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.
Alan Jackson.
Yep. Its ironic, too, that its mostly conservatives who bought their music and made them famous. Liberals hate country music. They make fun of it. I'm like most people. I just wish they would shut up about their political persuasions.
clinton was only the best president moni*cough*ca ever had.
Tim McGraw needs the old El Kabong to put sense into his head.
Time's up, Timmy. Might as well run for office now, you faux cowboy.
"The furore over the Dixie Chicks was so intense it actually MADE me buy one of their albums, to see what the fuss was about."
How'd that work out for you?
It was okay, I can listen to a few songs at a time, but my problem with Natalie Maines is my problem with so many country singers - the twanging, nasal quality. It's just not a genre I care for much.
A friend DID give me a Toby Keith album because she loved that novelty song, "I Wanna Talk About Me", and it was hilarious, but it was the only thing I could stand on the album, so I got rid of it.
Did McGraw explain just what Clinton accomplished that made him the "best"? Killing thousands of Serb women and children and getting away with it? His romps in the Oval Office? Being impeached? Having his wife stand by him through his many affairs?
OK.
Let me put another way. How did buying one of their albums help in any way to understand why the comments made in the UK by a member of TDC ticked off so many of their fans?
Spell checked for your convenience. :-) :-) :-)
I see what you mean. I think I just bought it because the fuss raised my awareness of them to the point where I was actually curious about them for the first time. If I ever see "Brokeback Mountain" it would be because of all the fuss about it on this site. Otherwise, my thoughts about it - or any movie - are tangential at best. I doubt that will happen, since I'm not into westerns, no matter who's doing what to whom. :)
"Clinton "best president we ever had"),
Only in your sick, perverted, and twisted mind....
and if you appreciate sexual predators.
" - the twanging, nasal quality. It's just not a genre I care for much."
I'm guessing that Bluegrass is not high on your list of favorites? :-) :-) :-)
Instrumental bluegrass is tremendous, and some of the gospel songs done that way are inspiring. That singing is different, to my ear; very old, authentic American style rather than the "staginess" of "cawntry stars". I can't listen to it all day, however. :)
I remember. I had a JVC VCR that I paid $1000 for about 1981-82. Even after it quit working, I kept it in the garage for years, because I couldn't bear to throw away something that cost that much. After sending a few $1500 computers to the scrap heap, I got used to the idea and dumped the JVC. It's all relative I suppose.
Look into these artist, if you aren't familiar with any of them yet.
Bela Flek
Mark O'Connor
Nickle Creek
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Jerry Douglas
Sam Bush
David Grissom
A few of my favorites, anyway.
I've heard Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, and Allison Krauss, and I'll at least hear some clips of the others on Amazon. Thanks very much. :)
I've said it before, and I will say it again....
those who look to celebrities or musical stars for their politics are bound to be disappointed.
Actors/Musicians/etc are there for OUR entertainment. Them making stupid comments are to be expected, but really WHO cares? These are generally people that couldn't or didn't want to get a job otherwise. Again I point to the fact they are there for OUR entertainment.
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