National Rifle Association board member Ted Nugent is well known for making inflammatory remarks during his performances, as evidenced by an infamous video from a 2007 concert where the machinegun-toting rocker called then-Sen. Barack Obama a “piece of shit” and then-Sen. Hillary Clinton a “worthless bitch.”
Fan videos posted online from Nugent's "Black Power 2013" tour -- which he named as a way to pay “tribute to our black heroes nightly” -- indicate that Nugent has only ramped up his rhetoric, launching inflammatory attacks on President Obama and using violent imagery to describe his opposition to the federal government.
Among the lowlights, Nugent attacked the “lying racist in the White House,” “criminal pieces of shit in the IRS,” “dirty cocksuckers in the government,” “the jack boot Nazi motherfuckers in the Department of Justice,” “fucking retarded mongrels” who support animal rights, and “well-fed motherfucker food stamp cocksuckers.” He also drew a comparison between the American Revolution and the present, stating, “When the British came to take our guns we met them at Concord Bridge and we blew their fucking brains out,” and warned his audience, “keep a fucking gun in your hand, boys.”
As a musician and conservative commentator, Nugent is to many the public face of the NRA. Nugent has had a longstanding relationship with the gun rights organization, serving on its board of directors since 1995. In the group's 2013 board elections Nugent was second only to Fox News contributor Oliver North for most votes in favor of reelection. Nugent is also a fixture of the NRA's annual meeting, delivering talks in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. After the 2012 meeting, Nugent drew the attention of the Secret Service for saying he would be “dead or in jail” if Obama was reelected as president. An NRA memo indicated that he was paid $50,000 by the NRA for a “spoken presentation” in 2011. Nugent is also the author of a song, “I Am The NRA” that includes the lyrics: “If you hate tyrants and dictators and are ready to give freedom a whirl/Celebrate the NRA and the shot heard round the world.”
Despite his lengthy history of inflammatory comments, Nugent twice appeared on CNN to discuss gun violence prevention legislation proposed after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. While previewing an interview with Nugent, CNN reporter Deb Feyerick said on the February 1 edition of Erin Burnett OutFront that Nugent has a “very firm grasp of the facts” about gun violence and “a very deep connection with the facts and the facts that he needs to make his argument.” After airing the Nugent interview on February 4, host Erin Burnett and Feyerick treated Nugent's conspiracy theory that the Obama administration was planning to confiscate firearms as a credible argument. Notably Nugent botched an indisputable fact of the Sandy Hook massacre in a February 13 column for conspiracy website WND, where he claimed that the shooter did not use an assault weapon. Still, Nugent made an appearance on Erin Burnett OutFront on April 11 to again discuss gun violence prevention legislation, although no mention was made of his past inflammatory rhetoric or false claims about gun violence.
Below are 10 inflammatory moments from Nugent's “Black Power” tour:
Nugent On The Current State Of Affairs: “When The British Came To Take Our Guns We Met Them At Concord Bridge And We Blew Their Fucking Brains Out”
From a July 20 concert in Tacoma, Washington:
Nugent said, “When the British came to take our guns we met them at Concord Bridge and we blew their fucking brains out ... 2013, happening all over again, we got to be ready” before referencing his lyrics from “Stormtroopin'” -- a song about a Nazi-like attack on the United States where he urges, “keep a gun in your hand” -- at a July 20 concert in Tacoma, Washington.
NUGENT: I wrote this next song in 1976 because we were celebrating the 200th anniversary of the American Revolution. How do you love the revolution, you know what I mean? I like when the good guys kill the bad guys. Don't you love that shit? When the British came to take our guns we met them at Concord Bridge and we blew their fucking brains out. That's what I like. American Revolution. 200 down. 2013, happening all over again, we got to be ready. You got to be ready because they coming up yourstreets, jack boots stepping high. You better make a stand, you better make a stand. They're looking in your window, they're listening to your phone, keep a fucking gun in your hand, boys.
From "Stormtroopin'":
Get ready. Stormtroopers comin'.
Comin' up that street, jackboots steppin' high.
Got to make a stand.
Looking in your windows and listen to your phone.
Keep a gun in your hand.
Nugent Tells Al Sharpton To “Suck [His] Dead Dog's Cock”
From an August 7 concert in Boston, Massachusetts:
Stating that “I thought I was going to be the only black guy here tonight,” Nugent singled out an African-American audience member and said, “Good to see you brother. Let me see that big ol' smile. It's dark but I still see it.”
NUGENT: Meanwhile Al “Not So” Sharpton thinks I'm a racist. Hey Al, suck my dead dog's cock. You got to be shitting me. And I want to thank this guy right here, because I thought I was going to be the only black guy here tonight. Good to see you brother. Let me see that big ol' smile. It's dark but I still see it. God bless you. You feel the love don't you?
So we'd like to dedicate this song to that motherfucker right there, because the black artists of the world only could happen in America, because only in America do you have a fucking Constitution. And so we want to celebrate our black influences, which are the only musical influences we have.
Nugent: “One Way Or Another I'm Going To The White House And I'm Going To Get Those Cocksuckers In A Stranglehold”
From a May 15 concert in Evansville, Indiana:
Introducing his song “Stranglehold,” Nugent told the audience at a May 15 concert in Evansville, Indiana that “One way or another, I'm going to the White House and I'm going to get those cocksuckers in a stranglehold.”
NUGENT: 2013, I believe the American dream is still alive. I believe that being the best that you can be still matters. Styx and REO [Speedwagon] showed that the best still matter. Now I'm going to tell you one way or another, I'm going to the White House and I'm going to get those cocksuckers in a stranglehold.
Nugent's Response To Those Who Call Him Racist: “Fuck You, You Fuck, Fuck You. Fuck You, Fuck You, You Piece Of Shit”
From an August 6 concert in New Haven, Connecticut:
On August 6, Nugent's concert in New Haven, Connecticut, was protested by individuals offended by comments from Nugent in the wake of George Zimmerman's acquittal, namely his claim that deceased Florida teenager Trayvon Martin was a “dope smoking, racist gangsta wannabe.” After unleashing a stream of profanity, Nugent claimed his critics were angry “because I'm blacker than they are.”
NUGENT: Never forget where you come from. Never forget. Never forget where you come from. I will never forget where I come from. For 50 years, for 50 years, I've been celebrating where I come from, for 50 fucking years every night on stage. I've been celebrating, we all come from black America's soul music, every night on stage for 50 fucking years. I say celebrate the black blood brothers. Celebrate Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters, [inaudible], James Brown.
I celebrate my black heroes every night and then the soulless cocksuckers call me a racist. Fuck you, you fuck, fuck you. Fuck you, fuck you, you piece of shit. You know what the problem is don't you? You know why they're angry? You know why they're fucking angry? Because I'm blacker than they are. I got more fucking soul than they do. They can't fucking play this shit. They can't play this shit. They got no soul. They got no fucking soul. Fuck 'em, fuck 'em, fuck 'em.
Nugent: “I Probably Should Send Some Meat To Chicago” Since Soldiers Say It Helps Them “Kill More Assholes”
From an August 7 concert in Boston, Massachusetts:
Discussing how soldiers in Afghanistan supposedly say the venison jerky he sends them “makes [them] kill more assholes,” Nugent said, “I think I probably should send some meat to Chicago.”
NUGENT: We kill so much shit that every year my family and I send a ton of pure, nutritious, renewable venison jerky to the heroes of the U.S. military in Afghanistan. That's how we do. Say thank you Uncle Ted.
CROWD: Thank you Uncle Ted.
NUGENT: My pleasure. When was the last time you heard some fuckface sent a bunch of tofu over there, you know what I mean? That shit will kill you. And I get a call every year, I got to share this with you, because I know you feel the love. Every year I get a call from Afghanistan and some places they're not supposed to be and they call me and they said, "Ted, thanks for the meat, I feel the love. But not only is your meat delicious, and I know you worked pretty hard to gut that shit, and track it, hang it up, cut that shit into -- stuff it into -- yeah I know you do a lot of work. But not only is your meat perfect, but it makes us kill more assholes. How fucking perfect is that? I think I probably should send some meat to Chicago, what I'm about to fucking do.
Nugent On New York Gun Law: “If You Try To Limit Us To Seven Bullets In Texas, We'll Shoot You Eight Times”
From an August 8 concert in Westbury, New York:
During an August 8 concert in Westbury, New York, Nugent referenced a 2013 New York law that initially limited firearm magazine size to seven rounds by saying, “If you try to limit us to seven bullets in Texas, we'll shoot you eight times.”
NUGENT: But I'm from Texas so I got enough freedom to share with everybody. And if you try to limit us to seven bullets in Texas, we'll shoot you eight times. Any questions?
I actually think [New York City] Mayor Bloomberg and [New York Governor Andrew] Cuomo is on the side of the criminals.That's what I think.
Nugent: “Unlike Those Well-Fed Motherfucker Food Stamp Cocksuckers, We Got To Earn What We Get”
From an August 6 concert in New Haven, Connecticut:
NUGENT: You got to earn it. Unlike these well-fed motherfucker food stamp cocksuckers, we got to earn what we get. You won't get no fucking venison with food stamps, you pussies. But you can get crack. How fucked up is that?
Nugent's Message For “That Lying Racist In The White House” And “The Jack Boot Nazi Motherfuckers In The Department Of Justice”: “Let's Take Back The Fucking Country”
From a July 28 concert in Nashville, Tennessee:
Nugent said his song Stranglehold “will be the soundtrack to taking back America from that lying racist in the White House, from the Attorney General that runs guns to Mexican drug gangs, to those criminal pieces of shit in the IRS, to the jack boot Nazi motherfuckers in the Department of Justice” at a July 28 concert in Nashville, Tennessee. He added, “You wouldn't let a cocksucker in your family would you? You wouldn't let a cocksucker in your deer camp would you? Now why the fuck do we let them in the government?”
NUGENT: Wait a minute, 2013, huh. Uh-huh. I'd like to play the soundtrack -- I'd like to play the soundtrack right now for taking back America. I'd like to play the song that will be the soundtrack to take back America from that lying racist in the White House, from the Attorney General that runs guns to Mexican drug gangs, to those criminal pieces of shit in the IRS, to the jack boot Nazi motherfuckers in the Department of Justice. I'd like to play a song that will take back America from these dirty cocksuckers in the government. There are dirty cocksuckers in the government, that's what they are, you know that's what they are. You wouldn't let a cocksucker in your family would you? You wouldn't let a cocksucker in your deer camp would you? Now why the fuck do we let them in the government? Let's take back the fucking country.
Nugent: “We Live In A World Of Fucking Retarded Mongrels Out There Who Think Animals Have Rights”
From an August 7 concert in Boston, Massachusetts:
NUGENT: Ever night all summer since 1955 I get on stage and rock my nuts off. Every night May, June, July, August, every night, all summer. Then the rest of the year I just kill shit. It's perfect.
And I know a lot of people out there don't kill no shit, but that's alright, I got you covered. I killed enough shit for everybody. If you've got a problem with that, fuck you. If you've got a problem with that, raise your hand and for every hand I see I'm killing some more shit. Alright 200 more deer for you motherfucker. 300 -- but I want you to know, I know I have fun with this because it is fun, because we live in a world of fucking retarded mongrels out there who think that animals have rights. If I think that you think animals have rights, I'm killing some more shit. But that's the dumbest fucking thing I've ever fucking heard.
Nugent's Warning On The “Lying” Obama Administration: “Keep A Fucking Gun In Your Hand, Boys.”
From a May 16 concert in Merrillville, Indiana:
Nugent referred to President Obama and current and past members of his administration as “lying motherfucker[s]” before referencing lyrics from his song “Stormtroopin'.”
NUGENT: It's coming back. 2013, 2013, dangerous times, dangerous times. We want to get away with the rock and roll, but don't forget there's dangerous times. We got a lying criminal motherfucker in the White House, dangerous times. The President is a lying motherfucker, the Vice President is a lying motherfucker, the Attorney General is a lying gun running motherfucker, Hillary Clinton is a lying motherfucker getting Americans killed. Fuck 'em all. Fuck 'em all.
Coming up your streets, jack boots stepping high, you got to make a stand. They're looking in your window, they're listening to your phone. Keep a fucking gun in your hand, boys.