Just saw these today on another board -- where they're using the statements as an excuse to support their patriotism. I like the line I heard James Carville used today on "Crossfire" about the "Patriot Thought Police."
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Singer Travis Tritt Says Celebs Should Support Troops

Tuesday, March 18, 2003

HIRAM, Ga.; Singer Travis Tritt blasted fellow country singers the Dixie Chicks for criticizing President Bush, and said it's time for celebrities to start supporting the military troops in Iraq.

"The bottom line is ... what's going to happen is going to happen. To be a good American — regardless of which side you're on — you have to get behind President Bush. More important, you have to get behind the troops," the singer said recently.

Tritt also had some stern words for Dixie Chicks leader Natalie Maines, who during a recent concert in London said, "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."

"I think the comments were made primarily because it was in front of an audience that agreed with them," Tritt told Fox News on Tuesday. "But I think if you make those statements over there versus over here it is sort of cowardly and I think it was a cheap shot."

The Grammy-winning Dixie Chicks have repeatedly apologized for the statement, but Tritt said he has another idea for how they could make up for the anti-Bush statement.

"If the Dixie Chicks really wanted to do something to prove just how sorry they are about those statements, they would volunteer to go and perform at some military base," suggested Tritt.

Several radio stations in the nation have decided to boycott the Chicks, whose album Home recently won a Grammy.

After more than 250 listeners called Friday to complain about Maines' comments, WTDR-FM in Talladega, Ala., dropped the Dixie Chicks.

"We've had a huge listener reaction and movement against the statements," said Paul Williams of KPLX-FM in Dallas-Fort Worth, the nation's fifth-largest radio market.

Many celebrities, such as Martin Sheen and Susan Sarandon, have spoken out against the impending war with Iraq. Tritt says hearing celebs criticize military action hurts soldiers' morale when they are putting their lives on the line for the United States

"The last thing in the world that those people need to hear is every time they turn on the television or every time they turn on the radio is some half-cocked entertainer coming off and making statements against the actions that they're over doing under the direction of our commander-in-chief," Tritt said.

As for people who have strong feelings about a celebrity's remarks, Tritt has a suggestion for how Americans can make their voices heard.

"The best way to get an entertainer's attention is to hit them in their pocketbooks," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


NEWS - Toby Keith Says Maines 'Has A Big Mouth'
03/17/2003

(3/17/03, 4 p.m. ET) -- Toby Keith told a room full of reporters before his Oklahoma City concert on Friday night (March 14) that Dixie Chick Natalie Maines has "got a big mouth."

Keith, who was responding to a question about Maines's recent negative comments about President Bush in London, said, "She's come after me before. She's got a big mouth."

Maines did make some negative comments about Keith shortly after the release of his song "Courtesy Of The Red, White & Blue," which was Number One on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for several weeks.

"Don't get me started," Maines told the Los Angeles Daily News back in August 2002 about Keith's song. "I hate it. It's ignorant and it makes country music sound ignorant. It targets an entire culture--and not just the bad people who did bad things. You've got to have some tact. Anybody can write, 'We'll put a boot in your ass.' But a lot of people agree with it."

The Chicks' latest single, "Travelin' Soldier," sits at Number One this week on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.

-- Nancy Brooks, Nashville

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