Rage Against the Machine Denies Paul Ryan as a Fan: Guitarist Tom Morello Lashes Out

Although Republican Paul Ryan (the presumptive nominee for Vice President under Mitt Romney's Presidential Campaign) is a self-described Rage Against the Machine fan, guitarist Tom Morello is not hearing it - in a Rolling Stone editorial the Machine founding member blasts Ryan as the "embodiment of the machine that our music has been raging against for two decades."

Morello is co-founder of the non-profit political activist organization Axis of Justice alongside System of a Down front man Serj Tankian. The group's purpose is to bring together musicians, fans of music, and grassroots progressivism to fight for social justice together.

And apparently Morello doesn't believe that social justice will be found through conservative Congressman Ryan or the Romney-Ryan campaign.

In the Rolling Stone editorial Morello writes:

"I wonder what Ryan's favorite Rage song is? Is it the one where we condemn the genocide of Native Americans? The one lambasting American imperialism? Our cover of "F- the Police"? Or is it the one where we call on the people to seize the means of production? So many excellent choices to jam out to at Young Republican meetings!"

Instead of rage against the "machine," Morello believes Ryan is more likely to promote, "a rage against women, a rage against immigrants, a rage against workers, a rage against gays, a rage against the poor, a rage against the environment. Basically the only thing he's not raging against is the privileged elite he's groveling in front of for campaign contributions. This unbridled rage against those who have the least is a cornerstone of the Romney-Ryan ticket."

Morello summarizes his thoughts with, "I don't care for Paul Ryan's sound or his lyrics."

In a recent New York Times profile of Ryan, the conservative from Wisconsin lists liberal rockers Rage Against the Machine among his list of favorite musical artists. Wonder if he feels the same way now?