Q: Mr. President, music is one of our largest exports the country has. Currently, every country in the world -- except China, Iran, North Korea, Rwanda and the United States -- pay a statutory royalty to the performing artists for radio and television air play. Would your administration consider changing our laws to align it with the rest of the world?
THE PRESIDENT: Help. (Laughter.) Maybe you've never had a President say this -- I have, like, no earthly idea what you're talking about. (Laughter and applause.) Sounds like we're keeping interesting company, you know? (Laughter.)
Look, I'll give you the old classic: contact my office, will you? (Laughter.) I really don't -- I'm totally out of my lane. I like listening to country music, if that helps. (Laughter.)
You've got a question? Yes.
Link (via Listening Post)
It's actually kind of refreshing to hear a politician say "I don't know" to a question at a press conference. It took 6+ years but truth be told he could have given this exact answer to any number of questions over the years.
hahaha a little news from my fine town of Nashville. Too bad its not good news. He is so slick.
Posted by: dudeyea | July 24, 2007 at 02:10 AM
comments come from 40:00 in video
Posted by: Mike | July 24, 2007 at 08:59 AM
Over the last two weeks, I've been reading B. Russells "History of Western Philosophy". I'm about halfway through ( this isn't exactly high priority stuff ) and he's writing about St. Augustine and the waning years of the Roman Empire. Russell relates the details of Augustines "City of God", and concludes the chapter by wondering "It is strange that the last men of eminence before the dark ages were concerned, not with saving civilization or expelling the barbarians or reforming the abuses of the administration, but with preaching the merits of virginity and the damnation of unbaptized infants." Yep.
Posted by: K | July 24, 2007 at 09:45 AM
W is fingering a G chord in this photo. Freaky though, he's a half step sharp on the fretboard! WTF indeed...
Posted by: bret | July 25, 2007 at 08:43 PM
And at the exact same moment, a thousand miles away, New Orleans sinks beneathe the waves. Nero could at least carry a tune.
Posted by: K | July 26, 2007 at 11:13 AM
The president has absolutely no idea whats going on with music. Should we be surprised? He has no idea whats going on with anything.
Posted by: Adwanoc | July 30, 2007 at 05:27 PM