Posted on 08/17/2009 7:21:16 AM PDT by abb
Just got a missive — unguided missile? — from my pal Ted Nugent saying he’s been fired by the Waco Tribune-Herald, which has new owners as of a couple of weeks ago. I’ve contacted Carlos Sanchez, the editor of the Trib, and asked for his response, which I’ll post below when I receive it. (For now, click here to read his comments as published in the paper today.)
Nugent’s email to me:
Just been fired from Waco Trib. Now they will have to rely on their other New York Times Best Sellers, and array of clever and diverse journalists to convey their diverse & tolerant point(s) of view. Here’s my Teditorial after being told to not criticize in my Sunday features that they chose to not run.
——
I’ll Take Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press for $100, Alex by Ted Nugent
When the Nazis had the Americans surrounded in the town of Bastogne, they demanded American General McAuliffe surrender or they would level the city. General McAuliffe’s reply: Nuts!
The new editor of the Waco Trib recently told me that I could only write nice things about people, that I could not be critical. Basically, that I need to tone it down. I can not, nor will not, comply with this Romper Room request. My reply: Nuts!
The editor is wrong to try and muzzle my opinions.
As a columnist, I express my opinions. That’s what columnists do. That’s also the charge of an independent and free press.
The job of the press is to be the “fourth” arm of government. To intentionally muzzle itself is to fail at its most basic watchdog responsibility. As readers, voters and citizens we should demand a watchdog press, not a lapdog press.
I can’t envision Thomas Jefferson, George Washington or Ben Franklin making a request of an anti-King George columnist to tone it down. I can’t imagine Martin Luther King toning down his message. It is impossible for me to fathom any American to tone down what is in his heart and soul.
I criticize where I believe criticism is due. That’s what Thomas Paine did when he published Common Sense prior to the Revolutionary War. He criticized King George for his heavy handed and wrong policies. We are free in large part because of Thomas Paine’s open, routine and strident criticism.
I have criticized President Obama and liberals for what I consider to be destructive, anti-American policies that will hurt our economy and harm your health. Not once have I criticized him personally because I have never met the man. As far as I know he is a decent enough guy, but in my opinion, is politically naive and very wrong, even dangerous for America. So do many other Americans as indicated by the shrinking support for his takeover of the health care system and numerous other heavy handed, foolish moves.
Obama’s policies are bankrupting America. He supports a health care bill that he hasn’t even read, nor have those in congress who support it. If that doesn’t deserve massive amount of criticism, what does?
When I have criticized President Obama, I have almost always countered his dunderheaded, Marxist policies with a free market, more personal freedom alternative. More government control is not the answer to what ails America. Obama believes otherwise.
This newspaper and others should encourage spirited and lively debate and criticism, especially when so many newspapers are losing subscribers. I don’t support milquetoast journalism. It bores me.
You are free to disagree with my opinions. In fact, I encourage those of you who do to fill the letters to the editor page of this newspaper. I revel in open debate. That’s the America I know and love. Express yourself, Texas. Lay it on the line. Give it your best shot. Be bold in your disagreement.
Construcitve, bold criticism is cool. It rocks. It can literally change the course and destiny of an individual, neighborhood, community, and nation. It is the most basic of our Constitutional rights — the 1st Amendment. Failing to criticize emboldens politicians to stay on course regardless how many icebergs are dead ahead. Political correctness is the cancer of journalism, not its cure.
America and Texas was born with a defiant streak. Those genes still flow through my veins. To request that I not criticize is to spit on the memory of those who gave birth to America. Again, I criticize where I believe criticism is due. That’s my civic job and your job as Americans. If the editor of this newspaper doesn’t like that, he will have to fire me. I will not surrender to his wrong demands.
In the words of another famous American military man, William Barrett Travis, commander of the Alamo: God & Texas. Victory or death.
I'm tired.
hehehehe! :)
nope! nope! nope!
I’m just sittin’ on this rock catchin’ some sun rays! :)
Have wondered if Terry McAuliffe might be related to that General McAuliffe?
Thats probably what Ted is doing too
Nuge’s talents are wasted in the dinosaur print media anyway.
I can arrange for a tour next Summer. Bring the Nuge on! Girls School and Motorhead are in the works.....let’s make it happen.
You need to find his agent.
>> The Waco Tribune Herald has no obligation to print any viewpoint with which it disagrees. Ted, OTOH, is free to find a media outlet that is more conducive to his opinion.
I think we’re battling in the dimension above the principles you’re describing.
Unfortunately, the Country is in a liberty deficit, and the sell for liberty’s virtues must be made. That can be difficult when the arteries get cut.
I have to agree with you about not caring to read his opinions.
He was a guest on The Mark Davis show about 15 or so years ago.
He started sounding like he was having a religious experience, talking about the spirit in the bow sent the spirit in the arrow to find the spirit in the deer so that he might eat.
Last year I saw a hunting show called "Spirit of the Wild". He was stalking a deer with a bow and killed it, which is fine but he seemed to be preaching a sermon.
I'm sure he is a good conservative, but he is too weird for me.
Who f’in cares about the role of the publisher/editor! I am sure most here know that the publisher/editor is the boss. The real reason Ted was yanked was because he is not a liberal. You are right that he can go elsewhere, but good luck. I use to be a journalist but got out of that line of work because of the low-class liberals and low pay.
What they say.
http://www.wacotrib.com/opin/content/news/opinion/stories/2009/08/16/0816wacsanchezFINAL.html
Carlos Sanchez: Bidding farewell and good luck to Ted Nugent
Now that he’s unemployed maybe he can enter the GOP primary for governor. And if Kinky wins the Dem nomination...
Debates would rock.
Criticize the grammar if you must, but consider that Ted is also a "Rocker", and speaks to the younger crowd. Should no one speak to them?
Ted's lexicon doesn't bother me. He speaks up for the America we know and love, and wants to see her stick around for another couple of hundred years or more.
Works for me. We need all the warriors we can get.
Nothing wrong with his grammar, per se. It’s more the sentiment. “It’s cool, it rocks” is what I expect to hear from a moron like Meghan McCain, not Ted Nugent, who is not a stupid man. Speaking to the younger generation is fine (I’m relatively young myself), but let’s not dumb it down. Let’s ask everyone to step up.
BTTT
That’s what it sounded like to me, too. :)
Thanks for the link!
Well, there we go.
New RULES for the Nuge! (Copy/pasted from your link):
- - - - -
Sunday, August 16, 2009
One of the first things that the Trib’s new owners, the Robinson family, made clear to me was that changes were coming to our opinion page.
The first, spelled out by Gordon Robinson, president of Robinson Nedia: Expect more conservative editorials.
The second was less public but no less important to the Robinsons: The opinions we published were going to be thoughtful and civil.
No more name-calling, they said. Make sure everyone on our payroll knows that.
Beyond the staff who builds our Opinion page daily, that meant one person: Ted Nugent, who has gotten a stipend every week for what has become a popular feature on our Sunday opinion page.
I sent Nugent an e-mail on behalf of the Robinsons asking if his columns could meet several conditions:
* That all columns are thoughtful.
* No personal attacks.
* Officials be treated with a modicum of respect.
* Offer your viewpoint instead of attacking that of others.
Within a couple of hours, Nugent responded via e-mail:
“Cando (sic) Carlos. let’s give it a whack. You got numerous of my pieces in hand, correct? Use what you can & we shall upgrade ASAP. In Africa now. T”
Unfortunately, with former Opinion Editor John Young’s departure, we were unable to locate the columns that he had sent. Last week we went without one until we could locate these columns.
So I was astonished to find out that Nugent had posted a note for fans on his Web site:
“So I get this spineless, soulless anti-American Email from Carlos Sanchez, new editor of Waco Tribune, listing new rules for my weekly Sunday feature telling me I cant (sic) criticize anyone, only recommend things, can’t have any negativity, only cute nicyness.”
Ted chose not to modify his opinions. Ted is right. The Waco Trib chose to cut him lose for his opinions. The Trib right. Stupid and right.
Dat’s an EXCERPT, btw. :)
Well, I don't think Rahm Emmanual is a good guy.
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