Hank Jr. yanked from his MNF gig, for good reason
Hank Williams Jr. ain’t ready for some politics.
I like the man’s music. I thought he provided a perfect hard-driving opening for Monday Night Football, and so did ESPN and ABC. He had the gig for 20 years, until he opened his mouth yesterday and said some things too damned stupid to let him continue.
Rule of thumb, Bocephus: When the crew at Fox News are so appalled at what you’ve said about Barack Obama that their jaws drop and they all but beg you to reconsider, you may have gone too far.
And please, spare me the violin concerto about Junior’s freedom of speech being violated.
Two words:
Dixie.
Chicks.
Their mistake, so to speak, was to tell an audience in 2003 that “just so you know, we’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas,” which is some 60 million dead people and two or three attempted genocides short of comparing him to Adolph Hitler. And as a consequence, their work was permanently banned from almost every country music station in the country.
I hope this doesn’t become a career boost for Williams, but I can imagine it happening. I can imagine DJs putting his songs on air because of what he said, rather than despite it. I can imagine him becoming a martyred hero in certain eyes, and that reality is more troubling than what some in-over-his-head, not-so-bright, trying-to-live-up-to-a-stereotype entertainer had to say on national TV.
– Jay Bookman
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409 comments Add your comment
Tom Middleton
October 4th, 2011
3:56 pm
Jay, his coming out of the clear blue and saying something guaranteed to get him on every news channel and program does look suspicious, doesn’t it?
I mean, right here at the beginning of Republican primary season, what else is a rebel entertainer going to do to try filling up his personal coffers “while the gettin’ is good”?
Yup, I think you’re right, sir, and it’s called G-I-G-S, and the more the better, especially for fading headliners. Hey, it’s better than having to move to Branson or Vegas, and he can always apologize later!
Richard Bagge
October 4th, 2011
4:13 pm
Several commenters have suggested that “the liberal media,” or whatever, felt that it was “okay” for anybody to compare GW Bush to Hitler. Are you able to provide evidence of this claim? Not that morons made that comparison; that certainly happened, for instance, with the ad submitted in the competition sponsored by moveon.org. But can you show me where a major left-wing site, such as Daily Kos, took a position of “Good for you!” Can you link me to the Keith Olbermann special comment where he approved of such a thing?
*Nobody* thought it an acceptable comparison except the morons who made it. The left-wing was every bit as appalled, in 2004, at those comparisons as the anchors of Fox & Friends are in the clip above. I know that doesn’t fit with the narrative that Rush and Sean preach, but, unless you’d like to prove otherwise, it happens to be true.
limestonian
October 4th, 2011
4:24 pm
Espn has removed two people from its show, Rush and hank both republicans. they are liberals and thats why i dont watch them anymore. LIBERALS can say whatever they want and never get questioned about it
willydoit?
October 4th, 2011
10:16 pm
I’m so appalled at his comments….NOT!
I don’t see any difference in Hank calling Obama Hitler any different that MoveOn.org repeatedly doing it to Bush.
In this country we have the freedom of speech, but that does not mean you have freedom of consequences….ask the Dixie Chics.
The same thing could happen to HW Jr., but I rather doubt it!
GAGIRL
October 5th, 2011
3:10 am
It is a sad state when we have to worry about the words we say that offend those we criticize! If all be told I would say….. Leave me alone my govt. and let me live my life. Have your opinions and let me have mine for “God’s Sake!”
rick
October 5th, 2011
9:08 am
What would Waylon and Johnny think?
Stevo
October 6th, 2011
2:00 pm
Jeeze, will you people stop using the term “red-neck”. Most of you, and especially deep southerns, don’t even know what it really mean or where the term comes from. Wiki it and then come talk to this former West Virginian.
Back to the point…..read the whole article please. His analogy was brash but originally miscontrued. I do not agree with his view of “polar opposites” not being able to coming together for a common goal. Actually, I think there should be more of these types of meetings. As most of us know, more business and deals are made over drinks or on the golf course.
Dean Martinez
October 7th, 2011
10:22 am
That song should have been yanked years ago, it sounds so redneck and dated. In a sport which is 75% black why do they have an old cracker redneck bellowing the theme song? His comments were an embarassment, maybe not to southern racists, but to everyone else. Adios! Stupidity can be expensive.
BAZIL
October 7th, 2011
2:45 pm
GOOD FOR HANK I CAN THINK OF A FEW MORE THAT NEED TO GO.. MENEFEE WASN’T ANY GOOD WHEN HE WAS WITH CH. 8 IN DALLAAS JUST SOME MORE QUOTA B.S. SEE ABOUT GETTING O.J AN EARLY REALEASE..