One thing I do know, however, is that John Mellencamp wouldn't be on that list.
From Newsbusters.com: Leftist Rocker John Mellencamp: First Amendment More of a 'Collective' Thing
You know, liberals should be celebrating. Their man, The Won, is in the White House. They have control of both the House and the Senate, and legislation such as cap and trade and nationalized health care may well become reality - European socialism without having to leave the comfort of home. The Brave New World is on the way. Rejoice in mediocrity for all!
So why are they so grumpy? I suppose it’s because the idea that anyone might stray from the reservation is anathema to them, and this little thing in our Constitution called the First Amendment kind of gets in the way of collective happiness and singing Kumbaya around the campfire.
John “Cougar” Mellencamp is the latest to notice that not everyone is part of the collective, and he’s mighty peeved, making this observation about free speech in general and bloggers in particular:
“I don’t think people fought and gave their lives so that some guy can sit in his bedroom and be mean. I don’t think that’s what freedom of speech is,” he continued. “Freedom of speech is really about assembly — for us to collectively have an idea. We want to get our point of view out so we can assemble and I can appoint you to be the spokesman. That’s freedom of speech — to be able to collectively speak for a sector of people. But somehow it’s turned into ‘I can be an a****** whenever I feel like, say whatever I like, be disrespectful to people and not be courteous.’ It’s not good for our society. Not being courteous is not really freedom of speech. …"
Geez, send this guy back to civics class.
I do sorta kinda agree with him on one point - it's best to be courteous and not be mean. So for his sake, I won't write what I really want to write. But let's play this out for a minute - for the sake of discussion, say he's right, that his concept of freedom of speech is accurate. So when conservatives have control of government, it'd be perfectly fine for us to collectively decide that Melonhead's...I mean Mellencamp's...that his songs totally suck, and appoint a spokesman to state that they may no longer be played? Heck, I'm all for that, especially when you read the lyrics to the following drivel:
So his parents called him Independence Day
He married a girl named Justice who gave birth to a son called Nation
Then she walked away
Independence he would daydream and he'd pretend
That some day him and Justice and Nation would get together again
But Justice held up in a shotgun shack
And she wouldn't let nobody in
So a Nation cried
CHORUS
Oh Oh
When a Nation cries
His tears fall down like missiles from the skies
Justice look into Independence's eyes
Can you make everything alright
Can you keep your Nation warm tonight
Well Nation grew up and got himself a big reputation
Couldn't keep the boy at home no no
He just kept running 'round and 'round and 'round and 'round
Independence and Justice well they felt so ashamed
When the Nation fell down they argued who was to blame
Nation if you'll just come home we'll have this family again
Oh Nation don't cry
CHORUS
Roll a rock across the Country
Everybody come along
When you're feelin' down yeah yeah
Just sing this song yeah yeah
Sorry to have done that to you. It won't happen again.
Oh, and I still haven't come up with an intelligent celebrity...can anyone help me out here?
