Ted Nugent, Secret Service Meeting Over Rocker's Anti-Obama Screed

WASHINGTON -- Rocker and gun rights champion Ted Nugent says he will meet with the Secret Service on Thursday to explain his raucous remarks about what he called Barack Obama's "evil, America-hating administration" – comments some critics interpreted as a threat against the president.

"The conclusion will be obvious that I threatened no one," Nugent told radio interviewer Glenn Beck on Wednesday. Nugent said he'd been contacted by the agency and would cooperate fully even though he found the complaints "silly."

The controversy erupted after the self-styled "Motor City Madman" made an impassioned plea for support for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney during the National Rifle Association meeting in St. Louis last weekend. "We need to ride into that battlefield and chop their heads off in November," Nugent said of the Obama administration.

He also included a cryptic pronouncement: "If Barack Obama becomes the next president in November, again, I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year."

Outraged Democrats circulated the remarks and suggested they were threatening. Secret Service spokesman George Ogilvie confirmed that the agency was looking into the matter but declined to give details. "We are aware of the incident and we are taking appropriate follow-up," Ogilvie said.

Nugent said he was simply trying to galvanize voters. The hard rocker, best known for `70s hits like "Cat Scratch Fever," is a conservative activist and has a history of heated and sometimes vulgar criticism of Obama. Nugent endorsed Romney after speaking to him last month.

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz called on Romney to "condemn Nugent's violent and hateful rhetoric."

Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul addressed the issue with a brief statement: "Divisive language is offensive no matter what side of the political aisle it comes from. Mitt Romney believes everyone needs to be civil."

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Comments

[genxtreme]

01:44 AM on 04/29/2012

Haters!!!! why because he speaks his mind? Because he believes in the 2nd (this is a constitutional right) even if you despise him all Americans should stand up for what they believe and protect the constitution. All rites under the Constitution! if 1 is in danger all are in danger

[phroggzilla]

08:26 PM on 04/19/2012

Gun-nut Ted Nugent's draft-dodging poopypants story gives new meaning to the phrase Amendment Number Two.

HA! HA!

[Rehbock]

05:28 PM on 04/19/2012

I detest Nugent and the right wing whackos in general. But nothing Nugent said or has done is outside of 1st amendment protected speech. I remember a particularily intelligent piece in Harpers magazine during GWB's mis-administration that set out numerous hypothetical statements or restated threats of others so that the writer could commujicate his desires that that President be variously disposed of while making clear that his was protected speech and thus not an actual threat.

The Secret Service should look for threats a little closer it seems.

[franklma]

02:03 PM on 04/19/2012

FBI, CIA same difference. Do they have time to look into matters? Isn't there a brothel they have to visit first?

[BabylonDon]

08:34 AM on 04/20/2012

This is what the cons consider a well-informed voter. By the way? It's the Secret Service.

Thanks for playing!

Or did you want to keep guessing? Lifeline? Phone a friend? Or would you just just like to theump your chest and chant USA! USA! until we go to commercial?

[Tonelook]

01:36 PM on 04/19/2012

I wondered what the supposedly underage sexual victims of Nugent that he himself use to brag about; feel about all the Republican adoration and the got your back network manueverings.

[RightRealDeal]

01:28 PM on 04/19/2012

Farrakhan, NBPs, Maher, Ed the Sgt., H Rosen, VJones,RevWright, Ayers, many more.......

[Jay Malmstrom]

02:59 PM on 04/19/2012

Farrakhan doesn't support anybody. The NBP are a media meme kept alive by FOX and two guys really hungry for publicity. Ayers - not even a friend, just a neighbor, never indicted, never charged, never convicted. As to Maher and Shultz - when was the last time they threatened violence against anybody or abused an underage girl?

[RightRealDeal]

04:16 PM on 04/19/2012

wow, you have a lot of excuses

[sitat]

11:45 PM on 04/19/2012

You put Hilary Rosen in this group? Really? Seriously?

[loufarrelli]

01:26 PM on 04/19/2012

Can't wait for the Chris Hansen surprise interview.

[RightRealDeal]

01:26 PM on 04/19/2012

Ted will take these guys to Sturgis this year, they will have a blast.

[Retired Badge 70]

01:16 PM on 04/19/2012

Hey Ted, I am a voting Dem. I for one can and will defend myself big boy. I also believe in the second ammendment, get the picture big boy

[jscratz]

03:59 AM on 04/20/2012

:-)

[Acct Pre Deleted]

12:23 PM on 04/19/2012

The Secret Service is just using this opportunity to get Ted's autograph.

[AhmazingBailey]

12:47 PM on 04/19/2012

Really? You think someone actually wants his autograph?

[Acct Pre Deleted]

02:37 PM on 04/19/2012

Yes. He has millions of fans, though I'm not one of them.

[hmby42]

11:42 AM on 04/19/2012

Remember today is the Anniversy of the Right Wing Radical Bombing of the Oklahoma Federal Building by Mcvay

[Contra1]

06:18 PM on 04/19/2012

What is the anniversary for Barry's mentor Ayers killing cops?

[June25]

08:50 PM on 04/19/2012

You'll forgive me if I don't celebrate wi\th you.

[Taioseach 7]

11:25 AM on 04/19/2012

Wow, I really thought there'd be more comments in defense of Ted. I didn't read very far and only came across a few.

Normally there'd be more in support of Theodore since he is of the Rush/Beck mindset.

[beauregard62]

11:53 AM on 04/19/2012

Try redstates. I am sure they are feeling the love for Nugent.

[goleafsgo]

12:23 PM on 04/19/2012

Mitt's son is ecstatic that Nugent has endorsed his father!

[whatchamean]

11:15 AM on 04/19/2012

The guy had one top ten hit in the 70s. Why does anyone on either side care about what he says.

[goleafsgo]

12:25 PM on 04/19/2012

Isn't he on the board of governors or have some kind of high position in the NRA?

[Gerald Larkin]

11:14 AM on 04/19/2012

Why do we give so much credence to what celebrities say politically? Alec Baldwin was going to leave the country if Bush was re-elected (he didn't). The Bruce is always active in election years. Now Ted Nugent. Just because I'm a popular actor/singer/whatever, how does that qualify me as a political expert? Other than 'because you have a large microphone' I'm baffled that voters are actually influenced by these people, or that we spend time/money/energy on it when they do speak up or out.

[icwhite02]

03:42 PM on 04/19/2012

Don't you think he's on the Koch Brothers' Propoganda payroll? I do.

[Rehbock]

05:35 PM on 04/19/2012

Nor are all celebrities what they are sold as. In his case it seems that he genuinely is as offensive as he is selling himself as. But whether or not genuinely held beliefs, that his or a Palin's remarks or the statements those of others who read too little and understand less than too little are taken seriously by so many is troubling.

[FVMTX75]

10:56 AM on 04/19/2012

Look! It's the draft dodging coward who BLEEPED his pants!!!