Re: Ted Nugent
Just some updated semi-sorta news on Ted.........August 2009.
He was running an editorial column in the Waco Texas Tribune-Herald, fomerly owned by Cox Newpapers. The new owners, Clifton and Gordon Robinson (Waco businessmen), told Ted to be more "conservative" in his article. Of course bad boy Ted told them to "get screwed" and went on a rant about his 1st Amendment rights being violated and published this on his website:
"So I get this spineless, soulless anti-American Email from Carlos Sanchez, new editor of Waco Tribune, listing new rules for my weekly Sunday feature telling me I cant [sic] criticize anyone, only recommend things, can't have any negativity, only cute nicyness."
In response to the above, they fired Ted. And in retaliation Ted emaild quite a few people in the the media. Here is a copy of his email:
Just been fired from Waco Trib. Now they will have to rely on their other New York Times Best Sellers, and array of clever and diverse journalists to convey their diverse & tolerant point(s) of view. Here’s my Teditorial after being told to not criticize in my Sunday features that they chose to not run.
——
I’ll Take Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press for $100, Alex by Ted Nugent
When the Nazis had the Americans surrounded in the town of Bastogne, they
demanded American General McAuliffe surrender or they would level the
city. General McAuliffe’s reply: Nuts!
The new editor of the Waco Trib recently told me that I could only write nice
things about people, that I could not be critical. Basically, that I
need to tone it down. I can not, nor will not, comply with this Romper
Room request. My reply: Nuts!
The editor is wrong to try and muzzle my opinions.
As a columnist, I express my opinions. That’s what columnists do. That’s
also the charge of an independent and free press.
The job of the press is to be the “fourth” arm of government. To
intentionally muzzle itself is to fail at its most basic watchdog
responsibility. As readers, voters and citizens we should demand a
watchdog press, not a lapdog press.
I can’t envision Thomas Jefferson, George Washington or Ben Franklin
making a request of an anti-King George columnist to tone it down. I
can’t imagine Martin Luther King toning down his message. It is
impossible for me to fathom any American to tone down what is in his
heart and soul.
I criticize where I believe criticism is due. That’s what Thomas Paine
did when he published Common Sense prior to the Revolutionary War. He
criticized King George for his heavy handed and wrong policies. We are
free in large part because of Thomas Paine’s open, routine and strident
criticism.
I have criticized President Obama and liberals for what I consider to be
destructive, anti-American policies that will hurt our economy and harm
your health. Not once have I criticized him personally because I have
never met the man. As far as I know he is a decent enough guy, but in my
opinion, is politically naive and very wrong, even dangerous for America. So do many
other Americans as indicated by the shrinking support for his takeover
of the health care system and numerous other heavy handed, foolish moves.
Obama’s policies are bankrupting America. He supports a health care bill
that he hasn’t even read, nor have those in congress who support it.
If that doesn’t deserve massive amount of criticism, what does?
When I have criticized President Obama, I have almost always countered
his dunderheaded, Marxist policies with a free market, more personal
freedom alternative. More government control is not the answer to what
ails America. Obama believes otherwise.
This newspaper and others should encourage spirited and lively debate
and criticism, especially when so many newspapers are losing
subscribers. I don’t support milquetoast journalism. It bores me.
You are free to disagree with my opinions. In fact, I encourage those of
you who do to fill the letters to the editor page of this newspaper. I
revel in open debate. That’s the America I know and love. Express
yourself, Texas. Lay it on the line. Give it your best shot. Be bold in
your disagreement.
Construcitve, bold criticism is cool. It rocks. It can literally change the course and destiny of an individual, neighborhood, community, and nation. It is the most basic of our Constitutional rights — the 1st Amendment. Failing to criticize emboldens politicians to stay on course regardless how many icebergs are dead ahead. Political correctness is the cancer of journalism, not its cure.
America and Texas was born with a defiant streak. Those genes still flow
through my veins. To request that I not criticize is to spit on the
memory of those who gave birth to America. Again, I criticize where I
believe criticism is due. That’s my civic job and your job as Americans.
If the editor of this newspaper doesn’t like that, he will have to fire
me. I will not surrender to his wrong demands.
In the words of another famous American military man, William Barrett
Travis, commander of the Alamo: God & Texas. Victory or death
He sure sent out a Stink Bomb!
you can read the entire article
Here.