Actor Matthew McConaughey may have left fans dazed and confused in a political discussion with podcast host Russell Brand. (Watch the interview below.)
The âDallas Buyers Clubâ Oscar winner accused the âilliberal leftâ of condescending to the right and proposed a scientific approach to meeting in the middle.
Brand, the British comedian, asked McConaughey if he noticed a âcondemnation and criticism of what I might describe ordinary working people ... a kind of offhandedness, like, âOh, theyâre dumb, theyâre voting for Brexit, theyâre voting for Trump.â I donât like it, and I donât like to hear it,â Brand said.
McConaughey agreed. âThere is a lot [of people] on that illiberal left that absolutely condescend, patronise, and are arrogant towards that other 50%,â he said.
âIâm sure you saw it in our industry when Trump was voted in four years ago,â McConaughey continued. âThey were in denial that was real. Some of them were in absolute denial.â
And now, the âLincoln Lawyerâ star asserted, the left shouldnât expect Trump voters to accept President-elect Joe Bidenâs victory.
âLooks like Bidenâs our guy,â McConaughey said. âNow youâve got the right thatâs in denial, âcause their side has fake news. And I understand. Theyâve been fed fake news. No one knows who the hell to believe, right? So theyâre putting down their last bastion of defence.â
McConaughey, a native Texan who recently shot down reports he was pondering a run for governor, doesnât seem to have disclosed his party affiliation of late. But he insisted a science-backed centrist approach could help heal the rift.
âI wanna say Iâll meet you in the middle,â he told Brand. âI actually think that itâs more of a dare than itâs ever been. ... Letâs get aggressively centrist.â He said reframing it as a dare could appeal to the right.
McConaughey cited get-out-the-vote efforts as an example of ineffective politics. He said many vote campaigns are backed by Democrats and alienate half of the electorate.
âThe left is gonna have to understand the science of the values of meet you in the middle,â he said. â... I believe there is science to it.â