Why Do Republicans Always Steal Music to Push Their Hateful Ideology?

[marmar]

from AlterNet's PEEK:



Why Do Republicans Always Steal Music to Push Their Hateful Ideology?

Posted by Howie Klein, Down With Tyranny! at 12:08 PM on February 18, 2008.

The latest GOP thief is Baptist preacher Mike Huckabee, who's been stealing music from the popular rock band Boston.



Two weeks ago we reported how dishonest Republican Senator John McCain was caught stealing 2 songs from John Mellencamp for use in his campaign to personify a third Bush term. It isn't uncommon for Republican political hacks to steal popular music from Democratic songwriters and singers. They never pay for the usage-- which is ironic since it is the Congress that sets the rates and conditions and McCain has voted on the legislation dozens of times and is certainly aware that it is a crime to just use people's music without paying royalties. Bush was caught over and over again using popular songs from Democrats in his campaigns and he was repeatedly asked to cease and desist. Even back in 1984 Reagan was caught using Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A.," an anti-Vietnam War anthem for his campaign, although he eventually stopped when Springsteen said he would sue him if he kept using it.

The latest GOP thief is Baptist preacher Mike Huckabee, who's been stealing music from the popular rock band Boston. Barry Goudreau, who was in the band early on, before being fired in 1980, is a Huckabee supporter; he didn't write "More Than A Feeling" or any other Boston songs. The songwriter is band leader Tom Scholz, and, like John Mellencamp, he isn't amused to find his music (the classic "More Than A Feeling") being used to push the Republicans' reactionary and bigoted agenda. He wrote to Huckabee and demanded he stop. Huckabee refuses.

"You have taken something of mine and used it to promote ideas to which I am opposed," Mr. Scholz wrote. "In other words, I think I've been ripped off, dude!" In response, Fred Bramante, who was chairman of Mr. Huckabee's New Hampshire primary campaign, said: "Governor Huckabee plays 'Sweet Home Alabama.' Does that mean Lynyrd Skynyrd is endorsing him?"

They probably do. But that's up to them. Scholz is insisting... and he wrote the campaign and explained that "Boston has never endorsed a political candidate, and with all due respect, would not start by endorsing a candidate who is the polar opposite of most everything Boston stands for." Scholz likes Obama's positions and hopes to vote for him to be president but doesn't plan to use Boston to push him.

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/77309/

[zanne]

1. They found that stealing things works so well in other things...

Why not music?

[zonmoy]

2. in the d&d universe

the republican party would be the thieves guild.

[Tesha]

3. They have to steal it because most rockers are progressive, not regressive and wouldn't allow use.

And Ted Nugent's music sucks so even Republicans, whom he'd
gladly license it to, don't want it.

Tesha

[Wabbajack_]

4. They know country is limited

in it's appeal.

[Echo In Light]

5. A dishonest means of coaxing the public into believing uptighty righty "values" are common

[DFW]

6. It's obvious why

Just listen to the music of people who support the Republicans.
Even Republicans can't stand it. No wonder they steal ours.

[blondeatlast]

7. Two words: Christian Rock. You'd be driven to breaking God's law

too if that were your only acceptable source.

[Echo In Light]

9. There's a lot of underground metal w/Christian themes but isn't "Christian" metal

A long list. Has been for decades too ... some really good stuff, but it's so far below the mainstream radar that most people are unaware of it.

After Forever, By Black Sabbath

Have you ever thought about your soul - can it be saved?
Or perhaps you think that when you're dead you just stay in your grave
Is God just a thought within your head or is he a part of you?
Is christ just a name that you read in a book when you were in school?

When you think about death do you lose your breath or
Do you keep your cool?
Would you like to see the pope on the end of a rope
Do you think he's a fool?
Well I have seen the truth, yes I've seen the light and Ive changed my ways
And I'll be prepared when you're lonely and scared at the end of our days

Could it be you're afraid of what your friends might say
If they knew you believe in God above?
They should realize before they criticize
That God is the only way to love

Is your mind so small that you have to fall
In with the pack wherever they run
Will you still sneer when death is near
And say they may as well worship the sun?

I think it was true it was people like you that crucified christ
I think it is sad the opinion you had was the only one voiced
Will you be so sure when your day is near, say you don't believe?
You had the chance but you turned it down, now you cant retrieve

Perhaps you'll think before you say that God is dead and gone
Open your eyes, just realize that hes the one
The only one who can save you now from all this sin and hate
Or will you still jeer at all you hear? yes! I think its too late.

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. The Pied Piper led the rats with music...........

and it still works today.

[liberal N proud]

10. Stealing is what republicons do best

They have stolen democracy from this great nation so stealing a few notes is nothing.

The MSM is all over Obama and the speech thing, why don't we see them cover this sort of thing? There is a monetary value to the stealing of music. Royalties should be paid these bands that do not freely give and support a particular candidate.

[rox63]

11. If they didn't steal this music

They'd be stuck with a choice between Ted Nugent, Toby Keith and Brittany Spears. :puke:

[Echo In Light]

12. Gene Simmons of Kiss would fit that far right wing bill too

[skids]

13. In the words of Steppenwolf...

"Just before we go
We ought to mention Junior Wells
We stole this song from him
And him from someone else"

Seriously though... Colin Powell dancing to a song about a "project ho" (Macarena)
Huckabee jamming to a song about premarital sex and the age of consent (Midnight Hour)
And the "Cops" theme song references "I shot the Sheriff" in advocacy of shooting it out with the cops.

People OBVIOUSLY don't bother to listen to or understand lyrics. Tragic.

[gratuitous]

14. Republican creativity runs in other veins

See, songs of hope or that have a good beat that you can dance to isn't really a forte of Republicans. When it comes to making you piss-your-pants scared over nothing, they're very accomplished. Masters, even. But inspiring hope, good will and genuine feelings of community? Not so much. So every four years, they have to raid the popular culture that they spend the other three years despising for material to dupe the rubes.

Why do they do it? Because they got nothing else.

[tanyev]

15. Because even they are sick and tired of hearing "Proud to Be an American"

:puke:

[shain from kane]

16. They steal the oil, and the vinyl. n/t