The Backlash Grows Against Celebrity Activists (Freerepublic mentioned)

NYT ^

[Sub-Driver]

The Backlash Grows Against Celebrity Activists By WARREN ST. JOHN

OR a few days after the Dixie Chicks' lead singer, Natalie Maines, told a London audience, "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas," there was not a ripple about the remark. The American ambassador to Britain, William S. Farish, was at the show on March 10, and made it a point to greet the Texas trio at a reception afterward. Though six critics reviewed the concert, only one mentioned the comment in print.

Four days later, all that had changed. Reports of the remark spread to the United States through Web sites — notably the Drudge Report and a conservative site called Freerepublic.com — and in no time, the Dixie Chicks, who had been riding the top of the charts with their album "Home" after winning Grammy Awards in February, found themselves the subject of radio boycotts and public CD burnings. Ms. Maines apologized for the remark, but by week's end, the boycotts had contributed to a 20 percent drop in airplay

[gortklattu]

The Chicks aren't history. They can always pass as a bar act whose members spend the night with the highest bidders.

[longfellow]

Go see the grapic of the marine dog peeing on saddams grave. IF ANYONE WANTS PRINTED POSTERS OF ANY OF OUR GRAPHICS CALL 847-298-4122 we will print them for freepers for rallies.email us at ultimateamericaninc@comcast.net

[Terridan]

Thank you!!! ;)

[hocndoc]

Bad typing, but correcting my mistake gives me an excuse to re-post my comment to Mike Farrell:

"There is no First Amendment right to a stage, a camera, or access to broadcast. Talk me into giving you my money to support you, or go stand on the street to exercise your right to speech, just like the rest of us.

And don't forget your flag. "

[CyberCowboy777]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/867353/posts

[Major Matt Mason]

I haven't seen this posted on this or other threads, but there is a site called "Celiberal- Celebrity Liberal Blacklist". It is pretty much what it says, in that it has a list of liberals who are openly anti-American. You can find it at Celiberal.com.

[Snuffington]

"It's a food chain," Mr. Alterman said. "You start out with a few activist types. It goes through the Internet Web sites, then it gets picked up by the networks and reporters. It becomes a perpetual motion machine."

It used to be all those activist groups were liberals and "progressives." They didn't make use of web sites, but used networks of fax machines, letter and petition writing, and staged protests, which were then picked up verbatim by networks and reporters.

Now, after decades of being shut out of this leftist news cycle, we on the right have come up with our own way to communicate our message. The left has just realized they no longer have a monopoly on this, and boy are they pissed!

[Revolting cat!]

Looks like the chix are HISTORY now.

WHAT? Blixie Chickens history? Where of you been? They just announced an upcoming tour of North Korea!

[RooRoobird14]

Mike Farrell, the actor who played B. J. Hunnicut on "M*A*S*H" and who is outspoken in support of liberal causes, said such tactics amount to "an orchestrated attempt to undermine free speech and the right to dissent." "If they want to call me a Saddam lover that's their right," he said. "But if they set out to affect me professionally, that's different."

What's the matter Mikey, aren't you man enough to stand by your convictions and take the consequences like a real man??? ("No! I want to express my opinion and not have consequences!!! WAH! WAH!!! Somebody get me a Frappucino!!!")

[nygoose]

The Hollyweird position on the First Amendment is, "All for me and none for thee.

That also seems to be Hollywood's position on the Second Amendment. This position is enforced by many Judges who won't issue carry permits to ordinary citizens. However, people with star status and/or political connections have no trouble getting a permit.

Here in New York, Don Imus wears his handgun openly on his TV show. He lives in New York City where the ordinary citizen will not as a matter of course be issued a carry permit by a Judge.

I have heard Imus say on television that he does not believe that the ordinary citizen should be issued a permit to carry.

[Freedom4US]

And you know what? Mike Farrell s#$cked as the guy on MASH anyway. McLean Stevenson was A-OK. I see _him_ providing investment advice for FOXnews economic forums. I trust him, but who'd want Mikey boy for a neighbor?

[RightOnline]

"We want you to know that you are an entertainer/actor not a learned expert. Just as your career relies on your ability to entertain people so does your income status."

Such Hollywood "celebrities" seem to forget something. If not for their "celebrity" status, no one would give a damn what they have to say anyway. They have every right to believe what they want and say what they want........but they can't have it both ways.

If they want to trade on their celebrity status to expound on the war or their deeply held views on unilateral disarmament or the finer points of nuclear physics........fine. That very celebrity status thereby becomes a dual-edged sword. There are those who will hear them ONLY because they're celebrities and will react accordingly. If that reaction happens to be negative, then tough titties. Wanna run with the big dogs, gotta be willing to pay the accompanying price.

[sweetliberty]

Be sure and read the whole article.

[Nateman]

Simon Renshaw, the manager of the Dixie Chicks, said the backlash against the band was not a spontaneous, widespread outburst, but instead was led by a small group of activists, beginning with Freerepublic.com. Mr. Renshaw said the phenomenon even has a name — getting "freeped," slang for being deluged with angry e-mail messages from users of the site. He said the band's Web site and e-mail server crashed because of the traffic.

My oh my! Aren't we the EVIL ones! I suppose its Ok. I feel the same way about the NYSlimes.

[VOA]

bump

[Rebelbase]

The chicks album was #4 on the Billboard country chart when Maines spoke stupid....Its #1 now. Top Country AlbumsTM

If it stays at #1 for another week, I'd say the stupidity helped them more than hurt them.

[Hacksaw]

I find what Chrissy Hynde said about how she hopes we lose a lot more offensive. Crack whorebag.

[lilylangtree]

The Ditzy Chicks deserve all the fallout they can get from that absurd statement.

[gettingreal]

just shows that there are far too many liberals... interesting that they can put so much into anti-war and anti-administration, but cry when conservatives speak out and act on our beliefs.....

[weepnomore]

What is REALLY disgusting is that William Farish, our ambassador to Britain & a close personal friend of the Bush family, was obviously salivating at the chance to meet & greet the chicks. . .and wasn't going to let one little comment deprive him of one of the finer perks of his ambassadorship !