Dixie Chicks: Reaction to Bush Remark 'Overboard'

Elwood · April 23, 2003

Dixie Chicks: Reaction to Bush Remark Is 'Overboard'

6 minutes ago Add Entertainment - Reuters to My Yahoo!

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Country music trio the Dixie Chicks (news - web sites), who saw sales plummet and fans smash their CDs after singer Natalie Maines (news) told a London audience she was "ashamed" of President Bush (news - web sites), say they fear for their lives amid a backlash that has gone "out of control."

In an interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer on "Primetime" to air Thursday, Maines also says she criticized Bush out of frustration and remains "passionate" in her anti-war views, even if she now regrets the remark.

"At that moment, on the eve of war, I had a lot of questions that I felt were unanswered," Maines said. "I think the way I said it was disrespectful. The wording I used, the way I said it, that was disrespectful. I feel regret for, you know, the choice of words. Am I sorry that I asked questions and that I don't just follow? No."

Maines, who was interviewed along with bandmates Martie Maguire and Emily Robison, said that despite telling the London audience she was "ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas," her home state, she does not feel that way.

"No, I'm not truly embarrassed that you know President Bush is from my state, that's not really what I care about," she said. "I felt like there was a lack of compassion every time I saw Bush talking about this. I honestly felt a lack of compassion (for) for people that are questioning this (war), for the people that are about to die for this on both sides."

Bandmate Maguire told Sawyer that she understood why some of the band's fans would be upset by the remark but found much of the reaction to be disproportionate.

"It's the people who have gone overboard, and done such irrational things that take you back to the days of book burning, that is a concern for me...," Maguire said. "We know some of our fans were shocked and ... upset. I totally understand it. My problem is, when does it cross the line? When is trashing Emily's property OK? When is writing a threatening letter OK?"

Robison added that the band was now dealing with "bigger issues" than the loss of record sales.

"I'm concerned about my safety. I'm concerned about my safety for my family," she said. "When you're getting death threats.... At our concerts this year, we have to have metal detectors, and to me that's just crazy. But we have to take precautions because this thing has gotten so out of control."

k1500chevy97 · April 24, 2003

I dont care what they say . They are still putas in my eyes

elboberino · April 24, 2003

She's from Texas and she's against the war? What is she, a hippie?

Dihappy · April 24, 2003

What a hypocrit!

Shes only sorry now that fans have voiced their displeasure with her and the band.

Only cuz sales have gone down and fans have gotten upset has she turned it around.

I hope those that have decided to never buy or listen to their music stick to their guns.

Im glad i dont listen to country

woyster_00z71 · April 24, 2003

I never have liked the Dixie Pricks but my wife did. My wife is very patriotic and a strong supporter of Bush and after they made those comments, she put all of her DC CD's into an envelope (even the one I burnt from MP3's) and sent it to their fan club with a letter that she will never listen to them again.

I can't stand them and what really gets me is that a couple of the rock stations around here even play the DC songs. I think I have completed removing those stations from my stereo memory but still hear the occasional song when browsing though country stations and get the he-be-gee-bees. I hope their record sales never recover and they retire to a nice hot spot in Iraq...BOOM!

B.J.

bummed-n-Md · April 24, 2003

She had guts (?) enough to voice her opinion in a very public forum.

Consumers are now voicing their opinions by not buying their products.

You gives and you takes.

so sorry, you can't have it both ways.

bummed.

Lance Link · April 24, 2003

No, no, no..you see, freedom of speech applies only to Liberals, not to anyone who disagrees with them. The Blixie Chicks are free to spout off on foreign soil about their President while at war, but nobody else has the right to say they disagree.

Sarcasm off.

JonesNTN · April 24, 2003

Any Celebrity dumb enough to voice their opinion on politics, religion, abortion, or racism, especially when that view is not consistant with the one of the crowd that follows them, deserves the results of their stupidity. And I doubt the dixie chicks ever recover from the stupidity of the lead singer. Although I would "hit" the other 2!

bummed-n-Md · April 24, 2003

I just heard an excerpt from the 'interview' scheduled for tongiht and the from the tone of her voice it almost sounded like she was surprised that people reacted the way they did.

she is obviously not in tune with her fans.

can you: DUH!

99silveradoz71 · April 24, 2003

Although I would "hit" the other 2!

Hmm, the brown haired girl seems a wee bit out there, so I'd have to pass, but her blonde sister I'd give the time of day to. That was a pretty boneheaded commentary. At a time when the country needs to come together in support, she says something foolish. I mean it doesn't take too much upstairs to figure out the beliefs and values of most of the traditional country fans.

Elwood · April 24, 2003

Now they've posed nude for the cover of Entertainment Weekly, with things written all over their bodies.

Here's a link to the article...

EW

SxViper · April 24, 2003

All I have to say is that I will never listen to them again.. I hope they get out of the music bussiness... Heck if I had my way she would be kicked out of the country to France... She should have a good fan base over there....