Actor/Director Robert Redford to U.S. Democrats: Get a clue!

By April MacIntyre Jun 13, 2006, 14:53 GMT

The Oscar-winning director Robert Redford was just in Washington DC to discuss energy policy and to present an award to Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers, for his work on energy independence. According to the Associated Press, Redford opined, "Democrats need to regain the courage that's lost with political compromises over the last few years."  

Redford addressed the group after Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada made a pitch for using less gasoline and taking global warming seriously. On energy, the actor said the first step is to acknowledge there is a crisis.

Redford elaborated that Republicans very good at strategy and tactics.  He stated that the Democrats could learn a lot from the elephant party that has a current stranglehold on American politics.

Redford also expressed his opinion that having a meaningful dialogue with George Bush about energy policy "is a waste of time."

"The Sundance Kid" and founder of the Sundance Film Festival turns 70 this August.   Redford starred with Paul Newman in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" which Fox has recently re-released on DVD in a collectors edition.