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.
Yup...I'd have to agree.
Regarding Toby Keith though:
Toby Keith can't be all bad, though, he did tour WITH Ted.
Political affiliation is more a matter of family tradition and locale. Conservative / Liberal is more significant to a persons philosophy.
Clinton was the best U.S. president the chicoms ever had. I'll agree with that.
There was something about that statement that made me think of Hillary's spiel about being named for Sir Edmund Hillary and Algore saying that he sat on his momma's knee while she sang "Look for the Union label". Hillary was born before Sir Edmund Hillary made his ascent and Algore's story is disturbing because he would have been in his twenties.
He didn't know who his dad was until he was in high school, or maybe even later. Big surprise his mom was broke. She got knocked up by a ball player and then had a hard time making ends meet. Don't worry, though, the gubmint will save you!
I'm not a big fan of country music because of the way it sounds, not because of anyone's politics on either side. I think Tim McGraw is "one of the guys who wears a cowboy hat", but that doesn't narrow it down much, does it?
If one were a fan of his singing (can anyone tell me a song title of his, to help me place him?), this announcement of his wouldn't affect whether I liked his music or not. 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.
(And what good does it do to throw away CDs you've already bought?)
Just asking. Maybe someone can fill me in. I've just never "boycotted" entertainers based on their political announcements; I let them all slide by since they don't affect my politics at all.
What's a divorced mom doing buying expensive non-essential technology back then anyways...I would have been crying too at the thought of those bills!
That would have been at least a months salary for that VCR back then.
God gave ol' Tim a heap of musical talent. He should have blessed him with a brain, too???
Trust that God in his infinate wisdom, gave the brains to those fans that Tim expects a vote from.
Thanks, I needed that.
Well, I just became one less fan of Macgraw!
I am 90% sure.
Yes, he's a dem, but who cares? He certainly doesn't think or talk like one, which is what really counts.
There were VCRs available in the very late 1970s (say 1978 or 1979), but they were pretty damned expensive. Another poster gave a price range of $800 to $1000 - adjust that for inflation and it would be more today.
Betamax was introduced around 1975-76, but it was a high end oddity. We got our first VCR in 1985, I recall it was a Phillips 850, and I only remember the model number because it was also the PRICE.
He should stick to stealing police horses!
>calls Clinton "best president we ever had"<
You did it, Tim! You totally sold out! Congrats!
Okey Dokey then! She is pretty nice on the eyes...in that picture...in that pose...is that his wife?
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