Jabberwocky Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 LinkTom Morello: 'Paul Ryan Is the Embodiment of the Machine Our Music Rages Against'August 16, 2012 6:44 PM ETLast week, Mitt Romney picked Paul Ryan, the Republican architect of Congress's radical right-wing budget plan, as his running mate. Ryan has previously cited Rage Against the Machine as one of his favorite bands. Rage guitarist Tom Morello responds in this exclusive op-ed.Paul Ryan's love of Rage Against the Machine is amusing, because he is the embodiment of the machine that our music has been raging against for two decades. Charles Manson loved the Beatles but didn't understand them. Governor Chris Christie loves Bruce Springsteen but doesn't understand him. And Paul Ryan is clueless about his favorite band, Rage Against the Machine.Ryan claims that he likes Rage's sound, but not the lyrics. Well, I don't care for Paul Ryan's sound or his lyrics. He can like whatever bands he wants, but his guiding vision of shifting revenue more radically to the one percent is antithetical to the message of Rage.I wonder what Ryan's favorite Rage song is? Is it the one where we condemn the genocide of Native Americans? The one lambasting American imperialism? Our cover of "Fuck the Police"? Or is it the one where we call on the people to seize the means of production? So many excellent choices to jam out to at Young Republican meetings!Don't mistake me, I clearly see that Ryan has a whole lotta "rage" in him: A rage against women, a rage against immigrants, a rage against workers, a rage against gays, a rage against the poor, a rage against the environment. Basically the only thing he's not raging against is the privileged elite he's groveling in front of for campaign contributions.You see, the super rich must rationalize having more than they could ever spend while millions of children in the U.S. go to bed hungry every night. So, when they look themselves in the mirror, they convince themselves that "Those people are undeserving. They're . . . lesser." Some of these guys on the extreme right are more cynical than Paul Ryan, but he seems to really believe in this stuff. This unbridled rage against those who have the least is a cornerstone of the Romney-Ryan ticket.But Rage's music affects people in different ways. Some tune out what the band stands for and concentrate on the moshing and throwing elbows in the pit. For others, Rage has changed their minds and their lives. Many activists around the world, including organizers of the global occupy movement, were radicalized by Rage Against the Machine and work tirelessly for a more humane and just planet. Perhaps Paul Ryan was moshing when he should have been listening.My hope is that maybe Paul Ryan is a mole. Maybe Rage did plant some sensible ideas in this extreme fringe right wing nut job. Maybe if elected, he'll pardon Leonard Peltier. Maybe he'll throw U.S. military support behind the Zapatistas. Maybe he'll fill Guantanamo Bay with the corporate criminals that are funding his campaign – and then torture them with Rage music 24/7. That's one possibility. But I'm not betting on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luciusfunk Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Oh boo hoo. A politician you disagree with likes your music. Get over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Drama Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Cool story Tom. These sort of annoying libtard cunts piss me off and embarrassed to be left-wing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Broskirose Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Tom Morello Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bran Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 (edited) these morons should be thankful someone likes their shitty fucking music Edited August 18, 2012 by bran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bumble's Bridge Pickup Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Tom Morello is a great guitarist and person Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Drama Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 RATM used to be my favourite band before I got into The Beatles and GN'R. I still like them but Zack's lyrics and Tom's little schtick with his solos shits you after a while. It's like how much horse bollocks can you spew about your little uber socialist utopia whilst making shit loads of cash and we get it Tom you can scratch like Jam Master Jay on your guitar. Yay. Gold star little Tom. Ugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bran Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 RATM used to be my favourite band before I got into The Beatles and GN'R. I still like them but Zack's lyrics and Tom's little schtick with his solos shits you after a while. It's like how much horse bollocks can you spew about your little uber socialist utopia whilst making shit loads of cash and we get it Tom you can scratch like Jam Master Jay on your guitar. Yay. Gold star little Tom. Ugh.so very true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moop Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 RATM used to be my favourite band before I got into The Beatles and GN'R. I still like them but Zack's lyrics and Tom's little schtick with his solos shits you after a while. It's like how much horse bollocks can you spew about your little uber socialist utopia whilst making shit loads of cash and we get it Tom you can scratch like Jam Master Jay on your guitar. Yay. Gold star little Tom. Ugh.Their goal is to get their message out there. To let it reach people that it normally wouldnt reach. How else can they do this, other than signing with a major label? Yes, they could play in grungy anarchist dumps all the time, but they're missing out on effecting more people.And as for Morello... if you've got the skills, of course you're gonna make good use of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Oujamaflip Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 RATM and Audioslave wouldve been better without a guitarist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nosaj Thing Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moop Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 RATM and Audioslave wouldve been better without a guitarist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.