Old Hickory's Weblog

SPIEGEL: If the right to freedom of expression is an untouchable fundamental American right, does that not make your critics the people who are truly unpatriotic?

Maines: It seemed like traditional values had been temporarily suspended. I didn't recognize this country, we didn't know what year it was and we didn't know what country we were in. The Republicans and right-wing groups were very organized and they knew exactly what they were doing. It seems like our media is dominated by right-wing media moguls like Rupert Murdoch (Fox News). If you don't share their opinions, they label you as a terrorist or a person who doesn't have any family values. Unfortunately, people in the US who don't have the time to seek out the truth through neutral news sources have a real problem.

SPIEGEL: So perhaps the conservatives are the more patriotic ones?

Maines: Not in my view. These people may think they are patriotic, but I think they are irresponsible. And this whole episode has fundamentally changed my definition of patriotism. Do I have a flag on my car? No. Do I stand up for my rights as an American? Yes.

SPIEGEL: Is that why you continue, unperturbed, to give interviews that are critical of Bush?

Maines: Well, these days there's no danger in that, anyway. Recently, the far-right tried to take me on again over a statement I made to Time magazine about not having respect for the president. But their campaign didn't work this time. It's not news that I don't like the president and everyone who was going to hate us already does. You know, we definitely lost fans forever, but we also gained some new ones.

SPIEGEL: Still, the Wall Street Journal recently reported that you had to cancel half of your US tour because of poor ticket sales.