Posted on 10/07/2006 1:04:19 PM PDT by kristinn
It's hard to believe this petite, well-mannered Texan - sitting opposite in a Sydney harbourside hotel - caused the kind of stir the music industry has not seen since John Lennon sang about being crucified in 1969.
It's the day before the band's first Australian concert on their Accidents and Accusations world tour.
Maines looks younger than her 31 years.
SNIP
Aware she may sound "bizarre", the 31-year-old believes the vitriol directed at The Dixie Chicks was part of a right-wing conspiracy.
An organised group known as the Free Republic set out to bring the band down.
The organisation's power, she says, comes through the internet. The site has thousands of subscribers, all of whom were encouraged to destroy the band's music and boycott the radio stations that played it.
"It's scary how much power they do have," she says. "They can take down someone singlehandedly and I don't think Americans are aware of that.
"It's the same group that went after (former US president) Bill Clinton and (gay actress) Ellen DeGeneres."
In the beginning, Maines says, they tried to fight their detractors. Their management tried to alert radio station programmers to what was happening.
"But they weren't open to it and just thought we were grasping at straws to try and salvage something," she says.
"It was just bigger than we could fight and we weren't willing to put ourselves out there to be made to look stupid if people weren't willing to investigate this thing and be open to it."
SNIP
"For the Free Republic we were a dream come true; they made it their mission to take us down. Apparently we were not supposed to think like this because we play country music."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Aye Aye Captain!
Reporting for Duty sir and awaiting orders! Next Target?
What a Maroooonnn...
Isn't there some special FR award we can bestow upon her for that?
Hi Allegra.
GMMAC, Grig, and Dog, Hi. Any ideas?
A version of the 'ignoble awards' maybe?
;-P
Poor Natalie, she is still stuck on stupid. If she didn't know her fan base was all from the red states she's just a moron. Hey, but I'm happy for Freepers to take the credit for the Chicks downfall!!
Someone remind me of when we took down Ellen Whats-her-name.
An organised group known as the Free Republic set out to bring the band down.
LMAO!!
FR doesn't take anybody down.
The lib's take themselves down, we just give daylight to the facts.
No, that is not true, Karl's actual FR Nick is "Lead Moderator"
Mr. Cooper is not a moron, but I like the quote anyway.
I'll be seeing The Coop at the Roseland Ballroom next month ... it promises to be a terrific show, as the Coop doesn't bother with "making a statement" a-la 60's radical commie crapola, but just goes all out and shocks the heck outta ya with normal standard human neurosis' ... not political at all, just good shocking fun :)
Oh, and The Coop is a Republican too, but he doesn't advertise that fact or even make any references to it during his concerts ... a good American :)
The Coriolis effect makes your eyeballs spin counterclockwise.
You'll know they're Liberals if: They make themselves miserable, and then blame somebody else.
Well-mannered??? Did this writer write this line with a straight face?
You're THAT Coop?
;-)
Hey Natsie baby, you don't have to put yourselves "out there to be made to look stupid!". Problem is, honeybuns, you ARE STUPID ! As that great American Forest Gump says, "Stupid is as stupid does." And you Natalie my dear, certainly fit that description to a tee. Sure hope you enjoyed your popularity while you had it because now you are worse than dogshi*. Bye-bye ditzy.
Yup--the class act who had FUTK written on her shirt. Very impressive
Good.
"... little bit of art is what Natalie sees in her mind everytime she hears FR mentioned. "
Yes its surprising how much power "they" do have. Of course "they" means people who vote anti-liberal in a democracy, and speak their minds under the 1st ammendment and secure their rights under the 2nd.
SHOCKING! There is just something wrong in a country that holds the Chixie Dicks responsible for unpatriotic statements about our president, and our soldiers. Why the Chixie Dicks should actually have a guaranteed income under a new Livberal Socialist Plan that allows guaranteed income for music stars, instead of crteating their own public demand.
The Chixie Dicks can now disappear in complete ignominy, but it is a puzzlement why whining liberals such as the Chixie Dicks and Wicky-wicky Maureen Down, head for Australia seeking to live out their unattainable fantaseys there?
Maybe its the marsupial nature of the wildlife?
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