery]

19. This does put him a step above

the Orthodox Jewish community and the Fundies.

[Bluenorthwest]

47. Um, President Obama pushes that 'sanctity' bullshit

He says 'we are Sanctified by God' and gays are not, and he says straight couples have a 'spiritual element' that gay couples lack, because God does not sanctify us.
Clint is far more on my side than Barack or Michelle Obama, who openly oppose marriage equality while sputtering about 'sanctity' and while hiring vicious hate preachers from the 'ex gay' idiot industry. Deal with the truth. If you voted for Obama and have not told him you reject his sanctity bullshit, and see it as fundie nonsense, then you are currently counted with the 'sanctity supporters' in his demographics.
Time to pick a side.

[rgbecker]

52. You have links for these quotes somewhere?

[TriMera]

57. Here's one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJhQBZ1La0w

[frebrd]

20. Why is this surprising? If I'm not mistaken......

he grew up in San Francisco.

I think he tends to be a Libertarian - but a compassionate, egalitarian one.

[LooseWilly]

40. He went to school in Oakland...

Same thing... unless you know anything about the Bay Area...

[Odin2005]

61. I believe he is a Left-Libertarian, skeptical of all large hierarchical institutions.

[aquart]

66. He's in the entertainment industry.

He has taken things for granted that would curl your teeth.

He knows, as most in the industry know, who is screwing whom doesn't matter. Getting the production in on time and under budget MATTERS.

[Uncle Joe]

21. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[The Genealogist]

23. Thank you for your support, Mr Eastwood!

[fishwax]

24. I think he's always been generally liberal on social issues

I thought he had come out in support of gay marriage (or at least against the banning of it) before, but I could be wrong.

Edited to add: Either way, good to have him speaking out -- k/r

[Scurrilous]

25. K & R

[SnakeEyes]

28. Clint Eastwood is the biggest yellow belly in the West.

Always wanted a chance to post this.

[Bette Noir]

29. May I tell you all my favorite Clint Eastwood story?

He was, briefly, mayor of Carmel by the Sea, one of the most beautiful small cities in the world. There was a dispute between a historic preservation society, which wanted to save a certain building, and the building's owner, which wanted to tear it down to build a much-needed (and very profitable) parking lot. Mayor Eastwood bought the building and gave it to the preservationists: everybody's happy. Now, that's a mayor!

[onpatrol98]

55. lol...

+1

[saras]

30. "Just give everybody the chance to have the life they want."

That's not the left or right wing, that's the heart.

[immoderate]

58. That's the "Bronco Billy" in Clint talkin'.

That was an under appreciated movie.



--imm

[DeSwiss]

32. K&R

"I'm interested in the fact that the less secure a man is, the more likely he is to have extreme prejudice." ~Clint Eastwood

[SmileyRose]

33. A stark reminder on how far the Republican party has strayed.

The financiers of hate radio have really fucked up politics in this country.......... on purpose.

[Enthusiast]

35. That's fer damn sure..............nt

[GreenTea]

34. Who in the fuck does besides fucking lying slimy greedy republicans

[Bluebear]

36. Well, the President actually.

[Doris32r]

38. Look - people are complicated...

I really think this is how most people feel. You can be extreme right or left and think hey - love who you want. The polls really do show that more than the majority of people of over a certain age group are fine with gay marriage. It'll happen. It's just a matter of time and we need to keep up with the fight. My mother from IL who retired to Southern California to be closer to her daughter (me) was against gay marriage just three years ago. She now supports it. It'll happen.

[urgk]

43. We straight people have a 50/50 shot at staying married.

I don't see how any of us can pretend that we've established some sort of exclusive, sanctified institution when a marriage works with the frequency of a coin flip.

[Bluenorthwest]

46. Then tell the President that. He is one of the 'sanctity' shouters.

Tell him how you feel. I'd suggest using the phrase 'sanctity bullshit' because Obama loves to say 'sanctity' and 'sanctified' and he has even said that only straights have a 'spiritual element' to their relationships. Unless you speak out to him, against that, you are just standing with the sanctity bullshit.

[Lost-in-FL]

60. +1, nt

[Bluenorthwest]

45. All this bullshit about 'sanctity'....

That also chaps my hide, that steaming pile of self serving bullshit, Sanctified, Sanctity, it is crap, and the President pushes that crap which does harm to my community and to his own.
The very idea of declaring that one's own kind is 'sanctified by God' and others are not is the height of bigotry, of prejudice and of superstitious nonsense.
From today's 'sanctity files': Rep Joe Walsh owes 100K in child support on his 'sanctity'. As of today, I am posting about sanctity in all the threads that show the truth of the straight community, and if they don't like it they can kiss my sanctified ass. Twice.

[racaulk]

48. Fantastic post!

I agree with every word.

[Jester Messiah]

49. A paleo-republican.

Or by today's standards, a socialist-communist-cryptoislamic-liberal!

[Myrina]

56. I'd like to see him kick Chuck Norris' ass ...

... since Chuck has become the GOP poster-boy for redneck militant intolerance he could use a could ass whuppin' by the original cool ass kickin' dude.

[That1202Anarchist]

65. On that Clint Eastwood thing..

I believe that who ever you are. Doesn't matter. IF you love someone. Be with them.. Some Republicans and Conservatives really piss me off. Protect the Rich, Deny the poor.
Keep tradition, Fuck change... (That's what they want.)
Yeah, grow up. WE NEED CHANGE..
Let them Marry.. It's their choice, not yours...

[katty]

67. thanks Clint-yes, 'give everyone the chance to have the life

they want' - perfectly put!

[ooglymoogly]

68. Unlike many on this board I don't pretend to know anything about

Clint Eastwood's actual private beliefs....but I have watched him over the years and by his actions, his films and whatever comments he has made, I know him, by those, to be a very compassionate person who values common sense and understands fairness down to a T. In other words a very intelligent person. His comments on gay marriage underscore that.

If I could design my own heaven, he would be in it along with many hero's throughout history.