Saturday Night McCain McMusic McDump

A musical celebration of John McCain’s disregard for the intellectual property of others.

“In light of Jackson Browne’s lifelong commitment to Democratic ideals and political candidates, the misappropriation of Jackson Browne’s endorsement is entirely reprehensible, and I have no doubt that a jury will agree.”

(h/t:Scribb for saving me from linkscrounging)

“Sarah Palin’s views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song ‘Barracuda’ no longer be used to promote her image. The song ‘Barracuda’ was written in the late 70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women. (The ‘barracuda’ represented the business.) While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, there’s irony in Republican strategists’ choice to make use of it there.”

“This is yet another example of John McCain not learning anything from George Bush’s mistakes,” (Rep. John) Hall (D-NY and Orleans) wrote First Read in an interview over e-mail. “First, McCain adopted Bush’s failed policy of an open-ended war in Iraq, then he wrapped his arms around the failed Bush economic policies that have put the squeeze on middle class families. Now, he’s making the same mistake George Bush made illegally using a copyrighted song without asking either the writers or the performers for permission…(w)hat is at issue here is Senator McCain’s use of the song to try and advance an agenda that I do not support without respecting copyright law and intellectual property,”

(AP) It may be “Our Country,” but it’s John Mellencamp’s song.

When the liberal rocker found out his songs were being played at events for Republican John McCain’s presidential campaign, Mellencamp’s publicist sent a letter that questioned the campaign’s playlist.

“Are you sure you want to use his music to promote Senator McCain’s efforts?” according to the letter sent to McCain’s campaign on Monday. “Logic says that the facts might prove to be an embarrassment, were they to be circulated widely.”

As the good folks at Wired magazine report, the McCain campaign failed to license Valli’s hits–a pricey but, alas, necessary move–and the Warner Music Group asserted its copyright claim against YouTube, eventuating the takedown. Wired notes that “it’s ironic that a United States senator, who has been part of a body that has so repudiated the idea of fair-use, is feeling the repeated stings resulting from its own legislative history.” But we here at Stumper headquarters think that the more interesting–and/or hilarious–story is McCain’s utter inability to find a single rock star willing to associate his or her songs with the campaign.

John McCain ended the big rally introducing Sarah Palin as his running mate with the Van Halen song “Right Now,” and the band is not pleased, reports TMZ:

   After John McCain used a Van Halen song during his big speech earlier today, the band wants to make to make one thing clear — they’re not running with McCain.

   Van Halen management tells us the band had no idea McCain was planning on using “Right Now” during his big entrance in Ohio telling us, “Permission was not sought or granted nor would it have been given.”

Browne’s lawyer Lawrence Iser says this ain’t the first time McCain has done this — he did it with ABBA’s “Take a Chance on Me” and well-known Democrat John Mellencamp’s song “Pink Houses.”