In the grand scheme of things there were far more egregious
things said last week than Sir Paul McCartney’s assertion that
former President George W. Bush didn’t know what a library was
after
receiving the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
In the wake of the flotilla incident one can take far
greater umbrage towards Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan’s
assertion that he “does not see Hamas as a terror
organization.” It certainly wasn’t nearly as offensive as White
House Press Corps doyen Helen Thomas’ edict that Jews
should “get the hell out of Palestine” and to “go home” to Poland
and Germany. Or should I say ex-White House Press
Corps doyen? Unlike Thomas, McCartney certainly hasn’t sung his
last song.
Yet the former Beatle’s quip merits some scrutiny. At best,
his comment is borne of ignorance. Given former First Lady Laura
Bush’s background as a librarian, the Bushes have been stalwart
supporters of public libraries. In fact, federal funding for
public libraries
increased 30% during the Bush presidency. At worst, his
comment is steeped in maliciousness. Of course, Sir Paul is
entitled to his opinion of George W. Bush and is free to express
that opinion if he so wishes. But just because he can doesn’t
mean he should.
Now one can make the case that McCartney is just the latest
in the long line of celebrities who have made derisive comments
about the 43rd President. Why then should I be surprised at his
outburst? Yet I am very surprised he would say such a thing.
Frankly, I expected more of him than I would say Sean Penn or
Susan Sarandon.
I have had the privilege of seeing McCartney perform in
concert on two occasions. Most recently,
I saw Macca play at Fenway Park in Boston last August with my
roommate Christopher. A splendid time was had by all. McCartney
played well over thirty songs including two encores and did so
with an energy and enthusiasm of a man at least half his age.
When it comes to playing his music he is certainly not half the
man he used to be.
Before McCartney played “Blackbird” he said he had written
it in response to racial tensions that were going on in the
United States in the late 1960s and that “Blackbird” actually
represented a black girl. He made an oblique reference to Obama
in that things had come a very long way in America since then. If
McCartney had any animosity towards George W. Bush or anyone else
in the world that night he just let it be.
McCartney is certainly no stranger to political activism.
He is well known for his advocacy of vegetarianism and animal
rights and has been a
supporter of organizations such as People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals (PETA). McCartney is also known for his
support for the banning of landmines.
Whatever one might think of the causes he chooses to associate
himself with he has generally done so in a positive
manner.
You might recall when McCartney and his then wife Heather
Mills debated
Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, on
Larry King Live in March 2006 over the commercial seal
hunt in Canada. While Mills behaved belligerently McCartney tried
to maintain a civil discourse with Williams. Soon after that
appearance McCartney and Mills would head for divorce
court.
It is also worth remembering that McCartney would play in
Israel in September 2008 despite being on the
receiving end of death threats from Omar Bakri Mohammed, a
Muslim cleric once based in London now living in Lebanon. Calling
McCartney “the enemy of every Muslim”, Mohammed stated,
“If he values his life, Mr. McCartney must not come to
Israel. He will not be safe there.”
Undeterred, McCartney played in Tel Aviv where again a
splendid time was had by all. The fact that
McCartney played in Israel at all is significant in light of the
recent decision of his friend and occasional musical collaborator
Elvis Costello to cancel tour dates in the Jewish State this
summer.
Before the show, McCartney visited the Church of the
Nativity in Bethlehem and
stated, “All we need is peace in the
region and a two-state solution.” McCartney might be shocked to
know that he and Bush are in agreement on a two-state solution.
During a speech in the Rose Garden in June 2002,
Bush
stated,
“My vision is two states, living side by
side in peace and security.”
So in light of McCartney’s generally sunny disposition and
even tempered approach to his political activity his denigration
of Bush seemed both out of character and out of place.
But given that McCartney
articulated his disdain for Bush in the presence of Obama and
his family I wonder how the First Family reacted since the camera
did not pan to them after his remark. So unlike Jerry Seinfeld,
we don’t know if President Obama and the First Lady laughed,
applauded or fist pumped in approval of McCartney’s dig at Bush.
But given President Obama’s own repeated barbs at his
predecessor, what else are we to think?
As for me, this episode doesn’t mean I’ll never listen to
the Beatles, Wings or McCartney’s solo material again. However, I
might have second thoughts about spending a couple of hundred
dollars to see McCartney in concert. Whatever my disappointment,
life will go on — Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da. Or rather, Obam-La-Di,
Obam-La-Da.
