After Michael Moore and Seth Rogen made headlines over the weekend for mocking the Oscar-nominated film "American Sniper" as pro-war, Sarah Palin has come out in full support of Clint Eastwood's paean to military marksmen.
The former governor of Alaska slammed Hollywood, describing it as headquarters for America's sissies, USA Today reported. The film stars Bradley Cooper as slain ex-Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle, who has been credited with being the U.S. military's most lethal sniper during the Iraq war.
"Hollywood leftists: While caressing shiny plastic trophies you exchange among one another while spitting on the graves of freedom fighters who allow you to do what you do, just realize the rest of America knows you're not fit to shine Chris Kyle's combat boots," the conservative wrote in a Facebook message late Monday.
"God bless our troops, especially our snipers," she continued. "Thank you Bradley Cooper and Clint Eastwood for respecting the United States Military."
During a visit to Pella, Iowa, in 2011, Kyle was part of Palin's security team, where they reportedly became friends. In 2012, Kyle and Palin's husband, Todd, also got to know each other after competing against one another on the NBC show "Stars and Stripes" to raise money for charity.
After Kyle was killed in 2013, the Palins attended his funeral and Todd said he would donate his winnings from an Iron Dog race that year to Kyle's memorial fund, New York Daily News reported.
"May the epic 'American Sniper' bring nothing but blessings to Taya and the children of this true American hero," Palin wrote, referring to Kyle's widow.
Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar (R) also took to Facebook praising the movie, highlighting the service of Sean Johnson, a former Marine who works in Gosar's office as a veteran's liaison.
"I personally know what our snipers do. I have worked with these guys. Calling them cowards wouldn't faze them one bit but it would amuse them, coming from a soft, Hollywood leftist like Michael Moore. If anyone knows cowards it might be him ... pray for Michael Moore to one day understand that his liberty to attack snipers like Chris Kyle is only possible because of these brave patriots," Johnson wrote.
Earlier in the week, Moore, the liberal documentary filmmaker, had tweeted, "We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren't heroes. And invaders r worse." But later, he claimed that his tweets had not been aimed at the real life "American Sniper."
In addition, Rogen also entered the Twitter crossfire, when he likened the movie to Nazi propaganda.
Meanwhile "American Sniper" hit theaters in wide release over the holiday weekend, raking in more than $90 million in three days, according to CNN.
