>>http://nbc.com.co/survivor-files-1-2-million-lawsuit-against-kim-davis-mike-huckabee/

>A few years ago the same singer from Survivor tried to sue Newt Gingrich for same general reason.

Yes and Newt agreed to stop using the song - which is what always happens.

>These threats are royally stupid. In nearly all cases they are brought by ultra-liberal musicians who object to conservative politicians using their music in some type of "anthem" manner. It's hypocrisy.

I guess I don't get the hypocrisy... if they don't own the rights to the song, then why not just up off a few cents per attendee and pay the licensing fee rather than try to steal it?

>I rather doubt Frankie Sullivan of Survivor would sue Planned Parenthood/Stem Express for any commercial that used their music.

Perhaps not - but what difference does that make?

But as a rule of thumb you can't go around using other's music like this though right? These are not the only two sued for the same type of thing either...

Tom Petty and Katrina and the Waves -> Michele Bachmann
David Byrne -> Charlie Crist
" Don Henley -> Chuck DeVore
Jackson Browne-> John McCain
Survivor -> Mitt Romney
Heart -> Sarah Palin
Tom Petty -> George W. Bush
Rush -> Rand Paul

...and on and on and on. as far as I know, none of these ever made it to court - they just agreed to quit using the songs. But seeing how this happens all the time I don't understand why they just don't pay the licensing fees and maybe try to find a song written by someone who doesn't despise their view points. Perhaps they can't find such a musician or something I dunno.