The Question isn't why Lee Greenwood, Larry Gatlin and Don McLean

[edhopper]

dropped out of the NRA Convention.
The question is why they agreed to go to this Russian funded, bloodthirsty group to begin with?

[dchill]

1. We'll, yes. Exactly.

I think the answer is that they've tended toward doucheness for a long time. Leaned into it, in fact.

[H2O Man]

2. Recommended.

[Tetrachloride]

3. Don McClean is the first singer that I ever blacklisted

from my listening library.

My father was 2x war veteran. We had no hunters , gun nuts or RW in my immediate family.

No NRA, American Legion but plenty of Green Bay Packers prior to 1967.

[edhopper]

4. Why did you stop

rooting for the Packers in 67?

[Tetrachloride]

6. Lombardi left thereabouts. After 1972 or so, pro sports began to decline in my life.

I wasn’t locked at home so much because of snow.

That is, no single year was the cause. Not many winning sports teams in Wisconsin in the 1970s.

[rsdsharp]

36. Lombardi's last game as Packers coach was the January 1968 Super Bowl against the Raiders.

He remained as Packers GM through the 1968 season, and then agreed to coach and GM the Redskins for 1969. He died September 3, 1970.

[Puppyjive]

21. American Legion

I've been member of The American Legion for a long time. I'm seriously thinking about giving up membership. I joined as a member, I joined the auxiliary and I continue to pay for my stepfather's membership. I feel like the members have become too conservative for me. I was handing out poppies with a member and she started going off on libtards and the president. I told her I was a libtard. I don't care for this organization anymore. They need to get a grip on reality. I can disagree with the other side, but I don't call them names in their face. This veteran volunteer has had enough.

[Tetrachloride]

30. I know some strong conservatives or proud independents

cough.

its an emotional investment as well as likely financial. As it turns out, my family priorities have taken me away from recent American life.

For the main portion of DU members, I sympathize with your interactions with the RW.

[rsdsharp]

37. I went to Boys State in Iowa in June 1971. Boys State is

(or at least, was) sponsored by the American Legion. It was held at a National Guard base. The first day we were gathered in a large parking lot. The PTB explained what we would be doing for the next week, and them explained that even though Viet Nam was still ongoing, we were only 23 months from Kent State, we were gathered on a National Guard base, and the whole thing was run by the American Legion, there was no connection to the military.

“Now, line up in columns of three, and march to the barracks!”

[spooky3]

5. How could someone who wrote the exquisite "Vincent" have

Turned into a RWNJ? How disappointing.

[edhopper]

8. Not sure

He wrote a song about George Floyd. Says he hates politics. Hard to pin down. But the NRA Don? No excuse.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

11. That was my thought too.

His exwife said this about him in 2020:

"I do feel there is an element of brainwashing there. I relate to a lot of the things they say about cults like the charismatic leader, and how their version of things becomes your version, the twisted version".

[Skittles]

40. he sounds like a real piece of work

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/don-mclean-jackie-roan-yellowthorn-1187117/

[spooky3]

44. What an asshole. Nt

[Zambero]

42. Bye Bye Miss Ukranian Pie

Them good old comrades drinking vodka and rye?

[halfulglas]

7. For money. They may not be RW.

Trade shows and conventions are lifeblood for entertainers who are no longer on top, especially for those who didn't save their money when they were hot. A lot of potential income was lost during COVID. A lot of times they also get paid expenses. Heck, some of them will sing at super wealthy private parties. It's probably hard to be retired if you're used to the spotlight and the money. If their agent can book them a gig, they might consider a family reunion (I'm not really sure about this).

[TimeToGo]

9. Pays well, easy gig

We might be surprised at the acts that play at private or corporate functions

[edhopper]

10. Don McLean's net worth is estimated

at $50 million, and has an active touring schedule. I get playing conventions, but the NRA? It is a corrupt, Russian backed group.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

13. We don't hear about the Russiia backing in the news. As we should.

The NRA needs to be referred to at protests as Putin's National Russian Association.

[Rebl2]

15. Don't know

why I didn’t know this until the last couple years.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

19. That Russian gal who infiltrated the NRA circle and was eventually sent back to Russia.

What was her name?

Found her: Maria Butina https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50192393

After Sandy Hook, the NRA lost membership. Then more after Las Vegas and Parkland. Then she showed up and though the NRA was bleeding cash, they stayed viable.

[Rebl2]

20. Oh yes

I do remember that. Had totally forgotten about it.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

28. Members are not the only ones funding 31 years of LaPierre's lavish lifestyle. . . . nt

[SleeplessinSoCal]

31. Too many Gravy Trains.

And the trains are full of poison for American consumption.

[FakeNoose]

41. Maria Butina - I just mentioned her yesterday in a different DU thread

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=16741242



"Memba her?

She's back in Russia under Pootie's protection now.

[twodogsbarking]

16. Your facts conflict with the prior narrative.

[edhopper]

17. I read a few articles

am open to any that show he is a RWNJ.
I am not disputing it, just haven't seen the info.
Do you have any links?

[twodogsbarking]

22. You are spot on. McLean has proven his assholedness time and time again.

[Iggo]

18. Maybe he's got a lot of money 'cause (usually) he ain't afraid to get paid.

Don’t be surprised when rich people accept money. It’s how they got rich.

[edhopper]

23. Sure

But to me, the NRA is different from some corporate get together.
Maybe he just didn't care if the money was green. Or maybe he is a RW gun nut. I can't find enough info about it.

[Iggo]

12. $$$ (n/t)

[SleeplessinSoCal]

14. ₽₽₽

Rubles

[Ford_Prefect]

24. What is NEVER in the news is how the rest of the US arms industry funds NRA.

That is the other dark money.

[edhopper]

25. MIC

Eisenhower warned us.

[Warpy]

26. McLeaan hasn't had a hit since 1971

and most of us agreed back then that people who loved that song must have had access to better drugs than we could afford.

I can't speak to the other two, I don't pay much attention at all to their genre. Or maybe they wanted to polish their own country, gun totin' street cred.

However, my best guess says careers on the skids, they were available.

[Gore1FL]

27. A gig is a gig. nt

[spanone]

29. Money.

[IronLionZion]

32. People who like money don't often care where it comes from

So America First types will happily take Russian money.

[LeftInTX]

33. Lee Greenwood dropped out?

Hell froze over?

[murielm99]

34. I saw him on some news show,

can't remember which, saying he hoped they would not revoke his NRA membership.

I am glad he dropped out of the convention.

[BradAllison]

39. It's Memorial day Weekend....

There are car lots that could probably use him.

[Initech]

35. Because they're full blown MAGA cult members?

[SleeplessinSoCal]

38. mea culpa

These guys are part of the opposition. But we need to show some respect when the acknowledge shortcomings.

We lose them for good when we take our collective anger out on them for finally speaking out.

[Irish_Dem]

45. We don't believe they have seen the light.

Just following orders from their PR staff.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

46. Gatlin sounded someone contrite on the BBC yesterday.

But he had to dig at us. Had to say the 2nd amendment protects guns so much more than the founders intended.

[Irish_Dem]

47. So he is not contrite. No remorse, no understanding of what he has done.

[Tickle]

43. They haven't changed

they thought the timing was off