Chickenhawk Country Singer Toby Keith flip-flops, NOW says he "never did" support the Iraq War

[Ian David]

Famed country singer Toby Keith, who once sang a two-fisted song about putting “a boot in {the} ass” of the terrorists and engaged in a public feud with the Dixie Chicks, tells Newsday that he doesn’t support the Iraq war. “‘Never did,’ he says — and he favors setting a time limit on the occupation.

He says he suspects civil war in Iraq is inevitable and predicts the Kurds will be the victors: ‘I promise you, they’ll end up with it all.’” 4:33 pm | Comment (23)

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Posted by Faiz at 4:33 pm

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23 Comments »

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[bahrbearian]

1. FUTK

[sandnsea]

7. ditto n/t

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

13. ITA..

FUTK!!!!

Lying hypocrite.

Cry me a f**king river Mr. Chickenhawk!!! :nopity:

Are your CD's not selling so well these days??

[ContraBass Black]

39. Confirmed

[ariellyn]

121. Didn't that moran "out" Willie Nelson? FUTK n/t

[derby378]

2. POFF

In other words, "Pants on fucking fire."

[eleny]

3. What a shithead

[speedoo]

4. Lying hypocrite coward.

FUTK is right.

[acmavm]

5. IDIOT. Lying idiot to be precise.

[cynatnite]

6. I always thought he was a pig...

He's gross to look at and not a very good singer, IMO.

[Redstone]

8. Fucking fatmouth blowhard. Too bad; he has a strong voice. He coulda

been a contenda'.

Redstone

[upi402]

66. Michael McDonald has a strong voice

That's my contention, anyhow.
:-)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. lyrics.

"I'm just a middle-aged, middle-eastern camel herdin' man
I got a little, 2 bedroom cave here in North Afghanistan
Things used to be real nice and they got out of hand when they moved in
They call themselves the Taliban
(ooooo yeah the taliban) (taliban baby)

Now I ain't seen my wife's face since they came here
They make her wear a scarf over her head that covers her from ear to ear
She loves the desert and the hot white sand
But man she's just like me, nah she can't stand
The Taliban (ooo taliban baby)

You know someday soon we're both gonna saddle up and it'll be
Ride Camel Ride
My old lady she'll be here with me, smilin right by my side
We should do just fine out around Palestine or maybe Turkmenistan
We'll bid a fair adieu and flip the finger to the Taliban
(oh yeah the taliban) (baby)

I know where you comin from brother!
This is a patriotic love song
So y'all feel free to salute if you want,
You got my permission.

Now they attacked New York City cause they thought they could win
Said they would, stand and fight until the very bloody end
Mr Bush got on the phone with Iraq and Iran and said "Now, you
sons-of-bitches you better not be doin any business with the taliban"
(Taliban baby)

So we prayed to Allah with all of our might
Until those big U.S. jets came flyin one night
They dropped little bombs all over their holy land
And man you should have seen em run like rabbits, they ran
(the taliban)

You know someday soon we're both gonna saddle up and it'll be
Ride Camel Ride
My old lady she'll be here with me, smilin right by my side
We should do real fine out around Palestine or maybe Turkmenistan
We'll bid a fair adieu and flip a couple fingers to the Taliban
(oh yeah, taliban)
we'll bid a fair adieu and flip a big boner to The Taliban (baby)"

[brettdale]

31. He also did a song that wasnt put on a album called

"Allah the Arab"

[brettdale]

35. Bring Back Garth

GARTH BROOKS LYRICS

"We Shall Be Free"

This ain't comin' from no prophet
Just an ordinary man
When I close my eyes I see
The way this world shall be
When we all walk hand in hand

When the last child cries for a crust of bread
When the last man dies for just words that he said
When there's shelter over the poorest head
We shall be free

When the last thing we notice is the color of skin
And the first thing we look for is the beauty within
When the skies and the oceans are clean again
Then we shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free
Stand straight, walk proud
'Cause we shall be free
When we're free to love anyone we choose
When this world's big enough for all different views
When we all can worship from our own kind of pew
Then we shall be free
We shall be free

We shall be free
Have a little faith
Hold out
'Cause we shall be free

And when money talks for the very last time
And nobody walks a step behind
When there's only one race and that's mankind
Then we shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free
Stand straight, walk proud, have a little faith, hold out
We shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free
Stand straight, have a little faith

We shall be free

[PFunk]

41. You know the country establishment tried to blackball him because of that song.

[brettdale]

43. yep

That was disgusting, but he stuck to his guns, CMT ended up cutting out the gay kiss from the video, even though it only lasted a split second. Garth released a statement saying he stands by every word in that song.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

139. I've never listened to Garth Brooks...

But I just got chills reading those lyrics. Beautiful.

[TreasonousBastard]

10. Lying sack of shit must have...

seen his cd and concert ticket sales fall off.

You can't run and you can't hide, dipshit.

[AX10]

11. Toby, you take your right wing, ignorant, fascist hee-haw....

banjo players and DROP DEAD! Country can drop dead for all I care for what they did to the Dixie Chicks! I saw how the base of listeners turned on them. I saw the death threats made against them. I saw how artists such yourself, Reba (I'm a "Christian" with 2 divorces) McEntire, Travis Tritt (Who the Hell is he anyways), Alabama, Brooks and Dunn, Tanya (Drugie) Tucker, assaulted the Chicks for having the audacity to not support you "war president". Mr. Bush. Also where does this little fascist stand these days:

http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1534709/06202006/wilson_gretchen.jhtml

"Gretchen Wilson and Josh Gracin were among the performers appearing
Monday night (June 19) in Washington at a fundraiser that generated
$27 million to be used by Republican candidates in the November elections.
President Bush provided a speech for more than 5,000 supporters attending
the President's Dinner at the Washington Convention Center. The event raised
money for the National Republican Congressional Committee and the
National Republican Senatorial Committee.

You can shove your dam fiddles, banjos, and sliders up the backside too.
Yes, because of people such as you, Toby Keith, the American Soldier is now a target for terrorists. Their blood sits on you hands Toby Keith!!!

[donco6]

I agree. They've gotten much worse over the years.

Only a few write anything other than cliched pap, anyways.

[AX10]

54. Add Clint Black to that list too.

[jmowreader]

12. I can believe it

If that moran would have come out before the Iraq War and said, "this shit's wrong, y'all," he and the Dixie Chicks would have been playing, in the eyes of his fans, the All Traitor Double Bill. Or, more than likely, he'd be playing rock and roll today.

Toby Keith knows which side his bread's buttered on, and said butter is pretty much all Bushbots.

This doesn't change the fact he lied about this for his own self-interest.

[Rosemary2205]

14. I've always thought Toby Keith would benefit from a boot in the ass himself

that and a care package of razors and shaving cream.

[LostInAnomie]

21. HA HA! Does the care package of razors and shaving cream...

... go up his ass too? :rofl:

[jilln]

15. According to a few minutes' research on Google, he's telling the truth

He supported the war in Afghanistan, but I found nothing to say he supported invading Iraq. Maybe I didn't dig deep enough, but in every case I saw, he clearly said AFGHANISTAN.

[OKNancy]

20. You are correct

I can't stand what he did to the Chicks, but he is only 90% creep. :-)

[jilln]

22. Oh he's still a total creep

so there's no need to add unfounded accusations ;-)

[blondeatlast]

46. ...

:rofl::thumbsup::rofl:

[spoony]

30. Here's something from 2003

http://hoffmania.blogspot.com/2003/08/even-toby-keith-is-questioning-war.html

"Look, my stance is I pick and choose my wars. This war here , the math hasn't worked out for me on it. But I'm smart enough to know there's people smarter than me. Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, George Bush — this is their job, and I have to trust in them. I support the commander in chief and the troops."

Sounds like a lot of Americans back then, really. Not sold on the war, but trusting in *. To think * had all that good will and trust and he used it...for toilet paper, essentially.

[LostInAnomie]

16. Well, at least he knows one of the ethnic groups in Iraq.

That's more than we can say for *.

If he didn't support the war, he sure as hell had every one of his knuckle dragging fans, and the rest of the world fooled. What a fucking lying piece of shit!

[Imagevision]

17. Fu*king phony Keith is running his mouth off to the Chicks while backing Bush's war!!

whata a two faced putz...duh it's muh music man...! and the popularity dude!

[Deja Q]

142. Popularity only.

[OKNancy]

18. Here is the original article

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/ny-ettoby0128,0,6077773.story?coll=ny-music-headlines

LOL - but he is a Democrat and will never switch he says.

[bananas]

19. corrected link

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/26/famed-country-singer-toby-keith

[The Backlash Cometh]

23. New tune for an old boob.

LOL!

[Ian David]

24. Check-out "Music Row Democrats"

In the 2004 campaign, the Music Row Democrats were the only organization to run ads supporting John Kerry in the South. With your support, we are going to spread the message again: The Democratic party is the party for Southern working folk.



More:
http://www.musicrowdemocrats.com/

[Left Is Write]

36. Just one more reason (of many) to love Rodney Crowell. And the Mavericks!

[speedoo]

53. Rodney's great!

Been following him ever since I first saw him, on the same bill with Nanci Griffith in concert.

Love 'em both. :thumbsup:

And they're both from Texas!

[Maiden England]

25. TKTW as he is refered to in this household

toby keith talentless wanker (no caps deliberate)

BAAHAHHAHAHWHAHAHAHAHA

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

He is truly pathetic

[lligrd]

26. Wonder If Bruce Willis Will Be Next?

I can't wait till Hannity is left talking to himself.

[deadparrot]

27. Ah, so the boot up the ass was a sign of peace?

:eyes:

[piedmont]

28. That song had nothing to do with Iraq.

I think it's a stupid song, but it came out of anger over 9/11, and was not about Iraq.

[deadparrot]

52. He went to Iraq and sang it for the troops.

And while I have no problem with USO shows and providing entertainment for the men and women over there, if you sing vaguely violent songs about terrorism while in a warzone (where the point of said was/is arguably to stop terrorists), that's close enough to acceptance of that war for me.

You don't sing a song like "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue," in Iraq if you're against that war. Sorry, I just don't buy it. It's very possible that he went against it at some point (as most Americans have), but I don't believe for a minute that he was against it at the outset.

[piedmont]

69. Sure, but that was two years after he wrote it.

It was one of his biggest hits, and he was entertaining the troops by singing his biggest hits to them.

[deadparrot]

93. If I'd written a song like that after 9/11,

and was subsequently invited to do a USO show for a war that I didn't believe in, I would make a concerted effort to avoid singing such a song, because I'd want to make it perfectly clear that my support for the war in Afghanistan was not connected to my support for the war in Iraq, especially if said song was two years old, and not a recent hit. Why dreg up the imagery of CotRWaB if you're already ambivalent towards or opposed to a war?

As I understand it, he's fairly popular in country music. I'm sure he's churned out plenty of hit songs that don't feature certain the glorification of war and violence. Similarly, there are also plenty of other, patriotic songs that don't have those themes.

You're right that he never seems to have said anything publicly, and his current stance seems to be "I was never against it and I was never for it." But I can't imagine anyone who would endorse Bush for re-election and doctor an image of Saddam Hussein to include Natalie Maines to have been against Iraq from the beginning.

From the little I know about the guy, I do know that he has expressed doubts about Iraq in the past. However, actions speak louder than words. His actions tell me a story, and the fact that he never spoke out to clarify any of these actions also tells me a story. They tell me that he was complacent at the very least.

To say that you were never for the war and never against the war is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Either way, he's technically right. So I have to go by his what he does, and that certainly seems to be clear enough.

[AX10]

97. True.

[piedmont]

107. eh, just read my sub-thread with speedo below...

I think I discussed most of this with him/her.

I agree that Toby Keith has acted inconsistently, but I don't think in this case it rises to the level of what I'd call hypocrisy. You both seem to be more comfortable reading the tea leaves on that than I am, and it's certainly your right to do so. :)
Good night.

[deadparrot]

116. I can only judge by his actions.

His words have been ambivalent at best. His actions suggest to me that he was, at one point, on the war path. You're absolutely right, I can't get inside his head and know exactly what he was thinking, but featuring pictures of Hussein and Natalie Mains so soon after the Iraq War certainly made an impression.

And again, why sing CotRWaB in front of American forces in Iraq? He's stated publicly that though it isn't about the Iraq war, many think it is. If he were ambivalent or opposed to Iraq, why would he even take the chance that it would be misinterpreted as being supportive of that war--why sing it at all? The song was apparently two years old at the time, hardly a brand-new chart topper.

If the entire board refrained from commenting just because we didn't know what was inside someone's head, DU would be a very quiet place. :)

[TheCowsCameHome]

29. He swaps spit with G. Gordon Liddy

[brettdale]

32. Link to newsday story

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/ny-ettoby0128,0,6077773.story?coll=ny-music-headlines


If there's one thing Americans love doing these days, it's taking sides. So let's have a vote on the polarizing country singer Toby Keith:

Raise your right hand if you think Keith is a pro-military type who voted twice for George W. Bush, supported the invasion of Afghanistan and watches Fox News. Raise your left if you think he is a registered Democrat who voted twice for Bill Clinton, opposed the war in Iraq and suspects Fox News merely panders to the right to boost ratings.


Either way, you're correct -- and whichever hand went up probably says more about you than about Keith. Intentionally or not, the 45-year-old country star, who plays New Jersey's Continental Arena Friday, has become one of the most controversial figures in popular music thanks to a handful of politically charged songs, including "American Soldier" and "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)," which touched off explosions among a public already deeply divided over issues of war, terrorism and the very idea of patriotism itself. For those on the right, Keith is a red-blooded hero; for the left, he's a symbol of redneck ignorance.



The singer himself says it's not so simple. Speaking by phone recently from the ranch he owns in Norman, Okla., his native state, Keith spoke -- between mouthfuls of a burger -- for nearly 90 minutes about politics, the media, Iraq, Saddam Hussein and a certain Bush-bashing female country singer he refuses to name. Some of his opinions, of course, seem lifted straight from his ostensibly conservative songs. But to those who know Keith only as the guy who sings about vigilante justice and dropping bombs on the Taliban, some of his opinions might come as a surprise.

[Left Is Write]

33. Is he unaware that his previous words and actions have been recorded?

[mitchum]

34. Please edit your headline and remove the word "singer"...

and replace with "schlockmeister" or "piece of shit"
Either one would work

[PFunk]

37. Oh BS!!!!

Country sales have been down lately. Me thinks he (and country music in general) now are trying to distance themselves from the repugs now because of this.

[AX10]

51. I would love to see Country "Music" collapse like the...

stock market did in 1929. The less of that ignorant jingoistic crap, the better.

[we can do it]

60. Me Too - Country Music Is Neither Anymore

:puke: :puke:

[Left Is Write]

83. Not all country music is ignorant and jingoistic.

[zbdent]

38. BFnS!

Or, in the non-Reader's Digest Condensed version:

BULL FUCKIN' SHIT!!!

Toby Keith, you are a stupid waste of sperm and 10 seconds of sex ...

Edited to add: And the case of beer it took your daddy to get your maw to pass out ...

[Raydawg1234]

40. The music business is all about making money, and some producer

probably thought that the song "shock and awe" would make a lot of money. And it did.

That song might have been written for him, but that would still make him a sellout.

[Nicole]

135. He wrote the song himself n/t

[piedmont]

42. So has anyone found a quote from Toby Keith stating support for invading Iraq?

No, I'm not a TK fan, but I'd like to know if we're bashing him for actually being a hypocrite in this case or just bashing him anyway.

[speedoo]

56. Did he not display pix of Saddaam photoshopped with Natalie Maines...

at his concerts, as a stage backdrop?

What does that say?

And I'll bash the asshole for whatever I please, thankyouverymuch.

He most certainly is a hypocrite, and now he's trying to be cute and regain his ill-deserved popularity.

FUTK

[piedmont]

61. It says he has an ongoing feud with Natalie Maines...

it does not say that he supported invading Iraq. Assuming, of course that the pics were actually displayed at one of his concerts.

And I'll bash the asshole for whatever I please, thankyouverymuch.
Go right ahead. Don't let the facts get in your way.

[speedoo]

67. Is wikipedia factual enough for you?

From wikipedia's Toby Keith entry:

"Keith also had a public feud with the Dixie Chicks over the song, as well as comments they made from the stage about President George W. Bush. The lead singer of the Dixie Chicks, Natalie Maines, publicly stated that the song was "ignorant, and it makes country music sound ignorant."<1> Keith responded by belittling Maines' songwriting skills, and by displaying a backdrop at his concerts showing a doctored photo of Maines with Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.<2> On May 21, 2003, Maines wore a T-shirt with the letters FUTK on the front at the Academy of Country Music Awards. <3> While a spokesperson for the Dixie Chicks said that the acronym stood for "Friends United in Truth and Kindness", many including host Vince Gill took it to be a shot at Keith. In August 2003, Keith publicly declared he was done feuding with Maines 'because he's realized there are far more important things to concentrate on'"

Wiki goes on to note that Keith endorsed Bush for re-election in 2004. For someone who was opposed to the Iraq War, that's odd, isn't it?

I also recall that Keith sold t-shirts showing gthe photoshopped Maines/Hussein image, although I don't have anyth.ing handy to document that.

Keith is a liar, a coward and a hypocrite.

[piedmont]

73. Sure...

But as I said, the interpretation I gave was assuming it did happen. My interpretation thus does not change-- it looks like it was part of an ongoing feud.


Wiki goes on to note that Keith endorsed Bush for re-election in 2004. For someone who was opposed to the Iraq War, that's odd, isn't it?

I have no idea why Toby Keith endorsed Bush in 2004, and neither do you, unless you can find a quote. The election was about more than the Iraq War.

[speedoo]

76. Okay, so let me make sure I understand...

Keith publicly shows pictures of Saddaam Hussein photoshoppped with Natalie Maines, with whom he is feuding about her opposition to the Iraq War and Bush, as well as their respective songwriting kills. He does this at concerts where he sings songs that he knows are interpreted by many to be pro Iraq War.

Keith, who claims to be a Democrat, endorses Bush for re-election over a Democrat who opposes Bush's Iraq War policy (among other things), as the public discussion about the War is becoming more and more heated and divided.

But you are completely satisfied he's being truthful now when he says he was never for the Iraq War.

Do I have that right?

[piedmont]

84. Alright,

Keith publicly shows pictures of Saddam Hussein photoshoppped with Natalie Maines, with whom he is feuding about her opposition to the Iraq War and Bush, as well as their respective songwriting kills.

Well, their feud started over Natalie Maines' criticism of Toby Keith's song written in response to 9/11, and had gotten very personal by that time. Saddam Hussein was universally recognized as an enemy of the U.S., so displaying pictures of NM with Saddam could easily be just one more "Natalie Maines is un-American" jab.

He does this at concerts where he sings songs that he knows are interpreted by many to be pro Iraq War.
Did you read his mind or something?


Keith, who claims to be a Democrat, endorses Bush for re-election over a Democrat who opposes Bush's Iraq War policy (among other things), as the public discussion about the War is becoming more and more heated and divided.
And hell if know why. I'd bet that as out-spoken as he is, he probably gave plenty of reasons. Was Iraq one of them? I'm not trying to be snarky with that question-- I'd really like to know.

But you are completely satisfied he's being truthful now when he says he was never for the Iraq War.
No, I'm not. But in the absence of evidence of an extremely high-profile, extremely out-spoken person supporting the Iraq War, I'm reluctant to call him a hypocrite for saying that the war was a mistake.
Like I said, I'm not a fan of Toby Keith. I think he's done, said, and sang a lot of stupid things over the years, and richly deserves criticism. But this particular criticism doesn't seem well-founded to me.

[speedoo]

92. Read his words. Have no interest in reading his mind.

"and that he wonders whether the hit song, "(Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue) The Angry American," has typecast him ("People think I bang the war drum, and that's not me"). "

That's from a link in post #15 upthread.

I'm sure you'll say, well it doesn't necessarily mean... etc.

Fine. You clearly want something iron-clad, instead of deduction, to agree he deserves criticism over this.

We'll just have to agree to disagree.

[piedmont]

102. For me...

it comes down to the fact that Toby Keith wears his convictions on his sleeve. If he were for the war, he'd have said it. It sure wouldn't have been the most controversial thing he'd ever said. But he didn't. You are correct that he also sure didn't come out hard against. I take this as ambivalence, which is pretty much what he's said he was feeling. I think I'm tired of arguing about someone I really don't feel one way or the other about myself, so I agree we'll just have to disagree.

[tuvor]

68. "Don't let the facts get in your way."

You meanie. You mind-reading meanie. :rofl:

[we can do it]

58. He's A Talentless Fake Piece of Horseshit

[piedmont]

65. Well alrighty then.

[tuvor]

63. I've found one that indicates his uncertainty over the Iraq war.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=49470&mesg_id=50831

[judaspriestess]

44. does it matter if he did not officially say he was

supporting the war in Iraq? The insinuation is there regardless and he has never denied the morphing of his opinions into giving the impression of supporting the war in Iraq. He is full of shit and gross.

damn, these planes taking off from Nellis AFB are hella loud. geez......... (sidebar)

[AX10]

47. Exactly!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

49. No.

He's been a big cheerleader for the war and everything Bush has done. If the war were still popular, he'd still be for it.

[porphyrian]

45. It's important what a pop country star thinks they think about politics. - n/t

[Left Is Write]

86. Any more or less important than what any of us thinks?

[porphyrian]

89. That's how you make it not funny, yes. - n/t

[Left Is Write]

94. Sorry. I had no idea you intended to be funny.

[porphyrian]

96. Thanks for pointing that out. - n/t

[Left Is Write]

99. Sure. But next time, could you please indicate in your post...

that you do not want responses or questions?

Seriously, I don't understand your snarky response to my question.

[porphyrian]

101. No, that's not how I do things.

Do and say whatever the fuck you want. I don't require your understanding or acceptance.

[Left Is Write]

103. Wow. Are you always this pleasant to talk to?

[porphyrian]

106. I was kidding until you weren't. You don't look so pretty over here, yourself. - n/t

[flvegan]

109. Then don't be surprised when your ass gets jumped

nor feign offense when it happens. When you get called on bullshit, don't feign ignorance.

If you want to show your ass, then best be ready to have it handed back to you.

Be polite, learn your manners.

[porphyrian]

110. You want to come hand me my ass?

Is that supposed to be a threat or something? Do you think you're handing me my ass now?

[flvegan]

111. Don't invite guests that you can't take care of.

I don't belive in threats, thanks.

Mark.

[porphyrian]

112. OK, advice guy. You can stop thinking about my ass now. - n/t

[flvegan]

115. heh heh heh

Mark.

Well done.

Be more mindful and in check with your manners henceforth, okay?

Keep running.

[porphyrian]

117. Sit down, Francis. I don't take orders from random people named Mark.

If you don't like my manners, I really don't give a shit.

[flvegan]

119. Good..

It's not about "like" but what's proper...appropriate. I don't give a shit about your manners, but showing your ass like that is just plain *zip* on top of attacking another DUer? Pathetic.

But, oh...wait...

Let's be clear about one thing.

Mark...

Look it up.

Wait, I'll help you...

"an object of derision, scorn, manipulation, or the like"

Sometimes, it's not a name.

Sleep on it.

[porphyrian]

122. You've almost got me convinced with all the dramatic spacing. - n/t

Edit: typo

[flvegan]

123. And?

[porphyrian]

124. And what? You're quizzing me now?

Look, I've got to take a shit and watch some TV, so how about we play later, huh?

[flvegan]

127. Standing in the way of anyone's nightly thrills

isn't what I'm here for.

Enjoy!

[argyl]

48. His 2003 cd "Shockin' Y'all" and tour of the same name makes him

one POS hypocrite if he didn't support this war. He sure cashed in on the war hysteria rampant among his fan base with that despicable play on words.

Really talented songwriter. Steve Earle gives Toby props as far as his songwriting goes.Says that unlike most of the big hat young country schlockmeisters he does write his own songs.But Earle also concluded that the songs he wrote weren't very good.

[Left Is Write]

81. I agree. It's certainly a telling name to put to his album if he was against the Iraq War.

His lyrics, his attitude, and his support of Bush in the 2004 election do not reflect someone who was only supportive of the action in Afghanistan and not Iraq. "Shock and awe" was a term used to describe the invasion of Iraq and the initial military action there. Why would someone against that action use a play on those words to title his album?

Also, why would a self-professed Democrat who is against the war in Iraq support Bush for re-election? It doesn't make any sense. No, I don't know where to find specific quotes from Toby Keith speaking against the Iraq war. However, perhaps what he has done speaks louder than what he has said.

If he truly is against the Iraq War, maybe it's time for a "little less talk and a lot more action."

[DefenseLawyer]

50. Good for him.

Even if it is bullshit. The fact that he is saying no to the war now is a good thing. The more people that are perceived as "patriots" who abandon the war the better. Politicians are way behind the curve on this. Statements like this from jerkoffs like him may make them more comfortable with taking a courageous stand and forcing an end to this thing.

[MrSlayer]

55. The Kurds are going to win?

That's a new one. He really has no idea what hes talking about at all.

[we can do it]

57. Another Fucking Stupid Fake Cowboy

[tuvor]

59. He's been dubious on the Iraq war since at least 2004 (Playboy interview)

On the Iraq war: "I'm pro-war on terror. Whether we should go from country to country, like with the Iraq thing, I don't know. This ain't as simple as Afghanistan. We're going to Iraq for what? For terrorism? Have we seen any terrorist training camps? I haven't seen the smoking gun. And the haven't found the weapons of mass destruction. But the second I said in the press that I wasn't' sure about Iraq, people said, 'He's trying to save his career.' What? My career is boomin', buddy."

http://www.thatscountry.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/3/2146

[speedoo]

70. And he endorsed Bush for re-election in 2004.

I guess this "dubiousness" wasn't enough to get this "democrat" to vote for Kerry.

[tuvor]

71. What's that got to do with anything? Stick to the topic.

Find me a quote where he supports the Iraq war, as per the original post that this whole thread should be based on, and I'll happily change my mind.

[speedoo]

72. You're not telling me how to post, are you?

How many people do you know who were against the war and still voted for Bush in 2004? Besides this asshole anyway.

Does that not strike you as odd?

[tuvor]

74. Of course not. Change topics mid-thread if you like.

How about those Rangers? Think they have a chance at the Stanley Cup this year?

[speedoo]

77. So you're saying his endorsement of Bush in 2004 is unrelated.

Even though "the topic" has everything to do with the Iraq War.

Of course. Thank you for enlightening me. How could I be so stupid.

[tuvor]

82. I'm seeking hard evidence that he ever supported the Iraq war.

That's all I'm asking for, especially considering that I found evidence to the contrary. Frankly, I can't stand his goat-voice, and I think he's a complete asshole, and he has hurt America far more than he's helped.

HOWEVER...a direct quote on the exact subject the OP referred to, in my books, carries more weight in that regard than how he voted. (Maybe it wasn't a vote for bush so much as a vote against Kerry. Unless he said why he voted for bush, who knows the reasons?)

If we see things differently, then so be it.

Cheers.

[speedoo]

88. I doubt there is a direct quote to be found.

I think he's a lying hypocrite, but I don't believe he's stupid enough to now contradict something he said in the past, that could be found.

But if you'll read my post above, #76, I've summarized why I think he's lying, or at least being ridicuulously hypocritical now.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

62. Here in the Keys, TK is doubly hated, because the creep is currently

being sued by one of our most beloved local singers for ripping off his music.

Get a load of this:

http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/nation/16171297.htm

[oasis]

128. WOW. The creep names his bars after the songs he ripped off.

:wow:

[tinfoilinfor2005]

131. Yeah, and then sues people who name their bars with similar names.

My mom had a saying..."some people just love to stretch out on other people's skins." I thought this was fitting for mr. big shot.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

132. BTW, if you want to hear a GREAT CD and support Michael,

go to http://www.michaelmccloud.com/SongsonGretastits.htm

:)

[speedoo]

133. And sells Freedom Fries in them.

But he's opposed to the Iraq War.

Doesn't stop the obscene scumbag from profiting from it, tho. :puke:

[oasis]

134. What a big phony. If he doesn't cough up the money on a settlement,

Rosie O'Donnell should expose his flaky ass on her show.

[upi402]

64. cut-n-runny

phony fingerpointing blamers who lie...

[Wizard777]

75. yeah and we're waiting on Charlie Daniels The Devil Went Down To Iraq.

Because he was in a bind, way behind, and lookin' for some oil to steal.:evilgrin:

[Initech]

78. He probably just cost himself his fanbase.

His fan base is entirely compromised of patriotic redneck music lovers. The same people who think Larry The Cable Guy is funny.

[july302001]

79. whaaaaa?!?

That's a prevarication if i ever heard one.

[LaBanty]

80. putting a boot in {the} ass of the terrorists

I don't know that kicking terrorist ass and the Iraq war have to be one and the same. Perhaps what he meant was he has no problem throttling terrorists, but we had no business in Iraq to begin with i.e. he didn't support going to Iraq, specifically.

As far as the Dixie Chicks go, they're tough girls and can handle themselves. They speak their mind and know it can come back to bite them. Good for them, because backlash hasn't caused them to cave in.

[AspenRose]

85. I'm still mad at him for what he did to Willie Nelson on the Colbert Report.

Two-faced jerk. :mad: HE's the one who needs the 'boot in the ass.'

[Left Is Write]

87. What did he do to Willie?

[The Count]

129. Here's the story:

http://www.nirajsanghvi.com/stories.php?sid=385&tid=54

[wicket]

90. Such a liar

:grr:

[Kerrytravelers]

91. Just like all the * voters who are pulling the W'04 stickers off their cars now.

Typical. What can you expect?

[speedoo]

95. Well, not exactly. This asshole has more motive....

$$$$$$$$$$$

Still, a great analogy.

Thanks! :hi:

[Kerrytravelers]

126. Just makes him an even bigger asshole!

:hi:

[AX10]

141. And if Darryl Worley is a "true believer", that is just as bad.

:puke:

Oh, and :hi:!

[Marr]

98. I see. So he didn't actually believe the lies, he just made money singing them.

Yeah, that's a much more respectable position.

[jobycom]

108. He never sang about invading Iraq

He sang about fighting back at the people who attacked us on 9-11 (which wasn't Iraq), and he sang pro-soldier songs, and he sang that weird "Beer for my horses" song with Willie Nelson.

WIth the Dixie Chicks, they started the feud by criticizing his song, so he laid into them.

Not that I'm siding with him. But there are a lot of DUers here who are fighting a mythological straw man instead of an actual person.

[Marr]

120. With albums like "Shockin' Y'all", he cashed in on war hysteria.

The only time I ever see the guy, it's in connection with some pseudo-patriotic, militaristic, pop-aganda like that "Red, White, and Blue" song.

He may have never been wildly for the Iraq invasion, but he was riding that war train just as much as Dick Cheney was.

[jobycom]

136. How much do you listen to country music? A lot of your exposure is filtered.

TK is known more for beer drinking, honky-tonk stuff than the couple of patriotic songs he did. But his regular music doesn't create as much controversy, so it doesn't get as much attention outside of country music. So most people only hear about the controversial stuff, not what he normally does.

The story behind "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue" (the song Natalie Maines attacked as "ignorant" and the source of most of the controversy), was written after 9-11, and before the Iraqi invasion buildup, about Keith's father (Much like Merl Haggard's "Proud to be an Okie from Muskogee), who had been killed earlier in the year in a car accident. He wrote about his father's patriotism and about the 9-11 attack. However, he refused to record the song (partially because he didn't want to become associated with the extreme controversy it would create, and partially because it was musically inferior), and only played it at concerts, until the Commandant of the US Marine Corps talked him into recording it, publicly saying it was Keith's duty as an American to do it.

The article cited in the OP mentions that Keith is friends with the Democratic governor of Oklahoma, and campaigned for him, and is also friends with Bill Richardson. He's an ass on social programs. Basically an old Southern Democrat--big on ag and labor, not big on social issues.

He's not my favorite person in the world, but we look like Republicans when we go on these two minute hates against people we know nothing about.

[madeline_con]

100. From his mouth to Kurdish ears? n/t

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

104. Wotta twit. This guy is worse than the most mealymouthed politician, to sell a few CDs.

[onecent]

105. I actually love his music, but won't BUY one song by him. I also won't

eat in his crummy restaurant with Freedom fries.....Moran.

[speedoo]

113. Is that right? "Freedom Fries" in his restaurants?

But he's against the Iraq War, even though he makes money from it just like Halliburton.

Yeah, total fucking hypocrite.

[speedoo]

118. Yeah. Fucking hypocrite scumbag sells FREEDOM FRIES.

http://www.ilovethisbarandgrillokc.com/thegrill.php

What a total scumbag. And maybe he is stupid, after all.

Yo, Toby you stupid fuck... THE FRENCH WERE RIGHT.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

114. I think Toby is wrong~

The Kurds will not take Iraq. Look at this map~

The Arabs outnumber the Kurds by 4 to 1. To say Nothing of the Turkey influence. I feel kinda bad for Toby, wrong too many times over.

He might have had good intentions at one point.

That point is long gone now.

sorry if my c&p is too big, I don't know the limits yet.

[piedmont]

125. After reading his lyrics and his comments to the media...

the one thing I know about Toby Keith is that I shouldn't expect a thoughtful, well-informed analysis of world events from him any time soon.

[Ian David]

140. I think the Sparsely Populateds are going to take over. n/t

[The Traveler]

130. Oh this is just too much fun

:rofl:

I guess Bush really is down to Cheney and Barney now ...

[jilln]

137. Don't you think Barney is probably

smarter than Cheney and figured it out years ago?

[Supersedeas]

138. Shut up and sing for $$$ -- Think any Kuuuuntry musak stations will mention this at all??

[RegimeChange2008]

143. Toby Keith can go to Hell

And take his friends Ted Nugent and Sammy Hagar with him!