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Walter Reed Bars Baez
Army blames short notice for activist's exclusion from hospital
By M. Morris
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Posted May 2, 07 3:45 PM CDT
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(Newser)
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Patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center were treated to tunes by John Mellencamp last week, but not Joan Baez—hospital officials refused to let the legendary folk singer and antiwar activist join him. A spokesman told Rolling Stone the request to include Baez came too late. Said Mellencamp: "We asked why and they said, 'She can’t fit here, period.' "
In an interview with the Washington Post, which recently reported on substandard living conditions and vermin infestation at the hospital, Baez said, "One of my more cynical friends said, 'They let the rats in, why not you?' " Officials also turned down a request to admit Dan Rather; the longtime CBS newsman now works for HDNet, which aired the concert.