US college students apologise to The National for using their track in pro-Mitt Romney video

The Ohio University student group responsible for using a track by The National in a pro-Mitt Romney video have apologised to the band.

The group, called Ohio University Students For Romney, used the band’s track “Fake Empire”, from their 2007 album Boxer, as the soundtrack to an advert promoting the Republican politician’s candidacy. The clip was previously able to be viewed via YouTube, but has since been removed by the group after coming under-fire from The National.

An apology, via Spin, read: “We apologize for offending The National and their fans by using a cover/remix of the band’s melody for ‘Fake Empire’. We were attempting to reinvigorate and unite the disgruntled fans wary of supporting the President as they did in 2008 with ‘Signs of Hope and Change’, with a new movement of people who believe in real recovery and reform in supporting Mitt Romney.”

It continued: “Unfortunately we’ve learned that partisan divide exists on YouTube and in music as much as it does in Washington…we respectfully took down the video, and will repost with music representing a better future with Romney & Ryan in Washington.”

The National have long been supporters of current US President Barack Obama and, unsurprisingly, reacted with disdain to their music being used in the video. Frontman Matt Berninger posted a comment on YouTube in response to the advert, writing: “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,” he added. “Every single person involved in the creation of the music you’re using is voting for President Obama.”

Earlier this month (October 6), The National revealed that they have received hate mail for supporting Obama’s campaign for four more years in the oval office, with guitarist/keyboardist Aaron Dessner claiming that they were sent insulting messages on Facebook for playing a Democratic campaign rally for the incumbent President in Des Moines in September.