Bruce gets political

[Aegir]

also, Bruce's adoptive father wasn't the founder of Rexall, he was simply the president of the company at one point. the founder was probably a very old man when Bruce was born.

[Doo Dah]

My favorite expression that I'd like to reuse in honor of Bruce:

"He's the kind of guy that was born on 3rd base and thought he hit a triple."

[Wirestone]

Perhaps BJ should offer some statement to the press, saying something to the effect that he regrets mouthing off.   It's never good to curse out a political figure, as it diminished the worth of your critique; name calling is not viable political discourse from either side. We all speak in folly from time to time; publicly to acknowledge the peril of doing so and the unintended chances of alienating and distracting is always wise; he need not withdraw the critique per se nor "flip-flop" politically. Just say that it was a stupid thing to say, which it was, for all the reasons John cites. It would have been stupid if he called Romney or Bush or Palin the same names too.

I care about one thing: the total aesthetic and cultural success of the BB.

Eminently sane. Thank you, Van Dyke.

[Joanne]

Stupid Stupid Stupid. I hope he was drunk because that's the excuse I would use. Everything's going great, Beach Boys getting rave reviews and positive press everywhere, and then boom, alienate a large swath of fans with a divisive reckless comment in public. I've been in email and phone contact with a bunch of people inside the Beach Boys world this morning and there are people who are extremely unhappy with the timing of this nugget, not to mention the word choice. I completely  think he's within his rights to criticize and dislike the President's policies and to voice his passion for whatever political sensibility he feels good about. But to call the President an "as*hole" is ugly and can only hurt the Beach Boys which really sucks because they are hitting a home run on this tour. Potential album sales at Walmarts might have improved, but they just tanked at Starbucks. It would have been a good thing to keep this one to himself until after the tour etc...

I was thinking the exact same thing. You can be entitled to your opinion but the way it was spoken and the cursing will turn many off. I've already been reading the comments on TMZ and Rolling Stone which now is carrying the story too and I have to say not good on his part.

[adamghost]

I don't mind people with different political views from mine, I just mind that peoples' political views are so strongly held, and so obtuse.  Anytime I hear the word "socialist" my eyes glaze over, and I know it's someone who doesn't know what it means and hasn't through through things very deeply or fairly.  (I could probably pick a buzzword on the left that fits too, but I can't be bothered right now)

As far as Bruce goes, y'know, he had a human moment.  I don't think it was well-advised, but I like what the poster said above:  people have a right in this country to say anything they want...AND others have a right to say what THEY want, including condemning the original speech.  

[guitarfool2002]

And again, whether Bruce was raised by a retail drugstore chain's executive or something considered less "conservative" makes no difference to what he says in 2012. If that's how he feels, I'd think the folks would have enough respect for him as a thinking adult capable of forming opinions on his/her own that there wouldn't even be an issue with background, upbringing, childhood, etc. that would be worth noting.

If he were voicing opinions on the other side of the political spectrum, saying the exact same things only from a different ideology, would it be an issue here?

The issue is timing and appropriateness, and I think in that regard Bruce overstepped the line no matter what politics were expressed,  especially in the midst of a reunion tour and album and all of that.

However...he is surely not the first to do it and will not be the last. Just ask the other famous musician named Bruce, for one notable outspoken political rocker...

[J.G. Dev]

While not as good as Mike's RRHOF speech, still a worthwhile Beach Boys WTF moment.....Sure seems like Bruce had been enjoying some Pacifico's. Rock on Bruce

[Mikie]

Perhaps BJ should offer some statement to the press, saying something to the effect that he regrets mouthing off.

Nope. He needs to close his mouth on the subject right now, take the hit, and ride it out. The statement is already there for posterity - no need to keep it in the limelight and make it worse.

[Joanne]

Perhaps BJ should offer some statement to the press, saying something to the effect that he regrets mouthing off.

Nope. He needs to close his mouth on the subject right now, take the hit, and ride it out. The statement is already there for posterity - no need to keep it in the limelight and make it worse.

I have a feeling the powers that be are already remedying that situation...

[Jim V.]

My favorite expression that I'd like to reuse in honor of Bruce:

"He's the kind of guy that was born on 3rd base and thought he hit a triple."

Yep I used that one on a thread maybe a week ago about Romney. But it definitely applies to Bruce. Sure, he did some hard work as a producer, but he basically pulled a Dick Cheney to get himself in The Beach Boys. Just as Cheney headed the group to pick Bush's vice president and picked himself, little Brucie was supposed to find a replacement for Glen Campbell and "picked" himself to be in the group.

And its funny how certain conservatives talk about how they work hard for all their money, but Bruce doesn't even do his job. His job is that of songwriter, and apparently he hasn't had anything he felt worthy of releasing since 1992. Which is pathetic. And his other job, as a "performer", well clapping your hands and walking around in shorts, yuck.

[Emdeeh]

The story has already gone viral -- now I'm wondering if SNL will take a potshot at Bruce this weekend.

To think, just a few days ago, we were all so excited about the Jimmy Fallon appearance. The risks of having a higher profile, indeed...

[Eireannach]

Well, Bruce is right about one thing - we're f*cked - but that's true for either Romney or Obama.

[Mikie]

It would have been stupid if he called Romney or Bush or Palin the same names too.

No it wouldn'tve!    

[Mikie]

Perhaps BJ should offer some statement to the press, saying something to the effect that he regrets mouthing off.

Nope. He needs to close his mouth on the subject right now, take the hit, and ride it out. The statement is already there for posterity - no need to keep it in the limelight and make it worse.

I have a feeling the powers that be are already remedying that situation...

Yeah, Joanne, we might see some back-peddling going on soon......

I dunno.  It brings somewhat unwanted publicity to the Beach Boys right now, but it does bring publicity. A la the James Watt 'controversy' but hopefully not as visible.

"Calling Damage Control Central,  Damage Control Central come in please......."

[Doo Dah]

His actual quote:

We're more popular than Obama now; I don't know which will go first—rock 'n' roll or Obama. Obama was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It's them twisting it that ruins it for me.

[guitarfool2002]

Well, Bruce is right about one thing - we're f*cked - but that's true for either Romney or Obama.

I agree with this.

[Mendota Heights]

Bruce Johnston - Going Public. 

[37!ws]

Okay, just one thing...

Regardless of your political views, WHO TF CARES WHAT HE SAID ABOUT A >>>PUBLIC<<< FIGURE?!??! Geez. It's not like he pissed on the Alamo or threw a bomb down a toilet.

[AndrewHickey]

I really think he only thought he was talking to the few people there and that it wasn't being filmed and it wasn't going to go on the internet.

Exactly. It's a quite disgusting betrayal of trust. If Bruce says anything at all about it, he should just say "Yes, that's what I said and I stand by it. Obama *is* an asshole. It's not like you should be surprised I think that given that I've been a Republican longer than most of you have been alive. But the only reason my private political views -- views shared by roughly half the country -- have become an issue is because when I was having a private conversation, someone else decided to secretly film it and make my personal views everyone else's business. That guy is a bigger asshole than Obama and Romney combined".

Posting a video like that is a form of intimidation -- paradoxically, by broadcasting speech like that, whoever uploaded the video is trying to limit Bruce's -- and other people's -- freedom of speech by making them scared to say anything remotely controversial even in private. The only way to behave to bullying like that -- and it is bullying -- is to stand up to it.

[Doo Dah]

It's not like he pissed on the Alamo or threw a bomb down a toilet.

Both of those would be totally kick ASS rock and roll

[Jason]

And I went onto the HuffPost Politics Facebook page HOPING AND PRAYING that one of their bloggers (they're NOT journalists) posted a story about this so I could rag on the libtards on there.

[Doo Dah]

I really think he only thought he was talking to the few people there and that it wasn't being filmed and it wasn't going to go on the internet.

Exactly. It's a quite disgusting betrayal of trust. If Bruce says anything at all about it, he should just say "Yes, that's what I said and I stand by it. Obama *is* an asshole. It's not like you should be surprised I think that given that I've been a Republican longer than most of you have been alive. But the only reason my private political views -- views shared by roughly half the country -- have become an issue is because when I was having a private conversation, someone else decided to secretly film it and make my personal views everyone else's business. That guy is a bigger asshole than Obama and Romney combined".

Posting a video like that is a form of intimidation -- paradoxically, by broadcasting speech like that, whoever uploaded the video is trying to limit Bruce's -- and other people's -- freedom of speech by making them scared to say anything remotely controversial even in private. The only way to behave to bullying like that -- and it is bullying -- is to stand up to it.

Caveat emptor - when you're working for a business (ala Beach Boys Inc./Brother Records) your personal 1st amendment rights can go out the window. You know I'm right. Big ass libs and big ass conservatives BOTH buy CDs (or downloads).

I had a client once go off on 'fascist Republicans, blah blah blah' and I just sat quietly. You don't mix politics with business. It's bad for business. Jus' saying.

[meltedwhiskeyinmyhand]

Wow, an elderly, rich, white guy that thinks Obama is an asshole. Shocking

[Heysaboda]

Wow, an elderly, rich, white guy that thinks Obama is an asshole. Shocking

True 

 

[stack-o-tracks]

Wow, an elderly, rich, white guy that thinks Obama is an asshole. Shocking

He also said "Republican asshole" as well. Sooooooooo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialized_medicine