Monday, July 17, 2006

Dan Quayle Walks Out Of Mellencamp Concert

Here's the report.

Dan Quayle took time out from participating in the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship in Stateline, Nev., on Friday to attend John Mellencamp's concert only to run into a political statement.

He then made a statement of his own by walking out during Mellencamp's rendition of ``Walk Tall.'' Before launching into the song, Mellencamp told the Harveys casino crowd, in effect, that it was dedicated to everyone hurt by policies of the current Bush administration.

First of all, let me say that Dan Quayle was and is not my favorite politico, for a variety of reasons. Secondly, let me say that Mellencamp has never been one of my favorite recording artists.

In my opinion, Mellencamp's only CD worth owning is his first big album, simply entitled, Johnny Cougar. (He had a couple of others that were very weak, before he was a national star.) There is only one I would consider owning since that time, Human Wheels. But of the countless releases he has put out since that first success, I wouldn't waste my money on them. So, his politics have nothing to do with my decision to not buy or listen to his music.

I suspect that Mellencamp's sales are down based on the merits of his work, so what does he do? Tap into the anti-war crowd. That'll generate a little more sales, for a little while at least.

But as for Quayle walking out of the concert, just what did he expect at a Mellencamp show? Mellencamp is a jerk (in real life and on stage) and knowing that Quayle was in the audience probably fueled his fire a little bit. Anyone that is in tune with politics knows that if you are going to get upset at anti-war statements, you must avoid Springteen, the Dixie Chicks, and Mellencamp. (There are more, but this is a blog, not an exhaustive op-ed piece.)

So, in my estimation, he should have done a little more homework. That is, unless he had every intention of doing it as a statement of his own. And frankly, I do not think he is capable of thinking more than one move ahead.

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