Denver preps for DNC with national anthem snub
posted at 10:30 am on July 2, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
Send to a Friend |
printer-friendly
The city of Denver has already begun to celebrate the Democratic National Convention, which officially begins less than two months from now. Pre-events have included the Colorful Food Watch and the Festival of Unpaid Bills, and yesterday’s State of the City speech began with Leftist Patriotism on Display. Instead of singing the national anthem as requested, Rene Marie replaced it with a protest song:
Mayor John Hickenlooper’s annual State of the City address may get more attention for what wasn’t included than what was.
At the start of the event Tuesday morning, City Council President Michael Hancock introduced singer Rene Marie to perform the national anthem.
Instead, she performed the song “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” which is also known as the “black national anthem.”
When she finished, the audience responded with mild applause. The national anthem was never performed.
Hickenlooper and city officials got caught completely by surprise, as Marie kept her intentions hidden until the actual performance. None of them acted to stop her or lead the crowd in the actual national anthem either, but by the time they would have realized what was happening, it was probably all over. Marie wanted to make a political statement, and succeeded — in setting off a firestorm.
Angry officials and residents lit up talk-radio phone lines in Denver afterwards. Councilman Charlie Brown declared that the US has one national anthem for all Americans, and that the Star Spangled Banner was the appropriate choice for the event. Marie could express herself in any number of venues, Brown noted, but that official city events should feature the actual American national anthem.
In addressing the media, Marie displayed the self-centeredness of people who hijack events for their own aggrandizement. “When I decided to sing my version, what was going on in my head was: ‘I want to express how I feel about living in the United States, as a black woman, as a black person,” she explained. However, the event wasn’t staged to give Marie a platform for her political views; it was an official speech by the Mayor to communicate the status of city government to its citizens.
Unfortunately, Denver had better get used to this kind of It’s all about how I feel as a [blank] thought process over the next two months.
Update: Be sure to read Baldilock’s take on this, which offers a little implicit criticism for me. In my defense, I never asserted that the song itself was Leftist, but rather the ridiculous display yesterday was. Otherwise, she’s dead on point.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5]
People who shave their entire head except for one big honking bang that pops out of their forehead will probably give you more trouble than work.–Sun Zsu, the art of hiring.
Alden Pyle on July 2, 2008 at 10:45 PM
I was getting ready to take that head-shaving chick thing personally then I looked closer and saw that tuft.
baldilocks on July 2, 2008 at 10:51 PM
Unicorn look, newest trend at pro cuts?
Alden Pyle on July 2, 2008 at 10:54 PM
What, Id’ed say the dems got what they wanted or elese they would have walked out. By staying the helped and pandered moreso to the left. Ain’t no ifs ands or buts to this.
AMartinez on July 2, 2008 at 10:59 PM
The hair style of this person just screams insanity.
carbon_footprint on July 2, 2008 at 11:15 PM
By the way, I think the white people of this nation needs to be heard. We have been oppressed by affirmative action and political correctness. We get passed over for jobs and positions based upon our race. Where are our rights? And to boot, I am a male, heterosexual Christian. It’s about time we stand up and be heard. Who’s with me? Anyone? Okay, well never mind.
carbon_footprint on July 2, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Argh……NEED to be heard. Add uneducated to my resume.
carbon_footprint on July 2, 2008 at 11:20 PM
LOL. Color me impressed that, after a whole day of arguing, you didn’t jump on that horse ride it until it dropped.
misterpeasea on July 2, 2008 at 11:27 PM
So exactly what IS that tuft of hair telling us?
1. It represents her ability to rebel against “the man”?
2. It’s covering a lobotomay scar?
3. She’s simply an idiot?
4. It’s art…nothing else.
5. It’s an outgrowth of her anger and feeling alienated from society.
SouthernGent on July 2, 2008 at 11:32 PM
There are things that matter and things that don’t.
baldilocks on July 2, 2008 at 11:33 PM
You had a rough thread. However, I have always liked your posts and I know we are better having your views here.
carbon_footprint on July 2, 2008 at 11:37 PM
We’ll have to agree to disagree on this. I don’t care if she stands up and sings Allegri’s Miserere. She was dishonest, self-absorbed, and intentionally deceived the people who invited her to sing the national anthem, and the people to whom it was announced that she would sing it.
She placed her own desire to spew her leftist political opinion, instead of doing what she agreed to do.
The song and its history is irrelevant; that’s my point.
Jaibones on July 2, 2008 at 11:40 PM
And I love that you’re still here squaring this off. Cheers.
Jaibones on July 2, 2008 at 11:42 PM
What you have here folks is the elusive, gray headed, tufted asshole. A rare find, indeed.
bloggless on July 2, 2008 at 11:45 PM
Hey I had a free day. Might as well spend it battling it out at HA. :-)
‘Night all.
baldilocks on July 2, 2008 at 11:55 PM
Goodnight Baldi and happy 4th.
carbon_footprint on July 3, 2008 at 12:05 AM
My cousin swears he saw one in San Francisco last year. I believe him.
Jaibones on July 3, 2008 at 12:11 AM
Baldilocks…..
Thanks for using what God gave you. Nuff said.
Limerick on July 3, 2008 at 12:22 AM
True, and boring as hell.
T J Green on July 3, 2008 at 12:31 AM
What a perfect time for one of the mucky mucks to lead the crowd in the National Anthem after this buffoon was finished. They really missed a trick.
Mojave Mark on July 3, 2008 at 2:09 AM
So if some southern guy who was suppose to sing the National Anthem instead sang Dixie would that be okey dokey?
MB4 on July 3, 2008 at 2:20 AM
Oh Charlie Brown, can’t you do anything right?
aengus on July 3, 2008 at 4:52 AM
I seem to recall, at thier convention 4 years ago, they sang the National Anthem in a foreign language !
Now they won’t sing it at all ?
LODGE4 on July 3, 2008 at 7:15 AM
What a disgrace.
marklmail on July 3, 2008 at 7:33 AM
People who shave their entire head except for one big honking bang that pops out of their forehead will probably give you more trouble than work.–Sun Zsu, the art of hiring.
Alden Pyle on July 2, 2008 at 10:45 PM
Good to know
custer on July 3, 2008 at 8:19 AM
Therefore the democrat party neither represents you nor does it speak for you. And if you work for a living… well…
abcurtis on July 3, 2008 at 8:23 AM
One other thing - I didnt know until just now there is such a thing as a Black National Anthem. Guess I’ll have to get out more.
abcurtis on July 3, 2008 at 8:25 AM
I’m predicting this woman is going to be invited to sign is specially at the Convention, either at its opening or at its conclusion, with everyone on stage!
ToddonCapeCod on July 3, 2008 at 8:30 AM
I am SO looking forward to the circus that will be the dem convention. I’ve got the popcorn all ready to go.
abcurtis on July 3, 2008 at 8:31 AM
Nope and you knew that. I like to think lying and deception are still not considered good qualities, regardless of the cause.
a capella on July 3, 2008 at 8:39 AM
Me too. What else do they have that we don’t know about? What’s next, a channel that is dedicated to black entertainment??
/
carbon_footprint on July 3, 2008 at 8:44 AM
Ah, yes. There’s always room at the end for one of our liberal trolls to make up a scenario to fit their tortured world view.
“The Reality Based Community”. Heh.
Jaibones on July 3, 2008 at 8:48 AM
When I signed on this morning, I took another look at the picture on this post. See the guy with his hand over his heart?
Doh! Poignant and stupid, all at once.
Jaibones on July 3, 2008 at 8:50 AM
Will having Obama for president mean that we will have to listen to 4 years (and I really doubt 8)of black complaints about life in America? Geez, he could select Juan Hernandez as VP and maybe we could drum up some duets.
Ernest on July 3, 2008 at 9:03 AM
I would anticipate some form of quasilegal Human Rights Commission to try selected “hate speech” cases. That would be a very useful tool for Jesse and Al in their efforts to stamp out racism in wealthy corporations, and could be used as a bargaining chip/gift to insure their continued support.
a capella on July 3, 2008 at 9:19 AM
Arrogant bitch!!!!
Winebabe on July 3, 2008 at 9:54 AM
Haha. Sage words.
Priscilla on July 3, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Beware of black women with crew cuts.
pabarge on July 3, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Sage advice.
baldilocks on July 3, 2008 at 11:10 AM
LOL! Thread over! ;-)
aero on July 3, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Heh. Hi aero!
baldilocks on July 3, 2008 at 11:14 AM
I may have missed it but did anyone ask the Obamessiah, savior of all things living and millions of dead voters, what he thought of this?
He is after all on a Patriotism makeover/tour.
dhunter on July 3, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Girls aren’t that childish.
corona on July 3, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Baldi-
You are a liar. Worse, you are a fraud.
I wonder if we can get Ed to do one of his polls:
Who should we ban from HA for dishonesty? JiangxiDad or Baldi?
One of us doesn’t belong here. I’ll be happy which ever way it turns out.
You game? Btw, fwiw, I fully expect to lose.
JiangxiDad on July 3, 2008 at 12:41 PM
You see but you do not observe.
Holmes on July 3, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Not you! Oh dear. I am now an official mutt!
Dang, beat me now … I should have known to put in the deserved exception!
pabarge on July 3, 2008 at 2:05 PM
Are you still whining?
Okay, I’ll bite.
What have I lied about and what fraud have I committed.
baldilocks on July 3, 2008 at 2:32 PM
JxD, please know that, whatever you decide (and I hope that you take some time and then consider being back on other threads), I adore you and value our acquaintance. I mentioned to you in another thread that we might also be related, and that you should let me know when you visit San Diego.
I find this thread turned into a weird direction and went off the topic of an ignorant American being indolent and crass, aside from the idiocy of the guy holding his hand over his chest.
Two highly intelligent people, as is sometimes the case, turned prideful.
I’m with Jaibones (except that he has no clue on what MB4 meant to convey in this thread), that this was and s/b only about what the lady did. What the song means is for another discussion.
In any event this has made me sad to watch. Whatever comes next, I will always treasure you. With best regards,
Entelechy on July 3, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Yes.
baldilocks on July 3, 2008 at 2:39 PM
One of us apologized. The other is too prideful too do so.
baldilocks on July 3, 2008 at 2:42 PM
:)
Your potential has been demonstrated time and again to have in fact been actualized.
The feeling is quite mutual. And thank you very much. Sincerely.
JiangxiDad on July 3, 2008 at 2:46 PM
I’m afraid that probably sealed your fate. Nevertheless, game on. If Ed or AP are willing, let the fun begin.
JiangxiDad on July 3, 2008 at 2:49 PM
Oh 0K. :::rolls eyes:::
baldilocks on July 3, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Well,…Crap!
a capella on July 3, 2008 at 3:09 PM
ok, you two smarties, this is below both of you.
Pride is not always good. This is very sad to watch. The one who breaks this cycle, no matter how much crow you’ll eat, wins.
Entelechy on July 3, 2008 at 3:18 PM
Also, no need to bring Ed or AP into this.
Entelechy on July 3, 2008 at 3:19 PM
Don’t make me stop this car!
a capella on July 3, 2008 at 3:25 PM
I apologized … sort of. I’m sorry. There, now it’s not just sort of.
pabarge on July 3, 2008 at 3:25 PM
What, exactly, should I be doing that I’m not doing?
baldilocks on July 3, 2008 at 3:32 PM
Don’t take the bait, and don’t promote the scuffle on your own site.
JxDad- she can’t take the bait if you don’t cast it.
By allowing this thing to continue, you’re eroding your images, much more than if you both apologized or just walked away from it. You both know that is the right thing to do. So,..do it!
a capella on July 3, 2008 at 3:45 PM
She’s just trying to referee, but we shouldn’t make her get more involved.
I supposed we’ve both made our points. I am willing to leave this alone now if you would prefer.
JiangxiDad on July 3, 2008 at 3:46 PM
The car thing was funny.
JiangxiDad on July 3, 2008 at 3:47 PM
Are you asking me or Entelechy?
baldilocks on July 3, 2008 at 3:47 PM
You
JiangxiDad on July 3, 2008 at 3:49 PM
Sword sheathed. Will update my post.
baldilocks on July 3, 2008 at 3:56 PM
Thanks. Let’s try not to have any hard feelings, seriously, and thanks to our mutual friends at HA.
Shake.
JiangxiDad on July 3, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Shake.
baldilocks on July 3, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Are you guys married?
cntrlfrk on July 3, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Funny you should ask. I used exactly that experience to help me :)
JiangxiDad on July 3, 2008 at 4:12 PM
help me bring it to a close, that is.
JiangxiDad on July 3, 2008 at 4:13 PM
LOL.
baldilocks on July 3, 2008 at 4:23 PM
Ok, I go to a meeting and you two prove to me that I chose two great e-friends. I literally shed a few tears, and am now smiling.
Way to go. Buy Danish and I had a similar but different thing going and the only reason I bring it up is that today I respect her more than many on the nets and it’s mutual.
Now, get the hell out of here and celebrate this still great country of ours.
Entelechy on July 3, 2008 at 5:02 PM
Yes, ma’am!
You’re a good lady.
baldilocks on July 3, 2008 at 5:20 PM
Whew! I’m glad you kids worked that out. Now Marsha, Greg, all of you, help me find Carol’s little yellow pills.
Seriously, you both acquitted yourselves very well, and for those of us on the sidelines, performed a valuable service. It is possible to disagree, and even screw up and misinterpret another’s post, and react on that misinterpretation, and so forth, and STILL remain civil. It’s just not easy.
Mistakes were made; so what? With the volatile subject matter at hand and the current political climate, I daresay I probably would have already contracted athlete’s tongue if I were thrust into the same debate under the same circumstances.
Baldilocks, I, along with many others it seems, look to you for your unique perspective and have been rewarded for doing so. You are a treasure to us all (even those who do not realize it.)
JiangxiDad, I always enjoy your take on current affairs, and find myself agreeing with you time and again. (On a side note, I am curious about your handle.) When I see some screen names in the corner of my eye, I skip or skim, but be sure I read for meaning when your name is there.
God Bless Us All and have a safe and Happy Independence Day.
P.S. Be good or Entelechy will flog you both with a hammer wrapped in lace.
hillbillyjim on July 3, 2008 at 5:55 PM
After a day of teaching the kids how to bowl non-Wii-style, I’m glad that I can come back into this thread and see the Great Debate has been resolved! I’ll admit I was confused as to why two of my favorite commentors to follow were scrapping.
I hope everyone has a good holiday tomorrow. We’re off to make birthday cupcakes for America. : ) Happy faces to all.
Anna on July 3, 2008 at 6:57 PM
What a piece of refuse.
She should have been dragged off stage, and someone else taken over to sing the National Anthem. Someone, anyone. That dopey maayor, I’m almost sure, might have known the words.
Typical. Afterward, she probably thought: “What’d I do? What’d I do?”
seanrobins on July 3, 2008 at 9:07 PM
Since we are done bashing ‘Baldi’, how about some bashing of the National Black Republican Association (NBRA).
A “Black” Republican has to go through the crap that Secretary of State Rice and Justice Clarence Thomas go through everyday…probably everyday since they first claimed to be Republicans. Then there was…Colin.
How dare a “Black” Republican form or join something like the National Black Republican Association (NBRA)!!! That’s akin to starting or joining the CBC, for Karma’s sake! Sheesh!!!
The NBRA comes up with some ads…two, with a total of nine spots in them. What is that about?!?!? Two ads…Nine spots?
No one notices, other than the left, and the left promises to stop the ads. Is the right going to try and stop the left, from putting an end to those two ads with nine spots? How would they do it, if they pay no attention to the NBRA’s ads.
Why is the left even wasting their time? No “Black” media will show the ads. “White” media ignores them.
KarmiCommunist on July 4, 2008 at 2:38 AM
Just did a check on those two ads, to compare them to the some 472 replies here, in a thread about some black chick singing. I noticed the ads when the HuffPo mentioned one of them about four days ago. This Hot Air thread started about two days ago.
NBRA’s “Racist Democrats and Arrogant Obama” video had about 96 views four days ago…today, it has 405 views.
NBRA’s “Martin Luther King Was A Republican” video had about 1,800 views four days ago…today, it has 1,952 views.
Am I missing something here?!?
KarmiCommunist on July 4, 2008 at 3:15 AM
Exactly what is your point? How about a straightforward declarative sentence putting forth your thoughts?
a capella on July 4, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Wow. Thank you. Nice things you said.
The name comes from the province in China where my kids are adopted from.
Enjoy your holiday.
JiangxiDad on July 4, 2008 at 11:38 AM
RushBaby
All Hail Emperor Bush!
Hey; did you hear that? I think a libtard’s head just exploded.
noblejones on July 4, 2008 at 5:59 PM
JiangxiDad on July 2, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Agreed.
BTW, it’s disappointing how one fragment of one person’s thought will monopolize a HotAir thread. Your points herein were well made.
As per conservatives not putting up but staying shut up, for the moment’s ease that is understood to avoid friction. However, for the long run, that’s not really such a good thing unless you LIKE it that way. I do not endorse being bold unless one’s livelihood is destroyed by the fascists anyway. At that point, what’s to lose? But in advance, what to do? I hope that your children find friends who enjoy the world of natural science and art and are not afraid to play, study, observe and think for fun together as we did growing up.
As per the American Colonial standard of living following a century of back breaking work (nearly all came over as indentured servants, aka slaves for a minimum 7 or so years), yes, following a century of pain staking labor, by the time of the revolution many had it better than those lower working class who stayed behind in England to serve “their social betters” from the basement. But then, the American Colonials sacrificed everything to come to America and build it, whereas the servant class in England had their necessities met and felt no compulsion to give up all security downstairs for a fresh start where nothing but the violence of raw nature and native tribes awaited. Good history accounts make note that forces in 1776 fighting for the British thought Americans had too much, more than they should, compared to what they had going for them back home in England. Funny, how that always works. Someone gives up everything, moves to a new world, builds a great life at perpetual cost in sacrifice and loss, is loyal and obedient to King, serving the King’s military without option of making that life a career, serving obediently until their established rights enjoyed here-to-fore as Englishmen are usurped by the King who wants the very folks who gave up everything in order to move to again give up all that they’ve built on their own in the new world because those who stayed back home in their English manors don’t want to pay for their own wars, prefering to defer all taxation onto the Colonists. Tax the Colonists, they have money and we want to keep ours; besides, we who remained in England are better than they are. Don’t allow the Colonists to trade with each other any longer, either; force them to buy everything from England, pay the shipping AND EXTRA TAXES AND TARIFFS TOO. And above all, remember that Colonists may not have a voice in Parliament, and their diplomatic voices are not heard. (Yes, it all has a horribly familiar ring to it.)
The revolution began as a game of chicken, each side hoping the other would let down the guard to work out a diplomatic compromise, each side finally demanding their God given right to their position. That the British military forces failed to cooperate together during our Revolution was their undoing and our good fortune thanks to Providence. None the less, it was a matter of endurance through grotesquly inhumane tribulation for Washington’s forces to endure, left without any regular supplies throughout the entire war fought shy of a decade during the mini-ice age through devastating winters and blizzards without shoes, food, tents, coats, medicine, etc. When canons fell into deep icy rivers, the men dove in to retrieve them by hand, no shoes, coats, blankets, tents or real food awaited them at camp. It was a miracle that all things worked together for Washington’s victory and for our Constitution to be framed and signed, and that Washington set the course as our first and greatest president. It remains a miracle to the extent that we preserve our heritage intact for our children to love and appreciate as we do.
I was also thinking of Australia’s settlers who had no choice, being forced to go. We admire the wonderful country they built out of a continent much less fertile and more insufferable with poisons and isolated from Motherland than North America’s East Coast. Australia today has the brilliant practice that every citizen must vote or pay the financial penalty.
I hope we all appreciate to honor the huge accomplishment our founding fathers achieved for everyone to preserve and strengthen for posterity, whether American or else with their own as in Iraq as they build their own nation.
maverick muse on July 5, 2008 at 6:49 AM
What a great comment. Thanks for that. I’m going to keep it!
JiangxiDad on July 5, 2008 at 8:50 AM
Maverick-
Forgot to say one thing:
I liked your take on the difficult sacrifices the colonists indeed made in this wilderness, and how the grievances against the crown and the actions that followed by the colonists were fully justified. But on a micro-level, it was still merely the accomplishment of one man’s life’s work that was being threatened by the British– or were the colonists protecting the 100 year history their ancestors had also created?
If so, how is that so different today, when someone might say that 200 years of democracy are threatened by certain actions of the liberal establishment and should be countered now? It doesn’t jive with your idea (which I’m not at all rejecting, btw) that you don’t endorse being bold unless/until one’s livelihood (and only one’s livelihood?) is threatened by the fascists.
It seems to me, respectfully, that you’ve thought this through further than I have–even to the point of having considered exactly when you feel it necessary to fight–something I haven’t done yet in all seriousness. I suspect Maverick, that you will respond earlier than most.
Thank you for the comments about reminding us to remember our history, and for reminding me to keep the gifts of western civilization alive in my kids. At the very least, I will try to keep the doom and gloom far enough away from them to make sure their candle is lit.
JiangxiDad on July 5, 2008 at 9:11 AM
Still merely one man on the microlevel?
100 year ancestral history?
JiangxiDad, did so little of the British experience in China rub off or stay intact following all of the Communist revolutions? India suffered every bit as much as the Chinese under the British Empire’s colonial elitism. Yet witness the Indians culturally and socially advancing themselves beyond what they were prior to their British colonialism. Also, that via non-violent rebellion, they not only overcame their British conquerors, but did so without the ignorant rejection of whatever GOOD the British experience taught them. I have great respect for Buddhism, and along the lines of Joseph Campbell, admire the more ancient mythology from India.
Although New Amsterdam and other colonies were settled by other Europeans, those who first left Europe to live their lives on the American continent appreciated the rule of law already established by the English via the Magna Carta, the Danes were closely related. There has never been nor never will be a perfect people. But ENGLISHMEN, themselves having come to terms with being a multicultural mixed Anglo-Saxon-Gaelic-Celtic-Norman race, by tradition abide by rule of law. Our colonial Americans by the time of our American Revolution were Englishmen by birthright and loyal subjects of the British Monarchy. British tradition for the rule of law was established because the people demanded that their Kings be noble and just, and by a given point, required that their Kings listen to their noble gentry who represented all locales of the kingdom’s populace. The British were, after all, part of the Holy Roman Empire with all of Rome’s traditions carried forth.
There was a world of history behind the American Revolution.
maverick muse on July 5, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Thanks Maverick. I appreciate you taking the time to write that and share it. I don’t have much of an understanding of who the British are/were. However, many years ago, when I was still politically unaware and generally asleep, I happened to visit London, and just happened (truly) to walk into the British museum, and just happened to stumble into their old documents sections, and just happened to find myself alone in a room staring at the Magna Carta. It was like an electric shock went through my body. I may not have fully understood what that meant to me, but I wasn’t asleep anymore.
(The embarrassment and shame of not knowing in advance what treasures lay inside were the swift kick in the butt I needed. Even worse, it wasn’t the first time I was handed a gift of gold only to reject it. On another occasion, I literally drove by Ephesus and Troy in Turkey, but never stopped. I still cringe at that. A third, and final such occasion was when I finally made it to the National Gallery in DC, was standing outside on the steps in the rain about to go in, when my wife said that my very young children were utterly exhausted, and that we’d have to “skip” it. As I walked away, that time did I think God was smiling at me. )
A friend of mine sent me an essay on America by David Gerlernter. It talks about some of the world of history behind the Revolution. I hope you like it.
JiangxiDad on July 6, 2008 at 6:39 AM
I don’t know if anyone has said it yet, but man, what a stupid haircut that woman has!
peacenprosperity on July 6, 2008 at 6:47 AM
Comment pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5]