Earlier today, we explored the possibility that Tom Cotton may eventually try to out-Cruz Ted Cruz.
Jonathan Chait has a funny post up just now on the hilarious, transparent efforts of Cruz to give the proper right-wing answer to the question “what kind of music do you like?”
Ted Cruz divulged that he used to love classic rock, but switched over to country because of 9/11. “My music taste changed on 9/11,” the presidential candidate said. “I actually intellectually find this very curious, but on 9/11, I didn’t like how rock music responded,” he said. “And country music, collectively, the way they responded, it resonated with me.”
Chait has some fun noting that classic rock couldn’t respond to 9/11 since it was written decades beforehand and more broadly how silly (I would add, sad) it is to tie partisan identification with markers of cultural authenticity. His whole riff is worth a read.
“My music taste changed on 9/11” is an almost perfectly stupid statement, managing to belittle both music and 9/11. But back to Cotton. While the striver Cruz unconvincingly tries to peddle a newfound love for honky tonks, Cotton already had his bases covered. You may remember that the Times asked various politicians for their favorite songs a couple years ago. Cotton’s answer: “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Sorry Cruz, that’s Tea Partier than Toby Keith, and then some.
One more thing: if partisan politics led you to stop appreciating the outstanding music of the Dixie Chicks, YOUR PRIORITIES ARE WRONG AND YOU ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH ENJOYMENT OUT OF LIFE.