Clint Eastwood on Presidential Candidates, and being in a P**** generation

Source: Esquire Interview (beside his son, Scott Eastwood)

ESQ: Your characters have become touchstones in the culture, whether it's Reagan invoking "Make my day" or now Trump … I swear he's even practiced your scowl.

CE: Maybe. But he's onto something, because secretly everybody's getting tired of political correctness, kissing up. That's the kiss-ass generation we're in right now. We're really in a p**** generation. Everybody's walking on eggshells. We see people accusing people of being racist and all kinds of stuff. When I grew up, those things weren't called racist. And then when I did Gran Torino, even my associate said, "This is a really good script, but it's politically incorrect." And I said, "Good. Let me read it tonight." The next morning, I came in and I threw it on his desk and I said, "We're starting this immediately."

ESQ: What is the "p**** generation"?

CE: All these people that say, "Oh, you can't do that, and you can't do this, and you can't say that." I guess it's just the times.

ESQ: What do you think Trump is onto?

CE: What Trump is onto is he's just saying what's on his mind. And sometimes it's not so good. And sometimes it's … I mean, I can understand where he's coming from, but I don't always agree with it.

ESQ: So you're not endorsing him?

CE: I haven't endorsed anybody. I haven't talked to Trump. I haven't talked to anybody. You know, he's a racist now because he's talked about this judge. And yeah, it's a dumb thing to say. I mean, to predicate your opinion on the fact that the guy was born to Mexican parents or something. He's said a lot of dumb things. So have all of them. Both sides. But everybody—the press and everybody's going, "Oh, well, that's racist," and they're making a big hoodoo out of it. Just fucking get over it. It's a sad time in history.

ESQ: What troubles you the most?

CE: We're not really … what troubles me is … I guess when I did that silly thing at the Republican convention, talking to the chair …

ESQ: I didn't say it was silly.

CE: It was silly at the time, but I was standing backstage and I'm hearing everybody say the same thing: "Oh, this guy's a great guy." Great, he's a great guy. I've got to say something more. And so I'm listening to an old Neil Diamond thing and he's going, "And no one heard at all / Not even the chair." And I'm thinking, That's Obama. He doesn't go to work. He doesn't go down to Congress and make a deal. What the hell's he doing sitting in the White House? If I were in that job, I'd get down there and make a deal. Sure, Congress are lazy bastards, but so what? You're the top guy. You're the president of the company. It's your responsibility to make sure everybody does well. It's the same with every company in this country, whether it's a two-man company or a two-hundred-man company… . And that's the pussy generation—nobody wants to work.

ESQ: You've campaigned for office. If you were going to write a stump speech for this election, what would you say?

CE: "Knock it off. Knock everything off." All these people out there rattling around the streets and stuff, shit. They're boring everybody. Chesty Puller, a great Marine general, once said, "You can run me, and you can starve me, and you can beat me, and you can kill me, but don't bore me." And that's exactly what's happening now: Everybody is boring everybody. It's boring to listen to all this shit. It's boring to listen to these candidates.

ESQ: What would you like to see change?

CE: I'd say get to work and start being more understanding of everybody—instead of calling everybody names, start being more understanding. But get in there and get it done. Kick ass and take names. And this may be my dad talking, but don't spend what you don't have. That's why we're in the position we are in right now. That's why people are saying, "Why should I work? I'll get something for nothing, maybe." And going around and talking about going to college for free. I didn't go to college for free. I mean, it was cheap, because I went to L. A. City College—it wasn't like going to a major university. But it was okay. And then, you know, I didn't finish, because I decided to become an actor, ruin my whole life. [Everyone laughs.]

ESQ: What do you think of Hillary?

CE: What about her? I mean, it's a tough voice to listen to for four years. It could be a tough one. If she's just gonna follow what we've been doing, then I wouldn't be for her.

ESQ: But if the choice is between her and Trump, what do you do?

CE: That's a tough one, isn't it? I'd have to go for Trump … you know, 'cause she's declared that she's gonna follow in Obama's footsteps. There's been just too much funny business on both sides of the aisle. She's made a lot of dough out of being a politician. I gave up dough to be a politician. I'm sure that Ronald Reagan gave up dough to be a politician.

Yeah, I had to censor a word because I'm not sure how well the site would take it. But, thoughts?

I see an old man yelling at clouds.

Are we sure the interviewer in this article wasn't an empty chair?

Eastwood should just stfu.

I don't want to hate Clint Eastwood. Please don't show me examples of who he really is! I already know and purposely shut it out. Please?

@mattbbpl:

To be fair this "p**** generation" has affected my sports. NFL for an example is getting soft.

Clint was an OK actor and is a great director and film maker, but he needs to realize that does not translate to political commentary.

I lost respect when he did that bullshit with the chair and talking to/with "Obama", and a lot more respect when (in the interview above) he says Obama doesn't go to work, doesn't go down to Congress because that is a load of crap; Congress flat-out refused to work with Obama (apparently no one remembers when GOP-controlled congress SHUT DOWN THE FRIGGIN GOVERNMENT!!!!!!! and Eastwood says Obama doesn't want to work!?). C'mon, buddy...

Retire, Clint. Retire peacefully, silently, and with dignity. And rest easy knowing that your generation will be taken care of and has completely ****ed the current and, for the foreseeable future, all generations. The "P****" generation has been royally f****ed.

I will always remember him as Kelly's Heroes, Dirty Harry, Mystic River, Unforgiven, Gran Torino, and many other gems. I will forget about his sudden and unwanted political commentary because it is just flat-out embarrassing for such a smart man to pantomime the values of the worst and dumbest of the us.

People talk about entitlement and the younger generations, but have you spent time around old people? I mean not just your grandparents, but lots of old people? I have, and let me tell you something, they are the entitled ones. And you can say "Oh they fought wars" and "They built this country" but that's nonsense; they drove it into ruin with the Great Depression, allowed the military-industrial complex to happen, ruined the environment, fattened their retirements and healthcare while simultaneously condemning younger generations...and so forth. They consumed, consumed, consumed and they could do it because in their day, it was the land of plenty and easy-come, easy-go. You could work as a dishwasher and afford a car. You could work as a cashier and buy a house, and your wife could stay at home and raise the kids because you could afford it (and you didn't have to have both parents working while you scavenged the world for the one nanny you can afford and trust).

I guess what I am saying is this...**** old people, their word is not absolute, and there are as many old jerks as there are young ones. Well maybe not since they're all dying...but there would be!!!

Oh no! The poor old man is getting upset at the thought that people might think he's a racist or something! Let's all be careful what we say around the old man, we wouldn't want to offend him or something!

@nintendoboy16: I disagree with Clint on politics, but I love his movies and that's enough for me.

I will say though that if you actually read his answer to what he wants to see change it sounds tough and even sounds kinda good up until you realize he has no substance on what he means or how to go about doing it. It's kinda too bad really, as good as he is at making movies he comes across as a bit foolish when he dips his toes into the political arena.

@mrbojangles25: I agree but lets not be too hard on the Baby Boomers. Our generation, mine is generation X but I will combine millennials, will do plenty of damage as well. It's not his or our fault. It's Human nature and God help us all.

I thought that entire answer was ridiculous.

He starts by stating that we should be more understanding and stop calling people names after having called an entire generation ******* a few moments earlier and stating they don't want to work. Then he proceeds to call them lazy again in the next sentence and proceeds to illustrate that he doesn't understand the macro factors at work in the slightest (and he doesn't really give the impression that he's considered them or is aware of them).

I thought it was painful to read.

@mattbbpl: Clint never really had to work for a living and because he became a millionaire thinks anyone who isn't rich, like so many republicans do, must be lazy. I guess it could be considered an easy mistake to make if you were him. Those of us that aren't rich should know better and not vote Republican though. Unless you drink the trickle down economics kool-aid but that's a special kind of stupid I don't want to talk about right now.

Yeah, I try not to let politics get in the way of what entertains me (exceptions: Ted Nugent and Scott Baio) and even politically, Clint didn't really anger me here.

I too have an exception when it comes to Ted Nugent. However when you make it a habit to bring up your politics at your own concerts the way he does it makes it hard to focus on the entertainment.

If all he ever made was the Dollars trilogy, he could say whatever he wants, and nobody gets to say shit.....

I love Clint Eastwood's movies both as an actor and director but I don't agree with some of his views especially political ones. That chair speech he did really made me cringe. I still respect him and he seems like a generally cool guy though.

Lol, was thinking this too...

Eastwood's view not that popular here, eh?

It's possible to like someone's artistic work and not their politics. If you can't then you're the problem and not the world.

Clint Eastwood is getting a bit old to be talking politics.

Even if Hillary is just "more of the same" (which I'm sure she will be) how is that anywhere near as bad as what Trump will most likely be if he wins? Replace Trump with any idiot off the street and the same argument could be made...

@SOedipus: A lot of people posting here are the pussies he was talking about so...

I think of Gran Torino when I read this. I have mad respect for the guy.

Like and respect him as an actor and director, can to a degree understand his point of people nowadays having thin skin and that's about it.

*a chair

Clint is the man!

He is right about this generation, bunch of crybaby wimps. Also people do walk on eggshells ffs speak your mind even if you offend someone.

@mark1974: "Our generation, mine is generation X but I will combine millennials,"

lol, I'm still confused with this whole gen x /millennials stuff. According to experts, I'm a millenial because I was born between 1981- early 2000s.

@PSP107: what are we calling the generation that is being being born now?

His generation is what? The "we screwed everything up good luck fixing it" generation? Stop complaining that we aren't cleaning your mess up fast enough, you are the ones who made it. The world is changing, and between the stork and the reaper we are going to outnumber you. Deal with it.

@mark1974:

The Depression Era

Born: 1912-1921

Coming of Age: 1930-1939

World War II

Born: 1922 to 1927

Coming of Age: 1940-1945

Post-War Cohort

Born: 1928-1945

Coming of Age: 1946-1963

Boomers I or The Baby Boomers

Born: 1946-1954

Coming of Age: 1963-1972

Boomers II or Generation Jones

Born: 1955-1965

Coming of Age: 1973-1983

Generation X

Born: 1966-1976

Coming of Age: 1988-1994

Generation Y, Echo Boomers or Millenniums

Born: 1977-1994

Coming of Age: 1998-2006

Generation Z

Born: 1995-2012

Coming of Age: 2013-2020

2012-Present? =(

This is like I'm reading some Dave Mustaine shit.

@mattbbpl: Or in Clint Eastwood's case arguing with a chair.

Clint for pres.

QFT.

It's hilarious that some of the same people dismissing Eastwood's political views are the same ones celebrating political opinions of other celebrities (like Neil deGrasse) who have no more business or expertise on society, politics and governing than Eastwood.

@bmanva: "It's hilarious that some of the same people dismissing Eastwood's political views are the same ones celebrating political opinions of other celebrities (like Neil deGrasse) who have no more business or expertise on society, politics and governing than Eastwood."

How long have you been using the internet?

Because you should know that people on the Web are inconsistent and biased.

Well, according to his Wikipedia page, he has fathered an "undetermined number" of children, but can claim at least seven by at least five different women.

So, by that measure, I guess he's quite manly.

I shared the same opinion, when I was in middle school but then I grew up.

Never say I was surprised by it, but it's always entertaining how blatantly hypocritical some people are.

What makes you think people are dismissing his political views because of his occupation and not because what he said is stupid?

The anti-PC crowd are so thin-skinned and hypocritical "We should be allowed to say whatever we want, but please don't call me a racist, that type of name calling hurts my feelings"

Because all the mention of his occupation and only few real critique of the content of what he said.

What makes YOU think that the "anti-PC crowd" care what you call them?

I can't see anyone claim that he shouldn't voice his opinion because of his occupation. There's a lot of people pointing out that he's a great actor but quite stupid when it comes to politics, but only an idiot would think that means "actors aren't allowed to talk about politics"

Because they constantly complain about getting called racists. Hell even in the interview this thread is about Eastwood complains about people using harmless words "We see people accusing people of being racist". Unless you're a gigantic pussy why would you see people accusing other people of being racist as an issue worth getting angry about?

Maybe because they're constantly ****ing crying about getting called racists/sexists/whatever. Here we have Clint freaking Eastwood complaining about how people get called racists if they don't walk on eggshells and it's like...so what? The hell does Clint Eastwood care if people call him mean names? Jesus, I'd never thought I'd say it, but maybe Clint Eastwood needs to grow some balls and stop worrying so much about people calling him mean names.

I never said that there were anyone claiming Eastwood shouldn't voice his opinion, just the disparity in which they treat celebrity opinions based on their own political views. There's not really any sort of universal qualifying metric for judging those opinion.

I think Eastwood's context for "pussy" doesn't pertain to one's reaction but the hesitance to speak one's mind because of the worry it might offend someone and how the left espouse that culture of censorship. The accusation of racism is reactionary; a direct attack toward the person (as opposed to what was indirect slight and people being offended on someone's behalf) in an attempt silence the individual from expressing their dissenting viewpoint or stifle any attempt in deriving any other interpretation from their messages.

And how is there a disparity? I don't recall Neil DeGrasse Tyson ever saying something as dumb and out of touch with reality as what Clint Eastwood said. The only way there could be a disparity is if someone said something equally as dumb but people pretend he has a point. The occupation of a person doesn't matter, all that matters is if what they said makes sense.

So if whats on my mind is "bugger off, you racist" I should not say it? That's the hypocrisy I was talking about.

Again pretty sure Eastwood meant that people are trying to silence Trump with racist label. In that regard he's not wrong.

Plus how many of you are member of the groups Trump have been offending? Or are you just being offended on other's behalf?

How is what Eastwood say "dumb and out of touch with reality"?

Like Trump, you can say whatever comes to mind. The issue is when one side suppress the opinion of the other. You read the racist tree right? It's the perfect analogy to what Eastwood is talking about.

Once upon a time, there was a racist tree. Seriously, you are going to hate this tree. High on a hill overlooking the town, the racist tree grew where the grass was half clover. Children would visit during the sunlit hours and ask for apples, and the racist tree would shake its branches and drop the delicious red fruit that gleamed without being polished. The children ate many of the racist tree's apples and played games beneath the shade of its racist branches. One day the children brought Sam, a boy who had just moved to town, to play around the racist tree.

"Let Sam have an apple," asked a little girl.

"I don't think so. He's black," said the tree. This shocked the children and they spoke to the tree angrily, but it would not shake its branches to give Sam an apple, and it called him a n***.

"I can't believe the racist tree is such a racist," said one child. The children momentarily reflected that perhaps this kind of behavior was how the racist tree got its name.

It was decided that if the tree was going to deny apples to Sam then nobody would take its apples. The children stopped visiting the racist tree.

The racist tree grew quite lonely. After many solitary weeks it saw a child flying a kite across the clover field.

"Can I offer you some apples?" asked the tree eagerly.

"**** off, you goddamn Nazi," said the child.

The racist tree was upset, because while it was very racist, it did not personally subscribe to Hitler's fascist ideology. The racist tree decided that it would have to give apples to black children, not because it was tolerant, but because otherwise it would face ostracism from white children.

And so, social progress was made.

So speak whatever is on your mind as long as whats on your mind does not include the word racist.

Like I said you're a hypocrite.

.. That's not what he said, your being dishonest.. This isn't about whether a person is racist or not, but the fact it has been used as a attack to silence people.. We are seeing this used against people who are critical of Islam for instance.. Meanwhile the very same spectrum of people who use said attacks have said some of the most openly racist things out there.. BLM movement is a poster child of this where we have people telling whites they belong in the back of the march.. Hijacking a Orlando vigil and saying they are uncomfortable with all the white people in the crowd.. Or tweeting things like asking Allah for strength to not kill men and/or white people..

I mean this has become such a problem on college campuses, President Obama spoke out on how the college needs to be a open forum of free speech.. Where we have these campuses blocking, disrupting etc etc speakers that offend the delicate snowflakes.. Clint Eastwood's interview was pretty whiny in some areas, and I by no means support his political ideas or the Republican platform, but I did agree upon this.. "Political correctness is fascism pretending to be manners".. You know who said that? George Carlin..

If something is indeed racist or sexist it can be easily dismantled with sound rhetoric and rebuttals disproving this failed argument.. It isn't though, we have people trying to silence others specifically because they deem them as racist or sexist.. We are seeing this with the SJW movement in trying to silence people they do not like.. We are seeing this within the democrat party in trying to guilt trip men who do not support Clinton as sexist..

@vfighter: Can't say that I disagree with you.