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Out!The Columbia Democrat was one of a handful of House lawmakers who criticized Ceips' resolution introduced Wednesday asking the country music band Dixie Chicks to perform a free concert for the state's troops and their families in Greenville on May 1.
Ceips, a Beaufort Republican, said the band should perform to atone for lead singer Natalie Maines' remarks earlier this week that she is ashamed President Bush hails from her home state of Texas. Although Maines later apologized for the remark, Ceips said it wasn't enough.
"I'm a fan of the Dixie Chicks, but I'm a bigger fan of the military," Ceips said. "To them I say please add actions that are meaningful to your apology."
The resolution, which condemns the band for its "unpatriotic and unnecessary comments," passed 50-36 after 45 minutes of debate, with numerous abstentions. Smith said the "silly" and unserious mood of House members as they quipped and joked about the proposal disquieted him.
"As a member of the armed services and an American, I do not agree with the opinions that the Dixie Chicks expressed, but I would give my life for the right of an American citizen to assert those opinions," Smith said. "We're here on what is, undoubtedly, a crucial day in which our sons and daughters are assuming a great risk. If we can't speak freely about whether or not American blood should be shed, we're not being true to the fundamental American values we hold dear."
He said Ceips discredited herself in the eyes of some legislators.
"The way the legislature works is you only have so many times you can go to the podium and be effective," he said. "Taking a cute slam at a national figure is not what we should be about."
Ceips said that if her resolution failed other legislators were prepared to offer resolutions asking the Dixie Chicks not to visit South Carolina at all. She said she was looking forward to calling the band to inform them of the House resolution.
