Eastwood: 'If somebody's dumb enough'

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Hollywood icon Clint Eastwood, reacting to criticism of his speech at the Republican convention, suggested whoever invited him to speak may have been "dumb."

In an interview with the syndicated TV show "Extra," airing Tuesday, the star of the new movie "Trouble with the Curve," said he had no regrets about the controversial appearance in August, in which he spoke to an empty chair and told his audience he was speaking to President Barack Obama.

Republican nominee Mitt Romney's campaign praised Eastwood's presentation, but it was widely panned as well.

"People loved it or hated it, and that's fine," Eastwood in the "Extra" interview. "I figure if somebody's dumb enough to ask me to go to a political convention and say something, they're gonna have to take what they get."

Eastwood, 82, said the technique is reminiscent of one-sided conversations Shelley Berman and Bob Newhart often used in their standup comedy. He said he used the idea once while speaking at the funeral of a friend, "and I started talking to mythical people imitating him."

Asked if he would do the same convention speech again, given the chance, Eastwood said: "I never look backward. It's done and it's done. I probably would, I wouldn't be afraid of it."