Dixie Dispute in Wisconsin

Dixie Dispute in Wisconsin



An interesting red-blue, just don't get it moment:



"A high school band's performance of an Elvis Presley hit during the Wisconsin Senate's inaugural ceremony has drawn a complaint from a newly elected member because it included a version of 'Dixie.'



The Richland Center High School band played a version of 'An American Trilogy' at the Capitol Monday -- a song that mixes 'Dixie' with 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic' and the spiritual 'All My Trials.'



Sen. Spencer Coggs, who is black, said he was shocked to hear the strains of the Southern anthem and complained in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz."



I've failed to find any mention of this in Wisconsin media, and the wire stories I have found all play up the Elvis angle more than the Dixie angle.



Also missing is some of the local flavor: Richland Center is Schultz's home town, and Schultz just assumed the Senate leadership. It was his second choice for a job: Schultz just ran a relatively close US House race against Ron Kind in my parent's home district, with campaign slogans like "His favorite color is blaze orange."



And couldn't the band have found some good 50's Elvis instead of Fat Vegas Elvis?