Merle Haggard: "I don't think we can blame it all on one black man." [View all]

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Fri April 6, 2012

In an interview with CNN, the man critics have dubbed "Poet of the Common Man" sounds off on religion, poverty, politics, health and family . . .

CNN: Have you been keeping track of what's been going on in the presidential race?

Haggard: I think an ex-convict has got a real good chance. I probably oughta run! At least all of my past is aboveboard, and they won't have to spend a lot of money to run a make on me! I think Obama will probably win the next race.

CNN: (President Barack) Obama has certainly had his share of challenges in his administration. How do you think he's done so far?

Haggard: I don't think it makes much difference who the president is. I think there was a big ball rolling before he came into the picture. He kind of did what I do. I didn't do anything. He hasn't done anything that I can see that's made any real difference. I think he is a fine gentleman, and they treated us real well when we were up there at the Kennedy Center (Haggard was a Kennedy Center honoree in 2010), and I am not going to badmouth him. I think he has the next four years wrapped up. He has done some good. He got Osama bin Laden. That is a real big plus.

Now on the home front, it is kind of fiddling while Rome burns. We are in trouble economically. I don't think we can blame it all on one black man. I think we spent 50 years getting ourselves in trouble, and it may take a long time to get ourselves out of it. It is going to take more years than I got left.


read: http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/06/showbiz/music/merle-haggard-working-in-tennessee/index.html


Singer and songwriter Merle Haggard (L) arrives for US President Barack Obama's remarks in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, December 5, 2010, during the Kennedy Center Honorees Reception.