R. Lee Ermey Says Geico Fired Him Over Anti-Obama Rhetoric

Actor R. Lee Ermey says insurance company Geico canned him from their commercials for criticizing President Barack Obama.

Ermey, a former Marine drill sergeant who used that experience to land the memorable role as Gunnery Sgt. Hartman in "Full Metal Jacket," played a tough guy psychiatrist in the Geico commercials.

"Geico fired because I wasn't too kind about speaking about the administration," Ermey told TMZ. "So they fired me."

Ermey said he criticized Obama in December 2010 when he accused the administration of trying to "impose socialism," according to TMZ. He also said the president was "destroying the country."

Despite an apology, Ermey was fired by Geico, he says.

The 68-year-old Ermey said it's difficult being an actor with conservative beliefs in Hollywood.

"If you're a conservative in this town, you better watch out," he said.

While Ermey said he's not too fond of Obama, he said Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine went too far when he said the president staged the Aurora, Colo., and Wisconsin Sikh temple shootings as part of a plot to pass a gun ban.

"That's ridiculous," Ermey said. "How does [Obama] go about that? What, does he call in the secretary of defense? Who does he call in and say, 'Hey, I've got a great idea. Let's get some knucklehead to go into a theater and shoot a bunch of ... how does he do that? That's like George Bush caused 9/11. It's a bunch of crap. If people believe that, I've got a bridge for sale."