Last week, I reported for the Huffington Post that country singer Toby Keith had performed a pro-lynching anthem on the Colbert Report, and would be playing the same song soon on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and a slew of nationally televised talk shows.

The lyrics of Keith's song, "Beer For My Horses," which I transcribed, could hardly be less explicit -- "Hang 'em high, for all the people to see." In my piece, I also noted the racially tinged nature of the song's video and the forthcoming movie that Keith's song inspired.

Toby Keith's latest: Obama "talks, acts, and carries himself as a Caucausian."

The response from right-wing blogs was swift and strident. Townhall.com whined that "The Liberal Lynching of Toby Keith" had taken place; Lonewacko claimed that Keith was actually "promoting lawful executions." And Keith found an avid defender in Robert Stacy McCain, the disgraced former Washington Times reporter and avowed neo-Confederate who once allegedly ranted in the middle of the Times newsroom that slavery was "good for the blacks and good for property owners."

The comments section of my post was immediately swarmed by right-wing trolls twisting themselves into contortions to defend the indefensible. A typical comment read: "I can't believe that this Max can't find something real to complain about in this crazy world... I think Max is the bigot - he obviously hates country music, country singers and Southerners."

Describing Keith's over-produced truck commercial schmaltz as "country music" besmirches the dignified tradition established by Bill Monroe, Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton, while insulting the innovative artists propelling the genre into the future, from Neko Case to Son Volt to my good friend Dave Bryan (hear his music here). At his best, Keith is Merle Haggard with a lobotomy. But that's beside the point.

The comments by the literally hundreds of trolls who leapt to Keith's defense are significant for only one reason: they reveal the extent to which the radical right has anointed Keith as a leading movement icon. Keith's schlock rock is the soundtrack of the culturally deprived australopithicenes who populate the cyber-caves of freeperland and comprise the movement's most fervent activists. He is a faux working class chickenhawk who clamors for English-only laws but can hardly speak his own language; he is "White Trash With Money," and like them, he's proud of it. He is one of them.

Now, Keith has trained his sights on Barack Obama, attacking him in racially tinged language that startled even the notoriously reactionary radio jock Glenn Beck. During Keith's appearance on the July 30 broadcast of Beck's show, he remarked, "I think the black people would say he [Obama] don't talk, act or carry himself as a black person."

"What does that even mean?" the audibly shocked Beck replied.

"Well, I don't know what that means," Keith drawled, "but I think that that's what they would say. Even though the black society would pull for him I still think that they think in the back of their mind that the only reason he is in [the general election] is because he talks, acts and carries himself as a Caucasian."

How will Keith's fans explain away his latest paroxysm of bigotry without rejecting the essential thrust of his argument? The comments section is open.

Comments (121)

1. how odd:

   However, it was announced in March 2008 that KEITH and the DIXIE CHICKS would appear together in a series of television commercials on global warming, funded in part by AL GORE and his Alliance for Climate Protection. The commercials pair well-known public figures, who otherwise would not agree on many issues, to convey messages about climate change. Along with KEITH and the DIXIE CHICKS, television spots also feature current Democratic Speaker of the House NANCY PELOSI, with former Republican Speaker NEWT GINGRICH, and left-leaning Rev. AL SHARPTON paired together with the right-leaning Rev. PAT ROBERTSON.[5]

   Posted by frosty zoom at 08/05/2008 @ 02:32am

2. here's one from the right wing hero:

   <i>I always heard that his herb was top shelf

   Lord I just could not wait to find out for myself

   Well don't knock it till you've tried it And I've tried it my friend

   I'll never smoke weed with Willie again

   •••••••••••

   Now we learned a hard lesson in a small Texas town

   He fired up a fat boy and he passed it around

   The last words I spoke before they tucked me in

   I may discount bungee jump but

   I'll never smoke weed with Willie again..............

   Posted by frosty zoom at 08/05/2008 @ 02:39am

3. i watched the trailer.

   and the video.

   what a waste of electrons.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 08/05/2008 @ 02:49am

4. Obama Acts White To Win

   worked for all previous presidents.....

   Posted by frosty zoom at 08/05/2008 @ 02:52am

5. Any bet these boys DON'T use the word "Magic" for Obama?

   Posted by Maskdelta at 08/05/2008 @ 07:06am

6. Toby has an interesting schism in his paid advertising, he promotes the Ford Truck as "The truck that built America", and those that build it as fine Americans. But those fine folk are union! And those he supports politically hate unions as much as the brown shirts did.

   Toby, a large "tough guy" is also afraid of the phantom wmd's, drone planes and connections between Saddam and AQ. He sings cute little songs about bombs raining down on civilians in Iraq like most people sing about being happy in the water type rain.

   I expect that in a few years Toby will be the NExt Phred Thompson, and he will run adds slamming hero worship of Hollywierd actors.

   christian Values:

   "Justice will be served

   And the battle will rage

   This big dog will fight

   When you rattle his cage

   And you'll be sorry that you messed with The US of A

   Cuz we'll put a boot in your ass

   It's the American way.

   And Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list

   And the Statue of Liberty started shaking her fist

   And the Eagle will fly, and it's gonna to be hell

   When you hear Mother Freedom start ringing her bell

   And it'll feel like the whole wide world's raining down on you.

   Brought to you courtesy of the red, white, and blue. "

   I guess he means that the USA will bring AQ to your town, so he can hide behind women and children.

   Shouldn't Toby be in the Army himself?

   Posted by crabwalk at 08/05/2008 @ 07:49am

7. Some Obama folk showed up at a local music festival. They were greeted with "You nigger Lovers better get outa here before something happens to you."

   Cute isn't it?

   Does that kind of mindset make you proud of your fellow Americans Darin?

   (This is of course, from the same people that will be voting for the local guy that is sleeping with his pastors wife!)

   Posted by crabwalk at 08/05/2008 @ 07:52am

8. Wow. I didn't know Toby Keith had insight into how black people feel about Obama. It says something when a white man says a black man is acting white. LOL! That is fucking hilarious. I've got to tell my friends. Of course, first I'll have to clue them in to who Toby Keith is. I'm sure they might remember him from the commercials but, other than that, they have no clue who he is.

   Did anybody ask Keith what he meant by acting white? Usually white folks would just comment on how articulate he is.

   Off-topic: Have any of you guys heard of Larouche? He heads a democratic-leaning PAC. I recently attended the AFSCME convention in San Francisco(Great time!!) and some people were handing out leaflets attacking George Soros with regards to Obama. The leaflet had, " Don't let Soros pick the next president!" It's funny because I don't want this Larouche guy(who's for Hillary)to pick my president either. I'm gonna do a little research but I wondered what others may know. Thanks.

   Posted by k330k at 08/05/2008 @ 08:04am

9. You need to switch to De-caf MAX. Taking things WAY too seriously

   Posted by william.harry13 at 08/05/2008 @ 08:18am

10. nice provacative piece, mad max!

    much of the angry, anti-intellectual bent of the southern whitey is the result of a long, ugly, violent history in which a tiny plutocracy of wealthy sociopaths benefitted not only from the obvious exploitation of non-whites, but also from the less obvious exploitation of their poor white serfs. this was generally enabled by the racist notion of the average poor white clodhopper thinking to him/herself, "well...at least i ain't a nigger!"

    often those who have the least to be proud of are those who are most susceptible to the sin of pride, and non plutocrat southern whites are a prime example of this phenomenon. funny too how those states which consistantly vote "red" (an interesting departure from traditional color symbolism) also have the lowest average IQ's...in the last two presidential elections the split has almost been perfect with the higher IQ states voting democrat and the lower IQ states firmly republican.

    but to point this out only serves to retrench the angry inferiority complex afflicted southern white toby kieth class.

    ah the double bind!

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 08/05/2008 @ 08:22am

11. Once again, MARYBRET/Darin punching holes in the wild, wacky, completely unsubstantiated rumor that ...

    there are racists on the political Right!

    Attaboy Luthor!

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/05/2008 @ 08:40am

12. Perhaps of greater interest is that Willie Nelson has a hand in the recording, the video, and the film. All too often racism has been a strain in American populist traditions so it should not be surprising to see the old outlaw himself romanticizing lynching and other posse comitatus approaches to enforcing The Just. But then, my heroes have never been cowboys.

    Larouche at the SF AFSCME convention? Lyndon Larouche? Oy...is he still around?

    Posted by Masaniello at 08/05/2008 @ 08:42am

13. The lyrics to "Beer for My Horses" really are nasty. Toby Keith seems to have graduated from the Eminem school of irony. "Sure, the lyrics seem to endorse white male supremacy and, yes, I am a white male, but you see, this song is ironic, because, well, because I just said so."

    So I share Blumenthal's sentiments. All that I have to add is that somewhere in "the dignified tradition" of country music, or perhaps among its "innovative artists," the name of Steve Earle should have been mentioned. Others may add their own favorites to this list.

    "K330K," you should know that Lyndon LaRouche has never favored anybody except himself. So he favors Hillary Clinton now, does he? Timely, as usual.

    "MaryBretBrad," I'll do you a favor and pretend that your parable of the three orifices is really only a joke and has nothing whatsoever to do with your actual world-view.

    Perhaps we all need to extend the same charity to Toby Keith. Not because he deserves it, but because if there's one thing more annoying than a man who proudly calls himself "white trash with money," it's a man who proudly calls himself "white trash with money who's a victim of the liberal media." And because we do, after all, favor charity. Are we liberals, or what?

    I mean, what else can we do? A lot of people like Toby Keith's music and buy his albums. All I can advise is that the Dixie Chicks should have a talk with Elton John about what it was like to share the stage with Eminem. Maybe it's like deciding, as a Jew in the age of Roman occupation, to do what Jesus advised and to carry the armor of a Roman soldier an extra mile ... as a gift.

    Posted by JakobFabian at 08/05/2008 @ 08:54am

14. 'I think the black people would say he [Obama] don't talk, act or carry himself as a black person.' -- Toby Keith

    '..."There's only one thing different about Barack Obama when it comes to being a Democratic presidential candidate. He's half African-American," Nader said. "Whether that will make any difference, I don't know. I haven't heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What's keeping him from doing that? IS IT BECAUSE HE WANTS TO TALK WHITE? He doesn't want to appear like Jesse Jackson? We'll see all that play out in the next few months and if he gets elected afterwards."..."He wants to show that he is not a threatening . . . another politically threatening African-American politician," Nader said. "He wants to appeal to white guilt. You appeal to white guilt not by coming on as black is beautiful, black is powerful. Basically he's coming on as someone who is not going to threaten the white power structure, whether it's corporate or whether it's simply oligarchic. And they love it. Whites just eat it up."...' -- Rocky Mountain News -- 25 June, 2008

    Posted by HonestLiberal at 08/05/2008 @ 09:53am

15. 'Some Obama folk showed up at a local music festival. They were greeted with "You nigger Lovers better get outa here before something happens to you." ' -- Crabwalk

    'Cannibals Shrink Space Alien's Head' -- headline, Weekly World News

    Posted by HonestLiberal at 08/05/2008 @ 09:58am

16. If you write for huffpo then you have no problems with the type of extreme censorship that huffpo engages in so it's not surprising to see such a person whining about a songs words.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 08/05/2008 @ 09:59am

17. Keith is a bigot. I've burned his CDs in my fireplace. Everyone else should do the same. He is so over.

    Posted by TheBigAl at 08/05/2008 @ 10:29am

18. marybretbrad at 08/05/2008 @ 07:57am...

    Disgusting... Is this your world view in a nutshell?

    Keith makes being 'a few bricks short of a load' seem SO cool!... and fascism just 'feels so right'. I wonder if he even knows what 'freedom' means and what 'civil rights' actually are...

    Grab another six pack an' jus' go wi' the flow... the pack... the chain of command... the media suggestion... the convenient interpretation of Christian legacy... the deciders whim...

    Is this what it means to be a patriotic American? I don't think so.

    I'll take the constitution, please... with a side order of compassion... and follow that up with empathetic and benign world political involvement.

    Posted by ttr at 08/05/2008 @ 10:37am

19. I worked for Willie Nelson for years and I never heard him say or do anything that would indicate that Willie is racist.

    I'm from Oklahoma and will admit that I was stunned when Keith hooked up with Will. What I knew of Keith came from the fact that my SIL works for him and hates him. The stories that he has related about Keith's racist comments and also his womanizing is enough to gag a maggot. (Oklahoma and Texas saying).

    I do know this, Willie Nelson was the first person to publicly demonstrate that he wanted Charley Pride (a traditional country singer who is black) to have a place on the same stage that he was appearing on. Google Charlie Pride with Willie and read about it.

    Unlike Keith, Willie has filled his life with good deeds and affirmative action towards all people. It was Willie Nelson who formed Farm Aid with John Mellencamp and Neil Young. Not Toby Keith. I, personally, don't know of any altruistic deeds that Keith has performed.

    I also will tell you that I have never seen Willie utter an unkind word about anyone except the meanest of the mean and that was a very rare occasion for me.

    My post has turned into a glowing piece of work in defense of Willie Nelson. I have no idea what he likes about Toby Keith (of if he even likes him) but I do know that in the music circles, sometimes unholy alliances are formed due to label pressure and such. However, I would also doubt that WN would cave to anything like that.

    So, Toby Keith is a rich white trash "boy" that may very well become the poster boy for the supporters of McCain. But just like every other ignorant songster before him, he'll crash and burn and we'll be making progress in the White House!

    Giving Keith our power gives him face time that we don't want him to have.

    Posted by weezilgirl at 08/05/2008 @ 10:48am

20. I reckon someone needs to emasculate Toby Keith, along with Ted Nugent & all their hideous redneck ilk. Where is Lorena Bobbitt when we need her? Seriously, white racist trash like this who proudly live in the Dark Ages of Ku Klux Klan mentality are begging for a taste of their own putrid medicine. He's just jealous that Obama's intelligence level vastly exceeds his own and that Obama can construct a coherent sentence based on simple truth and patriotic sensibility. Tell Toby to crawl back under the filthy rock from whence he came & rot there for all the maggots to devour him alive.

    Posted by dapperd72 at 08/05/2008 @ 10:51am

21. P.S. It has never been a secret that Willie Nelson smokes pot, however I did find it offensive that Keith wrote a song about it. I don't know if Willie cared but I feel like it is more proof that Keith is an idiot and is appealing to the masses that are "pseudo cowboys".

    Posted by weezilgirl at 08/05/2008 @ 10:55am

22. It's unfortunate that Toby Keith made these comments... they make absolutely no sense whatsoever. It seems that Keith is trying to speak intelligently of something which he knows little about, which is always a recipe for disaster. How would he have even a remote understanding of how the black community, collectively, thinks?

    But what's even more unfortunate is your ignorance. You do worse than Keith here: you try to oversimplify an entire culture, a whole lifestyle, hoping to clearly delineate boundaries between this "other" lifestyle in order to make sure that everybody knows "this is not me, this is another side of America with which I am in now way associated, and whose antics I fully condemn." You are so swaddled in your own self-righteousness that, as a liberal Democrat and supporter of Senator Obama since before he announced his candidacy for President, I can do nothing but sit back and laugh at this malarky.

    Keith's song "Beer for my Horses" is not pro-lynching. The song harkens back to a time when justice was effected in a swift manner by citizens taking the law into their own hands; sure, it advocates hanging as an effective way to achieve justice. These same citizens then celebrate their accomplishments at the end of the day with "whiskey for my men, and beer for my horses." But again, it is not pro-lynching... lynching and hanging connote very different things, and shouldn't be used interchangeably.

    As a die-hard supporter of Senator Obama, I offended by the childish, simple-minded nature of this post. Please, spend your time adding to the productive dialogue that this campaign should be spawning.

    Oh, and by the way. Keith is a registered Democrat. Who endorsed Dan Boren, (D-OK). And good friends with Bill Richardson.

    Posted by tfrin88 at 08/05/2008 @ 10:56am

23. Does being registered Democrat remove the hatefulness of what Keith said?

    Are we supposed to feel better that he is a Democrat. Sorry, I'd rather find out that he is a registered Republican.

    You can't change a leopard's spots.

    Posted by weezilgirl at 08/05/2008 @ 11:00am

24. MBB-Did Willie cheat on his taxes or was it proven that that was done without his knowledge?

    Posted by i'm nobody at 08/05/2008 @ 11:04am

25. Come to think of it, a lot of people on here need some decaf today

    Weeeeeeeeeeeeee doggieeeess!

    Posted by william.harry13 at 08/05/2008 @ 11:06am

26. As someone who is not an American it appears to me that Mr Obama had a white mother meaning 50% of his genes are white,not 5 %. Would that not mean that he would naturally express some of his mothers side. It would look kind of silly for him to be wearing clothes and expressing himself as 100% black.Black people all over the world also dress in western style business attire as this form of dress is synonymous with accepted norms...You see the Chinese dressed in suit and tie when dealing internationally and even in their own country. I am sure they do not feel like they are dressing white....

    Posted by averageCanadianguy at 08/05/2008 @ 11:21am

27. I am also curious as to why people like Toby Keith seem to gravitate to wearing military attire. Are they part of your Armed Forces reserve down there. Did Mr Keith serve in your forces himself like the thousands of black people I see on TV in your Armed forces serving in war zones.

    Posted by averageCanadianguy at 08/05/2008 @ 11:26am

28. Toby is just a product of his upbringing. I work in a typical Texas town full of churches and bars and 'christians' who use the 'N' word. They're just in their own little world, 60 years behind the rest of the country. It's difficult to help people this single minded and ignorant. All they care about is beer, whiskey, girls, big trucks, cheap gas, and moronic country songs like Toby's. Oh, and of course, 'lovin Jesus and hatin furiners and yankees...eeeh-haw!'.

    Posted by Tobysucks at 08/05/2008 @ 11:39am

29. 'I reckon someone needs to emasculate Toby Keith, along with Ted Nugent & all their hideous redneck ilk.' -- dapperd72

    'I want to cut his nuts off!' -- Jesse Jackson

    Posted by HonestLiberal at 08/05/2008 @ 11:57am

30. You say Obama acts white to win, my question to you is what is a white person. Is it to be white, is to be ignorant, racist, trash, hillbillie, entitlement, money hungry, cold, arrogant, now thats what it is to be white. (not nice right?) Well this is an insult to think that anybody who is not white is not proud. Non whites have their own culture and please does not want to be "white". As a Hipanic person, (i bet you never met a Hispanic person in your life and is alway judging other races and cultures. Every culture is proud of their heritage, what we all have in common is we love this country, every culutre and every race. It is our country not white country! Obama is more intellegent than McCain now that is the truth.

    Posted by yoli at 08/05/2008 @ 11:58am

31. Posted by HonestLiberal at 08/05/2008 @ 11:57am

    "Before you can grill it, you gotta kill it." Motor City Madman (Bowhunter extraordinaire)

    Posted by Benchrest at 08/05/2008 @ 12:02pm

32. Lots of bigoted stereotyping going on on this board.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 08/05/2008 @ 12:06pm

33. Stupid white trash idiot.

    Posted by 2manyStruassians at 08/05/2008 @ 12:07pm

34. "When you rattle his cage

    And you'll be sorry that you messed with The US of A

    Cuz we'll put a boot in your ass

    It's the American way."

    I get the distinct feeling that Keith, like a lot of far right new con repubs, are closeted/bathroom stalled- S&M gays; "not that there's anything wrong with that sort of thing", unless when you say you're against that very same sort of thing...

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/05/2008 @ 12:09pm

35. Of course he is a closet as most people who he performs for are. "Me thinks they do protest too much."

    Posted by 2manyStruassians at 08/05/2008 @ 12:11pm

36. But really now, why isn't McC got Kieth in the background muziac:

    http://tinyurl.com/5ekzgh

    ?

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/05/2008 @ 12:12pm

37. Posted by tfrin88 at 08/05/2008 @ 10:56am

    I don't think Keith being a registered Democrat proves anything.

    After all, local "TN" poster FRANKGRITS was an ardant Hillary supporter...

    now tells racist "black robot caddy" jokes.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/05/2008 @ 12:15pm

38. The message of this song is clear, and anyone who defends it, is just covering up their own racist tendencies, whether you are aware of them or not. Harkin back to the good old days huh? Mob rule, is truly outside the law, and wrong. Every American deserves the protection of a fair trial under the rule of law. Hey let's just assume someone is wrong, not have a trial, hang em by a tree and then have some whiskey and beer. You might as well be urinating on the American flag, this type of redneck thought is part of what our founding fathers wrote the Constitution to protect us from. How can anyone defend mob rule, mob rule has always been easily corruptable. Do your business in the full light of the law with full transparency, unlike the secrecy the Bush Administration operates within its closed environment. Toby Keith is a biggot, I don't care who he votes for, his true views are apparent. His put a boot in your ass song was the most childish song I have ever heard, and made me embarrassed to have him wrap himself in our country's flag. Only renaming french fries "freedom fries" was more sophmoric and childish response to the dangerous and complex world we face, that has been created by the close minded and fool hearty policies of W.

    Posted by Ampf at 08/05/2008 @ 12:20pm

39. That's really rich (and quite hilarious) coming from a guy who doesn't need to "act" like a racist redneck as he IS a racist redneck.

    Posted by vfeinstein at 08/05/2008 @ 12:23pm

40. Personally, I have not listened to Keith's tune to determine for myself whether or not it's racist in nature.

    But in as much as I've always found Keith to be an ignorant, irrelevant douchebag, I'll let the rest of you worry about it.

    I think I can find some other issues to hold my attention.

    Posted by drhammer at 08/05/2008 @ 12:27pm

41. ampf-Can you,please,point out the lyrics that are racist?I've studied the history of the old west and I can assure you that they were equal opportunity lynchers.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 08/05/2008 @ 12:30pm

42. 'I think the black people would say he [Obama] don't talk, act or carry himself as a black person.'

    I'm proud to say Toby Keith don't (sic) talk, act or carry himself like any white person I know.

    Posted by NYCBullDog at 08/05/2008 @ 12:36pm

43. "Keith's schlock rock is the soundtrack of the culturally deprived australopithicenes who populate the cyber-caves of freeperland and comprise the movement's most fervent activists."

    What a great way to stymie the right wing trolls and keep them busy : use big words that require going to the dictionary -- you know that big fat book with definitions (meanings of words).

    Posted by catoutofthebag at 08/05/2008 @ 12:38pm

44. I've studied the history of the old west and I can assure you that they were equal opportunity lynchers.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 08/05/2008 @ 12:30pm

    I'll google the stat's on that...

    No, the ol'stat's list more niggers, messican's, azians and injin's as lynched/hanged/dragged, and/or generally massacred than poor whites. er, thus the whole more wealthy whites running the USA thing...

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/05/2008 @ 12:47pm

45. Eh leave him alone. He has a right to say what he want's and his listeners have a write to listen no matter how stupid and ignorant it makes the rest of us think they are.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/05/2008 @ 12:50pm

46. Hmm, did MBB get banned? I can't see his post.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/05/2008 @ 12:54pm

47. Obama is a middle class black - a lawyer He's not acting 'white' he's acting middle class. Keith doesn't know class when it comes and bites him on the ass.

    Posted by ElyDog at 08/05/2008 @ 12:57pm

48. hsubfools-Actually,blacks and others played an active role in the lynching of whites.While the old west had it's share of racists,particularly following the civil war, it,also,was the place where women and blacks could find far more equality than they could anywhere else.No stats were kept on the subject of lynchings in the old west,for obvious reasons, and anything you could find would be a guess,at best,but guessing has little meaning..

    Posted by i'm nobody at 08/05/2008 @ 1:07pm

49. Why do people pay good money to listen to these guys? Then we wonder why Senator Obama said "they turn to religion and guns"?

    Posted by julien38 at 08/05/2008 @ 1:12pm

50. 2222Hoppy

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/05/2008 @ 1:23pm

51. Of course,we all know that rap and rock songs have nothing,but pure lyrics that promote peace,togetherness,justice,equality and never promote violence,never refer to women as hos and bitches,etc so we should,only,focus on this song and rednecks.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 08/05/2008 @ 1:25pm

52. It's just so comforting to know, Magic turned to Rev. Wright for moral guidance and Ludacris for entertainment! Posted by 2HAPPY at 08/05/2008 @ 1:17pm

    Uhh actually Obama decried Ludacris' song. You can spin it though. However anyone who reads a newspaper knows that Obama said Ludacris' song was inappropriate.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/05/2008 @ 1:27pm

53. Is Obama responsibility for what everyone in this world says? I'm sure every one of McCain's musical selections and movie choices are ones that are pro-America, pro-Peace, Pro-love and pro-God.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/05/2008 @ 1:30pm

54. To be sure I find McC's ad's as, if not more racially offensive:

    Obama's metaphor -- "He doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills" -- wasn't random; it was a reference.

    A McCain ad from 27 June -- more than a month before Obama's remark -- suggested that the very idea of Barack Obama's face -- i.e., the face of a black man -- on the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, and the $100 bill was absurd.

    John McCain started this.

    See ad here:

    http://tinyurl.com/5ekzgh

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/05/2008 @ 1:34pm

55. I'm sure every one of McCain's musical selections and movie choices are ones that are pro-America, pro-Peace, Pro-love and pro-God.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/05/2008 @ 1:30pm

    Yup, McC's vave-- the Beachboys-- Bomb bomb bomb Iran

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/05/2008 @ 1:36pm

56. But don't forget-- if you're white-- you're alright...

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/05/2008 @ 1:38pm

57. It's just so comforting to know, Magic turned to Rev. Wright for moral guidance and Ludacris for entertainment! Posted by 2HAPPY at 08/05/2008 @ 1:17pm

    Oh and Happy, express all the indignation you want. But you support the candidate who has given money to speakers of the CofCC, the KKK without the sheets, and has gotten aid from a person who said David Duke should join state politics.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/05/2008 @ 1:39pm

58. Adultery is a common theme in country music so McCain should be able to relate to that subject.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 08/05/2008 @ 1:39pm

59. Oh and harp on it all you want. Rev Right and Ludacris are by most degrees harmless. The CofCC isn't. Especially considering many of their members are also apart of the KKK.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/05/2008 @ 1:42pm

60. Ooops, sorry meant -- But if you're white, rich and a war hero, you're alright....

    Ad's about how 'crazy' it would be to put a face like Obama's on Mount Rushmore or a dollar bill, is ok if you're white, rich and a war hero. But if you're Toby Kieih it's not---- only because he's a chickenhawk?

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/05/2008 @ 1:50pm

61. New con repubs

    are so

    racist go-alongers.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/05/2008 @ 2:01pm

62. Or is it that

    new con repubs are

    racist

    tag-alongers?

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/05/2008 @ 2:02pm

63. er, Ooops, sorry meant -- But if you're white, rich, semi-smart and a war hero, you're alright....

    (obviously, Toby being a bit on the below semi-smart stat, has gotten play too)

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/05/2008 @ 2:06pm

64. But alas, it is the way of the world, well at least in the USA:

    "Suskind writes in "The Way of the World," to be published Tuesday, that the alleged forgery - adamantly denied by the White House - was designed to portray a false link between Hussein's regime and al Qaeda as a justification for the Iraq war.

    The author also claims that the Bush administration had information from a top Iraqi intelligence official "that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq - intelligence they received in plenty of time to stop an invasion."

    Posted by hsuBfools at 08/05/2008 @ 2:09pm

65. I was stunned when Keith hooked up with Will.

    Posted by weezilgirl at 08/05/2008 @ 10:48am

    me, too.

    willie's a musician. keith's a moron.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/05/2008 @ 2:29pm

66. Hmm, did MBB get banned? I can't see his post.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/05/2008 @ 12:54pm

    let's check the other threads:

    yep. he's still in the google "cached" but he's scrubbed from the old threads.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/05/2008 @ 2:40pm

67. 'Some Obama folk showed up at a local music festival. They were greeted with "You nigger Lovers better get outa here before something happens to you." ' -- Crabwalk

    'Cannibals Shrink Space Alien's Head' -- headline, Weekly World News

    Posted by HonestLiberal at 08/05/2008 @ 09:58am

    If you saw the shrinking, then you have the same insight I do into the music festival. Think on it dishonest conservative.

    -----

    Posted by i'm nobody at 08/05/2008 @ 1:07pm

    If we take Tobys song to be a celebration of vigilantism only, how much better does that make it? If we also take the end to be literal, "Whisky for me, beer for my horse", does feeding beer to an animal make one a good person. If one gets drunk after hangin' a "guilty" person, is this something the rest of us should join in celebration.

    Posted by crabwalk at 08/05/2008 @ 2:42pm

68. Can we make fun of Kieth Richards now? He fell out of a coconut tree.

    Posted by crabwalk at 08/05/2008 @ 2:44pm

69. Is The Nation staff getting a little more testy lately? If their "feelings" are being hurt, maybe they should become neo-cons in the vein of the grandpa neo-cons move from liberalism to neo-conservatism/fear.

    Posted by crabwalk at 08/05/2008 @ 2:49pm

70. Posted by Cccomfo1 at 08/05/2008 @ 1:27pm

    Forget it, CCC.

    According to HAPP's sources (aka a certain talk show on the radio from 12-3pm EST)...Obama and Ludacris were "pals" and Obama probably helped him write that rap tune!

    Meanwhile, McCain "was completely unaware" of what John Hagee ever said and (despite McCain seekig his endorsement), it's a "stretch to say that Hagee is somehow representative of the McCain campaign"!

    heheh

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/05/2008 @ 2:56pm

71. crabbie-Wasn't saying that it was a good song.I was just pointing out that it doesn't seem to be racist.Personally,I think people are paying way more attention to it than they should and are,no doubt,increasing it's sales.I,like many,have never even heard of the song until now.I can point out songs from all types of music that have questionable lyrics,but I will fight for their right to write such songs.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 08/05/2008 @ 3:04pm

72. Mr. Blumenthal is an idiot. First of all, while we are all equal, all races do NOT act alike in many ways, and if you argue that you are liar. This is not to say that one group is "better than" the other, we all just have our differences, and thank God for that. Secondly, why would you assume his lyrics are directed only to black people? Could it not be that he is sick of violence and crime IN GENERAL? Of course, you would not see it that way as he is a huge supporter of our troops (of all races) and.... Well, he's from the South, therefore he MUST be racist. I'd be satisfied to see the guys responsible for 9/11 hanging at the end of a rope. Give me a break. Why wouldn't you feel the same way?

    Posted by inletgirl at 08/05/2008 @ 3:09pm

73. I'd be satisfied to see the guys responsible for 9/11 hanging at the end of a rope.

    Posted by inletgirl at 08/05/2008 @ 3:09pm

    wow. your going to need a lot of rope.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/05/2008 @ 3:15pm

74. Talk about out of context. First the song about lynching is about hanging criminals like the old west. Nothing about racism. And the truth hurts when he talks about how some African Americans do react to Obama. Look at how the black leadership reacts to him. People don't want to hear it, but sadly, a segment of the African American population is saying just that.

    Posted by J_jr at 08/05/2008 @ 3:18pm

75. People don't want to hear it, but sadly, a segment of the African American population is saying just that.

    Posted by J_jr at 08/05/2008 @ 3:18pm

    Are they correct to point out that Obama does not sound "black enough"? Is that imortant? Is it the place of a white guy from the south, wearing a cowboy hat and who revels in "southern culture" to continue that debate? Or do you think maybe Toby and Co have a not so subtle underlying text to their comments?

    ------------

    Posted by crabwalk at 08/05/2008 @ 3:29pm

76. And is lynching about "criminals" or about quick "justice" without justice?

    Also, while I'mnobody has an excellent point about lynching having a multi-racial history, in the minds of most Americans I think the term lynching carries a specific context, that of lynching blacks that were "criminals". Such crimes might include; looking at white women, not crossing the street when a white man comes by, using the wrong drinking fountain, registering voters, and other capital crimes.

    Posted by crabwalk at 08/05/2008 @ 3:33pm

77. My fave Steve Earle tune:

    Oh Condi Condi beggin' on my knees Open up your heart and let me in wontcha please Got no money but everybody knows I love you Condi and I'll never let you go Sweet and dandy pretty as can be You be the flower and I'll be the bumble bee Oh she loves me oops she loves me not People say you're cold but I think you're hot

    Oh, Condi, Condi Oh, Condi, Condi

    Oh Condi, Condi I'm talkin' to you girl What's it gonna hurt come on give me a whirl Shake your body now let me see you go One time for me Oh Condi I love you so Skank for me Condi show me what you got They say you're too uptight I say you're not Dance around me spinnin' like a top Oh Condi Condi Condi don't ever stop

    Oh Condi Condi Can't you hear me call I'm standin' in the street outside your garden wall Pocketful of money belly full of wine Condi in my heart and romance on my mind Listen to me Condi don't be afraid I come here tonight to chase your blues away I'll never hurt you I'll treat you right Oh Condaleeza won't you come out tonight

    Pretty little Condi precious as can be Bet you never had another lover like me ---

    No mention of lynching

    Posted by crabwalk at 08/05/2008 @ 3:41pm

78. I got it. Global warming is real. These people have stayed out in the sun to long without a hat listening to Toby.

    Posted by julien38 at 08/05/2008 @ 3:44pm

79. here, listen to some real music:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcwaDYc1IWY&fmt=18

    Yo ya estoy hasta la madre de que me pongan sombrero escucha entonces cuando digo no me llames Frijolero.

    Y aunque exista algun respeto y no metamos las narices nunca inflamos la moneda haciendo guerra a otros países.

    Te pagamos con petroleo o intereses nuestra deuda mientras tanto no sabemos quien se queda con la feria.

    Aunque nos hagan la fama de que somos vendedores de la droga que sembramos ustedes son consumidores.

    Don't call me gringo, You fuckin' beaner stay on your side of that goddamn river don't call me gringo, You beaner.

    No me digas beaner, Mr. Puñetero Te sacare de un susto por racista y culero. No me llames frijolero, Pinche gringo puñetero. Chingao!!

    Now I wish I had a dime for every single time I've gotten stared down For being in the wrong side of town.

    And a rich man I'd be if I had that kind of chips lately I wanna smack the mouths of these racists.

    Podrás imaginarte desde afuera, ser un Mexicano cruzando la frontera, pensando en tu familia mientras que pasas, dejando todo lo que tu conoces atras.

    Si tuvieras tu que esquivar las balas de unos cuantos gringos rancheros Les seguiras diciendo good for nothing wetback? si tuvieras tu que empezar de cero.

    Now why don't you look down to where your feet is planted That U.S. soil that makes you take shit for granted If not for Santa Ana, just to let you know That where your feet are planted would be Mexico Correcto!

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/05/2008 @ 4:03pm

80. BEANER!!!

    Did ya'll hear the one about Beaner Coffee houses? they had to change their name. It would have been in their interest to have been in touch with slang.

    Although.... it didn't really hurt Chi-Chi's restaurants. I guess a eatery named "titties" isn't as offensive as BEANERS!!

    we all gotta hate someone, it keeps the coffers flowing.

    Posted by crabwalk at 08/05/2008 @ 4:13pm

81. Keith Richards should have a hospital gurney on stage ....

    Posted by averageCanadianguy at 08/05/2008 @ 4:16pm

82. Posted by averageCanadianguy at 08/05/2008 @ 4:16pm

    LOL!

    that's not a guitar stand, it's an IV holder!

    Posted by crabwalk at 08/05/2008 @ 4:29pm

83. to be fair, he was talking about what he perceived as are the sentiments of "black society". He's not necessarily saying that that's what he thinks. Though it may be what he thinks, you can't draw that conclusion from these comments. Pipe down, if we go around for the next 3 months calling every tom dick and bigot a racist then we risk pissing off half the white electorate. No need to make the ignorant feel like a victim. Take teh high road, peeps.

    Posted by gnostic19 at 08/05/2008 @ 4:59pm

84. but keith richard's got soul by the dozen!

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/05/2008 @ 5:21pm

85. No need to make the ignorant feel like a victim. Take teh high road, peeps.

    Posted by gnostic19 at 08/05/2008 @ 4:59pm

    <i>they</i> know they are victims.

    perhaps their anger is often misguided,

    but whose isn't?

    the high road does have a nice view though.

    but if you fall.......

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/05/2008 @ 5:23pm

86. Toby Keith obviously committed a mortal sin, he actually said things as they are. Truth is not appreciated in certain precincts of the cyber world.

    To actually notice that Obama speaks in a manner quite different from Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, or, God help us all, Martin Lawrence or Mos Def, is in this "Nation" environ, unforgivable. Certainly don't call such a speechifying style "articulate."

    The fact is that Obama has an inflection in speaking not only different from most blacks, but also from Toby Keith. He speaks pretty close to to what most Americans would consider "standard" American English. There is certainly nothing wrong with accented English. Toby Keith's manner of speech is likely closer to most African Americans than is Barack Obama's.

    The inanity of this article is increased because the author fails to realize this.

    Posted by J. Saxon at 08/05/2008 @ 5:27pm

87. Toby Keith begs the right wing mantra so ofter directed at those the right wing wackos like to demonize which is "Just shut up and sing"....

    Posted by Zephyr99 at 08/05/2008 @ 5:38pm

88. Thinking about vacationing through "cowboy" country? Suggest you wear a suit with your ten gallon hat. This will engender one heck of a lot of respect. You won't have to worry about your fan belt or your soup & the only drawback is that you'll have to listen to C&W on your car radio at rest stops & gas stations.

    Posted by Sorelish at 08/05/2008 @ 6:07pm

89. tfrin88 is right, lynching and hanging do connote very different things. Just consult a dictionary.

    Lynching is "to execute without due process of law, especially to hang, as by a mob." Hanging is defined as a form of capital punishment, usually following a trial and carried out by state officials.

    Thus, trfin88 is wrong to say that Keith isn't writing about lynching, but simply harkening back to the good old days "when justice was effected in a swift manner by citizens taking the law into their own hands."

    That type of lawless action is called lynching. Hanging, while abhorrent, would be the legal method of execution. When citizens "take the law into their own hands" they're acting outside the law and uh, lynching.

    Posted by Sue8496 at 08/05/2008 @ 6:18pm

90. "Keith is a bigot. I've burned his CDs in my fireplace. Everyone else should do the same. He is so over."

    Posted by TheBigAl at 08/05/2008 @ 10:29am

    Hahahahahaha!!!! You had Toby Keith CD's?!!!? Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!! And now this makes you want to burn them,... But all of his other shitty music didn't make you want to burn them? Unintentional or otherwise, TheBigAl has the funniest post on here...

    Posted by ADHD at 08/05/2008 @ 6:46pm

91. I can't find the MARYBRET post that seemed to piss everyone off. It's a bummer it got deleted. I look forward to reading posts by MARYBRET when I'm having a long day... They kill an astonishing number of brain cells, and as a result, reading them gets me higher than huffing the harshest industrial chemicals available.

    Posted by ADHD at 08/05/2008 @ 6:59pm

92. "Chi-Chis" is slang for breasts? Seriously? Well, how appropriate. My husband proposed to me at a Chi-Chis restaurant and he LOVES...well...chi chis. He lived in both Spain and Southern California so I'm thinking the perv probably knew, but after 22 years guess it's too late to chew him out. :)

    Posted by Pogge at 08/05/2008 @ 7:51pm

93. BTW Toby, Obama IS as white as he is black and was raised for the most part in a white world. What should he sound like? Well educated middle class kids sound the same whether we are from Alaska or Houston, black, white or "other". Of course it isn't fair to judge people by how they speak, but we all do it. I expect people who sound like you to be ignorant bigots. I lived south. There are good people there, honey. You just aren't one of them.

    Posted by Pogge at 08/05/2008 @ 8:08pm

94. Posted by ADHD at 08/05/2008 @ 6:59pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    buzz of the day? lol...

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 08/05/2008 @ 9:22pm

95. Chi-Chis" is slang for breasts? Seriously? Well, how appropriate. My husband proposed to me at a Chi-Chis restaurant and he LOVES...well...chi chis. He lived in both Spain and Southern California so I'm thinking the perv probably knew, but after 22 years guess it's too late to chew him out. :)

    Posted by Pogge at 08/05/2008 @ 7:51pm

    it's not slang. it's nahuatl.

    <<<<Chichi is a curious Nahuatl word to begin with, since it does not exist in the classic singular absolutive form. That is there is no word "chichitl" It only exists as "chichi" This has led some scholars to assume that it was a word borrowed from some other language. There are two other Nahuatl words that on the surface are similar. The verb to suckle "chi:chi:-" written with two long vowels, and the word for saliva "chihchitl", and lastly to another verb "chihchi-" to mend or patch something.>>>>

    <<<<The Nahuatl name Chīchīmēcah (plural, singular Chīchīmēcatl; pronounced [tʃiːtʃiːˈmeːkaʔ]) means "inhabitants of Chichiman"; the placename Chichiman itself means "Area of Milk">>>>

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/05/2008 @ 10:23pm

96. <i>Posted by Sue8496 at 08/05/2008 @ 6:18pm </i>

    Just to be brief, what's important for the purpose of the dialogue is the connotation of the word, not the denotation. That's what the subject of argument has largely been. The question is whether the song carries a racist connotation. Ironically, watching the video seems to undercut that claim rather than supporting it; observe carefully the individual they catch (and hand off to police) at the end. Perhaps the video was designed at least in part to combat precisely the concern that many express.

    Posted by Thrawn at 08/05/2008 @ 10:29pm

97. Okay guys, my Spanish consists of "Tengo unas pocas palabras solas" which, awkward as it sounds, is still better then the time I told a table of sweet old German women I was going home to eat my husband instead of feed him. I love diversity, but it doesn't love me back.

    Posted by Pogge at 08/05/2008 @ 10:46pm

98. The fact that so many people are getting upset over something an ENTERTAINER said regarding politics is unbelievable. I do wonder why Max Blumenthal is wasting so much time writing about non-issues. Will his next story be about what Paris Hilton thinks about Obama? Perhaps Tom Cruise's views on the candidate?

    Posted by squeezebox1969 at 08/06/2008 @ 09:18am

99. squeezebox1969

    unfortunately, squeezy, many people DO care what an "entertainer" says about politics.

    scary, but true.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/06/2008 @ 10:42am

100. Larouche at the SF AFSCME convention? Lyndon Larouche? Oy...is he still around?

     Posted by Masaniello at 08/05/2008 @ 08:42am

     I don't think he was at the convention but his people were passing out propaganda materials.

     Anyway, I wish that folks, particularly black folks, would stop throwing out the word "racist" at every turn. Every action does not deserve comment. Take McCain's ad comparing Obama to Britney and Paris. I felt they were insulting his intelligence and not his race. In fact I didn't see anything racist, inherent or otherwise, in the ad. Regardless of the crazy black man CNN interviewed, I believe most folks didn't see racism either.

     Posted by k330k at 08/06/2008 @ 11:39am

101. Dear k33ok, I am sure a lot of people didn't get the racist theme, but anyone who has spent a significant amount of time living in the south did. There isn't a southerner alive who doesn't react to the juxtaposition of a black man and a white woman. As often as not these days a southerner might be appalled that the McCain campaign was pandering to the lowest common denominator, but those low and common folk do exist and the campaign knows it. If they really just wanted to innocently compare Obama to a celebrity they had hundreds of all colors, shapes and genders to choose from. Nope, this smacks of the blond skanky girl in the "Call me" ads. It reeks.

     Posted by Pogge at 08/06/2008 @ 12:22pm

102. k33ok, Sorry, right person, wrong conversation, but probably still applies since "lynching" coming from the lips of Toby Keith who genuinely believes their is a way to "walk white" is intended to trip the same triggers in the same people.

     Posted by Pogge at 08/06/2008 @ 12:51pm

103. Something Toby Keith should read:

     http://www.aaanet.org/stmts/racepp.htm

     Posted by Be Good at 08/06/2008 @ 1:22pm

104. You see, white people drive like THIS and black people drive LIKE that.

     Posted by maddening_crowd at 08/06/2008 @ 4:57pm

105. Who the f??k is Toby Keith?

     Who cares what this country bumpkin dipstick thinks?

     After the all the idiot sh?t that the Bush Administration has put our country through who cares?

     These dumbasses that are just like Toby Keith won't get it until gasoline is $10.00 a gallon and their civil rights (all of them) no longer exist.

     None of these people has ever experienced any hunger, hardship, or humanity in their miserable lives, they have no character or honor. They are the unwiped ass of America.

     Posted by powercosmic at 08/06/2008 @ 7:44pm

106. Also, Barack Obama acts like any other educated black man that I've ever interacted with.

     Toby Keith is an irrelevant scared little white boy with a faux chip on his shoulder.

     HEY TOBY! Join the f?cking Army, you dumbass.

     - A Normal White Man Who Is Voting For Barack

     Posted by powercosmic at 08/06/2008 @ 7:48pm

107. It has been pointed out on many other blogs that TK has gone overseas to play for the troops on many occasions... boosting morale... and providing 'down home' shows to bring back the fires of home to the very hard working soldiers and support teams.

     These songs are perfectly written for these situations, and put TK into a more humanitarian light in my mind. That they are not for me is irrelevant in this larger context. But hey... I'm a songwriter, so maybe I'm just jealous about TK's success...;^)

     I do think that any racist undertones to the song and video are in all probability subconscious... if they are indeed in the songs at all. If a noose makes many people think of lynching... that doesn't create the songwriter's original intent... and it shouldn't be 'leveraged' into an extraneous issue guaranteed to divide people.

     After watching the video of "Beer for my horses" all I can say is that I didn't enjoy it. However... after taking it upon themselves to catch the murderous creep, they did wait for the police to come and pick him up... and I can only assume that the cops didn't hang him on the way to the station...

     All this said... these wars need to end. It's up to the citizenry here at home to do this... as no one else can. I'd like to encourage Toby Keith and Scotty Emerick to put their energies to this timely and appropriate task.

     Posted by ttr at 08/06/2008 @ 9:23pm

108. For all the talk about "ignorant" here, all I can say is "look in the mirror". God, what a bunch of intolerant, exceptionally IGNORANT stereo-typing going on here.Yes, I'm a middle-aged white guy, living in Texas, who listens to country music (along w/ just about every other kind), & also have played music for a living for a couple of decades. Not that it matters, but my wife, who owns a couple of horses (to complete the stereo-type) loathes country music, favors metal. She's college educated, teaches disabled kids. She's a dyed-in-the-wool lib'rl Dem-O-Crat (that's how us stupid southerners talk, don't y'all know . . bless your intolerant, bigoted hearts). Point here - what's being displayed big-time here is most of the posters TOTAL IGNORANCE on the subject of Toby Keith - not one of my favorite songwriter/musicians, but a talented guy who donates both time & money to various causes, from heavy USO touring to saving horses. A man who is on record as having been AGAINST the invasion of Iraq - a FACT that most of you intolerant, bigoted posters are quite obviously IGNORANT of. Again, I'm not a Toby fan, I sided w/ the Dixie Chicks in that "fued", but I also know the man is hardly the "ignorant red-neck" some of those who are IGNORANT re: the subject they're posting about are trying to portray him as. Perhaps if some folks would shut their mouths, open their minds, & maybe do a google before posting, their posts wouldn't display such an appalling IGNORANCE, & they wouldn't insult their fellow citizens of This Once Great Nation. Another FACT re: Mr. Keith - he has said more than once that anyone taking a celebrities advice re: voting is ignorant - a most intelligent comment, IMO. Those of you finding the video racist - get over yourselves.

     Posted by JadedMarty at 08/07/2008 @ 12:34am

109. i didn't find the video racist,

     just violent and tacky.

     Posted by frosty zoom at 08/07/2008 @ 12:51am

110. I didn't find the video suited my taste in music... or my lack of interest in alcohol...

     I've been told that guns and alcohol can be an explosive combination...:^)

     Posted by ttr at 08/07/2008 @ 01:33am

111. I don't really care for Keith's politics and his Obama comments are creepy. But "Beer for My Horses" is duet with Willie Nelson, who actually sings the offending lyrics.

     And anyways, for pop country you have to admit he's pretty good. I was scanning the radio and heard one his songs. It wasn't until he mentioned singing for the boys in Baghdad and Afghanistan that I realized I wasn't listening to late '70s outlaw country.

     Starting a war with the guy is a waste of time for the left. He likes it and it only alientates the many Keith fans the progressive movement needs to win over.

     Posted by alexmhogan at 08/07/2008 @ 08:59am

112. Also... TK is a shill for the narco-military 'stranglehold' that has dumbed down and bought off this country... and beached and left for shipwrecked the Constitution.

     Somewhere over the barrel... Way down low...

     There's a land that I dream of... lost in a puppet show.

     Posted by ttr at 08/07/2008 @ 09:14am

113. alexmhogan...

     The 'progressive movement' isn't going to 'win them over'... ever. It's going to leave them in the dust.

     Posted by ttr at 08/07/2008 @ 09:21am

114. Ah, the irony- multiple ironies, actually- but the one that leapt out at me was that whole Dixie Chicks thing. Bless his heart, anyway- he didn't ask to be born like that; y'all leave him alone, and stop picking on poor l'il ol Toby! ;-)

     Posted by teajay at 08/07/2008 @ 1:40pm

115. Toby Keith is a publicity whore. (and his own pimp)

     Posted by tnz650 at 08/07/2008 @ 3:33pm

116. I know this is off topic and all ..... but ......

     I'll be gald when the last boomer dies .

     Posted by bleedingheart at 08/07/2008 @ 11:32pm

117. Man you Lefties get upset easy. Its just a song about cleaning up all the bad guys. I like the part about Beer for the horses. Ok start crabbin' again

     Posted by Redneck4Bako at 08/08/2008 @ 01:01am

118. Posted by Pogge at 08/06/2008 @ 12:51pm

     I get your point and I'm from the south(I'm a GA peach through & through). The lyrics didn't really bother me. I don't pay attention to country music too tough. I do like Rich's "Save a horse, ride a cowboy"(especially the "ride a cowboy" part). It was Keith's comments about how black folks perceive Obama that were laughable at best. Hearing that was a first for me. Oh well, let me stop being ignorant about Toby Keith. I don't want any fellow southerners to mistake me for a yankee and tell me how stereotypically-bigoted I am.

     Posted by k330k at 08/08/2008 @ 08:49am

119. Max, a little history lesson here for you. Beer for my Horses, a duet with Willie Nelson spent 6 weeks at #1 on the country music chart in 2003. His album was certified 4× Multi-Platinum. His video (where he's a lawman looking for a white murderer) was #1 for months and the song/video won several country music awards. Bringing up the faux lynching aspect now is 5 years too late and won't get any traction except in your ivory towered, southern hating world.

     Messing with Toby Keith is dangerous for your career. Just ask the Dixie Chicks how their lives have turned out.

     Max, you just don't get it. Toby Keith is revered by millions of people in flyover country. They think of him as "one of them"; they are the great unwashed or morons as you like to call your American brethern who don't think like you.

     Attacking Toby Keith was a bad move on your part Max as you're finding out. Your article was nothing more than a statement that everyone is picking on you. You're morally/socially/intelectually superior anyway so why are these inbred rednecks making such a fuss over your enlightened diatribe?!?! Hahahahaha, I bet Toby Keith's next video will have your likeness in it......Calling Dr. Mudd, you have a replacement!

     Posted by afkbrad at 08/09/2008 @ 8:04pm

120. I agree with afkbrad. I always wondered where the entire o.5% of the population (also known as left wing loons, red diaper doper babies, etc)hung out at. I guess now I know. I have only seen this kind of non-intelligent ranting when someone is extremely jealous of someone, as seems to be the case here. THe truth is Toby Keith has done more for our soldiers and this country than any of you socialist panzy arses. Just realize that Nobama is going to lose, mainly because of idiots like you all and that is good for us all. My advice is for all of you to load up and go to Europe where you'll fit right in with the rest of the American haters.

     You folks are really not what America was founded on or what it stands for. You don't even know what it feels to be an American, and that is truly sad. The whole song is about the old west and how justice was carried out in the old days. Lynching as you put it, is not exclusively oriented to black people. Lynching has been used on just about every race. Sorry if the black folks can't have every terrible thing credited to their past. The whole message I get from the song and video is that when a child molester or other terrible magot commits a crime that there is no liberal judge or attorney to feel sorry for the molester and release him to commit another crime. Instead these slime are dealt with quickly and appropriatley. Just remember, it will be us Rednecks who fight for your freedom so you can sit in your parents house and fume about how a country singer is racist and how you hate christians, etc. Also keep in mind that while you all seem to have sympathy for all black people, just remember you are most likely the first one to not shake a black mans hand or sit down next to a black man or woman. You are essentially scared liberal

     Posted by bombislam at 08/11/2008 @ 10:04pm

121. I think Maxi-pad has really bitten off more than he can chew. Due to this he is reaching out to all 25 of his liberal bloggers to come to his aid. Don't worry Maxi, this will all be over soon and who knows, you might turn into a Toby Keith groupy. I do want to comment a little more on you liberal stinkpots. You like to worship and defend muslim extremists while bashing our military. You like to make fun of the man who takes his family to church every Sunday and tries to teach morals. You support gay marriage and a pro-gay agenda and live to see terrible things done to our precious children. You laugh at so called "Southerners" and think that they are so below your intelligence level. However, you will find out that "Southerners" make up a great deal of this country and it's success. Also keep in mind we outnumber you two to one. We all know who the liberals are, they are the first to hide when danger confronts them and the first to criticize those who save them. Just remember when the Islamic terrorists come to your door and you reach out to hug them and tell them how wonderful they are, don't be too suprised when they cut off your liberal head.

     Nobama in 2008.

     Posted by bombislam at 08/11/2008 @ 10:20pm