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Whoops! McCain Campaign Plays Song Written By Obama-Backing Dem Congressman
Is this John McCain's idea of bipartisanship?
At a campaign rally in New Hampshire yesterday, the McCain campaign played the classic 1970s song "Still The One" over the loudspeakers. One problem: The principal author of the song, John Hall, is a freshman Democratic Congressman from New York who is supporting Barack Obama.
Hall reacted strongly in an interview with NBC News, saying the GOP should immediately stop using his song: "The only one John McCain is 'Still the One' for is George Bush."
Back in 2004, Hall sent cease-and-desist letters to the Bush campaign after they played the song at a rally of theirs, and his wishes that they stop were quickly honored.
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This is the "we're still having fun, and you're still the one" song, right? Why the hell would you use that as a campaign song?
June 13, 2008 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I never understood it, either.
And I liked the song!
June 13, 2008 1:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, it's a catchy song but "still the one" doesn't make sense as a refrain for McCain. Maybe it'd work if he were the incumbent, though I guess that's what he's been running as.
June 13, 2008 1:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
You'd use it if you were running for Bush's third term.
June 14, 2008 8:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
I used to love that song! Orleans, you guys rocked.
June 13, 2008 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's okay if you want to still love it.
June 13, 2008 1:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I believe you're thinking of Dance With Me circa 1976.
June 13, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dance with Me, Still the One, Reach . . . they had their moments!
June 13, 2008 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Better Hall and Oates song matches for McCain's campaign:
Rich Girl (for his second wife)
Out of Touch
I can't Go for That (no can do)
Say it isn't so
June 13, 2008 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Alas, that would be Daryl Hall and John Oates - this is John Hall.
Unless you're subtlely proposing that Daryl Hall run for public office (in which case I'm totally onboard, with the hopes that by 2016 he can be part of a Hall/Oates in '16 ticket for the WH).
Having said that, might I also suggest "Private Eyes"? Understandably, warrantless wiretapping is more of "Private Ears" kind of thing, but the general invasion of privacy idea holds.
Hall/Oates in 2016!
June 13, 2008 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Given McCain's support for Bush administration surveillance policies, how about "Someone's Watching You" by X?
June 14, 2008 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
ROTFLMAO!
EXCELLENT!
June 13, 2008 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Still the one who can scratch my itch"
Must be a private thing between him and Cindy...
June 13, 2008 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
How about XTC - "Complicated Game"? Better representation of McC's state of mind (such as it is).
June 13, 2008 1:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you're gonna pick an XTC song, I suggest Here Comes President Kill Again from Oranges & Lemons
June 13, 2008 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe the surviving Beatles will let him use "Mean Mr. Mustard."
June 13, 2008 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
... or Nowhere Man...
June 14, 2008 2:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
How about "Strawman" by Lou Reed?
Maybe "He's A Whore" by Cheap Trick.
June 13, 2008 1:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Last Great American Whale?
Lou, Lou Lou. It's the beginning of a great adventure.
We can only hope. Well, and organize. And vote.
June 14, 2008 1:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
A better Beatles song for McCain:
Dead skunk in the Middle of the Road
Other songs McCain could use:
My futures so bright, I gotta wear shades
Satisfaction
Kung-fu fighting
Born (not) in the USA
June 13, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road" belongs to Loudon Wainwright III. The Beatles wrote "Why Don't We Do It in the Road."
June 13, 2008 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I think you mean "Why Don't We Do It In the Middle of the Road With a Dead Skunk".
June 13, 2008 7:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ummm,
Despite a great career as a folk singer, Poor Loudon Wainright III only had one semi-hit: Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road.
The Beatles already have plenty of hits to their credit. You don't need to give them credit for his little ditty.
As far as a theme for McCain, I would say something by Fabian, or the Four Freshman. You know, something old, forgotten, and dull.
June 13, 2008 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rage's War Between a Breath would be my choice.
June 13, 2008 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, I've got it.
"Let's Have A War" by Fear.
June 13, 2008 1:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
great song
June 13, 2008 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's have a war
...So you can go and die!
...We could all use the money!
...We need the space!
...Clean out this place!
...Jack up the Dow Jones!
...It can start in New Jersey!
...Blame it on the middle-class!
...We're like rats in a cage!
...Sell the rights to the networks!
...Let our wallets get fat like last time!
...Give guns to the queers!
...The enemy's within!
(hard to believe it was released 18 years ago)
June 13, 2008 3:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
The McCain campaign song saga continues.
June 13, 2008 1:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
This isn't the first time, either. McCain used "Johnny B. Goode" before Chuck Berry officially supported Obama, and I'm thinking a similar thing also happened for another candidate — Clinton, maybe? Unless I'm just thinking of the girl who appeared in one of her ands, and who now (years later) supports Obama. I do feel sorry for the people who have to pick McCain's music… it's like some sort of metaphor for his inability to find people to like him…
June 13, 2008 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
If memory serves, Boston asked Huckabee to stop playing "More Than a Feeling" at campaign events because they're Obama supporters.
June 13, 2008 2:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
It wasn't just Chuck Berry, also tried John Cougar Mellenkamp and Abba until they found out they supported Obama. Pretty funny!
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/no-johnny-no-chuck-berry-joins-chorus-of-musicians-snubbing-mccains-campaign-844215.html
June 13, 2008 2:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
How about "More Beer" by the band Beer.
June 13, 2008 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Vetoed!
June 13, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can't they find GOP musicians? Or are they artistically-challenged?
June 13, 2008 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, there's Ted Nugent, and yes, he's also artistically-challenged.
June 13, 2008 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Although "Wang Dang Sweet Poontang" playing at a McCain rally does conjure an amusing image!
June 13, 2008 4:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Cat Scratch Fever" would be perfect.
June 13, 2008 7:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
If the McLame campaign isn't the longest-running slow motion train wreck in history, well, then I'd like to know what is. Pass the popcorn, please!
June 13, 2008 2:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just as indication on the level of competence of his (McCaines) sorry campaign.
Sheesh all they had to do is google!
I hope they maintain this level of competence through November.
June 13, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Through November"? No. This degree of incompetence needs to be brought to a screeching halt on November 4.
June 13, 2008 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
My suggestion is Communication Breakdown by Led Zepplin...but would he understand it?
June 13, 2008 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I seem to recall that back in '96, Bob Dole was using The Beatles' "Taxman" as a campaign song until the late, lamented George Harrison requested he stop, on the grounds that Mr. Harrison (slightly paraphrasing) "found all politicians equally repugnant".
June 13, 2008 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
They should stick to country music. But only the radio shit. You might get cease and desists with some of the legends.
June 13, 2008 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, Willie campaigned for Jesse Jackson and Merle Haggard put out an anti-Iraq War song a couple of years ago.
June 13, 2008 7:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
SAD.
June 13, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Since McCain is so anxious to spend time with Obama -- joint trip to Iraq, 10 town hall meetings -- how about the country classic:
"I've Got the Hungers for Your Lov'n and I'm Waitin' in Your Welfare Line."
June 13, 2008 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, whenever I think of Republicans and music, I think of "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" from Cabaret.
June 13, 2008 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
He'll definitely have to go country to find a song he can use. How about these?
"If I Can't Be Number One In Your Life, Then Number Two On You"
And to appeal to the global warming denying/fundamentalist crowd,
"I Don't Care if it Rains or Freezes 'Long as I Have My Plastic Jesus Sittin' on the Dashboard of my Car"
For people worried about the economy, there's
"It's Not the High Cost of Living, It's the Cost of Living High"
June 13, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Political Science by Randy Newman
June 13, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe he should check to see if Neil Young won't mind lending him "Old Man".
June 13, 2008 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
shouldn't mcsame be using a Dead Kennedy's song ???
just a thought ...
June 13, 2008 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Re: Fear: The Record
18 years ago? Even harder to believe, it was 26 years ago. That came out in '82, when we had Reagan to despise in office.
I love that record, it will always be one of my top 50 favorites of all time.
And since McBush is so big on foreign policy, THAT could be another track off that record.
"Foreign Policy"
Effing classic, now I gotta go dig out the old vinyl of that, and take a trip down [addled] memory lane...
Awesome record
June 13, 2008 9:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sheesh, apparently McCain never watches the Colbert Report. John Hall was on the Report twice last year - in which he discussed this very thing. How can anyone be President that doesn't watch the Colbert Report??? It is as American as..as..America (and so can you).
June 14, 2008 1:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
i'm not familiar w the song.
somebody told me i could download it w one o those, you know, download music off the internet illegally, programs.
but then somebody else told me i could get in trouble for doing that.
then somebody else gave me this whole long talk about copyright and "performance rights" and stealing from poor starving musicians (who don't even have guaranteed healthcare, even for their hungry litle babies) and then i thought, well, if it would be stealing for me, isn't it stealing when john mccain does it, and what kind of man is this who would so brazenly steal from the artists who brighten our days and fill our nights with good dance beats?
June 14, 2008 3:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
How about 'Cows With Guns' by The Dead Milkmen?
June 14, 2008 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not to change the subject, but to change the subject slightly: since Bob Dylan has publicly said that he supports Obama, how about Obama using some of Dylan's wicked imagery from the last disgusting war. Masters of War, for example. The Times They Are A'Changin'. With God on our Side. Just to name a few. And the hits just keep on comin'.
June 15, 2008 12:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
How bout November Rain by Guns N Roses?
June 15, 2008 1:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Cows with Guns" is by Dana Lyons, unless there has been a cover that no one told me about.
June 15, 2008 1:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
How about "kill for Peace" by the fugs
June 15, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would pick "Kill for Peace" by the Fugs
June 15, 2008 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Possible McCain songs (not likely to be cleared, however)
Destined for Nothing, by Bad Religion
Materialist, by Bad Religion
Happiness Is a Warm Gun, by the Beatles
Jesus Wrote a Blank Check, by Cake
I Bombed Korea, by Cake
This Ain't a Scene, it's an Arms Race, by Fall Out Boy
C***try Boys & City Girls, by The Fratellis
I Would Never Wanna Be Young Again, by Gogol Bordello
Re-Hash, by The Gorillaz
Cthulu Fthagan, by Tom Smith
Ninety-Nine Year Blues, by Julius Daniels
Dazed and Confused, by Led Zeppelin
This Is How You Spell, "HAHAHA, We Destroyed the Hopes and Dreams of a Generation of Faux-Romantics", by Los Campesinos!
Time is Running Out, by Muse
Here It Goes Again, by OK Go
It's a Disaster by OK Go
No Sign of Life, by OK Go
Crash The Party, by OK Go
Hello, My Treacherous Friends, by OK Go
Where is My Mind?, by The Pixies
The Truth About Johhny, by The Raveonettes
Après Moi, by Regina Spektor
Poor Little Rich Boy, by Regina Spektor
Ode to Divorce, by Regina Spektor
Ghost of Corporate Future, by Regina Spektor
Misinformed, by Soul Coughing
No Plan B, by They Might Be Giants
Yeah, The Deranged Millionaire, by They Might Be Giants
AND FINALLY....
Everything Right Is Wrong Again, by They Might Be Giants
(As usual, the Right is Wrong)
June 15, 2008 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink