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Singer Fired After Praising Anti-Bush Film Maker VOA News
20 Jul 2004, 13:08 UTC
Singer Linda Ronstadt hit a sour note with her audience at a Las Vegas hotel last weekend when she praised the controversial film Fahrenheit 9/11, which criticizes President Bush.
Many of the 4,500 in attendance booed Ms. Ronstadt when she dedicated the song "Desperado" to the film's creator, Michael Moore. Some of them tossed their drinks in the air, walked out and even tore down concert posters.
After the performance, officials of the Aladdin Hotel escorted Ms. Ronstadt off the property and said she is no longer welcome to perform there. Before the concert, Ms. Ronstadt told a local newspaper the Las Vegas Review-Journal that she hoped if she was annoying enough, the hotel would not hire her back.
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"You're either with us, or with the turrrrr-ists."
This whole deal that anyone who speaks up against Bush, or his administration, is an "America hating ______" is what's wrong with that! It's a freaking joke.
__________________ 2008 season - Washington, NY Jets, Carolina, New England, ...WHO WILL DRINK WITH ME?!?
Don't the people that paid to see the show have freedom to walk out and not listen to her? If people don't want to listen to her why would the casino employ her.
People paid to her her sing, not bash the President or praise MM (or the reverse for that matter). She should just do her job and find an appropriate forum for her political views.
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“votes are collared under democracy, not by talking sense but by talking nonsense.” ~H. L. Mencken
Singer Linda Ronstadt Ejected by Las Vegas Casino
Mon Jul 19, 2004 06:54 PM ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Singer Linda Ronstadt was thrown out of the Aladdin casino in Las Vegas on the weekend after dedicating a song to liberal film maker Michael Moore and his movie "Fahrenheit 9/11," a casino spokeswoman said on Monday.
Ronstadt, who had been hired for a one-show engagement Saturday night at the Las Vegas Strip casino, dedicated a performance of "Desperado" to Moore and his controversial documentary, which criticizes President Bush and the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
That dedication angered some Aladdin guests who spilled drinks, tore down posters and demanded their money back, said casino spokeswoman Sara Gorgon.
"We had quite a scene at the box office," she said.
About a quarter of the 4,500 people in the audience got up and left before the performance had finished, Gorgon said.
Before her concert, Ronstadt had laughingly told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that she hoped that the casino performance would be her last.
"I keep hoping that if I'm annoying enough to them, they won't hire me back," she was quoted as telling the newspaper.
A statement issued by the Aladdin said Ronstadt had been "escorted out of the hotel" just after her performance and said the performer would "not be welcomed back."
"Ms. Ronstadt was hired to entertain the guests of the Aladdin, not to espouse political views," the casino said.
Ronstadt was not immediately available for comment.
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“votes are collared under democracy, not by talking sense but by talking nonsense.” ~H. L. Mencken
Unless is stated in her contract with the Aladdin that she could not, in any way, make political statements then I fail to see why Aladdin was playing hardcore with her so much. There seems, at least to me, to be some elements missing from this story as to her pre concert interview and the Aladdin booting her to the curb. I mean, this puzzle is missing some pieces.
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Why should I care what these entertainers political views are? I want to be entertained. If I want to hear about political issues I'll watch CNN or Fox NEws or read a newspaper or come to this forum. These people think that because they have some singing talent or comedic talent they can tell us what their opinions are. I would have walked out too, whether she was pro or anti bush.
Unless is stated in her contract with the Aladdin that she could not, in any way, make political statements then I fail to see why Aladdin was playing hardcore with her so much. There seems, at least to me, to be some elements missing from this story as to her pre concert interview and the Aladdin booting her to the curb. I mean, this puzzle is missing some pieces.
Well when your audience is booing her, spilling, drinks, ripping down posters...she's done enough to make Alladin play hardball with her. She was there to entertain and she did the exact opposite...
"You're either with us, or with the turrrrr-ists."
This whole deal that anyone who speaks up against Bush, or his administration, is an "America hating ______" is what's wrong with that! It's a freaking joke.
What's your problem?! The audience was the one who dictated what happened to her, isn't that what free speech is about? She wasn't hired to voice her opinions and it back fired... Much of the crowd hated the performance and demanded their money back. She obviously didn't entertain very well, I would have fired her too!
Personally, I don't see this as censorship, or a freedom of speech issue. It purely looks like business to me. I don't think casinos give a rat's crap about the war, one way or the other. They just want to make money. I've spent my entire life giving no money to casinos or Linda Ronstadt, I think I'll stay with that course.
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We live in a world which is full of misery and ignorance, and the plain duty of each and all of us is to try to make the little corner he can influence somewhat less miserable and somewhat less ignorant than it was before he entered it.
I've got no problem with Aladdin firing Rondstand - I think her music sucks anyway and if she had people demanding their money back, then she's causing a loss for the casino - she should be fired.
What I think is really weird though is that people apparently just turned into animals because this woman said a sentence. Disagree or agree with it fine - but was throwing drinks in the air or ripping things down necessary? I thought we were a civilized society - sheesh.
Also - when you see a singer-songwriter on stage - you say you're not there to listen to their opinions - what the hell do you think most songs are about guys - THE SONG-WRITER'S OPINIONS - I mean would they have been justified is she sang a song that was about the war - isn't that her stage and venue. I know this didn't happen - but what do you guys think in that instance? Music has for many long years been an avenue of political conversation - hell some of the best songs ever written were about politics - to say that one has nothing to do with other seems a bit out of touch.
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What I think is really weird though is that people apparently just turned into animals because this woman said a sentence. Disagree or agree with it fine - but was throwing drinks in the air or ripping things down necessary? I thought we were a civilized society - sheesh.
Yes, that is not nice. Not surprising, sadly.
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We live in a world which is full of misery and ignorance, and the plain duty of each and all of us is to try to make the little corner he can influence somewhat less miserable and somewhat less ignorant than it was before he entered it.
SunCard, sorry, I don't buy your argument about the Aladdin playing hardball. Just because people were acting irrationally after what she said she should be kicked to the curb? Naw, don't buy it. Did they boot any of the Neanderthals who were acting like such grown-ups? I doubt it.
Sorry, but there is more to this story that is being left unsaid which is the real culprit for this mess.
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Dream like you'll live forever, live like you will die today. -James Dean
How does the song Desperado in anyway, on either side, sum up Michael Moore and his efforts and objective through Farenhiet 9/11. The song is about a stubborn person who refuses to to allow anyone to get too close -- emotionally -- to them. Maybe that describes Moore's personal life (?), but that song little applies to this issue.
Do the owners of the Aladdin and the customers there have any problem with being in a casino and a building that is an obvious homage to the people and the area that the U.S. is currently at war with?
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