The National's "Fake Empire" Used in Ad for Mitt Romney Campaign, Band Is Furious, Of Course

Source: Pitchfork

The National have been huge supporters of Barack Obama in both of his Presidential campaigns. They've performed at rallies and benefits, sold T-shirts to make money for the cause, and lent their song "Fake Empire" from Boxer to an ad in 2008.

Apparently, nobody told all that to whoever put together this pro-Mitt Romney video, which uses "Fake Empire" as its soundtrack. Yes, the exact same song that Obama used in his 2008 ad. The video was made by a group called Ohio University Students for Romney, and does not appear to be an official campaign video.

Naturally, the National are livid about this. Frontman Matt Berninger posted the following comment on YouTube:

Our music was used without our permission in this ad. The song you’re using was written about the same backward, con game policies Romney is proposing. We encourage all students to educate themselves about the differences between the inclusive, pro-social, compassionate, forward-thinking policies of President Obama and the self-serving politics of the neo-conservative movement and Mitt Romney. Every single person involved in the creation of the music you're using is voting for President Obama.