Everclear Frontman Calls for War's End, Labels Jesus a Democrat
- Posted on May 22nd 2008 4:00PM by Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
- Comments (23)
An outspoken opponent of the war in Iraq, Everclear singer Art Alexakis will bring his band to controversial Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba on Memorial Day to honor U.S. troops guarding militant combatants captured in Afghanistan and Iraq. "I want this war over," Alexakis tells Spinner. "It has become this generation's Vietnam. I'm old enough to remember Vietnam and friends of my brother's coming home in bags. I do a lot of stuff for the USO where we'll go to the hospitals when we're in [Washington] D.C. and talk to the kids who have been over there. It's brutal."
Alexakis recalls meeting a fellow Oregonian who was "a perfect model student, perfect model son" and two days before he was to return home from Iraq, his arm was blown off. "His mom and dad were heartbroken," Alexakis says. "His mom was like, 'My heart's broken. But it'll fix. He might be missing an arm but he's still alive.' I have kids and I'd rather have a kid with one arm than no kid. He had the same perspective about it. Talking to people like that gives you a whole perspective of the war."
After Everclear returns from Guantanamo Bay, the band will head to the studio to record the angry single 'Jesus Was a Democrat,' which will be downloadable from to-be-announced websites. A new album will follow in 2009.
"'Jesus was a Democrat' has a few lines about Guantanamo Bay," Alexakis says, "and how I think that a lot of people who call themselves Christians would think -- if Jesus came back today -- that he's a terrorist because he isn't blond-haired or blue-eyed. He was an Arab. He was a Hebrew. He looked like Al-Qaeda. Those are the people we're trying to kill."





Reader Comments(1 of 2)
Tattooat 5-26-2008
How does he know who Jesus looked like? NO ONE knows how he looked.For him to say what Jesus is and what he'd do.That's just wrong.Don't democrats make abortion a choice...? Jesus would never want to kill a baby.And gay marriage allowed?...Jesus made Man AND Woman for a reason.I wonder if he ever thought of that.
tgallagher777at 8-27-2008
Amen!!! I couldn't have said it better.
bobat 5-26-2008
This man's stupidity is beyond belief.
Miaat 5-26-2008
I wouldnt say Jesus was a democrat but I agree with what he was saying. We can assume he looked Arab because of who he was and where he lived, there's no way he had blond hair and blue. Him being a nazarene we can assume he had long locked hair with a full beard. I dont think he would believe in abortion or gay marriage but I dont think he would fight against it. Jesus said that we should seperate ourselves from the world. Gay marriage was legal in rome and he didnt say anything about or atleast it's not recorded. Paul said we cant expect non christians to do what we do because they dont have the power of the holy spirit helping them to live right. I believe if any title could be given, Jesus was a radical socialist, and most people who consider themselves conservative (the pharisee like crew) would not like him, how he looked and what he believed and i think the Jesus I serve would tell them to take the plank out of their eye before they tried to tell someone else to clean up their act.
hardrockerguitarat 5-26-2008
This really isn't about what Jesus looked like, but more so that this prick is trying to use religion as a means to tell others how they should act and what they should believe.
I understand people don't like war. I don't believe any good person really ENJOYS going to war. Yes, there are individuals who go to fight for the belief in their country, and say they are proud of it, but I'm sure if a better choice could be found, they would want to take it.
Fact is, like this guy said, war is brutal. All wars are brutal no matter how you slice it. However, if we attempt to abandon that poor country after we have already smashed it to pieces, it would be in worse shape than it was under Saddam (and that was pretty damn bad). And yes, if that were to happen, it would be the next Vietnam, a war we were going to win if people over here didn't let the realities of what has been war throughout history affect their ability to reason out the most logical course of action.
If we left now, all of those soldiers would have died in vain, just like those who went to Vietnam. Iraq will overflow with new factions that are just waiting to come out of the woodwork. They will fight amoungst themselves in a massive feudal like civil war, and may just engulf much of the Middle East into turmoil.
Don't let anyone get you to change your beliefs who is trying to scare you into submission by saying your religion (or religious God or leader) is against it. Religion should have very little to do with politics. The God of Abraham judges people baased upon their personal sins, so don't let ignorant fools like this guy distract you.
philipat 5-26-2008
WOw what an idiot. This guy knows nothing of the Bible. Aren't democrats always going God has no party affiliation. Gee do you think Jesus would approve of abortions? Jesus said to protect little children. WOuld Jesus approve of Gay marriage and homosexuality? No he would not. Would Jesus be happy about the ACLU? He would shut down the ACLU.
Everything that the Democrats stand for Jesus would scream and shout much the same way he threw the merchants out of the temple.
Jesus has no affiliation. Jesus came to save, not be cheap talk from a talentless irrelevant so called rock band.
NYyankees51at 6-13-2008
WOW this guy is an IDIOT. He obviously has no idea what war is. He's viewing this conflict from the perspective that people are dying. If people didn't die in combat he wouldn't even exist. He gave no real, reasonable answer as to why we should end the war.
Ericat 5-26-2008
And this is why religion is a bunch of Bullocks. I bet if Jesus were alive today he'd either weep at our ignorance, or ask his Pops to just hit the restart button on this failed experiment called "humanity".
Ok, you Right Wingers and Left leaners go back to telling me what Jesus would do. Oh, and don't forget to sling mud at each other, and certainly don't forget to gay-bash. Because that's vogue, right?
KeithGat 5-27-2008
I wouldn't say Jesus was a democrat, most of them are almost as evil as republicans, and for all you dumbasses who are saying "well, how does he know what Jesus would want, blah, he hates gays and loves war and God bless america!" you people need to either get your head out of your asses or better yet, go to Iraq in an army suit and start shooting, you'll think twice about your jesus, I bet. What fools, typical closed minded religious bigots, your going to your own hell in your book if there is such a place. You don't even know anything about your own God, haha, you pathetic naieve twits.
hardrockerguitarat 5-26-2008
Eric. I didn't see anybody bashing anyone but the guy in the article.
One person commented that Jesus would be against gay marriage because most religions feel that way.
Marriage is a RELIGIOUS concept, and is defined as between a man and a woman.
I could personally care less what you want to "DO" with your sexuality, but the reason its such a big problem is that marriage came from religion, and religion says its reserved for ONE man and ONE woman.
Its not a failed experiment. Just because some people are evil doesn't mean that the good can't learn from their mistakes and accept one another.
So, don't give up hope and chill out.
No one wants to hurt you.
dan-oat 5-26-2008
goddamn i hate this maintream belief that all republicans are bible thumpers and democrats and tree hugging pussies. i doubt jesus would chose a political party, muchless the democrats who are just as currupt as the neocon branch of the republican party...
they havent done anything to defund the war in iraq, actually when they took control of the house and senate they increased spending and also signed our constitutional rights away when they passed the patriot act, they gave bush more then he even asked for...
people should do some research before they make such a retarded comment like that just for publicaty...
hardrockerguitarat 5-26-2008
Thank you, Dan-o
Smithat 5-26-2008
So basically he's equating everyone who agrees with the war a Nazi especially with that blonde hair blue eyed sentiment, also Jesus would not be a dem he'd abhor the murder of children through abortion. Jesus would not be in Politics or have a political view as far as it goes, this may be the best country in the entire history of mankind but its not perfect he'd have his own way of doing things and would be just find cause he's God. So don't try to put God in a box. Also anyone who calls me anybody I fight along side or supports my friends and I and our predecessors a Nazi again I'll do my best to make sure that view of us by that person is circulated and people see that person for the small minded evil doer they are.
Smithat 5-26-2008
so for any typos, I was a bit steamed after reading was was above.
Smithat 5-26-2008
did it again, lol, I meant sorry for any typos, lol. Its been a long day trust me, lol.
Heath Grinerat 5-26-2008
Sorry, but rock stars don't get to lecture me about morality or about my Christian faith.
If Jesus had cared about political power, as Art Alexakis evidently does, he would have used His power to overthrow the Roman Empire by force. Jesus cared about individual hearts, not political parties.
It's all in the New Testament, Art.
joejm65at 5-26-2008
"And this is why religion is a bunch of Bullocks. I bet if Jesus were alive today he'd either weep at our ignorance, or ask his Pops to just hit the restart button on this failed experiment called "humanity".
If Jesus were alive today, then then the world would have experienced this little thing called 'Rapture', where the believers are immediately called up to Heaven and the non-believers are stuck here. So, if you're ever in a position where you 'see' Jesus discussing politics or weeping, consider yourself screwed, 'cause you weren't on the 'saved' list...
JMat 5-27-2008
It's not preposterous to assume that Jesus had neither blond hair nor blue eyes ... but the only thing of which we're certain is that He wasn't particularly attractive, because St. Paul tells us so. No doubt He didn't want people accepting Him for the most superficial of reasons.
Chrisat 5-26-2008
Jesus wouldn't have played any part in Politics. He stated, "My kingdom is not of this world."
usimplemanat 5-26-2008
Jesus would not bother with political affiliation. He rules over the eternal kingdom.