[org.whodat]

Public Performance or Performance Rights A public performance is one that occurs "in a place open to the public or at any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered." A public performance also occurs when the performance is transmitted by means of any device or process (for example, via broadcast, telephone wire, or other means) to the public. In order to perform a copyrighted work publicly, the user must obtain performance rights from the copyright owner or his representative.This is the law and rules you are miss using, royalties are royalties, http://www.ascap.com/licensing/termsdefined.html

[PhatHead]

If the article is accurate, it says the public performance licensing fee was paid, so no intellectual property rights or contractual obligations were violated.

That said, if they are going to make a stink, you stop using the song, and leave them looking like the petty, classless loons that they are. (With the exception of the song’s co-writer, who had a much more level-headed and witty response.)

[frogjerk]

But isn’t this what happened? The McCain campaign got the rights and paid the fee?