Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 7, 1994 TAG: 9402070004
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Greg Schneider
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Brunson has never seen the Tim Robbins movie about a folk-singing politician, but he'd like to.
"So he plays a sinister guy who uses liberal methods to promote conservative ideas, for self-advancement?" Brunson asks.
"Well," Brunson says with a smile, "I wish we could have some self-advancement. We aren't making any money at this."
"We" refers to the Angry Young Pachyderms, Brunson's right-wing singing group. The Pachs (the 'derms? the AYPs?) are the fave-rave band of the Rightish Invasion sweeping Richmond these days.
Gov. George Allen liked a Pachs tape so much that he asked the band to play at his final campaign rally. Attorney General Jim Gilmore booked them for an inaugural gala.
When Oliver North took his Senate stampede to Richmond two weeks ago, Brunson and crew primed the crowd with:
I feel for the homeless
We've taught them not to try
iAnd showed them that the better way
Is to complain and cry.
Politicians pander
And say they'll ask for funds
I think a better program is:
Get up off your buns!"
"It's like the '60s protest singers, like Peter, Paul and Mary and `If I Had a Hammer' and `Peace All Over This Land' and all that," Brunson says.
Well, it's not exactly like that. But the idea - just like in the movie - is to use the tools of the '60s counterculture to promote what Brunson sees as the '90s counterculture: conservatism.
Brunson even has the same occupation as Bob Roberts: financial consultant. He says he doesn't want to run for office, though, and only got involved in politics a year ago.
Raised in Tampa, Fla., the 40-year-old father of two has lived in Richmond a decade. Brunson graduated from Florida Bible College and planned a career in church music. Investment counseling was more lucrative.
He has played guitar in garage bands and helped found the Chesterfield Community Church, which is "for people who have sort of given up on church . . . and want to listen to a little more upbeat music," Brunson said.
Last year, he saw a "Far Side" cartoon depicting a group of skinny elephants playing in a rock band called the Angry Young Pachyderms (the message on the drum kit: "Tarzan must die.") It was an election-year epiphany. Pop music equals mass culture, elephants equal Republicans - form a band! Prove that GOP can stand for Groovy Old Party!
For the record, the governor's favorite AYP song, according to his spokesman, is "Dumbed-Down Edumacation":
Teacher's main concern: my ego
Don't wanna hurt my fragile self-esteem
Don't wanna crack my knuckles, no
ACLU lawyers might really scream
Nothing's right and nothin's wrong
We're values-neutral and religion-free.
Bob Roberts couldn't say it better.
by CNB