It’s pretty funny listening to the folks who are mad at Paul McCartney — sorry, Sir Paul McCartney — for cracking a joke at former President George W. Bush’s expense the other day.
McCartney received the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from President Obama at the White House last week. The prize is sponsored by the Library of Congress, and after accepting the award, McCartney said, in part, “. . . after the last eight years, it’s great to have a president who knows what a library is.” The Fox News crowd, of course, went cross-eyed nuts, and several Republican members of Congress followed suit, grumbling that McCartney should be ashamed of himself and go stand in a corner or something.
Other than the obvious question of which constituency the Congressmen think they’re appealing to with their criticism (cranky old conservative music haters with a short fuse?), what I want to know is this: 1. Are these people at all familiar with McCartney or his well-known leftie views, or, moreover, with the Beatles and their overall effect on culture? I mean, the right demonizes the 1960s and all the changes that took place, right? So why is it a surprise to them that one of the members of the irreverent rock band that was one of the main catalysts for that decade’s tumultuous changes — and who never left any doubt about his progressive politics, to put it mildly — would say something mocking about Dubya? I say more power to him, and thank God the boy hasn’t lost the sense of humor that was one of the Beatles’ most appealing aspects.
I also promise not to gripe the next time a major right-wing songwriter who changed worldwide culture receives the Gershwin Prize and says something snarky about a liberal president. Huh? Oh yeah, there are no major right-wing songwriters. I forgot. Final verdict, then: Let the yahoos squirm.
This article appears in Jun 8-14, 2010.
They should give Ted Nugent the next one, just too keep the Republican crybabies in check.
Mr Grooms,
First of all, you are not being intellectually honest. Sir Paul was being dead serious with his flippant remark, though I suspect he’d rehearsed it for a long time.
I am a first generation Beatlemaniac, and Paul has always been my favorite. I have seen him in concert 19 times, my favorite concert was Charlotte in 1993. I was lucky to be on the front row. I think he needs to stick with music. Politics do not become him.
Shame on you, Paul, and shame on you for claiming he “was joking.” He clearly was not.
I’m surprised that no one has called the Republicans on their vicious slander of Democratic Presidents and their families. It was during the Clinton administration that Rush Limbaugh made fun of a 13-year-old girl who happened to be the president’s daughter. Glenn Beck reportedly did the same for Malia Obama. And of course, the infamous Swift Boat Veterans for Truth libeled a decorated American veteran because he happened to be running for president. The Republican Party threw civility, and caution, and decency to the winds long ago.
The other thing that impresses me is that McCartney hasn’t apologized, he hasn’t said he’s sorry, he hasn’t publicly noticed that there’s any fuss at all.
This cheers me because Paul McCartney has not once, in 46 years of public life, been rude to anyone. John Lennon was rude to him, but Paul maintained his silence. He was polite and dignified to people who said really destructive things about him. He was a model of class until he got to the White House, and then he compared the current incumbent favorably to the previous incumbent. Deliberately, rather gently, and quite accurately. It’s a first, ladies and gentlemen. Paul is standing on the high moral ground of 46 years of civility under real provocation. The Republicans, having abandoned all standards of decency in public discourse, prove once again that they can dish it out, but they can’t take it.
Man the fake outrage of conservatives never fails to amaze me. Their kind has demonized the arts (particularly rock music) for the past 50 years, and they’re surprised that a guy like Macca isn’t on their side?
And what is this “Well he was lying because Bush’s wife was a librarian” b.s.?? My girlfriend is a hairdresser. Does that qualify me to cut hair for a living?
During the Award acceptance Sir Paul indicated his respect for the Gershwins and the office of the President of the United States. He mentioned the burdens and challenges of the office and stated that he and ‘billions’ were behind President Obama in having success in solving the many issues. For the good of the entire world.
It was at the end of the musical wrap-up….at this ‘Library of Congress’ event, that Sir Paul tossed out the library quip.
Personally I choose to perceive this as another positive remark toward the sitting President.
An inference otherwise seems mostly perceived by those who may fear when a simple truth is revealed in a succinct but simple comment. Particularly from someone so renown and so well regarded ALL over the world.
Actually it was just one of several jokes/comments made during Sir Paul’s performance. When singing ‘Michelle’, he said he feared getting ‘punched out’ for serenading the President’s wife. Also Paul made self effacing comments about returning to the While House anytime to play at lunch…’we’re cheap’.
Cannot wait to see the full event on PBS.
Even the currently ‘hate on’ Sir Paul folks know, without really thinking hard, the positive messages from so many of Paul’s words of wisdom.
When the broken hearted people in the world…
And in the end, the love….
Written by Karl Rove, 12/26/2008
“There is a myth perpetuated by
Bush critics that he would rather burn a book than read one. Like so many caricatures of the past eight years, this one is not only wrong, but also the opposite of the truth and evidence that bitterness can devour a small-minded critic. Mr. Bush loves books, learns from them, and is intellectually engaged by them.”
The point is… it reflected badly on Paul McCartney to say this in such a HUGE moment. He could have complimented the current president without insulting the previous one. As a fan who recently flew from Seattle to the Hollywood Bowl to see him, I do not remember a time when Paul has been so mean. He should remember the merciless, irresponsible hate Linda was subjected to and use some decorum. It was so unnecessary. American’s do not like it when people are mean, especially when they are uninformed and wrong.
Have you seen the entire event? No…it’s not yet been shown.
Sir Paul simply wasn’t ‘mean’.
But seems ‘hate on’ Paul folks don’t particularly care about the truth.
Although it was always obvious Sir Paul was never in any right wing camp, you know in their ‘heart of hearts’ these folks would desperately like to claim him.
Wishin’ and Hopin’ (Dusty Springfield).
They should have known better.
So now, of course, they must demonize him.
LOL! Please tell me someone didn’t just cite Karl Rove as a voice of reason and respect! Yeah, because the cruel and odious man who served as Bush’s slimy henchman for decades, destroying other politicians’ careers through lies and distortions, is exactly who we should listen to in this matter.
Christopher you are right on with your comments. Quoting Rove is like quoting Limbaugh when it comes to right wing politics. The truth is Paul McCartney can say make any joke he wants, he’s an entertainer. I’m sure he doesn’t really think Bush doesn’t know what a library is. It was a quip and we all say things like that. Lighten up John Boehner and the rest of you uptight Repubs.
Hey, where’s Frank Griffin? Did he call in sick?
If anyone’s considering burning their 1966 “Yesterday and Today” ‘butcher’ cover LP, please contact me before you do so. I’ll gladly take it off your hands.
To the right-winger fanatical reactionists: First of all, give me a break. He’s a songwriter (one of the greatest of all time), not a politician. He’s not running for office. Calm the hell down, this is not an “outrage”.
Secondly: let’s not pretend W. is some saint. Say what you will about whether or not you like to pay taxes- the Bush administration deceived and misled the public and the world in order to sell a war. This is established fact, not conjecture. That’s one of the most despicable things I’ve ever heard of, perpetrated by the leader of the U.S., who got away scot-free. If that is not worthy of outrage, then a pop star making a joke at his expense is hardly worth raising an eyebrow.
Please, it was uncalled for (and I hated Bush). What would you people who are saying “it’s no big deal” think if he had taken a crack at Obama? I bet your tune would change. It was uncalled for, sorry Sir Paul. Also let’s not forget that Bush married a librarian and has a degree (does Paul have one?!), and despite Bush money, I am sure his $$$ is not entirely responsible for Bush’s education. I was in no way a fan of Bush, but the Bush bashing is getting old and cliche – Bush can find the cure for cancer and still be ridiculed, Obama can have lunch with Bin Laden and still be loved. I also think that when you visit a country you should be respectful (being respectful does not mean liking the person). As far as I am concerned Obama is a politician, not some kind of messiah. When you start turning politicians into god, it means they can do whatever they want since the public is so enthralled with them.
George W. Bush was the most disastrous president we’ve ever had, and I say the more people that can pile on that moron, the better. Go Beatles — I just wish Lennon had been around to slam the pea-brained jerk, too.
It doesn’t matter whether or not you agree with Paul McCartney’s comments, or if you believe his accomplishments grant him some special license to offer his commentary.
He was receiving an award and chose to use the occasion to insult someone not present and totally unrelated to the event. His comment lacks class, grace and, by the way, accuracy.
Poking fun at celebrities, especially politicians, is a time-honored American pasttime. It’s one of the most obvious expressions of the right to free speech that makes us who we are.
When we start having to apologize for making jokes we are one step down the road toward totalitarian censorship.
Next thing you know we’ll be rounding up the Lenos and Lettermans and SNL writers and shipping them off to re-education camps.
GWB should be rotting in a prison cell somewhere for the war crimes he’s committed.
More comments here that prove republicans are the simplest beings on the planet, Sir Paul is NOT running for office and PLEASE, take your “outrage” somewhere else.
God damn redneck simpletons.