Still circulating the Internet, is a great interview with country music legend
Garth Brooks. The interview took place at the Kennedy Center, in Washington DC, just before the
2011 Point Of Light Ceremony began
in honor of George H. Bush.
Reporter, Nicholas A. Ballasy, who is no longer with Right-Leaning news/opinion group CNS, asked Brooks what he thought about President Barack Obama and the current political system. Unlike many other celebrities afraid of losing fans by discussing politics, Garth Brooks did not hold back.
Here's the 2-minute YouTube video of Garth Brooks being interviewed, followed by the transcript:
Ballasy: Has President Obama lived up to you expectations?
“Yeah, I think what President Obama is finding out is, all that we want to do, the system kind of doesn’t allow the most powerful guy in the world to kind of do his job, and I’m sure nobody’s more frustrated than him to complete those promises that he did and I think he’s trying his heart out. I love him to death and I fully support him and I just wish him well because it’s got to be hell in that office,” said Brooks.
Brooks went on to answer questions about today's political system.
“The whole political system kind of has me concerned right now, to tell you the truth. Two hundred years old and we might think of about, you know, kind of kicking it in the ass a little bit."
"It just seems like we vote for things because they’re Republican or Democratic. I think we should vote for them because they're right or wrong and we kind of have seemed to have fallen into that trap so that would be the one warning I would give all us," he said. "Put down where you're from and what flag you fly under and let's get to putting the best person, man or women in the office and let's start making some strides."
Ballasy: Any specific examples of that, where people are looking at not what's right or wrong but political affiliation, rather?
"For me, it's if my guy didn't get in, then I drag my feet for four years and we don't get anywhere. And if my guy gets in, you drag your feet for four years and we don't get anywhere… We've got to stop doing that. Once we get there let's try to be four years further down the road than we were, and let's see what happens. Let's all work together, and that's kind of what this is all about tonight."
Sounds pretty insightful, straightforward, and patriotic, yes? Not to some Republican extremists who only heard him praise Obama, and immediately lashed out at the artist with incredible vitriol, refusing to heed anything else Brooks had to say in the interview.
I doubt it bothered Garth Brooks much. He's not one to worry about the 'haters.' While in the music business I got to know Garth. I met him after one of his first Nashville shows, in a small, quaint, now legendary club called, The Bluebird Cafe. Something many might not know is, after his career initially took off, he was approached and encouraged to drop his producer, manager, and label rep… to work with more prominent/famous industry members. Brooks refused, and remained loyal to those who helped him in the beginning. Thus they were all able to experience great success together. He's also one of he most generous entertainers of our time. The extent of his generosity goes far beyond what most people know, because he often gives anonymously.
This man is a trailblazer, and he has been from the start. Garth Brooks was one of the first country acts to perform high-energy, mega arena shows, at very affordable concert ticket prices. After the shows, he would spend hours with fans, signing autographs. That simply wasn't done in country music back then, and his love for, and from, his fans, helped give him wings and propelled his career. Many find Brooks to be kind, funny, passionate, talented, intelligent, humble and okay, a 'leetle' bit corny. He's a man who puts himself above no one and is especially kind to people who can't help him. He sees the good in others, and clearly he sees the good in our president.
Thank you, Garth Brooks, for speaking out. Thank you for the joy you've given millions of people around the world with your music. And thank you for your integrity.
The Dance - Garth Brooks
To read more about Garth Brooks, visit:
Garth Brooks on Wikipedia
Garth Brooks World Tour