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Republicans Grab Aerosmith’s “Back in the Saddle” for Anti-Stimulus Plan Commercial

2/17/09, 11:43 am EST

Even after the election, Republicans keep finding new ways to use classic rock to spread their messages. In the video above, the Republican Whip, Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, has borrowed Aerosmith’s “Back in the Saddle” to stress that they are just not that into Barack Obama’s stimulus plan. But while the GOP made it a point to use liberal-minded artists’ music in campaign ads during the John McCain’s presidential run, this time around there won’t be any controversy as Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry proclaimed he’s on Team Republican during campaign season.

The use of “Back in the Saddle” also echoes Rep. Cantor’s belief that “The House GOP is back,” the Huffington Post says, because the House Republicans banded their tiny together and voted against a stimulus plan that still passed anyway, even though the plan will spend “millions on golf carts” as the video declares.

The video itself is nothing to fancy, just white words and a black screen. The Rock Daily video department could probably make the same commercial in about 90 seconds blindfolded using only Final Cut Pro. Plus, the sound quality of this “Back in the Saddle” is reminiscent of a bootleg of a bootleg.

Jackson Browne, the Foo Fighters, Bon Jovi, John Mellencamp, Heart and Boston’s Tom Scholz are among the long list of artists that fought back against the GOP after the party used their music without permission in commercials and on the campaign trail. For more on the Republicans’ use of classic rock, check out Rolling Stone’s investigation “Stop Using My Song, Republicans!”: A Guide to Disgruntled Rockers.

Related Stories:

Jackson Browne Sues John McCain Over Campaign Commercial
GOP’s Use of “Right Now” Leads to Sammy Hagar-Eddie Van Halen Phone Tag


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Comments

spencer | 2/17/2009, 11:48 am EST

jeez… what next, using the sex pistols’ “bodies” for an anti-abortion commercial?

0311 | 2/17/2009, 12:42 pm EST

The truth comes out about Aerosmith! Always knew what side they were on. Now I’m guilt free saying that their music sucks and that they should do more drugs like the good Republicains that they are.

Crowe | 2/17/2009, 12:45 pm EST

I clicked the headline hoping for “Love in an Elevator”… damn.

jasmine | 2/17/2009, 12:48 pm EST

Rihanna you know you can do better’ you are still young matured and caring you will find someone who will treat you right, he just wasn’t ready for you because you are too much of a woman for him, sometimes when people become use to you, its known as ‘familiarity’ he feels he’s got everything he wanted from you and has seen everything there is to see therefore he wants to seek what else is out there especially if they have an immature mind, whilst not knowing that what they have is the best thing that will ever happen to them keep your head up girl be strong and live your life.

unclekirby | 2/17/2009, 1:16 pm EST

The Obama cool-aid drinkers apparently have no “tolerence” for fiscally responsible Rock and Rollers. It’s ok guys, I don’t think there are that many of them…yet. Give us another year of Obamanomics and you may have something to worry about.

Anonymous | 2/17/2009, 2:15 pm EST

To unclekirby,

It’s Kool-Aid… not cool-aid.

If you’re going to insult us, at least learn how to fucking spell the insult!

whalespoon | 2/17/2009, 3:03 pm EST

“Fiscally responsible rock and rollers”? Aerosmith?? Isn’t that an oxymoron?!

Livenationsucks | 2/17/2009, 3:44 pm EST

Joe Perry is a no talent hack, Fuck him and Aerosmith. The fact he supported John McCain during the election shows how out of touch he is.

Anonymous | 2/17/2009, 3:55 pm EST

Aerosmith were always the poor man’s Rolling Stones… minus any real talent.

spelling police | 2/17/2009, 4:03 pm EST

You mean “nothing too fancy.”

Ann | 2/17/2009, 7:41 pm EST

to : don’t matter .

What did he actually apologize for? Was he actually specific? As far as the others who wrote ‘ Its between them’ Sorry but it isn’t he Chris Brown he apologized that made it public news.

Again … What did he actually apologized for? Too bad he wasn’t specific like own up to what he actually done !

MegaSudz | 2/17/2009, 8:27 pm EST

Wow, Aerosmith used to do fund raisers for Ted Kennedy. As for fiscal responsibility and Republicans, ummmmmmmm who the F got this country in this mess……

Madison | 2/17/2009, 8:44 pm EST

Jasmine: why are you posting about Rihanna?

Go VH! | 2/18/2009, 12:36 am EST

“Aerosmith were always the poor man’s Rolling Stones… minus any real talent.”

Right…except for how totally different the two groups’ music sounds. Other than that, you’re just spot on. By the way, have you tried mud? It’s totally the new soap!

I could not care less about an artist’s politics. It’s all about the music, for me; plenty of liberal musicians put out total unlistenable garbage. While we’re at it, though, I’d remind everyone that Aerosmith is hardly a conservative poster group; they were dead set against the whole PMRC album labeling thing. Does anybody remember Steven Tyler making fun of Tipper Gore at the 1990 MTV VMAs? w w w .mtv . com/ontv/vma/1990/

Also, how has nobody latched onto the brainlessness of a republican ad using “Back in the Saddle?” It’s like: “yes, we republicans, as part of the chorus puts it, are back! Also, as per THE REST OF THE SONG… crazy cowboy sex!”

eightball | 2/18/2009, 1:46 am EST

all of you liberal hippies will realize in 6 months that Obama made a huge mistake pushing that stimulus bill through so fast. can’t wait til the day people hate him like they hate bush

Rollingbone | 2/18/2009, 9:12 am EST

I’m sure there’s about twenty great ‘Eat the Rich’ jokes that can go with this article.

basser | 2/18/2009, 1:24 pm EST

Quit blaming Republicans for all of the country’s (and world’s) problems, people. Gee, you really believe it was one party and only one party that made mistakes. How about Clinton pressuring banks to lend money to just anyone, no matter what the default risk, back in the 1990s? One of my best friend’s parents both lost their jobs when Clinton was in office. At least Reagan got the Iranian hostages back safe, while Carter, God love him, seemed helpless in the situation. People really should examine history before spouting off stuff. (And wasn’t it a Democrat, Kennedy, who got us into the Vietnam War in the first place (not Nixon)? Uh, yes. Everybody, let’s get along and quit throwing stones ….

Dude Man | 2/18/2009, 1:47 pm EST

Excuse me, but for all of you who still do not think Aerosmith are one of the greatest rock bands of all time just because of their politics is a moron.Joe Perry is one of the best guitarists ever. I could care less if your a liberal or a conservative , you just can not forget their place in history.

I hate the Rich | 2/18/2009, 2:41 pm EST

I hope Obama puts a salary cap on the rich rock stars like Aerosmith. They are greedy and don’t deserve all that money.

Adguy | 2/18/2009, 3:14 pm EST

Joe Perry should stick to what he knows, old school guitar and rehab and leave politics to experts like Ted Nugent.

cRAIG | 2/18/2009, 5:28 pm EST

this is absurd. Aerosmith is an awesome rock n’roll band (at least up to 1989’s Pump: after that, not so much). if you don’t own Toys in the Attic and Rocks, your record collection is incomplete. they’re not a political band, and they never pretended to be. ask bands like Guns N’Roses, Motley Crue and Metallica how important Aerosmith was to them…

live free or die | 2/18/2009, 6:08 pm EST

I Hate the Rich:

“Deserve has got nothing to do with it”

Now, I just wish i could perform the act (on you), that follows that line from an Oscar winning movie.

INDIAN | 2/18/2009, 7:15 pm EST

Horrible…just horrible :(

dlt | 2/18/2009, 8:23 pm EST

Desmond Child(s?) began writing songs for Aerosmith and all the other hitmakers; that marked the end of risk, the end of their troubadour spirit. Rehab should be the beginning of spiritual awakening, not the beginning of spiritual death, right?

Demosthenes | 2/20/2009, 1:18 pm EST

Desmund is right a Democratic Congress and Clinton got us into this mess in the 90’s. im poor but Obama is setting himself and this country up for failure. He is spending at least 400 billion more than we have as a country. I am moderate in the middle with my views and people should be more like that and be most excellent to eachother. Dont blame Perry for sticking up for what he believes in. thats not right. What happened to the liberals That did everything for human rights? now all I see is anti reason bigotry

Demosthenes | 2/20/2009, 1:19 pm EST

i meant Basser lol they guy under me said Desmund and it was stuck in my head lol

rosalyn | 3/9/2009, 7:29 am EST

for me i will not support anyone of them coz we never know about the whole things.even if rihanna had br…s we cnt tell that cris brwon fault.so we dont need to support each one of them.
thank u

Wikl | 3/20/2009, 10:44 am EST

Good post..

Xhizors | 3/20/2009, 3:37 pm EST

Good post, admin.

AomiArmster | 3/20/2009, 9:12 pm EST

Good post, admin.

Plornt | 3/20/2009, 11:46 pm EST

Good post, admin.

Stephan Mckenzie | 4/30/2009, 10:36 pm EST

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