# Eastwood defends RNC speech, calls Obama ‘greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people’ **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 7, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026 "2012-09-07T19:10:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Nancarrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@Nancarrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nancarrow)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/41 "2012-09-09T07:37:07Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > So much for the theory that Clinton was pulling a prank _on_ the RNC. Who shot who in the what now? ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/42 "2012-09-09T07:57:31Z")
> [@Lantern](#): > > What a nutcase Eastwood is turning into. > > It’s OK to say he doesn’t like Obama and thinks Romney will make a better President. But “greatest hoax”? That is the language of crazed conspiracy theorists. > > The guy deserves all the ridicule he has received in the last week. He’s 82 years old. Sure, some people hit that age and are sharp as a tack. Most people lose a bit by then. I am left as left can be, but I can’t be mad at Clint Eastwood. If anything, blame the RNC for letting that happen in the first place. “82 year old man? Unscripted? What could go wrong?” Brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/43 "2012-09-09T10:43:53Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I don’t understand the use of the word “Hoax” here. If someone has different policies than you support, he is a “hoax?” [Remember how Obama said he would protect whistleblowers, then charged more whistleblowers with espionage than every other president put together?](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/05/obama-campaign-brags-about-whistleblower-persecutions) ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/44 "2012-09-09T13:22:23Z")
I personally think that Clint Eastwood’s Second City routine was highly effective and I encourage him to keep doing again and again until election day, preferably with Mitt Romney by his side. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2012, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/45 "2012-09-09T13:40:16Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > So much for the theory that Clinton was pulling a prank _on_ the RNC. > [@Nancarrow](#): > > Who shot who in the what now? Replace ‘Clinton’ with ‘Clint’ and in that first sentence and it makes a whole lot more sense. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/46 "2012-09-10T06:21:04Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > So much for the theory that Clinton was pulling a prank _on_ the RNC. > [@Nancarrow](#): > > Who shot who in the what now? > [@Biggirl](#): > > Replace ‘Clinton’ with ‘Clint’ and in that first sentence and it makes a whole lot more sense. yes, that. :o ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/47 "2012-09-10T07:25:59Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I don’t understand the use of the word “Hoax” here. If someone has different policies than you support, he is a “hoax?” My guess is that he means the American people elected an empty suit after being persuaded that this was a man of substance. In other words they were sold a bill of goods. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/48 "2012-09-10T13:46:10Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > [Remember how Obama said he would protect whistleblowers, then charged more whistleblowers with espionage than every other president put together?](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/05/obama-campaign-brags-about-whistleblower-persecutions) Just to be clear, you honestly think that’s what Clint Eastwood was refering to as "the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people’? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/49 "2012-09-10T14:18:42Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > And you just know, when SNL hits the air, Clint’s going to get a shellacking, I’d bet. > > And richly deserved, in my opinion. > > I can’t wait! I anticipate a skit of him moderating a debate between two chairs. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/50 "2012-09-10T15:45:33Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Just to be clear, you honestly think that’s what Clint Eastwood was refering to as "the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people’? His character-image, at any rate, is not what you’d call civil-libertarian. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/51 "2012-09-10T18:12:15Z")
> [@Terraplane](#): > > He’s 82 years old. Sure, some people hit that age and are sharp as a tack. Most people lose a bit by then. > > I am left as left can be, but I can’t be mad at Clint Eastwood. If anything, blame the RNC for letting that happen in the first place. “82 year old man? Unscripted? What could go wrong?” Brilliant! He was scripted. But he threw away the script. Republicans don’t seem to do well with stuff that doesn’t go according to plan. The economy, for instance. Or that the Iraqi people didn’t quite universally greet us as liberators. If there was someone competent running that show, there would have been an unexpected power failure on stage pretty soon into that bit. BTW, please tell me that Clint doesn’t drive, or else I’ll never go to Carmel again. He might swerve into me avoiding an invisible truck. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/52 "2012-09-10T18:17:41Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > He was scripted. But he threw away the script. Cite? According to his interview linked above, he never gave a script to the Romney campaign, and told them he planned to ad-lib. His bit was meant to be unscripted. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/53 "2012-09-11T01:52:27Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Just to be clear, you honestly think that’s what Clint Eastwood was refering to as "the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people’? If not that particular example, it’s the sort of thing that would be perfectly in keeping with his stated politics. > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > His character-image, at any rate, is not what you’d call civil-libertarian. Given he has explicitly called himself “libertarian” and “liberal on civil rights” in the past, along with a whole lot of synonyms, you’re pretty much flat-out wrong. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/54 "2012-09-11T02:07:35Z")
Well, hey, Dirty Hairy says “You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya punk?” Now, note the word “punk”. Another pejorative for a black suspect at the point of a gun fairly leaps to mind. Yet the “n-word” is conspicuous by its absence. We are therefore at liberty to believe that Inspector Callahan was judicious in his word choice, due to his advanced social and racial views. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/55 "2012-09-11T02:25:38Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Well, hey, Dirty Hairy says “You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya punk?” > > Now, note the word “punk”. Another pejorative for a black suspect at the point of a gun fairly leaps to mind. Yet the “n-word” is conspicuous by its absence. We are therefore at liberty to believe that Inspector Callahan was judicious in his word choice, due to his advanced social and racial views. True, but Andy Robinson is white. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daFb3J-cwLg&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daFb3J-cwLg&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/56 "2012-09-11T02:42:28Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > Given he has explicitly called himself “libertarian” and “liberal on civil rights” in the past, along with a whole lot of synonyms, you’re pretty much flat-out wrong. By “character-image,” I meant Dirty Harry, etc., etc. The guy he always plays in the movies. No civil libertarian. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/57 "2012-09-11T02:57:02Z")
These days, we prefer our libertarians to be as uncivil as possible. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/58 "2012-09-12T18:34:43Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > True, but Andy Robinson is white. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daFb3J-cwLg&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daFb3J-cwLg&feature=related) The first guy he says it to, the bank robber, is black. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/8Xjr2hnOHiM/maxresdefault.jpg "Dirty Harry Do You ( I ) Feel Lucky Punk? ( high quality )") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xjr2hnOHiM) ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/59 "2012-09-12T21:55:25Z")
Turns out Eastwood is a fucking moron. ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026/60 "2012-09-12T21:57:19Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > If not that particular example, it’s the sort of thing that would be perfectly in keeping with his stated politics. > Given he has explicitly called himself “libertarian” and “liberal on civil rights” in the past, along with a whole lot of synonyms, you’re pretty much flat-out wrong. He can call himself whatever he wants. Doesn’t make him so. Hey, look at me–I’m Batman. See how that works? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eastwood-defends-rnc-speech-calls-obama-greatest-hoax-ever-perpetrated-on-the-american-people/634026.md?page=2)