How liberal Ashton Kutcher became a conservative darling

Ashton Kutcher (AP)

“Two and a Half Men” star Ashton Kutcher — a staunch supporter of President Obama — has become the unlikely darling of conservatives for extolling the virtues of work in a speech before a teen audience.

"I never had a job in my life that I was better than. I was always just lucky to have a job,” preached Kutcher at the Teen Choice Awards. “And every job I had was a stepping stone to my next job, and I never quit my job until I had my next job. And so opportunities look a lot like work.”

Former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin heaped praise on the actor.

“Good to see his Iowa roots shining through all that Hollywood glitter!” Palin gushed on her Facebook page. “As they say — you can take the boy out of Iowa, but you can’t take Iowa out of the boy.”

The former co-star of “That 70s Show” and the new movie “Jobs” was also applauded by Tea Party champion Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and conservative talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh.

“Remarkable speech,” Cruz tweeted with a link to a YouTube video of the speech, which has received more than 3 million views.

Limbaugh on his radio show called Kutcher’s message to young Americans “a traditional, uplifting, motivational and inspirational speech on how he became successful.”

Limbaugh said that he didn’t know Kutcher, but that “what he said is right on. All I know is that what he said is exactly what young people in this country need to hear.”

The feeling, however, isn’t likely mutual.

Kutcher gave $50,000 to Obama and Democratic Party campaigns last year, Federal Election Commission records show.

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