Today Show Blacklists Toby Keith But Features Singer Glorifying Johnny Taliban

Media Research Center ^ | August 20, 2002 | Brent Baker

[PJ-Comix]

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.

     On July 24 he appeared on FNC’s Fox & Friends as well as on NBC’s cable channel where he was featured at 6:30am EDT on MSNBC’s Imus in the Morning. For more about those appearances: http://www.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/2002/cyb20020726.asp#9

     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.)

     Keith’s album, “Unleashed,” is holding at number 1 on Billboard’s “Country Album” chart: http://www.billboard.com/billboard/charts/country.jsp

     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."

     Who is calling for a “ban”?

     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."

     Playing his guitar, Earle sang the song with these lyrics:

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

Chorus 
A shadu la ilaha illa Allah 
There is no God but God

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

A shadu la ilaha illa Allah 
There is no God but God

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

A shadu la ilaha illa Allah 
A shadu la ilaha illa Allah

     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."

     What are the chances that many Muslims really do that?

     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."

     Steve Earle’s Web page: http://www.steveearle.com/

     And Toby Keith’s: http://www.tobykeith.com

     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

[Fearless Flyers]

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.

That only proves he is an idiot or a liar. Al Qaida Johnny was caught on tape being offered help by Michael Spann and his Partner to get him out of the prison and back to the United States. The trader refused their help preferring to stay with his comrades, at that point relinquished his citizenship. So you see Johnny Al Qaida has nothing to do with the Patriot Act, because Johnny Walker is not a U.S. citizen read your passport.

You continue to be blinded by your idol worship.

[PsyOp]

"Put away your vitriol and think for a minute. Read the lyrics again (and maybe another time) and try to imagine Lindh singing it and see if it doesn't make more sense."

Perhaps you should follow your own advice. Earle is a no talent hack and knows it. He has done what all no talent hacks do when they are desperate to pay the rent, they do something outrageous that they know will get everyone's attention.

He wrote the song to make money. He knew that it would put him in the media spotlight and boost sales of his records accross the board. He deliberately wrote it in such a way as to be provocative and allow him the excuse of saying "I was trying to get inside his head."

The only thing he was trying to get inside of was a tv studio for the kind of interview Matt Liar gave him. His "song in the first-person" is a red-herring sopp for apologists to defend him with.

[Wyatt's Torch]

Can you read? Let's try this again...

His main motivation for writing THIS BATCH OF POLITICAL SONGS -- according to him -- was his alarm at passage of the Patriot Act.

Not just this one specifically. This comment relates to THE ENTIRE ALBUM If you are going to argue a point, at least try to get it in context.

[Wyatt's Torch]

See this post for a response as he knows Earle a lot better than I do Post 131

As for "no talent hack" ther is, of course, no accounting for taste. BTW, since you have proof that he wrote it to make money, I'll be awaiting the link to said proof.

[Fearless Flyers]

I'll refer you to PsyOp's poast which is more believable then what your spewing.

[Wyatt's Torch]

I'm anxiously await all the "proof" he says he has that this was all planned and all marketing. Pehaps he can help you attempt to make your points as well.

[Gurn]

You continue to be unable to substantively debate the central issue: Whether the song in question "glorifies" John Walker.

You've given no analysis of the lyrics, only sweeping generalizations: "Obviously, Taliban John is a trader [sic], so Steve Earle is glorifying him."

You're incapable of critical thinking. You'll not find a single post of mine defending Steve Earle's politics. In fact, I'm on record time and again saying I think he's dead wrong.

My gripe is with low-brow dullards who can't distinguish between a song written in the first person, from the subject's point of view, and political beliefs in and of themselves.

I'll grant that there can be reasonable disagreement as to what the song means and says. But you can't even offer an argument based on that.

Grow up and learn to read.

[Wyatt's Torch]

Oh, by the way, Gurn's post was a direct quote from the interview on FNC. PsyOps, and yours, is pure conjecture.

[auggy]

My conclusion ,which I had before I read this post, is the Liberals and Media dispise this country and all that it stands for. Is there anyone out there that thinks differently? They are nothing more than Communists, with a capitol C. I dispise them.

[JavaTheHutt]

Once again, I repost this, since you also seem to have brain damage that prevents you from comprehending the meening of the word advocate:

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

There is a big, big, big, difference between depicting something in entertainment, and advocating it. As I said to guru, the difference is when these liberal idiots think their celebrity status entitles them to preach their left wing ideologies to us, ala Erin "the mushroom man" Sorkin and "The West Wing", or ala Alec Baldwin threatening to leave the country if Bush is elected, or Barbara Striesand setting up a political website to further the lies and propaganda of the DNC, or in this case, Steve Earle taking up the cause of Johnny Taliban Walker in his song.

As for your list:

- Reading a murder novel
I love a good murder mystery novel, but I usually read non fiction.
- Seeing a murder mystery movie (BTW, doe s George Lucas advocate killing through his Star Wars franchise?)
Not only do I enjoy murder mystery novels, I enjoy murder mystery movies too. No, George Lucas does NOT advocate killing through his Star Wars movies, anymore than Saving Private Ryan advocated murder. You'll notice I used the word "murder" instead of "killing", the two words have different implications in their meanings. Maybe you can find an adult to show you how to use a dictionary so you can see the difference for yourself.
- Watching a sprting event (as they have beer commericals...and stuff)
No, I don't watch any sprting events, or any sporting events either. It's not because I'm opposed to the beer commercials though. I'm opposed to sitting on my butt being a couch potato all weekend long, getting fat and lazy watching someone else play sports when I could be out playing sports or doing something myself.
- Reading a newspaper - after all, they do report on murders/robberies/etc.
The only newspapers available to me where I currently live are U.S.A. Today, and the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. So no, I don't read the newspaper, not anymore. I can get my news online, without the liberal bias, thank you.
- Reading a magazine - see above
Funny you should mention that. I was just discussing that with my fiancee about a week ago. I spent a couple of hours going through the magazine rack at Barnes and Noble, trying to find a good magazine to read. Their were some special interest magazines regarding computers, hunting, and firearms, etc..., but I didn't find any news related magazines that weren't very biased and slanted towards the left in their coverage. Do you know of any good ones?
- Watching television - etc., etc., etc.
I believe I've already stated that I watch very little television. I don't have people coming up to me the next day asking me if I saw something on tv and feeling left out because I did not. I don't miss it.

Example:

I've heard people say that the Julia Roberts movie, Erin the Crack-Ho-B**ch is pretty good, but I'll never know for sure. Nor do I really care. I won't watch any movie with Julia Roberts in it. I assure you I don't lose any sleep at night over it.

I know someone who refuses to watch any R-rated movies. Him and his wife made a decision based on their morals and their religious beliefs. They feel that if people in a place as morally corrupt (their words, not mine) as Hollywood feel that a movie is so bad that it deserves an "R" rating, they don't want to see it. They don't make exceptions. It doesn't make a difference if the R rating is received for language, violence or nudity.

[Gurn]

Steve Earle taking up the cause of Johnny Taliban Walker in his song.

Still waiting on you to show me, using the lyrics, how Steve "took up the cause of Walker. Whenever you get around to it is fine.

"Him and his wife made a decision..."

Your grammar is terrible, incidentally.

[PsyOp]

"As for "no talent hack" ther is, of course, no accounting for taste. BTW, since you have proof that he wrote it to make money, I'll be awaiting the link to said proof."

Boy, you got me there. I forgot that all singer-song writers only do it for "the Art" with no thought of being paid, made famous, or other such purile interests. How could I have been so blind! Earle was so cogent and literate when explaining away his reasons for writing the song! I stand corrected and humbled! (/sarcasm)

The link you seek is the one missing in your head between logical and rational thought. Cause and effect. He states clearly that his work isn't getting any play (i.e. he's not getting any royalty checks the bank doesn't laugh at when he cashes them). The name of his new album alone, when compared to the news of the day is clearly opportunistic.

His is the oldest ploy in the book. And as for grammy nominations - they mean nothing. Damn near everyone get nominated. What counts is whether people will buy it.

And you're right - there is no accounting for taste. Yours in particular!

[JavaTheHutt]

Your grammar is terrible, incidentally

Well it matches your ability to think.

[Gurn]

What do you know of Steve Earle's career, and of his body of work? I've followe him since '86. Closely.

CMT did an episode of "Inside Fame" on SE in June. It shows that in the early part of his career, he was influenced most heavily by Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark (not that you've ever heard of them, because they haven't sold any platinum records.) He said, "They decided, early on, that making good art was more important than making money."

That's the model his career has followed. He's never made a lot of money. His political views are far left. His anti-death penalty crusade, in and of itself, is enough to alienate him from the drones who buy most country music records.

Accordingly, it defies logic to imply that he's done this song and this album, now, because he's all of a sudden concerned about record sales.

FYI, he owns his own record label, distributing music for similarly, non-comercially successful bands you've never heard of: Six-String Drag, Marah, The V-Roys, Cheri Knight, etc., etc.

You're not only wrong about the record-sales angle, you refuse to acknowledge the forgoing facts. In fact, you offer no evidence to support your position, only conclusory allegations.

You're not a fan of Emmylou Harris, by any chance, are you? I ask, because she's appeared on three of Steve's last four records, and herself performs at an annual benefit concert dubbed "The Campaign for a Landmine-Free World."

So, if you have any of her cd's, I guess you'll use them for coasters now, huh?

[Gurn]

Are you, or are you not, going to show me where the lyrics to "John Walker's Blues" "take up the cause" or "glorify" John Walker Lindh?

Didn't think so.

[Fearless Flyers]

Just because you can quote something from a celebrity trying to dig himself out of a hole does not make it truth. In my opinion it is more then likely false, especially out of the mouth of a self proclaimed drug adict.

But I can understand why an idol worshiper would have to believe it.

[Wyatt's Torch]

Since you can't read I'll have to reiterate - Of course many artists do it solely for the money, I never said they didn't. If Earle did it for the money he could have written some happy crap that could have gotten airplay on all the vapid Country stations but he didn't. Why?

Oh, and is "opportunistic" another word for "in the news"? How horrific a concept! He should be caned. If he was truly opportunistic wouldn't it make sense to write something that 99% of the people wouldn't find objectionable? After all, if you're not with us you're with the terrorists...right?

No need personally insulting musical taste. I have no idea what kind of music you like and frankly I don't care. Listen to whatever you want.

[JavaTheHutt]

Are you, or are you not, going to show me where the lyrics to "John Walker's Blues" "take up the cause" or "glorify" John Walker Lindh?

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

Didn't think so

Proof positive that you have the same level of intelligence as the little land mines my dog leaves lying around the back yard.