Clint Eastwood takes aim at imaginary Obama in bizarre interview with EMPTY chair

Clint Eastwood has eaed plenty of bad reviews for his latest performance: a bizarre, rambling sketch in which he took aim at an imaginary President Barack Obama by interviewing an empty chair.

The action star and director appeared at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, to throw his weight behind presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

But while his routine went down a storm with party delegates elsewhere it prompted bemusement, derision and even a witty riposte from the Obama campaign.

Make my day: Republican delegates enjoyed speech but Twitter was ablaze with criticism

Eastwood, 82, used the convention stage Thursday night to interrogate a phantom president, telling him he had failed to deliver on his promises and it was time for Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, to take over.

'Mr. President, how do you handle promises that you have made when you were running for election, and how do you handle them? I mean, what do you say to people?' he said at one point to the empty chair.

Twitter was instantly ablaze with comments mocking the Oscar-winning director and iconic star of  timeless moves including Dirty Harry and The Good, The Bad And The Ugly.

White House here we come: Mitt Romney joined on stage at the convention by his wife Ann and Paul and Janna Ryan

Fistful of jokes: The iconic actor who made his name in a string of classic spaghetti westes took aim this time at an invisible President Obama

The skit was intended to last five minutes but went on for nearly 12.

'Clint, my hero, is coming across as sad and pathetic,' tweeted American film critic Roger Ebert.

Joe Scarborough, the conservative host of MSNBC's Moing Joe, declared that 'a great night for Mitt Romney just got sidetracked by Clint Eastwood.'

Minutes after Eastwood began his speech, someone created an (at)InvisibleObama account on Twitter. It has already amassed 30,000 followers and counting.

'I heard that Clint Eastwood was channeling me at the RNC,' tweeted comic actor Bob Newhart, known for his one-sided conversation sketches. 'My lawyers and I are drafting our lawsuit.'

Rambling: Clint Eastwood appeared as the surprise guest Thursday night

This seat's taken: Obama campaign responds to Eastwood via Twitter

The actor and director also talked about Oprah Winfrey, Obama's unfulfilled promise to close the U.S. prison at Guantanamo, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and lawyers.

At one point, he referenced dismissing Obama and making a change.

'When somebody doesn't do the job, you gotta let 'em go,' Eastwood said. The tough-guy actor then drew a finger across his throat.

The Obama campaign shot back afterward by tweeting a photo of the back of the president's chair, with Obama's head peeking over it, along with the line: 'This seat's taken.'

Eastwood, a fiscal conservative who takes left-leaning stands on social issues such as gay marriage and environmental protections, dismayed conservatives earlier this year when he starred in a Super Bowl spot for Chrysler, a company that benefited from govement support.

Eastwood, who endorsed Romney earlier this month at a campaign event in Sun Valley, Idaho, and once served as mayor of Carmel, Califoia, defended his appearance in the commercial, noting it had nothing to do with his politics.

Inside the convention, the crowd cheered Eastwood's entrance and shouted his famed catchphrase, 'Go ahead, make my day.' But backstage, ste-faced Romney aides winced at times as Eastwood's remarks stretched on.

After his speech, Romney's camp defended Eastwood.

'He's an American icon,' Romney spokeswoman Gail Gitcho told CNN host Piers Morgan. 'You can't look at him at through the same political lens that you would other politicians. He's Clint Eastwood.'

For Hollywood veteran Eastwood, his chance to rebound likely comes Sept. 21 in more familiar territory. That's when his next film, the baseball drama "Trouble With the Curve," opens.

The ticket: Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney waved at the adoring crowds after he finished his own speech