Willie Nelson - "The more I get into politics the more I realize that I am a guitar player."
Earlier this week we reported on the Teapot Party and Willie Nelson’s endorsement of former Republican New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson for president of the United States. The motto of the Teapot Party is “We lean a little to the left,” and it seems somebody clued-in Willie to the fact that Johnson is, on many issues, leaning heavily to the right.
That and the country crooner’s friendship and 2008 support for Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who leans very heavily on the left, put Willie in an uncomfortable political position, as explained by our colleague, CelebStoner blogmaster and Teapot Party organizer Steve Bloom:
Yesterday, both the Teapot Party and Gary Johnson 2012 sent out press releases announcing the endorsement. The media immediately jumped on it, with Politico, Fox and Raw Story leading the coverage. We were on a roll.
But not so fast. I sent the press release and coverage links to Nelson. His response took me by surprise: “My position is it too early for me to endorse anyone. And I think every one should vote their own conscience.”
I wrote back reminding him that he had approved the endorsement.
“I know I said that,” Nelson replied. “But I think I will wait and see where he stands on other things. My bad. Sorry. I still think he is a good guy but so Is Dennis and if he decided to run I would personally vote for him. If it came down to either him or Gary I’m already committed to Dennis. They both have said they support legal pot.”
So the cat was out of the bag, so to speak. Willie Nelson has changed his tune. “Where do we go from here?” I asked him.
“I still say that the people have the power to change things and they will if they vote,” Nelson replied. “The Teapot Party started as a joke but it could still be a way for people to speak out about important things. I am not a criminal. The millions of pot smokers in this country are not criminals. We don’t like being treated as such and I for one will stand up for what I believe in and will vote for anyone I choose. You should do the same. We are not ever going to agree on everything and everybody. The best advice I ever got was from my ex father-in-law. He said take my advice and do what you want to. End of story.”
And one more email from Nelson, sort of a postscript: “This will blow over and the world moves on. No harm done. We sound like a bunch of pot smokers, that’s all… The more I get into politics the more I realize that I am a guitar player.”
(Read more at the Teapot Party Blog)
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[...] In late 2010, Willie was busted by Border Patrol when his tour bus passed through Sierra Blanca, Texas. Cops seized six ounces of marijuana according to the reports. In response, Willie notified Steve Bloom of CelebStoner that he was calling for a “Teapot Party” to promote the cause of legalization, which in 2011 gained mainstream political coverage for endorsing Republican Gary Johnson for president, before backpedaling to account for the singer’s support of Democrat Dennis Kucinich. [...]
Like in the radio interview that I did today, Im going for Ron Paul, but I also lend support to Mike Gravel and Ralph Nader. Mike and Ralph mainly because they support the National Initiative for Democracy. I believe the power should be with the people and that’s what the NI4D does.
I like what Willie said:
“This will blow over and the world moves on. No harm done. We sound like a bunch of pot smokers, that’s all… The more I get into politics the more I realize that I am a guitar player.”
I hate politics. But apathy is even worse! Willie makes a lot of sense in that statement though!
This is the radio show today with Carl Olsen: http://slu2.com/5sK
I have always been a voter, but this will be the first time that I will cast my vote as a single issue voter. Thank you, Russ for all the work you do in spreading the actual truth about cannabis. It is because of you and the work you are able to do through norml that has made me become a single issue voter.
I will vote for whoever has the best chance of winning whose stance is for full legalization, and I believe will act on. I hope that Obama is planning on going after my vote by, adding legalization to his vocabulary, and promising to take it on. That might just be the optimist in me, as for now if I had to vote today it would be for Gary Johnson.
Well, I’m a lot like Willie on this. Dennis Kucinich would be my first choice as well, since I am definitely far to the left. — However, they say politics is the art of the possible. And, for whatever reason, Kucinich has just been unable to get traction for the presidential race. It speaks bad of Americans that it may be because he resembles Don Knotts a little too much.
But I am definitely voting for marijuana in the next election. The emptiness of Obama’s “change you can believe in” was the last straw for me. If it comes down to Gary Johnson versus Obama, Johnson will get my vote – UNLESS Obama also vows to end marijuana prohibition, and backs it up with specific programs and actions. I seriously doubt he would. He has proven himself to be politically craven.
Most of my hope is in the state level these days. I really believe we will re-legalize marijuana in California at the polls next year. The people want it.