Ted Cruz’s “country music” drivel: What’s really behind his musical conversion

[DonViejo]

After 9/11, the 2016 contender explains, he ditched classic rock for country music. Here's why he's full of it

HEATHER DIGBY PARTON

So Texas firebrand Ted Cruz explained that 9/11 changed him so much that he lost his former taste in music and found another He said:

Music is interesting. I grew up listening to classic rock. And I’ll tell you sort of an odd story: My music tastes changed on 9/11. I actually intellectually find this very curious, but on 9/11, I didn’t like how rock music responded. And country music — collectively — the way they responded, it resonated with me. And I have to say just at a gut level, I had an emotional reaction that says, ‘These are my people. And ever since 2001, I listen to country music. But I’m an odd country music fan because I didn’t listen to it prior to 2001.

I’m going to guess he figures Mike Huckabee has the Nugent vote all sewn up.

He “intellectually finds it very curious” that on 9/11 he didn’t like how rock responded? What is that supposed to mean? Apparently when they held all those concerts and fundraisers like the Concert for New York City he thought they were trashing America. Sure, the Dixie Chicks were famous for saying that they were ashamed George Bush was from Texas during the run up to the Iraq war, but they’re as country as they come. (And I think we can be fairly confident that Cruz endorsed the abusive treatment they received from radio stations for saying it. President Bush certainly did.)

But I’m hard-pressed to think of any rockers, classic or otherwise, who were disrespectful in the aftermath of 9/11. Certainly it wasn’t Bruce Springsteen or Paul McCartney or Neil Young or Fleetwood Mac or literally dozens of other rock and pop artists who penned heartfelt songs about the event. But then Cruz undoubtedly didn’t want to hear poetic songs about loss and pain. He wanted songs of revenge and killing, like Toby Keith’s famous anthem, “The Angry American” which featured the kind of language that gets Cruz and his voters very, very excited:

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http://www.salon.com/2015/03/25/ted_cruzs_country_music_drivel_whats_really_behind_his_musical_conversion/

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

1. A rabid dog has more to offer humanity than Cruz...I almost wish this vile

ass could take the WH with a repub senate and house, just to teach the "undecideds" and "libertarians" a lesson

Once and for all..

but of course if he did take the WH, many would die and those who dont would live horrible lives...so i guess we cant do that either

[anotojefiremnesuka]

2. From my POV all country music is drivel

Teddy is an opportunist nothing more

That music style skews regressive/republican guess he needed an excuse to be a fan

Strange Comming from Canada one would think he would be a nickleback fan

[Erose999]

7. Most of it is drivel, but there were lots of good songs back in the day. A lot of Merle Haggard's

music, for example, really captures the struggle of the poor and the working class. Songs like "California Cotton Fields" "Sing me Back Home", etc. And of course Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, and others have made music just as liberal as anything you'd hear from other genres. It may not be your thing, but you shouldn't dismiss all of it as "drivel" based on all the shitty artists.

That would be like saying "Oh, I heard a few Nickelback songs... this rock n' roll stuff is garbage".

[el_bryanto]

8. Nods - Sturgeon's law.

Most of anything is crap. That's the way things go.

Bryant

[HassleCat]

10. Saw Some

My wife and I were in Nashville a couple years ago, and we went to the Grand Ole Opry. They had a mix of older musicians and "modern country" or whatever it's called. We enjoyed the traditional performers, but the newer music was grating. Tom Petty called it "bad rock and roll," and was right about that. The underlying theme seems to be that one should have a big pickup truck with a rebel flag, stay drunk as much as possible, and express strong disapproval of people who are not like we are.

[lame54]

3. Neil Young was the best...

right after 9/11 christian groups wanted to ban songs and at the top of the list was John Lennon's Imagine

So what did Neil play at the Benefit concert? - Imagine

[blogslut]

4. How does 'classic rock' respond to an event that happens in the future?

?

[Stardust]

11. Good point! Proving that his "excuse" for switching formats is BS. Pure pandering, per Chris Hayes.

[ProfessorGAC]

12. You So Lack Vision

Springsteen should have known to write a song condemning Saddam (who didn't do it) and praising Giuliani (who did little), back in 1974.

How can you not see that?

[Capt. Obvious]

5. Rockers didn't sing about the American way

of putting a boot in your ass.

[Lint Head]

6. This is one of the most stupid and shallow things

I've heard this idiot say. His education did not take. He is nothing more than a manipulative sociopath. His "music conversion" is transparent evidence that he thinks he can he can sway people because 'true conservatives only listen to country music' which is not true. Like everything else he bases his ideas on lies and fraud. Besides that he's an ugly fucker.

[Sheepshank]

9. Sweet Jesus....he panders directly to religosity and Nugent followers

what an ass

[Initech]

13. You couldn't make up a candidate like Ted Cruz if you tried.

Really try doing that with a thousand satirists sitting at a thousand MacBooks and you couldn't make this shit up.