Actor Says He Was Fired From Geico After Accusing Obama of Imposing Socialism
Actor R. Lee Ermey, who plays the drill sergeant turned therapist in a popular Geico commercial, recently revealed that he was fired for his conservative political views.
Ermey told TMZ, "Geico fired me because I wasn't too kind about speaking about the [Obama] administration."
"If you're a conservative in this town, you better watch out," he added.
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Ermey stirred controversy in 2010 during a fundraiser for Toys for Tots when he blamed the Obama administration for the bad economy.
"We're having a big problem this year. The economy really sucks now. I hate to point fingers but the president and administration probably has a lot to do with that.
"We should all rise up and we should stop this administration from what they're doing because they're destroying this country. They're driving us into bankruptcy so that they can impose socialism on us."
He later apologized for the comments.
But he said he was let go by Geico, an insurance company, over those remarks.
Ermey is a retired United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant and actor known for his role in "Full Metal Jacket." Today, he may be more recognized for his role in an 30-second Geico commercial where he plays a therapist and tells a client, "Maybe we should chug on over to mamby pamby land where maybe we can find some self-confidence for you, you jackwagon! Tissue? Crybaby."
