Jewish ‘Carmen Sandiego’ Theme Writer Sues Rand Paul Over Marco Rubio Ad
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
By John A. Oswald January 29, 2016
Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?
Why in a Rand Paul attack ad targeting Marco Rubio, that’s where.
The Jewish composer of the theme music to the children’s educational game, “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego” is suing the Paul campaign for using his song to go after Rubio for his record of missing votes in the United States Senate.
The disputed ad by Paul, a Republican senator from Kentucky, is called – what else — “Where in the World is Marco Rubio.” Rubio is a fellow senator, and GOP-er, from Florida.
Altman doesn’t want his iconic song used by anyone in the three-ring=circus that the Donald Trump-dominated GOP primary has become.
“I’m a well-known liberal and it just irked me beyond belief that my beloved song would be co-opted by Sen Rand Paul,” Altman .
“This song is my bread and butter. This is literally one of the ways I make my living because it is licensed frequently.”
Politicians have been known to use songs without permission or license for years.
Last fall, R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe went bonkers when the group’s “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” was used in a rally in a Republican rally in Washington. The band filed a $2.5 legal action against Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), who were far more friendly back then.
“Go f–k yourselves, the lot of you — you sad, attention-grabbing, power-hungry little men,” Stipe said at the time. “Do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign.”
Paul’s campaign says it has stopped using Altman’s song, but the video ad is still easily found online.
Variety reports that Altman hired legal ace Larry Iser, who represented Jackson Browne in a case against John McCain for using his “Running on Empty.”
Rand’s campaign charged that Altman now won’t drop the suit so he “can pursue a political agenda or so his trial lawyers can frivolously chase a windfall.”
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
