I like "old timey" country music, generally. But the modern auto-tuned, syrupy crap (Hank Williams, Jr., included) that you hear now is an abomination when played during any kind of major sporting event, particularly NFL football. I hate the playing of any modern music on deafening sound systems at games. I wish that the crowd would just bellow along and sing fight songs together the way they do abroad at soccer games.

takoma wrote:I have a long-running argument with my wife who attributes my dislike of much of Wagner's music to his anti-semitism while I maintain that I dislike the music for itself. Somewhat like your reaction to country music, no?

Mine's probably less defensible. The fuss over the Dixie Chicks is probably the biggest factor. The music itself is also very simple, of course.

takoma wrote:In any case, I did not mean to criticize ABC's decision, just to ask whether the other option was feasible.

They probably could have done it here without too much trouble, in part b/c the left is just more liberal - i.e., forgiving about something like this. Try it the other way and - well, I just mentioned the Dixie Chicks. I'm sure they STILL couldn't get a endorsement deal.

TheManWithAUsername wrote:I think it's more like people burning books that were written by Nazis...

Or like Israel banning Wagner's music? Same principle either way. I have a long-running argument with my wife who attributes my dislike of much of Wagner's music to his anti-semitism while I maintain that I dislike the music for itself. Somewhat like your reaction to country music, no?

In any case, I did not mean to criticize ABC's decision, just to ask whether the other option was feasible.

TheManWithAUsername wrote:
Fairly or not, I already associate country music so strongly with bad, simpleminded politics that the song actually already bugged me - not that I would turn off the show in protest or something, but that I would like it a teeny-weeny bit less.

The cure for that is Steve Earle, particularly, his album "The Revolution Starts Now".

takoma wrote:But I'm of two minds about the decision to drop his song -- I can understand ABC not wanting to link themselves to his politics, but I am bothered by tossing out his talent because of his politics. It seems to me to be like Nazis burning books that were written by Jews. The song hasn't changed since last week.

I think it's more like people burning books that were written by Nazis.

First, I think it's simply a business decision. Businesses don't want to be associated with very controversial ideas. Given that, I think it was smart of them.

As far as the principle in general goes, I think there are a lot of factors to weigh. Bad people - or just stupid people - can make great art, the art exists independently, and even if the art contains the evil message, it may still be of interest. I might be interested in a show of Nazi propaganda posters, for example.

When it's simple entertainment, though, that stuff gets in my way a bit, even though I don't go out of my way to look for it. For example it's a little hard to interest myself in a Mel Gibson movie knowing that he's Satan's emissary on earth. Having seen some of the Faux blondes speak, I don't think I could look at a pin-up of one, however objectively attractive she is (except maybe as part of some degenerate anger-sex fantasy).

Fairly or not, I already associate country music so strongly with bad, simpleminded politics that the song actually already bugged me - not that I would turn off the show in protest or something, but that I would like it a teeny-weeny bit less.

I just watched the interview and my take-away is that the guy is a self-satisfied yahoo whose political opinions "ain't worth shit" (if I may evaluate them in proper terminology).

But I'm of two minds about the decision to drop his song -- I can understand ABC not wanting to link themselves to his politics, but I am bothered by tossing out his talent because of his politics. It seems to me to be like Nazis burning books that were written by Jews. The song hasn't changed since last week.

ABC could have said "Hank Williams has a right to his political opinions, but they in no way represent the views of this network. However, we have loved his song for ten years and love it still, so we will keep using it." What do you think?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Poor Hank Williams Jr. They won't use his song on the intro to Monday Night Football because of comments he made on tv. He was referring to a June golf game with Obama and Boehner on the same team. They were going against Biden and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Hank said it was "one of the biggest political mistakes ever." Asked what he didn't like about it, Williams said, "Come on. That'd be like Hitler playing golf with Netanyahu. Not hardly."

Ok, maybe not the most savvy comment, and not one that a PR department would put out. However, why is it such a big deal? He was just stating that he thought the pairing didn't make sense. It's an opinion. Are all Hitler jokes off limits now? I guess we'll have to slam The Producers... When I first read the story, I thought it would be about Obama caddying for Boehner or something to that effect.

Sort of agree with you and I'm not only Jewish but a big Obama supporter (I know, typical left wing bleeding heart liberal). First of all, ol' Bo Seefis is probably not a rocket scientist when it comes to commentary and media spin in the first place. And the only person you can compare Hitler to and still remain politically correct is well, Hitler. He didn't mean Obama is Hitler and certainly it was a stupid comment (see above) but, yes, in this country we are definitely overly sensitive when it comes to media comments. It's OK to think it, just don't say it. On the radio.

Overall, Stalin was a lot worse than Hitler.

I agree with the Man that the problem was as much his clarification that he really means the president is the enemy as the original statement.

Anonymous wrote:Poor Hank Williams Jr. They won't use his song on the intro to Monday Night Football because of comments he made on tv. He was referring to a June golf game with Obama and Boehner on the same team. They were going against Biden and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Hank said it was "one of the biggest political mistakes ever." Asked what he didn't like about it, Williams said, "Come on. That'd be like Hitler playing golf with Netanyahu. Not hardly."

Ok, maybe not the most savvy comment, and not one that a PR department would put out. However, why is it such a big deal? He was just stating that he thought the pairing didn't make sense. It's an opinion. Are all Hitler jokes off limits now? I guess we'll have to slam The Producers... When I first read the story, I thought it would be about Obama caddying for Boehner or something to that effect.

Sort of agree with you and I'm not only Jewish but a big Obama supporter (I know, typical left wing bleeding heart liberal). First of all, ol' Bo Seefis is probably not a rocket scientist when it comes to commentary and media spin in the first place. And the only person you can compare Hitler to and still remain politically correct is well, Hitler. He didn't mean Obama is Hitler and certainly it was a stupid comment (see above) but, yes, in this country we are definitely overly sensitive when it comes to media comments. It's OK to think it, just don't say it. On the radio.

Anonymous wrote:Poor Hank Williams Jr. They won't use his song on the intro to Monday Night Football because of comments he made on tv. He was referring to a June golf game with Obama and Boehner on the same team. They were going against Biden and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Hank said it was "one of the biggest political mistakes ever." Asked what he didn't like about it, Williams said, "Come on. That'd be like Hitler playing golf with Netanyahu. Not hardly."

Ok, maybe not the most savvy comment, and not one that a PR department would put out. However, why is it such a big deal? He was just stating that he thought the pairing didn't make sense. It's an opinion. Are all Hitler jokes off limits now? I guess we'll have to slam The Producers... When I first read the story, I thought it would be about Obama caddying for Boehner or something to that effect.

I have no problem with Hitler jokes. Later on, he agreed that he was comparing Obama to Hitler, and called him "the enemy." That's different.

I think he probably intended the analogy to compare just the level of dispute and not the actual people, but he was too stupid to clarify that later when given the chance, and instead doubled down. That's what dipshit TPers do, and it usually works. This time it burned him.

When your anti-Obama rhetoric shocks Gretchen Carlson, you've probably crossed a line. I think the last statement to do that was "Obama hates white people."

using the hitler analogy to refer to the president of america was in bad taste. calling our president the "enemy" certainly didn't help him either. good riddance; they made the right call.

http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7056003/espn-pulls-hank-williams-jr-ready-opening-mnf

Anonymous wrote:"Joke" and "Hitler" seem pretty mutually exclusive to me.

I'm in total agreement. IMHO, the word "Hitler" should be off limits, unless part of a history discussion.

"Joke" and "Hitler" seem pretty mutually exclusive to me.

The problem of analogies is that everyone wants to know who is who. Not a problem for me, but some people are touchy touchy.

In any case, I never could stand the song. In my mind there is one and only one proper intro to MNF. Listen and tell me it doesn't make you ditch that middle school history assignment and grab a seat next to dad on the couch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHxGU4T6hhw&feature=youtu.be&t=25s

Poor Hank Williams Jr. They won't use his song on the intro to Monday Night Football because of comments he made on tv. He was referring to a June golf game with Obama and Boehner on the same team. They were going against Biden and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Hank said it was "one of the biggest political mistakes ever." Asked what he didn't like about it, Williams said, "Come on. That'd be like Hitler playing golf with Netanyahu. Not hardly."

Ok, maybe not the most savvy comment, and not one that a PR department would put out. However, why is it such a big deal? He was just stating that he thought the pairing didn't make sense. It's an opinion. Are all Hitler jokes off limits now? I guess we'll have to slam The Producers... When I first read the story, I thought it would be about Obama caddying for Boehner or something to that effect.