Singing Hockey Mama for Obama - She Sings and Now She Speaks

This political singing hockey mama, Sandy Riccardi and her accompanist (the moose) Richard Riccardi, professional musicians from the Bay Area in California, have taken the internet by storm by taking Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin on through song. Their musical editorial, which only took one hour to write, is set to the tune "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" from the play "Evita" and starts off with the line "Don't speak for me Sarah Palin." If you aren't already singing her tune, take the time and watch this three minute political statement now.

"I wrote the song because the words 'Don't speak for ME, Sarah Palin' came into my head every time I heard her say 'hockey mom,' Sandy said during an interview about her song. "I didn't even make the association with the actual Evita Peron until others pointed it out to me!! If the Manolo fits...."

When I asked why she decided to make this video, Sandy said, "I cringe every time she says "hockey moms" like it's her voting block." Sandy continued, "And frankly, I don't want an 'average American mom' running the country when McCain keels over. We don't want average Joe-six packs in the White House."

"When a person who may very well end up with their finger on the button can't pronounce 'nuclear' correctly, that really bothers me. Bush was the same," she explained. "Now to be fair, I think Jimmy Carter had a hard time with that one too, but come on, he didn't GROW UP with nuclear threats. Palin and I did ..." "I think her education is seriously lacking. McCain's is too, but at least he has hard core experience in life, war and politics."

Sandy's personal background gives a charge to her passion against Palin and a special insight. "... I was a fundamentalist Christian for a large percentage of my adult life. I know that she will never be able to separate her Bible from her politics, and I KNOW what the Bible says. It's ok for a church to be run with the Bible as the standard, because people can choose to reject the church's rules and go somewhere else if they want, but a country as diverse

"I know she feels divinely appointed to this position of power and will attempt to run the nation (if given the chance) as close to her own interpretation of 'church rules' as possible." Adding, "Thank God for Congress!"

Sandy's song doesn't just bash Palin; it encourages a vote for Obama. "Some have called Obama an elitist. I personally WANT someone in charge of the country to be sort of elite---educated thoroughly and very open-minded and wise as a result. We want amazing brains, intelligent and insightful beyond the run-of-the-mill middle-management supervisor...."

"I trust his plans, his calmness, his manner, his education, and the leaders he says will be his advisors. Colin Powell will be a great person for him to talk with about military strategy; Hillary wants to work herself hard for his administration. It's a great new day with Obama, and 30 years backwards with McCain and Palin."

"Don't Speak for Me Sarah Palin," Sandy and Richard's song, seems to be resonating deeply with both supporters and the opposition. All sides of the political argument are writing comments of escalating passion about her video. Personal insults, racist and sexist slurs of the singer and candidates dot the page. New comments and arguments are posted on YouTube about their video almost by the minute.

A YouTube user calling himself YankeesJMB13 commented on the pair's video, "McCain is no Socialist. Obama is the one that will raise taxes to unbelievable new highs. More people are going to get welfare, and start living off of MY HARD WORK. and then hes going to take the guns right out of our hands! He also wants everyone to get an equal share, cause its not fair to some people... flat out bull. This guy will ruin this country. And as far as 80 bucks a month... well you are an fool for wasting your money, cause the Gov't is a big conspiracy anyway."[sic]

randomstables, another YouTube user, left the comment, "Palin truly has the characteristics of a pit bull - bred to destroy anything perceives as a threat without thinking... librarians, books, museum directors, state troopers, polar bears, wolves, moose,the media, Obama.... Enough - She is no Hilary Clinton - my children know what the VP does and doesn't do better than she. Obama will truly go down as one of the greatest leaders of our time."[sic]

Agree or disagree, "Don't Speak for Me Sarah Palin" may be this election's song to memorize and share.

Check out Sandy and Richard's newest video "Opera for Obama"

About the Musicians

Sandy and Richard are both highly trained professional musicians. Sandy, who has a master's degree in music from Manhattan School of Music, performs jazz, cabaret, musical theater and classical music. Richard is a Mr. Holland's Opus Award winning music teacher with a degree from Oberlin and Yale and works as a professional pianist and conductor.

Full Disclosure: I have known Sandy Riccardi for several years.

First Published - Nov 1, 2008

Sarah Palin: How McCain Got His Groove Back

Sarah Palin, the Republican governor of Alaska, was a phenomenal choice for John McCain’s presidential running mate. She gave them the one thing the campaign needed: their base. Sarah Palin is young, good looking, charming, well spoken, virtually unknown on the national stage, a fundamentalist Christian and a hard line conservative, both socially and financially. She does not believe abortion should be available to anyone for any reason. She is pro-censorship, pro-book banning, is strongly anti-contraceptives, and believes strongly in the Christian dogma on the subjects of sex and reproduction. She has a reputation for going after oil companies. As with many Christian fundamentalists, she believes the earth is only 6,000 years old because she believes in the literal truth of the bible. Oh yeah, and she’s a woman. She is yin to McCain’s yang.

Evangelical Christians have resisted dipping their toes into the McCain for President pool. His perceived moderate stance on a number of social issues that are important to conservatives have made his campaign fearful that evangelicals would not vote at all in November. They were nearly certain there was no way the evangelicals would motivate the droves of voters they have in the past.

They had to find a conservative who was fundamentalist and uncompromising enough to ease the evangelicals into the pool. The vice presidential candidate had to have a record of staunch conservatism but not so much of a record they could be attacked on specific decisions. A long term congressman or famous conservative governor would have a voting record that could be picked apart. Palin fits the bill perfectly. Her brief time as governor has allowed her enough time to show her conservative stripes but not enough time to be tied to many decisions, let alone controversial ones.

By picking a person who is virtually unknown nationally, the media, the average voter and other politicians are left scampering to find any information on Palin. Excited attention is drawn to Governor Palin as everyone tries to dig up any stories on her personally, her record, her experiences, her religion, and her family. The buzz about John McCain rises to a roar as they discuss Palin and the choice to make Palin his VP.

Sarah Palin follows the conservative evangelical fundamentalism as closely as possible. Governor Palin is a professed lover and follower of Jesus. She believes creationism should be taught in science class, abstinence education should be the only lesson, in all cases; even in cases of rape or incest abortion should be banned, and contraception is not for schools to discuss. She does not believe in climate change. Palin supports a ban on gay marriage. She is anti-gun control. Palin encourages the complete tapping of Alaska’s resources. She sees value in hunting for sport, and encourages aerial hunting of wolves and bears. She’s a conservative evangelical fundamentalist poster girl.

If the GOP put another old rich white man on the ticket, it would miss the opportunity to revamp their image. In order to capitalize on the disenfranchised Hillaryites and the republican women tired of being offered no choice other than men, the GOP took the opportunity to endear itself to women. I don’t think the Hillaryites were the prime target, but why miss the opportunity to reach a few of them given the choice?

John McCain is in his 70’s, and though youthful for his age, still looks like an old man, leading further to the idea that his ideas are stale, and needing a revamp, even though some find comfort in his experience. The GOP had to shed the “old, rich, white guy” image to compete for the under 60 years old middle class vote that Oboma’s call for change had started to reach. Putting a young, idealistic, beautiful, charming woman known for taking on the “old boys club” on the ticket turned the heat up on the Democrats and encouraged the base to take the dive into the pool.

Sarah Palin’s reputation for taking on the boys club of the oil companies in Alaska can be pitched as proof that the GOP is no longer in the pocket of oil companies. Even though Palin openly advocates for a pipeline in Alaska, her direct attack on oil companies can be seen as a fearless face to face confrontation, in no way endearing her, or by association, McCain. If oil companies don’t own the behavior of the candidates, the candidates are more likely to be seen as willing to do something about the high gasoline costs, even if it requires a show down between oil companies and American government.

There was a little hope HIllaryites would jump ship to follow the vagina, but the truth is, Sarah Palin wouldn’t attract any militant Hillary Clinton supporters and the GOP knows it. The McCain campaign is pandering to the evangelicals and hopes to blow out the musk of oldness, sameness, and frowziness from his campaign by breathing in Palin’s freshness. For those who swing to the red right, she makes them feel jazzed to vote, and gives the campaign the booster shot it needed. Ultra-right wing, evangelical, neo-con republican voters will be excited to jump head first into the Palin Pool.

First Published: September 8, 2008