This did not sit well with Mr. Oliver. The next day he posted on YouTube that he found the question funny because the song was complaining about people like the ones standing on the stage that night. “It’s aggravating seeing people on conservative news try to identify with me, like I’m one of them. It’s aggravating seeing certain musicians and politicians act like we’re buddies and act like we’re fighting the same struggle here; like we’re trying to present the same message.”
That surprised many people, because MAGA supporters had virtually adopted the song as their anthem, while leftists were trashing it as racist and hateful. Oliver is from Farmville, Va., an area I know a bit about, having spent four years at Virginia Tech in the Appalachian Mountains (yes, I am a proud “Hokie”), and four more years teaching down the road at Emory & Henry College. Farmville is in the Piedmont region. But unlike the deep South, where many MAGA supporters wave the confederate flag at their rallies, most people in this region don’t want to re-fight the Civil War; they want to re-fight the Revolutionary War. They believe in “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” and are not interested in running anybody else’s life; they just want the federal government — Republicans and Democrats — to leave them alone and get out of their lives.
Prior to Oliver’s sudden rise to fame, he had dreamed of becoming a songwriter and recording artist. But for five years he suffered from depression and substance abuse and was unable to focus on his music.
In July, he got down on his knees and promised God that if he would help him get sober so that he could follow his dream, he would dedicate his work to him.
Oliver then got busy writing and recording music on his I-phone. Thirty days later he received a call from a West Virginia radio station that offered to put a song of his on their YouTube music channel. The song Oliver gave them was “Rich Men North of Richmond.” (Note: “north of Richmond refers to Washington D.C.).
His first public performance of the song was at a farmers’ market in Barco, N.C. He began his performance by reading a passage from the Bible. Jamey Johnson, a country songwriter and musician of some note, happened to be there and offered to accompany Oliver. The few people who were at the market recorded the performance on their cell phones and posted it on social media.
A week later Oliver gave another free performance at a farmers’ market in Moyock, N.C., and the radio station brought a camera crew to record it. Then six days later, he performed at the Eagle Creek Golf Club and thousands turned out for the show. The audience knew all the words to his songs and enthusiastically sang along with Oliver. There were American flags everywhere, but not a single Confederate flag or MAGA sign. (Watch the video at youtube.com/watch?v=uucdYScqOb4.)
Oliver’s meteoric rise from obscurity to national prominence in three weeks shows the power of social media. The day after the presidential debate, Oliver posted “I hate to see that song being weaponized. I see the right trying to characterize me as one of their own, and I see the left trying to discredit me, I guess in retaliation. That sh*t’s gotta stop.”
Many people are fed up with our polarized politics. A recent CNN poll put President Biden’s approval rating at 39 percent and his disapproval rating at 61 percent — the worst of any incumbent president. Another recent poll shows just 36 percent have a favorable opinion of Donald Trump, the leading Republican candidate, while 57 percent have an unfavorable opinion of him. Yet, these may be our choices in next year’s presidential election.
Clearly our two major political parties are not offering what middle America wants, and many voters are desperately hoping for a third choice. Another recent poll compared each Republican candidate in the debate in a hypothetical race against President Biden. There were several statistical ties, but only Nikki Haley beat Biden, with a margin of 49 percent to Biden’s 43. Could she become a “breakout” candidate able to draw votes from moderates, independents and disaffected Democrats?
There may be a “dark horse” candidate — one who was not on the debate stage — who could step up. Glenn Youngkin is the governor of Anthony Oliver’s home state, Virginia. Youngkin scored an impressive victory two years ago when he won the governorship in a “blue” state that Biden won by 10 percent. (The suburbs of Washington are populated with federal employees).
He has championed parental involvement in education while being careful to hold his coalition of Republicans and Independent voters together.
There is a big election coming up in Virginia on Nov. 7 that is going to determine whether Republicans will take full control of the general assembly or continue to share power with the Democrats. Donors are ready to drop big money on Youngkin, but he has deferred any presidential aspirations until after that election. This may be due to his devotion to his job as governor. But it could also be smart presidential politics, because it has kept him out of the ridiculous melee among the announced candidates as they beat up on each other.
I’m not predicting anything; the world is confusing enough. But if the Republican Party were to put together a ticket with two young, charismatic candidates like Nikki Haley and Glenn Younkin who appeal to voters across party lines without trash-talking and can put forward an agenda for the future that unites Americans, Biden and Harris would not stand a chance.
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