Ted Nugent on Barack Obama
The Nuge answers questions from Chattanoogan.com Outdoors
by Richard Simms
Ted Nugent is an avid hunter
Ted Nugent says that prior to his election, President-elect Barack Obama helped create "preferred slaughter zones for killers." More on that in a moment.
This week "The Nuge's" PR folks arranged for an e-mail interview with Nugent... the man who refers to venison as "wonder food." I will admit that Nugent coined one of my favorite quotes used after shooting a deer... "The backstraps have landed." For the uninitiated, backstraps are the choice cut of meat on a deer often referred to as the tenderloin. Somehow "The tenderloin has landed" just doesn't sound as good... but I digress.
Born in 1948, Nugent first gained fame as a rock star. Later in life he blossomed into a TV star, author and arguably the most radical, outspoken proponent of hunting rights and the 2nd Amendment alive today.
Here, completely un-edited, are the Questions and Answers from Uncle Ted himself:
Q: Considering that there were grave concerns about his stance on the 2nd Amendment, how do you feel about the election of Barack Obama as President? And if you have the chance to sit down and speak with the President-elect one-on-one, what would you say to him?
The Nuge: I would congratulate him on a well run campaign, remind him that it is the guiding light of the U.S. Constitution and sacred Bill of Rights that makes America so great and that his voting record of creating the curse of "gun free zones" has proven to be the preferred slaughter zones for killers of unarmed, helpless victims, and that he damn well better cut it out.
Q: As a sportsman and an outdoor writer, I've always respected, and agreed with, your forthright approach to hunting (i.e. let's call it "killing" rather than "harvesting"). But as society grows more and more suburban, I constantly question the forthright approach. Do you?
The Nuge: "No. The America I know and respect is smart enough to grasp truth and reality. We need to be more forthright."
Q: Reading your Bio I see you were named "Father of the Year" at your children's school. Where does that rank in all your awards and accolades? And tell me about your kids. Are they as "passionate" as their father?
The Nuge: "Clearly there is no more important role than quality parenting. To meet all my wonderful children is to meet great Americans passionately pursuing their American Dream of excellence.
Q: What are your favorite quotes and why?
The Nuge: "The great U.S. Marine Corp hero Chesty Puller when he cheered something akin to; 'Terrific! The enemy has us surrounded. Now we can kill them in every direction.' It is definitively pragmatic as a quest to charge toward accomplishment."
Q: Congratulations on your 2nd appearance on the New York Times Best Seller List with "Ted, White & Blue." Do you believe you are there primarily due to your supporters who believe strongly in your message... or are you there because of your "over the top" personality that attracts curiosity seekers from outside the fold ... sort of like folks who can't help but stare at a car wreck?
The Nuge: "I'd say 90-plus percent are fellow logic and truth celebrants, 10 percent those seeking such quality of spiritual life upgrade."
Q: Obviously you, what you do and your attitude are huge turn-offs, perhaps even ammunition for the PETA crowd and other anti's. However there are also some, if not many, in the hunting, shooting & sporting community who are equally turned off by your over-the-top approach. What would you say to those folks?
The Nuge: "Nothing."
