It is because of people like Ted Nugent that political debates can’t be civil anymore. Nugent, who received a visit from Secret Service agents after his bizarre rant against Barack Obama last month, can’t seem to contain himself.
In an interview with CBS’s Jeff Glor, Nugent flew off the handle and started hurling obscenities toward Glor and his female producer after Glor suggested that Nugent wasn’t moderate.
Nugent stressed he was moderate. He then made some strange connection between being politically moderate and helping dying kids. Amidst his rage, Nugent stated that he is an “extremely loving, passionate man” and “I’m a damn nice guy.”
And if you disagree with that, he’ll get in your face and yell at you.
Of course, Nugent thinks that by this time next year he will be dead or jailed. That was from his rant at an NRA convention in mid-April that led to his visit from Secret Service agents. Nugent said that he talked to those agents for 30-40 minutes and there was no problem. He hinted that they were ordered to investigate him by someone further up the command. Nugent even called the meeting with the Secret Service “adorable.”
It is rather difficult to connect either Nugent or the Secret Service as adorable. But that is the problem with Nugent. He goes off on the opposite of what should be appropriate for a conversation. His behavior would fit right into the extremists of either the Tea Party or Occupy movements.
It is unlikely that Nugent dumped a bunch of rage on the Secret Service agents who interviewed him because even Nugent has enough sense to do something that stupid.
After the interview, Nugent had an explanation why he lost control. He had to have a kidney stone removed.
Seriously. Nugent is blaming his rage on a kidney stone. If he was in discomfort, then that is understandable, but Nugent doesn’t look like a guy grabbing his side and bent over in agonizing pain. Perhaps the stone was in his brain. That would explain a lot. Perhaps we will see the “adorable” Ted Nugent from now on.
However, the larger question is not addressed. What happened to all the mental health clinics in Nugent’s part of Texas? This guy has some serious emotional problems and needs medication.
Dear Mr. Church,
People like Ted Nugent are exactly what keeps our country in check and balance state. We NEED to have people like him to stand up and get the attention of the political powers to remind them that they are merely servants of the public. Mr. Nugent, last I checked, is not a politician and as far as I have observed, he has not stepped on a stage of debate against a single politician. His views are his right by citizenship and it may be wise of you to see that. Mr. Church, I would entertain the thought of a single political person who dedicates as much time or money to any single charitable AMERICAN contribution as Mr. Nugent. I have come to understand there are two types of people in this world. There are those who physically go out in the world and genuinely try to make a change. People like Ted Nugent, John Melloncamp, Willie Nelson. Then there are people who only want to talk about what should be done. People are tired of empty political jargon. They have begun to wise up and see that our government really does not have the best interest of the American people at heart. It would rather the people who are exercising their constitutional rights would just shut up and perform as they see fit. In my life-time I have seen the American farms squashed in favor of genetically engineered science experiments funded and protected by our government. The very heart of the health care issue stems directly from this one topic. No studies were performed on any single human life for any adequate amount of time for scientific observation as to the effected health of people who consume these “foods”. Obesity, diabetics, heart disease is at an all time high. Healthy foods are so much more expensive than whole healthy foods it makes it difficult for people to decide whether or not food stamps can buy enough healthy foods to last till the next check. This premeditated change of the American diet has increased revenue in the health care sector. IE, doctor visits, hospital trips, pharmaceutical sale…etc. Now we have a country that will bury the offspring before parent. Rather than address the issue and make the appropriate changes to correct the corruption and the link it has to the health and well being of the American people, our political powers feel attention diversion is the best way to deal with it. NOW we are in economic fall out. Sharing in no responsibility in the slow demise of the American people and the country of America. Say anything against it and you are marked as a political “trouble-maker” who are the reason why “political debates can’t be civil anymore”. I am not running for any kind of office Mr. Church. However, that doesn’t make me less of an American Citizen. People like Mr. Nugent who are brave enough to take the biased and prejudiced political hecklers regardless of his views are exactly WHAT this country is lacking. I personally do not WANT everyone to see the world the same. I rather enjoy the fact that we are able to exercise freedoms that are the foundation of the constitution of our Great and Mighty country. I do not ridicule Mr. Nugent for his behavior because he ISN’T a royal political figure, groomed and trained in the etiquette’s of American political morals. However, even at that his behavior, no matter how moderate or in-moderate he may be, has far succeeded many behaviors of our highest ranking political representatives. These people are representative of the American people. THEY are the FACE of our country. They shame us at every possible opportunity. I am not ashamed of my country. Just the political hash who represent it. It is as simple as this. Address the issue of illegal immigrants. Fix it. Don’t slap a band-aid on it. Bring back the old rights of citizenship. Denounce your country and swear your life to defend America if you claim to be a citizen of it. Then mean it. Do not come to MY country to change it into YOUR country. If this is the way you want things to be then why leave? WORK for your country. It is not our governments place to take my hard earned dollars and give it to people who will not work, and who are the leading problem of the American crime rate. Quality of life is dependent on how much you are willing to work for it. Go to college. Be serious about it. Go out and WORK. SAVE your money for the future. IT IS POSSIBLE TO RETIRE IN 20-25 YEARS on nearly ANY income. PLAN. No, it isn’t necessary for every single individual to have medical insurance. Rather than healthcare workers complain about the “red tape” in the system, get together and VOLUNTEER your time and profession to making healthcare more accessible to people who truly cannot afford it. STOP making genetically engineered foods. I doubt anyone would want to eat a chicken leg if they knew it came from a chicken with six legs. I know I really am not thrilled about the idea of eating a grape that has been genetically altered with the DNA of rats. Political representatives of the United States of America, hear our prayer. WE are NOT the LITTLE people. YOU work FOR US. YOU all can be accused of skimming from your employer.
Mr. Church, I believe this concludes MY rant. Tell me, do you think my behavior bizarre? Will you brush my comments aside and conclude me to have “some serious emotional problems,” and “need medication?”
And to answer your question, “What happened to all the mental health clinics in Nugent’s part of Texas?” Our GOVERNMENT closed those all down. Turned those truly seriously mental people out into the world with no place to go. One day they had homes and people to care for them. The next day they were set on the street. If ANYONE else would have done that they could have been arrested for abandonment. Some people depend on assistance. There are those who truly are not able to make decisions or take care of themselves. They are the ones who truly deserve that government check. Not the drug addicts, prostitutes, drug lords living in our section 8 rental homes.
Thank you for allowing this response to your forum as part of a “Civil Debate” concerning the difference between a citizen of the United States of America and a paid political representative. May God bless you and bestow good thoughts to you.
Kathy,
If Ted Nugent could respond in the respectful, thoughtful way that you did, then there wouldn’t have been a problem.
I don’t usually focus on individuals who aren’t in office, running for office or working on a campaign. However, Nugent is a public figure. He has become a symbol for his virulent hatred for Obama. He is not going to be dead or in jail if Obama gets elected next year. But that is the kind of stuff that impairs real political debate and the chance for change. That and his other words are a poison to the body politic. I strongly back the First Amendment and want everyone to put their ideas into the open. Ideas and people need to be respected though. Nugent’s rants make it difficult to carry on sensible debate. He also has some mental health problems or at least anger management issues. The comments bleeped out in the interview are worse than just saying some obscenities. Here they are unedited:
“Call me when you sit down across from someone who has more families with dying little boys and girls who get a call to take them on their last fishing trip in life! Call me when you meet someone who does that more than I do because that’s really moderate! In fact, you know what that is? That’s extreme! I’m an extremely loving, passionate man! And people who investigate me honestly — without the baggage of political correctness — ascertain the conclusion that I’m a damn nice guy! And if you can find a screening process more powerful than that, I’ll suck your fucking dick!”
After offering Glor some man-on-man action, Nugent then threatened to “fuck” a female CBS producer, turning to her and screaming “Or fuck you! How’s that sound?”
This is disgusting. That is what Nugent has become a disgusting distraction that is not helping to solve any problems.
My point is that respecting other people’s views is what this country needs, not this crap from Nugent.