Eastwood, reported mystery guest, has history of donating to Democrats

Clint Eastwood may be the mystery guest at Thursday's Republican National Convention — both CNN and Fox News reported as much Thursday — but the actor and director has a history of supporting Democratic candidates.

In 2002, Eastwood gave $1,000 to Rep. Sam Farr's (D-Calif.) reelection campaign, helping propel the liberal lawmaker to victory over Republican challenger Clint Engler. Farr was an early opponent of the war in Iraq and circulated articles of impeachment against Vice President Cheney in 2007.

Eastwood also hosted a $5,000 per plate fundraiser in 2003 for then-California Gov. Gray Davis, a Democrat, and reportedly offered to film a commercial for the embattled governor, who was ultimately thrown from office in a 2003 recall election. Davis appointed Eastwood to serve on the California State Park and Recreation Commission in 2001.

More recent donations have trended Republican, however. Eastwood donated $250 to distant cousin Randy Eastwood, a failed Republican congressional candidate in Washington state in 2004. And in 2008, Eastwood donated $2,300 to John McCain's presidential campaign.

In January, some media critics suggested that Eastwood's "Halftime in America" Super Bowl ad for Chrysler was intended as a subtle boost for the Obama campaign, which had claimed credit for the auto manufacturer's resurgence thanks to the bailout. But in a statement to Fox News, Eastwood aimed to shoot down that speculation.

"There is no spin in that ad. On this I am certain," Eastwood said. "It was meant to be a message about job growth and the spirit of America. I think all politicians will agree with it. ... If Obama or any other politician wants to run with the spirit of that ad, go for it."

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