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The Vegas Notion: Papers Weigh in on Ronstadt Casino Flap
Editor & Publisher ^ | July 21, 2004 | Charles Geraci

Posted on 07/21/2004 12:28:19 PM PDT by O.C. - Old Cracker

NEW YORK The media storm over singer Linda Ronstadt getting booted out of a Las Vegas casino reached as far as the editorial page of The New York Times today, but a local daily, the Las Vegas Review-Journal, has been there from the start, even before the fateful show at the Aladdin.

Today, its columnist Norm Clarke, who writes "Vegas Confidential," declared that Ronstadt's dedication of her encore song, "Desperado," to filmmaker Michael Moore was "only the half of it."

Meanwhile, the other local daily, the Las Vegas Sun, has weighed in with an editorial charging that the casino boss "overreacted" and "Las Vegas should be embarrassed at her treatment here."

But today, in the Review-Journal, columnist Clarke claimed that Ronstandt arrived at the casino on Saturday "with an agenda," having told the paper's entertainment writer Mike Weatherford (in a story published Friday), "I keep hoping that if I'm annoying enough to them, they won't hire me back."

At the time, the paper did note that she said this "laughingly."

Clarke obtained what it called Ronstadt's "verbatim quotes" to the audience from the casino. They had Ronstadt complaining that the casino had put up a big billboard calling the show part of a "Greatest-Hits Tour," which was news to her. "That is something they cooked up here in Vegas ... They are good at that," she said, according to the Aladdin.

Though the paper has written several stories and columns on the eviction since Friday, Editor Thomas Mitchell says the incident is no big deal. "It's a tempest in a teapot," Mitchell says. "This is just another entertainer mouthing off. It's no different than Whoopi Goldberg or anyone else."

Some guests at the Aladdin spilled their drinks, tore down posters, and demanded their money back, in response to the dedication. The newspaper, however, quoted other concertgoers saying they didn't know what the fuss was all about and that they had no problem with the song dedication.

The New York Times, in an editorial this morning, knocked those who believe that Ronstadt "had no right to express a political opinion from the stage." As for those causing the ruckus, it noted that "if their intemperate behavior began to worry the management, then they were the ones who should have been thrown out..."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charles Geraci (cgeraci@editorandpublisher.com) is a reporter for E&P.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aladdin; cow; lasvegas; ronstadt
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"I am not used to being treated like this.
My fans love me, but Christians are mean."
1 posted on 07/21/2004 12:28:20 PM PDT by O.C. - Old Cracker
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To: O.C. - Old Cracker
It's no different than Whoopi Goldberg

Au contraire! It's a LOT different. The people at the SlumFest went there to support Kerry. The people who paid good money at the casino went there to be entertained, not proselytized.

2 posted on 07/21/2004 12:32:45 PM PDT by EggsAckley (You can't be pro small business and pro trial lawyer at the same time! ** George W. Bush*)
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To: O.C. - Old Cracker

From the looks of it, she needs the Slim-Fast sponsorship deal. Obviously, she is a pagan/athiest.


3 posted on 07/21/2004 12:35:42 PM PDT by ma bell (Niti cemo se pokoriti, niti ukloniti We shall neither yield or submit.)
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: O.C. - Old Cracker
The "loss of freedom of speech" is the subject on Michael Medved today.

Nothing funnier than LISTENING to people TELLING how they have lost their freedom to speak.
5 posted on 07/21/2004 12:40:04 PM PDT by cripplecreek (John kerry is unbalanced)
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To: O.C. - Old Cracker

She looks like the character from MAD TV, I think the name is Swan?


6 posted on 07/21/2004 12:41:05 PM PDT by Lx (Go ahead, prove Mel Gibson wrong Kyle, go ahead...)
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To: Baynative

It appears that Ronstadt is very much like Michael Moore in more ways than one.


7 posted on 07/21/2004 12:42:05 PM PDT by Brilliant
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To: cripplecreek

Exactly! Haha!


8 posted on 07/21/2004 12:42:37 PM PDT by O.C. - Old Cracker (When the cracker gets old, you wind up with Old Cracker. - O.C.)
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To: O.C. - Old Cracker

Las Vegas is the most American city left in America...Rondstadt got no more than she would have gotten trying the same act in rural Kansas.


9 posted on 07/21/2004 12:43:52 PM PDT by Mr. Jeeves
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To: O.C. - Old Cracker
The New York Times, in an editorial this morning, knocked those who believe that Ronstadt "had no right to express a political opinion from the stage."

They were paying her to enterain them, not to lecture them on politics. If they are training you to perform like a circus monkey, then make with the circus monkey act, Linda, and keep your silly politics to yourself.

10 posted on 07/21/2004 12:45:04 PM PDT by Question_Assumptions
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To: Brilliant
Lay off the pork chops for a while, Linda.
(Hope she doesn't fall down in a doorway)
11 posted on 07/21/2004 12:45:56 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks (STAGMIRE !)
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To: Lx

yes I was just trying to come up with the name myself


12 posted on 07/21/2004 12:46:42 PM PDT by Dr Snide (vis pacem, para bellum - Prepare for war if you want peace)
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To: Mr. Jeeves
Las Vegas is the most American city left in America

LOL! You ain't traveled much have you, boy? Come on over to Huntsville, Alabama or Chattanooga, TN. For her comments, Ronstadt would have gotten tarred and feathered by some of the neighborly women folk in these parts.

13 posted on 07/21/2004 12:47:58 PM PDT by O.C. - Old Cracker (When the cracker gets old, you wind up with Old Cracker. - O.C.)
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To: O.C. - Old Cracker
WOW, thats sad, she doesn't even look like Linda Ronstadt

How could she let herself get so fat?

14 posted on 07/21/2004 12:48:20 PM PDT by apackof2 (Kind words are like honey-sweet to the soul and healthy for the body Pro.16:24)
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To: O.C. - Old Cracker

"Spill drinks" indeed!

One look at her would make me spill my dinner..


15 posted on 07/21/2004 12:48:28 PM PDT by Redbob
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To: apackof2

Overeating.


16 posted on 07/21/2004 12:49:05 PM PDT by O.C. - Old Cracker (When the cracker gets old, you wind up with Old Cracker. - O.C.)
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To: O.C. - Old Cracker

don't you heathens get it? Freedom of speech means special people like Whoopi, Micheal Moore, Tim Robbins, and myself can say whatever we want but you guys don't get to respond and certainly can not critical of OUR opinions.


17 posted on 07/21/2004 12:49:12 PM PDT by Dr Snide (vis pacem, para bellum - Prepare for war if you want peace)
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To: O.C. - Old Cracker

When will these Hollywood pigs get the message. If they love lies, have such a hate for truth, then maybe they should move to Iran, or Syria. No hope of liberating these jacka@@. Moore has done us one favor, he is converting more of the undecided to go with President Bush.

Woops! Manybe they could go to Canada. Lots of common nuts up there.


18 posted on 07/21/2004 12:50:18 PM PDT by Logical me (Oh, well!!!!)
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To: O.C. - Old Cracker; Seeking the truth; HitmanNY

Las Vegas Sun owner Greenspan is a lefty, Clinton supporter. Daughter was an intern for Hillary!


19 posted on 07/21/2004 12:51:34 PM PDT by diotima (Telegram Sam, you're my main man)
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To: ma bell
"Obviously, she is a pagan/athiest."

She's a lapsed Catholic, if I'm not mistaken. There's a certain kind of ex-Catholic who is permanently soured by their rejection of Christianity/Catholicism, who carry it around with them like the smell from a refrigerator that's gone bad; they never get over it. As for the New York Times, a business has the right to reject a performer who - for whatever reason - offends the clientele; period. These entertainers need to realize that we don't buy tickets to hear them shove their political philosophy down our throats; we don't think their insight is any better than ours, they aren't experts, so shut up and sing. (And, no, I wouldn't like it if an entertainer started bashing Kerry, either.)
20 posted on 07/21/2004 12:55:49 PM PDT by Steve_Seattle
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