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Mitt Romney Stops Using K'Naan's "Wavin' Flag" To Avoid Lawsuit

1:12 p.m. · February 3, 2012 · by JT Langley

You'd think Republican candidates would have fallen in line after seeing Newt Gingrich choke on the gun barrel for using Frankie Sullivan's "Eye of the Tiger," but apparently it takes threat rather than example, as Mitt Romney's camp has finally decided to quit using Somali Canadian rapper K'Naan's song "Wavin' Flag" due to lawsuit worries after unlawfully playing it to close out the Florida Republican Primary.

While no official lawsuit has been set, K'Naan offered some strong words over the issue upon hearing about the song's use:

"I have not been asked for permission by Mitt Romney's campaign for the use of my song. If I had been asked, I would certainly not have granted it. I would happily grant the [President Barack] Obama campaign use of my song without prejudice."

K'Naan went on to hit Romney directly through Twitter--"Yo @mittromney I am K'naan Warsame and I do not endorse this message"--which resulted in the camp issuing an official apology:

“The song was used through our regular blanket license, but we respect K’Naan’s statement and will not use his music again,” Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said in an email to the New York Times.

Why can't these dudes just go vintage and do Fleetwood Mac like Clinton or "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" like William Henry Harrison? Quit screwing with things.