LAT: NFL Keeps Kanye West on (ABC season-opener) Bill

[DeepModem Mom]

NFL Keeps West on Bill
Hip-hop artist's recent criticism of Bush doesn't stop image-conscious league from using him in season-opening show.

By Sam Farmer, Times Staff Writer


The NFL, which has vigorously protected its image since dust-ups involving Janet Jackson, "Desperate Housewives" and the cable series "Playmakers," is standing by a popular hip-hop artist who made a derisive remark about President Bush during a nationally televised Hurricane Katrina relief benefit.

Rapper Kanye West, who said Friday, "George Bush doesn't care about black people," will perform as scheduled Thursday outside the Coliseum as part of the league's season-opening celebration show, which will be broadcast by ABC.

League spokesman Brian McCarthy said Monday that West, "Like many Americans during this emotional time" had "expressed an unscripted opinion." Performers, he added, were selected "for their entertainment value, not their political views."

An ABC spokesman said the network agreed with the NFL's stance and would use its typical five-second delay for the program, which begins at 5 p.m. Just as it did for last year's live performances, the NFL will add its own five-second delay.

NBC censored West's remark during its West Coast feed of the hurricane relief program Friday night, later defending its action in a statement by saying, "It would be most unfortunate if the efforts of the artists who participated tonight and the generosity of millions of Americans who are helping those in need are overshadowed by one person's opinion."...


http://www.latimes.com/sports/football/nfl/la-sp-nfl6sep06,0,7373563.story?coll=la-tot-promo&track=morenews

[goclark]

1. Go Kanye!!!!!

[lonestarnot]

2. Yessssss! Go Kane!

[cybildisobedience]

3. and don't back down!!!

[silvermachine]

4. Good...

...I just hope they stick with it. We should probably send them a thank you email because I'm sure it won't be long until the RW starts their email campaign.....

Here is a link. It looks more like a tech help support page but if you look under the drop down menu near the bottom of the page, you can see options. I guess it would fall under "positive comments"?

http://www.nfl.com/help/emailtech