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PA WIRE

Congressman blasts Springsteen as 'radical left' and 'bully' after gig cancellation

The Boss cancelled a gig in North Carolina this weekend in protest at a law that targets transgender people.

A REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN has slammed Bruce Springsteen as a “bully” after the star cancelled a concert in North Carolina.

The singer cancelled the gig yesterday in protest over a law that targets transgender people, vowing to fight against “those who continue to push us backwards”.

Springsteen’s move marks one of the highest-profile actions yet against the law, which prohibits local governments within the southern state from acting to stop discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people in public facilities and bathrooms.

“To my mind, it’s an attempt by people who cannot stand the progress our country has made in recognising the human rights of all of our citizens to overturn that progress,” Springsteen said in a statement.

“Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry – which is happening as I write – is one of them.

It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards.

Springsteen had been due to perform tomorrow in Greensboro, North Carolina as part of a sold-out arena tour revisiting his classic 1980 album The River.

In his statement, “The Boss” saluted activists and business leaders who have spoken out against North Carolina’s law.

Responding to the move GOP congressman Mark Walker told The Hollywood Reporter that other artists were coming to the state including Justin Bieber and Def Leppard.

Saying he might go to the Bieber concert in solidarity, Walker accused Springsteen of a “bully tactic”.

“Bruce is known to be on the radical left,” Walker said.

He’s got every right to be so, but I consider this a bully tactic. It’s like when a kid gets upset and says he’s going to take his ball and go home.

Notably, online payment giant PayPal scrapped a $3.6 million investment in North Carolina and the National Basketball Association has warned that it may pull next year’s All-Star Game from the state.

The governors of New York and Washington and a number of other local leaders have banned non-essential travel by officials to North Carolina.

North Carolina’s Republican governor, Pat McCrory, signed the law last month after its passage by the state legislature in response to a non-discrimination ordinance approved by Charlotte, the largest city in the state.

© – AFP, 2016 with reporting by Daragh Brophy. 

Read: Bruce Springsteen cancels North Carolina gig over transgender bathrooms law

Read: Think Google’s robots are weird? You ain’t seen nothing yet

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    Mute Dermot Mc Loughlin
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    May 13th 2015, 8:16 PM

    I hope they cashew was responsible.

    411
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    Mute Dermot Mc Loughlin
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    May 13th 2015, 8:17 PM

    I’m already leaving.

    129
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    Mute Irene Butler
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    May 13th 2015, 8:20 PM

    Made me laugh

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    Mute Annie Citric
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    May 13th 2015, 10:51 PM

    Nice one!

    2
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    Mute MAN UTDS IRISH REDS
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    May 13th 2015, 7:54 PM

    Do they know what nationality he or she was ?

    263
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    Mute little jim
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    May 13th 2015, 7:58 PM

    Some nut from Brazil.

    404
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    Mute Chris Bruton
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    May 13th 2015, 8:20 PM

    Predictable joke is predictable.

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    Mute The Green Monkey
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    May 13th 2015, 8:24 PM

    What size was the jar………

    36
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    Mute Gary Wilson
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    May 13th 2015, 8:02 PM

    What’s the odds on it being horse?

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    Mute Suzie Sunsine
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    May 13th 2015, 8:15 PM

    What stores sell that here ? I’ve never seen that product before

    48
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    Mute Damien
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    May 14th 2015, 2:27 AM

    The brand or actual Peanut butter?

    If you haven’t tasted it, get some. It’s a gift from god!
    Just stay away from the organic/kelkin stuff, it’s stink

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    Mute Ann-Marie Wallis
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    May 13th 2015, 8:00 PM

    If this happened in the UK, UKIP would be going mad right now.

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    Mute Lily
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    May 13th 2015, 7:56 PM

    As long as s/he is not irish .. Right?

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    Mute Lily
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    May 13th 2015, 7:57 PM

    Small writing –

    No irish people were hurt making this penut butter.

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    Mute Conor Geoghegan
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    May 13th 2015, 8:22 PM

    It’s probably for the best they recall the the product in cashew swallow it .

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    Mute Conker
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    May 13th 2015, 11:19 PM

    They’ll try anything to get into the country these days

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    Mute Mícheál
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    May 13th 2015, 8:05 PM

    I would hope they’re following the correct vetting procedures.

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    Mute Ben Redline
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    May 13th 2015, 8:23 PM

    Such a beautiful story – thank you

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    Mute Ben Redline
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    May 13th 2015, 8:24 PM

    Aahhh where’s the spell-caster comment gone?

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    Mute Dermot Quinn
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    May 13th 2015, 7:56 PM

    Something in peanut butter that shouldn’t be there? Taste?

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    Mute Abi Dennis
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    May 13th 2015, 11:17 PM

    That’s nuts

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    Mute patrick
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    May 13th 2015, 9:39 PM

    More horse meat I suppose.

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    Mute Fran McCarty
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    May 14th 2015, 3:28 AM

    I found a piece of plastic in my ice cream last week. I called the company,and they sent me a check for $5,000 to keep my mouth shut!

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    Mute Cathy Dwyer
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    May 19th 2016, 7:00 AM

    Well you told every one now so you probably need to send back the cheque

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    Mute Neil McDonnell
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    May 15th 2015, 10:03 AM

    Kind of off topic. The link for this article on yahoo has the following description after the Tag line

    Batch of peanut butter recalled in Ireland as it may contain ‘a foreign body’ – Irish Sun
    The Irish government has approved a proposal for the dispatch of an Irish Naval vessel with a crew of 65 personnel to undertake humanitarian search and rescue tasks in the Mediterranean.

    Needless to say I was quite concerned as to why a Naval Vessel was dispatched to deal with a dodge jar of Peanut butter. Luckily it was just a gaff by the yahoo bots.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    May 14th 2015, 3:04 PM

    Bloody yes referendum voters I suppose lol, that is funny…

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