Posted on 01/13/2006 1:55:27 PM PST by pittsburgh gop guy
Singer Tim McGraw Eyes Politics
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Country singer Tim McGraw says he wants to run for office someday in his adopted home state of Tennessee perhaps for governor or U.S. senator and he's getting encouragement from a fellow Democrat, former President Clinton.
"I think he's got it," Clinton says of McGraw in an Esquire magazine story that hits newsstands Monday. "The Democrats need candidates whom people can relate to in a personal way, people who understand their lives and their concerns and share their values. And I think that's something Tim can do without even pretending."
McGraw, 38, told the magazine he has no immediate plans to enter politics.
"Maybe in 10 or 15 years when the music has died down," he said.
The magazine reported that McGraw, who has three young daughters with his wife, singer Faith Hill, was recruited a few years ago to run for the U.S. Senate seat that eventually went to Tennessee Republican Lamar Alexander, but passed because of his children and his singing career.
While running for the Senate remains an option, the Louisiana native seems more interested in the governor's office.
"It's more of a leadership role, and I think that's something that I'd do well," he said. "That doesn't rule out senator; I just think that as governor of a state, especially where I live, there would be a lot more opportunities to make some decisions and change some things."
He identified health care as his top issue, and said one of his main reasons for wanting to enter politics is Clinton, whom he calls "the best president we ever had."
Born in Delhi, La., he grew up as Tim Smith. But at age 12, he learned his father was baseball pitcher Tug McGraw, who had had a brief affair with his mother.
His mom and stepfather divorced when he was in the fourth grade, leaving her to raise him and his two sisters.
"She worked two or three jobs at a time," McGraw told The Associated Press in 2004. "I can remember being 11, 12, 13 years old and getting up at 12 o'clock at night and my mom sitting at the kitchen table with the bills spread out everywhere and not even knowing I was there with her head down crying. And then the next day the VCR being gone. It's stuff you grow up with, but you learn a lot from that."
He went to Northeastern Louisiana University on a baseball scholarship and started singing and playing guitar. He dropped out in 1989 and moved to Nashville, where he landed a recording contract with Curb Records
McGraw has sold more than 30 million albums and compiled a long list of hits that includes "Indian Outlaw," "Where the Green Grass Grows," "Red Ragtop" and "Live Like You Were Dying." He's also branched into acting; he had a supporting role in 2004's "Friday Night Lights" and has a lead role in the upcoming film "Flicka," an update of a popular 1943 movie.
Thanks for the website. I just checked out the political contributions of my daughter's future in-laws. $500 to Kerry for Prez, $1000 to Kennedy. I'm going to go be sick now.
"He's 38. In ten to fifteen years, he will be another person. And if not, we'll see how it goes."
Maybe he will grow up and do whats best for his daughters.
So far, it seems he and his wife are very good parents.
He needs to stop praising clinton, sure would be difficult to explain to his daughters when they get older.
Then, this year I think, they had Elton John on. Most people out in the country, and those of us who listen to it, because we identify with it, can't stand the citification of country.
Next thing you know they'll make a movie with gay cowboys.
No agenda here.
Ouch. Does her fiance have the same tendencies?
Sounds like a story that could have been written in Hope, Arkansas about 40 years ago. Good Lord, could you please inspire these dysfunctional people to stay out of politics?
He wears the hat because of the prematurely receding hairline. He's a complete slob in real life. As if the tank top isn't a giveaway to his lack of fashion sense.
There's a lot of them in Tennessee. The lady I work with loves President Bush and has voted for a Republican since Bush 1. She's pro-life, pro-gun and adores the President. She hates Clinton and said John Kerry made her want to barf. I told her jokingly one day that if she voted Republican one more time she would become one and she said that she was born a Democrat and would die a Democrat but would vote Republican. Go figure! She's one of those Southern Democrats like Zell Miller. At least half of the people I work with are Democrats and I bet 90% of them voted for Bush.
I just really don't see Tim McGraw being elected governor or US Senator in TN.
I don't know about political tendancies but he did go to see Brokeback Mountain...
Alan Jackson, I think.
Louisiana bastard.
What else do you need to know.
Great. He can be Warren Beatty's vice presidential candidate.
To bad, they are now on my don't watch or listen list.
I think that this is a point that many people are missing here. Born a dem always a dem but vote pubbie, as in Zell Miller. My younger brother included.
And with that I give you a real country star with pubbie bonifidies.
Apparently if you're rich and famous, there's no shame in boffing a married woman. Something tells me if his dad had been your average Joe Blow, the offspring would have remained Tim Smith.
And what exactly is Mr. McGraw's experience in leading? What does he know about being an administrator of any sort?
He identified health care as his top issue, and said one of his main reasons for wanting to enter politics is Clinton, whom he calls "the best president we ever had."
Better that Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, FDR and Reagan?
Better than Carter and LBJ, maybe.
Born in Delhi, La., he grew up as Tim Smith. But at age 12, he learned his father was baseball pitcher Tug McGraw, who had had a brief affair with his mother.
And if is father was Slug McGraw, highschool janitor, would he have changed his name?
She's probaby the big liberal in the family. Shut up and sing.
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