Clint Eastwood and Mitt Romney: Timing is Everything

Two days out and still lots of reaction. Everything from spluttering outrage to expressions of pity. I've read conservative commentary postulating that it was all choreographed: the tousled hair, the long pauses, the stammering and the stuttering, the occasional blistering zinger. I've read liberal analysis from political pundits and film critics speculating about everything from Eastwood's diminished mental state to his underlying motives (maybe deep down he supports Obama, which is why he seemingly sabotaged Mitt Romney's long-awaited moment in the spotlight!). There have been the expected cheers from the right ("Go ahead--make my day!") and charges of hypocrisy ("they can dish it out but they sure can't take it"), as well as the occasional point-well-taken (stand-up comics have simply not dared to mock Obama--Clint Eastwood was simply doing their job).

In fact, pretty much every point is well-taken. For what it's worth, here's my take on Clint Eastwood's appearance at the GOP Convention on the night Mitt Romney made his acceptance speech as the nominee for president of the United States: 

Meeting Mitt Romney

Loved this video. Laughed out loud a couple of times. Cried a bit at others. I admire him.

Bias by Omission

I searched in vain this morning for a mention of Artur Davis' speech at the GOP convention last night in the Los Angeles Times (special GOP convention section which contained a write-up of Ann Romney's red Oscar de la Rente dress!). Not  a word, unless you want to include an aside by Mary McNamara in her column ("Folks such as...John Boehner and...Artur Davis pinned the blame firmly on President Obama...").

The sin of omission, in this case, the sin of media bias by omission. To not mention Artur Davis' speech, he, the African American who seconded Barack Obama's nomination four years ago at the Democratic National Convention who now stands boldly before the world endorsing Mitt Romney in a full-throated (and funny) speech chastising Obama for failed promises and acknowledging that he was blinded by Obama's "halo."

Once again, shame on the LA Times, and other media outlets who more-or-less boycotted Artur Davis (and other good men and women of various ethnicities who spoke clearly and boldly in support of Mr. Romney). The Democrats want to believe the GOP is racist. So they shut their eyes and cover their ears.

But we're listening. The GOP is rising and the Democratic party is shriveling and sniveling and falling apart.

Listen to Artur Davis (and while you're at it, Condi Rice, and Mia Love, and Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz, and Herman Cain, and Susana Martinez, and...)