Lawrence O’Donnell tells a story about John Wayne few know
John Wayne endorsed Donald Trump via his daughter. Lawrence O’Donnell’s statement of that endorsement is epic.
“The fake tough guy with the fake name in effect endorsed the fake tough guy candidate who built his tough guy image by pretending to fire people on TV,” said O’Donnell.
Lawrence O’Donnell points out that John Wayne supported the 1950’s witchhunt that lead to the blacklisting of writers, actors, and directors for their political beliefs. Some were even jailed and lives ruined.
“The real John Wayne, Marion Morrison is actually a mirror image of Donald Trump in one respect,” O’Donnell said. “Each of these fake tough guys completely ducked military service during war time — Trump during Vietnam, Marion Morrison during WWII.” Marion Morrison is John Wayne’s real name.
John Wayne may be a hero to many for playing cowboys, soldiers, and tough guys on screen. Given his own utterances he is far from a hero to many. In a Playboy interview he said the following.
I believe in white supremacy, until the blacks are educated to a point of responsibility. I don’t believe giving authority and positions of leadership and judgment to irresponsible people … I don’t feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from [the Native Americans] … Our so-called stealing of this country from them was just a matter of survival. There were great numbers of people who needed new land, and the Indians were selfishly trying to keep it for themselves. …
I know all about that. In the late Twenties, when I was a sophomore at USC, I was a socialist myself—but not when I left. The average college kid idealistically wishes everybody could have ice cream and cake for every meal. But as he gets older and gives more thought to his and his fellow man’s responsibilities, he finds that it can’t work out that way—that some people just won’t carry their load … I believe in welfare—a welfare work program. I don’t think a fella should be able to sit on his backside and receive welfare. I’d like to know why well-educated idiots keep apologizing for lazy and complaining people who think the world owes them a living. I’d like to know why they make excuses for cowards who spit in the faces of the police and then run behind the judicial sob sisters. I can’t understand these people who carry placards to save the life of some criminal, yet have no thought for the innocent victim.
It seems O’Donnell was not entirely complete in his assessment of the similarities between John Wayne and Donald Trump. They share much in common.