Neil Peart, the drummer behind the band Rush, has made it known that, as a "bleeding-heart libertarian," he encourages people to support Democrats.
From songs decrying forced legislated equality to songs denouncing "begging hands and bleeding hearts," Rush’s lyrics, written primarily by Peart, have strong libertarian themes. In the liner notes for the album “2112,” Rush even acknowledged "the genius of Ayn Rand."
Now, in an interview with Rolling Stone, Peart reveals his ideology has shifted.
Rolling Stone notes that Peart's newfound beliefs appear to prioritize the "bleeding-heart" aspect over the "libertarian" one.
Speaking of the libertarian-oriented Senator Rand Paul, a 2016 presidential candidate, Peart allegedly told Rolling Stone it is "very obvious” that Paul "hates women and brown people.”
During Paul's 2010 senatorial campaign, his campaign utilized Rush's liberty-oriented songs to spread the message and rally the base. This prompted the band to issue a cease-and-desist letter.
According to the Rolling Stone interview, Rush also sent a cease-and-desist letter to Paul in order to stop him from merely quoting Rush’s song, "The Trees," in his speeches.
Peart, who recently became a United States citizen, told Rolling Stone, "For a person of my sensibility, you're only left with the Democratic party."
In the interview, Peart also added his thoughts on religion and policy: "If you're a compassionate person at all. The whole health-care thing — denying mercy to suffering people? What? This is Christian?"