Frank Zappa on CNN's Crossfire (courtesy of Crooks And Liars)

[Initech]

This is a clip from a very old debate (1986) between him, Bob Novak and John Lofton.

Frank Zappa: "You can kiss my ass" on Crossfire '86



In which he argues against censorship and tells Washington Times wingnut John Lofton, to "kiss my ass."

Many thanks to Ifilm.com for sending me this video clip to host. Although it's almost twenty years old, under the leadership of the Bush administration, this debate between Novak, Lofton and Frank sounds exactly like the ones we are having today. The idea of government censorship being led by the religious groups of today and yesteryear. I thought it was important to see this exchange again between intelligence and winguttery-especially with the Alito nomination going on.

Zappa: The biggest threat to America today is not communism; it's moving America towards a fascist theocracy and everything that has happened during the Reagan administration. Is steering us right down that pipe

Zappa: When you have a government that prefers a certain moral code derived from a certain religion and that moral code turns into legislation to suit one certain religious point of view and if that code happens to be very, very right wing almost toward Attila the Hun.

Lofton: Well then you are an anarchist. Every form of civil government is based on some kind of morality, Frank.

Zappa: Morality in terms of behavior-not in terms of theology

Frank was fighting the PMRC and their attempt to censor and label music.

Link to video: http://movies.crooksandliars.com/zappa_crossfire_1986.wmv

Source: http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/01/10.html#a6651

I swear, the man was way ahead of his time!

[AX10]

1. KICK

The move towards theocracy (the enemy of Democracy) is nothing knew.

[Patchuli]

2. We will always love ya, Frank!

He was way way ahead of his time.

[Initech]

3. It's too bad Zappa isnt alive today

I'd love to see him go on O'Reilly and tell the prick to kiss his ass!

[Patchuli]

7. We're missing (sorely!) a few of our heroes!

Imagaine what John Lennon or Jerry Garcia would have to say about this mess!

[Initech]

9. Or how about Bill Hicks?

There's another voice that's sadly missed!

[Warren DeMontague]

29. No shit.

We could sure use Bill Hicks's take on things today.

[deutsey]

26. I met Zappa and he said that we ALL need to make a quantum leap

into realizing our own potential, rather than expecting and hoping leaders to appear to guide us.

[jimshoes]

4. I raise my last

glass of milk for the night to you Frank. RIP. You are missed.

[Canuckistanian]

14. Amen.

Not that milk's my beverage of choice for such an occasion.

Miss you, Frank.

Cheers!
:toast:

[Nikki Stone 1]

5. He saw the handwriting on the wall very early, didn't he

:kick:

[alittlelark]

6. Zappa.... I wish he were with us still.

A brilliant musician, and a TRUE patriot.:patriot:

[Initech]

8. That's why I listen to his music almost daily!

And hell, sometimes I go DAYS listening to nothing but Zappa's music. The man was a fucking genius!

[alittlelark]

13. He was an intricate part of my reality for years.....

I might need to dust off a few albums (I still have a turntable).

[toddaa]

22. A fellow Zappaphile

Here fido.

[Initech]

25. Yup, major Zappaphile here!

[Harper_is_Bush]

10. Ah, I posted dupe. My email to John Lofton....send your own!!

Hello Mr. Lofton

I just watched an interview that you did on CNNs "Crossfire" program with Frank Zappa.
Don't you find it interesting that Frank said the biggest danger America was facing is a fascist theocracy? I never realized what an intelligent person Mr. Zappa was.

I thought you were very rude in with your cheap attacks on him. Quite disgraceful. In memory and honor of Frank; who obviously bested you in that encounter to the point of your own distraction, I would like to tell you to fuck off! I hope that won't drive you to any anarchistic behaviour.

sincerely
John

Sent to:
[e-mail]

[Harper_is_Bush]

18. kick SEE ABOVE FOR JOHN'S EMAIL ADDY! n/t

[Harper_is_Bush]

11. John Lofton.....35 year career being a rightwing asshole:

John Lofton


For more than 35 years John Lofton has covered national politics and cultural/religious issues as a journalist, nationally-syndicated columnist, TV-radio commentator/analyst and political advisor.

* Editor, "Monday," the weekly, national publication of the Republican National Committee, 1970-73.
* Nationally-syndicated columnist for "United Features" Syndicate in more than 100 papers nationwide, 1973-80.
* Editor, "Battleline," monthly newsletter of The American Conservative Union, 1977-80.
* Editor, "Conservative Digest" magazine, 1980-82.
* Columnist, "The Washington Times" newspaper, 1982-89.
* Program-host/commentator, "America's Voice," a national cable TV network in all 50 states, 1998-99.
* A commentator on the "Mutual Radio Network;"
* An advisor to the Presidential campaign of Pat Buchanan;
* Author of a monthly column on the Federal bureaucracy for Howard Phillips' "Conservative Caucus."
* Has written articles for the NRA magazine “America’s First Freedom”; Gun Owners Of America.
* Communications Director for Constitution Party Presidential candidate Michael Anthony Peroutka in 2004.
* Co–host with Michael Peroutka of “The American View” radio program nationally-syndicated by “Radio America.”

John Lofton has given numerous speeches before various groups, Liberal and Conservative, including Liberty University/Bob Jones University. He has appeared on every major TV/radio talk show (including the Comedy Channel’s “Daily Show”/“Politically Incorrect”) to debate every imaginable kind of anti-Christian goofball -- and some who are unimaginable but who do, alas, exist. And he never went to college which is why he is so smart. He can be reached at: 313 Montgomery St. Laurel, Maryland 20707. Phone: [phone] ; cell phone: [phone]; email: [e-mail]

[AspenRose]

15. "And he never went to college, which is why he is so smart"

Good Lord.

Amazing how these people take pride in ignorance....while trying their best to prevent those who want an education but can't afford it from getting one....

:eyes:

Is our children learning yet?

[toddaa]

20. Zappa never went to college either

But he wasn't ignorant like Lofton.

There's a profound difference between an autodidact like Zappa and Lofton who's just an idiot. As an fellow autodidact who dropped out of college in my freshman year and then went back recently to get a degree, I'd say that most of what they teach in college can be picked up just by going to the library. On the other hand, interacting with people of differing backgrounds was great. I just have no tolerance for any kind of classroom environment.

[bud E. holly]

16. He looks like Sam, with the showing scalp flat-top

particular about the point it made.

I wish I had a pair of bongos!

[Canuckistanian]

12. I SAW this few weeks ago.

I downloaded a file from a place I can't mention, but there's a compendium of Zappa from media shows that he was on form the 50's to the 90's.

I believe it's called "frankzappa_videos_1.wmv" and "frankzappa_videos_2.wmv"

But don't quote me.

[Initech]

17. KICK for the morning crowd!

[Harper_is_Bush]

19. Frank Zappa...

after the debate I just had it's a pleasure to think of his patient and honest behaviour in this exchange. And his biting wit!

Oh yeah, the "kiss my ass" part is pretty sweet too.

[GreenPartyVoter]

21. I hope he's haunting **

[Harper_is_Bush]

23. I got a response from that hateful little man John Lofton!

He emailed back to me (see above for my original email):

[e-mail] wrote:
Your pathetic reply is typical of what I've received: filthy name-calling only, no specifics -- a tribute to my arguments, that you say nothing to refute them. JL

So, of course I had to reply again! And did so:

You had arguments? Please, you are delusional. All you did was badger and berate a man with twice the integrity that you could ever hope to possess.
You are a rightwing fear monger who has been proved wrong in the time since that interview.

Your "arguments" were non-existent.

It's not surprising you get name-calling. You presented yourself as a despicable individual in that interview.

[mrfrapp]

24. Incest?

Which song are these people complaining about? Which songs advoate incest? Unbelievable.

And I just love the artificial manner in which they tell the audience that this guy's "on the left" and this other guy's "on the right" when in actual fact their beliefs on this subject are for all intents and purposes, identical. Why are they trying to convince us that there are only two possible political viewpoints and that the differences between those two viewpoints are fag-paper thin? It's a false dichotomy and I'm getting bored of it.

Thank god for Zappa, Chomsky, Vonnegut, Thompson and all the other people who can think for themselves. People like that, their music and writings, give me comfort in those moments when I'm accosted here on DU for not being "on-message". To those members of the thought-police who stalk these message boards I say, in the word of Frank Zappa, "kiss my ass".

[Dr Fate]

27. Oh- now I see why they killed him.

}(

[BlueStateGirl]

28. Kicking for Frank.