Their sympathetic peers in the entertainment industry awarded The Dixie Chicks five Grammys at Sunday night's awards ceremony, including Song of the Year for "Not Ready to Make Nice," the group's petulant response to critics who disapproved of singer Natalie Maines' remark onstage in London in 2003: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." (Maines is from Texas.)
The Monday story showed the Times once again portraying the Dixie Chicks as free-speech martyrs, while managing to avoid mentioning the scads of free, flattering publicity in the wake of the incident and subsequent fiery comments by Maines that alienated much of her previous fanbase.
The Arts section story by Jeff Leeds and Lorne Manly, "Dixie Chicks Are the Big Winners at the Grammys," led with Chick triumphalism in the face of apparent adversity.
"After death threats, boycotts and a cold shoulder from the country music establishment, the Dixie Chicks gained sweet vindication Sunday night at the 49th annual Grammy Awards, capturing honors in all five of the categories in which they were nominated."
As Jonah Goldberg explained at National Review Online's "The Corner," on a different story:
"It's bad and only a fool would think I'm somehow endorsing death threats. But it should be noted that celebrities get death threats every day (heck, even I get them from time to time). Steven Spielberg and David Letterman have gotten severe death threats against them, I don't think they deserve Oscars or Emmys for it. And I don't think the Dixie Chicks are heroes for exploiting the free-speech backlash against them by making it seem as if they are heroic martyrs of some kind."
For more New York Times bias, visit Times Watch.
—Clay Waters is the director of Times Watch, an MRC project tracking the New York Times.
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Woohoo. They got some Gram
February 12, 2007 - 15:29 ET by lnthompWoohoo. They got some Grammys. I made 2006 Time "person of the year". In this case, the two are about equally meaningful.
Lee T.
U.S. Navy (ret.) / Hillsboro, Oregon
I have enough money to last me the rest of my life. Unless I buy something.
5 in-your-face slaps from the
February 12, 2007 - 15:33 ET by Jerry Mack5 in-your-face slaps from the liberal controlled entertainment industry.
I'm waiting to hear everyon
February 12, 2007 - 16:43 ET by motherbeltI'm waiting for everyone who whined that they were previously snubbed for political reasons, to come back now and complain that this time they WON for political reasons. I shall start holding my breath now........
FastEd and Jack Bauer agree -
February 12, 2007 - 15:38 ET by FastEdFastEd and Jack Bauer agree - t'ain't a big thing, when your friends do the voting - wait till the PEOPLE's award show, (not the socialist version) then we'll see how much she likes free speech.
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
Can someone please explain to
February 12, 2007 - 15:45 ET by Chicago RepublicanCan someone please explain to me how Maines et.al. can be free speech martyrs when they've never been thrown in jail for their speech? To the Left, freedom of speech means freedom from criticism for your speech.
Idiots have no concept of &qu
February 12, 2007 - 15:48 ET by FastEdIdiots have no concept of "free" as it pertains to others. The are the results of the vitimization of being stupid.
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
I guess if you grow up around
February 12, 2007 - 15:52 ET by Chicago RepublicanI guess if you grow up around vacuous people live and die by phrases and soundbites, the details of the First Amendment's Protection of Speech are unimportant. You're buddies at the cocktail parties will raise their glasses to you as long as the soundbite or phrases toe's the party line.
Chicago you have to remember that only the Left can do it
February 12, 2007 - 15:58 ET by Carl KolchakChicago, you have to remember that only the Left is allowed to make speeches against those that don't agree with them, and if someone says they don't like what they are saying, then those people get villified by the left wing MSM.
The stuck up Dixie Chicks wish they could have country songs as cool as Hank Williams Sr., but they are too stuck up to ever come up with songs as cool as him.
"There's a tear in my beer, cause I'm crying for you dear" Hank Williams Sr.
I wonder if all of their new
February 12, 2007 - 15:56 ET by muh-oonI wonder if all of their new fans are supporting them by running out and downloading a free bootleg version of their grammy award winning album on the internet.
Now that's what I call FREE
February 12, 2007 - 16:46 ET by DesperadoNow that's what I call FREE speech :-)
My only question is how long
February 12, 2007 - 16:01 ET by Eric TurnerMy only question is how long before they are dumped by labels because they don't make any money and their albums aren't selling regardless of grammys.
After all, they are ran by (gasp!) corporations!
Then they can claim they've been silenced by the big mean ole corporations and start hittin' it on the indie socialism music circuit.
When will these chicks ever die and go away?
there's a cute idea for eBay
February 12, 2007 - 16:15 ET by tumbler_2007I might make about five hundred of those new "talking urinal cakes," (see drudge)
with a Dixie Chicks song on every one. They'd bring a nice profit on eBay. Think; conservative men could belly up to to the urinal and give 'em a bang-up hot shower as the sang to him.
By the time I was warned to cease and desist by their lawyers, I could start making Hillary urinal cakes; then Al Gore cakes-- the list is endless.
I'm in
February 12, 2007 - 16:31 ET by dagdaNeed some investment money?
Our real problem, then, is not our strength today; it is rather the vital necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow. Dwight Eisenhower
Limbaugh, Malkin, Coulter, Ha
February 12, 2007 - 16:03 ET by winston smithLimbaugh, Malkin, Coulter, Hannity, O'Reilly have all received death threats, too. What's the big deal? Can you imagine anybody in the drive-by media getting all misty and emotional from a report of Ann Coulter receiving a death threat? The Country Music community's rejection of the 'chicks' music is not an act of limiting their right to free speech, it's simply a way to tell them in a very effective way that Maines' comments are not appreciated or accepted by a large portion of Americans and that she is a repugnant jerk. She can have the freedom of speech to make a fool of herself in front of a lot of people all she likes, but the people have the right to request not to hear their music coming from the radio. The drive-by media still doesn't get it. The issue is not constitutional or one of 'free speech' --- it's simply a matter of routine choice and opinion.
Well put, Winston.
February 12, 2007 - 16:09 ET by Chicago RepublicanWell put, Winston.
But what about poor Neil Youn
February 12, 2007 - 16:09 ET by Roger the ShrubberBut what about poor Neil Young? Shut out? Awww! He was nominated three times. I guess 60's protest crap is out of style? (Hear that, "Progressive" hippie-wannabes?)
On a lighter note, lets take a look at Dixie Chick album sales, shall we?
1998 - "Wide Open Space" sold 12 million copies
1999 - "Fly" sopld 10 million
2002 - "Home" sold 6 million
2003 - Live album sold less than 1 million
2006 - "Take the Long Way" just sold their 2 millionth copy in January after 8 months out.
Big whoop. Notrice a trend, anyone? Anyone?
Roger,That is exactly what my
February 12, 2007 - 17:38 ET by msh1973Roger,
That is exactly what my husband said this morning. These awards are from their peers, no big surprise that the music industry wants so make a point. No one is buying their records. They have had to cancel concerts because of the lack of ticket sales. I can't wait to see how many Oscars Gore wins with his stupid film. The libs just love anything anti-American.
Just remember past "Best
February 12, 2007 - 22:36 ET by Roger the ShrubberJust remember past "Best New Artist" winners: Milli Vanilli, Christopher Cross, Jodi Watley, Marc Cohn (who?), Bruce Hornsby, and Sade.
And how about some "Record of the Year" winners: "Don't Worry, Be Happy", Toto's "Rosanna", Christopher Cross's "Sailing", "Bette Davis Eyes", all fodder for elevator music everywhere.
Meanwhile, truly talented bands like Queen, Led Zep, and Pink Floyd got snubbed year after year. Sure, Led Zep was given a "lifetime achievement" Grammy in 2005, a sort of "whoops we f***ed up by ignoring the 100+ million albums you sold" apology, and Pink Floyd finally won one in 1994, long after Roger Waters left the band. Amazing that an album like "Dark Side of the Moon" could only muster ONE friggin' Grammy: for Alan Parsons' engineering. An album that was sold over 40 million copies worldwide gets crap from the Grammies, but Hootie and the Blowfish are the toast of the town!
They didn't deserve to win.
February 12, 2007 - 16:09 ET by kathleenirishThey didn't deserve to win. They should be ashamed that the only reason they won is politics. Gnarls Barkley and 'Crazy' should have won for 'Record of the Year'. I was disgusted when I heard the Ditzy Chicks name read. Their song was by far the weakest of the choices, and should not have even been one of the choices, when it comes down to it. Leftist Pravda wins again, I guess. It's the way of the MSM and Hollywood. Look for the most anti-American movie and actors to win at the Oscars next.
By the way, what was up with Quentin Tarrantino? He looked and sounded like one of the guys on meth that gets arrested on "Cops" every week.
"He who has a thousand friends has not a friend to spare, and he who has one enemy will meet him everywhere" -Ali ibn-Abi-Talib, 4th Islamic Caliph
Leave it to the NYT to have
February 12, 2007 - 16:11 ET by Tom1969caLeave it to the NYT to have another uncorrected typo.
It's "Ditzy Twits", not Dixie Chicks...
~~~
VOTE DEMOCRAT!
(It's easier than thinking)
The publicity provided by
February 12, 2007 - 16:21 ET by awffp1890The publicity provided by the MSM prior
to the release of their last album was phenomenal. The Dixie Chicks
PR machine had to be giddy with excitement at the amount of free
press they received.
We could discuss the liberal view on
free speech, but it is pointless. Like I have said before:
If a liberal makes a statement and a
conservative opposes it, that conservative is being a fascist. If a
conservative makes a statement and a liberal opposes it, that liberal
is simply exercising free speech.
Many Americans (not my NB friends) are
like rudderless boats. They go with the tide. When the Dixie Chicks
made their original statement, it was unpopular. Tide has now
changed. Not only are statements about the president and the war
popular, they are welcomed and rewarded.
What truly saddens me about this
country is the hard core division I have seen develop in the last few
years. A good friend of mine told me this about the ongoing politics
in the US. “We haven't seen anything yet.”
"Not for fame or reward, not for place or rank, not lured by ambition or goaded by necessity. But in simple obedience to duty." - From the barracks at Ft. Benning
I'll admit the Dixie Chicks'
February 12, 2007 - 16:25 ET by SmartypantsI'll admit the Dixie Chicks' brand of music is not my cup of tea but, even so, is there any doubt that the multiple Grammy win was at least partially motivated by their anti-Bush stance? Isn't this the same force which garnered Michael Moore an Oscar for his so-called "documentary"? Hollywood award shows, in general, have become nothing more than subtle political statements (or not so subtle), where liberal voters choose which politically-motivated movie, song, tv show, actor, etc. wins the prize. Not only are these shows extremely tedious, they have become downright silly.
"I'll admit the Dixie
February 12, 2007 - 18:22 ET by ckc1227"I'll admit the Dixie Chicks' brand of music is not my cup of tea but, even so, is there any doubt that the multiple Grammy win was at least partially motivated by their anti-Bush stance?"
Yes, there is plenty of doubt. It wasn't partially motivated by their anti-Bush stance, it was completely motivated by it.
Liberalism is the philosophy of the stupid.
Hollywood is boorish at best on a good day.
February 12, 2007 - 18:51 ET by CTHollywood self-aggrandizing award shows are contemptuous and gosh, all the more reason to switch them off.
Twitz
February 12, 2007 - 16:27 ET by conantWhat a surprise. A bunch of leftie entertainment types give an award to their political soulmates. It follows as the night follows the day that Al Gore will also sweep the catagories when we have to endure the movies lovefest.
Be that as it may , I for one, won't buy their recordings, and won't listen to them when others play them. When they come on the radio I change stations and do not retune to the offending station until the next day. (I won't watch a Hanoi Jane flick even on TV)
Perhaps they could pawn the trophy and use the money for a good cause like joining a Jenney Craig program.
Jenny Craig? They need it?D
February 12, 2007 - 16:56 ET by toolzJenny Craig? They need it?
Do you boycot them more because they said "We're ashamed that the president is from Texas?" or because they were embraced by the the leftist entertainment industry as thouroughly as they were banished by the country music industry?
Boycott ... why?
February 13, 2007 - 12:40 ET by saurusUmmmmm... both?
Listen - they're done, finished. Their records don't sell, their concerts are cancelled. By any measure of real import they are a non-issue.
So what if a bunch of lefties - who wouldn't know real talent if it hit them in the azz - give them a dozen Grammy awards. Just like the Oscars, another "you're wonderful, I'm wonderful, we're all wonderful" pat on the back by like thinkers. Egotists who hate capitalism - except when it makes them money.
Exxon makes 39 million bucks in "after tax, after losses" earnings and that's no good. A nitwit like George Clowny makes 25 million for a friggin MOVIE, and that's just fine.
ditto, ditto, ditto
February 12, 2007 - 19:02 ET by misterbillditto, ditto, ditto Hanoi Jane is 'Nam's Tokyo Rose. I have only seen one of her movies. I have avoided her and her movies like the plague. She stirs up feelings of anger in me that can be dangerous at my age.Why was she never charged with treason??(Giving succor to the enemy.) I was not a Chixie Dicks fan, so they lose nothing there. By the by, if Mains said, in a Texas show. what she said in England, I would have felt differently. I would have felt that I attended for music, not her political position.
Needless to say, I make it a point to not attend (as a rule) movies or TV shows by: Sean Penn,. Ben Affleck, Ed Asner, Alec Baldwin, Sarandon, Robbins,well I'll stop there or I will use up all the bandwidth when I post. However, I do not feel like I am losing a darn thing by not going to their movies.
An ugly American is one who does not support his country.
Clay--& y'all
February 12, 2007 - 16:41 ET by misterbillClay--& y'all. I did not watch the show. I said to my wife that these folks get rich from the fans' money, then they give themselves awards. Some of them seem to think this makes them experts in world matters. Well, just like Hanoi Jane, I will never forget that Mains put down our president in a foreign country trying to suck up to the audience. I never followed it and I know the Brits are changing from a "stiff upper lip" group, but they know bad taste when they hear it, and so do I.
An ugly American is one who does not support his country.
You all missed her final rema
February 12, 2007 - 17:23 ET by ucYou all missed her final remarks it seems. After their last award of the evening she went on after saying "she was ready to make nice" to say she could hear many of the voices in the crowd that evening and was taking them to heart (paraphrasing).
She did take the long way to get over Clinton sugarcoated years that may have kept her from looking more deeply into a we can't fix all the world with just music earlier position. She has right to be wrong, and I am one who still feels strongly she was. Live and learn.
So what? They get awards from
February 12, 2007 - 17:26 ET by the_red_stateSo what? They get awards from the Hollyweird lefty crowd...what a shock. How'd they do at the Country Music Awards where the normal people vote on the winners?
Ditsie Chicks fake triumph
February 12, 2007 - 17:28 ET by CTEvery time I think of the Dixie C....s I visualize really stupid women squatting depositing excrement on the face of America and calling it art.
So the Chixie Dicks wins awar
February 12, 2007 - 17:45 ET by gfrrmanSo the Chixie Dicks wins awards from leftists of the same kind???? B.....F......D!!!!!!!
When they start selling tic
February 13, 2007 - 07:58 ET by OIFveteranWhen they start selling tickets to concerts again in the "fly over" states let me know.
Kthxbai.
<insert something clever>