Studios | Sunday 7 – 9 PST
Editor's Note: Once again the brilliance of The Freak Nation shines through! WE KNOW that the Dixie Chicks and Toby Keith issue is several years old. What we were doing is asking for an opinion on current issues, namely racing organizations trying to penalize drivers for speaking their mind. We had real opinions and you shared yours with us. In the following, we return the favor, just as the letters were sent to us…
Yes. I think that there should be some regulation on what the drivers say. If it pertain to car racing anything goes. When I pay money to see a car race or go to see a performer perform.. I go to see them race or perform not to hear their political views. They have a captive audience and we are force to hear their opinion weather we want to or not.
Toby Keith was not trying to shut anybody up. He was just letting the public what was said. If the Dixie Chicks were not the minority, their reputation would not have been damaged. And as you say "being for the troops, but against the war" is ridicules, the troops are war!! Free speech is what it is. What Loretta Lynn said and did doesn't relate to what the Chicks did in any way. Nascar, NHRA competitors should be able to say whatever they want. The general population will determine who should have opened their mouth and those who shouldn't have.
Randy
Crawfordsville, IN
I don't know who Kenny Sargent is or what he has accomplished, but he strikes me as someone who has done nothing in his life except shoot his mouth off. He should know that the market influences nearly everything, and that if the market had not called for it, the Dixie Chicks would not have been "shut down" for their extremely shameful behavior. I'm glad that Toby Keith had the good sense and courage of his convictions to say and do what he did.
As far as drivers or anyone else is concerned, they can say anything they want to say. But speaking out without thinking how it might affect their employers or sponsors is probably not a good idea. I'm sure that some companies like controversy, but my guess is that most don't. Every employer and sponsor should have a reasonable expectation of good judgment on the part of those who very visibly represent them.
As far as the sponsors of the Speed Freak program, I will not be buying any Mac Tool or Lucas Oil products nor will I allow them to be used in my cars if I can help it.
Andy Hewes
Houston, Texas
According to buzzle.com and other websites, the dispute between these two began not when they (theh Dixie Chicks) made their remark in London, but when Maines said she hated TK's song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" (Angry American). Most professionals in any field do not say they "hate" another professional's work or call it "ignorant". Does this mean the Dixie Chicks can say what they want, but TK can't? He just responded to a direct slur. As for the radio stations removing the Chicks from their play lists and the record companies doing whatever, this is a misleading statement. The FANS of country music asked for the Dixie Chicks to be removed from the playlists, and also quit buying the Chicks' records. TK's album was at #1 and the Chicks' album stayed at #4. You can say what you want in a professional venue, but then you have to pay the price. Most fans of country music are conservative. MOST music professionals don't make such politically blatant statements as to inflame either side of an issue and possibly alienate their fans. By the way, Toby Keith is a registered Democrat, but he has his finger on the pulse of the American heart – he knew what most people wanted to hear.
By the way, this stuff is really old – this was in 2003 (DC's vs TK)
Steve &Tanya Marquez
stmarquez@att.net
Ok the Dixie Chic's have a right to complain about the war. Toby has the right to complain about the Dixie chic's—-freedom of speech. As far as shutting up drivers about their thoughts. Millions of dollars go into sponsorship and car owners need sponsorship, so yes drivers do need to watch what they say.The public chose to not buy the Dixie chic's albums so they suffered. If Jimmy Johnson says something bad, Nascar and Lowe's will suffer. It doesn't seem fair, but money talks. Only bite off what you can chew
I believe that if you check out Toby Keith you will find that he is somewhat sorry that he got involved with the feud with the “chicks”, and he said so on the special with Dan Rather. However I don’t believe that he nor the record industry shut down the chicks, the country music fans did!! I don’t believe that Toby Keith nor NASCAR believe in shutting people up per say.
One of our basic rights as Americans is the freedom to say what we think, but others are not required to listen to us. There is ample evidence from Daytona last week to suggest that if NASCAR is trying to shut the drivers up, they are failing miserably!!
Did the record industry shut out the Dixie Chicks or did the fans.?????
Yes they have the right to free speech. They also have to indure the outcome of that free speech.If a celebrity makes comments that the fans disagree with,the fans voice is heard through loss of record sales.As non celebrity individuals,we cant speek out at a concert or call a press conference and have tens of thousands of people as a captive audience.The record industry is interested in money only. If record /cd sales dropped,it was not due to the record industry. It was the fans retaliation for the comments made.By the way.Has the loss of the Dixie Chicks from the daily radio waves changed your world? Hasnt changed mine.The celebrities seem to feel they are overly influential and sometimes untouchable.It seems to me that they can disappear quickly without me losing any sleep.
Wes Carroll
4937carroll@sbcglobal.net]
In my opinion; I’m so sick of the liberal left using every media (they control which is all of them) to defame the current administration and promote through entertainment the liberal lefts agendas. I think, for example, Fahrenheit 911 should have been considered a political donation and therefore the expenses to make that political statement for Candidate Kerry’s benefit should have been non-deductible and all income taxable. I think the news media that has hidden all the “first in the history of America” accomplishments Bush has made in his administration should all be political donations to the Democratic Party; the inequality of political news reporting is atrocious. And finally, if your drivers/guests want to use your program as a political podium, your program should be considered a political donation and therefore all income taxed without deductions or give equal time to the other party by their representatives.
I think what the Dixie Chicks did was treason; when I went to school; you were shot for what they and many other celebrities do to our President even in the presence of our enemies. Of course then you need to consider the source (which starry eyed fans don’t) so many of President Bush’s critics don’t even have a high school diploma yet speak as though they are experts that are superior to our entire governments’ strategists and intelligence. Unfortunately, Americans have become stupid enough to give ear to such fools with a microphone in front of them.
Bill
It's interesting you brought out the idea that the dixie chicks were not speaking out against the military, but rather just against George W. Bush. You're overlooking the fact that the President is, in fact, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, thereby making him the highest ranking military member in the nation. Even Clinton, who had never served a day in his life, held this same title. If the dixie chicks spoke out against my commander, then they were speaking out against the military.
It seems you want to applaud then for speaking out against Bush, but are shielding them from the appearance that they are speaking out against the military. I am a military member. You don't have to ask US how we feel and who we prefer to hear speak (and perform, for that matter.) Check the disappointing ticket sales for the chicks last time they were in Savannah, home of the 3rd ID, compared to how quickly Toby Keith's tickets just sold out.
Bill
Master Sergeant
Savannah, GA
Absolutely NOT!! Drivers speaking their mind about on track issues and trashing other drivers is part of the allure of the sport, no matter which division it’s in!
Regards,
Rickey Trimm
Olive Branch, MS
Two words….HELL NO……..These sanctioning bodies (especially NASCAR) are way too involved with policing the drivers already. The magic element that made NASCAR so special back in the glory days was colorful drivers like Darrel Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt saying whatever they wanted without worrying about what NASCAR would think. I was a huge race fan all my life, but with all the changes to motorsports the past decade it really is not about the drivers anymore. I don't particularly care for Tony Stewart, but at least he still has the guts to speak his mind!
Ben Harteis
It wasn't because One dingy Dixie Chick spoke her mind, It was because she bad mouthed the president in a foreign country, adding to the problem of foreigners hating Americans.
Terrorist all over world were probably thrilled. Toby can say what he likes too. At home.
I dont think Radio shut her down, I think Americans shut her down. That's my right.
Thanks
Peg Bryant
Loveland Colorado
PS Now fining Jr for saying hell or damn or whatever was stupid