Scriptwriter for ‘Lions for Lambs’ Was a Clinton White House Intern

Even the mainstream media critic crowd has had to acknowledge that the Robert Redford-directed “Lions for Lambs” film is told through a Left Coast lens.

Variety calls the movie (which incidentally also co-stars Redford, Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise) “back-bendingly liberal but also deeply patriotic.”

The Hollywood Reporter points out that although Redford and scriptwriter Matthew Michael Carnahan set out arguments both for and against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there’s “no doubt” about “where they [Redford and Carnahan] stand.”

And veteran film critic Emanuel Levy says “Lions for Lambs” is Redford’s “most overtly political drama.”

An explanation for the strong leftward tilt of the movie can be found in the background of Carnahan.

While pursuing political science studies at USC, “Lions” scriptwriter Carnahan was also an intern in former President Bill Clinton’s White House. Carnahan’s responsibilities included working in a war room that defended Hillary Clinton's failed healthcare plan.

Carnahan received a career boost from older brother Joe who directed “Smokin' Aces” and was scriptwriter of the more even-handed terrorist-related movie “The Kingdom.”