July 28, 2010, - 12:39 pm

My New Hero: Elton John Slams Arizona Boycotters

By Debbie Schlussel

I used to dislike Elton John.  But no more.  Over the past several months, the man has really earned my respect.  He’s shown courage and intestinal fortitude, first by refusing to get involved in the gay marriage issue in California (which is especially brave since he is openly gay and in a longtime gay relationship), then by refusing to boycott Israel and dissing those who do, and, now, by refusing to boycott Arizona and dissing the showbiz types who are doing that. (That’s not to mention his performance at Rush Limbaugh’s recent wedding. Reports say he got a cool mill for that one.)

arizonaflageltonjohn

This guy has cojones (and how he uses them in his private life is not my concern).  He’s an independent, critical thinker who doesn’t just do what’s hip politically in the entertainment industry.  That’s very admirable in our time of group-thinkism.  And he deserves our support for that. Check out this report from his Thursday concert in Tucson, Arizona. Yup, Elton John has more guts on the immigration issue than Barack Obama and his ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) Chief Moron, John Morton:

Elton John didn’t mince words in slamming his fellow musicians for boycotting Arizona over the controversial SB 1070 immigration law. From the stage at his sold-out Tucson Arena concert Thursday night, John savored a few choice, not-so-family-friendly words:

“We are all very pleased to be playing in Arizona. I have read that some of the artists won’t come here. They are (expletive) wits! Let’s face it: I still play in California, and as a gay man I have no legal rights whatsoever. So what’s the (expletive) with these people?”

Exactly. What’s the (expletive) with these people?!

And don’t forget what Elton John said at his concert in Israel, back in June:

He spoke for the first time [DS: at the Tel Aviv concert]- making reference to his musical brethren who have feared what they don’t understand, and wittingly or not, joined the cultural boycott of Israel.

“Shalom, we are so happy to be back here! Ain’t nothing gonna stop us from coming, baby,” spouted John with a pumped fist in the air. “Musicians spread love and peace, and bring people together. That’s what we do. We don’t cherry-pick our conscience.”

What he does behind closed doors is his business. What he does in public on a consistent basis–in not pandering to left-wing political pressure–has my support.

Right on, Elton John.




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38 Responses

Do you like Elton John’s music?

Matthew on July 28, 2010 at 12:50 pm

    Do you like Elton John’s music?

    I happen to be SICK of “Candle in the Wind.” Radio stations play it and play it and play it.

    I think anyone who agrees with Ms. Schlussel should email Elton John, care of customerservice@website.eltonjohn.com, and tell them “Please tellSir Elton how much I admire and respect him.”

    Miranda Rose Smith on July 29, 2010 at 2:09 am

      “Please tell Sir Elton how much I admire and respect him.”

      Miranda Rose Smith on July 29, 2010 at 2:09 am

      Reply

      Miranda Rose Smith on July 29, 2010 at 2:23 am

For some reason, people think that ALL homosexuals are flaming activists wanting to, excuse the expression, shove their lifestyle down our throats. John is apparently a free-thinker who doesn’t toe the company line. What he does in his own time is none of my business.

JeffT on July 28, 2010 at 12:51 pm

I find it odd that you say what he does behind closed doors is none of your business, yet you make several references to his sexuality, especially to point out it’s none of your business. If you really felt like it was none of your business, you’d keep your nose out of it, and quit discussing it, or discussing how you won’t discuss it. It’s moronic.

inkfreq on July 28, 2010 at 12:56 pm

He is a very nice guy, a class act and a gentleman. Whatever one thinks of him being gay, he is one of the few prominent people in life I respect who is really smart. Elton John deserves our appreciation. I wish we had more people like him in public life.

NormanF on July 28, 2010 at 1:08 pm

There’s former left-wing activist Tammy Bruce who is a critic of the gay rights movement.

Matthew on July 28, 2010 at 1:09 pm

Never thought I’d like that guy for any reason but he has done some positive things lately.

Joe on July 28, 2010 at 1:10 pm

Ink, I don’t approve of homosexuality. Still what he does behind closed doors is none of my business. He has never felt insecure about his sexuality, like a lot of gays are. John doesn’t need any one else’s approval for his relationships. That’s a private thing as it should be. What I do oppose is those, whether they are straight or gay, who make a public spectacle of their relationship in front of the entire world.

NormanF on July 28, 2010 at 1:13 pm

Dear Boycotters,

THE BITCH IS BACK!!

Signed,

Elton John

CaliforniaScreaming on July 28, 2010 at 1:54 pm

LOL@ californiaS
Right on.

perception of truth on July 28, 2010 at 1:57 pm

He says what he thinks.

pat on July 28, 2010 at 2:00 pm

Elton John is smart. He follows the money.

MELISSA FOX on July 28, 2010 at 2:04 pm

Unfortunately the moron judge just blocked at least some of the law.

I_AM_ME on July 28, 2010 at 2:31 pm

I’m really happy for you an’ I’ma let you finish, but “Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding”, IS ONE OF THE GREATEST TUNES OF ALL TIME!

Graty Slapchop on July 28, 2010 at 3:37 pm

I_AM, at least AZ cannot have sanctuary cities according to the law. Now the next step to overrule this CLINTON APPOINTED BOLSHEVIK IN BLACK ROBE is the uber-left 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. BUT, in matters of immigration the court HAS SIDED with AZ. But of course the court is also known for their outrageous jurisdictions…what else would you expect from San Francisco. Jan Brewer called this decision a bump in the road. SHE HAS MORE BALLS THAN MY STATE’S GOVERNOR JODI RELL!

Bob Porrazzo on July 28, 2010 at 4:05 pm

    BP – I can’t see how any appelate court lets this stand. This moron people call a judge said that when the state modified the law they could not possibly have meant what they said becuse they did not modify a sentence a cetain way. This is the justification used by the judge for the injunction (I stopped reading the decision at this point I was so disgusted):

    From http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/072810_ArizonaRuling.pdf

    The Court first addresses the second sentence of Section 2(B): “Any person who is
    arrested shall have the person’s immigration status determined before the person is released.” Arizona advances that the proper interpretation of this sentence is “that only where a reasonable suspicion exists that a person arrested is an alien and is unlawfully present in the United States must the person’s immigration status be determined before the person is released.” (Defs.’ Resp. to Pl.’s Mot. (“Defs.’ Resp.”) at 10.)5 Arizona goes on to state, “[T]he Arizona Legislature could not have intended to compel Arizona’s law enforcement officers to determine and verify the immigration status of every single person arrested – even for United States citizens and when there is absolutely no reason to believe the person is unlawfully present in the country.” (Id.)

    The Court cannot interpret this provision as Arizona suggests. Before the passage of
    H.B. 2162, the first sentence of Section 2(B) of the original S.B. 1070 began, “For any lawful contact” rather than “For any lawful stop, detention or arrest.” (Compare original S.B. 1070 § 2(B) with H.B. 2162 § 3(B).) The second sentence was identical in the original version and as modified by H.B. 2162. It is not a logical interpretation of the Arizona Legislature’s intent to state that it originally intended the first two sentences of Section 2(B) to be read as dependent on one another. As initially written, the first sentence of Section 2(B) did not contain the word “arrest,” such that the second sentence could be read as modifying or explicating the first sentence. In S.B. 1070 as originally enacted, the first two sentences of Section 2(B) are clearly independent of one another. Therefore, it does not follow logically that by changing “any lawful contact” to “any lawful stop, detention or arrest” in the first sentence, the Arizona Legislature intended to alter the meaning of the second sentence in any way. If that had been the Legislature’s intent, it could easily have modified the second sentence accordingly.
    As a result of this conclusion, the Court reads the second sentence of Section 2(B)
    independently from the first sentence.

    I_AM_ME on July 28, 2010 at 4:39 pm

Why would Elton John care about AZ law? He is British! Why is not getting involved in the CA Gay Marriage Controversy? He is British and he can and already has gotten married! Plus he has been known to have financial problems, so that is where his true prioritie$ lie!

Sange on July 28, 2010 at 5:51 pm

Sange… Elton may be British, but he has a mansion on a quiet abode near to the Forks of the Credit, just north of here. In Canada. Besides, we NOW live in a global village where we are able to comment on anything. Going on, anywhere. Anytime.

Thanks Debbie for highlighting Elton’s astute social commentary.

I have lots of his songs. And it’s hard not to like this outspoken guy, when he gets the other issues right, even if one may not agree with his lifestyle. He is a pagan, and he is living as that. He follows his own lights, for better or for worse. Save for one fault, it seems to be for the better.

The Canadien on July 28, 2010 at 8:17 pm

Way to go, Elton John!

JeffE on July 28, 2010 at 10:47 pm

Elton John is first and foremost a musician, and he has written and perfomred top tier pop music for more than 4 decades, and is still going strong. There are not many in the music circuit who can touch that. As for his personal life, I didn’t know about it when I first head and enjoyed his work, and it didn’t matter to me have I learned about it. Besides, should I stop listening to Cole Porter, one of the greatest song writers of all time because of his personal life? Of course not, true artists’ work transcends all that.

Ralph Adamo on July 29, 2010 at 3:29 am

Dear Sirs: Please tell Sir Elton that I admire and respect him for not caving in to liberal pressure and for giving his concert in Tucson, Arizona. The State of Arizona is perfectly right to try and enforce immigration laws. There isn’t a country in the world –except the United States-that is expected to allow just anybody to walk into it, get free health care at its public hospitals, have his children educated in its public schools, pay no taxes, work for low wages and take jobs away from legal residents. There’s nothing racist about what Arizona is doing. If the immigrants who enter and live in the United States illegally would enter legally and go through the process of becoming citizens, the way my great-grandparents, of blessed memory did, I would welcome them. I’m sure there are many of them that, if I knew them personally, I would be proud and happy to serve as a citizenship witness for. But they have to enter the country legally. Sincerely yours, Miranda Rose Smith

Miranda Rose Smith on July 29, 2010 at 5:25 am

I’ve loved his music for as long as I can remember: “Tiny Dancer” “Levon”, “Love lies bleeding”, “I guess thats why they call it the blues”

Barry on July 29, 2010 at 8:04 am

I first heard him in the 70’s when I was living in Naples Italy (ah, those were the days!). Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy were my favorite albums.

Bill on July 29, 2010 at 3:02 pm

I agree with what NormanF says: Those gays AND straights who have to make a public spectacle of what they do privately, are the ones who piss me off. If Elton’s cojones are wired differently, it’s a matter between him, his loved ones, and his Creator.

Not Ovenready on July 29, 2010 at 5:24 pm

Since I have already praised Elton John politically, (my post on July 28, 2010 at 10:47 pm) here’s what I think of him musically:

I love his songs “Friends”, “Rocket Man”, “Philadelphia Freedom”, “I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues”, “A Word in Spanish,”, and “Blessed”. His other songs are good, though there is one song by him that I love to hate: “I’m Still Standing”.

JeffE on July 29, 2010 at 10:14 pm

Oh Duhhh! Just hit me! If Elton has a place in Canada, that makes him an immagrant too. An immigrant in favor of strict immagration laws? Yes, I think you will find that’s the case with most LEGAL immagrants. They came here to get away from the refuse and swill of their old countries and don’t want it to follow them here.
BTW I agree with Norm. Excessive public display of sexual relationships is disgusting no matter if you’re AC or DC. Keep it to yourselves, please.
And Elton John is NOT married to his partner. He beleives marriage should be reserved for hetrosexual couples, you know, real families.
Oh, and I do like a good number of his tunes too, and so very glad that he played Israel in June.

the Shadow on July 31, 2010 at 3:01 am

I have a secret I need to let everyone know…

I’m really a homosexual muslum who’s afraid of my sexual proclivities…

That’s why I spew so much hate…

as Goes israel - so Goes the world on August 1, 2010 at 12:52 am

“House Bill 2013” and “SB1070”

0 = Arizona
2 = USA/ Our Constitution/ We the People of the United States

We are a country that is ruled by the Constitution, Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence, not by the majority of the day. When you do not know the principles in these documents, therein lays the problem in losing when you are challenged in court.

This month of July 2010, our U.S. Federal courts have found the so called State of Arizona hate filled legislation namely “House Bill 2013” and “SB1070” Un-constitution (So much for the intellect of Jan Brewer, “Did you read the bills you signed?”). But we all know that they will go crying to the Supreme Court of the United States, please, please, please go. We will fight you in Arizona, any other state, and yes in Washington DC. We will not tire, we will not be silent and we will persevere, I promise you.

In my opinion the Republican Party has been taken over the most extreme of clans; the Baggers, Birthers and Blowhards (people who love to push their beliefs and hate on others while trying to take away the rights of those they just hate) and that’s who they need to extract from their party if they real want to win in November. Good Luck, because as they said in WACO, “We Ain’t Coming Out”.

It’s all about politics: Jan Brewer you were never elected to be Governor, but you have no problem trying to get elected on the back of undocumented workers, you loser (sure you may win but the long-term effects to your so called State is just beginning). Here is a partial list of your hate filled legislation;

1. S.B. 1070,
2. House Bill 2013
3. No permit conceal weapons law,
4. The famous Birthers law,
5. Banning Ethnic studies law,

6. Could she be behind the Mural in Prescott, Arizona, ordered to be whiten,
7. On deck to pass, no citizenship to babies born to undocumented workers,

8. If she can read she should look up Arizona’s House Bill 2779 from two years ago (which was un-constitution and failed when legally challenged),
9. The boycotted Martin Luther King Day, what idiots don’t want another holiday? Yes, you guessed it Arizona.

Well Arizona, you can keep boycotting new holidays, passing hate filled legislation and the rest of our country will continue to challenge you in court of law and Boycott your so-called state.

Lets face it, no one can real believe anything that comes out of Brewer’s mouth, in an interview, this year, in an attempt to gain sympathy, she first said her father had died in Germany fighting the Nazi in World War II (which ended 1945) but of course we find out the truth that father was never in Germany and died in California in 1955. But we are suppose to believe everything else she says, right!

As they say in the World Cup: Gooooooooal!

Montana on August 2, 2010 at 11:02 pm

How can you dislike him? He’s the best!

StraightBoysPhotos on October 2, 2010 at 11:23 am

Come on, Elton is a Great Performer. Cases in Point: who did the better version of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, The Beatles or Sir Elton? Who did the better version of Pinball Wizard? Sir Elton or The Who?

When you can do better covers than two of the greatest bands of all times’ originals, you ain’t chopped liver.

And he’s also a mensch. Yeah, I think Gays should have the right to civil relationship contracts that allow for adoption and the legal equivalent to spousal rights. But marriage is an institution that needs support, as Sir Elton recognizes. In addition, his views’ on ME dictatorships versus Israel on Gay Rights was very well known, even before the concert.

Of course I disagree with him on a lot. But the man is not a dhimmi.

Occam's Tool on January 27, 2011 at 6:01 pm

there are a lot of thinks to love in Elton but the first re his songs

gaychat on March 3, 2011 at 2:38 pm

I’ve always been a fan of Elton, this is just another reason why!

San Antonio Gay Bars on May 5, 2011 at 6:07 pm

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