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WEEKLY CONSERVATIVE: First of all, thank you so much, Mr. Butane, for taking time out of your busy schedule. ROD BUTANE: It's my pleasure, really, your organization {America First -- ed.} has done so much for me and this show, and so much for America, really, how could I not repay the favor? WC: Let's start with a look into your daily life -- your schedule must be very demanding, you have a top rated national TV talk show on USNC, a very popular afternoon radio call-in program on National Syndicated Radio, plus your charity work and appearances at fundraisers for the Republican Party -- how do you juggle all of this and still make time for yourself? RB: Well, you know, it's not easy. It's certainly made my marriage a challenge. My wife lives and works in Washington for the Council on Foreign Relations, as you know, and I live both here {Richmond, VA} and in our apartment in DC. Uh, it's worth it, though, the long hours. When I hear from average Americans like yourself and others, how much it makes their day to hear someone saying the things that they've been thinking, but haven't had the courage or words to say, it makes it all worthwhile. It's the people, really, that make this job so special. WC: When did you first know that you were destined for a career in broadcasting? RB: Well, of course, I idolized the greats, uh, I still do, uh, Cronkite, of course, Murrow, although his politics were somewhat to the left of mine. Huntley and Brinkley, even when I was very small, I knew that there was something there. Larry King. And, of course, Casey Kasem. WC: Now, you started out in Top 40 radio. RB: Yeah, Wheeling, West Virginia. Rowdy Roddy Butane and the Morning Madmen. Number one in the market for, oh, close to seven years. Very important time in my life. WC: Now, you left that job under a cloud of controversy. Can you tell us a little something about that? RB: You know, I've gone over it before, and I just wanna tell you this, you know, I felt for Clarence Thomas. I really did. 'Cause I was going through the same thing at the very same time. I think everyone knows the story by now, the liberal media elite have used it to try to discredit me. WC: And you were quite candid about it. RB: Yeah, but let me just say, you know, that was what changed my politics. Cause, you know, I was a kid. I'd been privileged to lead a good life, north side of Philadelphia, you know. And, I get to this level of fame and celebrity, and, you know, you've got to face that temptation. And it was hard, and I learned from it. Our own President, God bless him, he had his problems. He learned from them. He became a better man, faced his demons. Unlike some philandering, lying, duplicitous presidents I could name. WC: What's duplicitous? RB: Let me finish, alright? It's like Tom Petty said, "I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now." WC: That was Bob Dylan. RB: Yes, it was. WC: Oh. Okay. Uh, so, about politics, you became a political thinker and talk show host shortly after that, is that right? RB: Yeah, I came to my politics honestly, from life experience and change, unlike some of these limousine liberals, your Tim Robbins, your Michael Moores, your Mitch Commons, that guy, you know, that guy, he's tried to ambush me on camera on a number of occasions, but he hasn't gotten me yet. Little weasel. I bet he's French. WC: He's from Berkeley. RB: Just as bad. WC: So, your success came about in the same period that folks like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly came to national attention, yes? RB: Yeah, well, let me say this about Rush and Bill, both of whom are dear, dear friends. They stole my act. Now, I'm just saying, I switched to conservative, listener-oriented radio in the late 80's, early 90's, when I moved to Phoenix, and I'm sure they must have heard the shows, cause the format was almost identical. WC: Are you accusing--? RB: No, no, not at all. WC: But you just said-- RB: I said nothing. I just said that I was one of the pioneers, and I'll always be proud of that. And, hey, I'm still standing, as Rod Stewart said. WC: That was Elton John. RB: Any more questions? I've got to be somewhere. WC: Yes, just a light hearted question: What's with the De-vo? {Mr. Marlowe refers to the use of pop song "Gate of the Steel", by rock band De-Vo, which has long been used as Mr. Butane's theme song on TV and radio.} RB: You know, it's more nostalgia than anything else. It's the song I've used since college to intro my radio show, and, even though I switched formats, I still use it. Killer song. Great band, those guys. WC: Do you think they'd agree with your politics? RB: They don't seem to mind the royalty checks. Never met the young ladies. Saw them in concert once, though. WC: They're men. RB: Well, I was still drinking at the time. WC: At the time you what? RB: Are we done here? WC: Uh... okay. (c)2002 America First! and Weekly Conservative Magazine.
the above advertisment paid for by America First! |
An interview
with USNC's own Rod Butane, conducted in his offices at USNC
headquarters in Richmond, VA. Reprinted here with kind permission
of America First and The Weekly Conservative. Photography by Wayne Ware.
all audio files in RealPlayer format PAST HIGHLIGHTS: MORE BUTANE ZONE HIGHLIGHTS TO COME SO CHECK BACK OFTEN! CHECK OUT OUR MAIN PAGE FOR MORE ROD BUTANE HIGHLIGHTS!
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