Director Clint Eastwood is interviewed at the opening night gala for AFI Fest 2011 with the premiere of Eastwood's film "J. Edgar" in Hollywood
Director Clint Eastwood is interviewed at the opening night gala for AFI Fest 2011 with the premiere of Eastwood's film "J. Edgar" in Hollywood November 3, 2011. Reuters

Clint Eastwood called Republicans "dumb" for allowing him to speak at the Republican National Convention last month.

In an interview with Extra, the actor tells reporter Jerry Penacoli, "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."

But he said that even with the backlash he received, he has no regrets.

"I never look backward. It's done and it's done. I probably would. I wouldn't be afraid of it."

At the Republican National Convention last month, Eastwood, 82, gave a surprise speech, in which he addressed an "invisible" President Barack Obama, using an empty chair as his prop onstage.

"So, Mr. President, how do you handle promises that you have made when you were running for election, and how do you handle them? I mean, what do you say to people? Do you just -- you know-I know -- people were wondering -- you don't -- handle that OK."

"I think if you just step aside and Mr. Romney can kind of take over. You can maybe still use a plane," the actor continued.
The interesting speech and prop immediately caused a frenzy on the Internet.

A Twitter account "Invisible Obama" was created, and in the bio, stated that it was located "Stage left of Clint Eastwood," and that "The GOP built me." An hour after Eastwood's speech, the account had 20,000 followers.

Comedian Roseanne Barr tweeted: "clint eastwood is CRAY."Twitter users immediately began to post pictures of empty chairs, along with the caption, "#Eastwooding."

Even President Obama joined in and tweeted a photo of himself from his official account @BarackObama.

In the picture, the president is sitting in his own chair with the caption, "This seat's taken."