Dixie Chicken Out

Laura's Weekly E-Blast | 17 March 03 | Laura Ingraham

[murphyb]

Dixie Chicken Out

(Houston, TX) Spend just a few hours at the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and you realize how moronic the Dixie Chicks were to trash President George Bush in London last week. The 70,000+ people who showed up for the final day of this 23-day extravaganza at the new Reliant Stadium are the Chicks’ fan base—or, I should say, were their fan base.

All I had to do was mention the name of the Grammy Award-winning country trio to elicit immediate disgust and anger from housewives, business executives, and event staff and volunteers. “Who do they think buys their albums?!” asked Ellie, a catering employee. “I whipped my copy of ‘Fly’ (the Chicks first CD) across my daughter’s soccer field so the dog could chew it up,” laughed a high-profile restaurant owner.

The fury surrounds the now-infamous comment Chicks’ lead singer Natalie Maines made to a packed London audience that she was “embarrassed” that George W. Bush was from Texas. Apparently unaware that Americans at home have electronic access to her inane comments abroad, Maines was blown away by the landslide at home. Within a few days, radio stations in Texas were announcing on-air boycotts, fans were ripping up tickets to the groups’ upcoming American tour, thousands of others were vowed never to purchase another Chicks’ CD.

The reality of losing gobs of money in today’s struggling record business slapped Maines across her chubby little cheeks.

The official Dixie Chicks website posted this “apology” 4 days after the lead singers’ initial remarks: "As a concerned American citizen, I apologize to President Bush because my remark was disrespectful. I feel that whoever holds that office should be treated with the utmost respect. We are currently in Europe and witnessing a huge anti-American sentiment as a result of the perceived rush to war. While war may remain a viable option, as a mother, I just want to see every possible alternative exhausted before children and American soldiers' lives are lost. I love my country. I am a proud American."

To forgive is divine, but to forget what lies at the core of Maines’ original comments and those of the more vicious anti-war/anti-Bush brigades is ill-advised and dangerous.

Maines’ outburst is simply the latest and loudest of the caterwauls coming from those who believe they are intellectually and morally superior to the average American who supports this president and his view of the dangers posed by Saddam. People like Susan Sarandon, Jimmy Carter and Jessica Lange feel it’s their solemn duty to tutor the rest of us who have neither the time nor the money hang out at peace rallies or travel to Baghdad courtesy of the Ministry of Information. Most of what we hear from the “anti-war” crowd hasn’t been reasoned debate; it has served only to foment anti-American sentiment abroad. Those like Maines who go overseas to malign our leaders merely help those who are cheering on the demise of America’s global super power status.

When hit with charges of ‘anti-Americanism’ these elites invariably respond that they “support the troops, but not the war.” But why take their word for it? Let’s ask the troops to see how much they feel supported by the likes of Sean Penn and Danny Glover, who believe we should have more faith in the intentions of the UN and Saddam, and less in our President. Imagine a USO tour, lead by Jessica Lange, Tim Robbins and Bill Maher. Neither can I.

When the war is over, when Saddam is gone, when his hidden weapons caches are on display for the world to see, and when Iraqis are living in freedom, we must not allow anyone to forget the obstacles we had to clear to make it all happen. The French and their ideological soul-mates here in the US will try to wallpaper over their previous comments and actions. To honor the memory of those who will lose their lives in this war, we cannot allow that to happen. We do not want to find ourselves struggling to climb out of this same UN-manufactured quicksand the next time we face a threat of weapons of mass destruction.

The closing ceremony at the rodeo Sunday night featured a parade with surprise guest “41,” former President George Bush, who rode around the stadium in an open-air truck, waving to the deafening crowd, no doubt his mind and his heart with his son in Washington. Then Lee Greenwood sang “Proud to be an American,” before the country legends Alabama kicked off what was billed as its final concert.

“You know the Dixie Chicks played here last year,” my friend Dan said, as the fiddle music electrified the stadium. “Somehow I don’t think they’ll be back.”

[DoughtyOne]

[axel f]

I love Laura Ingraham.

[areafiftyone]

THE DITZY CHICKS - LIVE FROM PARIS

[smicah]

They have lost a huge fan base in the military and in the country music world. Many stations are no longer playing Dixie Chick music for a week and some forever. Including in Twentynine Palms, CA where there is a Marine Corps base.

[CollegeRepublican]

I just bought the George Strait Live Performance from the Houston Astrodome that was recorded at last year's Houston Rodeo. George H. bush was there and apparently George and George are friends. It is a great CD.

It is really sad that the Dixie Chicks are so liberal. They are good musicians. Too bad the political sides of their brains do not perform as well as the musical sides.

[SerpentDove]

bttt

[Airborne Longhorn]

I was there at Reliant last night for the final Rodeo 03 show with Alabama.

At one point, a photo of the Ditzie's flashed across the stream, setting off thunderous "BOO's" across the stadium...awesome!

Then, a procession of dignitaries on horesback and wagons came in. Surprise guest was Pres George Bush, 41! The crowd went nuts!!

These Chicks have just crapped in their nest!

[MaggieMay]

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you. Love your CD cover plus song list. On my ballot I voted for George W. Bush and to the unpatriotic Dixie Chicks, I vote to hit them where it counts, in the wallet.

[thetruckster]

Serious nice rant.

However, I believe that people can support the troops and not the war. There are mothers everywhere who would rather have their courageous sons and daughters deployed in peace times. There are mothers everywhere who are supportive of both their children in the service and are rah-rah-ing about the war as well. Few have yet to see their kids arrive home in boxes (or the more efficient bags that have been purchased this time). When that happens, the mothers will be proud of their child's efforts to keep freedom and know their children died for a just cause. That pride must carry them through the rest of their life as they miss their children and think of what might have been as they ponder the grandchildren they will never have. That is a kind of heartache no one can know unless it is lived. And it stinks.

And another thing that stinks . . . Don't waste your money on seeing ANYONE in Reliant Stadium. The acoustics reek in a grand and memorable fashion.

[MarMema]

Glad to hear it. I hope the crowds do not forget.

[bradactor]

I heard on the radio today there was a thunderous standing ovation after Alabama said they were proud to be in the state of Texas.

I am too by every inch of my body. I have moved in and out of this state through the years but always come back.

This is where I plan to stay to be honest if I can until my dying days
Brad

[Airborne Longhorn]

Not on your life. We have long memories in Texas...

[samtheman]

Statement from Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks

"As a concerned American citizen, I apologize to President Bush because my remark was disrespectful. I feel that whoever holds that office should be treated with the utmost respect. We are currently in Europe and witnessing a huge anti-American sentiment as a result of the perceived rush to war. While war may remain a viable option, as a mother, I just want to see every possible alternative exhausted before children and American soldiers' lives are lost. I love my country. I am a proud American."

First she panders left... then she panders right.

[conservativecorner]

BUMP!!

[John Jorsett]

This has to be one of the dumbest moves ever. Their career is going to do a "Challenger-like re-entry" as P.J. O'Rourke put it recently. I also noticed a sudden flurry of posing of Dixie Chick music to alt.binaries.sounds.mp3 too. I infer that either those who approve of her remarks are putting the songs up, or detractors are sabotaging the group by making their songs available for free. Probably a combination of both, although the former people aren't exactly doing the group a favor by giving away the Chicks' product.

[Samwise]

Chicks’ lead singer Natalie Maines made to a packed London audience that she was “embarrassed” that George W. Bush was from Texas.

I understand how she feels. I am embarrassed that I used to like the Dixie Chicks.

[Hodar]

I don't mind people being Liberal, they have an opinion, an I have a different view.

But, I have a hard time with outright stupidity. When opening at a town, say things like "It's great to be here in (insert name of town here). I just love (insert name of resturant, tourist site, landmark or native dish). My fans are the best", and clap-trap like that. Offend no one. Fans buy T-shirts, caps and albums. They are what pay for a life of luxury, private jets, and retirement to a lifestyle we can only fantasize about. As an enterainer, they are there to entertain, so do it; make people happy they came, offend no one.

To STUPIDLY alienate your fan base, by saying something assinine is something that I cannot forgive. Other stupid things to say include "I hate (Tabasco sauce, Homosexuals, Cowboys, Chewing Gum, Hispanics, Democrats, fat people), people who like that ... are ugly", does little else than divide your base. And if you were the sole provider of Country Music, things may be different; but the Dixie Chicks are just a footnote in the history of Country Music.

I think that we saw the 'Real Dixie Chicks' when they thought we weren't looking. Appologies at this point are nothing more than lies designed to sell more of their product. And that's a product I can live without.

[happydogdesign]

[Hodar]

I have to agree with you 100%. I've been in Texas, and relocated out of it (jobs being what they are). I recently had the opportunity to re-locate back here; and I'm gonna stay in Tx.