You Can’t Outlaw Beclownment

Posted on | January 2, 2012 | 13 Comments

by Smitty

Legislation introduced to the Indiana Senate would make it a crime to stray from approved lyrical or melodic guidelines while performing the national anthem at any event sponsored by public schools and state universities.
The bill was proposed by Sen. Vaneta Becker (R). She told The Indianapolis Star that it was inspired by a constituent who emailed her after being upset by a parody of the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
“Sometimes it’s just done in a joking manner,” Becker said. “But I don’t think the national anthem is something we ought to be joking around with.”

I cry tears of pride when the anthem is sung correctly, and my jaw tightens when a Roseanne Barr makes a fool of herself with it.

But making a law barring Barr’s idiocy? No. Doesn’t Indiana have actual issues to manage, and doesn’t Becker look nannyish for even proposing this?

via Memeorandum

Update: linked at The Daley Gator

Category: Celebrities

Comments

13 Responses to “You Can’t Outlaw Beclownment”

richard mcenroe
January 2nd, 2012 @ 6:17 pm

No, They have stuff that needs to be distracted from.
Dell Hill
January 2nd, 2012 @ 6:37 pm

Just what we need – Obama telling us how to sing and/or how to play musical instruments. What’s next, one accepted piece of sheet music for the sheeple to use or fear a lengthy stint in the gulag?

Becker, don’t look now but the country is on the verge of a major financial meltdown. Get your a$$ to work solving your state’s budget problems and leave “how we sing” to us. Mmmm K?
TrogloPundit
January 2nd, 2012 @ 6:51 pm

Wow. Ironic.
Rose
January 2nd, 2012 @ 7:21 pm

When we work to ensure Republicans take the Senate and hold the House, this is EXACTLY the kind of thing we DON’T want to see happening.

Republican’s message is one of fiscal responsibility, cutting both spending and taxes; less government intrusion, NOT MORE. Apparently, this lady didn’t get the memo.

Abolish the Nanny-state.
ThePaganTemple
January 2nd, 2012 @ 7:40 pm

This is the kind of idiot Democrats point to when they talk smack talk about Republicans. The scary thing is, the real reason she’s doing that is she thinks its a popular issue with her constitutents. When somebody starts something like this, look to see what the other hand is doing.
smitty
January 2nd, 2012 @ 7:41 pm

That was a Republican State legislator.
Serfer62
January 2nd, 2012 @ 8:03 pm

Free Speach covers a lot of ground.
There should be NO controls on anthem.
I also propose a maximum fine & sentance to anyone punching a flag defiler or anthem mutilater of $3.00 and police cuffed for 1 minute
richard mcenroe
January 2nd, 2012 @ 8:16 pm

But not too tightly, their hands will already be sore…
Doug Hagin
January 2nd, 2012 @ 9:10 pm

Sadly there are too many Republicans that beat the drum of small government, until something offends them, then………….
You just cannot outlaw bad singing « The Daley Gator
January 2nd, 2012 @ 9:11 pm

[…] as Smitty points out, the state of Indiana is wrong to even try Legislation introduced to the Indiana Senate would make […]
Finrod Felagund
January 3rd, 2012 @ 8:50 am

Enh, around 100 years ago, the Indiana legislature had a bill that would change the value of pi. It seems every 100 years or so the Indiana legislature has a really stupid idea.
Anonymous
January 3rd, 2012 @ 8:51 am

He’s just another “big government conservative” like Rick Santorum.

Rick Perry has it right: get the government as far out of our lives as possible.
Anonymous
January 3rd, 2012 @ 9:44 am

Although most renditions make me cringe, to actually make it a crime is beyond ridiculous. The only renditions that I can tolerate anymore are either sung by an opera singer or military choir. They know that it’s not about them and therefore sing it straight without taking any liberties.