I wish you were right but with 40% of America being hard core leftists I think the "in crowd" of liberals will buy it as an "in your face" gesture.
I could be wrong but I think Earle has always had a pretty right wing fan base, including a lot of vets and Freepers...none of whom will support him after this.
This new album might get a "bump" from the left over this but then I predict his career is over in the US. He'll be lucky to play coffeehouses in Ithaca NY.
Be interesting to see: I'll bet Earle gets places in national media that Charlie Daniels and Toby Keith were excluded from because of their ANTI-moham songs.
PS---I doubt Earle is on heroin any more; he wouldn't still be around if he were. HOWEVER, I bet the ranch that he's still a pot-head. I don't think these doping, aging rockers every abandon that (So much for the success of drug treatment, huh.)