Say it ain't so, Tony!

[OldSchoolRanger]

Tony Bennett said that the US is to blame for the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  On the Howard Stern show while discussing his service as an infantryman in WWII, he stated:
"But who are the terrorist? Are we the terrorists?  Two wrongs don't make a right.  They flew the plane in, but we caused it because we were bombing them and they told us to stop".

Yesterday on facebook, Tony apologetically stated: "There is no excuse for terrorism and the murder of the nearly 3,000 innocent victims of the 9/11 attacks on our country."

As Andrea Peyser of the NY Post stated:  "Tony has a right to his opinion.  You have a right to avoid his concerts and to refrain from buying his records."   I agree wholeheartedly with Mrs. Andrea Peyser.
Your comments?

[yellowtail3]

As Andrea Peyser of the NY Post stated:  "Tony has a right to his opinion.  You have a right to avoid his concerts and to refrain from buying his records." 

Well, looks like Mr. Bennett said something that was not politically correct, and Ms. Peyser - is she an NY Post writer? - is hoping that people will penalize Mr. Bennett for his failure to adhere to a certain political correctness.

[powderman]

Sad to see Tony suffering from althimers. POWDERMAN. 

[Casull]

Well, looks like Mr. Bennett said something that was not politically correct, and Ms. Peyser - is she an NY Post writer? - is hoping that people will penalize Mr. Bennett for his failure to adhere to a certain political correctness.

 
 
So, now exercising one's right of association or right to political speech is penalizing someone (by refusing to support them)?   

[yellowtail3]

Well, looks like Mr. Bennett said something that was not politically correct, and Ms. Peyser - is she an NY Post writer? - is hoping that people will penalize Mr. Bennett for his failure to adhere to a certain political correctness.

 
 
So, now exercising one's right of association or right to political speech is penalizing someone (by refusing to support them)?   

Yes, very clearly, based on what Mizz Peyser purportedly wrote. Surely you didn't really need for me to confirm that for you?

[Casull]

Yes, very clearly, based on what Mizz Peyser purportedly wrote. Surely you didn't really need for me to confirm that for you?

          No, not really.  Just wanted to see if you had the gall to repeat it.

[yellowtail3]

No gall required, just a plain reading. Easy.

Looky here, Bennett had something else to say:

Bennett -- who told Stern the "first time I saw a dead German [is] when I became a pacifist" -- told Us his "life experiences -- ranging from the Battle of the Bulge or marching with Martin Luther King - made me a life-long humanist and pacifist, and reinforced my belief that violence begets violence and that war is the lowest form of human behavior."

Seems like a reasonable man. But somewhere nearby, there's some Deep Thinker thinkin' that Bennett is a commie or a muzzy or maybe even a librul... a traitor!

[OldSchoolRanger]

YT - I disagree, Ms Peyser is stating a fact, or a choice if you will.  If you don't agree with Tony's comments, you don't have to agree to subsidize the man that made them.  It's capitalism at work, plain and simple.
 
Your comment sounds a lot like Sheryl Crow complaining that Wal-Mart wouldn't sell her CD which had a song that was criticizing Wal-Mart's sale of guns.  Sheryl complained that it was censorship and restricted her freedom of speech.  Wal-Mart refused to budge and refused to sell her CD's, definitely hurt her finances.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/wal-mart/impact.html

My refusing to purchase Tony's CD based on his comments is a free choice that I make.  Just as if he decided to say that we should bomb all Muslim countries, I'm sure that you would decide that you wouldn't want to support his views.

[powderman]

Tony was on the news appologizing for his comments and said he loves America. Chalk it up to a senior moment. POWDERMAN. 

[Casull]

Tony was on the news appologizing for his comments

 

Seems like a reasonable man.

 
Well, I guess we now agree.

[mechanic]

There is nothing wrong with censorship on an individual basis.  As a matter of fact, it's a fundamental right.  It's forbidden for the government to censor, based on our constitution, but that constitution was written to limit the government, not the governed.
 
Any man has a right to avoid another if he disagrees, and that right can be exercised by his not patronizing that one with whom he disagrees.
 
The same can be said of freedom of speech.  Mr. Bennett has every right to say what he pleases, and it's none of the government's business.  That does not mean there will not be consequences. 
 
I know of few however who have been to war who will view it the same as those who make the laws and wield the power.
 
Ben

[Harlen]

I completely disagree with Mr. Bennet on the cause of the terrorist attack of 9/11. 
 
However, Tony Bennet has as much right to his opinion as anyone. 
 
Its unfortunate that he back pedalled, probably pressure from record label or whatever, you should always be expecting and willing to take the heat from your stance on something.
 
The New York journalist should shut her @#$% mouth, unless she's been in combat she has no idea what it can do to a person's views on life.  I can tell you, it didn't make me a pacifist - but it certainly made me more introspective. 
 
Would I fight again - for my family and friends, even my pets - definitely.  For the current administration - no way in @#$%^.

[kinslayer1965]

 
Quote from Harlen
 
"However, Tony Bennet has as much right to his opinion as anyone."
 
"The New York journalist should shut her @#$% mouth"
 
Just out of curiosity why does one have a right to voice his opinion and the other should "shut her @#$% mouth"