This forum is a place that generally avoids politics, because politics generally create trouble on this kind of forum. But when one of the contemporary kings of the instrument makes this sort of powerful statement, it's news--and this forum always makes space for legitimate news within the blues harmonica world.
Yes. Yes. And Yes again! Bravo to Kim Wilson for taking responsibility for his celebrity and using it to speak out for sanity, good sense, accuracy and basic decency, and clearly against the kind of toxic, self serving bigoted ignorance that RL represents. Where are the other celebrity voices!?
Billy, I had to puzzle that one out... BFF is usually best friend forever, but that works too. :)
What gets me is how Rush is trying to say it all was a trap, that she was a plant. It of course somehow logically follows then, in his mind, that it was okay to say the things he said. Even his apology was worded so he didn't take any responsibility for the hate in what he was saying, just the word choice.
Its a campaing year and the big tadoo presently is about who is the biggest jag off trash talker rush limbaugh or bill maher - vote for me and I'll set ya free....
"I don't think he's an idiot--he makes 50 million dollars a year," says Kim. Only in America, say I. Why can´t he be an idiot -- and make 50 M a year? Moreover, this Limbaugh IS an idiot. An idiot of an obnoxious kind. Regardless of political position, he´s detrimental to the debate in general: not because he a drug addict, has had four wives and appears to be a terribly vulgar type of fellow, but because he´s an idiot. Otherwise Kim is spot on. (This coming from a conservative, albeit European, position, I hasten to add before anyone starts loading his guns. Nuff said.)
i think it is right to not talk politics here. it seems strange to me that when a liberal talk show host or comic makes a tongue in cheek comment like this one and turns it into part of his act it's fine. when a conservative does it he's burned up.
wilson has every right to ask for his music not to be used but good grief folks....
by the way you can get birth control pills at walmart $4.00 for a one month supply
@clyde: If you're talking about Bill Maher, I'll be the first to say that what he does is not always fine with me, and in particular the way he has talked about some Republican women lately is outrageous.
But the topic here is Kim Wilson's categorical stand against Rush Limbaugh's recent talk about a certain female.
I'm not a Rush fan, I think he is arrogant, obnoxious and overbearing. Unfortunately, I often agree with him. Not in Rush' defense, but the politics issue, this type of thread ought to be avoided. I remember some other talk show host/comedians calling Sarah Palin and her family the same names and more. Those guys are still on the air and continue to deride anyone they disagree with. Bottom line, don't throw stones. I will say that I agree with Kims action. Kim doesn't want his music associated with Rush' opinion, so he is in a position to prohibit it's use. I would do the same thing.
what amazes me is that Wilson says "I don't want my music to support his message anymore. There is no amount of money this guy could pay me to be a part of his cruel rhetoric; I just don't want any part of it."
just a media quote from Wilson, but this line of talk is pretty consistent with what Rush Limbaugh has said in the past, just wrong time and wrong place and he finally got called on it.
Well, it's your forum Adam, but political or religious threads are like throwing a bomb with a defective fuse. It's going to explode, but you don't really know when. ---------- Wisdom does not always come with old age. Sometimes old age arrives alone.
Well groyster1, I'm further right than Atilla the Hun. We just might meet on the other side of the political sphere. ---------- Wisdom does not always come with old age. Sometimes old age arrives alone.
Apparently clyde is defending Rush Limbaugh, which is his absolute right. But defending a dirtbag is no way to go through life, son.(paraphrasing Dean Wormer from the movie "Animal House")
And the remark about getting "birth control pills" at Wal-Mart for $4.00 a month, besides being inaccurate and just another soundbite from right wing radio, shows a complete lack of knowledge on this subject matter.
That is all.
Last Edited by on Mar 17, 2012 6:41 AM
atty1chgo and clyde - Please don't carry this on. You'll just end up getting the thread locked which usually happens with these things.
Being a Brit I have no idea who Rush Limbaugh even is. So I can't really comment on what all the furore is about. What I will say though is that it makes a pleasant change to see someone stick by his principles and not be swayed by wealth, status or other opinion. For that alone I believe Kim Wilson should be applauded.
The sad truth is any publicity good or bad = publicity Hatred is a way of life for some, they can keep it, the more quietly the better. Love your neighbor, be ind to animals, don't kill any pedestrians, and have a nice day!
I started this thread because there was legitimate blues harmonica news here--nobody can persuade me otherwise--but Kingley is quite right that these sorts of threads also fatigue very quickly. I think we can probably let it drop.
kingley, i have been nothing but civil. no name calling, cursing, or anything like that. i can not help it if so many here have to puke their political hatred.
Joe L: With respect, your comment seems to missing the point. Kim wanted to be heard - and he has been. THAT is the point.
And Kingley - also with respect - I'm a Brit; I know who Rimbaugh is because I read and listen to 'the news', distorted, censored and biased though it is...
Keith R - Hahaha! I couldn't agree more...I normally follow the news as I'm somewhat of a news junkie and like to get to the back story in most cases. I must have just missed this particular story. Rush Limbaugh has never come to my attention before. I have now rectified that by reading about him on Wikipedia and also watching some old news stories.
Curiously enough, Bill Maher tweeted and stated on his show that we should all drop it and move on....or something like that. Maher is often sharply critical of Rush but stated (something like) I would rather put up with Rush and live in a country where we can speak freely. And that's all I've got to say about that.
Q. What do you call couples that use the rhythm or withdrawal methods of birth control?
A. Parents
------------------
BTW not the first time El Rushbo used an artist's music and had problems. For a long time the bumper music for the show was a song from Chrissy Hynde and The Pretenders. She was not happy when she found out, though I think they reached an "arrangement"
And who can forget the Reagan campaign using Springsteen's Born In The USA? Apparently, nobody on the Reagan campaign staff actually listened to the lyrics in the verses. Priceless. The Boss however, was none too pleased.
Last Edited by on Mar 17, 2012 9:35 AM
Bill Maher was fired from his previous show because he expressed an unpopular opinion about American military actions (while pointing out the bizarre logic of calling someone a coward because they are willing to die for a cause they believe in). Don Imus was fired from MSNBC for jokingly making a very offensive remark about a group of women.
Limbaugh singled out one individual and, with blatant disregard for the facts and absolutely ignoring what she actually said in her statement, he intentionally misinformed his audience about her words and her motives and labeled her as a slut and prostitute in order to make a political point. And he did it again, and again, and again. Then he claimed he was only trying to be funny. If you read Sandra Fluke's statement you can reasonably conclude that Limbaugh is either intellectually disabled or lacks any standard of decency, or both.
Whether his remarks would be funny or not if he wasn't publicly smearing an individual by name, is a matter of opinion. But it is impossible to draw a line of rational thought from her statement to the political point Limbaugh was making. He simply didn't care about the facts enough to check them, or he just didn't care about them at all. He certainly didn't care about Sandra Fluke as an individual, but she was useful to him, so he used her.
I had a friend who came into existence because his older brother thought his mother's birth control pills were candy! (No word on what the hormones did to the older brother.)
A more music related angle on this- I don't know if Rush was paying proper royalties on this, but I know on several occasions politicians have appropriated someone's music without paying royalties due. It's not an issue in this case, but it's my understanding that there are big differences in moral rights in regards to copyright around the world. I've only got the Wikipedia basics on it. America seems to have weaker moral rights rules.
I seem to remember moral rights got involved with the whole Beatles 'Revolution' vs. Nike lawsuit. We could have an interesting discussion. How do moral rights apply to parody in other countries? In the U.S., as I understand it, you pay a pretty standard fee and you get to use something unless someone who owns the copyright tells you not to, but I guess in Europe it's more complicated (and tilted more in the author/composers favor).
easy, Old Fart has become my new hero. His grasp of the facts, and his delivery on his you tube videos, put chills up my spine. One more thing. We (taxpayers) pay Limbaugh to be the voice on "armed forces" radio, where he regularly degrades the Commander In Chief. A privilege not extended to Maher.
Rock on Kim! I'm now even more of a fan!
Last Edited by on Mar 17, 2012 11:19 AM
Now, I'm a fan of Kim Wilson and though I've never met him I suspect he's a good guy but one thing in Wilson's statement struck me. In the story of his statement it mentions that Limbaugh has been using his music for sometime and that Kim was aware of it. Yet, in his statement Wilson says, "I don't want people to think that I'm affiliated in any way, shape or form with him. The message he promotes is something I'm totally against." and "I don't want my music to support his message anymore. There is no amount of money this guy could pay me to be a part of his cruel rhetoric; I just don't want any part of it."
Which all begs the question, Kim, dude, what took you so long?
And BTW, with a syndicated show like Limbaugh's you can be certain the broadcast of Kim Wilson's music was logged and royalties paid in the standard manner. Broadcast royalties are based on audience size so you can also be certain it was not an inconsequential amount. I support Wilson's decision but I wouldn't be too quick to raise him to hero status.
