Springsteen Backs Under-Fire Dixies

BBC News ^ | April 28, 2003 | BBC News

[Chirodoc]

Bruce Springsteen has given his support to country band the Dixie Chicks, who have faced severe criticism over a comment they made about President George Bush. The Dixie Chicks received death threats, had their records burned and were removed from radio playlists after singer Natalie Maines said she was embarrassed that Bush was from her home state of Texas.

But Springsteen said the band were merely expressing their "right to free speech" and had received a "raw deal" from critics.

In a message on his official website, the star said: "To me, they're terrific American artists expressing American values by using their American right to free speech.

"For them to be banished wholesale from radio stations, and even entire radio networks, for speaking out is un-American."

The three members of the band - Maines, Martie Maguire and Emily Robison - recently appeared on the front cover of popular magazine Entertainment Weekly in the nude.

The band recently posed for US magazine Entertainment Weekly The singers' bodies were daubed with words and slogans that have been aimed at them in recent weeks, including "brave", "traitor" and "Saddam's angels".

In a recent interview with US network ABC, Maines said she regretted her comment but remained passionately against the war.

Springsteen said there was a "pressure coming from the government and big business to enforce conformity of thought concerning the war".

He said pressure "goes against everything that this country is about - namely freedom".

"Right now, we are supposedly fighting to create freedom in Iraq, at the same time that some are trying to intimidate and punish people for using that same freedom here at home," he said.

"I don't know what happens next, but I do want to add my voice to those who think that the Dixie Chicks are getting a raw deal, and an un-American one to boot. I send them my support."

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

I never liked his music nor ever thought he was the boss, so I could give a rats a$$ what he thinks.

[Texas Eagle]

"Right now, we are supposedly fighting to create freedom in Iraq, at the same time that some are trying to intimidate and punish people for using that same freedom here at home," he said.

Gee, I never looked at it that way before. I never equated running over a compact disc with a steamroller to slowly dipping a human being into a vat of boiling water. I feel so enlightened.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

LOL we both thought the same thing. Great minds think alike! :-)

[TerryInRiverside]

Right on Chirodoc! I think the dixie chicks had this coming.

[thucydides]

These "chicks" are free to speak their minds (as if they had them), and the public is free to say what they think of their comments, and choose not to put money in their pockets by buying their records. There is nothing "unamerican" about this. In fact, it is free speech and action at work. These "chicks" and Springsteen, whoever he is, are one more illustration of why celebrities would be smart to keep their mouths shut apart from their entertainment efforts.

[MEG33]

I really care what he and Bill Maher think??

[husky ed]

Rick Springfield is so 80's.

OH, Bruce Springsteen. Always got the two mixed up.

[9999lakes]

The Chicks had this coming BUT:

[1] They will survive as a group.
[2] They are just 3 fun girls who don't know enough to understand what they were doing. They're "chicks" for pete's sake.

AND
[3] The best way out of this -- President Bush publically accepts their apology & forives them. He invites them to the White House -- photo op - interviews -- the whole thing.

[Tennessee_Bob]

"To me, they're terrific American artists expressing American values by using their American right to free speech....

The implication then, as I see it, is that those Americans who used their right to free speech to speak out against the Dixie Chicks, whether by spoken word or boycott, are actually un-American because they exercised their right to free speech and spoke their minds.

Interesting.

[PhilDragoo]

"To me, they're terrific American artists expressing American values by using their American right to free speech.

"For them to be banished wholesale from radio stations, and even entire radio networks, for speaking out is un-American."

1) They are not terrific American artists. They are not even very good American artists.

2) They are not expressing American values insulting our president before a foreign audience.

3) For them to feel the economic repercussions of their asininity is the essence of America's free market of ideas.

It's simply this:

The Dixie Sluts suck and rub our noses in it.

We say, Roger that, and you're going to need lots of K-Y to receive your unsold CDs.

QED it is a great country and a great time to be alive and free.

[Billthedrill]

OK, Brucie, tell ya what. Next time you're onstage I want you to grab the microphone and tell the audience that they're a bunch of long-haired, drug-obsessed losers who ought to attend church regularly and get an honest job flipping burgers instead of wasting their time listening to rock 'n' roll. Tell them that their politics stink and that Richard Nixon was God. It's your right of free speech. Come on, be a man, do it!

Then, when your record sales gurgle down the crapper, it'll really be the audience's fault for not respecting your rights, won't it? Right? Bruce?

[2nd Amendment]

What's wrong with these liberal chics? Can't they stand people choosing to buy another product? We're not denying them life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness. I just don't want to support any more of their traitorous, american-hating, liberal drivel. Go get a life. I'm listening to Toby Keith, AAron Tippin, and Worley!

[T Lady]

LOL!!!!

...Just when your album's tanking in the Top 40, you decide to make matters worse by opening your big mouth to say insignificant things. Way to go, 'Boss'!

-Regards, T.

[Russell Scott]

Has Bruce been snorting Pixie dust again?

[BOBTHENAILER]

Springsteen said there was a "pressure coming from the government and big business to enforce conformity of thought concerning the war".

Ve haf vays to mek your record sales a pile of smoking dung, eh Brucie?

Vould you like to join zem?

DER BOSSMAN IN ze Institute for Cultural Correctness.

[Blue Collar Christian]

You and I are are representatve of a large part of (anti?)-America. We just don't seem to understand that celebrity liberals are entitled to free speech and the rest of are not.