# Republican Fanboys and the Bands that Hate Them **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 17, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815 "2012-08-17T20:15:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/21 "2012-08-17T23:50:17Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > I agree, but I was reacting to the OP’s notion that seemed to be that Republican fans are lamenting the fact that many artists are liberal and hate said fans’ politics. Said fans don’t give a shit. Perhaps my intent would be clearer if I said Republican _candidate_. Of course folks are welcome to not give a shit or selectively engage on lyrics. Rock on, dude. But _you_ aren’t running for office and identified as a diehard fanboy for a group that is known to staunchly _hate_ your politics. Why expose yourself to such derision, purely from a political maneuvering standpoint? ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2012, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/22 "2012-08-17T23:56:43Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > But _you_ aren’t running for office and identified as a diehard fanboy for a group that is known to staunchly _hate_ your politics. Why expose yourself to such derision, purely from a political maneuvering standpoint? Just speculating, but perhaps because you don’t give a shit what a self-important rock star says or thinks about you? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/23 "2012-08-18T00:03:49Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Just speculating, but perhaps because you don’t give a shit what a self-important rock star says or thinks about you? I don’t think “self-important” is an accurate description of a rock star that someone else has described as important to them. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/24 "2012-08-18T00:10:45Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I don’t think “self-important” is an accurate description of a rock star that someone else has described as important to them. I don’t think the two conditions are mutually exclusive. One can have an exaggerated opinion of one’s own importance and also be important to someone else. ETA: And Ryan could well consider Morello’s non-musical contributions to the world self-important nonsense. And still love their music. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/25 "2012-08-18T00:13:01Z")
> [@Rhaegar](#): > > I’m actually surprised that the entertainers would speak publicly about their own political views. For every George Clooney, Jane Fonda and Barbara Streisand out there, you have a Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan who clam up whenever the topic gets too controversial to avoid alienating any fans. How dare the lead singer of Rage Against the Machine decide he has a political voice. What is he thinking? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/26 "2012-08-18T00:13:26Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Just speculating, but perhaps because you don’t give a shit what a self-important rock star says or thinks about you? If you are a candidate, shouldn’t you care whether _potential voters_ care? In the case of Christie, having Bruce against you is a bit of a liability, yes? Shouldn’t he give a shit on a practical basis? And as for Ryan, he is a huge Ayn Rand fan, yet she was an avowed atheist who believed abortion rights were fundamental - she would’ve brutalized Ryan for selectively engaging her philosophy. And now it turns out he’s an RAtM fan - and say what you will, but Morello is very highly regarded by the 20-40 demographic because, pure and simple, he fucking rocks…AND he is seen as a thoughtful, Harvard grad/activist. Not giving a shit that he (Ryan) comes as someone who would be spurned by his idols would be short-sighted macho puffery. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/27 "2012-08-18T00:18:27Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’d say that plenty of rock musicians have a conservative fanbase, if not all of them. The funniest fucking thing I have read today. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/28 "2012-08-18T00:19:59Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > If you are a candidate, shouldn’t you care whether _potential voters_ care? In the case of Christie, having Bruce against you is a bit of a liability, yes? Shouldn’t he give a shit on a practical basis? > > And as for Ryan, he is a huge Ayn Rand fan, yet she was an avowed atheist who believed abortion rights were fundamental - she would’ve brutalized Ryan for selectively engaging her philosophy. And now it turns out he’s an RAtM fan - and say what you will, but Morello is very highly regarded by the 20-40 demographic because, pure and simple, he fucking rocks…AND he is seen as a thoughtful, Harvard grad/activist. Not giving a shit that he (Ryan) comes as someone who would be spurned by his idols would short-sighted macho puffery. You’re perhaps falling into the same non sequitur Morello does. Not everyone thinks what he says is important. If that’s Ryan’s premise, he doesn’t believe RATM’s reaction moves the meter at all–again, if he even thought about it. And did Ryan say RATM was an idol? Really? BTW, I just conducted a scientific poll of all the 20-year-olds in the room, and none of them heard of Morello or RATM. (It was only one, my son, and the poll has a margin of error of plus / minus a million.) ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/29 "2012-08-18T00:22:19Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > The funniest fucking thing I have read today. I think you’re misreading. He’s not saying plenty of rock musicians have a fanbase that is principally conservative. He’s saying plenty of rock musicians have lots of conservatives among their fanbase. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/30 "2012-08-18T00:26:03Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > I think you’re misreading. He’s not saying plenty of rock musicians have a fanbase that is principally conservative. He’s saying plenty of rock musicians have lots of conservatives among their fanbase. Who don’t particularly listen to, understand, or care about the lyrics. Sure. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/31 "2012-08-18T00:29:29Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Who don’t particularly listen to, understand, or care about the lyrics. Sure. For RATM, I guess. But most rock music is pretty innocuous politically. Largely inoffensive regardless of your party affiliation. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/32 "2012-08-18T00:32:53Z")
RatM’s reason for existence is left-wing messaging. A right-wing politician has just served them up a golden opportunity for left-wing messaging. The band embraces this opportunity. What’s the surprise here? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/33 "2012-08-18T00:37:12Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > You’re perhaps falling into the same non sequitur Morello does. Not everyone thinks what he says is important. If that’s Ryan’s premise, he doesn’t believe RATM’s reaction moves the meter at all–again, if he even thought about it. And did Ryan say RATM was an idol? Really? > > BTW, I just conducted a scientific poll of all the 20-year-olds in the room, and none of them heard of Morello or RATM. (It was only one, my son, and the poll has a margin of error of plus / minus a million.) No - _you’re_ missing the point - the point is that Ryan is expressing fandom for people who actively don’t or wouldn’t like him; what does that say about him? You would probably say “nothing” but a lot of people - especially undecided folks checking Ryan out on the national stage - might think otherwise. Just seems kinda _off_… ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/34 "2012-08-18T00:37:29Z")
Eh. One can enjoy a band’s music even if you don’t agree with the views expressed by the band. For example, I’m sure most Foo Fighter fans probably don’t actually agree with the band’s dangerously stupid view that HIV doesn’t cause AIDS (though apparently they’ve been trying to downplay those views lately by taking the links to HIV denialism organizations off their website, I doubt they’ve totally abandoned those views) My fiance is a serious fan of old school Rush, even though he’s not at all a fan of Ayn Rand. There may even be some liberals out there who enjoy Ted Nugent. Or even country music! It’s not hard for me to imagine that a person can appreciate the musicianship in a band, or even think the lyrics are well-written, even if the person doesn’t agree with the lyrical content. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/35 "2012-08-18T00:38:46Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > RatM’s reason for existence is left-wing messaging. A right-wing politician has just served them up a golden opportunity for left-wing messaging. The band embraces this opportunity. > > What’s the surprise here? _Exactly_. Why would he serve that up to them? ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/36 "2012-08-18T00:44:53Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > No - _you’re_ missing the point - the point is that Ryan is expressing fandom for people who actively don’t or wouldn’t like him; what does that say about him? You would probably say “nothing” but a lot of people - especially undecided folks checking Ryan out on the national stage - might think otherwise. Just seems kinda _off_… Yes, you’re right, I would say it says nothing about him. And I’m not even disagreeing that it’s an odd combination. I’m just telling you that the world is full of people who could not care less what a musician thinks about them. And I an supremely confident that Tom Morello will sway NO ONE. Anyone who is likely to be persuaded by him was not voting for Romney anyway. It does not matter what Tom Morello thinks of Ryan, probably not to Ryan, and not for any material practical reason either. The proper response to being told Tom Morello holds you in contempt is a shoulder shrug, if you have a sane perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/37 "2012-08-18T00:45:45Z")
nm… ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/38 "2012-08-18T00:47:52Z")
Right. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/39 "2012-08-18T00:50:35Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > And I an supremely confident… Well, that’s clear ;-). That’s fine - you acknowledge that the combination is odd; you just don’t think it matters. I think it does - but not in any big way. Just feels like guys like Ryan and Christie are shooting themselves - we’ll, not in the foot - it’s not that severe - but not doing themselves any favors. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2012, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815/40 "2012-08-18T00:54:10Z")
Yep. Just saying that the subset of people likely to be swayed by Tom Morello and the subset of those who might vote for Romney don’t have much overlap, I’d guess. Bruce is probably more of a factor, but even he is not likely to push a would-be Republican voter over the line to the dark side. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-fanboys-and-the-bands-that-hate-them/631815.md?page=3)