[Jerry Glenn Hartwig]

Lo

So we're only talking about using the song at the convention.

When Michelle Obama left the podium at the Democratic National Convention to the tune of Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Wonderful", did they get prior permission from the copyright holder to play that song?

Personally, I doubt it. I could be wrong, but a vast amount of music is played at those conventions over the several days of the conventions. I've done a little more research into (not extensive) into cases, and despite your opinion of what's legal or not, I don't see a copyright violation. Just because a 'cease and desist' order was issued does not necessarily mean a copyright was violated. That's what the court decides. The order is a temporary measure until the issue is litigated.

If the Democrats didn't get permission for every song they played at their convention, didn't they commit the same 'crime' you're accusing the Republicans of? Why aren't you ranting at them - or are you just assuming they did everything properly because they're Democrats *wink*. (Just teasing, Lo).

The issue appears to be two members of Heart don't like having a song they recorded associated with Palin. A former guitarist - who played in the recorded version - thought it was great (I read his comments in an interview). He thought it was great publicity.

Was there a copyright violation? That's for the courts to decide. It's questionable, to me.

[Jerry Glenn Hartwig]

Since no one answered my question about the book burning issue I'll research that one when I have time, also.

[Jerry Glenn Hartwig]

I'm wondering why no one has mentioned that Palin has more experience as an elected official than Hillary?

If Palin weren't such a good choice for McCain, I doubt people here would be attacking her so incessantly. They would merely ignore her.

[This message has been edited by Jerry Glenn Hartwig (edited September 06, 2008).]

[Anne Bryant-Hamon]

Originally posted by Jerry Glenn Hartwig:
I'm wondering why no one has mentioned that Palin has more experience as an elected official than Hillary?

If Palin weren't such a good choice for McCain, I doubt people here would be attacking her so incessantly. They would merely ignore her.

Jerry,

In the sense that Karl Rove would consider Palin a 'good choice' for McCain, I think many Democrats would agree with you. But if you mean that she is a good choice for the American people to turn the country in a better direction, no, I don't think so. If you think the evangelicals were happy about getting Bush into the White House, go look around at the James Dobson, Pat Robertson, et al reactions to this Sarah Palin. I didn't know you were one of them.
She's from the "Assembly of God". I don't know how many people here have ever been inside an "Assembly of God" congregation - - it is a very bizarre experience. The problem in those kind of churches is that they worship an image of God that is like Molech. They think God is hateful like they are.

[Jerry Glenn Hartwig]

I also find it humorous that certain parties - interviews - brought up the fact that Palin's husband ha a DUI 22 years ago. What about this from Obama's book:

Obama had written in his first book, "Dreams From My Father" (1995), before entering politics, that he had used marijuana and cocaine ("maybe a little blow"). He said he had not tried heroin because he did not like the pusher who was trying to sell it to him.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/24/news/dems.php

And on a recent thread Democrats here were calling Cindy McCain a druggie (and she's not even running for President!)

All I ask is that people not be hypocrites...



[This message has been edited by Jerry Glenn Hartwig (edited September 06, 2008).]

[Jerry Glenn Hartwig]

Anne

I meant 'good for McCain' as in 'increasing his chances to get elected'.

[Laura Heidy-Halberstein]

Originally posted by Jerry Glenn Hartwig:
Lo
If the Democrats didn't get permission for every song they played at their convention, didn't they commit the same 'crime' you're accusing the Republicans of? Why aren't you ranting at them - or are you just assuming they did everything properly because they're Democrats *wink*. (Just teasing, Lo).

If the Democrats didn't get permission for the songs played they, too, would have committed the same offense, yes. In the interest of fairness I've just googled 17 pages of "song usage" and "Democrats" and found nothing to suggest that they've done so, however. So, either I'm googling the wrong words, they've never done so, or they've done so and no one objected.

I did find several articles stating that Jackson Browne IS actively suing the McCain campaign for using "Running on Empty" in a commercial.

Singer/songwriter Jackson Browne is suing Republican presidential nominee John McCain and the Republican party for using his song "Running on Empty" in a recent TV commercial.

In the suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Browne claims McCain and the party did not obtain permission to use the song for an ad in which "Senator McCain and the Republicans mock Democratic candidate for president Barack Obama for suggesting that the country conserve gas through proper tire inflation." Browne, a lifelong Democrat, is seeking unspecified damages as well as a permanent injunction prohibiting the use of "Running on Empty" in any form by the McCain campaign.

"Not only have Senator McCain and his agents plainly infringed Mr. Browne's copyright in 'Running on Empty,' but the Federal Courts have long held that the unauthorized use of a famous singer's voice in a commercial constitutes a false endorsement and a violation of the singer's right of publicity," says Browne lawyer Lawrence Iser.
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/conte...3822c0db?imw=Y

And yes, I realize a commerical is different than a convention - but it does show a willingness on the part of the McCain campaign to disregard property rights.

Like I said earlier, do it once and I'll give you the benefit of the doubt - do it repeatedly and the doubt is removed.

[Laura Heidy-Halberstein]

Originally posted by Jerry Glenn Hartwig:
Since no one answered my question about the book burning issue I'll research that one when I have time, also.

Sorry, Jerry, there's some stuff on one of the other threads regarding the book banning (not burning) so I thought the question was answered.

According to an article in Time Magazine, one of Mrs. Palin's first acts as mayor was to visit the local library and ask the librarian what she would have to do in order to have certain books removed from the shelves.

Stein says that as mayor, Palin continued to inject religious beliefs into her policy at times. "She asked the library how she could go about banning books," he says, because some voters thought they had inappropriate language in them. "The librarian was aghast." That woman, Mary Ellen Baker, couldn't be reached for comment, but news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving "full support" to the mayor.
http://www.time.com/time/politics/ar...837918,00.html

Unfortunately (And embarassingly) there appears to be a contingency of Left Wingers who have jumped on the story and started circulating a supposed "list" of the requested books - and the morons incuded the Harry Potter series which wasn't even published at the time - which, in my mind at least, casts a serious shadow of doubt on what may have been a true story at one time.

Please don't think I am a rabid anything, Jerry. I'm not. I'm as interested in truth as you are. I'm not even a democrat - I've never been a registered anything until this year.

I try very carefully to check my sources and to verify them whenever possible. I've come down as hard on some "lefties" here as I've come down on the Right - I hate hyperbole and innuendo wherever it comes from.

Am I always right? Nah, not by a long shot. No one is always anything. But if I'm stating a fact, I try very hard to make sure it's verifiable - if I'm stating an opinion, I try very hard to preface it by saying so. I enjoy hearing from people with opposing views - it keeps me from becoming the type of person I would normally disrespect. I actually try to keep an open mind although I suppose I don't succeed very well. However, even if I vehemently disagree with a person, I will never disagree or dispute his/her right to say it.

In my opinion John McCain and Sarah Palin are very scary people. Am I trying to force the information available to fit my opinion? Maybe. I hope not, but I can't guarentee it. What one reads and how one reads it is always colored by their beliefs.

I'm trying, tho, I'm trying.

[Jerry Glenn Hartwig]

they've done so and no one objected.

This is what I - in the abscence of any facts - suspect.

They were wrong in the usage of 'Running on Empty'. The party might argue it was a non-commercial use, but it doesn't have to be commercial to be a violation, as I read it. The courts appear to be twisty in their interpretations, though.

(More later if you're interested - have to run).

I'll disagree about the convention usage, but acknowledge that I might be wrong and you might be right.

[Laura Heidy-Halberstein]

Originally posted by Jerry Glenn Hartwig:
This is what I - in the abscence of any facts - suspect.

And that is what I - in the absence of any facts - concede.



God, we're civil this morning, aren't we? LOL

And sure, I'm always interested...whenever you've got time.

L