Clint Eastwood's GOP convention speech: Full transcript

EASTWOOD: Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Save a little for Mitt.

(APPLAUSE)

I know what you are thinking. You are thinking, what's a movie tradesman doing out here? You know they are all left wingers out there, left of Lenin. At least that is what people think. That is not really the case. There are a lot of  conservative people, a lot of moderate people, Republicans, Democrats, in Hollywood. It is just that the conservative people by the nature of the word itself play closer to the vest. They do not go around hot dogging it.

(APPLAUSE)

So -- but they are there, believe me, they are there. I just think, in fact, some of them around town, I saw John Voigt, a lot of people around.

(APPLAUSE)

John's here, an academy award winner. A terrific guy. These people are all like-minded, like all of us. So I -- so I've got Mr. Obama sitting here. And he's -- I was going to ask him a couple of questions. But -- you know about -- I remember three and a half years ago, when Mr. Obama won the election. And though I was not a big supporter, I was watching that night when he was having that thing and they were talking about hope and change and they were talking about, yes we can, and it was dark outdoors, and it was nice, and people were lighting candles.

They were saying, I just thought, this was great.

Everybody is trying, Oprah was crying.

(LAUGHTER)

EASTWOOD: I was even crying. And then finally -- and I haven't cried that hard since I found out that there is 23 million unemployed people in this country.

(APPLAUSE)

Now that is something to cry for because that is a disgrace, a national disgrace, and we haven't done enough, obviously -- this administration hasn't done enough to cure that. Whenever interest they have is not strong enough, and I think possibly now it may be time for somebody else to come along and solve the problem.

(APPLAUSE)

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[bobbyt1950]

Thanks Clint!! for assisting in making the Repubs look as INsignificent as they proved themselves to be...All they have left is the CHAIR you spoke to at that FANtastic convention of.....LOSERS!!!!

[bobbyt1950]

Thanks Clint!! for assisting in making the Repubs look as INsignificent as they proved themselves to be...All they have left is the CHAIR you spoke to at that FANtastic convention of.....LOSERS!!!!

[rlpl02]

The more I have to do history research for school, the more I learn about things like why America does not just leave countries in devastation after a war (WWI lead to WWII because of that). It is so easy to give solutions to problems when you are not the one who has to make a thousand or so people, including Congress, see things your way and do it. The President has limited power, Congress has the power... another silly thing we're learning in school. It seems like the more I learn, the more politicians and their supporters sound idiotic. Maybe education is not such a good thing. Oh, someone remind Clint he did a Chrysler commercial which they are known to make big cars for people to ride around in. That was such a bad slap... my four year old nephew could have done better than that.
This is why Hollywood writes the actors words!!

[DaveintheD]

This was a very good dpeech. The DIP-LIBs pretend they didn't get it. You are stuck on stupid, but we know that most of us you did get it. Some of the real dim LIBs missed it entirely. It's right here for everyone to read...in full. And it is just as solid as a written piece as it was a spoken one. Clint, thank you for taking the time to make the obvious Nobama case....for trying to get through to the Dips, as well as the independents and moderates. The LIBs don't care about the 23,000,000 million people who are unemployed. In fact, the more misery, the better for them since their construct is based on making promises to the miserable. The more peoplewho become dependent on them, the more VOTES they can count on. It's a simple equation for them. The unemployment, the pain at the pump and grocery store, the lower wages, the DEBT...all getting WORSE on Obama's watch is secondary to their political ambition of weilding power. Never mind all of the facts. Forward! Over the cliff! I always said they were lemmings.

[bobbyt1950]

Hey DAVEINTHEDARK...Wake up you silly fool! You and all of the Repubs like you LOST!!!!!!! Get it? Prolly NOT!

[soshaljustice]

Stepped on a living cat. Cat never made a peep. Why did he never see the cat? Vascular dementia will cause that too/poor thing should get a good doctor. What was he saying?

[xcugat]

I am amazed at how many people seemed put off by Eastwood's empty-chair performance. If they had bought tickets to a play or movie, then anything imaginary of symbolic would be fine, but not in an unusual venue in which the audience had not been cued on what to think or how to act. It was refreshing to see a creative artist working in his own medium. I thought the performance was much better than his Panda-mating scene with Meyrl Streep, but then that was for money and maybe directed by someone else, I've forgotten.

[CW50]

Too many are saying Eastwood was bad and it was racist. I just watched the video again. It is right to the point, I think Eastwood did a great job. Good symbolizm, the empty chair is Obama represents what we have in the White House an empty chair. And as Eastwood said he works for us, anyone with a job would have been fired long ago for only losing a fraction of the money he has cost this country. All of you left wingers out there need to wake up. And where do you get anything close to racism? Totally unbelievable that anyone would make that comment; you who said that are most likely the racist!!!

[chromageddon]

Article: "Eastwood PR requests patience in responding to requests for invisibility" chromageddon dot tumblr dot com

[vengenceofgod100]

Glad I missed Clints try at comedy. We all remember the "B" actor who at one time tried to act as president. Turns out he was a better actor than a president. don't you think, "Bonzo?"

[doctorshankar]

Compared to our Indian politicians, in the U.S. they are all very factual, and I heard the whole republican convention speeches. They were all very nice and interesting. Only not much of real solutions were given.

[RollotheNorman]

Doctor, good synopsis. The RepubliCONs didn't give any real solutions because they simply don't have any, and their base will drink any kool-aid Willard and Ryan hand out.

[Roxy9266]

It is sad that there is no more substance to either party that we must continue to dwell on a speech presented by someone that in really has nothing to do with real issues. Clint Eastwood is a fine actor, but he is not running for office so why continue to waste so much time and energy directing personal attacks on the man. As an undecided, it only makes it appear that the democrats have nothing better. It is sad that this campaign has turned "grown-ups" into brats. The nasty comments being thrown around are so petty. Neither side has laid out a no nosense plan on how they plan to turn the current condition of this country around. They seem to dance around the question and slam each other with personal attacks. At least the Republicans don't use backstabbing sensationalists like Martin Bashir to deliver their arguments. I think we all saw what his "honesty" did for poor Micheal Jackson. Also, I thought Piers Morgan was a judge on one of those talent shows. It seems that elections have become nothing more than a popularity contest. I only hope that no matter who wins this next election, our country can survive it. Maybe we will have a better selection in 2016. They say that no matter who wins this election, the unemployment rate will go down. That's good news!

[doctorshankar]

Romneys speech on the other hand was really very inspiring. Clint Eastwood, I think was there to provide some comedy at the expense of Obama. But what really has Obama achieved?