Hillary Clinton’s Presidential Campaign Is Starting To Sound Pretty Haggard

Brian Raftery | February 16, 2007 8:27 am
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Hillary Clinton hasn’t finalized her list of 2008 presidential-bid theme songs–we suggest Mary J.’s “No More Drama,” just because we want to see the inevitably awkward inaugural-party dance-along–but that may change if she goes to a Merle Haggard concert anytime soon. According to New West, the 69-year-old country legend showed off a new tune while performing in Spokane earlier this week:

It had a one-word title, he said, and was likely to “piss off” at least half of the audience. A few might even walk out, he said. But, an assistant brought out a music stand and Merle started crooning about a woman named “Hillary.”

“The country needs to be honest,” he sang. “Change needs to be large.”

“Let’s put a woman in charge.”

A few in the crowd, (including our neighbors who complained all throughout Haggard’s opening act, Neko Case, because they “didn’t buy tickets to see Jewel”) scoffed at Merle’s tribute while others wondered if he was serious. “How did you take it?” we overheard one cowboy asking another as we left the show.

The Wall Street Journal has a follow-up that notes that Haggard has been playing the tune at several stops, with varying degrees of audience reaction. We understand why people may be iffy on the tune: As far as lyrics go, “let’s put a woman in charge” is no “Don’t Stop”–heck, it’s not even as punchy as “Stand By Your Man.” But we’re all for any campaign song that doesn’t include the standard-issue lyrical themes of “hopes,” “dreams,” and “Moqtada al-Sadr.”

Merle Haggard on Hillary: ‘Let’s Put a Woman in Charge’ [New West] New Theme Song for Clinton Camp? [WSJ.com]