Rants and raves from around the celebrosphere

Conservative politicians may be asking the rock band Heart “What about love?” these days.

It appears that a “cease-and-desist” letter has been sent to the McCain presidential campaign by the group, who is reportedly furious that Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin has used their 1970’s hit “Barracuda” as her theme song.

The song, which was played after Palin’s speech at the Republican convention, is being used as a reference to Palin’s reputation among politicians as a “barracuda.” She originally earned the name “Sarah Barracuda” in high school during her days a pushy, butch basketball player who would do anything to win.

“I feel completely f***ed over,” band member Nancy Wilson said.”Sarah Palin’s views and values in NO WAY represent us an American women.”

Spokespeople for the McCain campaign are dismissing the letter, saying that they went through the proper channels to obtain rights to the song, which is subject to open license upon payment to ASCAP, which means that the writers don’t necessarily get the final say. ASCAP collects royalties for songs on behalf of the writers.

Former Heart guitarist Roger Fisher, who is one of four co-writers of the song, said he is pleased with the use of the song and will donate his royalties to the Democrats.

“With my contribution to Obama’s campaign, the Republicans are now supporting Obama,” he said.

The campaign has also been publicly criticized and threatened with lawsuits by Van Halen and Jackson Browne for also using songs when the writers are strongly against the party.

The lyrics to the song “Barracuda” were written in 1977 by lead singer Ann Wilson about a record executive that the band called an obnoxious, out-of-touch jerk who spread vicious lies about the band in order to drum up some publicity.

Hmmm….maybe the Republican party picked the perfect song to campaign with, after all.