John Fogerty says he’s ‘a lot more like some kind of libertarian’

Matt K. Lewis Senior Contributor
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On a recent podcast episode of “WTF with Marc Maron,” rock legend John Fogerty talked about music, the 1960s and 70s, and his political leanings.

“The idea of…thinking that we have an obligation to our fellow man. The idea of trying to care for the less fortunate. These were all pretty much liberal Democrat precepts, at least, in the 50s and 60s when I grew up,” Forgerty said.

But then he noted this: “Things have gotten a lot more blurred over time, you know. I’d still loosely call myself a Democrat, but you know, I realize I’m probably a lot more like some kind of libertarian or something.”

Fogerty, who fronted Credence Clearwater Revival and penned the Vietnam protest song Fortunate Son, also told Marin he had mixed feelings about the 1960s hippie movement.

Saying he “agreed with the hippie philosophy,” discussed above, Fogerty then continued,

“but the lifestyle, you know, the idea of being stoned all day and laying around and thinking that somebody else is going to take care of you… You know, I had a big argument with a guy while I was in the army. He said, ‘Oh no, man. I’m going to move to the desert and I won’t have to do anything and its…’

 

I said, ‘well everybody else’s gonna have to pay your way, man. You know, the army’s protecting you. The police, the welfare [that’s] gonna bring you food. That ain’t right.’

 

… I mean, I’ve always thought you’re supposed to take care of yourself and bring yourself up by your bootstraps. I think that’s my parent’s generation teaching me. But the idea that we’re obligated to our fellow [man] is certainly ingrained in me.”

Here’s the Fortunate Son intro in the film, Forest Gump:

Matt K. Lewis