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Hank Williams, Jr. Says Obama "Not Real Crazy About" National Anthem
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ShareNovember 03, 2008 11:58 PM
Singer Hank Williams, Jr., who has become a regular warm-up act on the campaign trail for Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, said that Sen. Barack Obama is "not real crazy about" the national anthem before singing the Star-Spangled Banner at a rally in Colorado Springs, CO this evening.
"You know, I’m usually at Monday Night Football tonight, but Colorado, this is a lot more important tonight," Williams said at an airport hangar rally in Colorado Springs. "Join me now in our national -- you know, that song that, uh, Mr. Obama’s not real crazy about, we’re singing it right now."
Williams then sang the national anthem, followed by his campaign specialty "McCain-Palin Tradition," adapted to the tune of Williams’ classic song "Family Tradition."
Most of the lyrics to "McCain-Palin Tradition" tout Palin’s reform credentials and toughness, while bashing Democrats and the "left wing liberal media."
But Williams has also regularly sang a lyric alluding to Obama’s connection to former 1970s radical William Ayers, who Palin once regularly mentioned on the campaign trail.
"John and Sarah tell you just what they think. And they're not gonna blink. They don't have terrorist friends to whom their careers are linked," Williams sang tonight.
After Williams performed, Palin said "that was beautiful," before thanking him for his many appearances on the campaign trail, while subtly referring to Wiliams’ pre-performance remarks.
"We want to take a minute here to thank Hank Williams Jr. Over the past couple of months he has traveled with us," Palin said after Williams performed. "Now this is the last rally that we get to do together, and he's been just a great inspiration -- never one to hide his opinion or be afraid to share it."
"Hey, he exercises those First Amendment rights," Palin added. "We love him. Yes!"
Williams first appeared on the trail for the McCain-Palin ticket at a joint rally in Virginia Beach, VA on October 13. At the debut performance, Williams sang the line linking Obama to Ayers. At his next performance in Richmond, VA later that afternoon, however, Williams changed to more innocuous lyrics distributed by the campaign, singing, "John and Sarah tell ya just what they think. And they’re not gonna blink. And they’re gonna fix this country. Cause they’re just like you n’ ole Hank."
At almost all rallies since then that Williams has performed at, from rallies in New Mexico to North Carolina, Williams has sang the lyrics linking Obama to Ayers, even though Palin no longer mentions Ayers on the campaign trail.
While Palin did not distance herself from Williams remarks this evening, Palin has said twice in recent weeks that she does not question Obama’s patriotism.
"I am sure that Senator Obama cares as much for this country as McCain does," Palin said in an interview last week with ABC’s Elizabeth Vargas. "I’m, for the record, stating, no, that, I'm not calling someone out on their love of country or level of patriotism."
When asked in a press availability aboard her campaign plane on October 17, Palin said, "I know Obama loves America. I'm sure that is why he's running for president. It's because he wants to do what he believes is in the best interest of this great nation."
Palin’s rally at the Colorado Springs airport was her second at the location. She and McCain held a rally there on September 6, two days after the conclusion of the Republican National Convention. Palin has made five total trips to Colorado since the convention, in hopes of shoring up a state won by Republicans in 2004, but which Democrats are leading in current polls.
November 3, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (116)
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Here is just another example of a right wing nut job. I love how these neocons think they are the only ones with patriotic views. Just another country hick from the sticks.
Posted by: democratic | Nov 4, 2008 12:12:29 AM
The Republicans are morally and ethically bankrupt. They are such morons to suggest these idiotic ideas about Obama. Hank Williams is just a racist redneck.
Posted by: Louise Riley | Nov 4, 2008 12:12:36 AM
Hank stick to what you know best.
Posted by: matteroffacts | Nov 4, 2008 12:14:19 AM
Dirty lies are McCain's legacy.
Posted by: thorfinn | Nov 4, 2008 12:18:48 AM
I'd like to know why journalists and newspapers choose to print such garbage. It's another Obama smear and another falsehood. It makes me ashamed for the right-wing. I call such sleazy reporting and behavior un-American.
Posted by: N Parr | Nov 4, 2008 12:20:31 AM
Who is Hank Williams Jr.?
Posted by: Janice | Nov 4, 2008 12:24:46 AM
HEY REPUBLICANS!
Obama just won in Diksville Notch New Hampshire, first in the Nation to vote!!
At 12:07PM EST the votes were counted and Obama won in a LANDSLIDE 15 - 6 votes!
Diksville Notch has voted Republican in every election since 1968!!!
A real bad omen for your side fools!!!!
OBAMA/BIDEN = LANDSLIDE TOMORROW!!!
Posted by: Davis | Nov 4, 2008 12:26:29 AM
Hank should read up on the candidates he is supporting on the trail, McCain does keep some of the same friends as Obama is accused of keeping. McCain has even donated money to them. I guess that was a foot in mouth moment when people that actually read info on the candidates heard Hanks blunder...I'm praying that OBAMA wins this election, we working middle class people need some relief, I guess that's not important to some people in high places.
Posted by: angela | Nov 4, 2008 12:29:36 AM
Poor old Hank....it ain't easy being the son of someone who was really talented.....and the folks at the Palin rallies are the most people Hank has seen turn up where he got to sing in many years....maybe he can get a guest duet on Joe the plumber's new album....
Posted by: Southern IL | Nov 4, 2008 12:31:05 AM
The dogs bark ....the caravan moves on .....
Posted by: beastofbourbon | Nov 4, 2008 12:32:21 AM
Why take the huge gamble that Obama is not like his associates? McCain is a very solid choice. A very good man. Aside from 30 years in the Navy and 25 years in the senate he has an Asian daughter he adopted, spent 5 1/2 years as a POW while Ayers was bombing America, and has never taken an earmark. What a great man.
Posted by: Joe | Nov 4, 2008 12:33:20 AM
Hank Williams Jr. is not the best role-model, but he fits right in with the republicans. Lets see his daddy was an alcoholic drug addicted wife beating adulterer and as lil ol junior likes to sing "it's just a family tradition".
Posted by: Lewbob | Nov 4, 2008 12:35:28 AM
Hank, I love your music, but "shut up and sing" about things you actually know about. Where's the outrage from the country music community about this blatant public political bashing (during a campaign no less)? Or is that just reserved for Natalie Maines and anyone who chooses to speak out politically against moronic leadership (if you can even call it leadership)?
Posted by: mich10 | Nov 4, 2008 12:35:47 AM
It is fools like Joe that make people think Americans are all stupid..
Posted by: Janice | Nov 4, 2008 12:36:15 AM
Hank Williams didn't have any basis in fact to say Obama is not real crazy about the national anthem. It was just more rousing of the crowd by trying to make Obama look un-American.
Posted by: kat | Nov 4, 2008 12:40:21 AM
I am ashamed that in my country of America there is such a person as Obama that has actually made it this far in a run for the White House. You bet I question his patriotism and more. He's the one that was recently outed as opining that the Constitution is defective, in a 2000 radio interview. I question his patriotism and his loyalty. He should still be living in Indonesia or perhaps Kenya, not in our fair country.
Posted by: Tom | Nov 4, 2008 12:42:19 AM
Must be Hanks hitting the bottle again. Another redneck moron that's an embarassment to this country.No wonder the world thinks bad of us and thinks the US is loaded with Joe sixpack uneducated morons.
Posted by: AJ | Nov 4, 2008 12:44:25 AM
Hank Williams Jr. is telling it like it is!! All of you naysaers go back to eating your granola sandwiches!!
Posted by: Goon | Nov 4, 2008 12:46:58 AM
Hank Williams Jr. is telling it like it is!! All of you naysaers go back to eating your granola sandwiches!!
Posted by: Goon | Nov 4, 2008 12:48:54 AM
Hank Williams Jr. is telling it like it is!! All of you naysaers go back to eating your granola sandwiches!! As for Hank's family, What about Monica?
Posted by: Goon | Nov 4, 2008 12:49:35 AM
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