Mitt Romney lucked out in Tampa last week; he only had to one-up Clint Eastwood's empty chair. If some Democrats get their way, President Barack Obama will have a much tougher act to follow Thursday night: an introduction by Golden Girl Betty White.
Some enterprising virtual activists — led by the Brooklyn, NY-based Peter Slutsky — have launched a petition on Change.org to attempt to get the comedian to speak in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Democratic National Convention.
"Clint Eastwood, the Republican's 'mystery guest' at the Republican National Convention, gave a bad name to older Americans everywhere with his absurd and awkward-to-watch introduction of Governor Romney," the petition reads. "You know what? Governor Romney can have Clint Eastwood and his improvisational skills because President Obama has the one and only Betty White!" (The petition currently has 12,912 signatures). Supporters of the initiative have reason to be hopeful — a similar petition convinced Lorne Michaels to let White, 90, host Saturday Night Live in 2010.
Last Thursday, Eastwood, 82, delivered a twelve minute, improvised, widely derided speech during which he "interviewed" an invisible Obama.
POTUS, for his part, took the legendary actor and filmmaker's criticisms in stride. "I am a huge Clint Eastwood fan," Obama, 51, told USA Today over the weekend. "He is a great actor, and an even better director."
When asked if he was offended by Eastwood's bizarre missive, Obama smiled and said, "One thing about being president or running for president — if you're easily offended, you should probably choose another profession."
