Pete Seeger vs. the House Un-American Activities Commitee: The Transcript (so so so great)

[WilliamPitt]

Here’s the Amazing Transcript of Pete Seeger Pissing Off the House Un-American Activities Committee
Mediaite

Pete Seeger, the legendary folk singer (though he didn’t care for the term), died last night at the age of 94. A longtime political activist, Seeger is the only member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to have been cited for contempt by Congress for his refusal to cooperate with the House Un-American Activities Committee.

The transcript of said questioning is like a Joseph Heller novel come to life. Seeger was called on August 18, 1955 and quizzed about the where and when of his performances and allegiances. Seeger skillfully tap-danced around the questions, often with humor, sometimes with protest, and refused to use the Fifth Amendment as a literal get-out-of-jail-free card. He was eventually sentenced to a year in prison for contempt, a verdict he successfully appealed.

A portion of the transcript: http://www.mediaite.com/online/heres-the-amazing-transcript-of-pete-seeger-pissing-off-the-house-un-american-activities-committee/

The whole transcript is also available at that link.

Be this guy.

[monmouth3]

1. He must have driven them crazy. I'm so glad...LOL...n/t

[octoberlib]

2. Thanks for posting! nt

[TBF]

3. This one --

MR. SEEGER: It is like Jesus Christ when asked by Pontius Pilate, “Are you king of the Jews?”

CHAIRMAN WALTER: Stop that.

[zeemike]

10. That cracked me up too.

Man do they hate it when liberals quote the bible.

[yellowcanine]

19. I am guessing the HUAC did not like being compared to Pontius Pilate.

Just a hunch. But the comparison was spot on and very clever on Seeger's part.

MR. TAVENNER: I hand you a photograph which was taken of the May Day parade in New York City in 1952, which shows the front rank of a group of individuals, and one is in a uniform with military cap and insignia, and carrying a placard entitled CENSORED. Will you examine it please and state whether or not that is a photograph of you?
(A document was handed to the witness.)

MR. SEEGER: It is like Jesus Christ when asked by Pontius Pilate, “Are you king of the Jews?”

CHAIRMAN WALTER: Stop that.

Compare.....

"Are you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate. "You have said so," Jesus replied. Mark 15:2 NIV

Question is was Chairman Walter more upset that Seeger was comparing the HUAC to Pontius Pilate or that Seeger was comparing himself to Jesus Christ? Or both? Either way, damn clever of Seeger and mighty funny too.

[KT2000]

4. that is great!

so quick, he easily outsmarted them.
Would love to have seen Seeger and Stephen Colbert in a debate.

[yellowcanine]

20. Seeger and Colbert? Nah. Seeger and Hannity.

Now that I would pay good money to see.

[Hissyspit]

5. To House Un-American Committee: "I am not going to answer any questions as to my association,

my philosophical or religious beliefs or my political beliefs, or how I voted in any election, or any of these private affairs. I think these are very improper questions for any American to be asked, especially under such compulsion as this."

[SaveOurDemocracy]

6. Link below (to transcript) works easier for me:

http://www.peteseeger.net/HUAC.htm

Thanks to Voice for Peace for posting in madfloridian's OP: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024400062

[Brickbat]

7. "I feel that my whole life is a contribution. That is why I would like to tell you about it."

[The_Commonist]

8. That was frikkin' awesome!

It's all over facebook right now too.

[WilliamPitt]

16. I posted it on my Facebook wall.

It's been shared 85 times so far. Eric Alterman snatched it off my wall.

[zentrum]

9. Thank you so much for posting

A Great American and a great man.

[Hissyspit]

11. Digby on this incident, and then and now:

Fortunately, human beings have now evolved to the point at which something like this could never happen again. Whatever information the government obtains today about one's political affiliations and activities is perfectly safe because they've assured us it will never be used for anything except finding and rooting out enemies of the United States.

Which is what they said then. But that was different. Obviously.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com.br/2014/01/a-tiny-historical-note-about-government.html

[AikidoSoul]

12. Do you mean "unfortunately" human beings have now "devolved"...

[deurbano]

18. Digby is being sarcastic.

[Swede Atlanta]

13. How sweet.....

he would have criminal Issa and his band of marauders tied up in convulsions. They couldn't handle him. He was so masterful. I especially liked it when he responded it was like the question posed to Jesus by Pontius Pilate, "are you king of the Jews?"

Classic....

[locks]

14. I remember this well

Sincerely hope he knew what a hero he was to millions and how much he changed our lives. Thanks for posting.

[joeybee12]

15. Fucking republicans...whenever they get into power,

they turn into the fascists they truly are.

RIP Mr. Seeger.

[Glorfindel]

17. Magnificent...we won't see Mr. Seeger's like again

May he rest in peace. Thank you so much for posting this.

[WilliamPitt]

21. Up

[malaise]

22. Thanks

Rec

[reformist2]

23. When you have the truth on your side, it can make your enemies look like fools in an instant.

[Ron Green]

24. I'm gonna kick all Pete Seeger threads for a while.

[jsr]

25. Recommend

[markpkessinger]

26. What is particularly striking here . . .

. . . Is that Seeger did not invoke the Fifth Amendment, like many others understandably chose to do when called before HUAC. No, Seeger simply refused to answer the questions on the ground that he resolutely refused to recognize the legitimacy of the questions being asked by HUAC, whether directed to him or to any other citizen. This was a much more powerful statement than if he had invoked the Fifth, but it also left him with one less defense at trial. In refusing to invoke the Fifth while refusing to answer HUAC's questions, he left himself with only one avenue of defense in his eventual contempt trial, and that was his freedom of speech under the First Amendment. And he did this knowingly. Now THAT's courage! I mean, any other person facing any kind of criminal prosecution would (quite understandably) want to leave open every possible avenue of defense. But Seeger, God bless him, was intent on making a much more important, and significant, statement.

[Generic Other]

27. Be this guy indeed!

Alec Wilkinson, author of THE PROTEST SINGER: AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF PETE SEEGER, interviewed Seeger at his home in Beacon, NY in March 2009. Here they sing us a song to round out the video series and celebrate Pete's 90th Birthday.

[WillyT]

28. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!