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Actor Duvall Blasts Palin Critics at Fundraiser

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October 14, 2008 8:24 AM

ABC News' Imtiyaz Delawala Reports: Introducing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at a GOP fundraiser Monday, actor Robert Duvall blasted conservatives who have criticized the McCain-Palin ticket in recent days, calling conservative columnist George Will a "super-nerd" and former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson a "block of wood".

At an RNC fundraiser in McLean, VA, Duvall introduced Palin for the third time since her nomination to the Republican ticket, taking the opportunity to accuse Republicans critical of the McCain campaign as giving "credence to the other side."

"It bothers me that certain people in the Republican Party are attacking the McCain-Palin ticket, like super-nerd George...What's his name?” Duvall asked, prompting a few attendees to laugh and shout out George Will. “George...George, I can't even think. George Will," Duvall said, referring to the Washington Post columnist who has been critical of Palin.

The legendary actor then attacked former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson, who campaigned with McCain last Friday in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Thompson had expressed unhappiness with the McCain campaign in an article that appeared in Sunday's New York Times. Asked if he was happy with Sen. McCain's campaign, Thompson told the paper, "No," adding, "I don't know who is."

"Tommy Thompson of uh, that original block of wood, from Wisconsin," Duvall responded at the fundraiser. "He attacked the team today. I mean, that's like being, instead of Monday morning quarterbacking, it’s during the game. It's Friday and Saturday night quarterbacking. It's like giving credence to the other side.” 

The rhetoric was a departure from recent days, where Palin has toned down her criticism of Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama. Duvall used no such caution in his remarks, saying of Obama, "we gotta keep this guy out of the White House."

Duvall then introduced Palin, who quickly thanked him "for that very kind introduction" before giving her standard stump speech to the crowd of 400 Republican donors.

October 14, 2008 in McCain, John, Palin, Sarah, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (414)

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Thank you Mr. Duvall. A gifted actor who did not go "Hollywood".

Posted by: geevill | Oct 14, 2008 8:50:28 AM

Damn, this is disappointing. I've always admired Robert Duvall's work. Now that he's exposed himself as a blockhead, it will be hard to separate the actor from the actual.

Posted by: PlayActor1 | Oct 14, 2008 8:52:17 AM

JB,

Gee. I thought Obama is buying air time because he can. Every time Americans see him they think more favorably of him. The man looks presidential. He sounds presidential. He has that quiet confidence that makes everyone stop and listen when he comes into a room.

Also, the man is smart. While that may be a turnoff for some voters, maybe some of them remember how they put George "20% approval" Bush into the Whitehouse because he seemed like a good guy to have a beer with.

This time, the smart guy is also the guy you would like to have a beer with. John McCain? As friendly as that crazy man down the street that yells at you every time you go past his house.

Posted by: John McCain's conscience | Oct 14, 2008 8:53:18 AM

Robert Duvall is THE best actor in Hollywood - nobody else comes even close!

Posted by: MissSherry | Oct 14, 2008 8:53:44 AM

The most telling piece on Obama was his comment to the Plumber in, I believe, Ohio, who expressed concern about Obama's tax plan taking more money away from him.

Obama's response of 'I don't want to punish your success' followed by his explanation that they'd essentially be redistributing this man's hard-earned money to people with less money is what should be scaring everyone with a brain away from Obama.

This was not a Fortune 500 CEO - this was a guy who, most likely, built up his business through hard work and dedication - a local businessman - perhaps someone like any one of your neighbors. And Obama's plan is take more money from him and give it to others. THAT, is socialism. Combine that with other Democratic comments recently such as one who said they'd take over the oil companies, and Hillary, who said she wanted to take the profits of big oil and use them as her government saw fit - THAT IS SOCIALISM PEOPLE! Wake up!

This is America where you WORK for what you want. Those standing around with their hands out are going to the polls in 3 weeks.... ARE YOU?

Posted by: John | Oct 14, 2008 8:54:17 AM

I.A.T.Smith: There are no issues facing this country. People are the cause of their own destruction. They bite off more than they can chew by wanting to live like the rich with a beer pocket. Why do you think there are so many foreclosures. They buy a condo with no money down or 5% down. Keep it for a year, stop making the payments and go back to renting causing the foreclosures. Our economy is good. And as far as jobs are concerned, the population of this country is greater than the job market. We have over 12 million immigrants living here that are not citizens and should all be sent back to Mexico. And they are taking up a lot of jobs from the American citizen's.

Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Oct 14, 2008 8:54:47 AM

Palin has no foreign policy experience to be a VP

Obama has no foreign policy experience to be the PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES.

If Obama is elected, the states will no longer be united.

Posted by: leatherneck | Oct 14, 2008 8:55:40 AM

Palin's future son-in-law is dropping out of school and that's a shame. However, he will earn a good living working in the oil fields so won't be asking the government for a handout. I applaud him for taking responsibility for his actions and not taking the easy way out by aborting his child. Many families in my parent's generation "had" to get married. They put their children ahead of themselves. We could use more of that these days.

Posted by: Josie | Oct 14, 2008 8:56:30 AM

I live in Wisconsin and I'm a Republican, and Tommy Thompson really was a "block of wood". Unfortunately, he was much better than the crook for a governor we have now.

Posted by: Jack | Oct 14, 2008 8:57:26 AM

I am sorry but I reject anybody saying they are republican and voting Obama! Sorry you are just a Liberal trying to add to the lies being spread by the Liberal media! Fact is if you are a TRUE Republican you would never vote for Obama!

If you are truely stupid enough to be registered Rebulican and vote Obama you need to switch your party affilation today!

Anybody who is Republican and knows all the facts about Obama would clearly see he is all talk! He can not even take a stand on his relationship! The artical in the Washington Post today hit it right on the head when they say..

"The Obama campaign is now distancing itself from Acorn, claiming Mr. Obama never organized with it and has nothing to do with illegal voter registration. Yet it's disingenuous to channel cash into an operation with a history of fraud and then claim you're shocked to discover reports of fraud. As with Rev. Jeremiah Wright and William Ayers, Mr. Obama was happy to associate with Acorn when it suited his purposes. But now that he's on the brink of the Presidency, he wants to disavow his ties.

Posted by: chuck | Oct 14, 2008 8:57:38 AM

"I would trust Whoopi Goldberg with the future this nation WAY before I would trust Miss Bridge to Nowhere."

And THIS is the type of person who gets to vote. Kee-rist, and you think GWB is dumb.

Posted by: John | Oct 14, 2008 8:57:57 AM

Maybe palin can become an astronaut on November 5th since I heard she can see the moon from her house. 01-20-2009 The END of an ERROR...

Posted by: pt | Oct 14, 2008 9:00:07 AM

Question: If Obama is such an obviously better choice, why do the DEMS need voter fraud to win?

Posted by: Jack | Oct 14, 2008 9:00:31 AM

But wait he's a celebrity... Oh right, the only worthy opinions come from liberal celebrities... Oh, NOW I see... Talk about hypocritical!!!

Posted by: hmn | Oct 14, 2008 9:00:50 AM

Gus: Let me go on record to say, Palin has more experience than Biden and Obama who has no experience at all. His experience is reading the speeches of JFK and RFK to know what to tell the people on the platform. Other than that he has nothing going for him. If he would stop trying to walk in the shoes of MLK and walk in his own you would notice the difference. A person with intelligence would not associate himself with a terrorist like William Ayers. Even if Obama was 8 years old he wasn't 8 when he met him in 1995. The were as close as two peas in a pod. Obama lied at first then pressured to tell the truth. There is a lot more to know about this candidate that hasn't come out yet. Also, Ayers and Obama are involved with Acorn the company that is registering anyone off the street. Like the young guy who registered 73 times. And it was stated that Obama gave Acorn 886,000 and another man $90 million from his campaign fund.

Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Oct 14, 2008 9:01:46 AM

Ah linda n carolina, you forgot to thank ACORN for registering Mickey Mouse to vote, other wise he might not have gotten to vote!

Posted by: samhiguchi | Oct 14, 2008 9:03:35 AM

Actually when is comes to stupidity, it's hard to beat Biden. "Come on up here..stand up..opps..er..I'm sorry.."
By the way, someone should tell Biden the resturant that he discusses politics in NOT on the street he named, and it closed about 20 years ago. ROFL!

Posted by: Jack | Oct 14, 2008 9:03:50 AM

Palin is a non-thinking, no-brains choice for vp. She's a right-wing Bircher who assumes she has more power than her Wasilla voters gave her. Can you spell C-H-E-N-E-Y? And McCain's choice of her is just plain politics. And the most dumb-a.. thing he's ever done.

Posted by: nomorerepublicans | Oct 14, 2008 9:03:55 AM


Sarah Palin is more qualified for the presidency than Obama and she's only running for the VP spot.

Obama is a community organizer from ACORN! And ACORN is up to their necks in 15 states for VOTER FRAUD!

Posted by: FrankG | Oct 14, 2008 9:04:46 AM

Don't worry libs. Obama, his ACORN thugs, and his illegal foreign donors will find some way to steal this election.

Posted by: Cory | Oct 14, 2008 9:05:13 AM

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