Who Does Clint Eastwood Like in the 2012 Race?: 'I Love Cain's Story'

Hollywood icon Clint Eastwood has played a cowboy in the past, but as a director, and public figure seems to toe the line of both the left and right. In a recent profile for the Los Angeles Times promoting the upcoming release of his new film, "J. Edgar," Eastwood discussed some of his opinions on politics:

"When I quizzed Eastwood, he couldn’t remember ever voting for a Democrat for president — including in the last election, where he supported John McCain. But when he condemned anti-gay marriage fanatics in a recent, profanity-studded GQ interview (“Don’t give me that sanctity crap! Just give everybody the chance to have the life they want”), my liberal friends shared the excerpts on Facebook with pretty much the same delight as 12-year-old girls passing around Justin Bieber videos.

When it comes to his films’ depiction of sensitive issues, Eastwood has carried off an astounding balancing act. Look at his back-to-back movies about World War II: The first, “Flags of Our Fathers,” was openly admiring of American exceptionalism; the next, “Letters From Iwo Jima,” venerated the courage and sacrifices made by Japanese soldiers in one of the war’s bloodiest battles."

Eastwood's upcoming biopic on the inaugural and controversial FBI director, is said to remain ambiguous on Hoover's personal life and possible closeted homosexuality. Eastwood tells the Times that he finds himself fiscally conservative, socially liberal, and in support of environmental protections. Eastwood says he was opposed to the 2008 stimulus:

“But I’m a big hawk on cutting the deficit. I was against the stimulus thing too. We shouldn’t be bailing out the banks and car companies. If a CEO can’t figure out how to make his company profitable, then he shouldn’t be the CEO.”

Eastwood claims to have voted GOP in every presidential election aside from 1992, when he voted for Ross Perot. Of the current GOP field, Eastwood says he likes Herman Cain best. “I love Cain’s story,” Eastwood told the Times. “He’s a guy who came from nowhere and did well, obviously against heavy odds. He’s a doer and a straight-talker, which I don’t see enough of from either party.”

Eastwood was Mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, for one term from 1986 to 1988. Eastwood contributed $2300 to John McCain in 2008.