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 ...
Gee, and I thought we had all of the power here at FR> Hey Nat, do you suppose the MSM has any power since they have bashed the war and the President for 5 + years now? Or is that more truth than you can deal with?
Very true! I have my nukes at the ready! My left hand is paralyzed though, and it's slowing me down bigtime....
That's hysterically funny. Free Republic is simply another forum for free speech. I thought she was all for free speech? I guess she figures free speech is okay, as long as the speech is hers ....
Another vast right wing conspiracy victim?
This is for Natalie: You are very talented and while the Bush comment in London was tone deaf, you could have recovered—without even having to change your opinion of the man. Politics do not make for long-term alliances and quickly fade away. It is also important to note that while I was never a fan, I respect your work. However, I know personally many fans of yours that were hurt deeply by your attitude towards them. So, let me explain.
What did you in once and for all, was to tell your fans that you were too good to be in the fifteen disc changer with Reba and Toby. You didn't need those kind of hicks in your parade. That may not be what you intended folks to hear, but that is the way it came across.
It wasn't about politics...it was about insulting the intelligence and integrity of people who brought you to the dance. You became more than just ashamed of a President, you became ashamed of your fans who often support the President...you called them ignorant and deemed them not nearly cool enough for you.
You did more than just abandon them. In an effort to justify your own behavior, rather than defending your position, or apologizing for unnecessarily politicizing your music, you lashed out and hurt the people who loved your music. You told those who made you a success and remained loyal to you despite political differences...that they were worthless because they had the audacity to disagree with you.
Frankly Natalie, that was stupid and showed me an awful lot about your character. A perfect illustration of ingratitude and arrogance. It shouldn't surprise you when those folks felt insulted and walked away. I don't blame them. Name one reason why they should stay around someone who is embarrassed by their mere presence?
There will be others who come along with as much, or perhaps more, talent than you have. If we are lucky, they will understand what gratitude is. They will appreciate and respect to those who paid hard-earned money to pave their own road to success. And they will be loved in return.
But for now, enjoy the fancy parties and the uppity friends. You've certainly earned them. I wish you the best of luck.
well said Pollyannaish. You should send it to her.
In her apology to Bush, she actually said
"I hope everyone understands, I am just a young girl who grew up in Texas.... I heard LOTS of people disrespecting the President. So, I guess I just assumed it was acceptable behavior."
(Throughout her apology, she is quite sarcastic)
LOL! What the hell are they doing Down here, anyway?
Thanks. Unfortunately, I don't care enough to send it to her personally. If she reads it fine. If not, eh. In any case, she will reap the natural consequences of her behavior.
Let me second (or more accurately, at this point, something in the low hundreds) that, FRiend.
It just warms the heart, doesn't it?
Laz?
A petite hydrant?
You know the rules. If you are gonna accuse a freeper of buggering a cat, you gotta ping them.
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We went after Ellen Degeneres? I don't recall anything organized. We just thought her show sucked.
Yeah, I dont' remember anyone going after her either... Oh well, maybe it was some weekend we weren't here KG9Kid.
BINGO
Lucky you!
I guess that was just a little too much.
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.
The Great and Powerful FR!
FUNM
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