Stipe Says Bush 'Desecrated' Memory of Martin Luther King, Jr.
R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe makes no bones about his feelings for George W. Bush, accusing the President of desecrating the memory of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.Stipe told the BBC this week that 'Man Size Wreath,' a track from R.E.M.'s latest album, 'Accelerate,' was written in response to Bush visiting King's grave in January 2004 during the invasion of Iraq.
"I just can't stand the guy or his administration," Stipe said. "[The song] was about him going to the graveside of Martin Luther King, one of my heroes, and I think desecrating the memory of that great man and his work by being there during the war. I found it pathetic so I wrote that song about it."
It should also come as little surprise then that Stipe is lending his support to Barack Obama, calling him an "exceptional person" that needs in office. "I think he's going to make it," Stipe said, "and it will be a better day for all of us."
Posted by John D. Luerssen on Aug 28th 2008 10:00AM
Filed under: News, Campaignwatch
Reader Comments(1 of 3)
Dennyat 8-28-2008
And if any planes flew in or out of NYC on 9/11/08 that would be disrespectful? Shut up you washed up hippie.
kbk0619at 9-01-2008
While I agree that I don't get the connection that Stipe is making and don't feel that Bush desecrated MLK's memory....He has done a horrible job as president and has descrated this country. I am embarassed to have voted for him and will now for the first time in my life, vote for a democrat for president because we NEED CHANGE in a bad way! GO OBAMA!
cilu22at 9-01-2008
and barack is an "exceptional" person that while in office personally negated a bill that made it illegal for Illinois abortion clinics to "shelves" babies that survived abortions. Yep, how great is he to allow aborted babies that survived to be put into a plastic container and set on shelves gasping for air until their lungs gave out on them and they DIED....it is fact,look it up stipe.
omarthecat88at 9-01-2008
yeah i find Stipe pathetic for making such comments! And to think I USED to be an REM fan.....really I shouldn't be suprised at his comments considering the fact he supports Obama....another clueless, uneducated citizen that votes on this election like its a popularity contest....hmmmm...i wonder how many democrats will want to know if they can text in their vote???
TiptupTheTurtleat 9-01-2008
Are you serious? Because a person in a band critizised your Idol your not going to listen to them anymore. And you call Obama pathetic.
easteph472at 9-01-2008
Love your comment. Couldn't have said it better!!!
karebear1427at 9-01-2008
Was I the only one who saw Clinton fall asleep at the memorial for Martin Luther King? I'm not ashamed.. I voted for Bush twice and I will be voting for McCain. Yes, Bush made some stupid moves, but he's also our leader and we should still put our support behind him. That is what other countries that hate us count on. They love watching us hate on each other and basically implode. Obama has shown nothing in reforming America. As far as I am concerned, he is just a smooth talker. He could sell condoms to a lesbian! Country First.
p40dadonat 9-01-2008
You people don't get it because you people where against MLK more then likely... What do you think non violence means, that was what king stood for, I can guarantee you he would of been against the war in Iraq... To the Hick that said Obama is uneducated you need to read he graduated at the top of his class from Harvard, last time I checked that was the most prestiges university in the states... McCain voted against king's birthday being a national holiday lets talk about that Mcracist...
Rogerat 9-01-2008
Wow, is all I can say. WOW. Idiot.
Micheleat 9-01-2008
If you care anything about the future of our nation, please, please watch this 10-minute video and pass it along!! It is imperative that we heed the warnings that abound!
http://www.atlah.org/broadcast/ndnr07-28-08.html
p40dadonat 9-01-2008
Yo Michelle don't nobody wants to watch no coon uncle tom sell his people out so you can except him... We are good and I am out of this racist site, "OBAMA-BIDEN 08" and we out... Go Dems...
TiptupTheTurtleat 9-01-2008
I'm not a Democrat or Rebulican, and yes I know that Obama may not be perfect but for the people that voted for Bush, not just once but twice, are you kidding me?!?! He started a war, not because of the terrorists that flew the planes into the Twin Towers but because of Oil. We went to Iraq while the terrorists were in Iran. Now that tells you two things.
1. Bush only went to the Middle East in search of Oil.
2. He was to moronic to think of possible places the terrorists were hiding so he picked a place with his eyes closed.
So yea, I may not be R.E.M.'s number one fan, but at least one man knows what he's talking about when it comes to politics.
Rogerat 9-01-2008
Wow, fucking moron. He started a war over oil? You know this, right? He decided to ruin a country and make the US hate him because he just wanted oil. Learn your facts. Run the US and be there while there is a major terrorist attack and tell me you don't want to go to war with them, or is the death of Americans alright in your eyes?
Laurenat 9-01-2008
has anyone heard of curveball? if you think the war was really about 9/11, you should look that up. it proves how desparate bush was to go to war and would use any excuse he could find. this isn't an honorable war.
buddhatikkigodat 9-01-2008
oh stipes for Obama... damn i was just starting to like the guy too.... guess i cant vote for Obama now. If stipe is so for him their must be something wrong. I love it when the Black Eyes peas showed up to the DNC and on the RED CARPET walk inside they were asked if they did any research on Obama. They just stood there blankly... knowing if they said yes the next question was coming but not wanting to look stupid. So finally fergie said something like we know who he is or something like that. It was hilarious. The more i find out Obama the more i dont trust him
Lisat 9-01-2008
you people talking about obama saying he's uneducated and all those other things are racist idiots... plain and simple.... you would rather put your country in the arms of the devil than a black man i'm sure if hitler came back from the grave you would rather vote for him than an educated, gifted, reponsible black man
Ed Heeneyat 9-01-2008
So we didn't get the Lesbian for Prez. Now, we have a fascist Muslim that has enchanted the masses. I agree with Michelle that the following link pasted into your URL will help you make a choice:
http://www.atlah.org/broadcast/ndnr07-28-08.html
Stipe sure ain't no Bono - not that he can save the world either. p40dadon throws race card stones and runs away - what are you going to do when our man Bush is out of office? I never thought that this Black Irish chauvanist would support a woman in high office but I am. Sarah Palin for John McCain's Vice-President is the ticket. She can outshoot, outsmart and outplay Obama on any day. Looks like we will have a historical race for the White House after all. Ed Heeney formerly for State Senator - District 27 - Florida
Jahanara12at 9-01-2008
Good God, something is wrong with a lot of you. For people like karebear1427 and omarthecat88 and others: Come on people! Do you LIKE living in a country where our leader starts wars for flimsy reasons? I'm completely humiliated to have Bush as my president and I cannot WAIT until he finally gets out of office. As far as I'm concerned -- and I'm positive others would agree -- Bush is a total failure. And to those of you who are saying O'Bama is "uneducated" and "clueless" and "pathetic", I mean seriously. The man graduated at the top of his class from Harvard Law School -- a place most people wouldn't even DREAM of ever getting into, let alone graduating from. He's everything but uneducated or clueless.
Rogerat 9-01-2008
So you'd rather have someone that will not put his hand over his heart when he hears the national anthem, will not wear an American flag on his suits, whose wife said she was not proud to be an American, who is a Muslim and the person who he has gone to church listening to is bashing on whites and America? Wow. That's the guy I want to run this country. He may be educated but he is not what we need to run this country. But McCain is not either. The US is screwed either way.
Fernandoat 9-01-2008
So called Bishop Manning of Harlem, not Atlah, is so sad. He is jealousy of every minister that has more than 100 members of their congregation. He never show the hand full of people who attend his church. He is just a hater. Who does he hate - Joyce Meyers, Fred Price, Joel Osteen, Bill Clinton for starters. A few years ago, when he had enough money to be on TV, he would change is program depending on the direction the wind was blowing -Africa, Black men, against white businesses moving into Harlem, against black churches building homes. If Obama was white he would not be doing this. He is just looking for a following. He knows a lot of whites hate Obama just as he does so he thinks those folks will get behind him and they have. He should get help.