Will Somebody Please Tell These People They Aren't Paid for Their Political Views?

I realize this isn't a new complaint, but the news that has-been Barry Manilow (I didn't know he was still alive) backed out of a scheduled appearance on The View because he finds Elisabeth Hasselbeck's political opinions to be "dangerous" leaves me wanting to tell him to shut the hell up.

Maybe The View just can't draw an audience without the drama. I'm sure (although I haven't checked) the ratings dropped after raving lunatic Rosie O'Donnell left the show.

But I must confess that I for one wish all the performers would just shut up and perform. I'm waiting for the brave journalist willing to ask Sally Field, Barry Manilow, Elton John, Sean Penn, and any other performer why anybody should care about their political opinions? What makes them experts? The fact that they make a gazillion dollars because they can cry on cue or hit high C?

I can't even watch a movie with Alex "Let's stone Henry Hyde" Baldwin in it anymore (unless it's Team America...and it's not even him playing him). Is it asking too much for these celebrities to keep their political opinions to themselves?

But Why Didn't They Get the Other Message?

Headlines about last night's Grammy awards are almost universal:

Dixie Chicks to country: nah-nah--San Jose Mercury News

Chicks' night at the Grammys--Dallas Morning News

5 Grammys Mark Dixie Chicks Comeback--Associated Press

And from the Mercury News story:

It was more than a love of their music that was behind the Dixie Chicks' victory lap at the Grammy Awards Sunday.

The Texans won the three biggest awards - song, record and album of the year - for a disc in which they fought back against a country-music establishment that turned its back on them following 2003 remarks critical of President Bush. They won everything they were nominated for.

"I think people are using their freedom of speech here tonight with all of these awards. We get the message," singer Natalie Maines said after winning the fifth Grammy, album of the year for "Taking the Long Way Home."

I have no problem with the Dixie Chicks winning these awards, and, in fact, congratulate them. But I won't be spending any money on them. Ever.

Of course, the rich irony is that I probably wouldn't have spent any money on them before they decided to go political back in 2003, then whine because Americans were exercising their freedom of speech. It's funny that they didn't tout freedom of speech then. No, they just whined and whined. Went to Canada to find people to fill their concerts, made a movie stealing the title from Laura Ingraham's book, then complained that Americans didn't want to hear them whine any more.

Maines said at various times that "We don't feel a part of the country music scene anymore." And, indeed, they aren't. I would say winning a Grammy, rather than a CMA award is more proof of that.

UPDATE: Betsy points out the political nature of entertainment and why the left, who make most of the entertainment, won't stop bashing real Americans any time soon.

Betsy also points out this stupid quote from numb nut Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead:

"I think people are paranoid," former Grateful Dead member Mickey Hart told Reuters. "I think that if they speak out, they think they're gonna get whacked by the government. It's pretty oppressive now. Look at the Dixie Chicks. They got whacked."

Betsy, as usual, points out what is (or should be) obvious.

The government didn't "whack" the Dixie Chicks. Their fans did. Is the position of the cognoscenti now that fans can't express their opinions of musical artists by deciding not to buy their music? And, as Lorie (Byrd) points out, it wasn't the fans who voted for these Grammys. It wasn't even country music artists who voted for their Best Country Music award.

Which was my point, as well. They didn't win awards for best country music. They won awards for "best shooting the bird at one's supposed audience".

UPDATE x2: Blue Crab Boulevard points out that it isn't about music, just as the upcoming Oscars won't be about film.

Well, frankly, anyone who didn't see this coming isn't paying attention. The Dixie Chicks won several Grammy awards last night. Yawn. Algore will win an Oscar, too. Likewise, yawn. Neither award has anything to do with the merits of the music or of the movie and everything to do with Hollywood politics.

UPDATE x3: Even the left recognizes that the awards aren't about their music.