Feedback From Clint Eastwood Debacle

There is enough egg on the Republican Party this morning from the Clint Eastwood episode to make a national omelet.

But how did it happen?  What short-sightedness within the GOP took place to allow an aging and clearly unprepared man to take the national stage just minutes before Mitt Romney was to speak?

There are lots of theories and commentary this morning.

From Mark Halperin

Convention planners had assumed the Hollywood legend would reprise the powerful and typically gruff/charming performance he delivered at the beginning of August when he showed up out of the blue at a Romney fundraiser in Idaho and said he was backing the Republican.

Romney aides played down the impact Eastwood’s odd turn might have on Tampa’s positive impact, but they acknowledge that the empty-chair monologue came as a complete surprise to them. They simply turned the podium over to an iconic superstar and expected him to stand and deliver.

Hollywood is talking and plenty is being said.

What WAS that thing Clint Eastwood just did?” tweetedactress Mia Farrow. “How could they let it happen?”

Film critic Roger Ebert said the actor had come across as “sad and pathetic“.

Adam Levine of pop band Maroon 5 suggested that the veteran Dirty Harry star had gone “nutterbutters”.

US actor Zachary Quinto purporting to be “legitimately scared” after his contribution.

“Is Clint Eastwood meant to instil confidence in Republicans?” mused Quinto, best known for his role as Mr Spock in 2009’s Star Trek film.

“Apparently Clint Eastwood had an argument with an empty chair regarding its political standpoint,” remarked Simon Pegg, another member of the current Trek crew.

“Maybe Clint is a sleeper agent for the Democrats sent in under deep cover to make the Republicans look stupid. No wait, that’s Romney.”

“Clint Eastwood became huge star as a man of few words,” tweeted NBC veteran Tom Brokaw. “As a surprise guest on the Tampa stage he had too many words.”

“‘Clint, my hero, is coming across as sad and pathetic,‘
legendary Chicago film critic Roger Ebert said in a message on Twitter.com. ‘He
didn’t need to do this to himself.’

Former Romney adviser Mike Murphy tweeted: ‘Note to file: Actors need a script.'”

Joe Scarborough-“This was a terrible mistake, terrible staging”