Posted on 10/13/2013 10:46:08 PM PDT by Mozilla
If it seems like its hard to find conservatives in Hollywood, finding conservatives in the music industry can be an even rarer feat. John Ondrasik, the singer-songwriter of the band Five for Fighting, says its basically me and Kid Rock.
Ondrasik, known for hits like Superman and 100 Years and now marking the release of his sixth album, Bookmarks, got some attention last week after he tweeted about his experience getting physically removed from the Jefferson Memorial during the government shutdown.
The Blaze spoke with Ondrasik about that, the reaction from people when they find out hes conservative, and his new song that takes aim at the Sean Penns of the world.
Whats been the reaction to your experience at the Jefferson Memorial?
Its been wild, I never expected it to go viral, obviously it did. Next day, USA Today called me to write an op-ed, they told me my op-ed was the most-read piece on their site. A lot of people I think are passionate about whats going on and maybe some of those pictures kind of just brought it all out to the front for some folks. So I never expected it to get the reaction it did I literally just went out for a jog that morning.
Out of everything to do with the shutdown, closing the memorials and trying to keep veterans out seems to have resonated with people the most. Why do you think?
I think theres one group you dont pick on, and thats the troops, and thats the veterans. And you dont use them as a political prop. And, you know, it seems obvious to me that theres a clear strategy by the White House to create optics that unnecessarily pain the average American, that give shutdown horror photo ops for the media. Im sure there are many park closed signs laying around, but someone had to make up the park closed due to SHUTDOWN in bold font with caps.
Why do you do that unless its a political game? And I think you can probably get away with that, because the media will kind of enable you and join you, but I dont think you pick on the veterans, especially the World War II veterans 80-year-old men in wheelchairs who are going to roll right through your barricades. Them going through and kind of breaking through the barricades was everybodys (laughs) or at least half the countrys response. And its really sad, and its really petty, and its unnecessary, which makes me angry and I think which makes a lot of people angry.
Youve come a long way from performing at the Concert for New York City after 9/11 to campaigning with Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan last year. Is this an evolution in your views, or is that youre comfortable enough in your career that you dont need to hold back anymore?
Well, its probably stupid and crazy. Its certainly career suicide to a certain degree. But you know, the reality is I think most of us tend to start our political beliefs with our parents, and my dad was a businessman and I grew up in a household where we were kind of center-right by no means am I an ideologue and I tend to lean more fiscally conservative. Playing the Concert for New York, obviously I got to meet many politicians, and I had friends and acquaintances on both the left and the right, and I still do.
But I do think, you know, you get to a certain point where you can bitch and moan all you want but if youre not doing anything, what are we really talking about? So I did take the step to go out with Mitt, and I thought that he would be a good president, I thought he was a good guy, kind of a centrist guy, a rational guy, a pragmatic guy, a guy who I believed could address the fiscal issues of the country. And, you know, would I do that 10 years ago when I was trying to grow my career? Probably not, but at this place in my life I think its important to stand up for what you believe in, and if there are some arrows that come your way, so be it.
(It was) also as an example to other folks. I mean, look the reality is in the music business its kind of me and Kid Rock. And I had the funny experience when I was out with Mitt in Ohio, I remember after an event I was in the basement of a Red Roof Inn doing my laundry, and there was a little TV down there and I saw the president with Jay Z and Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi. And I took solace in the fact that well, in a couple hours, you know, Jay Z and Springsteen will be in the basement of a Red Roof Inn doing their laundry. I got a taste of the political experience and the campaign. And Im glad I did it. I wish he wouldve won, but he didnt and, you know, scoreboard.
Were you ever liberal?
No, I never was. Im not one of those people, Im not the Andrew Breitbarts of the world who started at one side and saw the light. But again, I would also have to say that Im no ideologue I hammer the Republicans as much as I hammer the Democrats when I believe it. I think they made a calculated error with the shutdown over Obamacare, I think its really foolish. I think they shouldve just said, We dont like it, well repeal it if we get control of the White House, until then everybody has to live under it, no delays, no postponements, but they didnt do that.
And Ive been very frustrated with the outreach from the RNC, Ive said this before. I mean, I could tell you horror stories about how they try to use the few of us and you know, there are a few of us in Hollywood, some actors, some musicians, who would support the cause but our side, or the RNC, has no clue about the culture war. Its frankly embarrassing, and theres a reason a lot of us dont put ourselves out there because we end up getting burned.
Would you say youve become more conservative during the Obama years?
I dont think so I didnt vote for him, but when the president got elected, you know, I thought it was great to have an African American president, I was hopeful that he could bring the country together and decrease the divide. Unfortunately, its kind of gone the other way. For me, I think my beliefs are the same Im fairly socially moderate, I really dont care about those social issues that much. Im more about fiscal conservatism and foreign policy and Ive always been that way.
I think whats frustrated me maybe more than the politics is the media Andrew Breitbart was a good friend, and as political as he was, he was more concerned about the hypocrisy of the media, and to me I agree with that. I think politicians are going to do whats in their self-interest, but its the medias job to hold them accountable and when you dont, you have government run amok, which were starting to see right now. Were starting to see that theres no accountability, and to me thats the danger for our republic more than any politician or any cycle.
Who do you socialize with who thinks the way you do? Is there some kind of secret conservative celebrity meeting?
There is a group out there but they all have jobs, and they dont want to risk their jobs and its a sad thing a lot of people are very scared there is a group and there are some really good people out there.
Do you ever have fellow entertainers say to you, Im with you, but I just cant come out of the conservative closet?
I hear that more (from) film and TV than music. There are a few, I have heard that a couple of times. People say, Hey, I appreciate you being out there, I wish I could, I just cant. What I hear a lot more often is when people find out my worldview is, Wow, we thought you were such a nice guy. And people are shocked.
Its no coincidence that my current single is a song called What If and the chorus is, what if you were me, what if I were you. Im sure theres a certain part of me thats like look, if you knew me and you knew my experience, maybe youd readjust your labeling and your generic thinking of the typical Republican, you know, the sexist, racist, evil devil lord.
I do believe at the end of the day, most Americans from both parties not all of them, because some are just warriors that want to destroy the other side most Americans want the same thing. They want to reward excellence, they want everybody to get a fair shot all the same things, they want their kids to have a better chance than they did, they just have different strategies of how to get there, right?
And for me, I was a math major Im an analytical guy, Im a pragmatic guy. You show me data where Im wrong, I will change my mind. But for me, I just look at history and usually the conservative philosophy tends to make peoples lives better. If it didnt, Id believe the other side. So again, Im more of a pragmatic guy and to this day, Im still hoping to change some minds. I think thats a big problem with this country, and I know Glenn (Beck) agrees, thats its very hard to have the conversation. If we cant have the conversation, we cant solve problems.
Your new song Rebel stands out to me a lot. Its the bonus track on Bookmarks and seems to take a jab at the Sean Penns, Michael Moores and Sally Fields of the world.
Yes. (Laughs.) And theres a reason its a bonus track. Yeah, it is by far the most political statement that Ive made and, you know, Ive wanted to say that for a long time. Its Ive always laughed when people call some of these celebrities rebels because basically they just reflect the views of everyone in their business and all of their coworkers and everyone in the media. It gives me more respect for people like Kid Rock. Hell go out there and say, Hey, you know thats not whats called being a rebel (its) disagreeing with everyone who writes your check. So yeah, I wanted to take somewhat of a satirical shot at some of these people who stand on the soapbox and are so brave, and you mentioned a few of them.
Whats the response to the song been?
A few people like you who kind of know my views and are kind of immersed in this kind of culture war battle, they get it and they appreciate it. But for most people, they think its about a girl, like most songs are. And thats fine, thats the nature of music and for me I tend to just I tend to let the songs speak for themselves. And like I said, theres a reason that was song number 12 and the bonus track. It was more for me.
And I totally understand, you have to walk the tightrope. We talked about some of these celebrities that are very political and kind of annoy us. And I understand 99.9 percent of people who buy my record, listen to my songs, they dont want to hear my political worldview. They want to escape from reality, they want to listen to some music. So I really try to walk the tightrope of not hammering it down peoples throats. Its there if you want it, but most people dont, and I fully understand that.
Whats been the audience reaction to your politics have you gained fans from being more outspoken, have you lost fans?
Yes. (Laughs.) There are people who have said, I will never buy another Five for Fighting record because you did Mike Huckabees show. And that is just the reality of the game. When you make records and youve had some success at the level Ive had, theres always going to be people that hate you, theres always going to be people that love you. I bet you half the people on Twitter have never bought a Five for Fighting record or listened to a song. Theyre political sports fans, and thats cool, I like that, thats the place I go to talk about stuff that interests me.
On Facebook, none of those people know my politics, and thats the way it should be. And so theres kind of two different worlds: theres a very small micro-world where a lot of people are like, Oh yeah, we appreciate John because hell say what other people wont, but its a very small group. Most people out there just know my songs, and youre the 100 Years, Superman guy, and thats fine and thats the way it should be. Theres different reasons to do it now than there were 10, 15 years ago.
Youve been on the scene long enough to watch pop culture change around you. Every generation has its own shocking moments right now were living in the era of Miley. But do you think theres anything different or too close to the edge now?
Whenever you answer those questions, its like, oh youre just the old fogy, you dont get it. I think the one difference is this: when everyone was freaking out about the Beatles haircuts, OK, it was traumatic for the culture. But it was the Beatles, OK? It was a band that was prolific two of the greatest songwriters that ever lived, 40 years later we still listen to their music all the time.
I think the difference is today, its easy to get recognition when you take your clothes off, when you put the F-word in your songs, when you dance around and do things that seem crazy and provocative and shocking. But those artists I think for the most part (are) just lazy, and their music and what theyre doing is for the most part disposable, and youre never going to hear it again after six months. As a music fan it saddens me, because if youre going to talk about the greatest hits of this decade 10, 15 years from now, youre going to have very short playlist.
Is there anything youve been longing to take on creatively?
Yeah, I mean Ive been approached to do some stuff on the stage, some Broadway stuff, Ive been approached to do some TV stuff. I actually sold a TV show a few years ago that never saw the light of day. Maybe do some scoring, and maybe do some stuff completely out of the music stuff. Im not sure Im at an interesting place right now, Ive had a wonderful career, Im very grateful. Ive made six records Bookmarks is my sixth record. I still enjoy playing and writing songs, but Im also young enough where I can still do some other things with the rest of my life.
Could one of those things ever be politics?
You know, I dont know. I have been approached. Its easy to take shots at politicians and we all do, but its not the easiest life, and I do respect people who go into that game. Basically, you spend the majority of time raising money, shaking hands, doing events, and I dont know if I have that in me. Ive been on the road doing this for a long time, I dont know if I want to spend 200 days a year on the road, raising money, giving the same speech to get elected. I also dont think I have necessarily the patience and the stomach for what you have to do to get elected. I tend to speak my mind and theres very few people that do that (who) win.
Im not saying never. If the perfect situation arises I might. The reason I went out with Romney was I looked in the mirror and I said, either you make a difference or you dont, so maybe thatll push me over the edge. I think that if I do itll be after my kids are out of the house. I have a 12- and 13-year-old, and its important for daddy to be around as much as possible. I think, when they go, if the opportunity is there and I have the energy for it, you never know.
Interview has been edited and condensed.
To the winner goes the spoiled.
Thanks for posting this, he sounds like a very smart fellow.
But this to me was the most important part “And Ive been very frustrated with the outreach from the RNC, Ive said this before. I mean, I could tell you horror stories about how they try to use the few of us and you know, there are a few of us in Hollywood, some actors, some musicians, who would support the cause but our side, or the RNC, has no clue about the culture war. Its frankly embarrassing, and theres a reason a lot of us dont put ourselves out there because we end up getting burned.”
The RNC doesn’t seem to reach out to anyone, they are afraid of blacks, Hispanics, women, conservatives, gun owners, Christians, just about everyone that isn’t a moderate GOP type.
One of the good guys!
What is BS is you finding the word or the concept of pandering anywhere in my post, and then compounding that BS by making it about race.
You can make your own points without faking and rewriting someone else’s post.
He’s very talented and I’m glad he’s on our side, but unfortunately, if it’s not heavy rock, it’s gotta be classical. I don’t care much for anything in between.
“they are afraid of ...just about everyone that isnt a moderate GOP type.”
Yes, and that is a shrinking group, a lot of those folks have gone over to the dems over “war on women” and other BS.
I’m very socially conservative, but I liked that the TEA party would be NOT that, that it could be a fiscally conservative approach.
I also must say, based on my facebook experience I think there’s A LOT of common ground to be gained in, let’s call it anti-fascist areas. Against the NSA, against a militarized police, etc.
There is also common ground to be gained in being against the privileged class of pols, etc.
And this is before we talk about school vouchers, etc.
So, I think I could see a way forward a path a majority of Americans would want to follow that mightn’t please everyone 100% but it would satisfy those who are paying the piper well enough.
Will the GOP get us there, NEVER I’m afraid.
The tea party isn’t a political party.
Tea partiers are more religious and social conservative than regular republicans, in fact the largest single group in the tea party is those who identify as part of the religious right, so if it became a party it would have to create a platform, and that platform would be social conservative.
The GOP being too socially liberal is one of the reasons conservative are unhappy with it.
I love that you are “socially conservative” but don’t want your political party to reflect that, it is very convincing, we all want to form and support a new party that disagrees with our political views.
What he dared to do.......rinos take note
Not sure he had much of a career to begin with.
What bothers me is that there is NO party or grassroots group that is dedicated to fiscal conservatism.
We could probably achieve a lot of socially conservative goals if we could get the Federal gov’t’s nose out of everyone’s business; we could at least achieve them on a state level.
There are strong forces working for soc con goals, not so much for fisc con ones.
And who, really, is working against our seemingly growing police state, except maybe the libertarians and they are not really a “party” at all.
I don't understand what he means here. Is he saying Repubs need to give up on social/cultural issues, or stress them more?
What a phony you are.
You want the federal government to turn against traditional American law and allow homosexual equality in the military and federal employment and immigration? You won that victory this year, so you can already accept your success there.
Your social liberalism/libertarianism causes economic liberalism, social liberals overwhelmingly vote for big government and liberal economics, social conservatives overwhelmingly vote for limited government and conservative economics.
What is BS is you finding the word or the concept of pandering anywhere in my post, and then compounding that BS by making it about race.
You can make your own points without faking and rewriting someone elses post.
To quote my own ENTIRE post 5 that set you off, now see it you can read the entire one sentence post.
“”The RNC doesnt seem to reach out to anyone, they are afraid of blacks, Hispanics, women, conservatives, gun owners, Christians, just about everyone that isnt a moderate GOP type.””
Take this MItt and shove it..
I ain’t singing for you no morrrrre
(apologies Johnny paycheck)
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