(10-07-2011 11:55 AM)Phatty Wan Kenobi Wrote:  The Dixie Chicks decided to make a political statement during one of their concerts. Not what the fans paid for and therefore the inappropriate place to voice political opinion. Hank Williams voiced his opinion on Fox which was the correct forum for political opinions whether they are good ones are not. If Hank Williams worked in a jab about the president in his intro during MNF then that would be inappropriate and not what ESPN paid the rights to.

The Dixie Chicks fans directly decided their fate. ESPN on the other hand decided for the fans.

(10-07-2011 12:53 AM)Drathdon Wrote:  Sad thing is that people claim he called Obama Hitler, when all he did was compare the pairing of the head Republican and Democrat to that of a Nazi and Jew, a statement on how badly the two parties were working together.

Of course, with the education system in shambles, you can't expect people to have reading comprehension.

(10-07-2011 11:59 AM)keithbrooking56 Wrote:  That's where I am at as well. I understand that his right to speech simply deals with the government and not the private sector. However I think it is absurd that we are at a point where people lose jobs/endorsements because of expressing political or religious views ESPECIALLY when those comments do not take place at said job or in relation to an employer.

(10-07-2011 07:01 AM)JDaveG Wrote:  He also called the President "the enemy of the United States," so there's a bit more context to it than what you imply.

(10-06-2011 11:09 AM)Paulitik Wrote:  What a fucking idiot that guy is. I wonder if he felt that way about the Dixie Chicks?

(10-07-2011 12:04 PM)Paulitik Wrote:  I don't think the fans in England were the ones offended (where the incident occurred). In the case of the Dixie Chicks, you had a network of republican leaning radio stations like Clear Channel blacklisting and preventing them from being able to promote their music and show promotion, not fans boycotting their records,directly affecting the way they make a living, so it's not the same at all. I'm not saying that radio stations don't have a right to stop playing someone's music at all, but there was a coordinated political effort made to hurt the Dixie Chicks and blacklist them in Nashville. (I know, because I was there and my dad does financial work for several country stars)

Hank Williams was a paid spokesman that offended his employer and they simply revoked his services. By no means is ESPN trying to destroy his career. Sorry but you are dead wrong on this one.

(10-06-2011 03:01 PM)Radical Wrote:  Examples?

I don't recall any employed member of a major media network keeping anyone on board for very long throwing out Hitler comparisons... except for maybe Fox News and Glenn Beck.

(10-07-2011 01:09 PM)Phatty Wan Kenobi Wrote:  You don't honestly think Clear Channel single handedly ruined the career of the Dixie Chicks do you? Left or Right these political groups typically have an affect on a small portion of society and the effects are short lived. They offended their fans directly who for the most part are patriotic, conservative republicans and the fans directly responded. I don't remember who said it but that's the equivalent of going in to a trailer park shouting "Walmart sucks". Then if that wasn't bad enough keep writing songs about how you were right about what you did. How many times can you shoot yourself in the foot?

In the case of Hank Williams someone's personal political leanings at the company decided for the fans. The fans never got a chance to decide for themselves and boycott Hank Williams, ESPN, or MNF. I never said they were ruining his career because I don't think he has much of one.