# Dennis Hopper Is a Staunch Republican? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 20, 2008, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122 "2008-07-20T02:58:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/1 "2008-07-20T02:58:34Z")
In this week’s [Movie Answer Man](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=ANSWERMAN) by Roger Ebert, there’s this little gem, which I never knew: Q. I thought your question to Kevin Costner (whether he could envision casting Dennis Hopper as the Republican candidate and Kelsey Grammer as the Democrat in “Swing Vote” instead of the other way around) was interesting, especially since Costner said he could not imagine that casting. However, I remember seeing a Hopper interview years ago with Mike Wallace, in which Hopper confirmed that he is, in fact, a loyal Republican. When the interviewer asked how it was possible that a poster boy for the '60s counterculture grew into a man who voted twice for George W. Bush, Hopper replied, “I got sober, man.” Harris Fleming Jr., Waldwick, N.J. A. Like, wow, man! ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/2 "2008-07-20T13:14:00Z")
Wow, I just went to Dennis Hopper’s [wikipedia page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Hopper#Personal_life), and under “personal life” it says: > [@](#): > > Over the past four years, Hopper has given at least $4,000 to the Republican National Committee. I guess it’s true that he’s a Republican now. I never would have guessed that. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/3 "2008-07-20T13:17:39Z")
I wonder if he & Ron Silver still are, tho. There were a lot of “9/11 Republicans” who could very well go back. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/4 "2008-07-20T14:26:15Z")
It’s quite common for people to move to the right as they get older. Not inevitable, by any means, but there are many young revolutionary firebrands who turn into staunch conservatives. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/5 "2008-07-20T14:53:25Z")
[QUOTE=aldiboronti] It’s quite common for people to move to the right as they get older. Not inevitable, by any means, but there are many young revolutionary firebrands who turn into staunch conservatives. [/QUOTE] Yeah, but … Dennis Hopper?? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/6 "2008-07-20T14:54:52Z")
[QUOTE=FriarTed] I wonder if he & Ron Silver still are, tho. There were a lot of “9/11 Republicans” who could very well go back. [/QUOTE] It sounds like Hopper voted for Bush before 9/11. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/7 "2008-07-20T15:01:39Z")
It’s basically the same thing as some total slutbag spending their youth fucking everything in sight then once the appeal between their legs has worn off, goes around preaching abstinence. 180 halfwits. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/8 "2008-07-20T15:27:11Z")
Most people grow smarter as they grow older, or at least get more understanding of how people actually are, so such political shifts are almost inevitable. The more of human nature you understand, the less liberal you’ll be. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/9 "2008-07-20T15:33:58Z")
Yeah, but … Dennis Hopper?? 😕 Don’t get me wrong, I’m very middle of the road, no radical liberal, but that really surprised me. I never saw that one coming. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/10 "2008-07-20T15:36:40Z")
[QUOTE=Weirddave] The more of human nature you understand, the less liberal you’ll be. [/QUOTE] That’s patent bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/11 "2008-07-20T15:38:05Z")
I think it’s a drug addict thing. A lot of recovering addicts develop hyper-moralistic, simplistic, black and white outlooks. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/12 "2008-07-20T15:40:06Z")
[QUOTE=Weirddave] Most people grow smarter as they grow older, or at least get more understanding of how people actually are, so such political shifts are almost inevitable. The more of human nature you understand, the less liberal you’ll be. [/QUOTE] the party that believes in Noah’s Ark is the intelligent one? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/13 "2008-07-20T15:44:28Z")
[QUOTE=Weirddave] Most people grow smarter as they grow older, or at least get more understanding of how people actually are, so such political shifts are almost inevitable. The more of human nature you understand, the less liberal you’ll be. [/QUOTE] :rolleyes: That’s why my dad started out voting for Goldwater and is now a “yellow dog” Democrat… People grow smarter as they age? :dubious: Perhaps more worldly wise (although is debatable) or more cynical and more selfish, but smarter? Don’t think so. People do change over time–I imagine living has a lot to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/14 "2008-07-20T15:46:26Z")
No, actually I’ve found **Weirddave’s** assertion to be somewhat true in my experience. People do tend to become more conservative as they grow older rather than more liberal. Not everyone, but enough of a trend that I’ve noticed it. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/15 "2008-07-20T15:48:58Z")
[QUOTE=Weirddave] Most people grow smarter as they grow older, or at least get more understanding of how people actually are, so such political shifts are almost inevitable. The more of human nature you understand, the less liberal you’ll be. [/QUOTE] Actually, I’ve found that most people grow more rigid in their thinking, less charitable and more cynical as they get older - which has the unfortunate effect of falsely making them think they’re “smarter”. If people actually got smarter as they got older, scientists would do their best work in their 70s. But Einstein had his Annus Mirabilis when he was 26. I can’t think of a single example of the “increasing smartness” that you claim. I believe Hopper’s conservative conversion has more to do with his income. As soon as someone has to sign a six figure income tax check, they often become a Republican. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/16 "2008-07-20T15:50:33Z")
I’ve never noticed it, and I don’t buy it. Anecdotally, some people change, sure, but they change in both directions. A lot of people become less uptight and religious too. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/17 "2008-07-20T15:59:24Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] I’ve never noticed it, and I don’t buy it. Anecdotally, some people change, sure, but they change in both directions. A lot of people become less uptight and religious too. [/QUOTE] Oh, I’ve definitely noticed it. You’re young and idealistic and expect to change the world. Then you get married, have a family, start paying taxes, take out a second mortgage, get pissed off at the “goddamn welfare cheats.” Before you know it, you’re secretly voting Republican in the voting booth, then not so secretly and finally you’re shaking a cane at kids on your lawn. That sums up a lot of people I’ve known. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/18 "2008-07-20T16:16:55Z")
[QUOTE=Weirddave] Most people grow smarter as they grow older, or at least get more understanding of how people actually are, so such political shifts are almost inevitable. The more of human nature you understand, the less liberal you’ll be. [/QUOTE] Here’s the [best explanation](http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/48/5/1297) I can find for older people becoming Republicans when they were less selfish and more open-minded in their younger years. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/19 "2008-07-20T16:43:47Z")
[QUOTE=Weirddave] Most people grow smarter as they grow older, or at least get more understanding of how people actually are, so such political shifts are almost inevitable. The more of human nature you understand, the less liberal you’ll be. [/QUOTE] People grow older, or at least get more cynical, so such political shifts are common. The more of human nature you understand, the less sympathetic you’ll tend to be. FTFY ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2008, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122/20 "2008-07-20T16:46:22Z")
[QUOTE=Nawth Chucka] Here’s the [best explanation](http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/48/5/1297) I can find for older people becoming Republicans when they were less selfish and more open-minded in their younger years. [/QUOTE] No, that’s just Liberal mental masturbation. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dennis-hopper-is-a-staunch-republican/457122.md?page=2)