Prince On Prop 8 Stance: I Didn't Vote At All

Prince has spoken out about his position on Prop 8, a month and a half after the New Yorker quoted him as against it. He dodged the subject by saying his religion prevents him from voting at all.

From an interview with the LA Times:

He didn't vote at all. "I didn't vote for Obama either," he explained. "Jehovah's Witnesses haven't voted for their whole inception." The controversy over a recent New Yorker "Talk of the Town" item, which Prince feels implied he supported the gay-marriage ban, has upset him. It's the first thing he wanted to discuss when the Web geeks had gone and we were alone. "I have friends that are gay and we study the Bible together," he said. He added that two sides fighting "only benefit the third person" who instigated the fight.

Despite initially saying he was misquoted, the New Yorker stood by their Prince story.

Comments

[kernau]

If they don't vote then someone should tell Sherri Sheppard from the view. She voted or so she says.

[ProudTEXLiberal]

Sherri was raised a JW but left when her Dad was dis-associated. Members of the congregation will not associate with you until the elders find that you have truly repented and you are re-instated. Sherri is against Prop 8 "God made Adam & Eve not and does not want her pastor arrested for refusing to perform a gay wedding. Interesting she has stated she used abortion as birth control in her 20's.

[diogenes1967]

She's for Prop 8, you mean, and yes, I heard that and was disappointed.

[harriettubman]

And said she regretted her wild lifestyle. You left that part out.

[Steamboater]

What a hypocrite Prince is. Jehovah's Witnesses don't believe in dancing either and he romps around in his vids all over the place and records dance music to boot. Crazy.

[PoliticalAmazon]

You got a point there, Steamy.

[johjac]

Jehovah's Witnesses DO believe in dancing- they just don't believe in gyrating their buttocks (and other body parts) all over the place... big difference!

[Andman0121]

...HAHAHA have you SEEN his videos???

[Felicty]

Lissen up, you prancing dwarf. You have not had a real hit since Purple Rain.

[FaceYourFears]

Prince has more than you'll ever have!!!!!!!!!

[XCITIZEN]

hmmmm. sounds like somebody struck a nerve....

[Vurz]

I didn't know that Jehovah's Witnesses don't vote. Hopefully they don't fund anything political either.

[mad1nola]

My dad's a Jehovah's Witness and they don't vote, pledge allegiance to the flag, salute the flag or have any thing to do with gov't. But I will say that while my dad wouldn't vote he is very, very proud that Barack Obama will be POTUS. Long before he became a JW he was a black power rebel ('60's).

Wow, was this totally off subject or what?

[PoliticalAmazon]

Did you know that people who have high IQs tend to think tangentially?

So, wander away, Darlin! Sooner or later you'll wander back to the point, and it will be a fascinating trip along the way.

[postman606]

I have friends who are Jehovah Witnesses who worked in law enforcement with me I have seen them say the pledge and salute the flag. I imagine they are no different than other religions, hypocrisy is the First Commandment.

[BillAnthony]

Much to their credit they have been involved in a number of court cases, going as high as the US Supreme Court, that have expanded ALL of our First Amendment rights.

[luckyoldson]

"...his religion prevents him from voting at all..."

Is this guy an idiot or what? Can anybody name a religion that outlaws "voting?"

[silvertongue]

To luckyoldson: The answer to your question is Jehovah's Witness. I learned this when a told me that she couldn't vote because of her religion; i.e. she is a Jehovah's Witness. Also, Serena Williams has been quoted as saying she does not vote because she is a Johovah's Witness.

[johjac]

Basically it's give unto Ceasar what is Ceasar's... Give unto God what is God's. This is WHY they do not vote, do not fight in wars nor do they accept blood transfusions!

[Lalita]

My husband is Baha'i and is not supposed to participate in partisan politics.This, generally, means no voting in primaries (where he would have to declare a political party). As a matter left to the individual, he does, however, vote in all elections, remarking that as a Black man who came of age in the 60's, too many people died for him to stay home on election day.

[Hirnlego]

dogmatism usually has negative results on the thinking part.. :D

[QuietNetworker]

If only all people of faith were like the JWs
and were prohibited from voting.

Warmly,

Paulie Sabol

[PaxMundis]

"If only all people of faith were like the JWs
and were prohibited from voting."

I hate being a broken record, but whenever people say something like that, I have to ask, would you include Martin Luther King Jr. or Dorothy Day in such a group?

[rainbowrecruiter]

come on people...this isn't about the gay marrage...this is about homophobia.
Prince is in the closet....to the world and probably himself.
live and let live...

[XCITIZEN]

Speaking of Jehovah's Witnesses, every time I see one of those little old ladies up at 5 o'clock in the mornin' on the sidewalk with the copies of "The Watchtower" I think of that Jimi Hendrix song All Along The Watchtower...

[wm1066]

Funny!
I used to see that watchtower every day on my way to work, its in St Paul Mn.
At least thats what I heard when I first moved to the Twin Cities.(Dylan lived in the Cities a long time ago)

[kimmoses]

I'm a hardcore Prince fan, and I don't care whether he is gay or not, but I do care that he didn't vote. I just don't have any respect for people who don't vote. Its ignorant.

[QuietNetworker]

Basically that's true of any person who organizes
their life based upon "faith" in propositions without
sufficient evidence.

The good news is at least these ignorant people
are pulling themselves out of the electorate.

If only the rest of the xian and muslim, etc. world
did just that.

Warmly,

Paulie Sabol

[PaxMundis]

So you would be fine with everyone being ruled by a tiny minority?
And, again, would you be fine if the many progressive religious people did as you said and pulled themselves out of the political process?

Religion is not going away, deal with it.

[MariaHopeful]

Jehovah's Witnesses do not vote. They take no active part in partisan politics.

[seasun]

You disrespect people for exercising their religious beliefs?

Not voting, and not getting involved in politics is sacred to Jehovah Witnesses. At least they don't use the power of the vote, and the political process top impose their beliefs on others the way so many so called Christians do.

[wdw505]

well good my vote will count for more............

[PaxMundis]

Yep. In fact, JWs (Note: I am not one) have been persecuted for not saying the Pledge Of Allegiance, which IS THEIR RIGHT.

[FaceYourFears]

Like our votes really count anyway!

[wdw505]

then don't vote

[mercyrocks]

Mine does. It got Barack elected president.

Duh.

[dlvme2]

I know several JW's and they are lovely people and very intelligent. It takes a lot in this day and age to stick to your religion and I respect them for that whether I agree or not. I think to call someone ignorant because they do not think like you do - is not appropriate, but that is how you are and I guess none of my business. I just find it sad that so many people are intolerant of those that do not think like them or judge them.

[MichelleDenise64]

Again, why his take on anything political worthy of a story?

[aliVonal]

one of the saddest things in the world of music: Prince finds god, loses Mojo big time.

[thats2much]

Hey everyone, give the guy a break. Prince is legendary, whether you like him or not. Additionally, its a well known fact that Prince is a Jehovahs Witness and has been for many many years. Its not like he just decided to find God, or in this case the great Jehovah. Remember, he was asked for his opinion during an interview with the print media. We should all learn to be more tolerable, and less judgemental. Just my 3 cents......

[XCITIZEN]

I prefer to remain intolerable.

[samlee]

I think it's more because he has elected to use his religion as a cloak or excuse to avoid deliberately addressing the issue. The question was about support -JW's do not support homosexuality at all so whether or not he voted is inconsequential...he then tries to soften this religious stance by saying that he has 'friends' that are gay that he studies with.
As one who has first hand knowledge of this I can tell you that a) the term 'friends' is one that the society uses when speaking of their own and it is not meant in the way we generally use it in every day language and b) JW's do not socialize with gay people.
A JW will not socialize with a gay person and a baptized person who practices homosexuality would be disfellowshipped under the policies of the Watchtower.
Prince should have said nothing.

[GoodWillHumping]

This is one of those celebs I'd prefer to fall off the radar. He gives me the willies.

[MichelleDenise64]

Just wanted to say I get a kick out of your name

[Felicty]

Michael Jackson for little girls.

[kennedyosker]

Prince is the equivelent to a Hanson brother in his political superiority. Nobody cares.

[Clare53]

Good one.

[SuperBucky]

What a LOOOOSSEEER!! No, make that a homophobic, short LOOOOSSSEERRR..

[TiredOfLiars]

He maybe short, homophobic, and a loser; but don't forget the other adjective... rich! Hence he is surrounded by beautiful women all the time. Can you say the same?

[XCITIZEN]

Well, if SuperBucky is anything like me, his ego probably survives pretty well without being surrounded by beautiful women all the time...can you say the same?

[SuperBucky]

No..I am not surrounded by rich women..booo hooo..however, I am surrounded by big beefy men all the time and lovin it..bet you'd love to say the same..he he

[LollieDotCom]

I've never been ashamed of Prince for being gay, or for being in the closet about it. But this Ted Stevens kind of double standard really irks me. Like they think that if we believe they're against equal rights for gay people we'll be more easily convinced they're not gay. Get over your orientation gentlemen or don't, but don't dis equal rights in your attempts to convince us of things we're never going to believe anyways. Prince is not gay. Right. Who cares beside Prince? No one who matters.

[eden4barack08]

Breaking News: Prince is gay ----- says LollieDotCom

Carmen Electra, among many, wouldn't agree with you.

[deeppeace]

1. Gay rights isn't the first association I make with Ted Stevens' name.
2. Your assumption about Prince's sexuality is insulting. Consider therapy.
3. He is a musician first, and that's how he should be measured.

[southwindow]

Prince is a joke. period.

[dennybop]

The gay thing is only speculation. The religion thing is where the real hypocrisy lies. Prince wants us to believe he is a devout Jehovah's Witness and points out he does not vote. Fair enough. But what other Jehovah's Witness walks onstage with his @ss hanging out, grinding and wearing mascara. Face it, Prince; none of your public personae, not even as a musician square with your professed faith.

[PoliticalAmazon]

You know, the next time a pair of JWs come up to my door I'll ask them in great detail if Prince's attire (including the tube sock stuffed down the front of his pants) and makeup are part of the JW gig.

Maybe I'l print out a big picture of prince and point to various points of interest....perhaps ask them, "Do you think he dresses to the left or the right? Al Gore dresses to the right, you know, and you can't even tell where Bush dresses because he doesn't have hardly anything there. Bill Clinton dresses to the left...wait I have a blow-up picture of that...I'll be right back...."