Eastwood at the Oscars...

[regnaD kciN]

Of course, the first thing I noticed about Tim Robbins was that he was wearing a small, white-on-black "peace sign" button in his lapel. During a pre-show special, I also noticed Heath Ledger wearing the same pin.

Now, during the show itself (at least while I was watching), there was never a real close-up on Clint Eastwood (who was sitting behind Sean Penn in the third row). But, from the "medium shots" they showed of him, it seemed like he had something is his lapel of just about the same size and with the same black background. The camera never got close enough while I was watching to see what it was.

Now, it seems incredible to me that Clint Eastwood would be wearing a peace pin, but, from a distance, it sure did look similar to what Robbins and Ledger were wearing. Did anyone catch a closer shot of Clint to determine just exactly what was in his lapel?

[muchacho]

1. Eastwood

There was a tight shot early on in the program when Crystal was singing to him on his lap but I didn't notice anything.

[Nomad559]

2. I checked the video I recorded

It looks like a button.

[Florida_Geek]

3. I do not know looks like a Peace Sign to me

[Divernan]

4. Quite possible his close relationship w/ Robbins and Penn

has shown him the light, politically speaking. I don't think those two politically active and outspoken actors would have treated Eastwood with such admiration if they saw him as a pro-Bush Republican.

[Mike Daniels]

15. You are aware....

That people can disagree on politics and still work together and respect each other professionally, right?

I know that isn't the case on DU and FR but it does happen in the real world.

[DrBB]

24. Shouldn't need pointing out

...but thanks for doing so.

[JasonBerry]

42. Yes, thanks!

It is important to remember that. One sad thing about the lowered level of discourse in places like DU is that politics becomes so all-encompassing that some can't see the forest for the trees. More an more on DU it is an attitude of, "If they're a Republican - their evil! Have nothing to do with them. Don't be nice. Kill, Kill, Kill." No separation at all between LIFE and POLITICS.

It's sad.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. He sounds still Republican, but not a Bush supporter

Nevertheless, Eastwood found himself fielding questions about the build-up to war in Iraq when Sean Penn, who'd just finished work on "Mystic River," decided to write an open letter to President Bush in the Washington Post. "I didn't mind that he wrote the letter," Eastwood said. "He asked me about it before and I said, `You can write two kinds of letters - one that's angry, or one that's statesmanlike.'"
...
"I didn't have a problem with Sean going to Baghdad, either," Eastwood said. "We weren't at war then, we had no troops there. I wouldn't have gone. I'm too old and the discomfort wouldn't be much fun. But he's got a right to express his opinion."

Eastwood's own view of the Iraq invasion is that it was a mistake, but he doesn't rule out supporting other pre-emptive wars. "I've always said that in a nuclear war, the second guy who strikes is going to be the loser. The Western thing about letting the other guy draw first, that doesn't work."

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/entertainment/special_packages/academy_awards/6962549.htm

[Mari333]

6. If the egotists at the Oscars had an iota of outrage about Iraqnam

they wouldnt have shown up at all...outrage over 5 second delays would have kept them home...a massive NOT showing up would have been far more effective then showing up...a civil disobedience effort to NOT show up, not give credence to the censored Oscars would have been a far more effective scenario ..
evidently the massive egos of these cretinous, moronic, self indulging, wispy brained , comfortable cowards who are more concerned about their nip n tucks and who will bring them bottles of Perrier, then about issues like blatant censorship of free speech and blatant atrocities in Iraqnam and elsewhere in the world ..the egos win evidently.
I turned off the TV. Nauseating coverage of a circle jerk of fools.

[ShaneGR]

7. Ummmmmmm........

I guess you didn't notice the repeated digs on Bush during the show. Oops, you didn't watch.

[Mari333]

8. I watched and repeated digs is not enough

had they any spine they wouldnt have gone at all.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

14. You're asking way too much

This is about their careers - not about politics. If your job was awarding you its highest honor, I'd be willing to bet you'd be there with bells on.

[Mari333]

18. Its about ethics and I wouldnt be there

My ego is not assauged by such shallow self congratulatory machinations. No, I wouldnt be there and neither would they if they had an ounce of ethics and an ounce of outrage.
Kids are dying in Iraq, daily, and civil war is about to erupt..
No, I would not be self serving, nor would I bend over to corporate assholes who censor the damned thing.
How fucking much money do these people need to assauge their egos?
what a waste of air time. Pravda wins again.

[KharmaTrain]

23. Mari, Bless Ya, But...

This is a matter of degrees here. For these people...ego-heads that they be...this is the night their careers, their lives can be made or broken. Principles are important, but not in proportion to what this event is really about.

I might be one of the few embarassed by excessive political displays at what are supposed to be non-political events...be it the Oscars or the Super Bowl. These are supposed to be entertainment, diversion. Look at all the crap we took last year for Moore's outburst. No matter how I (and I'll assume you)agreed with the message, the media slamming and outrage (especially at that particular time) was a torent and it took months for Moore and many of us to get our footings again.

We're starting to get to the point where people know the election is ahead and what's at stake...getting them to find the facts and truth are more important than making statements that can be easily twisted as yet another diversion attack by this regime.

[thebigidea]

27. months to get our footings again?

What are you talking about? The Moore thing was a hilarious "right on" moment with some ridiculous coverage from the likes of the O'Reilly contingent... but did you expect them to applaud ANYTHING Moore did?

When books are written about him, that'll be one of his career highpoints.

[Mari333]

29. I disagree. They grab a cause celebre' when its handy

and imo a mass boycott would have been appropriate. In the meantime, I am getting rid of my TV anyway. Sick of watching lies all day lies all the time.

[KharmaTrain]

31. What Would We Boycott?

Are you saying that Sean Penn should have stayed home or made some over-the-top political statement? I think his winning the award in light of the political flack he took last year says a lot. Again, this is supposed to be a program honoring his craft as an artist...if you want him to speak up politically, there are other forums for that (talk shows galore). By winning, Penn guarantees his "relevance" to continue to speak out on issues.

Gotta know when to shoot your guns and when to hold 'em. This one's a hold 'em. A statement that would have disrupted the awards, like that with Janet Jackson..that is more about the incident than what is being said, takes away valuable airtime to get out the continuing messages that have to be heard...the war, the shitty economy, outsourcing...things that really matter!

Giving the wingnuts more crap to muddy the waters makes it even harder for us to be heard and easier for the media whores to minimalize our messages, goals and importance.

[Dunedain]

35. I disagree

In my opinion he does not gain his relevance through winning the Oscar, he gains it through the content of his message against the killing.
He just happens to be a person who has the potential through his words and deeds to reach a large number of people. I agree with Mari333, he, they blew a really good opportunity to exercise their stated principles, and they coped out.
And to that I guess I just say ok, see you.

[newyawker99]

37. Hi Dunedain!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Dunedain]

39. Hi

[ShaneGR]

41. I would like to point something out

Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, and Susan Surandon have done a TREMENDOUS amount of work for the anti-war and liberal movement. Much more than you, or I. I think their integrity is fine.

[terryg11]

46. apparently not

it seems a more damning statement than attending rallies in the street or writing high profile letters critical of the war, or using ones own celebrity to help a cause pales in comparison to skipping out on sitting in a seat in a crowded theater for four hours. I dont get wht the huge deal is.

[samsingh]

45. speaking out is the American thing to do

the right's weapon of choice is to silence critics through false patriot arguments. Moore was very brave and right to use the platform to speak out showing others that it was still ok to do so.

[texastoast]

26. Umm, what about this

In the ethereal realm of ethics and integrity lie all of our nation's problems (in my opinion). What I should be worrying about is not about the Hollywood crowd, but asking myself whether I do enough personally to support all my laudable aspirations. Have I gotten rid of my own SUV? Do I buy organic food instead of GMOs? Do I nag the companies that sell the stuff that we use at the expense of future generations. I have to put MY money where MY mouth is. To do so, I can nag the Hollywood crowd to donate all their extra money to worthy causes and get rid of their own 25-car fleets. Many of the actors are outraged and their careers have suffered a lot because of expressing their outrage. Hollywood is like any other neighborhood. Doofuses and repukes are everywhere.

I have a lot of my own closet-cleaning to do before I start cleaning other people's closets.

[Dunedain]

34. What is it they say

Principle's only mean something when you stick to them.
You are so right, and it is so sad.

[samsingh]

43. i think boycotting the oscars would be a mistake

the repugs would take over that institution as well.

[Toby109]

30. I'm with you Mari. There was a time

when actors refused to show up for the Oscars for political causes(George C. Scott/Marlon Brando). As well as the fact that the Oscars itself a self-congratulatory joke. I was surprised and a little disappointed that Sean Penn attended as he was the favorite going in.

Just my two cents.

44. Sean Penn's got plenty of spine

one example of perceived spinelessness, I emphasize "perceived" doesn't prove he's spineless.

Same can be said for Tim Robbins. Anybody who made Cradle Will Rock has plenty of spine.

They're probably just pciking their battles differently than you would.

[Algorem]

9. I saw almost none of it ,but saw Billy Crystal make a joke about some-

body being involved in something where they were allowed to come and go and the punch line was 'like the Texas National Guard'.And when Sean Penn accepted his award he said something like: "...as an actor I knew,first,that there were no weapons of mass destruction..."

[Champion Jack]

13. The political clips from last night are here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=109&topic_id=5757

[Algorem]

16. Thanks!Stern just started talking about it.Just played the Crystal Guard

joke.

[LeahMira]

17. Of glasses half full and half empty...

cowards who are more concerned about their nip n tucks and who will bring them bottles of Perrier

For better or worse, Mari, the nips and tucks are some of the tools of their trade, just as a computer, a fax, a telephone, and paper and pencils are for me.

There's nothing wrong with wealth. It's what you do with your wealth that counts. Sean Penn, for instance, has used his influence to be an outspoken critic of the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Without a bit of wealth, Penn would not have been able to visit Iraq, and his opinions about what he saw there would not have mattered one whit. Without his wealth and relative power, no one would have even heard what he thought.

Or maybe you think that some of the stars aren't doing enough? I'll give you that some of them aren't doing anything. But some of them are doing what they can.

I didn't watch the Oscars last night... actually I was reading a good book and couldn't put it down until I finally fell asleep with it. But an old, not so elegant saying mentions that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Hurray for Sean Penn for speaking out against Bush, even if it was only a few words. May he be free to say more the next time he has the chance. As for the ones who merely gushed their gratitude to their hairdressers and the person who clips their toenails... ignore them. They never mattered anyhow.

BTW, sure looks to me like Clint Eastwood was wearing a peace pin in his lapel. Outstanding!

[Mari333]

20. Not enough. If they had boycotted the censorship en masse

then I would have seen some value to their concerns about censorship and Iraqnam. All I see is movie stars picking and choosing their "cause" and then backtracking to prop up their own egos.
The goddamned thing was on 5 second delay..thats censorship..
if they had brought on a few maimed soldiers in wheelchairs, or a wounded Iraqi child, then I would have applauded them.
Fence sitters when it comes to real action, imo. Scared of the McCarthyites who run the business and beholden to corporate interests for themselves.

[bluedog]

10. seen Clint on interview

before the election in Cal for Gov and he said that his wife was a Democrat....that she was voting to keep the party in office.so...maybe he also is.because he never did disagree with her.

[Woodstock]

22. Eastwood is an Independent

I had a link a while back I can find. He was Republican but was disenchanted with the direction of the party and switched to Independent.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

11. Clint Eastwood is OK with me. I consider him an honourable opponent.

[VOX]

12. Last year, Eastwood defended Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins...

When the Baseball Hall of Fame cancelled a showing of the film "Bull Durham," because of their opposition to the invasion of Iraq. Eastwood was one of the first to publicly defend Sarandon and Robbins.

http://www.starswelove.com/scriptsphp/news.php?newsid=2584
17 Apr 2003
Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood has slammed Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins' snub from baseball's Hall Of Fame. The acting pair were set to attend a 15th anniversary party of their movie "Bull Durham" - but it was suddenly canceled. Hall president Dale Petroskey sent a letter to Robbins and Sarandon last week, saying the April 26-27 festivities in Cooperstown, New York, have been called off because of their remarks opposing combat in Iraq. And Eastwood, who directed Robbins in Mystic River, blasts, "How dare they! They have a right to say what they want to say - when they want to say it."

[Michael Harrington]

33. That's the first thing I thought of...

Clint's a businessman/Chamber of Commerce-type Republican. He doesn't run with the quasi-racist wing of the party, or with Christian fundamentalists.

(He also laughed at the PGA schmucks who tried to keep Anika Sorenstam out.)


A reasonable man who we can have reasonable disagreements with.

[KansDem]

19. Didn't Eastwood suffer some kind of retribution from CA GOP...

...from Arnold specifically after the recall?

As I recall, Eastwood wanted "to produce some anti-recall ads during the recall"* fiasco, and Arnold "punished" him after wards by meddling in Eastwood's role as California parks and recreation commissioner?

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Clint Eastwood, the hard-charging star of such cinematic hits as "Dirty Harry," "Magnum Force" and "Unforgiven," received a new role last week - California parks and recreation commissioner.

California Gov. Gray Davis appointed Eastwood to the nine-member commission, citing the film star's record as a "longtime advocate for environmental issues."
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/13538/newsDate/3-Dec-2001/story.htm

I thought I'd read that Arnold was thinking about or trying to slash its budget, and the motive wasn't entirely for economic reasons.
________
*I thought I read this on DU, but couldn't find any sources on the internet.

[Kazak]

21. Now-a-days...

there's a vast gulf between conservative and Bush*-supporting...perhaps we have a case of that here...

[ieoeja]

25. I would still like to know from whence Clint = Repub.

I know of only one time he ran for office, and that was as a Democrat for Carmel-On-The-Sea. Plus he held a political appointment under Gov Gray Davis (D).

What is the evidence that Clint Eastwood is, or was ever, a Republican? Are people just assuming based on his movie roles?

[muriel_volestrangler]

28. some sites say Republican, some Independent

As for politics, the well-known Republican and former Carmel mayor
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/123287p-110730c.html

except for Eastwood who ran as an Independent, but his policies towed the Republican Party line.
http://www.chaffeybreeze.com/news/2003/10/20/Features/Californians.Are.Seeing.Stars-533664.shtml

[Woodstock]

32. Since we are all so fascinated, here is Eastwood on his politics

This is recent, from USA Today, January this year. Sounds like he's an Independent who leans Libertarian:

http://www.usaweekend.com/04_issues/040125/040125clint_eastwood.html

So, socially, you're live-and-let-live. How about politically?

I suppose. I don't see myself as conservative, but I'm not ultra-leftist. You build a philosophy of your own. I like the libertarian view, which is to leave everyone alone. Even as a kid, I was annoyed by people who wanted to tell everyone how to live.

As an ex-politician, does that extend to your view of same-sex marriages? That could be the polarizing issue of the presidential race.

From a libertarian point of view, you would say, "Yeah? So what?" You have to believe in total equality. People should be able to be what they want to be and do what they want -- as long as they're not harming people.

[sendero]

38. I've read...

... interviews with Eastwood over the years and he's not some wingnut, that I can assure you.

I have a lot of respect for him. He's made some damn good movies, both as actor and director, and is apparently quite the jazz expert :)

[TacticalPeek]

47. Jazz

I understand Eastwood saw Bird play way back, in Oakland.

And Clint's bud, Lennie Niehaus (alto sax, Stan Kenton sideman, etc) scores a lot of Clint's films.

[Norbert]

36. He also defended Natalie Maines right to speak out

and seemed a little incensed about people suppressing it.

I didn't realized he switched to Indy but I know he hasn't wore his GOP affiliation on his sleeve for quite a while.

Clint was always okay in my book.

[terryg11]

40. why is this still up?

I'm confused at the flaming. I thought it was an interesting post at first but once it ws established that it was just a button but Eastwood is an ok guy (based on his politics) I thought it would go away. :shrug:

amazing. congrats Tim and Sean, love your work on and off screen.