It's not the first time John Rich has rankled others with his public statements. This time, the offended party is Roseanne Cash, who says John is exploiting in a misleading fashion the name and reputation of her late father, Country legend Johnny Cash.
Tennessean columnist Beverly Keel reports that Rich stated at a John McCain rally in Florida, "Somebody's got to walk the line in the country...And I'm sure Johnny Cash would have been a John McCain supporter if he was still around."
In response, Roseanne has posted comments on her website, calling Rich's statements "appalling", "unfair" and "presumptuous".
"I knew my father pretty well, at least better than some of those who entitle themselves to his legacy and his supposed ideals, and I even I would not presume to say publicly what I 'knew' he thought or felt...It is unfair and presumptuous to use him to bolster any platform."
The Washington Post has weighed in on the fracas, pointing out that Johnny Cash was a known supporter of former US President Jimmy Carter, who was a Democrat, the party of Barrack Obama.
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