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‘The Nuge’ rocks campus
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by Nick Penzenstadler
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Bringing a self-proclaimed extreme right-winger to speak at the University of Wisconsin created a spark that nearly blew the roof off Memorial Union Theater Wednesday night. The conservative student organization Collegians for a Constructive Tomorrow hosted a lecture by rock-legend turned political-activist Ted Nugent. Security guards and a police dog were present at the rowdy room filled with Nugent supporters and objectors of all ages.
Nugent drew a large crowd from the UW campus and surrounding areas. Tom Talbot, who traveled from Portage to hear Nugent, said the rocker's blunt opinions were entertaining.
Talbot said Nugent's political outlook is "from the heart."
UW freshman Jason Bergsbaken said although the lecture was politically incorrect, it was still exciting.
"Some of the stuff was shocking, I agreed with some of it, but most of it was a little over the top," Bergsbaken said.
Nugent's ideas drew a variety of reactions — from raised eyebrows and boos to screams of "Cat Scratch Fever!"
UW senior James Sands said the strong-willed speaker made several inappropriate comments.
"I think he's a moron — he's a raging idiot," he said. "He just likes to do it for the publicity."
Nugent spoke extensively about his anti-substance stance and the "assholes who gave up their life to be hip."
Nugent joked about speaking "at" his fellow drug-influenced rockers such as Ozzy Osbourne and Kurt Cobain.
"I got to jam with Jimmy Hendrix — he laughed at me because I wouldn't take his drugs, and I said, 'Jimmy, you've got a booger hanging out of your nose,'" Nugent said.
UW sophomore Stephen Collins said Nugent's ideas were clear, but that he wrongly attacked people with substance abuse problems.
Clearly expressing his Republican leanings, Nugent riled up the crowd with conservative credo.
"A conservative gets up early to be productive, driven by the pure instinct to be self sustaining," Nugent said. "A liberal thinks they can sleep in, and someone will cover their lame ass."
Nugent also touched on his conservative views on unemployment.
"When I see a beggar on the street, I say, 'Hey asshole, there's a help-wanted sign right over there!'" he said.
The already rowdy crowd at the theater erupted when a member of the audience criticized Nugent's non-involvement in the Vietnam War.
Nugent ended the prolonged verbal exchange between the two with the short demand, "Eat shit and die."
The argument allowed both parties to express their viewpoints, despite the chaotic shouting match, according to CFACT president Adam Ostrum.
"I like to hear both sides of issues, and it's something that should be encouraged on this campus," Ostrum said.
Nugent praised political activism with his unique brand of lobbying.
"It's time to break out the crowbar of independence and bop some politicians on the head."
Anonymous (October 26, 2006 @ 6:06am):
I was the Vietnam veteran who confronted Nugent last night. After I told him I served 2 tours in Vietnam he came to the front of the stage and stated, "I salute you". I then said the difference between my right wing views and his right wing views were just a little different. He asked how. I continued saying that I thought that he was a "yellow-bellied, traitorous coward who urinated and defecaterd in his pants to avoid serving his country. Some individuals in the crowd started to boo me and Nugent said, "Let him speak". After I made more assertions of his hypocrisy he took a swig of his water bottle and said, "FUCK YOU". So much for letting me speak as his people turned the mic off. Is this how the future candidate for the governor of Michigan will respect free speach???
Anonymous (October 26, 2006 @ 6:09am):
I'm sorry my e-mail address is pitman10@verizon.net for the comment just listed. Vietnam vet who confronted Nugent.
Anonymous (October 26, 2006 @ 7:46am):
I believe the actions of the Vietnam veteran who spoke up after Nugents tirade on society were not only long overdue, but of more substance than Nugents entire diatribe. Ted Nugent, who now proudly poses with Army personel, dodged the draft letting another man die in his place. His hypocrisy is stunning to say the least, but sadly this is typical of nearly the whole chickenhawk crowd that rushed to war in Iraq w/o any credible evidence, in fact brushing off actual evidence that war was not needed, that there were no threats from Iraq. Dare ANYONE compare themselves to patriots when they support for sacrifice of someones life for a lie?
Anonymous (October 26, 2006 @ 8:41am):
As a conservative on this campus, I feel as if this article has been written as a blatant slap in the face of all conservatives on this campus. The author chose to paint Ted Nugent as merely a right wing moron who was booed and taunted by the fans. Let me say Ted Nugent spoke to the heart of what conservatives feel at this campus and it's about damn time we finally had a speaker who someone actually knows about. The DLS can go out and get us Joe-Schmoe or his pal John Doe and feel that we have are getting equal representation, but until we start getting more big name conservatives, such as the one provided to us by CFACT, we will never be equally represented at what is called an institution of higher learning. Ted Nugent possesses extensive knowledge about hunting, gun owner rights, and the pursuit of the American Dream. If liberals feel that he is short sighted, they need to wake up and smell the damn coffee.
Anonymous (October 26, 2006 @ 10:35am):
ADAM OSTRUM IS WRONG ABOUT BOTH PARTIES EXPRESSING THEIR VIEWPOINTS. THE VIETNAM WAR VETERAN THAT ENGAGED THE DISCUSSION CLEARLY HAD THE FACTS IN HAND. NUGENT CRAPPED HIMSELF TO AVOID THE VIETNAM WAR. NUGENT'S RESPONSE WAS THAT OF A CHILD RUNNING AWAY FROM DANGER. HE IS THE WORST OF ALL CHICKEN HAWKS.
Anonymous (October 26, 2006 @ 12:06pm):
I think when Nugent could have signed up to go to Vietnam, there were rules against drafting the mentally challenged.
Anonymous (October 26, 2006 @ 12:17pm):
Another Nugent rant where he cannot stand up to his public record. How much did he get paid to provide his particular view of the world?
Answer: Too much.
Anonymous (October 26, 2006 @ 12:34pm):
What a liberal-biased article! I would love to see a conservative write an article in response to any left-leaning activity on campus... oh wait, that won't happen, this is a Madison paper.
Thank goodness we have people like the Nuge to balance this world.
Anonymous (October 26, 2006 @ 5:51pm):
Chickenhawk schmickenhawk. If people who didn't serve in the military can't have an opinion on when to go to war, then people who don't have a lot of money can't have an opinion on taxes. I'll make that trade and I'm not rich (yet).
Anonymous (October 26, 2006 @ 7:26pm):
Liberal article? I thought the author was just reporting what took place. Perhaps too much is being read between the lines.
Anonymous (October 27, 2006 @ 12:50am):
liberally biased article? Ted Nugent is one of the most biased and polarizing persons currently in public view. The guy has "extensive knowledge" in how to dodge the draft and courageously crapped his pants for 7 days(you have to admit, that does take guts)to avoid serving in vietnam and NOW brags about war? absolutely stunning hypocrisy, I'd be ashamed to claim that Mr Nugent represented me in anyway...unless i represented the Pampers sales division...Mr Nugent is to war heroes what Pee Wee Herman is to body builders...
Anonymous (October 27, 2006 @ 1:56am):
Waiiiit.....an above conservative actually feels that what Ted Nugent said last night...represents the conservative "heart?"
So that's why that party is falling apart.
Anonymous (October 27, 2006 @ 8:07am):
Right own, right own, right own!
Anonymous (October 27, 2006 @ 11:49am):
Nugent is about as balanced as BU$H's federal budget.
Anonymous (October 27, 2006 @ 5:35pm):
I support his views on staying sober and off drugs. A man with such views deserves a lot of respect! People shouldn't make excuses for drug abuse. It's wrong, it hurts people, and it can ruin your life. That's all there is to it.
Anonymous (October 28, 2006 @ 4:33am):
chickenhawk schmickenhawk...so, you're saying that people who served in Ted Nugents place in Vietnam can't have an opinion about him then? Nor can people who aren't getting paid $30,000 to stir up hatred of poor people have opinions? hmmmm...
Anonymous (October 28, 2006 @ 11:16am):
I'd like to know whom the last poster believes is balanced. Ted Nugent was brought in to represent a conservative viewpoint and that is what he did. Is every speaker invited to UW balanced?
Anonymous (October 29, 2006 @ 10:45pm):
What's Ted want to conserve? The innocent people killed in war? No. Animal rights? No. People with substance abuse problems? No. The Constitution? While he says "Yes," the real answer's no since he supports BU$H who was installed with 6 Constitutional violations allowed in 2000 alone. Opposing viewpoints/free speech? No, they cut the Vietnam veteran's mic off and escorted him from the building. Seems like all Ted wants to conserve is the NRA, himself and his loud mouth...
