# Can Charlie Daniels be a mean buffoon? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 24, 2010, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522 "2010-05-24T00:40:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/21 "2010-05-24T20:25:27Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > Now why would you ask that? šŸ˜• Because itā€™s a _commercial_, dude. Charlie Daniels, while not exactly the most liberal guy out there, is not being a ā€œbuffoon, in the negative sense of the word.ā€ He is, in this circumstance, a paid actor. He never yanked a violin away from a restaurant musician, ripped up the fancy-schmancy place with hot bluegrass licks, shredded his bow, and he never arrogantly pointed a breadstick at an aghast customer. Itā€™s fiction. Itā€™s - dare I say? - comedy. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/22 "2010-05-24T20:30:43Z")
Wow, Iā€™m reading this realizing I hadnā€™t really noticed the entire commercial. I didnā€™t know he grabbed someone elseā€™s fiddle in the beginning! Meh. I just watch the fiddling part and tune out again. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/23 "2010-05-24T20:50:14Z")
Although I donā€™t know Mr. Daniels personally, heā€™s a member of my IRL community. I may not agree with all of his political opinions, but respect his right to have them. FWIW, he does contribute time and money to a number of community projects as a citizen of our county. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/24 "2010-05-24T20:59:18Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > Come on, a commercial is not fiction. Itā€™s not really even art. Itā€™s a tool. > And yes, he was being a clown, in the negative sense of the word. Werenā€™t we just having a conversation like this over in Cafe Society, talking about how Arnold Schwarzenegger isnā€™t _really_ evil, simply because he played a soulless killing machine in ā€œThe Terminator.ā€ Anyway as far as Charlie Daniels goes, that particular column is pretty mild compared to other stuff heā€™s written. ---
**Author:** ![markm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@markm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markm)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/25 "2010-05-24T21:42:36Z")
Yeah, using the logic that he must be an evil buffoon because of this commercial, I guess Wil Wheaton is really and truly evil. And any celebrity who plays the ā€˜themā€™ on a commercial or especially TV show or movie, usually in a bad light, must be like that IRL. It couldnā€™t be they have a bit of a sense of humor and figure it could be fun to play up the ā€˜jerk celebrityā€™ stereotype. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/26 "2010-05-24T22:21:25Z")
> [@markm](#): > > Yeah, using the logic that he must be an evil buffoon because of this commercial, I guess Wil Wheaton is really and truly evil. And any celebrity who plays the ā€˜themā€™ on a commercial or especially TV show or movie, usually in a bad light, must be like that IRL. It couldnā€™t be they have a bit of a sense of humor and figure it could be fun to play up the ā€˜jerk celebrityā€™ stereotype. Evil? Now weā€™re talking evil? The OP asked ā€œmeanā€. And Charlieā€™s being himself, right? Is that acting? Well, maybe. Some thought John Wayne was an actor too. Anyway, Iā€™d venture that everyone in that (rude) commercial was acting _except_ Charlie Daniels. By the way, he wasnā€™t playing a ā€œjerk celebrityā€. He was playing a ā€œrealā€ musician, and showing those nancy rich folks (thereā€™s your stereotype) ā€œhow you do it sonā€. Mean, not evil. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/27 "2010-05-25T20:10:22Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > He never yanked a violin away from a restaurant musician, ripped up the fancy-schmancy place with hot bluegrass licks, shredded his bow, and he never arrogantly pointed a breadstick at an aghast customer. Yes he did, and you can see it on Youtube! It is on TV several nights a week! Havenā€™t you been watching the Geico expose on it?? Just trying to help. Best wishes, hh ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/28 "2010-05-26T01:30:26Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > None of the IAs I know ā€œflauntā€ their disobedience of the law. They keep quiet and work their asses off, if they can get the work. Iā€™m sure thatā€™s true. Here in Atlanta however, we have had many rallies where illegals gather in great numbers, many holding signs reading ā€œIā€™m Illegal, and Iā€™m Not Leavingā€. Similar to [this](http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/05/10/immigration.evangelicals/index.html?iref=allsearch)here in AZ. The simple act of gathering publicly where (virtually) everyone is known to be IA is flaunting it to me. The signs are just icing. I think this attitude is part of what fuels CD and others who resent these leeches. I didnā€™t mean to turn this into an IA debate. I was just defending Mr. D. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/29 "2010-05-26T01:57:05Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > Iā€™m sure thatā€™s true. > > Here in Atlanta however, we have had many rallies where illegals gather in great numbers, many holding signs reading ā€œIā€™m Illegal, and Iā€™m Not Leavingā€. > Similar to [this](http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/05/10/immigration.evangelicals/index.html?iref=allsearch)here in AZ. > > The simple act of gathering publicly where (virtually) everyone is known to be IA is flaunting it to me. The signs are just icing. > > I think this attitude is part of what fuels CD and others who resent these leeches. > I didnā€™t mean to turn this into an IA debate. I was just defending Mr. D. Link Mr. D. to great debates so he can defend his own violin snatching self. Is calling someone a leech any different than calling someone a buffoon? To be fair, I need to go read some of Charlieā€™s opinions. My opinion was formed more than anything else by his doltish behavior in that commercial. Iā€™ll tell you one thing, Iā€™m real glad these illegals arenā€™t like the oneā€™s who originally came here and took this land for themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/30 "2010-05-26T02:36:46Z")
One of my favorite suggestions ever made to a celebrity blowhard was on the Frank Decaro show (Frank Decaro, for those who donā€™t know, being a gay talk show host on Sirius) but for the life of me I canā€™t remember who the guest was other than a black gay guy who had some business being on a talk show. I just remember busting out laughing while driving. Charlie Daniels had recently written some screed in which he said ā€œIā€™d love to see a gay pride parade try and come through south Georgiaā€, and when this was brought up to Frankā€™s guest he said ā€œIā€™ll make a deal with Charlie Daniels- I will personally lead a gay pride parade through Waycross if, at the exact same time, he sings _The Southā€™s Gonna Do it Again_ in South Central Los Angelesā€¦ Iā€™ll even donate $10,000 to his favorite charity if heā€™ll do thatā€. Needless to say Charlie didnā€™t, but I always thought it was particularly shitty that he thought the fact gays would be harassed in small town Georgia would be a good thing, and cowardly of course that you know he would scream bloody murder if he was attacked in South Central in that scenario. Such a damned shame that _Devil Went Down to Georgia_ is such a kickass song. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/31 "2010-05-26T04:19:06Z")
> [@](#): > > To be fair, I need to go read some of Charlieā€™s opinions. My opinion was formed more than anything else by his doltish behavior in that commercial. Holy crap, I hope youā€™re joking. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/32 "2010-05-26T07:12:27Z")
I can separate Charlieā€™s music from his political and religious views. They donā€™t affect me one bit. As others pointed out, itā€™s just a commercial, and is fiction. I laughed with Charlie Daniels, not at him. To say that commercial is representative of Daniels as a person is like disliking the E Street Band because Steven Van Zandt played a top lieutenant in a New Jersey crime family. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/33 "2010-05-26T09:16:15Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I can separate Charlieā€™s music from his political and religious views. They donā€™t affect me one bit. As others pointed out, itā€™s just a commercial, and is fiction. I laughed with Charlie Daniels, not at him. To say that commercial is representative of Daniels as a person is like disliking the E Street Band because Steven Van Zandt played a top lieutenant in a New Jersey crime family. My god, youā€™re right! STEVEN VAN ZANDT IS A CRIMINAL!!:eek: ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/34 "2010-05-26T11:35:19Z")
Lots of actors play caricatures of themselves. Do you really think Adam West is really like that? ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/35 "2010-05-26T11:59:27Z")
Although weā€™re as far apart as can be on politics and religion, Iā€™ve loved Charlie Danielsā€™ music all my life. Heā€™s a great artist. Iā€™ve never met him, but the people I know who have are in agreement with those in this thread: heā€™s a really nice guy to everybody. That said, while I realize that Charlie is working for a paycheck, and the commercial is a fictional portrayal, I canā€™t understand the kind of person who admires and laughs at such arrogant, abrasive rudeness. Itā€™s a good thing Charlie is the one with a downhome accent and the other guy is playing ā€˜effeteā€™ classical music or Charlieā€™s character would be his own worst nightmare: an elitist. :eek: I wonder if people who enjoy this commercial would laugh at a big, arrogant rap artist interrupting a frail Earl Scruggs on stage, telling him to quit that shit, and breaking the strings on his banjo? Would that be a proud, hilarious demonstration of strength and righteousness? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/36 "2010-05-26T11:59:28Z")
Daniels is a chicken hawk. Iā€™ve no time for him. He and Ted Nugent can both go fuck themselves. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/37 "2010-05-26T12:41:29Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Holy crap, I hope youā€™re joking. Nope. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/38 "2010-05-26T12:46:19Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > I wonder if people who enjoy this commercial would laugh at a big, arrogant rap artist interrupting a frail Earl Scruggs on stage, telling him to quit that shit, and breaking the strings on his banjo? Would that be a proud, hilarious demonstration of strength and righteousness? If done right yes. In these cases, you are making FUN of the assholes, not celebrating their assholish behavior. Its why Andrew Dice Clay and Beavis and Butthead are funny to some folks who would never act like they do. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/39 "2010-05-26T12:47:29Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > Nope. So do you also believe, based on their commercials, that Geico really is racist against cavemen. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522/40 "2010-05-26T12:50:55Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > So do you also believe, based on their commercials, that Geico really is racist against cavemen. Those arenā€™t cavemen playing cavemen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-charlie-daniels-be-a-mean-buffoon/540522.md?page=3)