This is more reflex from the "criticizing Bush = criticizing the troops" debate. Eddie Vedder did more or less the same thing with a Bush mask during the "Bushleaguer" song months ago, before the war started, in a Seattle concert and nobody cared, nobody criticized. Really nobody paid that much attention.

Somehow since the war began a couple of weeks ago anybody that dares say anything about the Bush powergrab is not "supporting the troops" and this generates big headlines on TV. This new McCarthyism has already resulted in groups like the Dixie Chicks being boycotted by bands of "new country" yahoos driving steamrollers over their CD's in shopping mall parking lots.

Pearl Jam will probably survive the controversy because they've always been up front about their politics. They're not likely to have their fans turn against them because most of their fans feel the same way they do.

What do you want from artists? Do you want them to simply amplify the way you feel or the way that the "majority" believes?  I don't.

By the way: No matter if you like PJ or not they have done a series of benefit concerts here in Seattle the past few years and have donated all proceeds (tens of thousands of $$$) to local charities. They are a band with integrity and have acted honorably and honestly. They deserve your support. Baerwald fans should understand that.