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

[1differentdrummer]

John was used? OMW. John was used? Wow.

[OpenlyLiberal]

McCain obviously has no clue who Jackson Browne is or what he's all about. He's been fighting against everything that McCain is about for over 30 years, so this crap about trying to get publicity (like JB needs it) holds about as much water as his "suspended" campaign did, or his "highly qualified" choice of running mate. But then again-- "Running on Empty" was particularly fitting to McCain's vacuous campaign...

"There's a shadow on the faces
of the men who send the guns
to the wars that are fought in places
Where their business interests run..."
-Jackson Browne, "Lives in the Balance" 1986

[goatboyslim]

Check out the Ritchie Havens version, if you haven't already, it's probably the best thing he's done......

[RonCanada]

John McWho?

[TimeKoder13]

If they paid the publishing company Jackson is wrong like all the other 19 year old rappers who don't understand publishing rights.

[jotunloki]

Most artists retain full rights to their music. Stop spouting this nonsense.

[rnelsonbrown]

Let's see. First McCain uses Jackson's song without permission. Then he objects to being told not to use the song. And now he accuses Browne of being the bad guy because McCain thinks he should be able to access anyone's proprietary property as long as it suits his agenda. That's gall. Talk about being offensive. Not to mention just #$%!#$% impolite! Let's start hijacking his wife's beer and giving it away free to whomever shows up for any and all charitable events. With McCain's logic that sounds fair to me.

[gd7277467]

John !
We really did not know that you were a couple ?
Perhaps, that is why Cindy is with the Pool-Boy ?

[cjgnew]

I bet J-Mac would have been upset too had one of the artists from whom he "borrowed" music had broken into one of his twelve houses and "borrowed" a free night sleep without his consent. If J-Mack loses in court, he better watch out because Cindy is not going to be too happy about her fortune dwindling away, especially after everyone now knows that he called her a _unt not only in public but in front of reporters.

Carlos Jean-Gilles
Saint Louis, MO

[JimboSlice]

Jackson Browne: John McCain used me.

[Dogma]

McCain no doubt used a Jackson Brown song to promote his image as a renegade. The problem is, left unchallenged, JB's image would/ could be damaged.

Either way, someone has to pay...

[pons1595]

McCain unethical then, unethical now.

[DogTown]

Jackson Browne would NEVER EVER want mcCain to EVER use a song of his! EVER!

[MSGH]

So now, if you're a Republican, you don't even have to become POTUS, just run for it, to break the law with impunity?

[blinkthink]

Yes-"Don't you know who I am?" says McCain. The heroic saviour of America, legend in his own mind, erratic as can be. His MO is to lash out at any kind of criticism. Same thing with his disingenuous outrage at being called out by Rep. John Lewis for running a hate filled campaign. For more insight into his character, read 'Vintage McCain' in the Phoenix New Times.

[jesoph]

Can someone as USELESS as John McCain truly be USED?

[DeeW]

lol @ J-Mac. Great rapper name.

I dunno how I feel about this subject, but I think if you're going to use a song as your "soundtrack" then you should get their permission first. It's kind of like using it for business purposes.

Plus, it looks bad when every artist you pick comes out with a statement saying they don't want you to use their music! That's not good.

But ... if J-Mac had to get permission I guess the list would be pretty short. Jr and Lee Greenwood.

[CrackerJacker]

Not "every" artist. I think Survivor were the only ones to not complain. Even Hank Jr. wanted J-Mac to use his Vengaboys mix tape instead.

[Woodn88s]

See J-mac was counting on Chuck Norris's new cd.................titled......... "If you can't win fair kick their f**ckin a$$"........................ but unfortunately Chuck was being fitted for a new toupe' and never made it to the final mixdown session.
So they just stole music, republicans have a right ya know, a right to anything they want, laws don't apply to them

[XME]

It's a same all the artists who asked him to "cease and desist" didn't get together and file a class action suit against him!