Are you ready for some football? A Monday night party? Well, the Monday Night Football party (such as it is) will apparently continue without Hank Williams, Jr. — at least for now. Williams, whose signature song, “All My Rowdy Friends,” has been synonymous with Monday Night Football on ABC and ESPN since 1991, has been given the hook by the powers-that-be at ESPN after comparing President Obama to Adolf Hitler. Given multiple opportunities to backtrack and clarify during a Monday morning interview on Fox & Friends, Williams did himself no favors. He apparently forgot (if he ever knew) the maxim, “When you’re in a hole, stop digging.”
Williams has dug himself into a hole that he is not likely to get out of anytime soon, if ever. What exactly did Williams say that caused such an uproar? Appearing on Fox & Friends on Monday morning, Williams said:
that he thought Speaker of the House John Boehner playing golf with President Obama “would be like Hitler playing golf with (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu … In the shape this country is in?”
I’m guessing that Williams’ analogy doesn’t have Obama playing the role of Bibi Netanyahu. Given President Obama’s continued animus toward the state of Israel, that is a gimme. However, in case anyone was confused, Hank continued to open his mouth, removing all doubt as to what he meant and removing all doubt as to his foolishness (at least on this issue). When Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade told Williams he didn’t understand his analogy, Williams kept digging:
“I’m glad you don’t, brother, because a lot of people do. They’re the enemy.” Asked who, Williams said: “Obama. And Biden. Are you kidding? The Three Stooges.”
The Fox & Friends co-hosts, obviously fans of Hank Williams, Jr., tried in vain to save him from his idiocy, but to no avail. Toward the end of the interview, co-host Gretchen Carlson gave Williams one last chance to walk back at least some of his Hitler analogy. Williams, ever the cantankerous contrarian, wasn’t budging. When confronted with the fact that Williams had compared President Obama with one of the most evil men in recorded history — a comparison which immediately brings the intelligence of the one doing the comparing into question — Hank, Jr. doubled-down with what has to be one of the stupidest things he could have ever said:
Well that’s true. But I’m telling you like it is.
Really? President Obama, as the Red Eye’s Greg Gutfeld would say, “is worse than Hitler?” No one in their right mind could possibly believe that President Obama is the next coming of Adolph Hitler. Similarly, no rational or sane person would compare President George W. Bush to the Nazi madman responsible for killing 6 million Jews in addition to millions of others during his reign in 1930’s and 1940’s Germany. This is sheer lunacy.
When anyone, including Hank Williams, Jr., compares an American President (Obama or Bush) to Hitler, he demonstrates his own foolishness as well as a profound moral confusion regarding the Holocaust. And, herein lies the double standard. ESPN was well within its rights to remove Williams’ song from MNF’s opening of the Colts/Buccaneers game. Contrary to what some have argued, this is not a First Amendment issue. Many football fans are outraged at ESPN for removing Williams. These same fans have given Williams a pass on his Hitler analogy, most likely because they agree with his politics.
Likewise, liberals are outraged because of William’s pernicious remarks and want him permanently banned from MNF. It doesn’t matter that the likes of Janeane Garofalo make ugly and untrue accusations against conservatives. The darlings of the left will always get a pass from their fellow travelers, including liberals in the media.
Hank Williams, just like Janeane Garofalo and others on the lunatic left, have every right to say whatever inane thoughts come into their minds. But, ESPN is not obligated to keep “All My Rowdy Friends” as the intro to Monday Night Football anymore than CBS is obligated to keep on Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior.
Conservatives often battle double standards, particularly those employed by the media. However, on the issue of comparing politicians to Hitler, there should be one standard — don’t! Conservatives, above all people, should guard against giving passes to their own who foolishly use the Hitler analogy. Even if that means no longer starting the MNF party with Hank and all his rowdy friends!
“…On the issue of comparing politicians to Hitler, there should be one standard — don’t!”
Best.Quote.Ever
Clearly, Hank listens to Rush way too much.
You are absolutely right. It seems Hitler hated only Jewish babies. Obama hates ’em all. I don’t have any idea where Hank stands on abortion, but any politician that uses his influence to continue to murder defenseless little children is exactly like Hitler. The Holocaust was a terrible, terrible crime against God and humanity. Abortion has killed over 50 million in America alone. Hitler would be proud.
Jeff,
No one is minimizing the “crime against God and humanity” that is abortion. That is ludicrous. If you want to give Hank a pass on the Hitler analogy or if you want to compare Obama to Hitler, then go for it. I’m not going down that road. Thanks for stopping by. God bless,
Howell
Sorry Howell, that was not my intent. I meant to compare America to Germany. We look down our self-righteous noses at the Germans for not stopping Hitler when we’ve killed 8 times more people than he did. The reason abortion is legal in America is because Democrats AND Republicans want it so.
As for giving Hank a pass; I am much more offended by his drunkenness than I am his stupidity. The song that was yanked wasn’t a football song anyway. Perhaps they’ll ask Chris Rice to do “Come to Jesus” as a replacement!
Jeff,
Thanks for the clarification. You are certainly correct that we have no room to be “self-righteous,” although I still think that Hitler is in a category all by himself. Your comments about Hank’s lifestyle issues — along with his stupidity over this issue — are well taken. Thanks and God bless,
Howell
Here is the irony. Ray Comfort in his film, 180, goes out on the street and asks young people if they know who Hilter was. Very few have any idea! I have done my own mini survey and found pretty much the same results. You guys should try it, too.
Should I assume the ESPN audience is more educated? :o)