Is tomorrow’s NFL Opening Kickoff 2005 special turning into an anti-Bush fest? Some conservative bloggers think so, since Kanye West, the Rolling Stones, Green Day, and Maroon 5 are on the bill. (Maroon 5? Pundit Michelle Malkin criticizes the band for performing at last year’s Democratic National Convention, though they played at a non-partisan Rock the Vote event. However, frontman Adam Levine had harsh and occasionally profane words for President Bush in this Rolling Stone interview.)
The NFL, however, is still in post-Janet mode, and it will apparently be keeping a tighter leash on its performers than NBC did at last week’s hastily assembled telethon. For one thing, the Kanye and Rolling Stones segments will be pre-taped. It’s not like the Stones are going to be allowed to sing ”Sweet Neo Con.” And West said in a press conference yesterday that he’ll stick to the script during tomorrow’s ABC broadcast. On the topic of governmental response to Katrina, West said, ”I can’t say anything about it or wear any T-shirts that say anything about it.”
Besides, its absurd to think that the NFL wants to alienate anyone by courting political controversy. ”We are working with the Rolling Stones, Kanye West and Green Day for their entertainment value, not for their political views,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told the Boston Herald. ”We don’t anticipate any issues with our performers.”
By the way, Kanye’s Late Registration is expected to have sold about 900,000 copies this week, as we’ll see when the Billboard chart comes out later today. Chart impact of his comments Friday is apparently zilch.
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What does it say about “free speech” when artists are pre-taped so that any unsavory comments (or “controversial” moments) can be quickly edited out.
First Janet and Justin, Now This?
I actually missed the Superbowl halftime show that featured Janet Jackson’s ‘wardrobe malfunction.’ I read about it the next day, and wondered whatever possessed the NFL to think its fans wanted to see two pop stars perform at the biggest…
I really don’t think that the NFL is going to become a bastion of liberalism, no matter what entertainers are on the opening day bill.
When will these “entertainers” realize that nobody cares about their political views or what they think about the President? We want to be entertained and that’s it! If I wanted to hear their opinions on politics, the President, etc, I would watch them on Larry King or something. Just because you are an entertainer, doesn’t mean that we need to be subject to whatever crap that comes out of your mouth. Also, just because someone is famous, it doesn’t mean that they are any smarter than the viewing public or the nation at large. Sing your song and get the hell out of the way!
So, when all those conservative country singers get together, it’s no big deal, right? Only the 48% of the country who didn’t vote for Bush should not be allowed to assemble in one place or have a contrary opinion. this country is really starting to scare me.
Hey Kanye…we’re havin’ a party. Can you provide the shooters? At least the ‘blacks’ don’t get shot at the President’s parties!!! Shut the hell up!!!
Let’s see… Green Day and the Stones playing for the NFL is too political, or Clint Black marching down the Washington Mall with Donald Rumsfeld for a 9/11 parade?
khia213…who are all of these “conservative country singers?” The most political country singers I can think of are the Dixie Chicks, and we all know what side they’re on! As for Toby Keith, he’s a registered Democrat, he just feels strongly in the idea of patriotism. Who else are you referring to?
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