So much for that Republican big tent: I tried getting in to celebrate President Bush’s victory, but Jesus himself — dressed in an awful plaid Dacron suit and carrying a menacing-looking ruler —stopped me at the door with a wag of his finger. “Sorry,” he told me. “No potty mouth hipsters.”
But, his being Jesus and all, he did forgive me, bless him —and told me I was welcome to stand outside the tent and listen through the canvas if I wanted to. Which was really fucking cool of him.
****
More from Bill, Jeff Blogworthy, Bobo Blogger, Right Thoughts, Wes Roth, and Reagan Republican
****
update: Malkin has opened comments to allow for further discussion. She also links to several dissenting viewpoints—though not this one. Because of the whole “potty mouth” factor, presumably.
update 2: A comment left on Malkin’s site:
In his “The Church at the End of the Twentieth Century,” Francis Schaeffer cautioned us to be aware of the difference between a co-belligerent and an ally. People who want to see God glorified in the United States and people who just want their individual rights protected have many things in common, but they are not allies–they are only co-belligerents. People like Kid Rock suffer from what Schaeffer called an inadequate base for their beliefs and opinions and cannot be a real ally of those whose conservatism is biblically based. If Bush is going to govern as someone whose conservatism is based on the biblical foundations of natural law, it is inconsistent, to say the least, to grant Kid Rock the status of performing at the inaugural.
Dan Paden
…which is then seconded by one Tim McNabb:
I think Dan Paden makes a good point. Kid rock is welcome to be a co-belligerent where our interests cross, but he is a carrier of the disease religious conservatives are trying to wipe out.
A carrier of disease. In need of eradication. According to Biblical law.
Nice.
Gee, I wonder if anybody’s told Mr. Rock just whose party this is? I mean, has he been alerted to his useful idiot / co-belligerent status? Because it sure would be “moral” to let him know where he really stands before he, say, jets off to play for the troops or stump for The Party again, …
****
update 3: Something called Victory Soap (not familiar with it, but cool name) wants you to know how stupid I am for 1) getting bent out of shape about this KR kerfuffle (which is not the case: I’m fucking rebar), and 2) for condemning social conservatives (which I haven’t done— except for the very specific type of religious conservative I’ve quoted above, whose rhetoric I find really creepy).
Conversely, I think trying to have Kid Rock disinvited from an inauguration Youth Party smacks of the kind of faux outrage that we’re always attributing to the left.
update 4: Susan B at Lilac Rose completely misconstrues the situation and suggests that I have “pounded” social conservatives for having strong moral values—a critique that is not only self-serving and sanctimonious, but utterly false. I’ve simply said that the decision to invite KR to play at the Youth Party of the inaugural wasn’t any kind of statement to begin with (it was, after all, the Bush twins who wanted him there, because he is popular with their age group, and they are fans, evidently), but that disinviting him would in fact be a statement—one that suggests that Republicans, far from having strong moral values, are the party of faux outrage and moralistic posturing.
I don’t know how I can be any more clear about this.
Having said that, though, the kind of far right religious conservatives like those represented in the comments I lifted from Malkin’s thread are precisely the kind of fringe party element I think do need to be reminded that not everyone shares their idea that “real” conservatism is tied to Biblical natural law. Whatever the fuck that is.
The president’s daughters hosting a concert, during inauguration weekend, for a man who describes himself as “the pimp of the nation”?
I’m with Malkin.
…for a man who describes himself as “the pimp of the nationâ€Â?
Hey, I was glad to see Rumsfeld loosen up.
Rumor has it Cheney told Pat Leahy to fuck himself.
“Outside, Dick! Now!”
I didn’t know that South Park Republican had ranked a Wikipedia ref. ‘Course I’m nearly 50 and I don’t < cheezy poofs! > know < Respect My Authoriti! > what it’s about < You Bastards! >.
Then there’s Jeff’s favorite:
Cartman: Well, I’ve been lickin’ this carpet for 3 whole hours and I don’t feel like a lesbian.
If you need Cliff Notes.
Good lord, instead of Kid Rock can’t we discuss something tasteful, like Martha’s lesbian oral sex techniques? I’ve almost got all the vocabulary down.
Oh, and look below at the security word generated for me “moral”…
“And the sign said long-haired freaky people need not apply…”
Well, of course not. You’re so freaky.
Well, crap … it would be nice to hear something other than Country music at these things …
Besides, I find Britney Spears much more offensive than I’ve ever found Kidd Rock.
…for a man who describes himself as “the pimp of the nationâ€Â?
As of this week, in the Ninth Circuit, “pimp” is not deemed a bad thing to call someone as a matter of law anymore. At least, not when applied to Evel Knievel.
http://caselaw.findlaw.com/data2/circs/9th/0236120P.pdf
Don’t think he was barred from entry, Jeff, just not given center stage. Big difference. I’m with Malkin and Allah on this one.
Robin – Something needs to be done about that spam box don’t you think? I mean, how does Jeff have the time to sit there and think of putting something that rubs our faces in whatever it is we are posting about – like every freakin’ time? It’s like Edgar Allan Poe creepy. Or Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley – see – damnit! – “England”
”Don’t think he was barred from entry, Jeff, just not given center stage. Big difference. I’m with Malkin and Allah on this one.”
And why isn’t he given center stage? Because he’s not a “proper” Bush supporter? Not representative enough of the “values” of the party? Puts a bad face on the brand?
No, the very fact that he’s not allowed to take center stage is precisely the problem, as I see it.
All that conservatives have done here is reinforce that the big tent is a lie.
Besides, Malkin is championing the AFA. That alone is enough to make me take an opposing view each and every time. If Donald Wildmon said Michael Moore is the antichrist, I would probably defend Moore. That’s how reprehensible I find Wildmon.
For those who don’t know me, I run Moorewatch, so I don’t say that with any degree of joy, trust me.
Truly, I would say that he is pretty darn representative of a lot of Republicans I know. And, I mean that in a good way.
I’ll give Malkin this – she’s actually described herself in the past as a prude (using that exact word), so she’s being consistent.
Besides, her sneering use of scare quotes around the words “South Park Republican”? Totally gets my inner Quagmire going. Giggety-giggety, indeed.
Yes, yes, and yes, Jeff. Has the party promoted his values in some way ? Why do you feel he has some right to be seen as representative of the party ? Some Republicans are justifiably concerned that his center stage appearance at this function may be seen as an endorsement of his behaviour – which appears to be precisely why you’re supporting it. Although this in no way approaches the disgust I felt at the Democrats’ embracing Michael Moore at their convention, the principle is the same – and the decision made here is that Kid Rock is more detriment than asset. Are you disagreeing with the decision, or the underlying basis for it ?
Because libertinism isn’t something most Republicans want to promote, particularly in conjunction with a presidential inauguration. Besides, any kids who are turned on to the GOP by seeing Kid Rock perform are in for a rude awakening the next time Santorum and co. introduce a piece of socially conservative legislation. “Wait, dude, what? I thought Republicans liked pimps.”
Kid Rock is a bit passe these days anyway so what would you say if we got 50 Cent to perform instead? He could get up there and drop ten minutes’ worth of old school shit about getting his cock sucked. The kids’ll love it.
So the individual should comform to the party then? Walk in lock step, should they wish to flash the membership card—that it?
Anyway, who’s saying that by playing at an inauguration ball he is “representative” of anything more than a guy who supports Bush? He’s a musician who will be playing music. He’s not being named Education secretary.
Kid Rock is a bit passe these days anyway so what would you say if we got 50 Cent to perform instead? He could get up there and drop ten minutes’ worth of old school shit about getting his cock sucked. The kids’ll love it.
Gosh Allah, that analogy would hold up … except for the fact that 50 Cent doesn’t have any material that he can get away with performing at such a function. In contrast, Kid Rock has a few standard songs that aren’t that bad, and a country-rock catalogue that’s pretty clean. Unless Bad Company’s “Feel Like Makin’ Love” is too hiddly-diddly dirty for you.
I eagerly await your comprehensive list of contemporary musicians that pass the objectionable material standard and can be granted the opportunity to play.
I’m with Jeff on he’s a musician for gohssakes!.
But I respectfully think Malkin is a blogolicious goddess and if she weren’t happily married with kids I’d be on her doorstep with flowers every day.
But, I can feel and Jeff and Allah skirmish comein’ up … I can just feel it …
<Takes down the Round 1 Sign, says “Let’s get ready to Ruuuuuummmmmmmmmmbbbbbbblllllllllle! Quickly dashes out of the ring.>
<objectionable material standard and can be granted the opportunity to play.”</i>
Or one little ‘shop would do …
According to Malkin’s post, the White House inauguration committee invited KR to play. Presumably, Bush and his team have veto power—or at least significant leverage—over that committee. If Kid performs on the 18th, it’s because the people at the top had no objection to it. It’s a back-handed endorsement, perhaps, but an endorsement nonetheless.
I don’t take your point about having to conform to party standards at all. No one’s saying he shouldn’t be allowed to perform because he supports gay marriage. We’re saying he shouldn’t be allowed to perform because he goes around calling himself a fucking pimp.
When I got my Harley and tattoos (many years ago), I knew I wasn’t gonna get any more invites to the Episcopalian Ladies tea, Jeff. Likewise, when I went to lobby for the NRA, I cut my hair and wore a 3-piece conservative suit. Some conformity to the group is required to belong. The question here is degree.
And yeah, I think the people selected to appear at the inaugaration of the President are pretty much the party standard-bearers – and so do you, or we wouldn’t be arguing this.
I suppose there are political implications that come from the perpetually morally outraged. Kid Rock plays a few songs at a party. So what. He also travels with the USO. He also has a country rock catalogue that’s pretty clean and straightforward, as well as some edited harder songs that don’t talk about pimpin.’
I think everyone needs to unwind their panties and keep their eye on the ball of killing terrorists and cutting taxes, instead of organizing boycotts and letter-writing campaigns over stupid shit like this, which is a bid to fracture the fragile coalition of libertarians, moderates and conservatives that allow us to do the first two, vastly more important things.
More important to you, at least. Everyone’s entitled to their respective priorities.
I’m with Joe. The very fact that the adjective “South Park” has to be attached to “Republicans” means that they don’t share exactly the same set of values. Doesn’t mean that they won’t one day represent the majority of Republicans.
<From the stands>
Tag team match!
I’m with Bill – best right cross so far.
Gosh, Bill, if it’s a big tent we’re after, why limit KR to his “clean” material? Let him mix in a couple of songs about cocksucking as a sort of “shout out” to the South Park Republicans in the house.
Or how ‘bout we compromise? KR will only do his clean songs, but he gets to wear a “King Pimp” cowboy hat onstage. I can live with that.
I eagerly await your comprehensive list of contemporary musicians that fail the objectionable material standard and can be denied the opportunity to play.
More important to you, at least. Everyone’s entitled to their respective priorities.
So let me get this straight – making sure that your life is completely sanitized from the depraved immorality of musicians that have some songs that talk about ho’s and drugs is more important to you than killing terrorists that want to destroy our economy and drop chemical and biological weapons into our cities?
Brilliant.
Get something straight – many “Republicans” are not “conservatives.” You are a conservative. The majority that voted Republican was a coalition of others beyond conservatives. And the conservatives that insist on making shit like this a big deal will overreach and swing the balance of power back to leftists one day, you watch. Bit by bit. The cycle is eternal.
Just to keep the record straight, I like some of Kid rock’s stuff. I simply don’t think he’s a good choice for the inauguration – but he’d be great playin’ at some party. Just not THE party.
Couldn’t we all just agree to keep Kid Rock off center stage because he’s ugly?
Nice straw man, Bill, but that’s not what Jonathan said. I’m pretty sure this isn’t an ‘either KR, or WOT’ priority choice.
And you have no idea whether I’m conservative, libertarian, or Druid, for that matter.
Gosh, Bill, if it’s a big tent we’re after, why limit KR to his “clean†material? Let him mix in a couple of songs about cocksucking as a sort of “shout out†to the South Park Republicans in the house.
Well Allah, that would probably be inappropriate for the event. The Big Tent is about compromise. So considering the fact that Kid Rock DOES have some perfectly fine material, and he is a popular musician, I’d assume that we all have enough big boy pants in our closet to allow him the opportunity to play his more appropriate songs, instead of being branded with a scarlett “P” because of other sections of his catalogue.
Consider the fact that about 80% of popular rock n’ roll music is written about fucking. Start from there.
I mean shit, by that logic, if you weren’t hidden by the convenient veil of anonymity, you’d never be allowed to be viewed in any future function of public or professional prominence given some of the things you’ve written and photoshopped. Which would be stupid. Ace would be crucified and ridden out of town on a rail, and Goldstein … well, Goldstein would just be sent directly to Hell, considering his morbid obsession with Martha Stewart’s vagina.
Me? I’d just be slapped around a bit for saying the word fuck.
Screaming profanity laced songs at an inaugural ball is not appropriate, I’d agree. But branding an artist wholly unacceptable and marshalling the forces of outrage because of an artist’s tongue-in-cheek partial persona, and a portion of his catalogue, 30+ years after Kiss first ran around in silly demon make-up and spewed fake blood, well that’s just fucking square, man.
And I may make concessions in the name of a rightie political coalition, but I ain’t giving this country over to the squares without the occasional push back.
This is America, baby – check your pussoi at the door.
MC, Bill says Malkin needs her panties unwound. Volunteers?
So let me get this straight – making sure that your life is completely sanitized from the depraved immorality of musicians that have some songs that talk about ho’s and drugs is more important to you than killing terrorists that want to destroy our economy and drop chemical and biological weapons into our cities?
Where in my entire post did you get any indication of what my priorities happen to be? I was just making a comment about free will. As it happens, I think stomping out terrorists and cutting taxes are higher priorities than nit-picking the inauguration playlist. But since I’m not God or Richard Gere and neither (presumably) are you, we don’t get to speak on behalf of the entire world.
Joe –
Nice straw man, Bill, but that’s not what Jonathan said. I’m pretty sure this isn’t an ‘either KR, or WOT’ priority choice.
Yeah, actually you’re right, I misread his comment. My mistake.
There are some folks that are obviously getting on my nerves though, because they prioritize domestic frivolty over what I would consider larger issues. This country is about compromise, living and let live.
A least that’s how I view it.
Jonathan –
see above. I read it too fast and went off half-cocked. My bad.
Sorry. Was off making lesbian jokes for my conservative readership.
Anway—the thing about conforming to the party brand was meant to raise this question: is the party brand somehow independent of the values of its members? Bill makes a good point when he separates Republicans and conservatives. I share certain conservative positions, but I think getting outraged over a singer WHO WAS INVITED BY THE PEOPLE THROWING THE PARTY—and who is also a supporter of the President’s—is silly, and risks alienating a lot of Republicans who aren’t afraid of a little salty language in other contexts.
What the Republicans need to shed (in my opinion) is this reputation they have for being humorless moral scolds. Kid Rock was NOT going to stand on stage and do a medley on ho’s and cocksucking. But by calling for him to be disinvited, conservatives are explicitly stating that unless you toe a particular conservative vision of the Republican party line, you are not permitted to even participate in the festivities.
So considering the fact that Kid Rock DOES have some perfectly fine material, and he is a popular musician, I’d assume that we all have enough big boy pants in our closet to allow him the opportunity to play his more appropriate songs, instead of being branded with a scarlett “P†because of other sections of his catalogue.
So you’d have no problem having Michael Moore on the center stage, doing whatever he does when he’s not making movies (probably eating) because even though his work product is repugnant to massive swathes of the party, there’s nothing the matter with the guy himself? We are not our verbs?
Agreed. This mis-step hardly helps. But once KR’s been invited to perform, as a known quantity, how do you then insist he ‘keep it clean’ ?
Bill said cock.
That’s cool. I’m not in 100% disagreement with your central thesis that we need to be very careful conserving our consensus/majority. I think that’s a huge priority, and you’re right to be concerned. But I don’t begrudge the moralists their positions, nor do I believe their concerns are diametrically opposed to your two top stated goals. Not necessarily, anway.
I agree, Jeff. Have a talk with ‘his people’ and make sure he realizes the gig’s at the White House, not the MCI Center and let him do his thing.
It’s always tempting to a political party with a ‘mandate’ to ram their agenda down people’s throuts, a la “Hilary care” in ‘92-’93 which resulted in the Republican Revolution/Contract with America mid term elections of ‘94. What a difference 2 years can make.
The whole Arlen Specter debate recently is a good example that Republicans are aware of this by not preventing his chairmanship so I was a bit surprised by all this controversy over KR.
So you’d have no problem having Michael Moore on the center stage,
Michael Moore makes movies that are completely antithetical to and aggressive towards the Bush Administration, whereas a portion of kid Rock’s catalogue is antithetical to a portion of the Republican party’s sensibilities, but certainly not all.
The practical implications of this: letting Kid Rock fly under the radar and play a few Bob Seger covers is more practically amenable to the Big Tent, than a bunch of conservative moralist portions of the Republican party making a big damn deal out of it and subtly chipping away at the patience of libertarians and moderates that just want to hear something, anything but more Oak Ridge Boys and Tobey Keith at a Republican event.
For the love of God.
I dunno, Scott. Performers love controversy, and KR’s no Boy Scout. I smell a ‘wardrobe malfunction’.
You could be right, Joe. I really don’t know shit about him except he used to bang Pam Anderson, which tells me he’s a big fan of space age polymers…
Ironically, my Turing test word is ‘two’. Damn, that thing is good.
That’s your second straw man in as many comments, Bill. I’m not branding KR wholly unacceptable; I’m not surrendering America to Jerry Falwell. I’m simply saying that the guy shouldn’t play a presidential inaugural event. And it has as much to do with his persona as his lyrics. I’m not a fan so I don’t know for sure, but I suspect a guy like Usher has his fair share of songs about fucking, too; but Usher doesn’t advertise himself as a pimp, does he? I’d have no problem with him performing at the concert while I would have a problem with a hypothetical band performing that has a completely clean catalog but calls itself “Godfucker.”
Funny you should mention my relationship to this issue. A few months ago, National Review did a big spread on Rathergate which included a list of popular blogs for its readers to check out. I didn’t make the cut despite the fact that I was getting more traffic at the time than maybe half the sites picked by NR. Why the omission? Could simply be that they thought I sucked. Or, could be they thought my site would offend some of their readers. Either way, I don’t blame them. If you have a certain prestige, sometimes you have to make decisions with an eye towards preserving that prestige. Ditto with Kid Rock and the inauguration.
I agree with you, by the way, that we should do what we can to maintain the Republican coalition. That’s exactly why the committee should have steered clear of KR.
You’ve got me on the Tobey Keith thing.
On the other hand, this whole thing, this whole thing might have been choreographed to show how the Bush administration is willing to resist pressure from the conservative wing in a superficial way, giving cover for harder pushes on more substantive issues.
It getting easier to imagine that everything I can’t immediately understand is part of a Rovian strategy.
That’s your second straw man in as many comments, Bill. I’m not branding KR wholly unacceptable; I’m not surrendering America to Jerry Falwell.
“Surrendering America to Falwell” is a strawman. I was saying you were branding him as wholly unacceptable for that event, so we were on the same page.
You have a decent point, but it’s also notable that American sensibilities have evolved (devolved?) to a point where silly, “shocking” posturing by artists, especially artists that evolve, is not a huge deal.
So his presence at one inagural ball is not a huge deal.
And considering the conservative arm of the GOP’s early noises and champing at the bit about Roe v Wade and indecency, I don’t think that they are the portion of the Republican coalition that needs shoring up.
The stick up Michelle Malkin’s ass, has a stick up ITS ass.
Which is a shame, because she has a nice ass.
Way better than Mickey Rooney’s anyway.
For what it’s worth, Allah, I probably wouldn’t have invited Kidd Rock, either. But it’s the disinviting that bothers me. It makes this a moral issue, rather than simply an issue of good judgment.
And as a moral issue, it is a bit insulting to non-socially conservative Republicans. Or at least, some of them.
Hmph. Well, this is tricky, isn’t it? Something I abhor about the left is their sell-out tactics to Hollyweird cads who all but shape the Democratic Party’s message, if not the politics themselves. I pay those bitches (through my movie ticket purchases, of course) to entertain me, not to speak to me about how they feel about politics. That said, I can appreciate wanting to embrace a well-known character who endorses or stumps for my guy.
I and others have criticized the Democratic Party for not distancing themselves from the Michael Moores and the Bawbwa’s of the left. So, now elements of the Republican party are attempting to distance themselves from a famous person they see as not sharing their values and they get…criticized? Huh. A bit hypocritical, if I may say so. And I just did.
HOWEVER. I see your point, Jeff. The committee invited the guy then are thinking about disinviting him? Bad form.
I really appreciate anyone who does as much for the troops as Kid Rock does. As a “South Park Republican” I’m not too bothered by his lyrics, though I find them unimaginitive and unmoving. I think that if he can perform with the venue in mind, then by all means, let him perform. I’m not crazy about his music, but I can’t think of any reason to exclude at this point. Perhaps it would have been better to stick with Pat Boone from the outset…I mean who the hell goes to an inagural ball for the music, anyway?
Now, onto the point INDCent Bill made…how many terrorists have we killed today?
Willow —
I don’t see the hypocrisy, personally. The Democrats should distance themselves from Michael Moore because he’s a liar and an enemy propagandist—but they don’t have to. And Republicans can distance themselves from Kidd Rock on the say so of social conservatives, but I don’t think they should.
Jeff,
That’s probably the most salient point, and one with which I agree wholeheartedly.
I guess my point was, I’m not much of a social conservative, but I can’t find fault with certain Republicans for voicing their opposition to being affiliated with a celebrity – for whatever reason – especially when I’ve wished more Democrats would have done the same thing.
I don’t agree with them in this case – although I’m also not much of a KR fan. And I don’t buy into they’ve got to toe the party line. Bottom line is, the organizers just gotta make their boss happy. Period. Just like any other job.
Oh yeah. And Bill said cock.
Heh.
I like some of his country stuff. The other stuff ain’t to my taste.
Well, when you guys can find a Republican rocker who lives the life of “acceptable family values” that will PLAY for Bush, lemme know. Seeing as though all the big names were out playing concerts to get KERRY elected, I think the playlist is gonna be kinda short. Maybe, perhaps, they were thinking it would be a positive thing to project more than Country music as something Republicans listen to? Gee, maybe the Bush daughter just liked him ? Maybe, since it wasn’t about Rock singing the THEME song, but merely performing … they didn’t think it was a big deal?
I
Having asked KR, it would be pretty rank – and politically dense – to disinvite him, but I think they should have chosen someone more talented in the first place. Rachelle Ferrell would have been perfect: spiritual, jazzy, seven octaves, a genius… Oh well.
Wait, didn’t this HARLOT speak at the Republican Convention?
Is that her…oh my good LORD.
Stand back. I can feel my outrage glands pumping…
Without conservatives, there is no Republican Party. This is an unnecessary slap in the face to them.
And without non-socially conservative Republicans, you’d be paying higher taxes and watching John Kerry and Ted Kennedy appoint Supreme Court judges. Choose.
That argument cuts both ways. Without conservatives, you’d be watching John Kerry and Ted Kennedy appoint Supreme Court Justices. Choose.
Yes. But I’m the SWING guy. You see?
You have more to lose than I do. Because at least under Dems I can see boobies and hear naughty words. And worship Satan.
Even though we’re under the Republicans, I haven’t noticed a shortage of either.
Yet.
But go read some of the comments on Malkin’s site. Doesn’t bode well for boobies and naughty words. Or Satan.
Satan I can take or leave. I’m pretty fond of boobies, though.
I think you’re all missing the larger picture, which is that Angie Harmon has a smokin’ rack.
Wait-what were we talking about again?
Gail – thanks for taking the sidelines for me while I was gone.
Unwinding Malkin’s? I am using all my willpower not to receive the image that is attempting to penetrate my brainpan.
As you know, I’m willing to take the lighter side on most anything – but I have to stop short when it comes to Malkin. There’s a group of conservative women that I hold in the most high regard and she’s one of them. For me it’s something to do with the fact that they are doing some of the heavy lifting – and maybe they are the only ones that can actually do the heavy lifting – in the MSM world. I mean, can you think of a guy that could do what Coulter or Ingraham or Malkin or Rosett do on the news shows – and survive?
I’m also by most any measure a social conservative – but I have lots of room in my world for the broad coalition that Bill talks about. So I still say – if KR can play for the troops he can play for me. I also remember reading a quote from him somewhere where he blasted Bruce Springsteen for doing the blatant Dem vote support tour – without doing anything for the troops – and, after thinking about it, I quit listening to the Boss – even though I like most of his music. He’s got perhaps a more ‘mainstream’ catalog and doesn’t have a potty mouth. Would he be more acceptable on the White House lawn? What’s really more important? I’ll take support of the GWOT over eschewing a couple of songs from a bad boy.
Too, I wonder where McGehee has been. He would have gotten right cross right away …
Me? I’d just be slapped around a bit for saying the word fuck.
Oh, Bill, might they bring up the llamas?
I did a scientific poll of all the adults in my household:
Let Kid Rock play? 0% (0 votes)
Don’t Let Kid Rock Play? 0% (0 votes)
Kid Who? 100% (2 votes)
Margin of error for this poll is 2%.
Details breakouts by gender, age and socioeconomic class are available to subscribers for a fee of $300 per copy of the detailed report.
Now try not to visualize a roller-skating pink elephant
His Country stuff is quite good. I would have liked to see him play.
I’m not done.
Jeff started off this meme with a kind of “what would Jesus do?” shtick.
How about:
Mark 2:15-17 (KJV)
15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Seems that Jesus’ tent is big enough for (Re)publicans AND sinners .
Gail – Ah, but that’s a nice Republican image.
MC – I think McGehee posted as you several times in this tirade. Or was it Judd Nelson?
The solution to this inauguration center-stage clusterfuck? Bring the Kingsmen out of retirement to play two straight hours of “Louie Louie.”
That’s what I’m talkin’ about…
So, has Kid Rock actually come out and volunteered to keep his performance clean? I don’t think anyone should automatically assume he’s going to unless he said so, as he has never demonstrated any restraint in the past that I’ve seen. It would be even worse to invite the guy and then order him to stick to his ‘clean songs’ than it would be to disinvite him.
Personally, I think KR is a talentless hack who got famous being vulgar and now that it made him millions he can afford to mellow out his rhetoric. Hmm, sounds a lot like Madonna. Hey, she even writes children’s books and I don’t think that slut should be skanking up an inaugural. But that’s just the opinion of this South Park Republican.
To get to the point; there is such a thing known as a time and place for everything. Not treating an inauguration like a bar and grill on a Saturday night is hardly an attempt to exclude the non-Bible thumpers of the Republican party. Despite personal beliefs, the party as a whole is known as the Party of Values, and a performer well-known for his tasteless antics both on and off-stage sends the wrong impression of the stance of the party…which is not to come off as a bunch of prudes but to show the public that there is some behavior we do not endorse or approve of in certain forums.
That isn’t to say that KR should be forever banned from playing his “music.” If the Bush daughters wanted to have Kid Rock perform at their birthday party, I wouldn’t care (although I would think they have crappy taste). If he wanted to hold a fund-raiser for the Republicans, I would rather he not do it unless he was planning to keep the act clean because in that situation he’s acting as an advocate of my party. And if he’s performing at an inauguration, clean or dirty, I’d be wondering why he’s up there representing my party.
And the Kid WOULD be representing the party at the Inaugural. He wasn’t invited just for his talent (ack, cough, sorry, couldn’t get that word out without choking), he was invited because he’s a Bush supporter. If he was only there to get up on stage like some sort of flesh-constructed jukebox and play his clean songs without politics being involved, that would be a slightly different situation. However, you normally don’t get that sort of detached professional performance at inaugurals. If you did and you wanted to appeal to a lot of folks, then why not hire a Democrat with a bigger fan base?
Basically, it doesn’t take being a prude to exercise discretion or recognize proper decorum. I think I’ve made it clear that I don’t like KR and I thought he was a very poor choice, but that doesn’t mean I’m trying to exclude anyone in the Big Tent. It just means that I know when to get my panties in a bunch and when to throw them on the stage.
Later,
bbeck
Wow! I came late to this party.
Well, speaking as a religious social conservative who has never uttered the F work, must less the C work or even the S word. I understand both sides. On the one hand I understand those who do not wish to have any values that Kid Rock may portray out there as if we condone them, in fact he represents the kind of immorality that we fight against. (In his personal life he is gross and disgusting imo)
On the other hand, (And this is the hand I’m going with) The Republican party is really the big tent party and we all know that. All you have to do is go from my site to this site to Beautiful Atrocites to La Shawn’s site to see that. We are all very different Republicans. Some more conservative than others. And that is fine with me. I want all the support and votes we can get. Kid Rock is not running for office. If he was, I might have a problem with that. He is just performing. He did support Bush and our troops and he deserves some credit for that. We social conservatives cannot police who supports our candidates. It is the candidates that I take a good close look at and if they aren’t for the things I am for, then I don’t support them. I don’t care if they are Republican or not.
Let the guy play. If we kicked out all those say naughty words we wouldn’t even have anyone on this site in the party (except me….*polishes halo*)
Whatever, bbeck.
You know something? I’m part of the party. And I like to curse and talk about sex and act crazy sometimes. But if you asked me to come speak at the presidential inauguration, I’d probably pull back on the hot lesbian Martha Stewart sex jokes. Because I can behave differently in different venues. Because I’m a fucking adult.
I expect Kid Rock can do the same.
Oh. And PAT BOONE DOES NOT REPRESENT ME. Not even in his leather phase.
JWebb – Nope, it was all MC all the time.
McGehee got a nice email note from Malkin and has been, uh, indisposed since.
JWebb–Those lyrics were clean.
One more little thing. Rush was discussing this the other day. The word “pimp” has a totally different meaning to young people today that it does to any of us here. It means that someone is awesome, or a girl getter ( no, not that kind ) or they look good. Young people do not associate it with actual pimps.
I have 2 teenagers and the first time I heard the word I almost flipped. I still don’t allow them to use it, but I hear it all the time. On MTV they have a show called “Pimp my Ride.” which is about making a wreck of a car look good. I still cringe when I hear it, but hey they say “nigga” all the time too, and I hate that! It’s a term of affection now. Face it guys. We are old.
Couple, um, points
– the two most important things about Kid Rock are Pamela Anderson’s tits; I couldn’t care less if he plays there or not; but if he showed up around my fifteen year old step daughter I’d shoot the mother fucker dead right on the spot.
Talk about a slow news day.
So.. Has Kid Rock been uninvited now?
Not yet. Keep your ears open for a thunderclap.
Whatever back atcha, Jeff. I don’t know Kid Rock and I’m not going to assume he can behave like an effing adult when he never has…and in fact his fame has relied upon quite the opposite. Anyway, his chosen repetoire for the night wasn’t my only objection to his performance.
And neither he nor Mr. Boone represent me regardless of wardrobe.
Later,
bbeck
Jeff, you are to Kid Rock as a social drinker is to Duff-Man. Now, we all love Duff-Man, but I think very few of us would want him as a spokesman for our political party. Not because we’re afraid he’d be drunk on the job. Just because he’s Duff-Man.
Oh yeah!
“I don’t know Kid Rock and I’m not going to assume he can behave like an effing adult when he never has…and in fact his fame has relied upon quite the opposite.”
Volunteering for USO shows and going overseas to perform for the troops? Admit it, bbeck: adult. Or at least, adult-esque.
Go on. It’s okay. Admit it.
Allah —
You didn’t know me in college, brother. I once treated the entire Phi Sigma Sigma sorority like the buffet bar at Sizzler.
Uh, Jeff. You were high. That was the buffet bar at Sizzler you were humping.
What a braggart.
I can say “hump” here, right?
Jeff, I’m sure there are child performers out there who would go to entertain the troops but I think there are rules against that. And uh, passionately supporting the troops is not limited to adults, so I don’t think your point is made.
Go on. It’s okay. Admit it.
Later,
bbeck
Robin…LOL!!!
we need to go into a chat room for this.
I can’t go to a chat room with you RWS, I’m a married man.
Is the Allah posting here on this thread the same Allah who was ummm…. fantasizing (that is putting it quaintly) about that Nicole or Amanda or whoever the actress was the other day?
Cuz this one seems to be MUCH more prudish. Or does he have an evil twin too?
Robin, well I am a married woman. We would chat not make out…
“Jeff, I’m sure there are child performers out there who would go to entertain the troops but I think there are rules against that. And uh, passionately supporting the troops is not limited to adults, so I don’t think your point is made.”
Well, I did allow for adult-esque<i>.
And I think I’m closer to making my point that he <i>could behave than you are that he could not. He performs on TV all the time without cursing—used to see him on “Politically Incorrect”—and he does a lot of country music venues. Without prancing around talking about his cock.
So, I’m just saying.
One and the same, RWS. I’ll let you know when my invitation to perform at one of the inauguration concerts arrives.
You know, this whole kerfuffle could have been avoided had not those godless, homosexual Leftists on the inauguration committee been allowed to make decisions about the performers.
Fucking Deaniacs.
Sure, RWS, now you say “just chat”, but I know how this works – thenext thing you know I’m sending bus tickets to 12 year old runaways … and then the next thing you know is I’m lying in a pool of blood and I hear my wife’s voice saying “Goddamnit how do you reload this thing?”
Ooohh… Jeff said “kerfuffle”
I think you owe James Taranto royalties now.
[…] dishonest operation. But let me spell it out. As a right-wing blog, you are allied with other people on the American right. These include the religious right, the white racists, the […]