APR 28, 2014 – Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, posted this pic of their mobile banner from NRA convention in Indiana of Uncle Ted and the NRA helping us realize that the TRUE poor, picked-on minority is actually middle-class, Christian, white dudes with guns. If only, Ted…if only. CSGV aims to make people aware of the crazy shit that comes out of the mouths of the NRA supporters and to make them MeettheNRA.org and find out what they are really about. (Photo credit: Coalition to Stop Gun Violence)
Is there a double standard for conservatives when it comes to artists speaking out? Remember the Dixie Chicks 2003 statement? "Just so you know, we're on the good side with y'all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas."
Now compare that to Ted Nugent's violent rhetoric. Will conservatives destroy Ted Nugent CDs? Will they protest outside his concerts?
UPDATED CHECK BELOW! – APR 17, 2012 – Ted Nugent, who has been in the news recently after using extreme rhetoric centered around guns, politics, and his obvious hatred for the Obama administration, is at it again. Back in 2007 he went on an on-stage rant where he came out with a gun and waved it in the air saying, "Obama, suck on this you punk!" Well, this time it's a recent NRA Convention where he went on a rant and stumped for Mitt Romney saying "If you don't know that our government is wiping its ass…with the Constitution, you're living under a rock someplace." He then went on denouncing the Obama administration as "vile, evil, America-hating. We defied the emperors! We need to ride into that battlefield and chop their heads off in November! Any questions?" The majority male white crowd erupted in cheers.
The group People For the American Way (PFAW) has asked the presumed Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who was at the event also, to come out and denounce Ted Nugent's outrageous statements. Read the press releases here. Watch Ted's rant below.
UPDATE: Ted Nugent may have caught the attention of the Secret Service. During his NRA rant criticizing the Obama administration he said, "If the coyote is in your house pissing on your couch, it's not the coyote's fault, it is your fault for not shooting him." He also said, "If Barack Obama becomes the president in November again, I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year". The Secret Service tells NYMag.com that "We are aware of it and we'll conduct the appropriate follow up." Watch and cringe below.
UPDATE: On the Dana Loesch radio talk show, Nugent stood by his remarks and said, "I spoke at the NRA and will stand by my speech. It's 100 percent positive. It's about we the people taking back our American dream from the corrupt monsters in the federal government under this administration, the communist czars he has appointed."
UPDATE APR 17, 2012 10:11 PM: DNC Chairperson Debbie Wasserman-Schultz has seen the clips of Ted Nugent's rant, and she Tweeted, "Romney surrogate Ted Nugent's comments about Pres. Obama are vile & beyond the pale-and the Romney campaign should denounce them immediately". The DNC has issued a statement saying, "Mitt Romney's surrogates are crossing the line, calling the President's administration "vile," "evil," and "America-hating"—but so far Romney has refused to condemn it. It's on him to stop the violent rhetoric before it gets out of control. Join Democrats and tell Mitt Romney to Denounce Ted Nugent's comments about President Obama." They have started an online petition here.
UPDATE APR 18, 2012 1:30 PM: According to The Blaze, Ted Nugent told Glenn Beck that he has an appointment with the Secret Service tomorrow to discuss his recent violent rhetoric against President Obama. Nugent told Beck, “We actually have heard from the Secret Service and they have a duty. I support them. I salute them. And I look forward to our meeting tomorrow, I‘m sure we’ll have a great conversation…bottom line is, I‘ve never threatened anybody’s life in my life. I’ve never threatened. I don’t waste breath threatening. We’re going to have a little barbecue get together, and I’m not trying to diminish the seriousness of this, because if the Secret Service are doing it they are serious. They are dedicated and I will be as polite and supportive as I possibly can be, which will be thoroughly.”
MAR 26, 2012 – Last Friday on March 23, 2012 in Tampa, Florida Bruce Springsteen performed his controversial song "American Skin (41 Bullets)", a song he had only performed twice before. The song was written back in 2000 and was about the horrible shooting death of Amadou Diallo, who was shot by police 41 times when he was taking out his wallet. When Bruce performed the song in Atlanta back in 2000, the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association called for the boycott of Bruce Springsteen when he came to Madison Square Garden in NYC, where he sang the song again. The call for a boycott had no effect, Springsteen did an amazing 10-show run at MSG.
Many people are saying it is obvious the recent shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Florida last month inspired Springsteen to perform the song again. Millions of people and us here at JTMP have been shocked and horrified by the hunting down and murdering of a young man, and that the murderer is free. There is a petition over at Change.org with over 2 million signatures calling for the prosecution of the killer. The lines from the song unfortunately show in America you still can get shot for the color of your skin:
Well, is it a gun, is it a knife
Is it a wallet, this is your life
It ain't no secret (it ain't no secret)
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin
Listen to audio of the performance of "American Skin (41 Shots)" below.
