Ted Nugent’s ‘Open Letter To The Media’ Stirs Controversy Over Use Of One Word

Ted Nugent is no stranger to controversy, and has never been known for his political correctness, but on Wednesday, the so-called “right-wing rocker” posted what he called an “open letter to the media” that included a word that concerned even some of his own fans.

His open letter was actually a meme that has been making the rounds on social media for years, according to the Huffington Post. Nugent posted the meme to his page with the opening, “My openletter to all the braindead hippie logic-challenged dipsh**s in the media who dedicate their lives to hiding from truth facts history & evidence. Read ’em and weep numbn**s. We pray for you.”

The meme reads, in part, “Not every flower can say love, but a rose can. Not every plant survives thirst, but a cactus can. Not every retard can read, but look at you go, little buddy!”

The word that caused such an outcry, even from Nugent fans who are used to his outrageous and politically incorrect statements, is “retard.” His use of the word in the post led to an active discussion on Nugent’s Facebook page, with many of his fans expressing a problem with his choice of words.

Nugent himself was an active participant in the discussion.

“Ted, I have been a fan for a long time and for the most part I agree with what you are saying,” one person wrote on the Facebook post. “However I get really p**sed off the way people throw around the word ‘retard.'”

“not thrown around,” Nugent replied. “try again. eat crayons, google Lenny Bruce Richard Pryor Sam Kinison. enjoy or be p**sed. your call”

“That’s not the way a God fearing man is to talk or to treat one another! Come on Uncle Ted, clean it up,” another user responded.

“I understand the sentiment, but have an issue with the verbiage. I think you’re above the ‘retard’ comment. Some sensitivity should be there especially in consideration for friends such as Sarah Palin who’s son was born with Downs Syndrome,” another user posted.

Ted Nugent’s response was “havnt got the ‘sacred’ list,” he answered. “is there 1? toss it, liv it up.”

But Nugent is scheduled to appear on Sarah Palin’s Sportsman Channel show, “Amazing America,” on January 29. And Palin, who does have a son with Down syndrome, has in the past called people out for using the slur, at one point calling for Rahm Emanual to be fired from his position as White House Chief of Staff for using the word “retarded,” saying that, “Just as we’d be appalled if any public figure of Rahm’s stature ever used the ‘N-word’ or other such inappropriate language, Rahm’s slur on all God’s children with cognitive and developmental disabilities –- and the people who love them – is unacceptable, and it’s heartbreaking.”

Palin has yet to respond to Nugent’s use of the word, but despite her strong stance against the use of the word “retard” or “retarded” when used by Emanual, she defended Rush Limbaugh’s usage of the word in 2012, when he applied it to liberal groups. At that time, Palin said, “Rush Limbaugh was using satire. I didn’t hear Rush Limbaugh calling a group of people whom he did not agree with ‘f-ing retards,’ and we did know that Rahm Emanuel, as has been reported, did say that. There is a big difference there.”

Nugent still stands strong behind his use of the word “retard,” writing on his Facebook page that he is using “the language of USMC heroes.”

Nugent, however, has never been a member of the United States Marine Corps or served in any branch of the military, having infamously claimed to dodge the draft by taking drugs, engaging in unhygienic practices and faking psychiatric disturbances in order to receive a 4-F classification, listing him as “unfit for military service.” Nugent later denied the claims he made in a 1977 interview to High Times magazine, but he did obtain a 4-F classification.

As for anyone else who has a problem with his use of the word “retard,” Nugent has one response. “STFU & eat your crayons, plz.”

This certainly isn’t the first time Ted Nugent has remained unapologetic about remarks that have caused controversy. Click here to read his defense of his use of racial slurs, and here to see how his inflammatory remarks actually caused one town to pay him not to play at a Fourth of July celebration after he made racist remarks.

[Image via alan.com]