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More (Loved Ones, Rise Against, Black President, Reel Big Fish) comment on election

Contributed by maverick. Posted by aubin on Friday, November 7, 2008 at 3:30 PM (EST)

As a follow-up to yesterday's story about musicians commenting on Illinois senator Barack Obama's historic win of the U.S. presidency, Alternative Press has gathered even more opinions of musicians. This new batch includes David Hause of The Loved Ones, Tim McIlrath of Rise Against, Charlie Paulson of Goldfinger/Black President, Scott "Stza" Sturgeon of Leftover Crack/Star Fucking Hipsters, John Gourley of Portugal. The Man, Dan Regan of Reel Big Fish and more, all weighing in on the recent election.

You can read their thoughts here.

Politics (110 comments)

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way. Seriously.

red_eye_inc (November 7, 2008)

Let's here what the guy from black president had to say

2+ Replies

TrueBeliever (November 7, 2008)

You know, his comment was actually kinda dumb.

shot_in_the_dark (November 7, 2008)

Not really. Why does everyone get sore as soon as anyone questions Obama's divinity? I get it, it's exciting to imagine riding his dick to utopia. But is there's no problem with wondering if he'll be a messiah or a let down.

jBakunin (November 7, 2008)

Its true. Wait til Obama does something you don't like (and he will). Is he going to be accountable for his actions? Or is he going to do the politic thing and blame it on the bush legacy? "I am just dealing with the mess the Republicans left."

LinoleumMagazine (November 7, 2008)

That's exactly what he's gonna say.
But after four years of the dems controlling everything, I don't think they'll have anyone to blame but themselves (and a shit ton of them even voted for the war, but of course they'll conveniently forget that fact). And like Jello said, Clinton had a big part in creating this financial crisis.

returnofdebs (November 7, 2008)

no really. it was dumb. first, the word here was used instead of hear. second, it was just a lame joke.

TrueBeliever (November 7, 2008)

Embarrased of the punk community by STZA's comment.

5+ Replies

silverzone (November 7, 2008)

Goddamnit Stza. Just stop saying things.. and hucking donuts at cops.

Guy_Incognito (November 7, 2008)

I'd rather he speak tongue in cheek than actually try and say something serious. It's the serious stuff he says that just comes out sounding stupid.

niveK82 (November 7, 2008)

I'm glad he didnt try to be thought provoking

Tudor (November 8, 2008)

I thought it was pretty funny. Sometimes I forgot my orgcore manual though.

What is it Agaisnt me! gooood, Scot Sturgeon Baaaad...

MPC (November 9, 2008)

No kidding. That guy is an idiot.

MilesQToast (November 7, 2008)

meow meow historic meow meow meow

3+ Replies

kneel (November 7, 2008)

i like chicken i like liver

returnofdebs (November 7, 2008)

is that you daniel cat?

MilesQToast (November 7, 2008)

thank you!

MilesQToast (November 7, 2008)

I also would have accepted a Super Troopers reference.

miniblindbandit (November 7, 2008)

glad to see stza took the opportunity to make fun of tupac with his comment instaead of...you know...commenting.

11+ Replies

Hey_ska (November 7, 2008)

Isn't Stza a big Tupac fan?

TrueBeliever (November 7, 2008)

Well, who isn't?

miniblindbandit (November 7, 2008)

i think he is. which is why i really couldn't tell if he was ragging on him seriously or not.

SloaneDaley (November 7, 2008)

I think moreso he was ragging on those in charge of his legacy how they have tried very hard to portray him in a very specific light when in reality what made him so compelling was that he was a conflicted contradictory guy with many facets .

miniblindbandit (November 7, 2008)

yeah i guess that makes sense.

cort (November 8, 2008)

i mean i love tupac, but come on, motherfuckers from nyc. HOLLA AT BIGGIE!

SloaneDaley (November 7, 2008)

I enjoyed Stza's comment the most, even though I'm no fan of his.

baseball (November 7, 2008)

I thought the comment was hilarious.

MilesQToast (November 7, 2008)

I'd rather be ya N-I-G-G-A
So we can get drunk and smoke weed all day ...

miniblindbandit (November 7, 2008)

troof

MattRamone (November 7, 2008)

This.

MilesQToast (November 7, 2008)

is that how your proposal went?

fallingupwards84 (November 7, 2008)

it dont matter if ya know me baby
ya need a thug in yo' life, cuz busters aint luvin ya right

fallingupwards84 (November 7, 2008)

i didn't take it that way... he was obviously joking, sounded like he was paying homage to Tupac

R.I.P.

deadXlast (November 7, 2008)

Obama is not the shit, but I will take what I can get. He's not a step in the right direction, but anything is better than the wrong direction.

6+ Replies

MilesQToast (November 7, 2008)

how can a step away from the party of the evangelicals be anything but a step in the right direction?

Evil_Dead (November 7, 2008)

It's actually a step in the LEFT direction. *rimshot*

Autosuggestion (November 7, 2008)

As if Obama and Biden never speak of their faith in terms of defining their policy positions.

the_other_scott (November 7, 2008)

what would a step in the right direction have been?

you consider a vote for obama to be a vote to continue the bush administration? if its not in the wrong direction or the right one, then its in the same one.

i'm really curious as to what you have to say.

deadXlast (November 7, 2008)

It's not that I think Obama is taking us down the same path as the GOP was like McCain would have done had he been elected, it's just that I think Obama is far and away from an honest, up-front person who will really put his nose to the grindstone for "the people".

I just don't think he's going to be able to do much to turn the whole country around and get is really hauling in the right direction in just four years. While I have much greater respect for the man than any presidential hopeful in the last 8 years, he's still just mired up in megacorporate intrigue as any other republican or democrat (actually more so than any democrat) has ever been. And I just don't buy into the hype of tossing around vague words like change and hope.

I'm not against the guy, I just want everyone to step back and take a look at him from a realistic viewpoint, not

show rest of comment

victim (November 7, 2008)

the proof is in the pudding I'd say..and I smell a steaming bowl of shit pudding..

Obama -- by his own statements and actions -- intends to "govern from the center"..but that sure as hell ain't why he won..

I get that "we" fought to win, to get "this man" elected -- so what exactly did "we" win?

the_other_scott (November 8, 2008)

did you just say anything, or are you just reading from anti-flag liner notes?

JoelSweetheart (November 7, 2008)

As the drummer for the Sweethearts, I am officially throwing my hat in the ring of politically unqualified musicians commenting on this historic occassion.

Wow.

Now, shut the fuck up and play music.

3+ Replies

dev (November 7, 2008)

Hear, hear! Now, let's hear what the drummer of Streetheart has to say!

bikeage (November 7, 2008)

shut up and play music?

you dont listen to hardcore

ToddRundgren (November 7, 2008)

Agreed, they all have about as much qualifications as Sarah Palin.

Banal242 (November 7, 2008)

WOOO! More web traffic for Alt Press! WOOOOO!

the_other_scott (November 7, 2008)

can we please stop blaming the fucking church and right-wing fanatics for the passing of proposition 8? can we blame the fucking voters for once?

i know people are afraid to attack/blame non-white people for anything, but the black vote went 70% to pass proposition 8 in california. the hispanic vote had a similar percentage

the irony of voting for barack obama with an excitement of change and then voting to pass proposition 8 is beyond belief, but maybe these people should be targeted with some civil rights education instead of just blaming the mormon church for this shit

24+ Replies

SloaneDaley (November 7, 2008)

I agree, the truth is a large percentage of americans of any religion or skin pigmentation are homophobic or have issues with gender and sexuality.

miniblindbandit (November 7, 2008)

This dude lays it out pretty well.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20081106/us_time/whygaymarr iagewasdefeatedincalifornia

TrueBeliever (November 7, 2008)

I agree with your statement that in the end, it's just the voters who are homophobic, regardless of religion and race. But in the defense of hispanics, it was just over 50%. And while that is a lot, consider that hispanic households are VERY conservative in terms of family traditions, so I was surprised that so many of us voted "no."

the_other_scott (November 7, 2008)

i grew up in LA and two of my best friends were Mexican twins. They have always been democrats, and though I haven't talked to them, I wouldn't be surprised if they both voted for Obama but only one voted No on Prop 8.

My point too, more than anything, was that its so elitist to blame the church or the media. The idea of "lets go to West LA and protest a Mormon temple" seems so pussified compared to "lets go to fucking Boyle Heights and protest the people who voted." It seems so fucking white. I don't know how else to put it.

baseball (November 7, 2008)

I agree that it is ultimately the voters responsibility. But I also think it's perfectly okay to protest against a Mormon temple considering the amount of funding the church directly poured into broadcasting to the masses, at best, dishonest portrayals of the proposition in their advertising.

Look at the financing behind the proposition, look at who it came from, and fact check it. The protest makes plenty of sense.

the_other_scott (November 7, 2008)

my biggest problem with liberals (and i consider myself very liberal) is that they tend to blame institutions and stray away from expecting more personal responsibility . the voters are responsible for letting those advertisements sway them.

TrueBeliever (November 7, 2008)

47% for it, 41% against it.

I guess the other 12% left it black.

Cos (November 7, 2008)

The No On 8 campaign was disorganized, overconfident, and really just trusted the voters too much. They didn't think people were going to fall for this "they're teaching homosexuality to first graders!" bullshit than they did.

No on 8 should have AT LEAST made a concerted outreach to blacks and latinos about the subject, how it should be viewed as a civil rights issue, what if this proposition had been about black/latinos marrying back in the 50's or something... etc etc. They were outflanked in every way by Yes on 8, and its sad.

But, as the people trying to get parental notification for teenage abortions have taught us, is that there's always next year...

the_other_scott (November 7, 2008)

the thing is though, is that if I was gay, i'd be saying to those blacks and latinos "fuck you, i stood up and voted for you, you couldn't do the same for me?"

Cos (November 7, 2008)

unfortunately, that's not the way shit works.

victim (November 7, 2008)

with any luck those blacks and latinos would righteously beat your (hypothetically) gay ass

the_other_scott (November 7, 2008)

why's that?

JoelSweetheart (November 7, 2008)

It is the mormons and 'fraidy-cat suburban white people and the neocons. but you can thank the ultra-rich mormon church for funding the advertising blitz

MilesQToast (November 7, 2008)

I think they'd make some more hay if they stopped calling being gay, gay. Call it being ...cinder block, or shoelace or mesquite or something. Watch what happens. Watch.

miniblindbandit (November 7, 2008)

cinder block is one of those terms that seems like a racial epithet when you use it even though it's not.

"get outta here, you fucking cinder block...breathin up all the good air."

MilesQToast (November 7, 2008)

I knew Lucy calling Charlie Brown "blockhead" was really just code for 'smelly kike'

crackpotdemagogue (November 7, 2008)

you can blame who you want man, but it makes no sense whatsoever to blame individual voters for social/civil decisions... the reason why people are so quick to blame the church and other lobbyist type groups is because their influence is huge. the catholic church, the morman church and all the evangelical movements were all in support of proposition 8. their influence is simply undeniable.

also, it's less a black/white issue and more an issue of culture and values... and the 70% figure you quote is false. The last poll before the vote, had african-americans at 49% in favor, with hispanics at 46% and whites at 44%* (*http://www.field.com/fieldpollonline/subscribers/).

For religious people, there is no contradiction between voting for Obama (change) whilst also voting for propositi

show rest of comment

the_other_scott (November 7, 2008)

i understand why people blame the church, but that's assuming that these people aren't mature enough to make their own minds up.

would you vote for somebody because of an advertisement? then why would anybody else.

the numbers i saw were quite different, by the way

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/#CAI01p1

crackpotdemagogue (November 7, 2008)

you're missing the point. it has nothing to do with maturity or 'making their own minds up'... peoples minds don't exist autonomously of their experiences, their conditioning, their socialisation...

religion socialises people into a belief system, a belief system that teaches that same-sex marriage is sinful. Religion has never been about encouraging to 'make their own minds up' - infact, historically, it has been quite the opposite.

Your understanding of people and social relations is far too simplistic... go buy a beginners guide to sociology and knock yourself out.

the_other_scott (November 7, 2008)

no need to be a condescending asshole. it won't get you anywhere in life.

i'm an adult. i grew up going to an episcopalian middle school and a catholic high school. i made the decision at around 19 years old to leave the church because i didn't agree with what they had taught me. my parents were upset. it wasn't an easy choice.

there has to be some personal responsibility. if you let your churches belief system overpower your own personal belief systems, then that is a personal choice.

crackpotdemagogue (November 7, 2008)

well you made a good choice, and i'd like to give you a chocolate medal. unfortunatley there are millions upon millions of people who are not as strong willed as you, nor are they able to think for themselves on anything and everything.

you miss the point again in your final sentence... the church becomes part of the personal belief system, the two can never co-exist... unless, say, you are an athiest who attends church (!?).

the_other_scott (November 7, 2008)

ok, but my whole point to start with was to blame those people who aren't strong enough to make that choice.

miniblindbandit (November 7, 2008)

i think he was talking about exit polls, which admittedly do have a larger margin of error (sometimes as high as 6%).

Autosuggestion (November 7, 2008)

Your numbers are wildly off. If your numbers were accurate, Prop 8 would have failed... dramatically so.

MattRamone (November 7, 2008)

It was the only thing that marred the night for me. The whole thing confuses me because 1) I don't see what the big deal is about people putting money into the marriage industry, and 2) I'm pretty sure they're reading their Bibles wrong.

the_other_scott (November 7, 2008)

it was absolutely devastating. but i'm sick of people blaming institutions, it was the people who wanted it...

Cos (November 7, 2008)

Bible Belt folks are very unmovable in their positions. Some shithead wrote it down 3000 plus years ago, so it should be a law today.

That, and the amount of fearful shit being thrown around was ridiculous. Everything from "they're going to teach your 6 year old about gay marriage!" to "They're going to outlaw straight marriage". It was sad and frustrating. I'm sure my parents voted for the ban too. Just sad.

the_other_scott (November 7, 2008)

truth betold i didn't see any of the ads. i grew up in LA and all of my friends and family (including my republican dad) voted against it so i just find it hard to believe that it passed still.

canaandrumzz (November 7, 2008)

I'm bummed too. When this came up in Va. I spent a long time explaining to my parents why I thought denying people gov't granted priveliges could be considered unchristian. They understood my point but still didn't vote no. Its something I have to deal with a lot. Its just as fun as dealing with people who support capital punishment but denounce any pro-choice candidate as someone who supports murder.

acris (November 7, 2008)

the majority of the minorities who voted yes for prop 8 did so because of their religion, and minorities are noted for being more religious than the majority white populace in America

it's not a race thing, it's a culture thing

the_other_scott (November 7, 2008)

ok. that's not my point though. my point is blame the voters. blame the people who decided that they would vote against equality, not the institutions that advertised to them.

victim (November 7, 2008)

Obama is against gay marriage

deadXlast (November 7, 2008)

Yes, he should be. I am too.

If the government forces churches to marry gay couples, that's hardly a seperation of church and state is it? Government should keep it's hands out of the church's business. Let's not pretend that the traditional western idea of marriage isn't deeply founded in religion.

Last time I checked, Obama supports civil unions, which grants the rights of a married couple to a gay couple, which I heartily approve of.

Autosuggestion (November 7, 2008)

It's hardly true that the government would force churches to marry gay people.

There's certainly a difference between supporting gay marriage, personally and making the legal decision for others and voting to take away rights of a specific group of people. I guess there isn't much reverence to "judge not lest, ye be judged."

Your understanding of traditional ideas of marriage seems wildly uninformed regarding the history of the institution of marriage over the last thousand years.

Civil unions are something, but they fail to extend the literally over 1,000 specific rights that are specifically reserved for marriage. So, civil unions are separate AND unequal. And, of course, I shouldn't have to explain the argument that even "separate but equal" is inherently not equal.

Autosuggestion (November 7, 2008)

But is is also against amendments that define marriage as between a man and a woman.

And he was opposed to Prop 8 for amending state constitutions to rescind already established rights.

He's a lawyer who taught constitutional law. These distinctions are important to him.

Autosuggestion (November 7, 2008)

1. The hispanic vote was somewhere around 51-54% in favor. Yes, over 50%, but nowhere near as high as the 69 or 70% black vote.

2. The Democratic leadership from Sacramento and the national ticket didn't particularly exert themselves to oppose Prop 8. Feinstein made a decent ad in the last week or so, but it was too little too late. People will point out that Obama and Biden don't support gay marriage, but it is important to note that neither of them support the idea of making amendments to define marriage as between a man and a woman (what happened in Florida and Arizona) and both opposed Prop 8 as it uniquely rescinds already established constitutional rights. That said, Obama saying that "Prop 8 is unnecessary" on MTV two weeks ago before talking about how he opposes gay marriage isn't a particularly bold stand against the question.

3. Yes on Prop 8 su

show rest of comment1. The hispanic vote was somewhere around 51-54% in favor. Yes, over 50%, but nowhere near as high as the 69 or 70% black vote.

2. The Democratic leadership from Sacramento and the national ticket didn't particularly exert themselves to oppose Prop 8. Feinstein made a decent ad in the last week or so, but it was too little too late. People will point out that Obama and Biden don't support gay marriage, but it is important to note that neither of them support the idea of making amendments to define marriage as between a man and a woman (what happened in Florida and Arizona) and both opposed Prop 8 as it uniquely rescinds already established constitutional rights. That said, Obama saying that "Prop 8 is unnecessary" on MTV two weeks ago before talking about how he opposes gay marriage isn't a particularly bold stand against the question.

3. Yes on Prop 8 supporters put out ads using Barack Obama's statements on gay marriage (but not Prop 8 specifically) to rally support among Obama supporters, just like they also used ads using an elderly black woman who was a civil rights activist from the 1960s who said that gay marriage has nothing to do with equal and civil rights. In fact, one of the big Yes on 8 leaders said that they did not support Obama for president but that they thanked him for bringing out the voters needed to pass Prop 8.

4. America wouldn't have just elected its first black president if the civil rights legislation of the 1960s had been decided by public referendum.

5. An argument can be made that a competent non-ideological judiciary should never have let a question that would explicitly deny (actually rescind) rights to a segment of the public get on the ballot.

I think that Obama supporters and Democrats who are upset at Prop 8 passing need to look at their party leaders who deemed gay marriage to be a trivial enough issue for them to not put political capital behind it and they need to look at themselves for not demanding more from the people they support and vote for. Obama, Boxer, Feinstein, Pelosi, etc,. know that they are going to have the vote of California Democrats, so why should they put themselves at risk for something they either do not believe in or consider a political liability?

crackpotdemagogue (November 7, 2008)

sturgeon's comment was by far the best! i laughed.

shrapnel (November 7, 2008)

john gourley's comment was ridiculous, slavery ended over 100 years ago, what the hell is he talkin about

7+ Replies

Guy_Incognito (November 7, 2008)

Eh, I guess I get his point a little bit.

I don't like when people try to make this about race rather than simply acknowledge that Obama presents himself and his ideas well and hence won the hearts and minds of people regardless of race.

That said, you can't help but acknowledge the fact this can be considered a final victory in civil rights. You can say what you want about people's personal prejudice, but when the leader of the free world is a black man, it's pretty hard to still sell the notion of widespread institutionalized racism. I just hope Jessie Jackson shuts the fuck up now and lets us move on as a unified country and stops trying to stoke the race fire.

shrapnel (November 7, 2008)

Yes I know,
what I'm saying is that the election shouldn't have anything to do with race or civil rights now, so I don't think someone talking about "healing the wounds of slavery" is even relevant

Guy_Incognito (November 7, 2008)

well then I'm with you

victim (November 7, 2008)

Rather than the Reverend Jackson, how about you shut the fuck up?

Guy_Incognito (November 7, 2008)

Oh victim, you know you are the wind in my sails. Right on time with the useless and substance free remarks as usual. Are you always this angry or is it just when you are on your computer?

crackpotdemagogue (November 7, 2008)

i am shocked that you feel the need to ask "what the hell is he talkin about"...

the first black president has just been elected, and racial segregation was still in place less than 50 years ago...

wise up

shrapnel (November 7, 2008)

I specifically commented on his comment about "slavery", I never said anything about segregation

crackpotdemagogue (November 7, 2008)

...and i am even more shocked that you fail to make the connection between slavery and segregation

shrapnel (November 7, 2008)

yes I know that, but I'm talkin about SLAVERY, it ended over 100 years ago, its 2008 now, America has come a long way from that, my original point is that even though obama is black, I don't think "healing the wounds of slavery" has anything to do with him getting elected, maybe "crossing racial boundaries" would have been better words to use instead of "healing the wounds of slavery"

MilesQToast (November 7, 2008)

tell that to the teenagers locked up in my dungeon.

shrapnel (November 7, 2008)

but are they black? lol

MattRamone (November 7, 2008)

Thanks Stza, for proving everything else you've said up to this point wasn't just a fluke.

SocalRichKidonLSD (November 7, 2008)

STZA Feelin The Racism Brody.. Gotta Love it in 2008...

fallingupwards84 (November 7, 2008)

was anybody else listening to "Changes" the day after the election?

it was pretty neat to hear the song knowing that America is finally "ready to see a black president"

5+ Replies

JoelSweetheart (November 7, 2008)

black sabbath?

fallingupwards84 (November 7, 2008)

tupac

baldsteve (November 7, 2008)

My brain instantly started playing 'changes' by Sugar.

Not what you intended, but thank you.

spoon_of_grimbo (November 7, 2008)

i bought that album the other week, tis some gooooood shit.

JoelSweetheart (November 7, 2008)

hmm...black sabbath woulda been a better choice

dX927 (November 7, 2008)

wait, people from all of those other bands are in a band together called "More" ? AWESOME!

IanIsSuperRad (November 7, 2008)

But what does Ja Rule think?

Holy_Balls (November 7, 2008)

in soviet russia, president comments on you!

AnarchyPants (November 7, 2008)

More (People don't care)

Jay3313 (November 7, 2008)

Fuckin Stza...

I mean, I laughed, but still.

Fuckin Stza...

Wentz_Equals_Death (November 7, 2008)

tim mcilrath is wearing a hairpiece

RamblinBoyOfPleasure (November 9, 2008)

sky eats airplane.the worst band name i have ever heard.

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