Danzig Calls Obama, Democrats “Fascists Disguised as Liberals”
August 20th, 2013
Legendary punk rock icon Glenn Danzig, now a solo artist of sorts, once fronted Samhain and sparked a revolution in melodic hardcore as a founding member and frontman of the Misfits. Like the other figureheads from punk rock’s early days, Danzig is uncompromising when it comes to speaking out on the issues of the day.
In a recent interview with Minneapolis City Pages, the defiant rocker had some tough words for President Obama, Al Gore, and the Democratic Party. He challenged Obama’s drone policy, the hypocrisy of liberals who have changed their positions on Bush-era fascist measures now that Obama has escalated them, and Al and Tipper Gore’s old censorship initiative, the Parents Music Resource Center. He also indicated that his popular song “Mother” was written about the PMRC. Check out the music video for the song below, and let’s reconvene after the jump to discuss the interview.
Danzig Slams the PMRC
Danzig’s interview with Minneapolis City Pages took a political turn when he was asked about the meaning behind his famous song “Mother.” He indicated that the song was about Al and Tipper Gore’s Parents Music Resource Center, which attempted to censor American rock, punk, and hip hop acts during the mid ’80s. However, the initiative eventually lost steam after popular musicians like Jello Biafra and Frank Zappa publicly spoke out against it.
Said Danzig, “Yeah, you know, Al Gore wanted to tell people what they could listen to and what they couldn’t, what they could record. It was basically coming down to the idea that he wouldn’t let anybody record any music that he didn’t think you should be doing… It was really fascist.” When asked why Danzig’s self-titled first album features a parental advisory sticker despite not having obscene lyrics, he said, “That’s because of its content. We’re making people think. You’re not allowed to make people think in the United States. You’re not allowed to have them question the government or authority.”
Danzig on Obama, Liberal Hypocrisy
The groundbreaking punk icon had tough words for the current President and his supporters, “My view on Democrats is that they’re fascists disguised as liberals, or liberal moderates. You’re not allowed to say anything that they don’t agree with. You’re not allowed to do anything. Also, the whole Obama, ‘I can kill anybody with a drone with no trial,’ is kind of disturbing. I’m surprised that more people who are supposedly liberal aren’t more disturbed by it. I think whatever Obama does is OK with them, because he’s Obama. It’s bullsh*t.”
Danzig brings up a good point by highlighting Obama’s drone policy. During the presidency of George W Bush, many liberals decried similar measures as evidence of fascism taking root in America. However, Obama’s rise to commander-in-chief seems to have pacified many progressives, who have stopped speaking out now that a Democrat has escalated the same War on Terror policies.
Musicians, in particular, rarely challenge Democratic presidents, but Danzig is no ordinary musician. He is an old-school punk rocker who isn’t afraid to take risks by speaking out when something isn’t right.
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