March 8, 2021, Fairfax, Va.–Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement urging the Senate Judiciary Committee bring back Attorney General nominee Merrick Garland to explain what he meant in his college writings a review of the musical “The Fantasticks” when he wrote “Most important are the Jones-Schmidt songs themselves, simple and engaging melodies with a few tender ballads like ‘Try to Remember’ and some hilarious group numbers like ‘it Depends on what You Pay,’ which provides a shopping list of rapes for sale (e.g. ‘the military rape–it’s done with drums and a great brass band.’)”:
“While historical context does matter, Merrick Garland should be called back to the Senate Judiciary Committee to answer questions from his college writings that appear to condone rape and kidnapping. It is clear that in this day of cancel culture, that if any Trump nominee were to ever praise a song whose lyrics included lines such as ‘A pretty rape! A literary rape! We’ve the obvious open schoolboy rape, With little mandolins and perhaps a cape…’, which was altered in 2006 by the songwriter Tom Jones, that they would be pilloried with no chance for response.
“It is fair to request that Judge Garland reappear before the Senate Judiciary Committee to clarify what he meant when he said the number, ‘It Depends on What You Pay,’ about rape was ‘hilarious’. Cancel culture, which is effectively deleting Dr. Seuss from Read Across America Day based on post-modern interpretations of some of his works, is little more than the French Revolution mob beheading anyone who ever aggrieved them. To end it, the left must be held accountable to the same standards as the rest of America. As believers in free speech, it is our heartfelt belief that Garland should be given every opportunity to clarify what he meant, rather than simply being cancelled.”
Attachments:
“It Depends on What You Pay,” Original lyrics: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/soundtracks/f/fantastickslyrics/itdependsonwhatyoupaylyrics.html
Rape!
R-a-a-a-pe!
Raa-aa-aa-pe!
A pretty rape!
A literary rape!
We’ve the obvious open schoolboy rape,
With little mandolins and perhaps a cape.
The rape by coach; it’s little in request.
The rape by day, but the rape by night is best.
Just try to see it.
And you will soon agree, señors,
Why
Invite regret,
When you can get the sort of rape
You’ll never ever forget.
You can get the rape emphatic.
You can get the rape polite.
You can get the rape with Indians:
A very charming sight.
You can get the rape on horseback;
They’ll all say it’s new and gay.
So you see the sort of rape
Depends on what you pay.
It depends on what you
Pay.
The kids will love it.
It depends on what you pay!
So why be stingy?
It depends on what you –
The spectacular rape,
With costumes ordered from the East.
Requires rehearsal
And takes a dozen men at least.
A couple of singers,
And a string quartet.
A major production.
Requires a set.
Sounds expensive!
Just try to see it.
And you will soon si,si señors,
Why
Invite regret,
When you can get the sort of rape
You’ll never ever forget.
You can get the rape emphatic.
You can get the rape polite.
You can get the rape with Indians:
A very charming sight.
You can get the rape on horseback;
They’ll all say it’s new and gay.
So you see the sort of rape
Depends on what you pay.
It depends on what you
Pay.
So why be stingy?
It depends on what you pay!
The kids will love it.
It depends on what you –
The comic rape.
Perhaps it’s just a trifle too unique.
Romantic rape:
Done while canoeing on a moonlit creek.
The gothic rape!
I play “Valkyrie” on a bass bassoon!
The drunken rape.
It’s done completely in a cheap saloon.
The rape Venetian
Needs a blue lagoon.
The rape with moonlight
Or without a moon.
Moonlight is expensive but it’s in demand.
The military rape:
It’s done with drummer and a band.
You understand?
I understand.
It’s very grand.
It’s very grand.
It’s done with drums and a great big brass band!
Yeah!
Just try to see it.
I see it!
I see it!
And you will soon si,si señors,
Why
Invite regret,
When you can get the sort of rape
You’ll never ever forget.
You can get the rape emphatic.
You can get the rape polite.
You can get the rape with Indians:
A very charming sight.
You can get the rape on horseback;
They’ll all say it’s new and gay.
So you see the sort of rape
Depends on what you pay.
So you see the sort of rape
Depends on what you pay.
So you see the sort of rape
Depends on what you pay.
So you see the sort of rape
Depends on what you pay.
Depends on what you pay.
Depends on what you pay.
Depends on what you pay.
Depends on what you pay.
So why be stingy?
It depends on what you pay!
The kids will love it.
It depends on what you
Ra-aa-aa-pe!
Ole!
Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 or email media@limitgov.org.
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