Racist rocker at Republican inaugural...

Posted by Philip Barron at 11:19 AM on January 19, 2007.

As the sad and inevitable decline of the GOP accelerates over the coming months, look for many more examples of the seamy underside of the party coming to light and frightening even Republicans. Take it away, Ted Nugent!

Hours after Gov. Rick Perry kicked off his second full term in office, Ted Nugent helped him celebrate at a black-tie gala, but not all attendees were pleased by the rocker's performance.

Using machine guns as props, Nugent, 58, appeared onstage as the final act of the inaugural ball wearing a cutoff T-shirt emblazoned with the Confederate flag and shouting offensive remarks about non-English speakers, according to people who were in attendance.

Perry's spokesman, Robert Black, downplayed the Tuesday-night incident.

"Ted Nugent is a good friend of the governor's. He asked him if he would play at the inaugural. He didn't put any stipulation of what he would play," Black said.

Others said the appearance was inappropriate.

"I think it was a horrible choice," GOP strategist Royal Masset said. "I hope nobody approved it."

Mr. Masett is shocked, shocked at Nugent's intolerant rantings - as though everyone and his mother hasn't known for years all about the "Motor City Madman" and what he stands for. And it was the office of Nugent's good friend, Governor Perry, that approved the choice of the hate-spewing alleged musician. So let's just fold away the protestations of innocence.

And some people thought George "Macaca" Allen was an aberration.

Rick Perry, Republican governor, is the proudly admitted good buddy of a documented racist. That's the story; all the rest is commentary.

Tagged as: ted nugent, rick perry, republican party

Philip Barron is a St. Louis writer and author of the blog Waveflux.