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ESPN Pulls Song After Hitler Analogy

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Posted on Oct 4, 2011
Flickr / gongus (CC-BY)

A song by country singer Hank Williams Jr. was pulled from the opening of ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” broadcast after he used an analogy to Adolf Hitler in comments about President Barack Obama.

During an interview on Fox News on Monday morning, Williams said that he was surprised House Speaker John Boehner agreed to play golf with Obama. “It’d be like Hitler playing golf with [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu,” he said, unprompted.

ESPN released a statement shortly after Williams’ interview aired that said, “We are extremely disappointed with his comments, and as a result we have decided to pull [Williams’ opening song] from tonight’s telecast.” —BF

The Associated Press in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Williams released a statement through his publicist, saying: “Some of us have strong opinions and are often misunderstood. My analogy was extreme — but it was to make a point. I was simply trying to explain how stupid it seemed to me — how ludicrous that pairing was. They’re polar opposites and it made no sense. They don’t see eye-to-eye and never will. I have always respected the office of the president.”

ESPN did not say whether the intro, synonymous with “Monday Night Football” since 1989, would be used again after this week’s Colts- Buccaneers game.

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drbhelthi's avatar

By drbhelthi, October 8, 2011 at 7:09 am Link to this comment

What ESPN did is simply another example of the suppression of free thought
and spontaneous, public expression in the U.S.  Why shouldn´t Hank
Williams Jr. be allowed to express his thoughts and make comparisons of
some of the world´s “leaders” ?  Did his particular comparison reveal too much
accuracy?  Or honesty?

An element that distresses me is that so many people have sucked into the
training, provided by the disinformation program media, which motivates them
to react as shills for the suppression-police types.

Freedom of thought and expression is increasingly found among only those who
are outside the box.

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thecrow's avatar

By thecrow, October 5, 2011 at 5:29 am Link to this comment

“They’re the enemy.”

“They’re polar opposites.”

Like many Americans, Hank is deceived into thinking there is any political “opposition” in power. There is only one party–the corporate party. Think of it like this, Hank: The Red team plays the Blue team for your entertainment. They talk trash. They play hard. And then the cameras go off and they slap each other on the rump and have a beer together. Get it?

http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2008/10/30/the-ones-who-attacked-us/

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By SteveL, October 4, 2011 at 10:29 pm Link to this comment

Seen the interview.  If this guy has an I.Q. over room temperature, I will need proof.

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PatrickHenry's avatar

By PatrickHenry, October 4, 2011 at 4:21 pm Link to this comment

Who cares what Hank Williams Jr said.

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By Bacilo de Koch, October 4, 2011 at 2:55 pm Link to this comment

Hank Williams Jr. is a racist… SHOCKING!!!

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By Harold in Canada, October 4, 2011 at 2:05 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

What was wrong with the comment - it was quite witty. So was the one from John Sullivan. George Carlin would appreciate it.

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By Harold in Kingston, October 4, 2011 at 1:58 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

What was wrong with the comment - it is actually pretty funny. I like John Sullivan’s comment - it is even funnier.

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By AlexNYC, October 4, 2011 at 1:46 pm Link to this comment

Politicians have centuries long history of getting together, in a variety of venues, regardless of their differences, to discuss policies and to come to term on what they agree on, and to compromise. Obama and Boehner getting together for a game of golf was a chance to see each other as people, not enemies or adversaries. Unfortunately nothing became of it, since right afterwards, Boehner dismissed Obama’s attempt to bridge the gap between them.

Hank Williams Jr is an embarrassment to all reasonable minded people. He epitomizes the stubborn, backward “my way or the highway” mentality that has weighed down our country for the last 10 or so years. It’s a shame he didn’t inherit any of his father’s talent.

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By rumblingspire, October 4, 2011 at 12:42 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Once again he has shamed the the name of his father.

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Robespierre115's avatar

By Robespierre115, October 4, 2011 at 11:56 am Link to this comment

Thank you America for making these assholes rich.

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By John Sullivan, October 4, 2011 at 11:44 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

I think Hank Williams also owes Boehner an apology for comparing him to Benjamin Netenyahu.

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