If his views cause him to lose supporters, Kevin Costner doesn't care.
Spoiler alert: the fifth season of the actor's popular TV series Yellowstone began with the inauguration of John Dutton as governor of Montana. This on-screen development prompted him to talk about his views on American politics off-screen, including whether he would ever run for office after recently endorsing both Democrats and Republicans.
The 67-year-old Costner said to USA Today, "No, I don't think there's any need for me to run. However, I wish the folks who did run had a greater vision and more morals about how they see the country progressing. I'm dissatisfied.
Independent Costner cast his ballot for Joe Biden in 2020 after his initial choice, now-Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, withdrew from the Democratic presidential primary. Most recently, the Oscar winner supported Liz Cheney in her ultimately lost campaign for the Wyoming Republican primary in August. Cheney is the vice chairperson of the House select committee looking into the Capitol incident on January 6 and a vocal opponent of former President Trump.
He told the newspaper, "Just because you lose doesn't mean you're done; it doesn't even mean you're incorrect." When he wore his "I'm for Liz Cheney" T-shirt, which she posted to social media, he admitted that "I was certain that [Cheney] probably wasn't going to win her election." But I wanted to express to her how much I valued her courageous, sensible stance as a citizen.
Costner said he wouldn't change anything about his decision to publicly support the candidates he has, despite the criticism his political stance garnered.
He told the magazine, "I didn't really care how the cookie crumbles – that people who liked me now don't like me. That's alright,
In 2020, Costner stated to the Daily Beast, "I'm a free agent. I cast my vote for the candidate I believe will represent the nation and our position in the world the best." He continued by saying that he didn't bother to explain his position when he was known as a Republican actor in the 1980s and the early 1990s. I simply didn't respond, he said. "I believe it was because of the films I was making, such as Dances With Wolves, although I never expressed any opinion. I really second-guess my decisions. Both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party at this time do not, in any way, reflect everything that I believe. So it's extremely restricting in my opinion."
Following Buttigieg's withdrawal, he told Variety that he was voting for Biden because he was most optimistic that he could serve as "a president for both sides." He stated, "The thought of racism and of violence… we all have to be able to look at that and go, 'Enough. That's enough.'" He avoided mentioning Trump specifically. "It's very obvious," he continued, "that every four years we get the ability to kind of assess where we are as a nation and determine if we're headed in the right direction or not, and if we're not, we have that opportunity to make a shift."
Costner admitted that he didn't find the 2016 presidential election as "entertaining" as others did while Trump was competing against Hillary Clinton. It makes me feel embarrassed. It strikes me as really childish. The way we communicate in America, in my opinion, is at an all-time low. Where are our grand concepts? There is horrible conversation going on right now.
He hasn't shied away from his conservative roots, though. He talked about being a registered Republican up until the 1996 election, when he switched to becoming an Independent and began voting primarily for Democrats, in an interview with the Huffington Post in 2008.
He declared, "I'm not a Republican." "I was essentially reared in a Republican household. As I listened to my parents, my politics sprang from the dinner table. Because my brother was serving in Vietnam, I believed that those who protested the war were unpatriotic. I had just turned fourteen. As I gained perspective and distance, I understood that it was only a matter of opinion, and that their viewpoint wasn't necessarily incorrect. An individual develops their own voice and manner of thinking as they grow. I was early for my time.
Costner's character on Yellowstone is currently navigating a career in politics, which the actor admits will be difficult for him as Dutton will have to leave his ranch for his new work.
Costner told USA Today, "I know how hard it's going to be for him. "Instead of attempting to negotiate with individuals, his heart is at the ranch. That will cause problems. He drives in a lane that is not as wide as some people would like. He also won't alter."
Ever since its debut in 2018, the program has been a success. Although Costner stated he only intended to do one season, he has enjoyed the journey thus far: "I put all of my effort into what I'm doing. But I'm just going to leave if I get the impression that something is wrong."
Yellowstone gave rise to a whole franchise, which included the movies 1883, starring Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Sam Elliott, and the impending limited series 1923, starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, with a premiere in December.
[zombify_post]
0 Comments