I have no idea what a 'satisfactory answer' might look like to you but I believe that Natalie Maines would have done herself a lot of good by saying that she disagreed with the war in Iraq and while dissing the president in a foreign land on the eve of war was - on hindsight - a mistake as far as PR was concerned it was also her right and that she understands if some fans are angry and other, non-fans are attacking her. That is their right too, short of threats and physical harm, of course.
Most of us understand that our actions have consequences and for Maines to simply accept the negative consequences of her act of claiming she was ashamed the president was from Texas and stop back-tracking and attempting to play the victim would 'satisfy' me just fine. Own up to the words Natalie, and if you are sorry, just say: "I'm sorry, I was wrong to do that". If not, say that and accept the negative career consequences as the price for standing on principle.
Performers are always vulnerable to public whims and if they wish to alienate half their audience with anti-war or anti-Bush comments, fine. Just stop the 'censorship' whine and take the consequences (as others have) that don't have multi-million dollar bank accounts to fall back on. It's the half-hearted apologies and 'poor me' whine from this woman that remains annoying.
As far as 'class envy' goes I only envy the fact that a Natalie Maines gets to trumpet her political views to the world with a fame megaphone while the rest of us, the not-famous folks that support these actors and singers, cannot have the same opportunity and then, when we are angered by a Dixie Chick remark, we are said to be 'mean' and other such self-serving nonsense by the same pampered people who seem to believe they have some special right to pontificate that no one may disagree with. Sorry, not in the real world, Natalie.
Worth repeating. As a conservative, I believe in being responsible for one's actions. This is why I am enjoying seeing the Dixie Chicks reap what they have sown. I was a big fan before the statement (I have all three of their CDs, and Home was one of only 3 CDs I have bought this year), and since then, when I hear their songs, I am reminded of what a hateful person Maines is. I am also reminded of Bill Clinton when she keeps trying to change her explanation. Maybe some of their defenders like Bill Clinton. Who knows? All I know is my main radio station here in Kansas City (and the number 1 country station in KC) still isn't playing their music, and their morning guys are real skeptical of forgiveness after seeing the Diane Sawyer clips.
One more time: Conservatives = taking responsibility, not playing the victim, not making excuses, not blaming the VRWC (which I am sure is next).