Huckabee Trying to Claim Rally Was Religious Event
Mike Huckabee has agreed to pay Survivor $25,000 for his unauthorized use of the famous song “Eye of the Tiger” at a rally welcoming Kentucky clerk Kim Davis out of jail. But Huckabee, according to CNN Money, has been trying to wriggle out of paying Survivor, despite having agreed to it, by claiming the rally, held during his presidential campaign, was a religious event and thus subject to fair use guidelines under which he would not owe the band any money.
“In court, Huckabee argued that the anti-gay-rights rally was a ‘religious assembly… signifying joy and praise at the release of Mrs. Davis’ from jail,” CNN Money reports. “But that argument fell apart when the songwriter’s lawyer pointed out that Huckabee claimed the rally as a presidential campaign expense.”
The Republican evangelical Southern Baptist who effectively used his relationship with Kim Davis to promote his presidential campaign, now is asking the Federal Election Commission to allow him to start a separate fund to pay off the debt. Last week, in a draft opinion, the FEC responded that the former Arkansas governor should pay the debt himself.
As NCRM reported earlier, Survivor frontman Frankie Sullivan back in September took to Facebook, telling his Facebook fans in no uncertain terms just how outraged he was.
“NO! We did not grant Kim Davis any rights to use ‘My Tune -The Eye Of The Tiger,'” Sullivan wrote on the band’s Facebook page.
“I would not grant her the rights to use Charmin! C’mom Mike, you are not The Donald but you can do better than that,” he added, leaving one last send-off. “See Ya really SoooooooonnnnnnN!!!!!!,” suggesting a potential lawsuit.
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EARLIER:
Survivor Frontman Furious ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ Was Used At Kim Davis Hate Rally, May Sue
Huckabee’s Unauthorized Use Of ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ At Kim Davis Rally Gets A Cease And Desist Letter
Mike Huckabee: I Totally Had Nothing To Do With Playing ‘Eye Of The Tiger’ So Don’t Sue Me (Video)
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Image: Screenshot via Courier-Journal
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