Let me preface this first by summarizing the whole controversy and stating a couple things.

The whole mess started in 2003.  During the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, several weeks after their Grammy success, the Dixie Chicks performed in concert in London.  Natalie Maines, made the following comment: "Just so you know, we’re ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas".

First of all, she has all the right in the world to say that, if that is how she feels.  As I keep saying, I support free speech, and she has the right to express whatever she wants.

But (and I keep harping on this too) free speech is not always free.  When people disagree with you, they may hold you accountable, and in the case where the people who disagree with you are your patrons, they may withhold their patronage.

And they did.  The country music scene is very patriotic.  Maines’s remark sparked a quick backlash; many Americans believed that she should not criticize her country’s head of state on foreign soil, or criticize the Commander-in-Chief while the country was on the verge of war.  Many of these people organized a boycott of the Dixie Chicks’ music.  It also launched a feud between them and Toby Keith.

Maines has defended her comments, and that is fine.  She, as I said, has the right to say anything she wants, it’s her piehole.  But the people who were offended by her words have the right to express their reaction too, and they expressed it at the wallet level, putting the group’s CD sales, concerts and air play in a spin.

Maines apologized later that week:

"As a concerned American citizen, I apologize to President Bush because my remark was disrespectful. I feel that whoever holds that office should be treated with the utmost respect,"

It should have been over, but I think Maines realizes controversy sells, as she later retracted that apology saying:

I don’t feel that way anymore…I don’t feel he is owed any respect whatsoever."

That was then coupled with their new album, released away from their country roots, with a single called "Not ready to make nice"

I’m not ready to make nice,
I’m not ready to back down,
I’m still mad as hell
And I don’t have time
To go round and round and round
It’s too late to make it right
I probably wouldn’t if I could
Cause I’m mad as hell
Can’t bring myself to do what it is
You think I should

They also took some more shots at Bush in their mockumentary, Shut up and sing. 

And all this has even has lead to still persistent rumours of the group’s splitting up.

That brings us to the Grammys.

They were nominated for 5 awards and won all 5.  In her speeches Maines made some interesting comments.

She stated "I’m ready to make nice!"

Well how convenient since the song said otherwise.  But when they love you, it’s ok to be nice?

The other was "I think people are using their freedom of speech with all these awards. We get the message."

Um, I don’t think so.  The Grammys are not the People’s Choice awards honey, they are an industry award, nominated by industry people and voted on by the same people.  Now some of the industry types kinda shunned them, so maybe there is some valid vindication there, but the implication that "people" are forgiving you is all in your head. 

From the Grammy Website:

The process begins with members and record companies submitting entries, which are then screened for eligibility and category placement. The Academy’s voting members, all involved in the creative and technical processes of recording, then participate in (1) the nominating process that determines the five finalists in each category; and (2) the final voting process which determines the GRAMMY winners.

So the message she should have gotten was "the Industry forgives us."  Shocker.  Of course the industry wants this over.  They lost money.

I don’t know how their sales are doing now, and have not heard their new album.  What I do know is that I find the flip flop apology to be somewhat frustrating.  I find their posturing and claims of victimhood boring.

And I find the apparent pandering of the Music Industry and the MSM somewhat disgusting. 

The headlines rage that they found vindication.  How?  How does an industry award vindicate the boycott of the people they offended?  Maybe they deserve a chance to once again be considered for their talents, but all this does is push their politics right back to the front.

And there is something else they should have considered before claiming vindication.

Granted it was a nice way for the industry to show them some support, but there is always going to be a cloud hanging over their awards because of that accusation of pandering.  Were the awards just a Scooby Snack to shut them up?  To show those ignorant country hicks that their politics are much more acceptable to the cultured music elites?

Or were they actually given because the music deserved it? 

The Chicks are insanely talented, so it could be.  But now the doubt is going to sit in the back of people’s minds.

Let’s assume that the Grammys may have really been given for the albums merits.  If that was true, then any political statement is unnecessary, because the acclaim of their peers for their work should be the priority.  Remember that their talent was never the issue, only their politics.  So there was no vindication needed about their talent, was there?

So there was no reason to attach a message of vindication…except Maines wants to attach one because she still has her panties in a twist over the bruhaha she launched with her ill timed saucy comment.  In this case, she is in effect claiming the awards trump the politics of her comment, which in turn says nothing about the albums merits and quality.

So Maines by her crowing and statements makes the matter seem more like clearing the politics was the goal, not recognizing the quality of their art.

Maybe shut up and sing is too harsh, but in this case shut up and say thank you might have carried more weight if the album had any merit.

But win they did, so it seems only fitting that I close this with their MadTV Tribute.

Others:  Sister Toldjah, Hot Air, Michelle Malkin, Political Pit Bull

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