John Wayne the Draft Dodger

Sorry, Fake News. Just a Celluloid Hero

Richard Mellor

Afscme Local 444, retired

"I believe in white supremacy until the blacks are educated to a point of responsibility"; Midnight Cowboy was "a story about two fags"; Native Americans "were selfishly trying to keep (the US) for themselves"; and "We'll all be on a reservation soon if the socialists keep subsidizing groups like [Native Americans] with our tax money." John Wayne 1971

"It would be an injustice to judge someone based on an interview that's being used out of context,"  says John Wayne's son, Ethan, of his father's comments above. Interesting. In what context were they supposed to be in then?

Ethan Wayne clarifies what his dad actually meant. "He didn't care what race, gender, sexual orientation you were. He cared how well you did your job." "He didn't care what race, gender, sexual orientation you were, he cared how well you did your job."

How did I miss that in Wayne's remarks above. Oh that clears it up then.  

John Wayne never fought in any wars he just made movies and a lot of money glorifying them.

"Wayne was, in reality, a draft dodger. America’s archetypal soldier was in fact a chicken hawk. He was a cheerleader and champion of militaristic patriotism and combat he had never experienced. Wayne had “other priorities” during WWII — achieving superstardom (and saving his neck) was more important than defeating fascism. Much like Vice President Dick Cheney, who sought numerous deferments during the Vietnam War, Wayne was the quintessential war wimp. "Truth Dig article May 26th 2007.

John Wayne was also president of The Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals.  Their goal was hunting down subversive elements within the American film industry. He went after liberals, leftists, communists, trade union militants.

On the Vietnam protestors he said, “As far as I’m concerned, it wouldn’t bother me a bit to pull the trigger on one of ‘em,”.

John Wayne was no friend of working people