Friday, October 10, 2003

By John Hayes, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Half the people in this country have doubts about America's invasion and occupation of Iraq.

But when the man who wrote an anthem of conservatism questions American policy, it's news.

Since this summer's release of "Haggard Like Never Before," country stalwart Merle Haggard has been making headlines. Last night he was on "The Late Show with David Letterman" explaining how a plain-spoken country songwriter who built a career on "love it or leave it" patriotism became a skeptic.

	MERLE HAGGARD WHERE: Capitol Music Hall, Wheeling, W.Va. WHEN: 7:30 tonight. TICKETS: $26.95-$29.95; 1-800-624-5456.

"Suddenly the cost of war is something out of sight / Lost a lot of heroes in the fight," sings Haggard in his new song, "That's the News." "Politicians do all the talking, soldiers pay the dues / Suddenly the war's over, that's the news."

"I think the song questions the validity of the news coverage," says Haggard, "and was written on behalf of the same people that I wrote 'The Fightin' Side of Me' for. It's a different time in history. We're given less of the truth about what's really going on than when I wrote that song. What I find unavailable is truth."

In a career that has spanned 40 years, Haggard has recorded scores of country hits, including 65 Top 10 country singles. Now 66, he has a young wife, a 10-year-old son, a 13-year-old daughter and a world view that has evolved since his "Fightin' Side" days.

"Times have changed and I've been a billion miles since [then]," he says. "At the time, I was as dumb as the rest of the country. I'll tell you, I'm scared to death. I have a young family, and I'm afraid for the first time in my life to speak the truth."

It's not so much a police state that he fears, as much as terrorism, the 24-hour news cycle and the political correctness of the general public.

"Last night in concert I said something about The Dixie Chicks, something good, and I got booed," he says. "Since when is it wrong to question the government? It sounds like Berlin, 1939. The news media now are all about entertainment. Why? I don't think anyone's safe anymore after what we went through on 9/11."

Haggard supports the troops on "Yellow Ribbons," but not all of the new album is political. "The Downside" is a classic Haggard-style country ballad, and covers include a folky take on Woody Guthrie's "Reno Blues," with Willie Nelson sharing vocals. Packed with old-school sensibilities, the album is being ignored by mainstream country radio. Haggard released it himself on his new Hag Records imprint. But the old observational songwriter has a new idea about how to share his observations.

"About 90 days ago I did an editorial, and The Los Angeles Times carried it," he says. "On my Web site, the editorial is getting more hits than my record is. So my intention is to do a talk show from my home studio and just start broadcasting it on the Internet and see who picks it up. It'll probably be something between Bill O'Reilly and a Don Imus/Howard Stern type of thing with guests and my band there."

Haggard says the Web casts will begin in November.

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