Another Classic Rocker Rejects McCain

John McCain's presidential campaign faces a number of pressing issues, including--in no particular order--age, ethics and keffiyehs. But this morning his strategists are scrambling, desperately searching through iTunes against all odds for conservative-friendly popular musicians who (a) wrote catchy songs and (b) are not Toby Keith.

According to Popeater, 70s songster Jackson Browne is suing the McCain campaign and the Republican party for unauthorized use of his song "Running on Empty" in a campaign ad that criticizes rival Barack Obama. Mr. Browne's lawsuit alleges that the song's usage falsely implies that he is a McCain supporter when in fact he is a full-fledged, lifelong, never-going-back Democrat.

In a statement Browne's lawyer, Lawrence Iser, said, "In light of Jackson Browne's lifelong commitment to Democratic ideals and political candidates, the misappropriation of Jackson Browne's endorsement is entirely reprehensible, and I have no doubt that a jury will agree."

This has happened before to the Republicans--and McCain specifically. Back in February, rootsy rocker John Mellencamp quietly asked McCain to stop playing "Our Country," "Pink Houses" or any other Mellencamp tune at his political events. A few weeks later, BOSTON guitarist Tom Scholz asked then-candidate Gov. Mike Huckabee to stop playing the song "More Than a Feeling" at his political rallies. Like Jackson Browne, Mr. Scholz and Mr. Mellencamp are staunch Democrats who didn't want their works associated with the Republican Party.

So, when it comes to choosing songs for rallies, ads and conventions, what's a Republican to do? According to Harmony Central, the short-list of right-leaning musicians includes Donny Osmond, Ted Nugent, Gene Simmons, Kid Rock and Wayne Newton.

Um, did the guy from "Major Dad" write any songs?

B. Brandon Barker can also be found here.