# McCain/Palin pull a Reagan with "Born in the U.S.A." **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 8, 2008, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-palin-pull-a-reagan-with-born-in-the-u-s-a/466924 "2008-10-08T00:20:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-palin-pull-a-reagan-with-born-in-the-u-s-a/466924/1 "2008-10-08T00:20:31Z")
[The country hit, “Independence Day”, by Martina McBride" was used to introduce Sarah Palin on stage at a rally earlier this week.](http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-quick7-2008oct07,0,6340950.story) Why is this such a big deal, you ask? According to McBride: > [@](#): > > “The fact that the McCain-Palin campaign is using a song about an abused woman as a rallying cry for their vice presidential candidate, a woman who would ban abortion even in cases of rape and incest, is beyond irony,” Peters said. “They are co-opting the song, completely overlooking the context and message, and using it to promote a candidate who would set women’s rights back decades.” > > Peters says she’ll be donating her songwriting royalties from the song to Planned Parenthood – in Palin’s name. D’oh!!! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-palin-pull-a-reagan-with-born-in-the-u-s-a/466924/2 "2008-10-08T00:24:31Z")
_That’s_ what they used?! What idiots. Not that I’d expect more from them, but jezus. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-palin-pull-a-reagan-with-born-in-the-u-s-a/466924/3 "2008-10-08T00:31:45Z")
How many musical artists is that now that either have told McCain to not use their stuff or twisted it against them? Could they be any more tone deaf? Or clueless? ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-palin-pull-a-reagan-with-born-in-the-u-s-a/466924/4 "2008-10-08T00:37:41Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > How many musical artists is that now that either have told McCain to not use their stuff or twisted it against them? > Could they be any more tone deaf? Or clueless? Sadly, they probably could. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-palin-pull-a-reagan-with-born-in-the-u-s-a/466924/5 "2008-10-08T00:39:42Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > How many musical artists is that now that either have told McCain to not use their stuff or twisted it against them? > Could they be any more tone deaf? Or clueless? There were others? (I know there was one with John Mellencamp, who also had Reagan try to use “Pink Houses”-did McCain try to use that one?) Which ones? ---
**Author:** ![spoike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@spoike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spoike)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-palin-pull-a-reagan-with-born-in-the-u-s-a/466924/6 "2008-10-08T00:42:46Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > According to McBride:… Just for the record, it’s actually the songwriter, “Nashville veteran Gretchen Peters”, who is donating her proceeds to PP. The article doesn’t actually mention how Martina McBride feels about it. Moving along, though: Hee! Do they not ever actually listen to the songs they choose? How many times does this kind of stuff have to happen before they catch on and start checking both the lyrics, and as in the case of Heart’s Barracuda, whether or not the performer is going to be happy if they play their song? Dumbasses. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-palin-pull-a-reagan-with-born-in-the-u-s-a/466924/7 "2008-10-08T00:44:12Z")
That’s the songwriter, Gretchen Peters, talking in the article, not McBride. Hannity uses that song as the theme for his stupid weekend show. He probably has no idea what it’s about either. ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-palin-pull-a-reagan-with-born-in-the-u-s-a/466924/8 "2008-10-08T00:45:08Z")
Fair’s fair - let’s all gaze back with fondness on Al Gore, who played “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by The Who on a campaign stop during his 2000 presidential bid. One of his major campaign themes was “I’m not just Bill Clinton”… but the song’s extended bridge features the famous lyrics “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.” ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-palin-pull-a-reagan-with-born-in-the-u-s-a/466924/9 "2008-10-08T00:52:44Z")
> [@Jurph](#): > > Fair’s fair - let’s all gaze back with fondness on Al Gore, who played “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by The Who on a campaign stop during his 2000 presidential bid. One of his major campaign themes was “I’m not just Bill Clinton”… but the song’s extended bridge features the famous lyrics “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.” I can believe it. And thanks for the correction. Yes, Peters, not McBride. D’oh-smack me now. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-palin-pull-a-reagan-with-born-in-the-u-s-a/466924/10 "2008-10-08T00:53:27Z")
> [@spoike](#): > > How many times does this kind of stuff have to happen before they catch on and start checking both the lyrics, and as in the case of Heart’s Barracuda, whether or not the performer is going to be happy if they play their song? Dumbasses. I saw a bumper sticker that said, “OOOOOH! SARAHCUDA!” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-palin-pull-a-reagan-with-born-in-the-u-s-a/466924/11 "2008-10-08T00:58:40Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > There were others? (I know there was one with John Mellencamp, who also had Reagan try to use “Pink Houses”-did McCain try to use that one?) Which ones? I know McCain/Palin has been slapped down by Van Halen for using “Right Now,” by Heart for using “Barracuda” and by Jackson Brown for using “Running On Empty” (which would be ironically apt these days). There may be more. Republicans always have a hard time getting support from rock acts. That’s why they alaways get stuck using country songs. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-palin-pull-a-reagan-with-born-in-the-u-s-a/466924/12 "2008-10-08T00:59:20Z")
> [@spoike](#): > > The article doesn’t actually mention how Martina McBride feels about it. Well, I really like Martina McBride’s voice and most of the songs she sings. She’s a powerful, little soprano. I dig her music for the most part. But she’s a Republican, according to the internet. I think she even performed at the second Bush convention. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-palin-pull-a-reagan-with-born-in-the-u-s-a/466924/13 "2008-10-08T03:44:27Z")
Ouch-not much luck there. I’m guessing their next attempt will be the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “My Friends.” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-palin-pull-a-reagan-with-born-in-the-u-s-a/466924/14 "2008-10-08T12:06:33Z")
> [@Savannah](#): > > Well, I really like Martina McBride’s voice and most of the songs she sings. She’s a powerful, little soprano. I dig her music for the most part. > > But she’s a Republican, according to the internet. I think she even performed at the second Bush convention. I’ve heard that song regularly used on Hannity’s radio show, I think as the theme. Of course, Rush uses The Pretenders’ “Ohio”. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-palin-pull-a-reagan-with-born-in-the-u-s-a/466924/15 "2008-10-08T12:17:29Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > There were others? (I know there was one with John Mellencamp, who also had Reagan try to use “Pink Houses”-did McCain try to use that one?) Which ones? Heart and “Barracuda” re Palin. ---
**Author:** ![spoike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@spoike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spoike)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-palin-pull-a-reagan-with-born-in-the-u-s-a/466924/16 "2008-10-16T00:09:12Z")
It’s happened again, and this time the pissed-off artist is [Bon Jovi](http://ca.eonline.com/uberblog/b63961_bon_jovi_raises_mccain_over_palin_tune.html). How hard would it be to just ask the artists ahead of time? I’m not being sarcastic, either. I’m genuinely curious. I would think the ensuing embarrassment would make the effort worthwhile, but maybe it really isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-palin-pull-a-reagan-with-born-in-the-u-s-a/466924/17 "2008-10-16T00:25:00Z")
My all time favorite GOP “did you think that one through?” song choice was in 1992. After days of speeches on family values and against gays by Pat Buchanan and others (most of which no doubt sounded better in the original German), George H.W. Bush surprised all by walking onstage a day early. People cheered and screamed and lactated and whirled in orgiastic ecstacy at the sight of him as the band played [The Best of Times is Now](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nYJcxhDtT0). \*The best of times is now what’s left of summer but a faded rose the best of times is now as for tomorrow well… who knows? So hold this moment fast and live and love as hard as you know how and make this moment last because the Best of Times is Now! Is Now! Is Now!"\* For those not familiar with the song, it was composed by Jerry Herman, the HIV+ openly gay composer of _Hello Dolly_ and _Mame_, for the play whose book was written by Harvey Fierstein (who if U.S. gays had aristocracy he’d be good for at least a grand duchy). The musical was _La Cage Aux Folles_, based on the French film of the same name, which for anyone not familiar was the film later castrated and Americanized as _The Birdcage_, a comedy about a gay couple (one a flamboyant professional drag queen who sings the song BoT) whose son is recently engaged to the daughter of a conservative religious-right asshole politician. (The star of the Broadway show, incidentally [playing the “Robin Williams” role from the U.S. version] was Gene Barry- in addition to being a “man’s man” in movies a cantor and orthodox rabbi [non practicing] in real life, and though straight said it was possibly the role he was proudest of and one he brought in his grandchildren to watch him perform.) So funny a choice on so many levels that I always felt it had to have been chosen by a Roy Cohn-ish GOP closet case as his one “heh heh heh- up yours” to his party. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mccain-palin-pull-a-reagan-with-born-in-the-u-s-a/466924/18 "2008-10-16T04:57:11Z")
The Foo Fighters were also upset over the use of “My Hero” by McCain’s campaign, though the lyrics aren’t as politically inappropriate.