Michele Bachmann Uses Tom Petty’s Song Again

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Despite the much-publicized demand from Tom Petty to stop using his music as part of her campaign, Michele Bachmann played Tom Petty’s ‘American Girl’ again last night after a speech in South Carolina.

The singer was reportedly nonplussed that Michele Bachmann played his “American Girl” classic when she officially kicked off her presidential campaign in Iowa Monday.

Yet the song blasted over the loudspeakers again immediately following Bachmann’s Tuesday night speech in South Carolina.

After playing for exactly 29 seconds, it abruptly stopped. There was just enough time for the lyrics: “Yeah, she was an American girl – raised on promises.”

Then “Walking on Sunshine” came on in its place.

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48 comments
1 makeitstop  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 9:51:29am
Then “Walking on Sunshine” came on in its place.

Cue the C&D demand from Katrina's lawyers in 3...2...1...

2 William of Orange  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 9:52:04am

I smell a protest song coming up! Come on Tom, if this is not inspriational material....

3 EiMitch  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 9:53:59am

Is it just me, or do Republicans have a tendency to use songs for their campaigns without permission? How many of these right wingers answer the entertainment industry's call to be tougher on piracy, only to do this crap?

You'd think by now these hypocrites would get the message to get permission first. Apparently, even that is asking too much.

4 Political Atheist  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 9:54:34am

I'd like to mention Tom is no uber partisan. He has allowed both Dem and GOP (Bush41) to use his music.

5 Kragar  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 9:55:29am

Once again, a GOP candidate shows they have no respect for copyrights.

6 Varek Raith  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 9:58:57am

Where the hell is the RIAA when they're really needed?
Oh, yeah, in the pocket of the GOP.
Silly me.

7 Political Atheist  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:00:12am

re: #6 Varek Raith

Huh? How did that happen?

8 Varek Raith  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:00:54am

re: #7 Rightwingconspirator

Huh? How did that happen?

Yeah, I kinda reversed who's in whos pocket.
Whoops.

9 jamesfirecat  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:02:54am

Methinks that Bachmann is going to have to admit she's wrong about this one sooner or later.... unless people start editing Wikipedia so as to make it that she wrote "American Girl"....

10 Political Atheist  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:02:58am

Fascinating Presidential song history.

[Link: edition.cnn.com...]
Excerpt
Even Washington Had Sing-Along Themes

In presidential politics, campaign songs have been around longer than campaign races.

George Washington didn't have an opponent, but he had a number of sing-along themes, among them "Follow Washington," notes Oscar Brand, an Emmy- and Peabody-winning singer, composer and playwright who last year recorded the album "Presidential Campaign Songs, 1789-1996."

"The songs were very popular; sometimes people who didn't even support a candidate would know all the words and join in," Brand said.

Many of the themes borrowed familiar melodies, such as the James A. Garfield song, "If the Johnnies Get Into Power Again." That 1880 song copped the tune of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" and warned that "Johnny Rebs" in Southern states sought to take over the federal government.

Fear was often a backbeat for the songs. John Quincy Adams' ominous 1824 theme, "Little Know Ye Who's Coming," inventoried what would be coming if Adams lost. It's quite the list, including fire, swords, plague, plunder, pestilence, slavery and, that old favorite, knavery.

"He won," notes Brand.

Some of the songs were intensely personal attacks. The song for Stephen A. Douglas, for instance, mocked supporters of the gangly Lincoln by saying, "Tell us any lie you want to, in any kind of mixture, but we pray you, God we pray you, don't show us his picture." William H. Harrison was portrayed as an alcoholic trickster, and one anti-Thomas Jefferson song described his scandalous relations with Sally Hemings, a slave in his household.

11 Killgore Trout  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:04:14am

Who knew she runs some sort of Christian medical clinic?

Bachmann clinic got $137,000 in Medicaid funds

NBC News revealed Tuesday night that although GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann has repeatedly denied benefiting from federal funding to her family's farm or her husband's clinic, the Bachmanns received $137,000 in Medicaid funds over the last five years to Marcus Bachmann's "Christian family clinic," along with $24,000 in federal funds to train clinic employees.

12 Kragar  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:05:01am

re: #11 Killgore Trout

Who knew she runs some sort of Christian medical clinic?

Bachmann clinic got $137,000 in Medicaid funds

How much does it cost to tell someone its God's Plan?

13 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:06:00am

re: #11 Killgore Trout

Who knew she runs some sort of Christian medical clinic?

Bachmann clinic got $137,000 in Medicaid funds

Husband is a Pray Away the Gay psychologist.

14 Four More Tears  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:06:38am

Wow. Bachmann just won't back down...

15 iwouldprefernotto  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:06:54am

I don't care what song Michelle plays. I wouldn't vote for her (and I won't back down).

16 blueraven  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:07:20am

re: #12 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

How much does it cost to tell someone its God's Plan?

Whatever the going rate is for medicaid.

17 iwouldprefernotto  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:08:47am

re: #11 Killgore Trout

Who knew she runs some sort of Christian medical clinic?

Bachmann clinic got $137,000 in Medicaid funds

Please, please tell me that the clinic funds were used for Abortions or at the very least, gay marriages. I'm willing to beg.

18 Killgore Trout  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:08:48am

re: #13 Decatur Deb

Husband is a Pray Away the Gay psychologist.

Yeah, it kinda looks like that.

19 Vicious Michigan Union Thug  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:10:11am

re: #17 iwouldprefernotto

Please, please tell me that the clinic funds were used for Abortions or at the very least, gay marriages. I'm willing to beg.

It was used for birth control for gay couples after they prayed the gay away.
//

20 wrenchwench  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:10:55am

re: #14 JasonA

Wow. Bachmann just won't back down...

I guess she can only listen to her heart.

21 kirkspencer  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:11:58am

29 seconds. Somebody talked to a legal/copyright amateur.

The whole issue of political use of songs violating copyright is muddled in the cases. It's one of the more entangled part of property rights (and that's not a simple field).

Thing is, one of the stupid rules of thumb that came out of one of the cases was the 30 second rule. One of the tests is how much of the work gets used, and the decision was that less than 30 seconds was generally acceptable -- unless that was the whole piece being a reason for the "generally" weasel word in there.

If Tom Petty decides to push it, though, this one'll be interesting. She used the whole thing already. When Petty sent the cease and desist, they didn't. Instead they cut to this. This creates the perception they're trying to tie the song to Bachmann, which runs into the impact test. In this case, if people hear the song do they think of Tom Petty or do they think of Michele Bachmann? If they'd gone with 30 seconds in the first place OR they'd played the whole thing they would be sitting in a much better position. Now?

This could turn hilarious (unless you're a Bachmann fan).

22 Kragar  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:15:56am

re: #21 kirkspencer

29 seconds. Somebody talked to a legal/copyright amateur.

The whole issue of political use of songs violating copyright is muddled in the cases. It's one of the more entangled part of property rights (and that's not a simple field).

Thing is, one of the stupid rules of thumb that came out of one of the cases was the 30 second rule. One of the tests is how much of the work gets used, and the decision was that less than 30 seconds was generally acceptable -- unless that was the whole piece being a reason for the "generally" weasel word in there.

If Tom Petty decides to push it, though, this one'll be interesting. She used the whole thing already. When Petty sent the cease and desist, they didn't. Instead they cut to this. This creates the perception they're trying to tie the song to Bachmann, which runs into the impact test. In this case, if people hear the song do they think of Tom Petty or do they think of Michele Bachmann? If they'd gone with 30 seconds in the first place OR they'd played the whole thing they would be sitting in a much better position. Now?

This could turn hilarious (unless you're a Bachmann fan).

Quite the cunning stunt...

23 Idle Drifter  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:19:13am

The lesson of Michele Bachmann is never underestimate the power of idiots in large numbers. Yeah, it's this bold I'm-not-going-take-shit-from-anybody-because-I'm-so-certain-and-sincere-about-everything-while playing-to-the-base-emotions-of-my-camp-followers that makes me quake about the poles come Nov. 2, 2012. No matter how much she makes a fool of herself in front of a national audience or how we point out that she is complete loon and idiot in all matters within this plane of existence she gains despite of it all. There are large groups of people who will vote for her. She can win and that scares the crap out of me. I'll breather a sigh of relief when she does not take the primaries.

24 Four More Tears  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:21:12am

re: #23 Idle Drifter

I'm just befuddled that they were able to find a plausible nominee who makes me pine for Huckabee.

25 Killgore Trout  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:21:34am

re: #23 Idle Drifter

My guess is her popularity is going to start dropping pretty quick, The flake meme is going to stick. I'm not sure that's a good thing. The rest rest of the pack isn't much better and in some cases even worse.

26 Obdicut  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:22:33am

The unauthorized isn't unique to Bachmann or to GOP politicians, by any means.

But this digging in after the cease-and-desist and trying to get around it by only playing a shorter version... that's kind of weird.

Very Bachmann.

27 Shiplord Kirel  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:23:45am

re: #26 Obdicut

The unauthorized isn't unique to Bachmann or to GOP politicians, by any means.

But this digging in after the cease-and-desist and trying to get around it by only playing a shorter version... that's kind of weird.

Very Bachmann.

She obviously has no respect for property rights, the damned communist.

28 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:24:08am

Youtube interview w/ Dr Marcus Bachmann

Youtube Video
29 dr. luba  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:24:31am

re: #4 Rightwingconspirator

I'd like to mention Tom is no uber partisan. He has allowed both Dem and GOP (Bush41) to use his music.

I don't see that at the link. Am I missing something? I see only that "[Petty] threatened to sue Bush [43] if he did not stop using the song. Petty then performed the song at Al Gore's home minutes after he conceded the election." 41 used Woody Guthrie (who I suspect would have complained if he could......)

30 wrenchwench  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:24:39am

re: #26 Obdicut

Very Bachmann.

Bachmann turntable overreach.

32 Kragar  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:26:21am

re: #31 Varek Raith

Individual mandate in sweeping health care bill constitutional, federal appeals court says

BLACK ROBED SHADOW CABAL!!!

33 makeitstop  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:26:44am

re: #26 Obdicut

The unauthorized isn't unique to Bachmann or to GOP politicians, by any means.

But this digging in after the cease-and-desist and trying to get around it by only playing a shorter version... that's kind of weird.

Very Bachmann.

I'll bet money that Petty's lawyers will push back hard after this.

Maybe they'll follow the Jackson Browne/McCain model and actually file suit. I wouldn't be surprised if they did.

34 makeitstop  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:27:28am

re: #32 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

BLACK ROBED SHADOW CABAL!!!

Activist judges!!!ty

35 Varek Raith  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:27:42am

re: #32 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

BLACK ROBED SHADOW CABAL!!!

You leave my book club outta this!
Oh, you meant...
Nevermind.

36 Killgore Trout  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:30:19am

re: #28 Decatur Deb

Youtube interview w/ Dr Marcus Bachmann

[Video]

Wow, he's getting medicare money for preaching?

37 Idle Drifter  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:30:48am

re: #25 Killgore Trout

My guess is her popularity is going to start dropping pretty quick, The flake meme is going to stick. I'm not sure that's a good thing. The rest rest of the pack isn't much better and in some cases even worse.

Granted it's a long way to election day. Once more and more people see a vented Bachmann her popularity will only remain with only the hardcore zealots. The Republicans field of possible candidates is very thin and with time more will drop off, some sooner than later hopefully. Many thought President Bush couldn't get reelected in 2004 but sitting Presidents tend to be a familiar quantity. President Obama should see another term.

38 Idle Drifter  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:31:26am

re: #24 JasonA

I'm just befuddled that they were able to find a plausible nominee who makes me pine for Huckabee.

That is pretty bad!

39 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:32:30am

re: #36 Killgore Trout

Wow, he's getting medicare money for preaching?

From the practice's website:

# Sunrise_000012313909
Welcome

Bachmann & Associates believes in providing all clients with quality Christian counseling in a sensitive, loving environment, and in treating all clients with the utmost professionalism, dignity, and care.

[Link: www.bachmanncounseling.com...]

40 Idle Drifter  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:37:42am

re: #28 Decatur Deb

I was actually waiting for him to suggest reeducation camps for homosexuals.

41 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:39:32am

re: #40 Idle Drifter

I was actually waiting for him to suggest reeducation camps for homosexuals.

Some of the clinic advertising on friendly websites has been taken down.

42 cat-tikvah  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:47:44am

Here's a theme song Petty might approve: "Don't come around here no more".
Heh

43 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 11:07:46am

Maybe she could get Buddy Davis to let her use one of his songs.

Youtube Video
44 Olsonist  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 12:54:41pm

re: #4 Rightwingconspirator

I'd like to mention Tom is no uber partisan. He has allowed both Dem and GOP (Bush41) to use his music.

Incorrect. Petty issued a cease and desist letter to Bush as well. Bush ceased.

45 dr. luba  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 1:12:54pm

re: #1 makeitstop

Cue the C&D demand from Katrina's lawyers in 3...2...1...

Done.

46 _RememberTonyC  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 3:18:40pm

Her music director should get her a new song .... I would suggest "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" .... By .... Wait for it ...
Bachmann Turner Overdrive

47 Kid A  Wed, Jun 29, 2011 4:22:05pm

Here's your new campaign song, Michele.

Youtube Video
48 syrius  Thu, Jun 30, 2011 12:02:53pm

I think it should be pointed out the song "American Girl" was used in the movie "The Silence of the Lambs" ( [Link: en.wikipedia.org...] ) . It kinda of flows with the John Wayne Gacey Jr. gaffe the other day. I guess Michelle is really into the serial killer meme.


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