John McCain: Jackson Browne Used Me

John McCain is returning Jackson Browne's August lawsuit complaining about McCain using his song "Running on Empty" during his campaign by claiming Browne is just trying drum up publicity for his own album, reports TMZ.

McCain's lawyers filed a response, saying Jackson complained so he could get press to promote his new album, which came out a month later.

J-Mac also makes the argument he could use the tune whenever and where he wants because he was running for Prez, not trying to make a buck off it. If the court buys this "political speech as public interest" claim, it pretty much means curtains for a bunch of other musicians who were PO'd about their songs being used by the GOP.

The list of other acts mad at McCain for playing their songs includes Van Halen, Heart, Foo Fighters and more.

Comments

[lilphucker]

Dear author of this article. Was it really too hard to list the "more acts" that are mad at McCain. It's not like your piece was too long already (you could have just linked us right to TMZ). I want to know who these other "acts" are, so I can support them.

[Angelic11]

I view the use of an artist's song as an endorsement by that artist.

[Thetan]

The typical Republican defense is to accuse people of whatever you are guilty of yourself. In playgrounds across the country, this is called the "I know you are, but what am I" defense.

[AZ4thatone]

This new Mac attack is what's "runnin' on empty". Sen. McCain why would you choose to stoke the fire on this one? Jackson Browne didn't want to be associated with your campaign race. So, even though the song was, in hind site, the perfect choice for your campaign; say your sorry and let it go! The fact that you would even file a response appears petty.

[rasputin999]

John McCain also ripped off my song called, "I'm Suspending My Campaign" which I wrote in 2007 and recorded on the "Maverick label. It didn't sell a lot, just a few to friends and neighbours, but my own mother refused to buy one. Sometimes I got doubts about dear-Mummy!

[Angelic11]

boring weekend, huh?

[Fromageball]

haha...when and why did McCain use a song called "Running on Empty" for his campaign? Honestly though, if we didn't have the GOP here to not pay attention to song lyrics or use stock photos of black people at the GOP convention, or stand in front of the Walter Reed Middle School during a speech, where would we get our entertainment?

[MiddletownHal]

Clearly Jackson Browne needs the publicity. No one has ever heard of him and he never gets any radio play. Of course he had to use the campaign of Sen. McCain to prop up his own career. See how Sen. Obama used Sen. McCain for his own ends? Next thing we'll perhaps hear from the McCain camp is how Wavy Gravy threw the election.

[flatus]

So, Middle, if no one has ever heard of him then how do you know that he never gets any radio play? Is this a bit of strange troll logic? Listen, if your pickup truck radio is stuck on an AM Limppaw station then you never will hear Browne, This is probably a good thing since his new album will only piss off your wrongheaded GOPness.

[citizenmike]

Deep cleansing breath. Election is over... good guys won. All is OK. Easy.

[jbeach]

Please explain how the Obama campaign used McCain for their own ends, against John McCain's will.

[citizenmike]

Slow down there Sparky. As I read the above comment you replied to... it was a joke. Easy... easy... the campaign is over... good guys won. All is OK. Easy.

[chumley207]

A better choice for McCain's theme song would have been "I'm With Stupid" by Aimee Mann.

[citizenmike]

I have to admit.. that IS funny.

[JTyroler]

"Running on Empty" is probably not a good song to campaign to. Other songs to avoid on the campaign trail:

"Killing an Arab" - The Cure
"I Kill Children" - The Dead Kennedys
"Depression" - Black Flag
"I'm So Bored With the USA" - The Clash

[happylittlevegemite]

How about:

"All You Fascists Bound to Lose" by Billy Bragg and the Blokes
"Your Own Worst Enemy" by Bruce Springsteen
"Not Ready to Make Nice" - The Dixie Chicks
"Hateful" - The Clash

[zakwouldhave]

Its becoming harder to be a Republican campaign manager, staffer. Who the hell wants to be identified with those cuckoos? Maybe Toby Keith or Hank Jr musically.
Chuck Hagel and John Warner are the only decent Repubs I can name and both are retiring from the Senate. Grand OLD Party ain't so grand any more.

[woodrowwest]

who knew jackson browne was still alive?

[Turnaround]

Everybody but you.

[flatus]

Non Trolls.

[helpusa]

I know how I felt about the GOP, and if I were one of these artists I would be livid too if they used my songs. I hope Jackson prevails.

[newshadeofblue]

I am so confused. An artist creates something, shares it with the public or markets it out to the public. The public likes or dislikes it. The artist decides which sector of the public can like or dislike the music that was marketed out to the masses. Is that the way it works?

[bonchesva]

Let me help you understand. When an advertisement is made, say on TV or radio, and a specific song is played, the company must obtain permission from the artist to use/play the song. The artist may or may not like the product that is being advertised, ect, therefore can decline to allow his/her song to be used. Basically, McCain was trying to sell himself to the Americans. Same thing. Even large companies that play music in their offices must pay money and subscribe to play the music. McCain was trying to use Browne's song as his "brand" and the artist has every right to object. Make sense?

[Durango]

my favorite use of a song was Bush in 2000.

His theme song was Bachman Turner Overdrives "Taking Care Of Business." Apparently no one on the campaign ever bother to actually listen to the lyrics.

Which go like:

It's the work that we avoid
and we're all self-employed.
WE LOVE TO WORK AT NOTHING ALL DAY

Which actually sums up George Jr's work ethic fairly well.

[BelGazou]

It appears we have just missed another "imperial presidency" with McCain. McCain is yet another GOP aristocrat who has little knowledge of and even less respect for the rule of law.

Remember when Reagan tried to use Bruce Springstein's "Born in the "U.S.A." without permission, as well? Apparently, the Reagan hacks didn't bother to take a gander at the lyrics of that song either, which was about a Viet Nam Vet returning home to no jobs and no V.A. benefits.

[DannyEastVillage]

are you trying to tell me that the republican party is full of idiots? is that what you're trying to say?

[anniemcu]

LOL! Well, that just shows how much Mr. McCain knows, and cares, about the law and copyrights. It is also a little glimpse into just how he would have viewed his own presidency, had he won - another one who deems himself above the law.

I trust Mr. Browne will prevail.

[flash LI]

Actually, as long as McCain's camp paid ASCAP/BMI fees, they can use any song - if that song is registered with ASCAP/BMI. The Pretenders complained long ago about Rush using one of their songs as the theme of his show. He's still using it and The Pretenders are out of luck. The should not have sold rights to ASCAP/BMI.

[MojoTens]

Paying fees to ASCAP, BMI,or SESAC allows you legal rights to have music, period. That's not the same as licensing a specific song for your own purposes. You can't sell your rights to a composer's union, which is what ASCAP et al are. You sell them to a publisher for use over a specific period of time.

Rush Limbaugh, the Big Fat Idiot & Drug Abuser, shows his contempt for the musicians when he disregards their not wanting their music associated with his hate program. Normally when a composer asks you to stop using your song w/o permission, you stop. McCain had the class to stop, but no one person has ever accused TBFI&DA of having anything resembling class.

[carlgt1]

how mavericky of dittoheads to run roughshod over property rights!

[Rosey]

Jackson Browne is not a McCaniac so why should he not sue for unauthorized use of his music. If others have to get permission and pay royalities, why should not John McCain? Who does he think he is?

[DannyEastVillage]

All he or anyone else needs to know is that he's a republican; and republicans are long past caring about even such legal niceties as International Law concerning, say, war crimes. You think copyright law is going to be a sticking point for them?