I am a Clint Eastwood fan. I loved his spaghetti cowboy movies and I think he is a wonderful movie producer. His movie, The Bridges of Madison County, is one of the very best. There are lessons to be learned from the Eastwood episode at the Republican National Convention that became the topic of national conversation.
Sometimes popularity and the bright lights are overpowering. Because you are a great talent in one field does not make you a great talent in another. Whatever your expertise is you should know it, develop it and even showcase it. But you should stay in your lane. What would it be like if Prince or Beyoncé or Jay-Z spoke at the Democratic National Convention? We use the fame of the celebrity to sell soap, liquor and brands. So, the identification of the celeb is a powerful one, but where does the endorsement start and stop?
Eastwood was a surprise guest at the Republican Convention. He had a great idea and that was to interview President Barack Obama in the empty chair. How dramatic. Clintwood asked and answered the questions.
He spoke of the day Barack won and that he cried. He contrasted that day to this day with 23 million people unemployed. He said it was a national disgrace. He asked the imaginary president how he handled broken promises.
Eastwood stumbled and fumbled for about 12 minutes of prime time. He looked like a confused white-haired old man trying to find his way. He said, "We own this country." Eastwood got out of his lane. He goofed and landed flat on his behind. He was an embarrassment in front of 30 million people.
Since the Republicans started a new interviewing trend with the empty chair, I would love for the Democrats to bring in Nelson Mandela to interview the empty chair of Mitt Romney. He might ask, Mr. Romney how will you unite America, when clearly the polls demonstrate the minorities of the country are not voting for you and they are becoming the majority of the country? Or maybe Tyler Perry's character "Madea" could interview Romney. She might ask, Explain to me in simple terms what your plans are for Medicare and will you raise the taxes? or perhaps Oprah Winfrey could interview Romney and ask about his romantic relationship with his wife and compare notes of shopping at Costco to how he would tax the rich.
Perhaps in doing so we could get the country back on the right track. Interesting idea, don't you think?