The National's "Fake Empire" Used in Ad for Mitt Romney Camp, Without Permission
Like Stevie Wonder, The National are huge supporters of Barack Obama. For both of his presidential
Like Stevie Wonder, The National are huge supporters of Barack Obama. For both of his presidential campaigns, the band performed at rallies and benefits, and sold T-shirts to make money for the cause. In addition, their song “Fake Empire” off of Boxer was shared for to an ad in 2008.
In an interesting turn of events, this very same song is now being used in a pro-Mitt Romney video, which was by a group called Ohio University Students for Romney. Although it does not appear to be an official ad, The National is far from being amused about it. Frontman Matt Berninger posted the following comment on YouTube just to make certain things clear.
Our music was used without our permission in this ad. The song you’re using was written about the same backward, con game policies Romney is proposing. We encourage all students to educate themselves about the differences between the inclusive, pro-social, compassionate, forward-thinking policies of President Obama and the self-serving politics of the neo-conservative movement and Mitt Romney. Every single person involved in the creation of the music you’re using is voting for President Obama.
