Mellencamp: First Amendment More of a ‘Collective’ Thing
by Pam MeisterYou know, liberals should be celebrating. Their man, The Won, is in the White House. They have control of both the House and the Senate, and legislation such as cap and trade and nationalized health care may well become reality – European socialism without having to leave the comfort of home. The Brave New World is on the way. Rejoice in mediocrity for all!
So why are they so grumpy? I suppose it’s because the idea that anyone might stray from the reservation is anathema to them, and this little thing in our Constitution called the First Amendment kind of gets in the way of collective happiness and singing Kumbaya around the campfire.
John “Cougar” Mellencamp is the latest to notice that not everyone is part of the collective, and he’s mighty peeved, making this observation about free speech in general and bloggers in particular:
“I don’t think people fought and gave their lives so that some guy can sit in his bedroom and be mean. I don’t think that’s what freedom of speech is,” he continued. “Freedom of speech is really about assembly — for us to collectively have an idea. We want to get our point of view out so we can assemble and I can appoint you to be the spokesman. That’s freedom of speech — to be able to collectively speak for a sector of people. But somehow it’s turned into ‘I can be an a****** whenever I feel like, say whatever I like, be disrespectful to people and not be courteous.’ It’s not good for our society. Not being courteous is not really freedom of speech. …
Geez, send this guy back to civics class.
The First Amendment pretty much means what it says when it comes to political speech: as long as it’s not libel or slander, you can say whatever you want. If you come across as a mean jerk, others can point it out, thus exercising their free speech rights. It’s not hard to figure out, except for liberal Statists who don’t really believe in the First Amendment.
That said, I agree with Mellencamp – to a point. I believe discourse in this society has sunk to a new low, and honest debate is often replaced by name calling and angry diatribes not meant to enlighten the other side to your point of view, but to shut debate down by shutting the other side up. However, while I don’t think our Founders ever envisioned the Internet with its pluses (i.e. spreading information at lightning speed around the world) and its minuses (i.e. the anonymity factor that emboldens some to say things they wouldn’t say to one’s face), I doubt they would agree with Mellencamp’s assessment of free speech. We “collectively” have an idea and appoint a spokesman? Well what about those of us who aren’t part of the collective, John? If we don’t subscribe to the current fashion of groupthink, do we not have recourse? Are we not allowed to speak out?
For some, blogging is their only way of making their voices heard. Not everyone has million dollar recording contracts that suddenly make their political opinions worth seeking out by reporters bedazzled by someone who plays a guitar and sings.
And who, pray-tell, decides what kind of speech is “nice” speech and what is “hate” speech? Perhaps Obama will appoint a Speech Czar to add to his ever-growing collection of direct reports who get to circumvent Congress, in a power grab noted even by die-hard Democrat Sen. Robert Byrd.
This transformation in thinking on Mellencamp’s part is nothing short of miraculous. He must be regretting this little outburst at a John Kerry fundraiser during the 2004 presidential campaign, right?
Other celebs also competed to bash Bush. Singer John Mellencamp sang a specially written song that called the president “just another cheap thug” and ridiculed him as the “Texas bambino.”
Perhaps that can be attributed to “artistic expression,” an excuse entertainers and artists often use when some find their content objectionable. The unenlightened bottom feeders “just don’t get it.”
Well, we get it, John. We understand that now that your man (well, your second choice) is in the Oval Office, and suddenly it’s unseemly to make fun of him or – even worse – disagree with him. I hear it on talk radio shows all the time: liberals call in and tell the host to stop criticizing Obama, that we must all get behind the president and support him.
Remember Hillary in 2003?
I am sick and tired of people who call you unpatriotic if you debate this administration’s policies. We are Americans and have the right to participate and debate any administration.
Times have changed, people. We must heed the collective. We must appoint a spokesman. I wonder who John has in mind?
But don’t listen to me. John Mellencamp probably thinks I’m an a****** too.
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199 Comments
Another midget Twit like Springsteen with a chip on his shoulder. Wait a minute, is that too mean?? Truth hurts.
Is this the same guy who sang the hit song, "The Authority Song", about rebelling?
I think it's time for him to return to his "Small Town."
Hollywood a$$hat….where ambivelent ignorance is way of life
The hypocrisy of the left never ceases to amaze me. We had 8 years of "Bush is stupid" and now we're all supposed to be quiet and back our boy-king and his ever-increasing band of (mostly) merry men. Further, they want to nail down just exactly what it is that we will all be allowed to say and what will be considered "hate speech." Read the small print on the hate crimes bill. George Orwell would be scared.
You "hope-and-changers" have no idea who you put in office.
I still go back to the character of Simon Phoenix, played by Wesley Snipes in Demolition Man:
"Look, you can't take away people's right to be a**holes."
Hmm, I wonder if he thinks that those of us that have paid for his freedom of speech are or should be allowed the same courtesy. I have a feeling that he is just another one of those lefturds that would sooner spit in my face than to thank me for paying for his way of life. It's a shame too. I always thought that he "got" the average person.
SUA SPONTE
Shocking Mellencamp would embrace free speech for me but not for thee. Typical of a leftist who cannot accept anything other than the mentality of a sheep. Message to John: This is America, a Republic. We can say whatever we want. We are also responsible for what we say however you and your buddies have no right according to our Constitution (which apparently you either haven't read or read with the reading comprehension of a preschooler) to tell us we cannot. This is the way the US rolls. If you don't like it, move to Venezula.
another typical liberal: "Free speech for me, but not for thee."
I don’t think people fought and gave their lives so that some guy can sit in his bedroom and be mean.
Um, to the contrary, John: I think the Revolution was fought so that a guy could sit in his bedroom, or in a pub, or on a street corner soapbox, or pretty much anywhere and speak his mind.
But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt: I'm sure you were referring to the vicious attacks on Sarah Palin, right?
Ironic.
For ages the left has taken the "collective rights" view of the 2nd Amendment and I've always used the 1st Amendment as an example of how they're wrong.
Seems they just decided to view the 1st the way they view the 2nd, not the other way around.
*smacks forehead
It Has Always Been The Soldier
It is the soldier,
not the President,
who gives us democracy.
It is the soldier,
not the Congress,
who takes care of us.
It is the soldier,
not the reporter,
who has given us Freedom of Press.
It is the soldier,
not the poet,
who has given us Freedom of Speech.
It is the soldier,
not the campus organizer,
who has given us the Freedom to Demonstrate.
It is the soldier,
who salutes the flag,
who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag
that allows the protester to burn the flag.
By Father Dennis O'Brien
Chaplain
United States Marines
Thanks to all of you who were willing to risk your lives for the founding principals of this nation.
It Has Always Been The Soldier
It is the soldier,
not the President,
who gives us democracy.
It is the soldier,
not the Congress,
who takes care of us.
It is the soldier,
not the reporter,
who has given us Freedom of Press.
It is the soldier,
not the poet,
who has given us Freedom of Speech.
It is the soldier,
not the campus organizer,
who has given us the Freedom to Demonstrate.
It is the soldier,
who salutes the flag,
who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag
that allows the protester to burn the flag.
By Father Dennis O'Brien
Chaplain
United States Marines
Thanks to all of you who were willing to risk your lives to defend the founding principals of this nation.
I LOVE that movie. It's funny to me how that movie is basically being played out now (remember when Sylvester Stallone asked for a cigarette and Sandra Bullock says "um, smoking is deemed bad for you, hence, it is illegal." )
Rocking post.
Amen sister. Amen.
Yup, Mellencamp, you are an American Fool.
Hey-
I'm not only sitting in my bedroom being mean…I haven't got any trousers on.
While he's at it, he can turn me in to the Fashion Police.
Excellent point. You can say the same for Springsteen, who was one of my absolute favorites when he passionately chased his dreams, his girl, the flight out of the mundane into the light. I also was a Mellencamp fan, but these guys really should, as you suggest, return to their "small towns". Maybe they might right passionate relevant songs that moves us all to be the best selves we can be.
No trousers here. The radical liberals really are not very open minded.
welcome to the great name club.
But since speaking your mind is dangerous, you sir are a thought criminal
Actually Dennis Leary's character said that, and it's still very true.
"…..I'm not wearing any pants…story at 11:00…"
John Cougar Menstrualcramp is a complete tool with no understanding of the Constitution or what America is really all about….
well I'm glad you found a pop star to hold up as a representative – too bad that's wrong. He isn't a representative he's a pop star. He should no more be in charge of interpreting the Constitution then Michael Jackson should be in charge of running a day care center (yikes!).
Actually. mr Mellencamp, I fought for YOUR right to be a burro, an idiot and a meanie, and expect you to do the same. I assume he must be referring to the leftist collectives vicious attacks on Palin and all other individuals they disagree with. It seems that ol' Chaelton Heston was right; the collectivist view of the 2nd ammendment will inevitably be applied to the 1st ammendment to destroy all individual human rights with a kind of Orwellian newspeak.
"Freedom of speech is really about assembly — for us to collectively have an idea. "
Read this and hold before yourself the ultimate truth: the only remaining idiot in the entire United State has the initials "S. P." and hails from Alaska.
Absolutely everyone else is a full-on Constitutional genius like Mellencamp.
Please pass the kool-aid.
Remember Hillary in 2003?
"I am sick and tired of people who call you unpatriotic if you debate this administration’s policies. We are Americans and have the right to participate and debate any administration."
I didn't realize the shrillness of Hillary's voice cold come through on the printed page but I've been proven wrong.
YIKES
Mellencamp’s comment is a symptom of a disease. If I may analyze liberals for a moment; for thousands of years slavery has been practiced on the globe in virtually every nation and in some places in the Arab world is still practiced to this day. The Greek Empire had slaves, the Roman Empire had slave for its near 1000 year reign, Arabs enslaved millions, and so on. Ironically America practiced slavery for the shortest length of time compared to other nations. You will never see liberal Italians, Greeks, Africans or Arabs tearing down their country, calling their nation and citizens racists or flogging themselves endlessly over partaking in a practice that was accepted worldwide. This phenomenon is relegated to the American left. Why? They’re mentally ill.
Liberals gleefully insulted and berated President Bush and would blather about how dissent was patriotic. Now that Obama is being ridiculed and criticized for his pitiful leadership dissent has all of a sudden become akin to terrorism. How could someone be such a flagrant whining hypocrite? Mental illness.
Liberalism can best be understood if you accept the correct premise that almost without exception all liberals are mentally ill.
I can somethimes be found in my bedroom being mean but there's no computer in there.
“A good writer,” said Ernest Hemingway, “will never like any government he lives under. His hand should be against it and its hand will always be against him.”
Even better: "film at eleven…"
So this second-rate songwriter wants to gag mean conservatives after years fouling the airwaves with his unoriginal songs? He should change his name back to Cougar or Tabby or whatever and then hole up in one of his Little Pink Houses until his Obamania subsides. One rightwing pot-bellied blogger in boxer shorts is worth ten of this dude.
Thanks for reporting what Mr. Mellencamp had to say. I stopped giving money to Bruce Springsteen years ago. I saw Mr. Mellencamp give a concert at Walter Reed (on TV) and to his credit he left his politics at the door. But now he is displaying his stupidity for all to see. As others have said, he must not have ever read the amendment. Like the pedophile MJ, Mellencamp's best music was in the '80s.
I'll make a point of never sending another nickel John Cougar's way.
what an igit.
as w/ a number of music-types these days, I used to really enjoy the music this dumba$$ made… I saw him open for Heart years ago. he was still john cougar then…. I suppose since his music career is essentially over, spouting out his leftist BS is the only way he can get any press these days… of course since he's a cleb and drinks the koolaide and know's way more about the world than us simpletons… his every utterance must be so important, that the media MUST make sure the unwashed masses hear of it….. hey mellon-head, STFU!
Phoenix said it while addressing Cocteau; immediately followed by:
"That's who you remind me of: an evil Mr. Rogers!"
[to a henchman]:
"Would you please kill him? He's p***ing me off!"
I"ve had it with liberals and their notion of "collective rights". There's no such thing. Rights are, by their very definition, about the individual, or they aren't rights. That socialist dipstick can take his "collective" notions and shove them where his guitar won't play.
Hey you little punk, "Cougar" I can be as uncivil as I want to be, you ass. Polite speech does not need protection, you wimp of a man. Come and kiss my ass, you classless piece of sh!t. How's that?
And "Cougar" MelonHead has been out of the limelight for how many years now? Does anyone even remember this guy?
Cool…we can say "butthole" here, without getting put in administrative detention?
I just increased my useable vocabulary.
On the other hand, Hemingway was kind of a butthole.
The collective rights interpretation is how they will try to rewrite the Constitution without having to actually rewrite it.
doubleplus goodthink, John.
Which collective idea should we all embrace, Johnny?
Mellencamp, like Michael Moore, is one of those lefties who pretends to be the voice of the Working Man yet never worked a day in his life. Even his education was wasted, having spent most of his college years in a drug-induced stupor. Heck, it took him 20 years just to figure out what his name was. So don't expect any pearls of wisdom from John Cougar Mellencamp.
Bottom Line, A total DWEEB and Brain Dead Idiot. Shame he didn't learn how to read before he delivered a
critique on the Constitution. Did he also go to Harvard Law like the President?
I don’t think people fought and gave their lives so that some guy can sit in his bedroom and be mean.
Why is John Mellancamp ragging on Keith Olbermann?
Is this jerk still around? This guy's never been anything but a watered-down version of Springsteen. And now it's clear Mellen's water is now circling the drain. Would someone please yank Mellen's plug so we don't have to listen to him anymore? It would be bearable if he at least abided by the creed that he yells in his music – but then, like I said, he IS the watered-down version of the Boss.
I have often pointed to that movie as to what things could degerate into, i.e. no meat – it's bad for you and no salt, ditto, as a result of the 'fast food wars'. It's not that far of from what's happening now. San Angelo included.
[...] Make way for (another) clown; Update: Coleman statement added Pam Meister, Big Hollywood: Mellencamp: First Amendment More of a ‘Collective’ Thing Ace of Spades HQ: Obama To Russia: Hey Guys, Thanks For Ending The Cold War Gunservatively!: [...]
Wow, Mellencamp is an absolute lunatic; more evidence that liberalism is a mental disorder.
Is this idea of what the First Amendment is really about a collective idea? Was there an assembly where Mellencamp was appointed spokesman?
What is "not good for our society" are these deranged people like Mellencamp and their fascist leanings.
[...] Joe Biden thinks its “corny” to be proud to be an American Pam Meister, Big Hollywood: Mellencamp: First Amendment More of a ‘Collective’ Thing Hot Air: Obamateurism of the Day (Joe Biden) and Who put Joe in charge of the lights? Greg Gutfeld, [...]
Mellencamp is a moderately-talented pop musician who took years just to figure out what his own name is. He should stick to Jack and Diane and pickup trucks and leave the politics to the adults. When I hear the word "collective," I tend to cringe. I'm pretty sure he doesn't have a clue as to how much damage the misuse of that word has done over the past hundred years.
[...] Commissioner Circulates Document on ‘The State of Media Journalism’ Pam Meister, Big Hollywood: Mellencamp: First Amendment More of a ‘Collective’ Thing Noel Sheppard, NewsBusters: Schumer: Talk Radio Needs to be Regulated Like Pornography Brian [...]
[...] Garofalo Pursuing Holiness: That’s what the United Nations is for Pam Meister, Big Hollywood: Mellencamp: First Amendment More of a ‘Collective’ Thing ScoopThis.Org: Bill Maher smears the troops! Knee Deep in the Hooah!: Bill Maher is a total jackass [...]
wishing it were so…
We agree with your overarching theme, free speech is just that. Not sympathetic to the dunce-like Mellencamp either- the brainpower of he, Bongiovi and Springsteen together isn't much- but now that liberals are in control they naturally want to control the agenda.
Including the spoken word. But if you listen closely to the Dick Durbins and Feinsteins of the world you will hear a definite proclivity to limit unfettered free speech- and there are plans to control both talk radio and the internet.
Whether it will amount to anything has yet to be seen. But the desire is there…
I don't consider it a mental illness, I consider it immaturity that never ended. The shrill, juvenile insults constantly hurled from the left remind me of middle school. My theory is some people matured upon graduating high school, and many did not. Mr. Mellencamp is a perfect example. He wants things his way, and no one else should have anything he doesn't approve of. Reminds me of the little kid who would take his ball home unless every one agreed to play by his rules.
One of the last good jokes to come out of Saturday Night Live, years ago, from Weekend Update "And John Cougar Mellencamp has changed his name once again, and will now be known as 'John Mellon Cougar-Camp."
Correct, "WE" are endowed by "OUR CREATOR" with certain unalienable rights. They aren't issued to the collective by government, they come from a higher power than Washington.
I wonder what the Founding Father's would have thought about some one claiming they should just get along with King George?
I remember that one.
I stand corrected…
I always liked this exchange:
Dr. Raymond Cocteau: Be well.
John Spartan: Be fu**ed!
And no contact sports…..what's the sense of living???
Well, you mis-referred to the latest incarnation of his name as 'John "Cougar" Mellencamp.' But, he's changed it so many times, who can really keep track?
Much improved over your assertion that "American Idiot" marked Green Day's arrival on the music scene.
You can bet your bippy John Cougar doesn't want to be included in the "classlessness". He's not about to give up his luxurious life style for the collective.
I think Cocteau is slightly to the right of Obabm if you think about it. He tried to have Edgar Friendly, who he deemed a terrorist killed, not shake hands and make friends with him.
Now we have more evidence the Kool-Aid loses its effectiveness over time, but it can still take awhile to build up a tolerance.
Dennis Miller said it best: "Michael Moore simultaneously represents everything I detest in a human being and everything I feel obligated to defend in an American. Quite simply, it is that stupid moron's right to be that utterly, completely wrong."
I agree with Mr. Mellencamp's disdain for the untoward and the snotty smears that ring from the comfort of one's keyboard or teleprompter, but his ignorance on the collective thing is as embarrassing as his earlier blaming of Ronald Reagan for the demise of the music industry.
Indeed, it was the ultimate ideal leftist utopia that operated, In Cocteau's words, "with the efficiency of an ant colony".
Indeed, it was the ultimate ideal leftist utopia that operated, In Cocteau's words, "with the beauty of an ant colony".
The "collective?" What is he? A friggin' Borg?
If I have to endure a tv schedule littered with reality shows, especially those about washed-up, ageing pop stars, then by golly, I have the right to mock them online. And mock them I will! Then I'll watch Joel McHale so I can watch him mock all the reality shows I don't watch. And if the ageing, washed-up pop star decides to throw his opinion out in the political arena– then I'm really going to have a field day. And if there is a "collective" that wants to join me, so much the better.
Maybe HE used to be the "small town guy", but now he has the Almay Model wife, (which is perfectly fine, but what she sees in him is beyond me) complete with whacky celebrity names for his kids: (Speck and Hud)? or some such craziness.
Totally agree with your post. Unless you're a "celebrity" and able to buy air time (or a Network) or pay enough per plate to sit down at the table with Obama at a fundraiser, you basically don't have a voice. I don't think that's what the founding fathers intended either.
Ultimately, he's a singer, with some good songs, and some crap. Period.
he said bedroom. Olbermann does his raggin from the bathroom.
Wow. The multiple levels of stupidity and sheer ignorance in Mellencamp's comments are stunning. One couldn't find a better statement of fascist "free speech."
If MellonHead actually knew something about the Constitution he would know freedom of speech is not about assembly. Freedom of assembly is also as distinct a right as freedom of speech.
so too, are they- obviously…
What happened to Obama's "FighttheSmears" website?
Its gone now, and you can't find it on Google or the Wayback Machine…
I guess he took that mantra to the extreme when he played around with the KGB in the 40's…
Jon Kruger Mallomar's music was always third-gen Bruce Springsteen xerox copy. Now he's proven once again that he's a bitter old has-been. The only reason why anybody pays any attention to this truly deep thinker is because he's a reliable lefty, just like 90% of the musicians in the music business. It's almost like his opinions are a poor duplication of his peer's ideas too.
Maybe we can take all the copies of music and throw 'Paper in Fire'? HEEEEEYYYYYYYOHHHHHH!
Okay, that didn't work.
See, that's the problem. All these liberal America-haters always say how great other countries are, but so very few of them actually put their money where their mouths are and move to the various Workers' Paradises. If Genius Johnny really felt that freedom of speech was a collective right, he should just move to Cuba and live it. Don't hold your breath waiting for Mellencamp to book a one way flight to Havana.
Remember when that a-hole Tim Robbins said of the Republicans and Conservatives that there was "a chill wind" blowing from the right? This of course was when Bush was POTUS. Fast forward to the comments from Melonbrain about "the collective" and what does Mr. Robbins have to say????……..crickets, crickets……..
Exactly why I HATE liberals with all of my being. They are hypocrites to their core!
Why is anybody surprised this comes out of a leftist's mouth? This is what they believe as a whole. Dissent must be shouted down, ridiculed, and eventually eliminated.
[...] Originally published July 10 at Andrew Breitbart's Big Hollywood blog. [...]
And wasn't that henchman ex-governor Jessie "The Body" Ventura? Life imitating art, or art imitating life?
I totally agree with what is being said in this article and most of the comments above. I do ask one thing…when I read the statement above, my first and only assumption was that he was talking about Perez Hilton – a$$hat who sits in his bedroom blogging and being mean. Since I have no other context around his statement, is it definite that he is discussing those outside of his "assembly"?
I recall how very courteous the left was with Bush. Hypocrisy and double standards are indeed infuriating!
My brother told me one time that musicians do what they do for a reason… They're not doctor material.
Free speech means he can say what he wants in his songs, but he can't complain if nobody buys it.
Obama is racist against Smears? I find that surprising considering that just about everyone on his cabinet is a walking diaper stain.
George Orwell said it best…..
"We sleep comfortable in our beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence in our behalf"
That is why we still have freedom of speech in America…..because very generation has had it "rough" patriots !!!
George Orwell said it best…..
"We sleep comfortable in our beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence in our behalf"
That is why we still have freedom of speech in America…..because evry generation has had it "rough men" also known as patriots !!!
George Orwell said it best…..
"We sleep comfortable in our beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence in our behalf"
That is why we still have freedom of speech in America…..because every generation has had its "rough men" also known as patriots !!!
Don't forget that he did that on national television.
Of course, people weren't going to his films as much or buying the Dixie Chick's CDs, which violates the 1st Amendment somehow.
Well, this time he's supporting "The Authority" so I guess he thinks he'll win.
The Internet's got nothing to do with it. Before, during, and after the American Revolution, politically active individuals had all kinds of ideas, occasionally expressed with nastiness and animus, and published them via pamphlets. They were the bloggers of their day. No one ever had the stupidity/hypocrisy to say, "Hey! Freedom of speech doesn't mean you can publish anything you want in a pamphlet! Shut down the printing presses! If you have an idea, appoint a community organizer to state it for you!"
This is absolutely ridiculous and offensive. There's NO WAY that if you asked Mellancamp what "free speech" was before the Age of Obama, that he would say it's a collective right, and doesn't mean that individuals don't have a right to say whatever they want. What a ridiculous display of intellectual dishonesty.
A liberal pointing the finger at the MAN…. serioulsy…. another musician crying the blues… pardon the pun… but maybe he and Springsteen should get together and do shows and complain and whine about the UNITED STATES where they made there millions!!!!
Uhhh…
I wear briefs.
Keep it up a**hole rock stars and quite soon the only people who will be Kingdom Hollywood's audience will be the stupid slaves inside Kingdom Hollywood, Qaddafi, Chavez, Mugabe, Jong IL, Ahmadinejad and Obama.
naw – I Like Bon Jovi's music.
esp. 80's!!
woohoo!
It does amaze me how liberals can conveniently forget all the bashing, whining, and verbal assaults they let fly for 8 years directed at the same symbol of American leadership they now insist EVERYONE RESPECT…'even if you didn't vote for him'. Hahahaha….what a load!!! It's this kind of 'do as I say…not as I do' attitude that seals the deal for me when it comes to liberals; they play by 2 completely different set of rules and feel entitled to change up those rules as they see fit when ever they choose…but no one else can be so priviledged.
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