All the positive spirit of Paul McCartney's visit to the White House Wednesday couldn't take place without some kind of outrage.
NEW! See Poll: Your opinion about Paul McCartney's comment about President Bush at the White House?
First, it was the fact he was being honored himself and not in partnership with John Lennon (as in this NPR blog and this commentary by our John Lennon Examiner) -- even though he mentioned him prominently at the Library of Congress the day before (see our special report with video here).
But it was his comment about George W. Bush that also drew more attention. McCartney has never kept his support of President Obama under wraps.
"Getting this prize would be good enough. But getting it from this president. ...," McCartney said in accepting the Gershwin Award. "When I knew I was coming here tonight I knew I had to say that even though we know you've got lots of really difficult issues to deal with, I just want you to know you have billions of us who are rooting for you. And we know you're going to come through."
But then he continued (see the video below).
"Just before we leave I wanted to say one more time that it's a fantastic honor for the Gershwin family to give me this incredible award and for me to be awarded it by the Library of Congress. And, in fact, after the last eight years, it's great to have a president who knows what a library is."
It does seems rather strange for a British citizen to make such a comment and in the White House, of all places. But on the other hand, this is the land of free speech. And given the conservative outrage onslaught that doesn't seem to have any boundaries of taste continually directed at President Obama since before the election, it's hard to be entirely sympathetic to the criticism.
Charles Lane of the Washington Post called McCartney's comment "obnoxious." That doesn't come close to describing the comments lobbed by almost daily by talkmeisters like Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh against the president AND members of his family, including the Obama children. Sir Paul McCartney only gave 'em back a very miniscule amount of what they've been throwing.
- Beatles Examiner: Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.
If you like the Beatles, you won't want to miss this Beatles Examiner column or our Paul McCartney Examiner, which features news and features not included here. You can subscribe to the Beatles Examiner at the top of this page or the Paul McCartney Examiner, column, at the link. Don't miss either one. They're the first word in the Fab Four news you need to know from the webmaster of Abbeyrd's Beatles Page, the oldest and the best internet site keeping you informed of what's really happening with the Beatles for over 13 years. - Give us subscription love: Beatles Examiner, Paul McCartney Examiner, Vintage Rock 'n' Roll Examiner, TV on DVD Examiner
Comments
Regardless of what might get "dished" out by media types towards public officials, it was a crass and unnecessary slam by Mr. McCartney, who was being honored for his cultural contributions, not his political perceptions.
Paul is my favorite artist, composer, musical performer - bar none. However, like Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks) and her comment several years ago, Paul doesn't have a clue. Both he & Natalie are free, of course, to root for whomever they wish. But liking their music doesn't mean I'm going to give them a free pass on their skewed political views. Sorry Paul. It's not the library that makes a President; it's his policies. And while George Bush was no saint, this guy is wholly incompetent and nationally embarrassing. You're on the wrong team, mate.
Great to see Paul still bucking conservative political correctness after all these years.
Stick to your music, Paul. You showed your political ignorance. I love you, but you're totally wrong about obama. You're not alone, he has a lot of Americans fooled as well. He wants to transform America into a Marxist socialist system, he's hell bent on destroying everything that has made America great and a beacon of Freedom around the World. Say what you will about Bush, he kept us safe after 9-11. obama's working to undo all that.
Paul, what a moron. As Paul is so fond of telling others in his mock Scouse accent "shut up". Once again Paul demonstrates that he can take what should be a class event and turn it into crap. Shame on you. Your idiot commentary only makes you look small.
He's a looser. He's a looser. And he is what he appears to be.
It is not a matter of free speech, it is a matter of decorum. Moreover, there was no limits placed on her speech. I suspect what she and her supporters disliked was the reaction to her comments. The same freedom of speech she enjoyed was used to express dislike of her comments(kind of like "what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander). As tasteless as it was for Natalie Maines to disparage the president over-seas, it would have been far worse had she hurled insults at her host nation's leaders.
"Sir" McCartney, usually the epitome of class and the ultimate capitalist/businessman relative to his field, did not act very knightly. Bad form, Paul.
I don't know why it seems odd that a British citizen makes a comment about Bush, even they know he wasn't a great president. Probably more so than most Americans. My respect and admiration for Sir Paul McCartney has just skyrocketed! And if the Republicans don't like it, it's about time they get just a tiny bit back of their own medicine, as it is very minor compared to the things that have come out of Republicans on Capital Hill, including during things said at the State of the Union Addresses. The Republicans truly are the Party of Hate.
Steve's 100% right here. Paul gave 'em back a tiny bit of what the right wing has been dishing out on a daily basis for many years. I was very happy to read Paul's comments - more power to him!
Oh, so the conservatives cannot take what they have been dishing out in buckets for more than 500 days.... Paul has made no bones about this leanings on the American political scene, no one should be surprised. I liken it to how he said he used to tear the lace off the curtains in the house when he was upset with his parent(s).
I agree it was a out of place decorum wise for Paul to have made this comment at the WH (maybe he could have made the joke outside the actualy ceremony) but you have to admit it was funny and irreverant, just like the Beatles were when they came here.
And I totally agree Steve with your comment about Bill O'Reilly, et al. Tough on a tightrope!
Isn't Paul's girlfriend a Republican?
You pathetic Americans. No sense of humor. You can say that you LIKE Bush but you can't say that you DON'T like him. Hypocrites.
Good for Paul. Great line. Lennon would have been proud. Or jealous. Or both.
John Lennon said if you have the attention of the masses, it's irresponsible to not say something.
You have to commend Paul for showing so much restraint and keeping his comments comical.
Even before Paul made this remark, the anti-Obama fanatics were using the whole ceremony against Obama. Then they were attacking Paul for the "lay off" Obama comment. Whatever Paul said at this ceremony was going to be used against Paul and against Obama. If Paul hadn't made this Bush joke, the right would have been ragging on him about singing to Michelle, or about the comment Paul made that "we're rooting for you."
Personally, I think Paul made an off-the-cuff joke -- like we all do -- and is now realizing that that was not the best place to make it. But it seems the tenor of our national politics these days is to take one little remark and BLOW IT ALL OUT OF PROPORTION, screaming things like "Shut up and sing." We're not about tolerance of differing views and forgiving, are we? We're al about false outrage to score a few political points.
Looks like "Sir Paul" is still trying to be relevant - He never was and never will be equal to Beatle John & he knows it. How much attention & accolades does this guy need? Hie singing sounded terrible - he should just retire. If he wanted to be relevant he should have said something about that oil spill - I'm sure John would be more involved with what's happening to the world today than with bashing an ex-president. How I miss Lennon & Harrison - even more every time I see or hear McCartney.He'll probably live to be 100 & even then will probably be still talking about writing all the Beatle hits - He is obnoxious & not funny at all! Like Gwen & wilhelm said McCartney is just a "loser moron".
Seems the current administration is always around to applaud a Mexican President or an old rock star when either is giving degrading opinions about our country or a past president. Guess the current administration is trying to take the spotlight off their incompetence.
McCartney needs to shut his bloody pie hole and concentrate on his next Yesterday. Obama may know what a Library is but has he ever been in one? He and his staff are all wannabe's...Hate to say this but McCartney is becoming one too...So, shut your shepherd's pie hole and sign autographs.
I certainly hope Paul lives to be 100. I wish George and John would have had the chance, too. Spooky, you're filled with a lot of hate there. Must be stressful to carry all that around. And fyi, Paul did make comments about the oil spill.
Sigh. There goes the neighborhood. There's nothing more tiresome that people who say "shut up and sing." As if music and musicians haven't been commenting on politics and social issues for DECADES.
I say good for Paul for speaking his mind. Bush's actions in Iraq makes him a fair target of mockery by all the people in the world. Right wingers who have a problem with it can stop listening to his music. I doubt he cares.
Charles Lane is a tool and so are the parrots here who use the words "incompetent" and "marxist socialist" as if they have the faintest understanding of what they mean. Project much? Repugs always run on the concept that government (in the words of the immortal Ronnie Raygun) "is the problem" - then, when they're voted in - prove it. President Obama has the toughest load ahead of him that any president has ever inherited, after that inbred chicken hawk Bu$h drove this country off a cliff. While I am not in agreement with everything O has done (wasting far too much time trying to treat the GOP like grownups and not the juvenile primitives that they are), he is to be commended for manning up and bit by bit undoing the damage that the conservatives have wrought upon the US.
Whatever else you can say about Macca, he's not a stupid man. Maybe his remarks were inappropriate in that setting, but I'm quite certain that I speak for many who'd have loved to have unloaded on W publicly.
The key phrase introducing this topic is: ....rather strange for a British citizen to make such a statement and in the White House of all places. Big mistake, Paul. You were not there to make political statements or share your political perceptions. And why is it that show-biz types always think their opinions are so superior to opinions of ordinary citizens; that they somehow are vastly more intelligent than people who are just living their daily lives?
This just proves what most of us already know: Republicans do not believe in freedom of speech. It is okay for them to spread obvious lies and they stain themselves with indignation at any one who dares to express an opposing opinion. What is truly frightning is the Republican attitude that anything they disagree with is socialism and they that they have a right to obstruct the working of democractically elected government.
"Why is it that show-biz types always think their opinions are so superior to opinions of ordinary citizens; that they somehow are vastly more intelligent than people who are just living their daily lives?"
They don't. It's people like you who take a celebrity's opinion and blow it all out of proportion to score political points.
"It is not a matter of free speech, it is a matter of decorum."
Yes, you are absolutely correct - if only John had known his place, we might never have been forced to suffer through any of the greatest music ever created by a group of composers.
Sarcasm - mine.
To come to the White House and insult our country and a former President is the action of a pure idiot.
Hey Rex,
I'm an American and I'm not the least bit insulted that he threw an insult at the idiot that was the last president. Don't speak for me.
Paul didn't insult our country. He made a mild joke about the well-documented shortcomings of our past president. Why is it that conservatives feel they have the right to make the most offensive comments about Obama, and even scream at him during his State of the Union, but somehow can't take a joke about Bush?
Where is everyones sense of humor? Thats a funny line! How many other Bush/Library jokes are there? I agree that this sort of stuff is taken waaay out of context, but then thats what happens when you have 24 hour "news" to fill. Also Woodroofe: he didnt hurl insults, he cracked a joke. Spooky: He wasn't neccesarily trying to be relevent - he cracked a joke. And people like Piccard and Mean Mr. Dijon, clearly dont have a clue...
Who were those "Dixie" folks again? Oh ya, weren't they those obnoxious mouthpieces who faded off into the wallpaper? McCartney just put his and the Beatles legacy in the dumpster.
Let me get this straight: it's perfectly all right to draw a Hitler mustache on thee current president, but it's unacceptable to make a jab at the expense of the last one.
Message to all conservative fatcats: if you are all really offended my the remark, don't go to his concerts anymore. Leave the better seats empty for us open-minded non-fascist fans.
Stay home, write your angry letters & rattle your f*ckin' jewelery from there.
It always painful to know that a friend has committed suicide.
My condolences.
Yeah Rex - you're so right. No right-thinkin', God-fearin', gun totin', teabaggin' 'Murricen is gonna listen to the Beatles again. Hey - maybe now would be a good time to start another round of Beatle bonfires!
Rex, perhaps you'd better check your facts. After Natalie Maines comment about Bush, the Dixie Chicks released Taking the Long Way Around, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard, and sold more than 2 million copies. Not exactly facing into the woodwork. And since then, they've been raising children.
And really, Paul is better off without any humorless fair weather fans who use a mild joke to rant hysterically about Obama. Get a grip.
Sounds good. Although you might try keeping your hot-dog away from the burning vinyl in the future.
I would also point out that a Republican lawmaker in South Carolina yesterday called Obama a "raghead." Where's your "respect for the office" when it comes to racist garbage like that?
Canceled Concerts 2010
dixiechickshenhouse
The worldview of trolls like Rex remains unburdened by facts and reality, as evidenced here.
The old run, dodge, & jump strategy.
Was McCartney in SC too?
Rex, please, you have no idea what you're talking about. The Chicks were set to open for the Eagles, and the Eagles have cancelled the shows.
aahh Mungo... Your making me blush. That must have been you attempting to get over my bridge this morning? Why did you run?
All the Beatles were/are good Socialists working in a generally Capitalist profession. No surprises, Paul is entitled to his opinion and while I may not necessarily agree, I will fight for his right to express it. I do find wealthy Socialists/Liberals a bit hypocritical though, especially those of wealth and celebrity. I never understood why they amass such a fortune while there is so much "suffering, inequality and injustice in the world" to use some of their own buzzwords. If he and others like him REALLY cared he wouldn't have a half billion pounds in the bank, it would be spread to help alleviate these "injustices" they so "passionately" espouse and keep only enough to sustain themselves in a comfortable lifestyle. It's always easy to be generous with other peoples money. He and Obama are "philosophical brothers", he was only toeing the party line. I say all this as a big fan, I've never missed Paul in Atlanta from Wings Over America in '76 to Piedmont Park last year.
I very, very seldom make a comment but I feel compelled for whatever reason to state that if I could have lunch with any 2 people, whether dead or alive, I would love to have it be with John Lennon & Rush Limbaugh. I also note in yesterday's meeting with the media, the President Press Secretary stated, in responding to complaints about what O is doing about the oil spill, "jumping up and down will not 'Fix a Hole in the Ocean.'"
The comment was beneath Paul. It takea no wit and certainly no courage to take a shot at George W. Bush (now out of office 18 months) in front a bunch of D.C. media, entertainment types and Democrats. Yes, there have been a lot of unfair comments from various sources about Obama (just as there are about every president). I expect better from Paul.
Reggie: "I do find wealthy Socialists/Liberals ...
***note this is a tag you are giving...
as for how a person should only keep enough money to be comfortable? Talk about socialist! And how long does that last? Besides,from what I've read, Paul gives quite a bit to charities
"It's always easy to be generous with other peoples money."
***fair enough, but what does that have to do with this article?
"He and Obama are "philosophical brothers", he was only toeing the party line.
***No he only cracked a single joke...
I confess I thought Paul's joke was funny. What's even funnier is listening to all these crazy tea baggers stumble all over themselves to defend Bush's intellect. "His wife was a librarian." Ha. "He went to Ivy League schools." (Can you say legacy admission?)
I have a feeling these crazies are going to harp on this until they force Paul into an apology. Because while it's OK to tear Obama to shreads, call him names, call his wife names, make jokes about his kids, but it's not Ok to poke a bit of fun at Bush.
Rex: I'm not a major Dixie Chicks fan, but check your facts a bit better (I recommend Google) and you'll see the DC's even have a greatest hits album out in the past few days (June 1)
JMD: Speaking your mind shouldn't be considered beneath someone...
I was very disappointed in Paul McCartney's comment about former Pres. Bush. That was way beneath him. Obama does not even know how many states are in the United States, as he said during the campaign to paraphrase I've been to 56 or 57 states so far. He is ruining our country. Hopefully we only have to suffer through 2 1/2 more years of his "leadership". Hopefully November elections will help to level the playing field.
The worldview of trolls like Rex remains unburdened by facts and reality, as evidenced here.
Pages
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!