Inside the Actors studio host James Lipton saw shades of film history in Tuesday night’s presidential debate, saying President Obama was like a hero from a western.
Appearing on MSNBC’s Hardball With Chris Matthews on Wednesday, Lipton took note of a skirmish between Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney, in which Romney asserted the president delayed on calling an attack on an American consulate in Libya a terrorist attack. Obama told Romney to proceed with his train of thought, and the Republican’s statement was then deemed inaccurate by moderator Candy Crowley.
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“It was the face-off in High Noon. And the President of the United States was Gary Cooper,” Lipton told Chris Matthews. “At that moment, he became a hero, I think”
Lipton also characterized Romney as disrespectful for telling Obama “you’ll get your chance” when the president attempted to break in on Romney’s comments during a discussion about drilling on federal land.
“It is rude. It’s inexcusable,” Lipton said. “I think it’s a very, very sad day when the presidency, which has been under fire since Nixon — and particular this president — can be treated this way by someone who is an American citizen.”
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Lipton previously appeared on MSNBC to critique Clint Eastwood’s Republican National Convention speech, which he gave poor marks, saying it was “not his best performance.”
Inside the Actors Studio, currently in its 19th season, airs on Bravo.
Watch the video, via Mediaite, below.
