Former Bush Ambassador Thomas Schweich is running for Missouri state auditor, but that isn’t stopping him from rocking out in his spare time. In fact, Schweich and his band, “Ambassador Tom and the Mortgaged Youths,” recently released a music video of their conservatively-themed rock song “Gimme Back My Freedom.”
Schweich got together a band of young conservatives to help him produce the anti-big government video, though he wrote the music and lyrics himself.
But before he was anti-government, Schweich actually used to work for The Man. Back in 2007, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to be coordinator for counternarcotics and justice reform in Afghanistan. This followed posts at the State Department, and as chief of staff for a number of U.N. ambassadors, including John Bolton. Schweich is also a litigator for Bryan Cave LLP, a national law firm.
Now, his campaign for state auditor has landed him the backing of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R). And he still has his all-important license to rock.
Some of Schweich’s lyrics?
“Bailouts and debt/ They got me feelin’ dissed/ Sellin’ out my son/ To Chinese Communists.”
He also gets in some hits against President Obama:
We don’t bow,
To hateful foreign kings.
We don’t apologize,
And we don’t kiss their rings.
“Ambassador Tom and the Mortgaged Youths” released its first music video about two weeks ago, with Schweich on lead guitar and vocals. In it, they rock out everywhere from the recording studio to the hood of a car to what appears to be somebody’s backyard.
And of course, as in any legitimate rock video, there are groupies.
Watch it:
On Mark Reardon’s April 6 KMOX radio show, Sweich said “Gimme Back My Freedom” is “sort of a protest song. It’s kind of like the new Civil Rights movement we’re seeing for people who want smaller government.”
He noted that the song is “completely separate” from his campaign, and that he and the band are “just hoping that maybe we can play some gigs around the country.”
[TPM PHOTO GALLERIES: BUST A MOVE: DANCING WITH THE POLS]
And here ‘s the full set of lyrics:
You think you’re so smart,
That you can run my life,
Well I don’t need your help,
And neither does my wife.Bailouts and debt,
They got me feelin’ dissed,
Sellin’ out my son,
To Chinese Communists.Chorus:
I don’t like it,
I won’t take it,
With God’s help yeah,
We’re gonna make it.
[Gimme back my freedom.
Or I’m gonna fight.
I don’t need your handouts.
I just want my rights.] (x2)
Oooh hoo. All right.
Are you ready to fight?
Yeah yeah. All right.
Are you ready to fight, fight, fight?We work real hard,
For all we have achieved.
And we love every life,
From the day it was conceived.We don’t bow,
To hateful foreign kings.
We don’t apologize,
And we don’t kiss their rings.Chorus
You talk way down,
To everyone it seems.
To small town girls,
To the United States Supremes.We’re on to you,
So get off of your tower.
My Constitution says,
The people have the power.Chorus
Oooh hoo. All right.
Are you ready to fight?
Yeah yeah. All right.
Are you ready to fight, fight fight?
Are you ready to fight?
Yeah, Ready to fight?
Ready to fight,
Yeah, ready to fight.
