Inaugural Debate
I read in Michelle Malkin's blog that First Daughters Jenna and Barbara Bush will be hosting an Inauguration concert at the DC Armory. Apparently, Kid Rock is one of the entertainers, although the inaugural committee is saying he "isn't confirmed." Some groups are lobbying to get Kid Rock removed from the concert. And apparently the inaugural committee is reconsidering having Kid Rock appear.
Look, I'm middle-aged. I might not want to believe it most of the time, but I am. The music of Jenna and Barbara's generation doesn't appeal to me in the least. That's not to say that others of my generation don't like hip/hop, rap, funk, rock-rap or whatever it's called. I'm talking about me. I'm not too fond of most music written after the 1970's. Yes, there is some good music from the 80's and 90's. I just don't care for most of it and I don't get rap at all. Well, that's not entirely true. One of my favorites is Toby Keith's It's All About You which starts out with rap.
I wasn't too familiar with Kid Rock. I knew the name, apparently I had heard or read something that, while I didn't remember the specifics, left a negative impression. So, in the interest of fairness, I went on an Internet fact-finding mission to learn something about him. I found a site that gave the lyrics of his songs and thought this would be a good place to start. I came away very unimpressed. I didn't read the lyrics of every song, but the ones I did read were not geared to my tastes. The f-word is liberally applied, rape and oral sex are favorite themes. One song contained a stanza about pimping Barbara Bush, Jenna and Barbara's grandmother. Nice.
I found out that in 1999 Kid Rock was named the "Sluttiest Male Celebrity” at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards. He generated complaints to the FCC after his appearance at last year's Super Bowl half-time show where he appeared in a poncho made from a cut-up American flag and did a sexually suggestive dance. The American Family Association says that he has appeared in pornographic videos. One online bio says that Kid Rock "is noted for his use of adult film stars when he performs (nude when he can get away with it), as Kobe Tai and Jenna Jameson have danced on stage while Kid does his thing." While I found most of this at various sites, World Net Daily has articles here and here reporting the same.
Now, in Kid Rock's defence, he is a Bush supporter, rare for someone in the entertainment industry. He has entertained the troops at home and overseas. He refused to see Michael Moore's Farenheit 911 saying that it was all propaganda. He's been known to attend Republican events. And we have to remember that his music is not geared toward the mainstream, conservative Republican.
I read in Michelle Malkin's blog that First Daughters Jenna and Barbara Bush will be hosting an Inauguration concert at the DC Armory. Apparently, Kid Rock is one of the entertainers, although the inaugural committee is saying he "isn't confirmed." Some groups are lobbying to get Kid Rock removed from the concert. And apparently the inaugural committee is reconsidering having Kid Rock appear.
Look, I'm middle-aged. I might not want to believe it most of the time, but I am. The music of Jenna and Barbara's generation doesn't appeal to me in the least. That's not to say that others of my generation don't like hip/hop, rap, funk, rock-rap or whatever it's called. I'm talking about me. I'm not too fond of most music written after the 1970's. Yes, there is some good music from the 80's and 90's. I just don't care for most of it and I don't get rap at all. Well, that's not entirely true. One of my favorites is Toby Keith's It's All About You which starts out with rap.
I wasn't too familiar with Kid Rock. I knew the name, apparently I had heard or read something that, while I didn't remember the specifics, left a negative impression. So, in the interest of fairness, I went on an Internet fact-finding mission to learn something about him. I found a site that gave the lyrics of his songs and thought this would be a good place to start. I came away very unimpressed. I didn't read the lyrics of every song, but the ones I did read were not geared to my tastes. The f-word is liberally applied, rape and oral sex are favorite themes. One song contained a stanza about pimping Barbara Bush, Jenna and Barbara's grandmother. Nice.
I found out that in 1999 Kid Rock was named the "Sluttiest Male Celebrity” at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards. He generated complaints to the FCC after his appearance at last year's Super Bowl half-time show where he appeared in a poncho made from a cut-up American flag and did a sexually suggestive dance. The American Family Association says that he has appeared in pornographic videos. One online bio says that Kid Rock "is noted for his use of adult film stars when he performs (nude when he can get away with it), as Kobe Tai and Jenna Jameson have danced on stage while Kid does his thing." While I found most of this at various sites, World Net Daily has articles here and here reporting the same.
Now, in Kid Rock's defence, he is a Bush supporter, rare for someone in the entertainment industry. He has entertained the troops at home and overseas. He refused to see Michael Moore's Farenheit 911 saying that it was all propaganda. He's been known to attend Republican events. And we have to remember that his music is not geared toward the mainstream, conservative Republican.
If the idea behind inviting him to perform at the concert is to try to get the younger generation to join the Republican party, I have to think it's a foolish idea. One performance isn't going to sway anyone to the conservative side. And if it does, wouldn't they be as likely to sway the other way at a concert produced for the DNC?
I don't like vulgarity. Call me a prude if you like. I don't care. I explained in a previous post that, in my opinion, if you have to lace what you have to say with vulgarity, you either don't have the vocabulary explain your opinion or your opinion isn't very sound to begin with.
I have to agree with those who say that having Kid Rock entertain at this concert is not in keeping with the pro-family values that were part of the President's campaign platform. This is not someone I would consider a role model and if I were in the position of inviting performers to entertain, I'm sure there is someone out there who shows more character in their professional life than Kid Rock. And like it or not, entertainer's professional lives are part of their persona. It's what we see, so, it's what they are.
And, as I've said before, it's all about character.
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