Today Show Blacklists Toby Keith But Features Singer Glorifying Johnny Taliban

NBC’s Today has yet to feature a segment with Toby Keith, singer of the #1 country hit, the pro-U.S. song “Courtesy of the Red White & Blue” which honors American soldiers, but on Monday it showcased Steve Earle and his yet-to-be-released tribute to the American Taliban, “John Walker's Blues.” Matt Lauer interviewed him and allowed him to sing the song in its entirety.

     In a July 21 story, “Twisted Ballad Honors Tali-rat,” the New York Post’s Aly Sujo described Earle’s song:
     “American Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh is glorified and called Jesus-like in a country-rock song to be released soon by maverick singer-songwriter Steve Earle.
     “The controversial ballad called 'John Walker's Blues’ is backed by the chanting of Arabic prayers and praises Allah.
     “Earle's lyrics describe the United States as 'the land of the infidel.’ Those fighting Osama bin Laden's declared jihad against the United States and Jews are said to have hearts 'pure and strong.’ The song says when Lindh dies, he will 'rise up to the sky like Jesus.’"

Today has yet to feature Toby Keith's #1 Courtesy of the Red White & Blue, but on Monday it showcased Steve Earle's yet to be released John Walker's Blues

Far from being embarrassed by the song, Today, after having ignored Keith’s song, which he has been singing for months and which has been out for a month on a number 1 album, the show was proud of its “get,” plastering “Today Exclusive” in the top corner of the screen.

Earle admitted he’s not a big star: “I don't get played on that many mainstream radio stations any way and I haven't in a long time and I've made that choice. I get played more on public radio stations than I do anyplace else.” He rationalized his pro-Lindh stance: “I felt like, that we needed a target because we couldn't get Osama Bin Laden and, and I saw a lot of that hate being directed at this kid."

Lauer was far from hostile to Earle, wondering if he was “surprised” by criticism of the song for being “anti-American” and asking softball questions like: "So why did you feel you wanted to write this song in the first place? What was it about the story of John Walker Lindh that captured your attention?" And, noting that “comparing” Lindh to Jesus “has gotten the attention of some people. What do you think about that?"

It isn’t as if Today hasn’t had an opportunity to showcase Keith, who had a natural news hook in his dispute with Peter Jennings over why he was cut from ABC’s Independence Day special on which he planned to sing Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue. In late July he was in New York City to promote the album, “Vanished,” on which the song is featured.

The CyberAlert linked above also provides links to where you can hear an audio clip of Keith’s song or an excerpt of the video for it. For all the background on the Jennings/Keith matter, the lyrics to the song which led Jennings to boot Keith from his show and a RealPlayer clip of Keith singing the song for CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, refer back to the June 14 CyberAlert: http://www.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/2002/cyb20020614.asp#3

(Neither ABC’s Good Morning America, no surprise given how he has called Jennings a liar, nor CBS’s Early Show have brought Keith aboard.)

But on Monday, August 19, Today was more excited about a song that will not be released on CD until late-September.

MRC analyst Geoffrey Dickens noticed how Today kept plugging the upcoming segment which aired in the relatively prominent 7:30am half hour. (Recall that Today didn’t put Ann Coulter on until the lowest-rated half hour, 9:30am.)

Substitute co-host Campbell Brown announced at the top of the show: "And John Walker Lindh is back in the news but this time it's with a twist. The so-called American Taliban is the subject of a song called John Walker's Blues by country star Steve Earle and in it Earle imagines the world from Walker's point-of-view. And now some are calling Earle anti-American and even calling for a boycott of the album. In a Today exclusive Steve Earle will be here in our next half-hour to sing the song for the first time in public and respond to the criticism."

Later she noted: "Coming up in our next half-hour what was American Taliban John Walker Lindh thinking?"
Lauer touted: "In a Today exclusive we'll hear from country music star Steve Earle who tries to answer that question. Do the lyrics to his song John Walker's Blues make him anti-American? After your local news."

Lauer at the top of the 7:30am half hour: "Coming up in this half-hour country singer Steve Earle has ignited a firestorm of criticism and controversy with a song called John Walker's Blues, which some charge seeks to justify even glorify the actions of American Taliban, John Walker Lindh. In a Today exclusive Earle is here to sing that song for us and respond to the criticism for the first time."

     Lauer set up the actual segment: "Country music star and Grammy nominee Steve Earle has a new album coming out called Jerusalem and one song on it has kicked up a storm of controversy. John Walker's Blues, which has yet to be released, is written from American Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh's point-of-view. Critics have called Earle anti-American and gone as far as to call for a ban of the album. Steve Earle good morning, nice to have you here."
     Steve Earle: "It's good to be here."
     Lauer: "This doesn't even come out 'til the end of September this album Jerusalem, right? So, so someone gets a hold of a copy of this song John Walker's Blues. Are you surprised word on this has spread as quickly as it has?"
     Earle: "Well I'm certainly surprised that it's spread two months before the record came out. I was on vacation and then we started hearing that a local talk radio show guy in Nashville, Steve Gill, got a hold of a copy of it from a journalist who had written a piece for the New York Post and he was looking for comments and it sort of went from there."
     Lauer: "So why did you feel you wanted to write this song in the first place? What was it about the story of John Walker Lindh that captured your attention?"
     Earle: "I have a 20 year-old son."
     Lauer helpfully noted: "And John Walker Lindh is 20 years-old too."
     Earle: "He's 20 years-old. It's really that simple and, and it was the, you know I didn't, I didn't think anybody else was gonna write this song. And it was just 20 year-olds aren't done yet. And I believed a lot of stuff when I was 20 years-old with all my heart that I don't believe any more. And I felt like, that we needed a target because we couldn't get Osama Bin Laden and, and I saw a lot of that hate being directed at this kid."
     Lauer: "Do, in your lyrics, in your opinion, you'll sing the song for us in a few minutes, in your opinion are the lyrics supportive of John Walker Lindh?"
     Earle: "They're actually not. They're an attempt to get inside his head and sing the song from his viewpoint. And of course I'm speculating there because we've had very, very little access to John Walker Lindh. The only things that came out of John Walker Lindh's mouth that are in the song, you know, I saw on television just like everybody else did. And they are in the song. And a lot of the song is, is what I learned about Islam and, and this revelation of how ignorant we are all about Islam in this country, just from the research that I did trying to make the song work."
     Lauer: "When you hear comments in the New York Post, quote, 'Twisted ballad honors Tali-rat.', 'American Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh glorified and called Jesus-like.' Steve Gill, the guy you mentioned in Nashville says, quote, 'The song celebrates and glorifies a traitor of this country’ and he goes on to say 'Steve Earle runs the risk of becoming the Jane Fonda of the war on terrorism by embracing John Walker and his Tali-buddies.'"
     Earle: "Just don't hold your breath on the aerobics tapes."
     Lauer: "Surprise you the comments? They are very strong, they're calling for a ban of the album."

Earle: "Not really. I mean, this, this is one song on a record that's, that's, that's a pretty, admittedly a pretty political record. I mean my last record was a lot of chick songs. But the world's changed a lot since then and, and so I'm writing about things that, that are going on around me and I'm assuming characters and singing with their voices. And I've done that before. This is my 11th album and I've always done that."
Lauer: "Why don't you sing it for us and we'll talk on the other side. This is John Walker's Blues."

I'm just an American boy raised on MTV
And I've seen all them kids in soda pop ads
And none of 'em looked like me
So I started lookin' around for a light out of the dim
And the first thing I heard that made sense was the word
Of Mohammed, peace be upon him

If my daddy could see me now – chains around my feet
Well he don't understand that sometimes a man's gotta fight for what he believes
And I believe God is great, all praise due to him
And if I should die, I'll rise up to the sky
Just like Jesus, peace be upon him

We came to fight the jihad and our hearts were pure and strong
And when death filled the air, we all offered up prayers
And prepared for our martyrdom
But Allah has some other plan, some secret not revealed
Now they're dragging me back with my head in a sack
To the land of the infidel

Lauer picked up he interview: "Steve Earle. Let me read, if you will, some lyrics from the song, 'If my daddy could see me now -- chains around my feet, you don't understand that sometimes a man has to fight for what he believes and I believe God is great all praise due to him and if I should die I'll rise up in the sky, just like Jesus, peace be upon him.' Comparing or, or even mentioning Jesus in this song has gotten the attention of some people. What do you think about that?"
Earle: "Well Matt. But, but that comes back to, where that line came from was my own ignorance of Islam and, and doing the research for it just trying to learn the Arabic words in the chorus and all that. I went on Islam.com and what I found was, that, something I didn't know was every time a Muslim say the name Jesus he says, 'peace be upon him,' because Jesus was recognized as, as the last prophet before Mohammed. And I never knew that and I don't think you could find one in 10,000 Americans that knew that. And that's why it's in the song."

     Lauer: "And when you say, 'Now they're dragging me back with my head in a sack to the land of the infidel,' what do you say to people who, who are going to hear that when it comes out in September and say, 'I don't, I don't want to hear this song I think it should be boycotted, it should be banned on radio stations?'"
     Earle: "Well I think it's-”
     Lauer: "I mean it's freedom of speech for you to write it and say it."
     Earle: "Right.”
     Lauer: "Is it their right to say boycott it as well?"
     Earle: "Well sure it is. And, and I don't get played on that many mainstream radio stations any way and I haven't in a long time and I've made that choice. I get played more on public radio stations than I do anyplace else. Occasionally I get played on commercial radio stations with the odd record, I make a lot of different kinds of records. But it, for me it's, it's a matter of when you assume a character you have to know as much as you can about that character and try to get in that voice. And I've always done it. There's been a, I've written about more despicable characters and in the voice of more despicable characters than John Walker Lindh."
     Lauer wrapped up: "The song is called John Walker's Blues. The album is called Jerusalem, out at the end of September. Steve Earle, thanks for your time."

Keith’s lyrics probably embarrass the Today producers while they are proud to highlight something which draws attention to how Americans are intolerant haters. -- Brent Baker

The issue is if the song was a glorification of Walker or not.

That's part of the issue. The rest of the issue is why the media is quick to play a song from an artist who is "trying to get into the head" of a traitor to the U.S., but is unwilling to play a song that is into the head of a patriot (because the songwriter is the patriot).

Oh, but you see, we need to understand people like Lindh and what it is that makes them want to destroy 2700 people or more in a single blow. You should never want to put a boot in his a$$.</sarcasm>

(BAAARRRRRRFFFFFFFF)

Now I feel better.

Shalom.

Charlie Robison, huh? He's a lib, you know. And you must be disgusted by his glorification of drug use. From "My Hometown" (which Charlie said is his favorite of his own songs):

Well, we worked eighty hours makin' time and a half, but La Grange was too damn hot/We drove back home at the end of the week, and we spent it all on pot.

How can you spend your money on a guy who glorifies pot-smoking? Ever heard the song (from the album "Step Right Up") called "The Preacher"? Very anti-Christian.

In "Loving County", Charlie sings about a guy (using the first person point of view) murdering a woman to steal her diamond ring, to get a girl to marry him. Glorifying murder, there.

Are you starting to get my point?

Know who one of Charlie's songwriting idols is? Mister Steve Earle. Listen to "John O'Reilly" on "Step Right Up." It's a carbon copy of Steve's "Dixieland," right down to the Irish character and use of a tin whistle.

Why should I try to imagine what Lindh was thinking? Why should I care what someone fighting against American interests was thinking? I'm not in psy-ops. I don't have to understand the enemy in order to fight him.

You don't have to try. I don't really care. But the author of the post I was replying to was trying and not doing a very good job of it. I would suggest, however, that if you decide to try, that you actually contemplate the issue instead of flying off the handle without thinking like so many other posters in this thread.

Of course, it's a free country and people are free to think in any twisted way they want to. But that puts no moral obligation on me to listen to their twisted thoughts or try to understand them.

I completely agree and I don't believe I have ever put forth the notion that anyone has an obligation to listen.

Anyone, and I mean anyone who has any reaction to the idea of destroying 2800 or more people in a single act of violence other than to want to destroy the perps is beyond fathoming to me. There are some thoughts I'd rather not understand.

It is unfathomable to me as well. For the life of me I can't understand why people following Mao/Stalin/Hitler were hoodwinked either. It is an interesting question for me to contemplate however. If you would rather not try to understand them then don't. As we both have said, you have no obligation.

Sure, I would rather that have happened to Lindh but it is a somewhat intriguing story as to how he got so far away from mainstream America.

Only if it wants to spend some time on how you can keep it from happening to your kid. But then you might find out (unless I'm mixing up my stories) that his father "turned gay" and that had something to do with it so we can't go down that path ...

Lots of kids do interesting things. If you want to tell a good story, tell about a kid who went to work for FDNY. Leave stories about terrorists and traitors to terrorists and traitors.

Shalom.

Oh, but you see, we need to understand people like Lindh and what it is that makes them want to destroy 2700 people or more in a single blow. You should never want to put a boot in his a$$

I am one that is intrigued by the question of how did he end up where he is now. I also want to put a boot in his @$$. I mentioned earlier in the thread that I think he should be tried for treason and then executed. I do not believe the two are mutually exclusive.

For the life of me I can't understand why people following Mao/Stalin/Hitler were hoodwinked either. It is an interesting question for me to contemplate however.

Check out the Stanley Milgram experiment in behavoral psychology, and forgive me if I mangled his name. It's been over 20 years since I studied that stuff. Maybe people followed Mao/Stalin/Hitler because people sympathetic to their ideas got so much airplay?

It's a thought.

Shalom.

Writing the song in the wake of 911 was Earls attempt to lift himself out of the county fair touring gigs he stuck himself in,

Don't want to sound like a broken record, but you know not of what you speak. If you'd followed his career, you'd know that he long ago eschewed commercial success. As I've said in this thread, he never sells more than 200K records, but never less than 100K.

As for gigs, the types of venues have never changed, and he's not looking to do that with this record.

His main motivation for writing this batch of political songs -- according to him -- was his alarm at passage of the Patriot Act. And I've seen many libertarians on this board voice the same concerns.

How can you spend your money on a guy who glorifies pot-smoking?

OK, you are obviously brain damaged, so I will type this real slow so you can keep up. Jimmy Buffett sang a song about robbing a gas station, but he was not advocating commtting armed robbery. Johnny Cash sang a song about stealing car parts from a factory where he supposedly worked, but he wasn't necessarily advocating embezzlement. Clint Eastwood played an outlaw who hunted down and killed U.S. soldiers, but he certainly wasn't advocating it.

There is a big difference. It's so big, your brain is obviously not capable of comprehending it.

Are you starting to get my point?

Yeah, I'm starting to understand that you have absolutley no common sense and don't see the difference between singing a song about something and getting on a soap box to preach it.

I've only listened to one of Charlie's cds, and I like it. I make no apologies about it. But if I ever see him up on a soapbox, trying to use his status as an entertainer to advocate (Key word here, try using your dictionary, if you know how) left wing politics, any of his cds in my home will go in the trash, without hesitation.

ad·vo·cate
Pronunciation: 'ad-v&-k&t, -"kAt
Function: noun
1 : one that pleads the cause of another; specifically : one that pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court
2 : one that defends or maintains a cause or proposal

What your brain fired heroin junky idol does in his personal life is no business of mine, but when he decides to jump into the political waters, I have every right to decide if I'm going to give him my money for his next heroin fix or for his next contribution to a political organization I despise.

The fact that you are incapable of seperating yourself from your celebrity idols, regardless of their actions puts you in the same class of people as the Klinton apologists. It demonstrates a lack of moral fiber on your part, and frankly, it evokes in me a sense of pity for you.

He doesn't do heroin, and hasn't in eight years. It demonstrates a lack of moral fiber on your part, and frankly, it evokes in me a sense of pity for you.

So, I have a lack of moral fiber because I buy Steve Earle's records. Thanks for clearing that up.

You've got me there, I guess.

Dang! It must be tough being as perfect as you guys. Never once:

- Reading a murder novel
- Seeing a murder mystery movie (BTW, doe s George Lucas advocate killing through his Star Wars franchise?)
- Watching a sprting event (as they have beer commericals...and stuff)
- Reading a newspaper - after all, they do report on murders/robberies/etc.
- Reading a magazine - see above
- Watching television - etc., etc., etc.

Must be fun at your house...

BTW, have your read all of Gurn's posts? He has said repeatedly that he disagrees with Earle's politics but believes he is a great songwriter. How, exactly, is that "incapable of separating"? Is it not possible to enjoy one's work while disagreeing with the views of the artist? I thuroughly enjoy the early works of R.E.M. but think Michael Stipe is a nutball. Is that not possible in your world?

Do you watch ESPN? It's owned by Disney, which is run by Michael Eisner, a Clinton supporter

I don't watch ESPN. I don't watch Disney either. Nor do I watch CNN, PMSNBC, NBC and a majority of the other stations available. In fact, if it was possible to unprogram stations from my cable box, it would make my channel surfing a lot more pleasurable, because I wouldn't even have to look at those stations in passing.

In fact, the more liberal garbage I find on tv, the less I watch it. I'm certainly gaining a good understanding of those people who say they have even rid their homes of televisions. During the last week, My tv has only been on for a total of about 10 hours. About an hour every morning while I'm waking up and getting ready for work I have it on FoxNews, and I watch "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill" when I get home from work. After that, the tv is usually turned off.

"So the Today show is now giving lots of free publicity to a singer who glorifies the terrorists."

Why not? They carried the water for a president that cozied up to terrorists around the world while hobbling our military. Just more of the same.

I think the main reason they are now shunning Toby Kieth is that he committed the cardinal sin of calling fellow liberal journalist a "liar". They really hate that. Otherwise, they would have brought him in so they could ridicule the song as being excessively jingoistic.

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