Drudge Sirens: TEARS ON TV: DIXIE CHICKS EXPLAIN BUSH BASHING

Drudge Report ^ | 3/24/03 | Drudge

[Pro-Bush]

In a candid and emotional exclusive interview, Diane Sawyer talks with the Dixie Chicks -- Natalie Maines, Emily Robison and Martie Maguire -- who finally speak out about controversial comments regarding President Bush and the war with Iraq, made last month overseas -- during a London concert.

MORE The on-stage remarks, which many say were unpatriotic, have resulted in a flood of criticism and a backlash that has included a boycott of their music.

The interview will air on “PRIMETIME THURSDAY," THURSDAY, APRIL 24 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network, but the DRUDGE REPORT can now reveal some highlights:

MORE

NATALIE MAINES ON WHETHER SHE IS TRULY SORRY FOR HER ON-STAGE COMMENT ABOUT PRESIDENT BUSH:

MAINES: I think it came down to, it was ... that it was in a foreign country and it was that it was an off-the-cuff statement…And I think the way I said it was disrespectful. The wording I used, the way I said it, that was disrespectful…

DIANE SAWYER: …I hear something not quite ... what? Whole-hearted ...

MAINES: …Really?...

SAWYER: ... when you talk about apologizing for what you said about the President.

MAINES: ….It's not because it's not genuine. It's because I'm on guard now…I feel regret for, you know, the choice of words. Or the non-choice…Am I sorry that I asked questions and that I don't just follow? No.

ON PERSONAL THREATS:

MAGUIRE: …I also believe that yes, some of our fans were upset by it, but… does the punishment fit the crime? How far are you going to go? I think it's rational and totally acceptable for people to write a letter... and say "You know, I was really offended by what you said about the President."… we know some of our fans were shocked and ... and upset, and we are compassionate to that. I totally understand it. My problem is, when does it cross the line? When is trashing Emily's property okay? When is writing a threatening letter okay?...

MAINES ON THE FIRST SIGNS OF THE BACKLASH:

SAWYER: When was the first sign you had that there was sort of a seismic tremor from this?

MAINES: We were going into this hotel…and he [the Dixie Chicks' manager] got a call … he's pacing back and forth. "Oh, no!" You know, we're automatically going "What? What happened?" And then he says, you know, he gets off the phone and I was like, "What? What happened?" "Well, the AP picked up what was said the other night... But don't worry, it's going to blow over in three days." And I looked at him and I go, "No, it's not." He goes "Yes, it is, yes. Don't worry about it." You know, giving the old manager spiel. And I said, "Oh, I don't think so."

MARTIE MAGUIRE ON THE FALL-OUT:

MAGUIRE: …We are pretty tough and we have each other and we stand by each other through thick and thin and we know we're going to make mistakes…But this was colossal. This felt so colossal.

ON THEIR SUPPORT FOR US TROOPS:

NATALIE MAINES: …we support the troops. We support the troops l00 percent. We have said that from day one. People have quoted we don’t support the troops, which is the opposite of anything we have ever said. There is not a correlation between not wanting a war and not supporting the troops who are doing their job…

EMILY ROBISON: Martie and I have family in the military. But it’s nothing more than that we want to do than have our troops be safe, successful…you know we’re very patriotic…

DIANE SAWYER: ...But there are those who say to support them is to understand how much they believe in what they're doing. And it does matter to them that you believe in what they're putting their lives on the line for.

MAINES: …as passionate as they are about their cause, I love that about them, but accept that I am passionate about mine as well…

ON THE LONDON CONCERT:

SAWYER: Why did you say it?

MAINES: Out of frustration. At that moment, on the eve of war, I had a lot of questions that I felt were unanswered….

MAINES: You know we didn't walk off that stage going, oh my God, oh my God, I can't believe I said that.

MORE

[Galactica]

Ah Texas....reminds me of a poem I saw on the bathroom stall:
Here I sit my cheeks a flexin
about to create another Texan

[weegee]

Does anyone here have a tissue? Anyone??

No but I have the World's Smallest Violin playing the saddest notes, just for them!:

[ actual size ]

[eleni121]

I simply can't support the war just because some people want it."

Some people? You are off by a mile...been taking Ditzie Chick pills? The overwhelming number of Americans were behind the President and our heroes.

AS far as what they could they possibly say or do at this point...how's about shutting the h**k up and just going away. I guarantee you if they do that, Freepers will do the same.

[okiecowgirl]

They are coming to Okla. City. The show was sold
out. Protesters have put up a big trash can with
a sign that says throw your cds and tickets here.
They expect to see a lot of empty seats. The djs
aren't playing their songs due to public response.

[fideist]

The people who don't get it are the majority of country music fans who are by and large conservative.

These girls also posed nude for an ad in support of PeTA. And then paid PeTA not to use it.

These girls still are in opposition to the War and our President.

[mrmargaritaville]

bet he offers to share some cigars with them. (we already know that he's in to plumpers)

[okiecowgirl]

They are coming to Okla. City. The show was sold
out. Protesters have put up a big trash can with
a sign that says throw your cds and tickets here.
They expect to see a lot of empty seats. The djs
aren't playing their songs due to public response.

[SteveAustin]

Re-read that. She said that the people who she tried to convert to country music saw people who listened to it as dumb, conservative redknecks. That wasn't her charicaterization as she would be calling herself that(duh!) No, from my perspective my point holds. The other dixie chick was basically telling her "enlightened" liberal hollywood friends that not all country music fans are crazy conservative rednecks. But, in doing so, she seems to admit that many of her fans are conservative "rednecks" and "apologizes" to her liberal friends that said fans have such a "condition". Seems to me that she could have just told her hollywood friends that Dixie Chick fans have divergent opinions and we support all of our fans and their opinions. That is what the chicks want in relation to the Bush comments. But, this type of remark just tells me she can't relate at all to many of her conservative fans and their political leanings. The tone of the comment and choice of words makes it clear she disdains her conservative redneck fans.

[weegee]

Mikey Moron cuts a trimmer figure when he's wrapped up in his tin foil suit:

[cars for sale]

WELL FREEPERS (I'm new as a poster but that is me too)

I just called Lipton a 1.800.697.7887 and talked to
a rep named PRUE. This rep said."but these girls said this BEFORE the war" and i of course corrected her...I told her about the Sawyer/ABC interview and that it was discussed here and on Drudge and the wave of more opizzed off product users will swell...big time....I told her some of us want to use the 6 largest cities....take a newspaper ad listing LIPTON/UNILEVER products supporting the Dixie Chicks and we will rent u-Haul trucks and collect said products from willing protecters and give the products to charity and have all local cities news FILM IT.....she took my name,address,phone number and email addy....she knew I was "series".

[Dengar01]

She is spinning like crazy in this interview. If she was sincere she would say, "I really am sorry for attacking the President" but she really means "I hate GWB and I'm just sorry I'm losing money".

[JohnnyP]

Just heard Hugh Hewitt talking about this. He said it was series and hugh.

[weegee]

If she was really sincere she would say, "I really am sorry for attacking the Mister President"

[Let's Roll]

And another thing - Maines is not country, she came over from pop - so what a quince-quonce that she would be the one to dis GWB. Her heart is not ever gonna be in any apology she cobbles together.

[gcruse]

She is not sorry

She has already said, in New Zealand, that she was not sorry.
She was stupid to think news of what she said in London would
stay in London.  Anyone that ignorant of the Internet deserves
what she got.  But to repeat the travesty weeks later just because
New Zealand is a long way off., well that's mashochistic.

She sure doesn't care what happens to her two mates.
It's all about Maines.

[Trajan88]

I've got a friend that said she bought tickets to see the chickens in Colorado... I've been telling her to sell them or to not go.

Personally, I believe a competing American/U.S. troop-friendly concert should play in every town (on/about the same day) the chickens are playing that will accept the chicken's tickets + a donation (to the USO or other worthy America-first charity for entry).

Trajan88

[Revolting cat!]

This intense PR campaign tells us that the FReeping and the dixiechicking have had their effect. 'Course Sony is not going to admit it, the Chicken's management is not going to admit it, and the tour promoters are not going to admit it. Not for as long as they can keep the secret. But finagling a prime time gabfest spot with the top of the line gabber Diane Sawyer, for what in Noo Yoke is perceived as a hick act, is no mean feat!

[Pro-Bush]

These girls still are in opposition to the War and our President.

That why I call them the Blixie Chicks.

[scubadan]

Your Bob Hope comment reminded me of a discussion my wife and I had sometime in the last couple of weeks. It seemed during in other conflicts we've had in the past that entertainers were eager to support the cause. Some may have performed at USO shows and others may have participated in War Bond drives. It seemed like such a stark contrast to how it is today.