Ron Paul's Campaign Song Is... The Star Wars Imperial March
Candidates campaigning for the Presidential ticket usually opt for safe campaign songs carefully chosen to align themselves consciously and subconsciously with certain sets of values, but last night, Ron Paul went a different route: He and his supporters celebrated their second-place victory in the New Hampshire Republican primary to the sounds of "The Imperial March" from Star Wars. Yes, Darth Vader's theme song.
Most folks know the Imperial March is not your traditional signifier of wholesome, upstanding goodness. I mean, it's Darth Vader's personal theme, the ditty that warns of impending throat crushings and legions of Stormtroopers at the ready to exact all manner of evil for the dark side. But Paul, as the Telegraph noted, knows his demographic. And he gave a rally cry of a speech following his New Hampshire success that explained the song choice, kinda.
"I sort of have to chuckle when they describe you and me as being 'dangerous,' Paul said to a crowd that reportedly cheered the loudest when the ominous Vader tune played over the loudspeakers. "That’s one thing they are telling the truth, because we are dangerous -- to the status quo!"
Sure?
Over at NPR's Morning Edition geek props are in order to Robert Smith for his amusing report on the random confluence of Star Wars and Ron Paul, which suggests that Paul is channeling more Skywalker than Vader: "Getting the nomination for Ron Paul is like hitting a 2-meter target from an X-wing fighter." Which makes New Hampshire voters, perhaps, the womp rats?
In any case, just another curious instance of pop culture co-opting after all that superhero chatter and Paul's Bond villain-esque nickname, "Dr. No." (He does kind of resemble an impish Joseph Wiseman...)
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Comments
And Rand is Luke Skywalker
Goldman Sachs is the dark side
Obama or Romney is Darth Vader
Ben Bernanke is the evil emperor
Ron Paul walked out to the song "Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Several comments later pointing out this fact, and the headline remains? For that reason, and that reason only, I will not trust MovieLine as an accurate source for movie information online.
Ron Paul will win 2012. Get ready for it. 🙂
I was almost certain that he came out to Tom Petty.
ps. Here is a link to Ron Paul walking out to the song "Won't Back Down," not any music from Star Wars. This is from PBS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=Da6irSCvnZY
I demand you change your false headline, MovieLine.
Ron Paul will win 2012. Get ready for it. 🙂
It was Chris Lawless that came out with that song 15 minutes before Ron Paul came out nice try assholes
Obama bears an amazing resemblance to Apophis of the arch villain of SG-1
Both in looks and policy
Joseph Wiseman? Too cool. Paul should get some metal hands with gloves, that would be awesome.
It was Tom Petty's "Won't Back Down" that was playing when he took the platform... I was watching it on CSPAN. I guess that means I should have your job right? Except I'm not a shill.
You sir are an idiot!!! I wonder at times if MSM( minus your publication of course) doesnt say these negative fabrications to infuriate ron paul supporters.
Oh, man! That's awesome! You're like a Paultard Keith Olbermann!
"And now, as promised, a Special Comment on the pernicious influences of Movieline, the Military-Industrial Complex, the banks, and how it affects monetary policy."
Well, it didn't actually happen that way.
But I think it would be really cool for him to come out with that music.
Yes I realize it's the "bad guys" music, but that is the reason it would be so great. It would be mocking the general nonsense the media and other candidates have put out.
For being the only candidate AGAINST the empire... That music is an ode to the election of Dr. Paul, and the death of the Bush-Mc-Bama Warfare-Welfare State of Empire
OK, everyone, that's a wrap on this comments thread. Thanks for participating!
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