Political Correctness at PBS?

June 26, 2002

by Gary Larson

Down-home bandleader Charlie Daniels’s new song was banned last week by the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) from its Fourth of July special, "A Capitol Fourth." Daniels quit the show, baffled at why PBS would have him pull his supremely patriotic song from his repertoire.

All America might be as bewildered by this bizarre turn, sort of censorship on the run, by a major quasi-public TV network. PBS’s act might reek of political correctness, but one thing’s certain: PBS is likely to make a crossover hit of Daniels’s "The Last Fallen Hero," a lively tribute to 9/11 heroes, particularly the brave "let’s move" passengers bringing down a hijacked airliner in the Pennsylvania countryside.

So why was it banned? PBS’s producers say Daniels’s song is not "upbeat" enough for their July 4th special to be broadcast from the west lawn of the White House. Well, la te da! Who’d ever want to disturb a gala Fourth of July bash with a tribute to American heroes? Who’d want to brand those 9/11 evil-doers, as does Daniels in his lyrics, "the cowards who came by morning and attacked without warning." Not PBS, nosiree. Is this PC...or what? (Conjecture about "...or what?" coming up later. Read on.)

Judge for yourself, folks. Here’s the thrice-repeated chorus of the PBS-banned song:

"This is a righteous cause so without doubt or pause

I will do what my country asks of me,

Make any sacrifice, pay any price,

So the children of tomorrow can be free."

Composed by Daniels last winter, it’s in his album, "Redneck Fiddlin’ Man" (under the Blue Hat label) coming out July 9. Watch for this one to soar to the top of the charts due to PBS’s audacious move. It’ll now get more plays than anyone imagined.

As for the "...or what?" Well, consider this: Daniels is not your everyday guitar-pluckin’ troubadour of songs about unrequited love. And he’s not one for lyrics finding fault with America first. Daniels is a true-blue American, and a bit of a conservative, too. Maybe an artist too conservative for PBS?

Without tossing spears, or yelling conspiracy when none is afoot, might the legendary bandleader Daniels’s politics be one subtle reason his song was pulled from the PBS special? Hey, man, I merely raise the question here.

Daniels, 65, is outspoken. Comment at his website is downright political. In his latest (see it yourself at www.CharlieDaniels.com) he gives his opinions on why our nation was vulnerable to 9/11 and what’s to stop further attacks. Samples:

"The Democrats are trying to blame the shortcomings of Clinton’s disastrous administration on the present one. . ."

And this zinger: "Clinton left the Justice Department and our intelligence organization in deplorable shape and it just can’t be fixed overnight. . ."

Finally, how’s this for being unPC: "We are going to be forced to accept some things we may not like, such as going into Muslim communities to find the terrorists who hide among them."

One thing about Charlie, he calls ‘em as he sees ‘em.

Daniels’s patriotism is manifest. Lately he’s entertained our troops at Guantanamo with a stirring USO show, first one there in years. His song "Still in Saigon," is a perpetual plea for the return of our MIAs and POWs. He spends time in prison, too, only entertaining inmates as part of Watergate figure’s Charles Colson’s ministry, "Operation Starting Line," a faith-based venture to help cons go straight and true after release. Inmates love him; his message is delivered with love, wisdom and gusto.

Pure speculation, of course, is that Daniels ran into outrageous PC at PBS owing to his unabashed conservativism and/or religious beliefs. Far be it from me to look into the hearts and minds of PBS producers and their liberal pals. But being banned from PBS’s extravaganza certainly will give "The Last Fallen Hero" more exposure than the best-laid plans of publicists. Daniels might well say, "Thanks, PBS, for the tremendous boost."

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Gary Larson is a former association executive and editor of newspapers and an award-winning business magazine at Harcourt Brace Jovonovich. Larson was also a combat correspondent, and one-time stringer in VietNam for Stars & Stripes. He retired to northern Minnesota (and winters in Florida and Arkansas). He is not the retired cartoonist, only another fan of The Far Side. His editorials and commentaries appear in other popular Internet webzines such as Front Page Magazine, EtherZone, PoliticalUSA and Accuracy in Media (the media watchdog organization based in Washington D.C.)