Singer Linda Ronstadt Ejected by Las Vegas Casino

Radar · 07-20-2004, 12:30 PM

Singer Linda Ronstadt Ejected by Las Vegas Casino
Mon Jul 19, 2004 06:54 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Singer Linda Ronstadt was thrown out of the Aladdin casino in Las Vegas on the weekend after dedicating a song to liberal film maker Michael Moore and his movie "Fahrenheit 9/11," a casino spokeswoman said on Monday.

Ronstadt, who had been hired for a one-show engagement Saturday night at the Las Vegas Strip casino, dedicated a performance of "Desperado" to Moore and his controversial documentary, which criticizes President Bush and the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

That dedication angered some Aladdin guests who spilled drinks, tore down posters and demanded their money back, said casino spokeswoman Sara Gorgon.

"We had quite a scene at the box office," she said.

About a quarter of the 4,500 people in the audience got up and left before the performance had finished, Gorgon said.

Before her concert, Ronstadt had laughingly told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that she hoped that the casino performance would be her last.

"I keep hoping that if I'm annoying enough to them, they won't hire me back," she was quoted as telling the newspaper.

A statement issued by the Aladdin said Ronstadt had been "escorted out of the hotel" just after her performance and said the performer would "not be welcomed back."

"Ms. Ronstadt was hired to entertain the guests of the Aladdin, not to espouse political views," the casino said.

Ronstadt was not immediately available for comment.

Cyber Wolf · 07-20-2004, 12:41 PM

Awwww, what about the people who WERE entertained by Ronstadt's performance? I'd have been entertained by the fact that so many people got hot under the collar about it.

smoothmoniker · 07-20-2004, 12:47 PM

“Yes, it’s a lovely home, and the neighborhood is great. I’m sure my client will appreciate your generous offer, and I’ll have our escrow company start drawing up the papers.

Before we sign the offer though, I’d like to take 5 minutes to explain why you should voted Republican in the upcoming election. Remember, a vote for a Democrat is a vote for treason …

… hey, where are you going? What about my right to free speech? CENSORSHIP! CENSORSHIP!”

If you’re hired to do a job, do the job. She was hired to be a singer, not a political commentator.

-sm

Radar · 07-20-2004, 01:02 PM

She was hired as a "performer" and singers often talk between songs. That's common and expected; otherwise they could just play a CD. Singers are not robots and they use emotion in their acts.

My ex-wife works for the Alladin and it's filled with stuffy English pricks. Do you think they'd kick U2, the Beastie Boys, Garbage, Barbara Streisand, etc. off the stage? All of them are known for their political comments while performing. There's no way in hell they'd do that to the other performers.

She did her job, and the Alladin was out of line. Now I have another reason never to go there.

tw · 07-20-2004, 01:10 PM

Demonstrates the type of people who support George Jr. Low intelligent, easily swayed by Rush Limbaugh 'lies by telling half truths', and so extremist as to justify destruction of property only because another expresses a political viewpoint. I have even seen it happen in coffee shops. Linda Rhonstadt got blamed only because some drunk extremist fools like the mental midget and got violent. Their violence is justified when they express their political views? And Linda Rhonstadt cannot express any views? How right wing extremist! What CIA agent will be outted next in retaliation? What happens there stays there? Apparently not when right wing extremist put their spin on facts. Violence by right wing extremists is justified.

Violence in support of a mental midget president is justified? Singing a song in opposition to that president is not?
"Tin soldiers and Georgie's coming.
We're finally on our own.
This summer I heard the calling.
Dead posters in Las Ve Gas."

Bad lyrics to a song dedicated to a lying president. One who did nothing even after his Presidental Daily Briefings even warned of the WTC attack.

Blaming violent rioters on Linda Rhonstadt is classic of right wing extremist spin. Something I would expect from CBN, Fox News, or fools who believe Rush Limbaugh - prophet of god's choosen president.

Undertoad · 07-20-2004, 01:11 PM

If she were in a dirt bar singing this stuff and went off on a leftist rant in the middle of her set, she would get booed right offstage, and not collect her payday, and we would all nod and understand completely.

"I'd like to introduce my keyboard player Jimmy, give him a hand folks... he doesn't care if half of you don't care about the state of the country. Get up and dance people, unless you don't care about the landmines issue. Oh and please tip the waitresses, you morons."

Stipe once stopped a concert to complain about the brand of beer some fan was drinking. I don't get it: if we tell him to shut up and just sing, it's some kind of quashing of debate, but if Stipe wants to instruct the mob on what beers are politically correct it's not acting oppressive at all.

If they don't want certain people in the audience, or if they expect some sort of group-think, well I think they should print that on the tickets.

tw · 07-20-2004, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

If they don't want certain people in the audience, or if they expect some sort of group-think, well I think they should print that on the tickets.

When did we have to print on the ticket that right wing and violent extremists are not welcome in any concert?

Radar · 07-20-2004, 01:19 PM

She wasn't trying to control the audience, she was expressing herself. The Audience is free to agree or disagree and to leave the concert. But destruction of property isn't allowed, and isn't the fault of someone expressing themselves. If those audience members don't like what she's saying or otherwise don't like her show, they're free to leave and not purchase her albums anymore.

What is it about the right-wing zealots that they can't grasp the concept of changing the channel or voting with their dollars? If something is offensive on television, the radio, etc. don't violate thier rights, just change the channel or turn it off. What's so hard about that?

smoothmoniker · 07-20-2004, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tw

Demonstrates the type of people who support George Jr. ... so extremist as to justify destruction of property only because another expresses a political viewpoint.

Careful, that knife cuts both ways.

-sm

xoxoxoBruce · 07-20-2004, 01:24 PM

Depot Ronstadt to Mexico.
Send rioting patrons to Cuba.
Let's get back to debauchery.
Viva Las Vegas.

smoothmoniker · 07-20-2004, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radar

She wasn't trying to control the audience, she was expressing herself. The Audience is free to agree or disagree and to leave the concert. But destruction of property isn't allowed, and isn't the fault of someone expressing themselves. If those audience members don't like what she's saying or otherwise don't like her show, they're free to leave and not purchase her albums anymore.

Am I missing something, or is the "extremist, violent destruction of property" that we're referring to here the spilling of a few drinks, and maybe one drunk guy ripping down her poster on the way out?

Quote:

What is it about the right-wing zealots that they can't grasp the concept of changing the channel or voting with their dollars? If something is offensive on television, the radio, etc. don't violate their rights, just change the channel or turn it off. What's so hard about that?

What is it about left-wing zealots that always equates “voting with their dollars” as a form of censorship. Dixie-chicks piss off their audience, the core country fan base doesn't want to listen to them anymore, radio stations stop playing their music, and it's a censorship issue, a conservative witch-hunt.
Whoopie makes crude comments about the Prez, Slim-Fast realizes that a pretty good chunk of their market base probably likes the guy, so they vote with their pocketbook and drop her. Suddenly it's a censorship issue; Whoopie releases a statement accusing the Bush re-election campaign of scheming to harm her financially. I think the conservative right is pretty damn good at voting with their pocketbook. The thing you're pissed about is that our pocketbook holds billion dollar companies like Clear Channel, Newscorp, Nabisco, Aladdin, Icon ...

-sm

Radar · 07-20-2004, 01:46 PM

I really can't answer that question since I'm not a right-wing or a left-wing zealot. I have absolutely no problem with people voting with thier dollars. I don't consider it censorship. If I'm going to hire someone to sell a product, it will be someone for whom the consumers of my product will like. I wouldn't hire Michael Moore to represent Smith & Wesson, and I wouldn't hire George W. Bush to represent the United States of America.

DanaC · 07-20-2004, 01:49 PM

"My ex-wife works for the Alladin and it's filled with stuffy English pricks"

Theyre English? And they support Bush?

Griff · 07-20-2004, 01:58 PM

If you go to a Ronstadt concert you know the rant is coming, unless you actually think Rush has permission to use her music. This all played out the way it should in an open society, she says what she thinks and the casino decides whether in the future they want to give her a forum.

You know that the Dixie Chicks thing is more complicated than that, because the Feral Government decides who gets broadcast licenses. We do NOT have a free market in broadcast media.

Griff · 07-20-2004, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radar

I wouldn't hire Michael Moore to represent Smith & Wesson, and I wouldn't hire George W. Bush to represent the United States of America.

*grin* nice line!

07-20-2004, 12:30 PM	#1
Radar Constitutional Scholar Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 4,006	Singer Linda Ronstadt Ejected by Las Vegas Casino Singer Linda Ronstadt Ejected by Las Vegas Casino Mon Jul 19, 2004 06:54 PM ET LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Singer Linda Ronstadt was thrown out of the Aladdin casino in Las Vegas on the weekend after dedicating a song to liberal film maker Michael Moore and his movie "Fahrenheit 9/11," a casino spokeswoman said on Monday. Ronstadt, who had been hired for a one-show engagement Saturday night at the Las Vegas Strip casino, dedicated a performance of "Desperado" to Moore and his controversial documentary, which criticizes President Bush and the U.S.-led war in Iraq. That dedication angered some Aladdin guests who spilled drinks, tore down posters and demanded their money back, said casino spokeswoman Sara Gorgon. "We had quite a scene at the box office," she said. About a quarter of the 4,500 people in the audience got up and left before the performance had finished, Gorgon said. Before her concert, Ronstadt had laughingly told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that she hoped that the casino performance would be her last. "I keep hoping that if I'm annoying enough to them, they won't hire me back," she was quoted as telling the newspaper. A statement issued by the Aladdin said Ronstadt had been "escorted out of the hotel" just after her performance and said the performer would "not be welcomed back." "Ms. Ronstadt was hired to entertain the guests of the Aladdin, not to espouse political views," the casino said. Ronstadt was not immediately available for comment. __________________ "I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death." - George Carlin

07-20-2004, 12:41 PM	#2
Cyber Wolf As stable as a ring of PU-239 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: On a huge rock covered in water, highly advanced moss and 7 billion parasites Posts: 1,264	Awwww, what about the people who WERE entertained by Ronstadt's performance? I'd have been entertained by the fact that so many people got hot under the collar about it. __________________ "I don't see what's so triffic about creating people as people and then getting' upset 'cos they act like people." ~Adam Young, Good Omens "I don't see why it matters what is written. Not when it's about people. It can always be crossed out." ~Adam Young, Good Omens

07-20-2004, 01:02 PM	#4
Radar Constitutional Scholar Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 4,006	She was hired as a "performer" and singers often talk between songs. That's common and expected; otherwise they could just play a CD. Singers are not robots and they use emotion in their acts. My ex-wife works for the Alladin and it's filled with stuffy English pricks. Do you think they'd kick U2, the Beastie Boys, Garbage, Barbara Streisand, etc. off the stage? All of them are known for their political comments while performing. There's no way in hell they'd do that to the other performers. She did her job, and the Alladin was out of line. Now I have another reason never to go there. __________________ "I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death." - George Carlin

07-20-2004, 01:10 PM	#5
tw Read? I only know how to write. Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 11,933	Demonstrates the type of people who support George Jr. Low intelligent, easily swayed by Rush Limbaugh 'lies by telling half truths', and so extremist as to justify destruction of property only because another expresses a political viewpoint. I have even seen it happen in coffee shops. Linda Rhonstadt got blamed only because some drunk extremist fools like the mental midget and got violent. Their violence is justified when they express their political views? And Linda Rhonstadt cannot express any views? How right wing extremist! What CIA agent will be outted next in retaliation? What happens there stays there? Apparently not when right wing extremist put their spin on facts. Violence by right wing extremists is justified. Violence in support of a mental midget president is justified? Singing a song in opposition to that president is not? "Tin soldiers and Georgie's coming. We're finally on our own. This summer I heard the calling. Dead posters in Las Ve Gas." Bad lyrics to a song dedicated to a lying president. One who did nothing even after his Presidental Daily Briefings even warned of the WTC attack. Blaming violent rioters on Linda Rhonstadt is classic of right wing extremist spin. Something I would expect from CBN, Fox News, or fools who believe Rush Limbaugh - prophet of god's choosen president. Last edited by tw; 07-20-2004 at 01:13 PM.

07-20-2004, 01:19 PM	#8
Radar Constitutional Scholar Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 4,006	She wasn't trying to control the audience, she was expressing herself. The Audience is free to agree or disagree and to leave the concert. But destruction of property isn't allowed, and isn't the fault of someone expressing themselves. If those audience members don't like what she's saying or otherwise don't like her show, they're free to leave and not purchase her albums anymore. What is it about the right-wing zealots that they can't grasp the concept of changing the channel or voting with their dollars? If something is offensive on television, the radio, etc. don't violate thier rights, just change the channel or turn it off. What's so hard about that? __________________ "I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death." - George Carlin

07-20-2004, 12:47 PM	#3
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	“Yes, it’s a lovely home, and the neighborhood is great. I’m sure my client will appreciate your generous offer, and I’ll have our escrow company start drawing up the papers. Before we sign the offer though, I’d like to take 5 minutes to explain why you should voted Republican in the upcoming election. Remember, a vote for a Democrat is a vote for treason … … hey, where are you going? What about my right to free speech? CENSORSHIP! CENSORSHIP!” If you’re hired to do a job, do the job. She was hired to be a singer, not a political commentator. -sm

07-20-2004, 01:11 PM	#6
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	If she were in a dirt bar singing this stuff and went off on a leftist rant in the middle of her set, she would get booed right offstage, and not collect her payday, and we would all nod and understand completely. "I'd like to introduce my keyboard player Jimmy, give him a hand folks... he doesn't care if half of you don't care about the state of the country. Get up and dance people, unless you don't care about the landmines issue. Oh and please tip the waitresses, you morons." Stipe once stopped a concert to complain about the brand of beer some fan was drinking. I don't get it: if we tell him to shut up and just sing, it's some kind of quashing of debate, but if Stipe wants to instruct the mob on what beers are politically correct it's not acting oppressive at all. If they don't want certain people in the audience, or if they expect some sort of group-think, well I think they should print that on the tickets.

07-20-2004, 01:24 PM	#10
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Depot Ronstadt to Mexico. Send rioting patrons to Cuba. Let's get back to debauchery. Viva Las Vegas. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

07-20-2004, 01:46 PM	#12
Radar Constitutional Scholar Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 4,006	I really can't answer that question since I'm not a right-wing or a left-wing zealot. I have absolutely no problem with people voting with thier dollars. I don't consider it censorship. If I'm going to hire someone to sell a product, it will be someone for whom the consumers of my product will like. I wouldn't hire Michael Moore to represent Smith & Wesson, and I wouldn't hire George W. Bush to represent the United States of America. __________________ "I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death." - George Carlin

07-20-2004, 01:49 PM	#13
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	"My ex-wife works for the Alladin and it's filled with stuffy English pricks" Theyre English? And they support Bush?

07-20-2004, 01:58 PM	#14
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	If you go to a Ronstadt concert you know the rant is coming, unless you actually think Rush has permission to use her music. This all played out the way it should in an open society, she says what she thinks and the casino decides whether in the future they want to give her a forum. You know that the Dixie Chicks thing is more complicated than that, because the Feral Government decides who gets broadcast licenses. We do NOT have a free market in broadcast media. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

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