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Rihanna hits out at Trump following reports of her music being played at his 'tragic rallies'

Meanwhile, Trump has devoted his final days before tomorrow’s midterm elections to helping Senate and gubernatorial candidates.

Donald Trump President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally Evan Vucci Evan Vucci

RIHANNA HAS HIT out at US president Donald Trump over reports that one of her songs was being played at one of his rallies, which she has called “tragic”. 

Washington Post reported Philip Rucker tweeted that Rihanna’s Don’t Stop The Music was playing at a rally as aides threw free Trump t-shirts into the audience. 

Reacting to the tweet, Rihanna said: “Not for much longer … me nor my people would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies, so thanks for the heads up Philip.” 

Meanwhile, Trump has appeared to distance himself from the fate of House Republican candidates as he devotes his final days before tomorrow’s midterm elections to helping Senate and gubernatorial candidates.

Speaking to reporters as he left the White House en route to get-out-the-vote rallies in Georgia and Tennessee yesterday, Trump said Republican enthusiasm is higher than he’s ever seen – but he seemed to dampen expectations for his party in the House.

“I think we’re going to do well in the House,” he said of tomorrow’s races.

But, as you know, my primary focus has been on the Senate, and I think we’re doing really well in the Senate.

The comments mark the starkest indication that Trump has grown less optimistic about the GOP’s chances of retaining control of the House, where Republicans face greater headwinds than in the Senate. And they came as Trump’s travels in the closing stretch before midterms that could profoundly change his presidency are largely taking him to traditionally Republican states to campaign on behalf of statewide candidates.

Closing arguments 

The president’s closing argument to voters was on stark display yesterday as he seeks to motivate complacent Republican voters to the polls by stoking fears about the prospects of Democratic control.

“You want to see Georgia prosperity end?” Trump told the rally crowd in Macon, Georgia. “Vote for the Democrat.”

Trump’s remarks included ominous references to the “Antifa” far-left-leaning militant groups and a migrant caravan marching toward the US-Mexico border that he has called an “invasion”.

Donald Trump President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee Evan Vucci Evan Vucci

Appearing before thousands in an overflowing aircraft hangar in Macon for Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp, Trump declared, “There’s electricity in the air like I haven’t seen since ’16.”

“This is a very important election,” he added.

“I wouldn’t say it’s as important as ’16, but it’s right up there.”

In Chattanooga, Tennessee, to bolster the prospects of Republican Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn, Trump once again warned that caravans of immigrants are on their way to flood across the southern border.

“That’s an invasion. I don’t care what they say,” Trump said to cheers.

He received similar applause when promoting the economy, unemployment numbers and judicial appointments.

When Blackburn took the stage briefly, she told supporters, “If you want to vote no to Hillary Clinton and her cronies one more time, stand with me.” The crowd responded with the chant, “Lock her up!”

Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One that “tremendous crowds” were already awaiting him in both states. He said that enthusiasm was off the charts, though polls have shown Democrats to have an enthusiasm edge.

“The level of fervour, the level of fever is very strong in the Republican side,” said Trump, adding: “I have never seen such excitement. Maybe back in ’16 during the presidential, right around the vote. But I have never seen such an enthusiastic Republican Party.”

Donald Trump Supporters of President Donald Trump cheer as he arrives to speak at a campaign rally in Macon Evan Vucci Evan Vucci

Referendum on presidency

Trump also pushed back on the idea that the election was a referendum on his presidency and that Democrats reclaiming the House would be a rebuke of him and his policies.

“No, I don’t view this as for myself,” Trump said, before making the case that his campaigning has “made a big difference” in a handful of Senate races across the country.

“I think I’ve made a difference of five or six or seven. That’s a big difference,” he said, crediting his rallies for the influence.

In an interview with The Associated Press last month, Trump said he would not accept blame for a GOP defeat at the polls.

“These rallies are the best thing we’ve done. I think that the rallies have really been the thing that’s caused this whole big fervour to start and to continue,” he said.

Trump has had a busy campaign schedule in the final stretch of the race, with 11 rallies over six days — including two planned Sunday and three today in Ohio, Indiana and Missouri.

With reporting by Hayley Halpin

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    Mute Adrian
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    Nov 5th 2018, 7:45 AM

    These singers need to realize that around half of america support Trump.

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    Mute LynchTrea
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    Nov 5th 2018, 7:48 AM

    @Adrian: maybe but I doubt it’s the half that buys pop music and goes to.concerts.

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    Mute 2thFairy
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    Nov 5th 2018, 7:52 AM

    @Adrian: errrrrr don’t think so. He didn’t get more votes overall so not sure how you come to this conclusion.

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    Mute Adrian
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    Nov 5th 2018, 8:01 AM

    @2thFairy: outside california and new york, more people voted for him.

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    Mute Diddles Daffy
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    Nov 5th 2018, 8:23 AM

    @Adrian: which proves the importance of education and travel to open your mind

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    Mute Tom Kelly
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    Nov 5th 2018, 9:20 AM

    @Diddles Daffy: isn’t that the truth..

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    Mute Mark McDermott
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    Nov 5th 2018, 9:54 AM

    @Adrian: How has the number of votes he received got to do with illegally using her IP?

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    Mute Bridget O'Hanlon
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    Nov 5th 2018, 10:41 AM

    @Adrian: why?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Nov 5th 2018, 10:54 AM

    @Adrian: and in general more people didn’t vote at all than voted so what’s your point again?

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    Mute John Mullin
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    Nov 5th 2018, 12:48 PM

    @Adrian: all these people are so angry with you in their posts, it’s like they are taking a leaf at some other angry narcissistic character… maybe Trump or maybe even Hillary. They should be angry at the system in the lack of choice in presidential candidates but instead they like to fool themselves into believing that the world would have been in a better place with a war mongering hound like Hillary at the helm. If she was in charge the US would have invaded another country or two and probably would have provoked North Korea and China into a war with them also. Trump is not ideal in any sense but he was better than the alternative…

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    Mute Ross O'Callaghan
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    Nov 5th 2018, 12:52 PM

    @Adrian: hahaha so much anger in reply to Adrian, hope the NPC’s are as involved in Irish politics.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Nov 5th 2018, 1:16 PM

    @Ross O’Callaghan: correcting a factual error is not anger.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Nov 5th 2018, 1:53 PM

    @John Mullin: NK has issued a nuclear threat and US and SK have resumed military drills. Funny how he doesn’t talk about that. It’s always fun to talk about what would have happened if the loser won, mostly because you can make up whatever you want.

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    Mute Ryan Dub
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    Nov 5th 2018, 6:07 PM

    @John Mullin: Nonsense.

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    Mute John Mullin
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    Nov 5th 2018, 7:15 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: funny how you never focus on anything positive he does only on the negative and as for making things up well that’s always been your forté, hasn’t it?

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    Mute John Mullin
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    Nov 5th 2018, 7:16 PM

    @Ryan Dub: aww, did I hurt your feelings snowflake?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Nov 5th 2018, 8:50 PM

    @John Mullin: Well you did just invent an imaginary world where Clinton won so you’re not really in a position to accuse others of making things up. Go on though list the things he has done that are good for all of America

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    Mute John Mullin
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    Nov 6th 2018, 12:43 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: There you go again Dave, making up lies. Is that the best you got? I didn’t “invent an imaginary world”, I used the word “if”. I know it’s probably a big word for you but if you ask your kindergarten teacher she might have more patience than me to explain the concept of “if” to you.

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    Mute Diarmuid Hunt
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    Nov 6th 2018, 8:54 PM

    @John Mullin: You can’t prove what would have happened ‘if’ Hillary won and that makes the world which you envisaged imaginary but don’t let that stop you from trying to insult other people’s intelligence, in a bittersweet way it’s entertaining.

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    Mute 2thFairy
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    Nov 5th 2018, 7:43 AM

    One can only hope and pray for a “blue wave” but given the way elections can go globally I won’t be betting my house on it.

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    Mute Thomas Molloy
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    Nov 5th 2018, 9:52 AM
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    Mute Tricia G
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    Nov 5th 2018, 10:26 AM

    @Thomas Molloy: Written by Charles Hurt…… He is currently the opinion editor of The Washington Times, Fox News contributor, Breitbart News contributor, and a Drudge Report editor.

    Most hilariously, unaware comment from that article “declared another white person billing himself as a journalist.”

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Hurt

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    Mute Shane Dignam
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    Nov 5th 2018, 11:03 AM

    @Tricia G: To be fair the Rasmussen poll is real, though I think it was 36% black support for Trump. The Dem’s need around 85% of the black vote to win back Congress. Question is will the 36% actually get out and vote. If only half do, the Dem’s should be ok.

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    Mute Tricia G
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    Nov 5th 2018, 11:21 AM

    @Shane Dignam: Yes it’s a real poll but be honest, you know that Rasmussen’s methodology is frequently questioned by mainstream pollsters, and its work has been accused of harboring a pro-Republican bias.

    Considering 88% of Black Voters went for Hillary in 2016 the idea that 36% now support Trump is a bit mental.

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    Mute Red Wave Bye-Bye
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    Nov 5th 2018, 12:14 PM

    @Tricia G: It gets a C+ from FiveThirtyEight

    https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/pollster-ratings/?ex_cid=irpromo

    36% = wayyyyy toooo high :-)

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    Mute Andy Cahalan
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    Nov 5th 2018, 1:24 PM
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    Mute Shane Dignam
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    Nov 5th 2018, 1:36 PM

    @Tricia G: You say “let’s be honest here” so I will. Polls in recent years have become more and more inaccurate. For example, relying largely on opinion polls, election forecasters put Clinton’s chance of winning in 2016 at anywhere from 70% to as high as 99%, and pegged her as the heavy favorite to win a number of states such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin that in the end were taken by Trump. Then you’ve got the Brexit polls too. I don’t know if it’s by fault or by design but I think any sensible person should at the very least have some doubts about any poll no matter who’s poll it is.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Nov 5th 2018, 1:54 PM

    @Shane Dignam: three words for you, margin of error. Polling isn’t an exact science.

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    Mute John Mullin
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    Nov 5th 2018, 7:32 PM

    @Shane Dignam: good post Shane, and this margin of error nonsense is a phrase used when things don’t go with one’s agenda as expected. Random guesses are more accurate than polls lately it would seem considering some have been out by up on 30%. Margin of error my #*%!|¥£!

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    Mute Shane Dignam
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    Nov 5th 2018, 7:52 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: Sometimes Dave you’ve got to take your head out from the clouds and admit to yourself that they’re playing you like a violin.

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    Mute Shane Dignam
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    Nov 5th 2018, 7:57 PM

    @Dave O’ Keefe: Or probably more accurately, they’re playing both sides off each other masterfully. They’re doing a wonderful job if that’s what’s going on.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Nov 5th 2018, 8:55 PM

    @Shane Dignam: you realise that the margin of error is stated in every single poll right? It’s not just something they bring out when it’s wrong. If you just want to come here with your lack of knowledge and insult people go right ahead but if you actually presented factual information more people might pay attention

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    Mute LynchTrea
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    Nov 5th 2018, 7:47 AM

    It’s obvious that they have sent Trump out on the election trail so as to keep him out of the white house and away from any serious decision making.

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    Mute Francis Devenney
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    Nov 5th 2018, 8:23 AM

    @John Campbell: His salary is a pittance compared to what he’s making from manipulating the stock market, deregulating industries, giving himself and his elite billionaire cronies massive tax breaks etc.

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    Mute John Campbell
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    Nov 5th 2018, 9:24 AM

    @Francis Devenney: full employment and lowest rate ever of African Americans unemployed, growing economy which benefits all, countries queuing up to do business with the US isn’t too bad either!

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    Mute Francis Devenney
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    Nov 5th 2018, 9:32 AM

    @John Campbell: yep, there’s so many jobs in the US some people work 2 or 3 Why would anyone want one decent paying job when they can have all the fun of working 90 hours a week to make ends meet.

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    Mute Mark McDermott
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    Nov 5th 2018, 9:57 AM

    @John Campbell: “countries queuing up to do business with the US isn’t too bad either!”

    What companies? Sure the American ones are only going back because their being forced back by that Trump fool.

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    Mute Tricia G
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    Nov 5th 2018, 10:30 AM

    @John Campbell: Ask people in the US how their 401K is doing (hint: it’s not good……)

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    Mute Red Wave Bye-Bye
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    Nov 5th 2018, 12:24 PM

    @Tricia G: at least the price of vegetables,gas,health insurance,property tax,tins of beer & electrical goods have all fallen since Trump came to power…oh,wait..

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Nov 5th 2018, 8:57 PM

    @Red Wave Bye-Bye: and at least wages have gone up with the economy…. Oh, sorry, they haven’t budged. My bad.

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    Mute Francis Mc Carthy
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    Nov 6th 2018, 9:06 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe:MAGA

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    Mute Thomas Molloy
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    Nov 5th 2018, 7:48 AM

    The negative words of so many good sounding tunes nowadays is sad. Trying to pick suitable modern songs to teach young people to sing is impossible.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Nov 5th 2018, 1:22 PM

    @Thomas Molloy: stick with your psalms buddy. Such classic hits as “Kill the Sunday worker”, “Touch a pig bleed like a pig” and who could ever forget “pregnant 12 year old is gods will”

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    Mute Richard Connell
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    Nov 5th 2018, 8:31 AM

    The salute by the smiling lady in the white t-shirt in the front row of the photograph is inappropriate at best.

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    Mute Jackie Carvill Caruana
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    Nov 5th 2018, 8:44 AM

    @Richard Connell: you see what you want to see. To me she is waving.

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    Mute Richard Connell
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    Nov 5th 2018, 9:04 AM

    @Jackie Carvill Caruana: You mean in a similar way to how some people cannot detect sarcastic humour. I think I understand now. Thank you.

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    Mute Sean Mannion
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    Nov 5th 2018, 11:17 AM

    Need to get off their high horse!! It’s fasionable now to hate Trump!

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    Mute Tricia G
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    Nov 5th 2018, 11:25 AM

    @Sean Mannion: It should ALWAYS have been “fashionable” to hate Trump.

    If you’re able to ignore the racism, xenophobia, misogyny and infant like petulance because you think you’re going to a tax cut or some other financial benefit then you’re a terrible person.

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    Mute Tracktrack
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    Nov 5th 2018, 5:12 PM

    Rhianna obviously doesn’t care about losing $$$ in sales of her records by alienating the millions of Trump supporters. She would be wiser to shut up.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Nov 5th 2018, 5:34 PM

    @Tracktrack: there are more people against him than for him

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Nov 5th 2018, 6:54 PM

    @Tracktrack: Do you think she should take the money and pretend to be a political supporter of someone she doesn’t admire? Anyone can enjoy her music. She’s objecting to her music being used at a political rally. She has every right to say so.
    It’s fairly sad if a successful singer can’t afford to say what she does and doesn’t believe in, because she might run short of money. Good for her that she can afford to speak her mind. Millions can’t. I don’t think they will boycott her for honest speech.

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