# NEW Stupid Republican Idea of the Day (Part 3) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 4, 2023, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588 "2023-07-04T21:42:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 142
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2024, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2821 "2024-01-03T15:49:00Z")
Very good thanks for sharing ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2024, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2822 "2024-01-03T16:43:55Z")
> [@Sylvanz](#): > > Man, I feel really bad for Tom Petty. He isn’t even around to defend himself or his music. I love Petty, but “I Won’t Back Down” is possibly my least favorite Petty song. Nothing but pure, unthinking stubbornness, tailor-made to inspire people who never want to reconsider their opinions or consider anyone else’s POV. It might as well be the MAGAt anthem. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2024, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2823 "2024-01-03T16:45:58Z")
Love Petty too. I don’t think that’s the meaning of the song. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2024, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2824 "2024-01-03T16:46:01Z")
Maybe, but I doubt he thought so. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2024, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2825 "2024-01-03T16:49:52Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I don’t think that’s the meaning of the song. > [@Sylvanz](#): > > Maybe, but I doubt he thought so. I’m sure it was more personal to him, but to me it just says “I won’t change or compromise, no matter what you say or do.” And of course he would hate the song being used to advance the right’s agenda. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2024, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2826 "2024-01-03T16:52:08Z")
For myself, I see the song saying “I will fight for my rights” Different people, of course, believe they have different rights. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2024, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2827 "2024-01-03T16:53:04Z")
Was waiting for the green M&M. Was not disappointed. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2024, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2828 "2024-01-03T16:55:49Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > And of course he would hate the song being used to advance the right’s agenda. And that’s why he sent cease and desist letters to Bush and Trump for using it their rallies while performing it for Gore and his family thanking Biden/Harris for using it. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2024, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2829 "2024-01-03T17:03:27Z")
Cool – I didn’t know that! ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2024, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2830 "2024-01-03T18:34:24Z")
Imagine being proud to be called a MAGAT. It’s like calling yourselves turds, or something. Good god, I do not understand this fucking world. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2024, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2831 "2024-01-03T18:59:28Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > I love Petty, but “I Won’t Back Down” is possibly my least favorite Petty song. Nothing but pure, unthinking stubbornness, tailor-made to inspire people who never want to reconsider their opinions or consider anyone else’s POV. It might as well be the MAGAt anthem. From [here](https://www.songfacts.com/facts/tom-petty/i-wont-back-down) (excerpts below): > Before recording **Full Moon Fever** , an arsonist burned down Tom Petty’s house while he was in it with his family and their housekeeper. They escaped, but Petty was badly shaken and spent much of the next few months driving between hotel rooms and a rented house. > … > “I Won’t Back Down” was his way of reclaiming his life and getting past the torment - he said that writing and recording the song had a calming effect on him. > … > When George W. Bush used it during his 2000 presidential campaign, Petty threatened to sue, as he found Bush odious. > … > After President Donald Trump used “I Won’t Back Down” at a highly publicized campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 20, 2020, Petty’s widow Dana, ex-wife Jane, and daughters Adria and Annakim issued a statement making it clear they did not approve. “Both the late Tom Petty and his family firmly stand against racism and discrimination of any kind,” they wrote. "Tom Petty would never want a song of his used for a campaign of hate… > … > In response to this being used as a patriotic anthem after September 11th, Petty said: “The song has also been adopted by nice people for good things, too. I just write them, I can’t control where it ends up.” ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2024, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2832 "2024-01-03T19:15:22Z")
Thanks for sharing that. I can appreciate how it may have felt for him to write and record it. But it doesn’t change the fact that, on its own merits, the song seems to champion the idea of sticking to your guns no matter what, which is a shitty way to live your life and an even worse way to run a country. Yes, you have to have unshakeable principles, but if you never back down (i.e., compromise) on anything you’ll never be able to move forward. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2024, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2833 "2024-01-03T21:09:48Z")
I don’t see the song that way. At all. Though I guess you could interpret it that way. “Well I know what’s right, I got just one life” I see that as using your integrity, morals and ethics to do the right thing. No matter what. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2024, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2834 "2024-01-04T00:08:19Z")
> [@abcdefghij](#): > > > [@Smapti](#): > > > > Recording artist Lara Trump > > Who the who now? never trust an artist who has a job-title of “_artist_” … or one that needs the “_Joe Doe, of XYZ fame_” phrase… (if you have to explain why he is famous … well then he is really NOT famous) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2024, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2835 "2024-01-04T03:41:28Z")
Because I’m a masochist at heart who takes delight in experiencing things that are objectively awful (which is why I genuinely enjoy Jeppson’s Malort), I decided to take one for the team and listen to Lara’s attempt at covering Petty. It’s **bad**. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KRuYbJstkb4/maxresdefault.jpg "Lara Trump - I Won't Back Down (lyrics)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRuYbJstkb4) The vocals are blatantly auto-tuned eight ways from Sunday. The backing group is competent, at least, and the fiddle solo is actually pretty solid, but their talents are wasted here. If Shania Twain or the Chicks were singing along to this same backing track, it’d probably be pretty good, but there’s really no reason for this song to exist other than that Eric’s wife isn’t good enough to make American Idol and bought herself a record deal anyway. If you want a country cover of this song, stick to Johnny Cash’s version. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2024, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2836 "2024-01-04T04:07:01Z")
Well, I’ve heard a LOT worse … at Karaoke. I’ve heard better there too. And I hate auto tune. A lot of times it’s unnecessary and other times it’s a cover for bad singing. And seriously, she has the worst twang. Does she really have a twang or is she doing it for this blatant screw over of a great song? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2024, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2837 "2024-01-04T04:33:47Z")
> [@Sylvanz](#): > > Does she really have a twang She’s from North Carolina, so it’s possible, but to my ears it sounds about as authentic as the faux-twang Taylor Swift adopted on her first album when she was a teenager from Pennsylvania trying to sound Nashvillian. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2024, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2838 "2024-01-04T04:39:49Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I decided to take one for the team and listen to Lara’s attempt at covering Petty. If I wanted to hear singing like that, I would have asked the vet to just tie the kitten’s tubes instead of doing a proper spaying. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2024, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2839 "2024-01-04T06:49:34Z")
Without anesthetic. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2024, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588/2840 "2024-01-04T13:12:04Z")
You guys just hate everything Trump and won’t give Lara’s cover a fair shake. Here’s an unbiased, sixty-second review of the song: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KtKsKd6RiJs/maxresdefault.jpg "An open-minded review of Lara Trump’s cover of #TomPetty’s “Won’t Back Down”. #shorts") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtKsKd6RiJs) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588.md?page=141) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-3/986588.md?page=143)