Not Ready to Make Nice (Dixie Chicks in Australia, STILL Whining About Free Republic)

AdelaideNow ^ | Sunday, October 8, 2006 | Kirsten Heyson

[kristinn]

It's hard to believe this petite, well-mannered Texan - sitting opposite in a Sydney harbourside hotel - caused the kind of stir the music industry has not seen since John Lennon sang about being crucified in 1969.

It's the day before the band's first Australian concert on their Accidents and Accusations world tour.

Maines looks younger than her 31 years.

SNIP

Aware she may sound "bizarre", the 31-year-old believes the vitriol directed at The Dixie Chicks was part of a right-wing conspiracy.

An organised group known as the Free Republic set out to bring the band down.

The organisation's power, she says, comes through the internet. The site has thousands of subscribers, all of whom were encouraged to destroy the band's music and boycott the radio stations that played it.

"It's scary how much power they do have," she says. "They can take down someone singlehandedly and I don't think Americans are aware of that.

"It's the same group that went after (former US president) Bill Clinton and (gay actress) Ellen DeGeneres."

In the beginning, Maines says, they tried to fight their detractors. Their management tried to alert radio station programmers to what was happening.

"But they weren't open to it and just thought we were grasping at straws to try and salvage something," she says.

"It was just bigger than we could fight and we weren't willing to put ourselves out there to be made to look stupid if people weren't willing to investigate this thing and be open to it."

SNIP

"For the Free Republic we were a dream come true; they made it their mission to take us down. Apparently we were not supposed to think like this because we play country music."

[Rocko]

"They can take down someone singlehandedly and I don't think Americans are aware of that.

Wow. What's the formula? The Clintons and Jimmy Carter (among many others)are still around!

[dangus]

Who knew you could buy golden Hefty's Cinch-sacks(tm)?

[saveliberty]

Power? She thinks that if someone tells someone what to think then they do.

James Madison had her pegged. Those who take your money do not respect your ideas.

[BamaAndy]

Natalie--we're not part of any group that seeks to bring anyone down. Clinton did it to himself and so did you. We're simply Americans who view the nation as a force for good. We believe in freedom. We do not wish to be attacked and believe it is the duty of the country to fight enemies. You don't. We don't but your CD's. Simple as that.

[RikaStrom]

Let's see...who shall we destroy next?

The list is sooo long! Decisions, Decisions.

[saveliberty]

LOL

Beautiful!

[Darth Republican]

An organised group known as the Free Republic set out to bring the band down.

I thought it was Bush's fault.

[billhilly]

"petite?"

As sows go, uh, scuse me, big fat hens.

Until reading these remarks I didn't know that I was supposed to have been buying their records and their bull sh-t too.

[Rocko]

The best thing about my personal boycotts is that they cost me nothing.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

Come to think of it, Nancy Pelosi is first on my list, this week.

[CinnamonBear]

Petite? Compared to what?

[BlessedBeGod]

Morgan Stanley issued a public apology and Clinton had to go overseas for most of the year to get paid gigs.

I'm pretty sure that the Morgan Stanley employee who hired Clinton to speak at their conference was fired, too.

[saveliberty]

Her fury at our non compliance with her dictates is just an unanticipated bonus.

[Moonman62]

To borrow a phrase commonly used in reference to Karl Rove:

Free Republic, you magnificent bastard.

[Mr_Moonlight]

An organised group known as the Free Republic set out to bring the band down

Really ??? I didn't know that I was part of an organized group ... where are the stratagy meetings held? Is there a Vicar and a Sargent At Arms? I didn't know that I was being recruited into this cult called Free Republic until this Dixie Chick told me so ....... in all, I didn't get the memo

/shrug off /sarc off

[wagglebee]

"For the Free Republic we were a dream come true; they made it their mission to take us down. Apparently we were not supposed to think like this because we play country music."

After Dan Ratherbiased did they really think they had a chance?

[gabidale89]

"THE" Free Republic?

Can't she at least get the name right?

[Issaquahking]

Read the article, not surprised that natalie maines is still dumber than a stick. I love her comment -

While fellow country music artists such as Reba McEntire and Toby Keith publicly denounced the band, support did come from unexpected quarters. "I've made good friends because of it, but Bruce Springsteen was amazing. He put a letter on his website . . . and Barbra Streisand, etc...

Lay down with dogs, stand up with fleas! The company she keeps shouts who she is...another leftist, liberal, b*#ch.


For th record natalie, I took my only dixie witches album and tried out my new birdshot on your clay pigeon.

[Rocko]

Ha!

[saveliberty]

Methinks she doth project too much. She wants to say what she wants without any response-- just pay up.