[drjimmy]

It's my understanding that he is an avowed communist and his latest album praises John Walker the american taliban guy.
You understand incorrectly. He's a die-hard liberal, but not of the Communist variety (I know most here will consider there to be no difference, but I believe that there is.). His song does not praise John Walker, it is written in Walker's voice, just like a guy named Johnny Cash wrote in the voice of a man in Folsom Prison:
When I was just a baby, my mama told me, "Son,
Always be a good boy; don't ever play with guns."
But I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.
When I hear that whistle blowin' I hang my head and cry.
I disagree with most of Steve Earle's political positions, but I do not consider him unpatriotic based on the John Walker song.

[adam stevens]

What is the difference?

[John T. Kennedy]

You understand incorrectly. He's a die-hard liberal, but not of the Communist variety

http://www.steveearle.net/irishtimes2.htm

"Steve Earle's sense of humour is droll and laconic and born of a deep sense of observation. His anger at social injustices led to songs such as The Rain Came Down for a Farm Aid benefit and Nothing But A Child for an organisation providing for homeless children. "Since coming here I've gone to a couple of Socialist Workers' meetings, and I am a believer in Marx's economic theories."