"The House GOP Is Back": Republicans Promote Stimulus Opposition With Aerosmith

UPDATE: Aerosmith has asked the House GOP to stop using their song, "Back in the Saddle," TPM reports.

The GOP's use of the tune "was something we, as the publishers, didn't approve and would not have approved without going to the writers," Connie Ashton, director of copyright and licensing at Stage Three, told me. "Aerosmith did not approve of its use and also wanted to have it taken down," she added.

* * * * *

Usually, in war and politics, the victor writes the history. In the case of the soon-to-be-signed stimulus package, however, neither side is admitting defeat.

Republicans in the House of Representatives are trying to mold success out of what is, at its core, a legislative failure. The most recent bit of gloating: a back-slapping YouTube clip from minority whip Eric Cantor's office, set to the tune of Aerosmith's "Back In The Saddle."

"The House GOP is back," reads Cantor's website. Indeed. Having been relegated so far into the minority so as to be incapable of stopping a stimulus bill that it deemed wasteful and liberal, the GOP is taking solace in the unity of its opposition. Conspicuously absent from the video is any mention of the party's House leader, Rep. John Boehner (R-OH). But this video is a House Whip Production.

Comments

[angryliberal]

05:36 AM on 02/20/2009

They are celebrating the fact that they lost unanimously.Not 1 republican congressman with a brain in their head. I like when the GOP celebrates their own losses, it gives us all a reason to celebrate.

[melpol]

04:56 PM on 02/19/2009

The secret is out. There are trillions of dollars hidden in off shore bank accounts. A Swiss based bank UBS is now being forced to give up the names of 57 thousand Americans with billions in secret accounts. Most are tax cheats or super criminals who thought that their ill gotten gains were safe. There is a recession going on in the U.S. and the Government is searching for new sources of income. They can reap a windfall of an estimated 10 trillion dollars if they forced thousands of off shore banks to disclose the names of their secret bank account holders. The money could be used to bailout the American economy. Unfortunately that can of worms will never be opened up because many of our trusted business leaders are holders of those secret accounts.

[mamacat]

05:42 AM on 02/19/2009

The GOP is living in a self-imposed fantasy. Now they can't tell the difference between being on the verge of historical irrelevancy, and returning to power. What is next on the agenda for them, self-immolations? In the opinions of main-stream Americans, the GOP has left the house, but they forgot to turn the lights off. Their main political purpose has become to fulfill the role of comedy relief.

[ReealOne]

01:44 AM on 02/19/2009

Listen you GOOPers/RNC/Republican Party people. Just stay away from Aerosmith. Everything that you touch go to ruin. They didn't tell you that you could use their song and ruin their image.

Thank you Aerosmith for stopping these LOSERS / JACKA$$ES from ruining your image!

Hey GOOPers, maybe you can use the "Dueling Banjos" song. That's more befitting your theme..... but stay away from Aerosmith. JACKA$$ES!!!!

[jrmarsh]

03:24 PM on 02/19/2009

...unless they choose "Dream On"

[eirrac]

11:49 PM on 02/18/2009

Ah yes, Cantor...This would be the man who was all for the first half of the bailout, controlled by Bush and Paulson, and which gave so much money to the bank his wife is involved with. But he was against the second half of the bailout before President Obama even spoke about it. Probably because it contains some regulation and oversight and is aimed at undoing some of the damage from the first half of the bailout.

And Cantor is the man who berated others for using what he called "offensive language" awhile back, but backs a website that uses very foul language and has a theme song about a hooker? Is he clueless or just so out of touch that he doesn't see how it makes him look? This is one scary guy.

[willfarnaby]

12:48 AM on 02/19/2009

Oy vey, are you saying ReThug Cantor Madoff with a nice chuck of taxpayer coin?

[sugarfree]

01:24 PM on 02/19/2009

Eric Cantor's wife is the Managing Director at this Subsidiary of N.Y. Private Bank and Trust which got 287 million of the 700B Taxpayers Bank Bailout money in September.
Cantor played a key role in getting Bipartisa approval for the controversial 700B Bailout money, than
begin buying up stock in the Banks. TRICK-DICK need to resigned from office, i hope the
VA. VOTERS remember this story on election day.

[OdaNobunaga]

11:04 PM on 02/18/2009

Republicans have no respect for other people's intellectual property, because none of them have intellects.

[uglyhumanbeing]

10:20 PM on 02/18/2009

Wonder if Glen Campbell or Amy Grant would mind if the Republican Party used their music without permission.

[Rockster]

09:54 PM on 02/18/2009

Aerosmith should sue the RNC and Cantor personally.

[Geria]

09:04 PM on 02/18/2009

Thanks for playing "Grasping at Straws."

[cyclobenzaprine9]

07:56 PM on 02/18/2009

Not sure about Steven, but I thought Joe Perry was Republican, since he endorsed McCain in the last election.

[JodyMcg]

08:11 PM on 02/18/2009

Aerosmith (at least their music anyway) has never been political and they have avoided political statements with their music.

[wordvarc]

07:52 PM on 02/18/2009

No one wants to be associated with the Grand Obstructionist Party of Limbaugh.

Their continued use of songs by writers who demand they stop is symbolic of how disliked and out of touch the GOP has become.

They'd be sadly pathetic if their lazy idealism did not lead us into so much peril.

The GOP failed miserably when trying to lead in the last decade. It's time for them to follow, or get out of the way.

Recall, impeach, or ask them to resign.

[killpack]

12:43 AM on 02/19/2009

I'm demanding a recall/impeachment of ALL of Congress right now, regardless of party. They are ALL disliked and out of touch.

[WAdem]

09:52 PM on 02/19/2009

killpack- both sides can't be out of touch as you've stated, can they? What is your point?? Voting both parties out of office is foolish. We need to assess who is helping and who is hurting the country to pull out of this disastrous economic slump.

[haval2]

07:48 PM on 02/18/2009

Thank you Mr. Tyler.

[chibbles]

07:42 PM on 02/18/2009

I never had a doubt this would happen. Didn't Mellencamp tell the GOP to stop using one of his songs during the election?

[OdaNobunaga]

11:07 PM on 02/18/2009

Not sure, but I do know that The Foo Fighters and Heart told McCain and Palin to stop using their songs, "My Hero" and "Barracuda," respectively.

[FR]

08:19 AM on 02/19/2009

Mellencamp too, re "Our Country" and "Pink Houses."
Again and again the same pattern.

[ctuck622]

07:20 PM on 02/18/2009

I wrote this recently amidst the scandal with now-formerFlaRepublicanHouseSpeakerRaySansom&NWFlaStateCollege-Sansom's hometownAlmaMater-for whom he abused his power procuring millions for the school.(I've filed aSACS Complaint against the college, but rather than sanction higher ed institutions for abuses of power, et al., they refuse to disclose details of the investigation.)I think this little ditty is appropriate." Substitute the name of your favoriteRepublican.
The Sansom Anthem(Sung to the tune ofNaNaHeyHey)
NaNaNaNa
NaNaNaNa
HeyHeyRayGood-bye
Na na na na na na na na
Hey heyRayGood-bye

We'll never love you
The way that we loved you
'Cause when we did, you lied and then you
Made us cry
You might have fooled usRaybut then you showed your-showed your
True colors so pucker up&kiss our
Yes pucker up&kiss our—pucker up&kiss our--behinds
(chorus x 2)
We want to jeer you
You double-dippin' heel you
While all the rest of us are
Standin'-- in the unemployment line
You might think you're entitled
But it's only—yes it is only
You know that it is only—know that it's only—your pride
(chorus x10)
We're really sick to death
Of all of you fat cats
Abusing power-stealing all our rights-everyday
You know it's trueRay
We're sick of the games you play
Can't let you get away with all that dough
Oh no no no
NaNaNaNa
NaNaNaNa
HeyHeyRayGoodbye(rpt 2 end)

ReworkedLyricsBy
CarolTuckerMA
Court Reform-NOW
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/equaljusticeforall
http://www.courtreformnow.ning.com

[jackjava]

06:39 PM on 02/18/2009

I wouldn't think a guy like Canter would have a clue who Aerosmith is. I'm sure he didn't.

Glad to see Steven, Joe, and the others in the band said get it down or we will prosecute

[lizt]

09:19 PM on 02/18/2009

My question is does Cantor know this song refers to hooking up with a hooker? lol