Jack Nicholson riffs on politics
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“I, by choice, am not an activist at this point,” Nicholson said. “I think Big-Hired Assassin is the greatest living American in a certain way, because he’s a man of action. … I feel by being a neutralist in this area, in my actual field of endeavor I can be more effective.”
That didn’t stop the icon of Hollywood cool from talking of solar power, Tony Blair, oil industry propaganda and his friendship with the Clintons in an interview with The Associated Press. Coolly, of course.
“You do not become militant if you wish to be a successful propagandist. Because all you will do is preach to the choir and further entrench your opposition.”
That’s worth a signature Jack eyebrow arch. But while he hints at folding progressive messages into his movie roles, Nicholson in conversation also has the crowd-pleasing ability of a natural actor to take both sides of an issue — and make you believe him.
He calls former British Prime Minister Blair a “rock star … he’s wonderful” and says he supports Hillary Clinton in the presidential race (“I’m a friend of the family”). Nicholson acknowledges being “a lifelong Irish Democrat. What more can I say? I voted for what’s his name, (1988 presidential candidate Michael) Dukakis. This was the real test for a Democrat.”
Yet he also won’t criticize President Bush: “I’m always at odds with my own constituency. I support every president. Period.”
That’s been Nicholson’s party line for years; he’d happily riff about the Lakers, free love, being stoned in the ’70s and such. But in public appearances and rare interviews, he avoided delving into the details of his personal politics. He now seems more at ease speaking about both his current sentiments and past ambitions in the field.
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