I didn't know Tim McGraw was a Democrat

[bluestateguy]

http://www.newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/Tim_McGraw.php

Country music artists in the Democratic Party are a rarity.

[begin_within]

1. So is Toby Keith, believe it or not. He stated so in an interview I read.

[Wetzelbill]

4. I was just going to say that

Toby Keith said he is a life long Dem, I think he just gets caught up in the hyperpatriot spin of the war crazy Right. Some people think Liberals are too negative and always blame America, etc. That made up straw man can be tough to get over. So I think TK is a little disenchanted about a Liberal monolith that doesn't really exist in the Democratic party.

[MissMarple]

5. Keith donated $2000 to George in '03.

http://www.newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/Toby_Keith.php

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

12. Sounds like a Democrat.

[greekspeak]

11. Yeah...Zell Miller is a democrat too.

Toby Keith's brand of "agree with me or I will stick my boot in your ass" cowboy jingoism is right at home in BushCo.

[WCGreen]

18. Well, he is an Okie and we all know how progressive they

tend to be, generalization I know, but there is a lot of evidence to back that up.....

Look at their congressional delegation....

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. TK is a DINO

[BlueStateGirl]

2. Yes. He said in an interview once that he thinks Bill Clinton should be

King, complete with a red robe and a giant drumstick in his hand.

[mzmolly]

3. So is his wife Faith Hill, and Trisha Yearwood, and many others ...

I checked out newsmax a while back and suggested a DNC country convention to the DNC in the future.

Let's also consider that Trish Yearwood is engaged to Garth Brooks, and Kenny Chesney is married to Renee Z who is a solid Democrat.

So we could have ourselves a helluva Red State Country themed campaign if we play the cards right. ;) Can't forget the Dixie Chicks either.

I'm not a country fan, but have considered buying a tape or two now that I've been enlightened.

[Wetzelbill]

6. Faith Hill is one stunning woman

[mzmolly]

8. Let's not forget Billy Graham.

I see a DNC speech by Mr. Graham followed by a country concert and some groovin Black Eyed Peas!

[Bluebear]

7. Bigtime Dem. Too big a star to boycott, freepers?

[donco6]

9. SHHHH! He doesn't want to get Dixie-Chicked. eom

[no name no slogan]

10. Willie Nelson, too

he even wrote a song for Dennis Kucinich's 2004 campaign, "What Ever Happened to Peace on Earth"?

I think there are probably more country artist/Democrats than we know, but many of them are afraid to speak out too much, for fear of jeopardizing their careers in the red states.

[leftchick]

13. He wants to run for Governor of Tennessee some day

I read a nice little column in rolling stone about it a while back. He absolutely wants to get into politics and he is indeed a Democrat. :)

[Syrinx]

14. he says he plans to run for Senate from Tennessee...

After he retires from music.

BTW, check out this website: http://musicrowdemocrats.com/

Heard of the songwriter Bobby Braddock? His credits include "He Stopped Loving Her Today," by George Jones. Here's what he has to say.

I find it interesting that so many people are talking about Democrats in Nashville suddenly having the "courage" to admit that they're Democrats. Why should it take courage to admit membership in America's oldest existing political party? Many people consider the modern Democratic Party's first president to be Davidson County's own Andrew Jackson, 176 years ago. To hear some people tell it, you'd think we were saying we're in the Nazi Party or the Communist Party. This demonization of Democrats is right-wing propaganda that goes way beyond the sphere of conservative talk radio. Maybe it did take a little courage for us to "come out," but if that's so, then that just proves that we were long overdue. We have to make up our minds that we absolutely will not let our enemies get away with lying about us, and the best way to start is for us to stop believing those lies ourselves.

Just as Republican PR has given birth to the notion that it is now unSouthern to be a Democrat, they have also politicized OUR MUSIC. In a recent article, journalist Beverly Keel wrote that one might listen to country radio these days and get the impression that they were hearing the music of the Republican Party. I found that upsetting because I knew she was telling the truth. I won't open up that can of worms, the politicization of country music, but anyone who saw the crowd at the Belcourt Cinema on February 5 knows that the business end of country music in Nashville is NOT solidly Republican!

Country music is the music of everyday people. Why would we NOT belong to the party that sympathizes with the underdog? Country music is the music about families and mommas and babies. Why would we NOT belong to the party that cares about health care for seniors and children? Why would people in the music of wide open spaces and green green grass NOT be in the party that wants to protect God's green earth from the polluting global-warming big shots that the Bush administration loves and defers to?

We should make it our mission to convince the country music fan base that the Republicans care nothing about them except for their votes. Convince them that George W. Bush may talk "country" from his ranch in Crawford, but he's more himself when he's yukking it up with rich corporate types who don't give a damn about middle class folks. Point out to them what hunters in the West are already finding out, that this administration is so irresponsible with our environment that they're not just ruining the cities, they're destroying the countryside as well. When Republicans drape themselves in the flag, remind the country fans that Democrats like FDR and Harry Truman led us through World War II, that war hero JFK stood up to the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis, that most of the decorated war heroes in Congress are Democrats and that two of the candidates for this year's Democratic nomination were heroically injured in Vietnam. Show them that the party of their Southern granddaddies or their union member blue-collar daddies is the party that cares about them and the issues that affect their lives.

[Straight Shooter]

24. Wow! Bobby Braddock sure lays it on the line.

He also manages to do it without insulting the other side, namely Republicans. Wouldn't it be nice if Repubs could explain their point of view with villifying Democrats?


He said, I'll love you till I die
She told him, You'll forget in time
As the years went slowly by
She still preyed upon his mind ...

He stopped loving her today
They laid a wreath upon his door
And soon they'll carry him away
He stopped loving her today

I'm going by memory on the words, but it's a great tearjerker song.

[chieftain]

15. Tim's dad Tug was a pitcher for the Mets who was outspoken

against the war in Vietnam.It took courage to be an athlete and be a dove.Obviously Tim was raised right.

[deadparrot]

17. You mean "raised left."

:P

[chieftain]

20. Your correction is happily accepted.

[ignatius 2]

19. Actually, I saw a special on Tim McGraw. His father was out of the

his life from early on and he didn't really even spend time with his dad until he was in his late teens.Apparently, they became quite close then and even more so as his dad became quite ill(I believe he had a brain tumor) and has written his song Live life like you were dying as a tribute to his dad. I realize the special was going to shine a positive light on Tim, but after seeing this special he seemed like an intelligent, compassionate and caring person. He is quite dedicated to his family.

I guess his mom must be given a few kudos in his upbringing.

[Zen Democrat]

21. Tug McGraw didn't raise Tim.

Tim only found out Tug was his father when he was older, and they became "friends" as adults.

Mama raised him correctly.

[La Coliniere]

22. Mary Chapin Carpenter described herself as a liberal

"with a capital L" in an interview she gave last year for some magazine (I've forgotten which one). She's been opening her live concerts with a beautiful anti-war song she wrote called "Why Shouldn't We?" Although she's not an overtly political artist, her progressive outlook is portrayed in the wonderful music she makes.

[Booster]

23. I would love it if Martina McBride would tell us what her political

persuasion is. I read an article that she keeps it very, very quiet, but since Hannity uses her "Independence Day" as his theme song, it would just blow his mind away if she turned out to be a Dem. As someone else said, don't forget the Chicks.