[conservative in nyc]

Sorry, New York Slimes. Linda Ronstadt has absolutely no more of a right to express a political opinion from the Aladdin stage than I have the right to express my political opinion in your newspaper. If the owners of the Aladdin don't want her there, it's their right not to have her.

[JennysCool]

At the Aladdin, a few audience members tore down posters, threw drinks and demanded their money back.

It was WAY more than "a few." And they know it.

[phxaz]

What he wrote was: "This behavior assumes that Ms. Ronstadt had no right to express a political opinion from the stage. It implies - for some members of the audience at least - that there is a philosophical contract that says an artist must entertain an audience only in the ways that audience sees fit. It argues, in fact, that an artist like Ms. Ronstadt does not have the same rights as everyone else."

What he believes is: This writer assumes that the concert-goers have no right to express political opinions from the audience. He implies that there is a philosophical contract that says concert-goers must applaud an entertainer only in the ways that the entertainer and he see fit. He argues, in fact, that an audience does not have the same rights as a celebrity.

[Libertina]

ROTFLOL "ejected from the premises..." Too funny. Sorry Linda, you're not in Hollyweird anymore!

[Dan from Michigan]

Hey! Slimes.

It's called business.

[Republican Wildcat]

Talk about intellectual bankruptcy. This is the most ridiculous defense you could come up with. The only scenario under which this take is plausible is if Ronstadt was giving a performance on her personal property. Otherwise, no, NYT, she was paid to perform a service - to sing, not use her stage to endorse a documented, proven liar. She had absolutely no right to use someone else's stage as a venue to spew her warped political opinions.

[phxaz]

i didnt hear any uproar over the naacp "censoring" cosby.

[weegee]

Ms. Rondstadt has said that she is conflicted over Christians and Republicans even being in her audience. They can't go out for a night's entertainment?

Who REALLY doesn't believe in free speech?

The customer is always right. To deliberately offend audience members (and embracing Michael Moore at this point in time is likely to offend some) is to insult the audience.

When I saw The Pretenders with the B-52s and Royal Crown Revue at a "shed", Ms. Hynde asked if there were any meater eaters in the crowd and then proceded to say we could all "choke on it". Her statements came before the much more publicized comments by Ted Nuggent at the same shed (he bitched about illegal immigrants who can't speak English).

Ted was banned from the venue. Chrissy was not (and no articles ever appeared even though she told a significant percentage of the audience to drop dead).

[wontbackdown]

Twenty years ago I was part of a folk music duo. We were banned from a coffeehouse gig, where we had previously been a favorite act, because we praised President Reagan from the stage. We honestly had no idea that we were being controversial. We were very politically naive at that time. We didn't know the difference between a liberal and a conservative, we only knew that Reagan was a great president. We had no idea that coffeehouse audiences were liberal, and that liberals hated Reagan AND those who loved him. Anyhow, we soon learned to read our audiences and figure out what we could and could not say at different venues. VFWs were great - we could praise Reagan all day long there.

[BunnySlippers]

that there is a philosophical contract that says an artist must entertain an audience only in the ways that audience sees fit.

I think you might infer that if you buy a ticket to a singer's concert that you will hear music ... not political commentary. If otherwise they should so state. I do not want my plumber, auto detailer, grocery checkout person or gardener bloviating.

[Our man in washington]

Desparado--I know that tune...

Linda Rondstadt
why don't you come to your senses?
You've been out eating french fries for so long.
Oh you're a lard butt,
and I know that you like your treason
the things that are pleasing you will hurt us in the end.

Don't you fawn on the King of lying Moore, he'll eat you if he's able
You know your singing voice is always your best bet.
It seems that a divine sing is where you are most able
So why you speak of things that you don't get?

[farmfriend]

But if their intemperate behavior began to worry the management, then they were the ones who should have been thrown out and told never to return, not Ms. Ronstadt, who threatened, after all, only to sing.

Shouldn't that decision be left up to the management? IF they have paid for a service they did not receive, they have a right to terminate don't they?

[Born in a Rage]

The people at the hotel didn't go to the concert to hear a freaking advertisment from Linda Ronstadt about some stupid ugly white mans new 'movie'. Has Linda no shame?

[Crispy]

If I hired entertainers for my business, I would expect them to entertain and not piss off my clientele. Of course the socialists at the NYT cannot comprehend this.

[goldstategop]

Exactly. Who keeps endorsing Democratic presidential candidates? The New York Times editors invoke the First Amendment to be liberals but they deny the public the right to hold a contrary opinion as re Linda Ronstadt. More arrogance from our liberal media elites. Fortunately, the times are changing.

[Lancey Howard]

It implies - for some members of the audience at least - that there is a philosophical contract that says an artist must entertain an audience only in the ways that audience sees fit.

Uh, no, ya simple bung-hole - - it implies that an artist must entertain an audience the way the people are hired the artist and are writing the check see fit.

[henbane]

Elsewhere, audiences have reacted to the mention of Mr. Moore by cheering. . . .

Maybe some audiences don't mind paying good money to have Ronstadt come along and piss in their drinks.

But the management of the Aladdin doesn't think this is good for customer relations, so Aladdin Prez Timmens correctly tosses the ageing saloon singer into the street on her fat butt.

Of course, the NYTimes walks a one-way street when it comes to defending bad behavior from leftists like Linda. Look how long they carried their lying, fake journalist Jason Blair before cutting him loose.

Linda Ronstadt; an example of real ugly ethics for a performer: the New York Times; an even bigger example of ugly ethics in journalism.

[kathsua]

Linda Ronstadt should have known that her remarks would provoke a raucus and should have kept quiet. Using inflamatory remarks is the equivalent to yelling "fire".

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Entertainers and trained animals on stage get rewarded for entertaining, not for pontificating on politics and social issues.

[taxesareforever]

Sorry, New York Slimes. Linda Ronstadt has absolutely no more of a right to express a political opinion from the Aladdin stage than I have the right to express my political opinion in your newspaper. If the owners of the Aladdin don't want her there, it's their right not to have her.

Yep, you got this one right on. Too bad the New York Trash Talking Times can't look into their own mirror.

[NYCVirago]

It implies - for some members of the audience at least - that there is a philosophical contract that says an artist must entertain an audience only in the ways that audience sees fit.

The nerve of those audience members, actually expecting music, instead of a political lecture, at a concert.