GREAT AMERICAN MYTHS: COUNTRY STARS ARE FAR FROM ALL REPUBLICAN

||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

JENNIFER BROOKS, TENNESSEAN - The Tennessean studied 15 years' worth of
federal campaign-finance records, searching for donations from Nashville
stars, and the results show that political opinions are as divided on
Nashville's Music Row as they are in the rest of the country.

Since 1992, donations to Democratic candidates have outnumbered
Republicans by a ratio of three-to-one, due in part to six-figure
donations from Bonnie Raitt, who, at best, falls into the Americana
category. Even without Raitt's largess, Democratic-leaning artists come
out slightly ahead in their political giving compared to their
Republican counterparts.

The Dixie Chicks  -  whose anti-Bush remarks in 2003 sparked a harsh
backlash among conservatives  -  give to Democrats. The Oak Ridge Boys
give to Republicans. . .

Fred Thompson's campaign has drawn the most interest and support from
Music Row. In addition to Rich, Cowboy Troy, Gretchen Wilson, Ronnie
Dunn and Trace Adkins have donated the maximum, $2,300, to his primary
campaign. . .

Willie Nelson supports Dennis Kucinich. Mitt Romney has Randy Owen in
his corner. Raitt gave to both Kucinich and John Edwards. Randy Travis
is a Bill Richardson fan. Toby Keith, a lifelong Democrat, started
giving to Republicans after 9/11. . . Merle Haggard wrote a campaign
jingle this year for . . .  Hillary Clinton?

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/
2007-10-30-country-campaign_N.htm


||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||