Kurt Russell, Flexible Libertarian
From the Nexis transcript of Miracle star Kurt Russell's interview with Bill O'Reilly last night:
RUSSELL: …I've been told by people that there are people who wouldn't work with me because they were afraid of my politics, whatever that was.
O'REILLY: Really? What are your politics?
RUSSELL: Limited constitutional government. I believe in that. Freedom, freedom, freedom. And we're living in a very interesting time right now for Libertarians because this American experiment is having a difficult time in terms of freedom. Certainly, our privacy is…
O'REILLY: So you don't want intrusion by the federal government into your life?
RUSSELL: I think the—I think that the basic idea of the Constitution in that regard is we wanted to be able to find out who was running for office. We should be able to talk about that freely. Our press should be able to talk about that freely. But I don't think they really meant in terms of the First Amendment that we have our privacy raked across the coals for entertainment value without being paid for it.
O'REILLY: So give me an example of something that really gets you steamed in that area.
RUSSELL: Not much gets me steamed. I think it's kind of fun. I mean I think that the—you know, the rags that make money or some of the television shows that make money just off of paparazzi, people following you or what not—I think it's unfair. I think people should get paid for that. I mean that's…
O'REILLY: Look at these books that smear you and the defamation books, and then they get sued, and they—oh, it's just satire…
RUSSELL: Yes.
O'REILLY: … and they were calling the guy…
RUSSELL: I don't think that's fair.
O'REILLY: … every name in the book and they're ripping him to sleds, but we can do this.
Now, when you go to vote, all right, are you voting for a philosophy of some kind? You're going to have Kerry against Bush, all right? I'm sure there are things you like about both guys and things you don't like about both guys, right? What's the deciding factor for a Libertarian because you're not…
RUSSELL: I usually—I usually vote for issues and people who I think are going to look at it the way I'd like it best to be seen. I just—being a Libertarian, I do believe that limited government is good.
O'REILLY: Right. So you don't like the Patriot Act, for example? That's not…
RUSSELL: I think the Patriot Act is very necessary for right now.
O'REILLY: Do you?
RUSSELL: Yes, I think it's a fluctuating thing. I mean I believe in flexibility. I believe that's our government has the ability to do, be flexible. You try something.
O'REILLY: Right.
RUSSELL: If it becomes overwhelmingly oppressive, people will tell you. People like you will start talking about it and saying this is wrong, and the…
O'REILLY: You bet.
RUSSELL: … and people will respond. And we go vote. We change.