WASHINGTON — Republican presidential contender Mitt
Romney’s organization confirmed Wednesday that it’s using Kid Rock’s
“Born Free” as a campaign song, a natural since both Romney and Rock are
originally from the Detroit area.
Romney
spokesman Ryan Williams confirmed that the campaign plans to use the
2010 song, the video for which was filmed at Pictured Rocks National
Lakeshore on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Rock posted a statement on his Web site:
“He
and anyone else who wants to use my song do not need my permission. I
said he could use it and I would say the same for any other candidate. I
have to have a little faith that every candidate feels like he or she
can help this country. Without faith, we got nothing. I make music to
have it be heard. Merry Christmas folks! Rock on.”
Rock also added this: “PS: Any candidate who makes `So Hott’ their theme song has a good chance of getting my vote.”
The
Romney campaign didn’t give out any details as to why it picked “Born
Free.” Though, as campaign songs go, it’s usually not too hard to figure
it out. The title probably explains it all.
The
Romney campaign said it has talked to representatives for Rock, a.k.a.
Robert Ritchie of Romeo, Mich., though it didn’t say how those
conversations went. The campaign also didn’t speculate on whether Kid
Rock’s hard-partying reputation might be a problem for the candidate.
Nick
Stern, a press representative for Kid Rock, told the Detroit Free Press
that he had no comment on Romney’s song selection or whether Rock
approved of it. Appearing on CNN’s “Piers Morgan Tonight” earlier this
year, Rock — who is generally considered conservative politically —
addressed the question of whether he was a traditional Republican.
He
told Morgan he leaned right, but that, “We don’t want a bunch of
Bible-thumpers running the country. And we don’t want a bunch of
pot-smoking hippies running it. There’s a middle ground there that I
think most of us around the world are.”
“Now I
would sway, belief-wise, more Republican and less government and
creating opportunity,” he continued. “If you had to strictly say one of
those, then yes I would sway a little bit more that way. Then I would
sway left on other issues.”
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