Ted Nugent: "I'm stopping calling people names"
Erin Burnett highlights the reasons Ted Nugent's words have received so much attention.
Beyond being controversial, the rocker is politically vocal and highly influential. His support is seen as a big win for many GOP candidate, even those running for president.
During the 2012 election, Mitt Romney's son tweeted:
Ted Nugent endorsed my Dad today. Ted Nugent? How cool is that?! He joins Kid Rock as great Detroit musicians on team Mitt!
— Tagg Romney (@tromney) March 2, 2012
Last year, Nugent attended the State of the Union address as a guest of Texas Republican congressman Steve Stockman.
He's appeared with big name Republicans, including a performance at Texas Governor Rick Perry's 2007 inauguration.
Nugent is also on the board of the National Rifle Association, a position voted on by some of the organization's 4 million members. He's also delivered speeches at their annual conventions.
On top of that, he's a multi-platinum selling recording artist.
The point is, Ted Nugent has a lot of ears.
He is OutFront.
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Billionaire John Paul DeJoria: "I can represent the 99 percent and the 1 percent."
Tempers flared in Washington as Republicans and Democrats continue to clash over the minimum wage debate.
Obama pushes for minimum wage increase
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal came out swinging against President Obama, but Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy didn't want to hear it.
Bobby Jindal: I think there are things we can do instead of waving the white flag of surrender, instead of declaring this economy to be a minimum wage economy. I think our economy, I think America can do better.
Malloy: Wait one second, until a few moments ago we were going off a pretty cooperative road... I don't know what the heck was a reference to white flag when it comes to people making $404 a week. I mean that is the most insane statement I ever heard quite frankly. Let's be very clear that we have had a great meeting and we didn't go down that road and it just started again and we didn't start it.
Both sides have been at odds over the wage fight as income inequality has become a lightning rod among politicians.
OutFront: John Paul DeJoria is one of the richest people in America. He is the co-founder and chairman of John Paul Mitchell Systems and Patron Spirits.
Can Celebrity Chef Paula Deen make a comeback?
Paula Deen is trying to stage a major comeback.
The celebrity chef has avoided the public eye since admitting to use the N-word. On Sunday at the South Beach Food and Wine festival, Deen was given a warm reception from her fans and took a moment to address the controversy.
Jovial Paula Deen draws supportive crowd at Florida wine and food festival
"We have come off a hard summer ... my family and my partners ... and I want to take a moment to apologize to those of you who didn't hear me. I hope you see us bring back good memories for you," Deen said.
CNN's Erin Burnett talks to branding expert, Steve Adubato about whether she can pull off a comeback.
"I think Paula Deen is probably a really nice person, but when she opens her mouth, and talks about race and she talks about slavery, it's dangerous." Adubato said, "I think that someone who grew up the way Paula Deen does or did just doesn't understand how that offends folks."
Arizona business owner defends "Religious Freedom" bill: It's not a gays vs. religion issue
Will businesses by allowed to deny service to gays - in the name of God?
Outrage is building over a controversial bill in Arizona that some say would allow businesses to deny services to gay customers based on religion.
The bill which is now sitting on Governor Jan Brewer's desk is bringing protesters out in force.
Arizona lawmakers pass controversial anti-gay bill
Protesters argue the bill is nothing but a license to discriminate.
The backlash is now being felt by those who first backed the legislation.
Three state senators who voted for the bill are now urging Brewer to veto it.
"We feel very badly that the state reputation has been tarnished by our vote and that's why we're asking the governor to veto this," Sen. Bob Worsley said.
"We want to correct something that we did that isn't good for the state especially when you look around and see the negative publicity from all over the world, it's been bad," Sen. Steve Pierce said.
So far Brewer's refusing to comment on the bill's fate and has made it clear she won't make a decision until she's back at her desk.
CNN's Miguel Marquez is OutFront with the story.
Nugent apologizes for using term 'subhuman mongrel'
(CNN) – Conservative activist and rocker Ted Nugent apologized Friday for using the term "subhuman mongrel" to describe President Barack Obama.
"I do apologize–not necessarily to the President–but on behalf of much better men than myself," he said in an interview with conservative radio host Ben Ferguson, who's also a CNN political commentator.
Texas attorney general Greg Abbott, the likely GOP gubernatorial nominee this year, came under heavy criticism from Democrats this week for campaigning with Nugent, who's known for making outlandish comments about the President.
Nugent said he apologizes "for using the streetfighter terminology of 'subhuman mongrel' instead of just using more understandable language, such as 'violator of his oath to the Constitution'."
In his apology, Nugent appeared to regret more the fact that his language has been tied to Republican politicians from his state, such as Abbott, Gov. Rick Perry, and Sen. Ted Cruz.
"I apologize for using the term," he said. "I will try to elevate my vernacular to the level of those great men that I'm learning from in the world of politics."
Later on in the interview–after some people on Twitter argued Nugent's comments weren't a real apology–Ferguson asked Nugent if he was directly apologizing to the President for the comments.
"Yes," Nugent replied.
Watch Ted Nugent on CNN's "Erin Burnett OutFront" Monday night starting at 7 p.m. ET.
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