To those of you thinking it must be April Fool's Day, it isn't.

This story about Clint Eastwood at the Republican convention just won't die. I want to offer a different perspective.

If you missed it, Clint spoke in prime time as an unannounced guest and engaged in an extended "debate" with President Obama in an empty chair. To say it landed with a thud would be an understatement. I am not posting this to defend any of what he said, only to offer another view of him.

I have, or had, a close friend who is also a close friend of Clint. She grew up in San Francisco and her father knew Clint from the "Dirty Harry" days. When her father died young he became something of a surrogate father to her.

Just so you know, I had known this woman for quite a while before she ever mentioned that she knew Clint Eastwood. She is as private as he is.

He has been a good friend to her. She has stayed at his house in Carmel, with his wife in the house and no hanky panky. They are in regular contact. He called her up one time to say "I hear my new movie is opening up your way, maybe you should go see it." ("Mystic River," I think). They played golf together. She describes him as laconic, healthy, a man who even in his later years runs and drinks nothing but water and fruit juices. I don't think she ever mentioned his politics in any of our conversations, even though they have long been known as conservative by Hollywood standards. Her summary of him is he's a good man.

His appearance at the convention will not be remembered as his high point. I just hope it doesn't come to define him.