January 29, 2008
$505 per word (or $476 per second)
Ever wonder what political candidates do with all that cash they raise and/or donate to themselves? One of the more interesting expenditures comes from the recent campaign report of state Senator Fred Smith. The Insider is reporting that the GOP gubernatorial wannabe paid a cool $100,000 to country/pop singer Lee Greenwood (that's him pictured at right in all his star spangled splendor) for a campaign song.
Greenwood's introduction of the song on Smith's website makes you wonder about Smith's skills as a negotiator and budget cutter. According to the singer, the song was his idea. He says he remembers saying to Smith: "How 'bout if I write you a song?" To which, he claims, Smith replied: "Well I don't know. Are you capable of doing that?"
Is this what we have to look forward from a Governor Smith? Greenwood makes it sound as if he was ready to give Smith the song out of his dedication to the cause and Smith ends up paying him a hundred grand?!
Anyway, in the event you'd like to spare yourself the experience, the Progressive Pulse has, as a service to its readers, transcribed the lyrics of the three and a half minute, soon-to-be chart topper. By our count, the song features 198 words (not counting the three repeats of the heart-stirring chorus). In case anyone's counting, that's roughly $505 per word and $476 per second paid out by a man whose website claims that "Irresponsible spending is endemic in the General Assembly."
Check out the lyrics to "Good to Great" (we hope we got them all down correctly) and decide if you think such spending might be endemic in the Smith campaign too:
The mist begins to rise on the mountains to the west,
And the sun begins to break – a brand new day.
There's a spirit that's awake, and a whisper in the wind.
And a voice among the trees that seems to say:
"These times demand we have courage when we must
And we should place our faith in someone that we trust."Chorus
He's from North Carolina – the place where he was raised.
Fights for what is right and he's continually amazed,
At how the heart beats strong in the people of his state.
Count on Fred Smith!
To take us from good to great!The Outer Banks stand guard like a shield for Jockey's Ridge,
And the lighthouse at the Cape holds back the night.
As the echo of the Tar Heel is an emblem of the past,
And the Kitty Hawk remembers its first flight.
For the soldiers who have answered the call,
We need a governor who represents us all.Repeat chorus
We all believe in the right to make a choice,
Protected by the laws of our land.
So let's rise and speak with a gentle voice – make the message clear,
The time is here at hand.Repeat chorus
Repeat chorus again.
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8 Comments Add yours »
Is it me, or do Lee Greenwood and Randy Parton look very, very similar?
Perhaps Lee should “suggest” he write a song for some other political candidates in the state – with Dole’s war chest he might really be able to clean up. I’ll even help get him started:
She hasn’t lived here in many years,
Likes the Watergate,
And doesn’t shop at Sears
Her rich buddies give her money,
Let’s hope its too late,
We can’t take much more in the old North State
After watching the hilarious video I can’t help but notice that almost all the audience seen when the camera pulls back look like they are about 70 yrs + and are having some trouble clapping in time to the music. And OK, I’m clearly not cut out for the music business.
I would LOVE for you to cross-post this because there’s no way I can do justice by cutting and pasting snippets. I’ll drop the link into one of our open threads, but a full-fledge xpost would much appreciated.
Hilarious!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZXwK0w2qjw
I made a youtube.
Does pulse allow html? If not, this below won’t make no sense:
How does Fred Smith spend his money?
Gary Robertson with the Associated Press is saying that the AP didn’t actually report that Fred Smith paid Lee Greenwood.
Yes, he told me that as well and I have amended the post. Sorry for the error, but it was The Insider that mentioned AP in the first place. I was just trying to give everyone their due.
I hear Lee’s going to re-do the song in “honor” of one of the other candidates: ;-)
The cash begins to be passed in the east and the west,
And the scandals begin to break – each and every day.
There’s a stench that’s spreading, and a whisper in the press.
And a voice among the crooks that seems to say:
“Tough times demand we bribe and steal when we must
And we should place our cash in a Swiss bank and trust.”
Chorus
She’s from North Carolina – the place her party shamed.
Stands for what is wrong and she’s continually amazed,
At how easy one can tax and spend the people’s purses dry.
Count on Bev Perdue!
To take us from bad to worse!
The Education Lottery swindles people from Murphy to Manteo,
Easley junkets to Italy while everyone’s budget is tight.
Surely the spirit of the Tar Heel is an relic of the past,
And Meg Scott wishes she’d taken flight.
For the Jim Blacks who have taken the cash,
We need a governor who signs pardons with dash.
Repeat chorus
We Dems believe in our right to make your choices,
Above all the laws of our land.
So we’ll rise and speak with a stern voice – make the message clear,
Big government’s heavy hand.
Repeat chorus
Repeat chorus again.