Singer Sophie B. Hawkins told The Hill on Thursday that
"America's being thrown under the bus" by President Barack Obama as he
presses forward with his agenda and comes under criticism for his
response to the Gulf oil spill.
Hawkins, who scored Top 10
Billboard hits in the 1990s with "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" and "As I
Lay Me Down," is donating all proceeds from her new single, "The Land,
the Sea and the Sky," to the Waterkeeper Alliance, which has
launched coordinated efforts to combat the effects of the spill.
She
was also critical of the White House earlier this month in a Huffington
Post editorial, writing, "BP executives are pointing fingers while
the government continues hand-wringing. ... The irony that Obama rushes
in the lawyers while the well is still spewing is not lost on most
Americans."
The singer campaigned on the trail with Hillary
Rodham Clinton during her presidential campaign, and told The Hil from
her tour bus that she "never believed in [Obama's] philosophy" -- which
she said runs contrary to her beliefs in "smaller government, smart
government, flexible government."
"I think the writing was on the
wall," Hawkins said. "I honestly couldn't believe so many people were
into him."
She describes herself as a centrist who's identified
with the Democratic and Green parties, but said even though she's never
been Republican she wouldn't cross that vote off the list if the right
leader came along.
In fact, she's open to a Republican Congress.
"I
want the Congress that really is going to listen to the people," she
said. "I really don't care what party it is anymore."
Hawkins
said she attended a Tea Party rally in Santa Monica, Calif., that was
"mostly all Democrats."
"The Tea Parties are only here because
people are not listening," she said.
The singer said she viewed
the government's attitude as "arrogant" and said people are hungry for
leaders who will "take us in a direction that's truly American."
"Obama
may be brilliant, but he's not a leader," Hawkins said.
"The lack
of leadership on this Gulf issue is so shocking," she said, adding that
while government organization is lacking, the president "should be
galvanizing people who voted for him to go to the Gulf and help."
The Washington Scene is a high-end website filled with real-time pictures from the parties and events attended by Washington's elite and political celebrities. With a social calendar containing essential information about the most prestigious events — fundraisers, galas, charity balls, private parties, dinners and red carpet premiers — The Washington Scene is the go-to site for anyone who wants to keep tabs on people and networking in the nation's capital.
For questions and comments about The Washington Scene, please email Jennifer Yingling: jennifery@thehill.com
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