From: "Anti-Prohibition Lg." <[aal 01] at [teleport.com]>
Newsgroups: talk.politics.drugs
Subject: Clint Eastwood: "I'm a Libertarian." (fwd)
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 19:44:34 -0800
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NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100
Washington DC 20037
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For release: February 18, 1997
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For additional information:
George Getz, Deputy Director of Communications
Phone: (202) 333-0008 Ext. 222
E-Mail: [76214 3676] at [CompuServe.com]
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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
politically?"
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 himself
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 frustration."
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
philosophically."
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 Western "Unforgiven" earned him Oscars
for Best Picture and Best Director. His one foray into politics was as
mayor of Carmel, California, from 1986-1988.
--
The Libertarian Party http://www.lp.org/
2600 Virginia Ave. NW, Suite 100 voice: 202-333-0008
Washington DC 20037 fax: 202-333-0072
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