The Stout Republican

The Appleseed Cast is my favorite band…with that in mind…

My Heart Breaks. My Favorite Record Company just pissed all over what I believe in in such a snyde way, they effectively pissed all over me with their most recent email newsletter, which has this at the end. The response has also been emailed to Deep Elm.

We normally wouldn’t mention anything about politics, but this election is critical for America. I’m all registered to vote…and you should be too! You can register to vote here: www.declareyourself.com

Now onto the election:

Last week John McCain celebrated his 72nd birthday. If elected, he’d be the oldest president ever inaugurated. McCain just made his first major decision as a potential president. After months of slamming Barack Obama for “inexperience,” here’s who John McCain has chosen to be one heartbeat away from the presidency: a right-wing religious conservative with no foreign policy experience, who until recently was mayor of a town of 9,000 people. He nominated Sarah Palin.

Huh? Who the hell is Sarah Palin? Here’s some basic background:

–> She was elected Alaska’s governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town of 9,000 people outside Anchorage. 1

–> She has no foreign policy experience. 1

–> Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest. Her unwed, 17 year old daughter is now pregnant. 2

–> She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000. 3

–> Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools. 4

–> She’s doesn’t think humans are the cause of climate change. 5

–> She’s solidly in line with John McCain’s “Big Oil first” energy policy. She’s pushed hard for more oil drilling and says renewables won’t be ready for years. She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as an endangered species she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska. 6

–> How closely did John McCain vet this choice? He met Sarah Palin once at a meeting. They spoke a second time, last Sunday, when he called her about being vice-president. Then he offered her the position. 7

When people in Alaska were asked what the rest of us should know about their governor. The response was striking. Here’s a sample:

She is really just a mayor from a small town outside Anchorage who has been a governor for only 1.5 years, and has ZERO national and international experience. I shudder to think that she could be the person taking that 3AM call on the White House hotline, and the one who could potentially be charged with leading the US in the volatile international scene that exists today. Rose M., Fairbanks, AK

She is VERY, VERY conservative, and far from perfect. She’s a hunter and fisherwoman, but votes against the environment again and again. She ran on ethics reform, but is currently under investigation for several charges involving hiring and firing of state officials. She has NO experience beyond Alaska. Christine B., Denali Park, AK

As an Alaskan and a feminist, I am beyond words at this announcement. Palin is not a feminist, and she is not the reformer she claims to be. Karen L., Anchorage, AK

Alaskans, collectively, are just as stunned as the rest of the nation. She is doing well running our State, but is totally inexperienced on the national level, and very much unequipped to run the nation, if it came to that. She is as far right as one can get, which has already been communicated on
the news. In our office of thirty employees (dems, republicans, and nonpartisans), not one person feels she is ready for the V.P. position. Sherry C., Anchorage, AK

She’s vehemently anti-choice and doesn’t care about protecting our natural resources, even though she has worked as a fisherman. McCain chose her to pick up the Hillary voters, but Palin is no Hillary. Marina L., Juneau, AK

I think she’s far too inexperienced to be in this position. I’m all for a woman in the White House, but not one who hasn’t done anything to deserve it. There are far many other women who have worked their way up and have much more experience that would have been better choices. This is a patronizing decision on John McCain’s part- and insulting to females everywhere that he would assume he’ll get our vote by putting “A Woman” in that position. Jennifer M., Anchorage, AK

This is information the American people need to see. Please take a moment to forward this email to your friends and family.

That “A Woman” thing really bothers me. The open mindedness of the open minded at play. As if the quotes provided mean anything…so you found people who don’t like her…congrats. I’m sure you weren’t pulling them from right leaning web sites or random “on the street” interviews. I mean, her approval is only around 80% in Alaska…there had to be some.

Thanks guys. I don’t know where to start because, but why do you care enough to attack her, instead of simply supporting Obama? She’s not your candidate, and it’s not like you were voting for her anyways…so why does this rub you the wrong way? She’s a Republican, as am I.

I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on Deep Elm records, merchandise, t-shirts, attending concerts (that manage to get to the west coast), I’ve been following you guys, and have been a dedicated fan since 1999, and even (on a couple of occasions) forked out extra $$ to get original master pressing of records, rare prints, and mother discs…I’ve talked with you by phone, and you were fantastic…but this…you guys have effectively lost me not because of your political beliefs (I mean shit, you’re an east coast indie record company, it’s not like you think outside the generally accepted “Rock Box” with politics), but your presumption that everyone who is a consumer of your product who doesn’t already believe that which you do wants to hear from you just galls me. I don’t go to C-SPAN for my music, and I really didn’t want to go to Deep Elm for my politics. You’ve crossed the two, so I’m tapping out.

I’m a conservative, and you guys are my favorite label…but your need to preach and educate me as if I’m unable to make my own choices just lost me as a customer.

Music Appleseed Cast, Deep Elm, politics