posted on July 23, 2004 10:16:10 AM new
Libs never learn...
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Ronstadt gets audience walkout encore
By Bonita Brewer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
LIVERMORE - Linda Ronstadt's political message sent close to a hundred concert-goers home early Thursday evening.
What had been a mellow evening at Wente Vineyards, with the crowd even serenading her with "Happy Birthday" at one point, turned into a rush for the exits by some fans angry by her encore tribute to filmmaker Michael Moore.
"She just had to do it," one fan steamed as he headed for the parking lot. "It was good until the end," another yelled to TV crews waiting outside the concert.
"She's getting out of line; it's ridiculous," said Cindy Williams of Livermore, as she left during the last song of the evening.
Ronstadt's encore dedication of the song "Desperado" to Moore, the controversial maker of "Fahrenheit 9/11" who she described Thursday as "a great American patriot," got her booted from a Las Vegas casino Saturday and drew cheers, some boos, and a few "traitor" yells from the Livermore crowd.
Until that last song, the concert had been an evening of good music and happy fans.
There was no shortage of conflicting opinions among the baby-boomer crowd, a sprinkling of them dressed in patriotic colors, but it was no referendum on the war in Iraq, no pro- or anti-Bush lovefest, or even a meeting of the Michael Moore fan club.
Concert-goers, who paid from $99 to $249 each for tickets, were well aware of the controversy, but said they just wanted to enjoy the songs.
"I love her music, but I hate her politics, and I hope she just sings," said Tina Uzelac of Livermore, who arrived wearing a flag sweater. "These tickets are pretty high-priced, and we're not paying to go to a political rally."
On Saturday, Ronstadt was booed by some audience members at the Aladdin hotel-casino, then booted from the hotel by management after dedicating her "Desperado" encore to Moore and his film,, which excoriates President Bush over the war in Iraq.
Ronstadt won over the Livermore crowd after her first jazzy number, backed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
"Normally we end the show with 'Desperado,' but tonight we'll end with 'Viva Las Vegas,'" the singer said, drawing laughs, a long, warm cheer and a few grunts from the crowd of 1,750.
"There are too many Republicans in Vegas," Mike Donnelly of Clayton said before the show. "I think the response (to her remarks) has been ridiculous and ludicrous."
Corey and Susan Tate of Livermore came to the concert with a gift for Ronstadt -- an American flag, with a note on its paper wrapper: "To Linda, a patriot. Bless you."
"I've been listening to Linda since 1967. She has been a standard-bearer for liberal causes, and I'm glad she spoke up ... People like her represent America; it's not just people with conservative views," Corey Tate said.
The controversy created a sellout, said Wente president Carolyn Wente.
About 20 people angered by Ronstadt's comments dropped plans to attend, but their traded-in tickets were snatched up and the show was sold out Wednesday.
"It was just a handful (turning in tickets) when you consider there are 1,700 folks coming," Wente said before the show.
Wente said she did not ask Ronstadt to refrain from any political comments.
"We don't take any position on any of our artists' political thoughts or perceptions," she said.
With her comments Saturday, Ronstadt became the latest liberal musician to use the stage for political views, and another to suffer conservative backlash.
• In March 2003, Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines' comments against Bush and the Iraq war triggered a boycott by a group of more than 200 radio stations.
• At a recent John Kerry fund-raiser, actress Whoopi Goldberg made several crude puns on Bush's name, and complaints led to her firing as a spokeswoman for Florida-based Slim-Fast.
"The natural family is a man and woman bound in a lifelong covenant of marriage for the purposes of:
*the continuation of the human species,
*the rearing of children,
*the regulation of sexuality,
*the provision of mutual support and protection,
*the creation of an altruistic domestic economy, and
*the maintenance of bonds between the generations."
posted on July 23, 2004 12:31:29 PM new
Bear - Your news is OLD news. Didn't last very long, did it?
Conservs never learn:
Linda Ronstadt Welcome Back In Las Vegas
By Paul Cashmere
July 22 2004
Linda Ronstadt has been invited back to the Las Vegas Casino from which she was removed this week for exercising her right to free speech.
Ms Ronstadt dedicated the song 'Desperado' to Fahrenheit 911 director Michael Moore at the Aladdin Hotel Casino in Las Vegas earlier this week and was quickly escorted from the venue. It was the most appalling examples of censorship ever seen in the United States, a country built on free speech.
The current owners of the casino banned her from the venue but it appears they won't be the current owners for much longer. The venue is about to be taken over by Planet Hollywood and it looks like Bill Timmins, is current President of the venue will be gone. New Chairman and CEO Robert Earl has welcomed Linda back.
"We hope to be approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission to become the new owners of the Aladdin Resort in Las Vegas as early as September 1, 2004" he said in a statement. "Upon the assumption of ownership, and with a new management team in place, we would like to offer the use of the Theatre of Performing Arts to Linda Ronstadt for a second concert and further to take Michael Moore up on his offer to join her on stage to introduce her and sing a song".
Moore was furious at the un-American reaction by Timmins to Linda's comment. In a statement to the current casino owners at his website he says "For you to throw Linda Ronstadt off the premises because she dared to say a few words in support of me and my film, is simply stupid and Un-American. Frankly, I have never heard of such a thing happening. I read that you wouldn't even let her go back up to her room at your hotel! Are you crazy? For crying out loud, it was a song DEDICATION! To "Desperado!" Every American loves that song! Sure, some people didn't like the dedication, and that's their right. But neither they nor you have the right to remove her from your building when all she did was exercise her AMERICAN right to speak her mind".
Moore has demanded an apology from Timmins and says he will join Linda on stage when she returns. "I think you owe Ms. Ronstadt an apology" he said. "And I have an idea how you can make it up to her -- and to the millions of Americans you have offended. Invite her back and I'll join her in singing "America the Beautiful" on your stage. Then I will show "Fahrenheit 9/11" free of charge to all your guests and anyone else in Las Vegas who wants to see it".
That is now most likely going to happen. Soon to be new owner Robert Earl adds "We respect artists' creativity and support their rights to express themselves. We were very sorry to hear about the unfortunate circumstances of this past Saturday night and want to make it clear that Planet Hollywood has never, in our 13 year history, restricted any artists' right to free speech and we will continue with that policy once we take ownership".
Moore threw the lyrics to the classic Don Henley song right back at Timmins. "Mr. Timmins, as the song "Desperado" says -- "Come to your senses!" How can you refuse this offer? I await your reply" said Moore.
Cheryl
God grant that not only the love of liberty but a thorough knowledge of the rights of man may pervade all the nations of the earth, so that a philosopher may set his foot anywhere on its surface and say: This is my country. - Benjamin Franklin
[ edited by CBlev65252 on Jul 23, 2004 12:40 PM ]
posted on July 23, 2004 12:51:21 PM new
bear - That's a beautiful winery. We've gone there a few times for concerts. Too bad Ronstadt didn't start her show with her pro-Moore support....more could have left and demanded a refund.
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Oh boy....now Moore's going to start singing? I thought it was supposed to be when the 'fat lady sings' - not the fat man/pig.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
posted on July 23, 2004 01:56:49 PM new
I wonder how many people who are against the war and/or Bush have had temper tantrums, stormed out, or complained to venue operators when performers have stood on stage lauding both?
Seems some people only want "freedom of speech" when the speech doesn't disagree with them...
____________________
We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people. -- John F. Kennedy
posted on July 23, 2004 04:09:40 PM new Bear - Your news is OLD news. Didn't last very long, did it?
Guess you need to take a remedial reading class
This event happened in California kast night, not Vegas.
"The natural family is a man and woman bound in a lifelong covenant of marriage for the purposes of:
*the continuation of the human species,
*the rearing of children,
*the regulation of sexuality,
*the provision of mutual support and protection,
*the creation of an altruistic domestic economy, and
*the maintenance of bonds between the generations."
posted on July 23, 2004 04:13:33 PM new
Didn't click on your link. And I'm supposed to know where Livermore is?
Cheryl
God grant that not only the love of liberty but a thorough knowledge of the rights of man may pervade all the nations of the earth, so that a philosopher may set his foot anywhere on its surface and say: This is my country. - Benjamin Franklin
posted on July 23, 2004 04:51:45 PM newSeems some people only want "freedom of speech" when the speech doesn't disagree with them...
Has nothing to do with freedome of speech.
Has everything to do with people paying a ton of money to listen to her sing....NOT give a political speech.
These people were obviously Ronstadt fans who wanted to hear her sing...otherwise they wouldn't have attended the concerts.
But when someone starts making political statements....they are still FREE to do so, as they paid audience is FREE to walk out in protest.
As for the promotors of the concerts....they too are FREE to excersize their business practices as they see fit....according to their bottom lines.
Nothing to do with blocking free speech at all.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
posted on July 23, 2004 04:56:07 PM new
20 people out of 1700 turned in their tickets...wow, now that's a huge statement of protest against LR's pinko politics. About 1.17 percent of the crowd!! Another "close to one hundred" left early in disgust. Let's see, give them an even hundred, just to be kind...another 5.8 percent, for a grand total of about 7 whole percent of the total concert!!
I guess they sure showed her!!!
___________________________________
Beware the man of one book.
- Thomas Aquinas
posted on July 23, 2004 05:00:45 PM new
By the way, I think LR has a perfect right to say anything she wants to in her concerts, and her paying customers have every right to walk out or ask for a refund if they are offended. She has to be willing to accept the consequences of her actions and words.
In this case, her consequences were pretty small!
I guess it's for another thread to discuss who in the world would pay that kind of money to hear somebody sing...
___________________________________
Beware the man of one book.
- Thomas Aquinas
posted on July 23, 2004 05:03:20 PM new
I see you've never been to a Toby Keith concert. All the flag waving makes me want to puke.
I've never gone to Wente Vineyards for a concert as it's an hour and a half from my house. But I think I'll check them out in the near future as they've got some good acts coming up (Tony Bennet for one)
We're really lucky in the Bay Area as we get so many acts to choose from. Next week I've got tickets to hear Reverand Al Green with special guest Iassac Hayes (can you dig it).
I'd love to hear Al Green live, but if it costs over 40 bucks, he'll have to come out here to the ranch to sing, and bring beer with him!
___________________________________
Beware the man of one book.
- Thomas Aquinas
posted on July 23, 2004 05:16:20 PM new
That's OK Cheryl, I understand you had a Helen moment.
"The natural family is a man and woman bound in a lifelong covenant of marriage for the purposes of:
*the continuation of the human species,
*the rearing of children,
*the regulation of sexuality,
*the provision of mutual support and protection,
*the creation of an altruistic domestic economy, and
*the maintenance of bonds between the generations."
This writer's opinion is backed up with news links and historical comparisons. It's Rove propaganda. At first it seemed very fishy to me that a group interested in entertainment of this sort in Las Vegas would have such an exaggerated response to a singer who dedicated a song to Michael Moore. The conclusion of this writer is that it's Republican dirty tricks and he backs it up.
EXCERPT
Ronstadt is a known lefty, and has made the same comment at other venues with nary a word of protest. The audience could hardly have been surprised when she made this kind of remark.
Las Vegas isn't known for the depth of its political feelings. In fact, experts on the city find this reaction to be bizarre.
Her remarks were about as uncontroversial as any mention of Moore could possibly be.
Ronstadt claims she wasn't thrown out, as if the whole story was embellished after the fact by the casino 'owner' (I write 'owner' as we all know who really owns all the casinos, don't we?).
The Republicans are terrified of Moore's film, as it has crossed the barrier from being a film for Democrats to being a film popular and liked by a huge swath of Middle America. As Americans like the film, Republican operators are having no success depicting it as a partisan work of propaganda. People who see it are being exposed to questions about Bush that would never even be hinted at in the disgusting American media.
Immediately after the 'riot', as if they were all ready for it, the disgusting American media covered the story as evidencing the supposed gulf between Americans and these elitist Hollywood liberals, trying to claim that people like Moore and Ronstadt are actually driving people into the arms of the Republicans.
All of this generally fits into Republican propaganda, going back to Nixon's 'silent majority', that there is a vast and uncrossable gulf between the East and West Coast snooty elites, with their questionable morality and 'un-American' values, and the rest of the decent, god-fearing people who make up the vast majority of the population. It is not at all clear that Middle America is anywhere near as conformist as Republicans and some Democrats would have you believe.
posted on July 23, 2004 06:33:47 PM new
Linda, it IS about freedom of speech. Those people throwing their tantrum over what Ronstadt said would, I'll bet you, not have done the same thing if she'd stood up there praising Bush or his war in Iraq. There'd have been no cries of "we paid to hear singing, not politics." No run for the door. No complaints to the casino owner. No tirades to the press. Zip. Nada. Zilch.
More and more often in this country the message being sent out is one of "don't say anything inpublic we disagree with--we won't tolerate it."
And that is not what this country is about. Or it wasn't until the extreme right decided that the freedoms our ancestors fought for, and which the Constitution grants us, are too radical and somehow unAmerican!
____________________
We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people. -- John F. Kennedy
posted on July 23, 2004 06:42:04 PM new
bunni - Kind of surprises me that you didn't direct this to the profe also. Since he agreed.
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More and more often in this country the message being sent out is one of "don't say anything inpublic we disagree with--we won't tolerate it."
No one BLOCKED her right to free speech. They reacted to it. A stand they are intitled to take.
And it's my position that freedom of speech applies only to *our government blocking one's right to speak out*. It doesn't govern/apply to person to person - group to group- speech.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
posted on July 23, 2004 07:18:55 PM new
I have to agree with Linda. (Ut-oh...lol)
People PAID to hear a performer sing. A concert. If they want political cheering or egging on, they can attend a free or paid rally somewhere to do it. Whats so hard to understand about that? And why the hel* do you want to hear about politics in Vegas anyway? I sure dont. If she had been pro-bush and did it what would the crowd have done? Maybe nothing. Maybe liberals get over it quicker. I know it probably would have annoyed me momentarily, but I doubt I would have left the show if I came there to see her. Its not like she went on and on about it, right?
Free speech bashing is like what they did to the Dixie Chicks - canned their music on the radio stations and all that. Now that was a movement that should have never happened imo.
posted on July 23, 2004 08:00:42 PM new
YO! Just heard a RUMOR that it was really Linda Ronstadt herself who bought the casino....again only a rumor but can hardly wait to see if it's true.
posted on July 23, 2004 08:04:42 PM new
Good for Linda Ronstadt. She stands up for what she believes. Geo Bush didn't even stand when he sat with a bunch of kids (CHOKED AND FROZEN) for 7 minutes when the U.S. got attacked on 9/11. Bear, I really don't care what Linda Ronstadt does or how she is received but I sure as hell care about what the U.S. President does and Geo Bush acts like a dumb buffoon.
posted on July 23, 2004 08:09:12 PM newHow uncivil, unintelligent, backwards, nasty, rude, narrow-minded and just plain stoooopid!
LOL - No, those would be YOUR posts.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
posted on July 23, 2004 08:16:48 PM new
Neroter: I happen to agree with you--politics of any stripe have no place in concerts or other theatrical venue. But we are subjected to it all the time anyway.
BUT:
I can tell you what would happen if so-called liberals were to throw the same sort of tantrum in reaction to a performer spouting pro-Bush or pro-war dialog on the stage. They would be dumped on by neocons across the country. Attacked. Vilified. Told that how wrong it was to act that way, and especially in trying to silence the performer by whining to the venue owner to get them fired. It would be claimed that the "hateful" liberals were trying to stifle freedom of speech.
Because that is how the neocons have been operating with increasing frequency.
____________________
We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people. -- John F. Kennedy
posted on July 23, 2004 08:18:36 PM new
Oh my, my groupie is thinking about me again.. just can't get enough can you crowfarm...
Linda Ronstadt is as liberal as you can get... all this publicity is bringing her name back again and people will now go and see her, just to see if she continues with the moore tribute...
It is funny that the only way she got invited back is that the casino had to be bought... but hey if that floats your boat... so be it... people will go see the duet... wonder how much weight that stage can actually hold?
What is laughable is moore's claims of being patriotic... pyscotic moore like it.. definately a liar... and the libs claim not to like liars... go figure...
Oh and dave Tobey Kieth puts on one of the best shows going... no doubt about... At least he is still putting on shows... Dixie who? LOL
I thought it was supposed to be when the 'fat lady sings' - not the fat man/pig.
