Originally appeared at HyperVocal
You know when you meet your heroes and their not quite what you expected them to be? That’s bad, but there’s worse — what about when your favorite band writes an op-ed for a high-profile national magazine and takes a massive dump all over you and everything you stand for?
Welcome to Paul Ryan‘s world.
The Republican Party’s vice presidential nominee says he loves Rage Against the Machine, calling them one of his favorite bands. Instead of an autograph or a public thanks, RATM guitarist and friend of Occupy Wall StreetTom Morello wrote a scathing op-ed in Rolling Stone bashing Ryan.
Some choice excerpts:
Paul Ryan’s love of Rage Against the Machine is amusing, because he is the embodiment of the machine that our music has been raging against for two decades. Charles Manson loved the Beatles but didn’t understand them. Governor Chris Christie loves Bruce Springsteen but doesn’t understand him. And Paul Ryan is clueless about his favorite band, Rage Against the Machine.
Don’t like ads? Become a supporter and enjoy The Good Men Project ad free
Ouch. If you thought that intro was blistering, wait ’til you scroll down and read this paragraph about what Ryan “rages” against.
I wonder what Ryan’s favorite Rage song is? Is it the one where we condemn the genocide of Native Americans? The one lambasting American imperialism? Our cover of “Fuck the Police”? Or is it the one where we call on the people to seize the means of production? So many excellent choices to jam out to at Young Republican meetings!
Don’t mistake me, I clearly see that Ryan has a whole lotta “rage” in him: A rage against women, a rage against immigrants, a rage against workers, a rage against gays, a rage against the poor, a rage against the environment. Basically the only thing he’s not raging against is the privileged elite he’s groveling in front of for campaign contributions.
After trashing Ryan up and down, coming up with a fitting conclusion might be difficult. But Morello goes with facetious humor mixed with harsh seriousness.
My hope is that maybe Paul Ryan is a mole. Maybe Rage did plant some sensible ideas in this extreme fringe right wing nut job. Maybe if elected, he’ll pardon Leonard Peltier. Maybe he’ll throw U.S. military support behind the Zapatistas. Maybe he’ll fill Guantanamo Bay with the corporate criminals that are funding his campaign – and then torture them with Rage music 24/7. That’s one possibility. But I’m not betting on it.
Paul Ryan will probably not be telling people he likes Rage any more, right?
Cooper, Great! Interview w/ Tom Morello, Isn’t the truth wonderful!
Thanks,
Ruth@LIVMINDFUL