The Naperville Exchange Club's decision to book Toby Keith for Naperville Ribfest's opening night gained national attention Friday, the same day tickets went on sale for the country singer's July 3 show.

After the Exchange Club announced Keith's performance Feb. 3, many Naperville residents took to social media to criticize bringing Keith to town following his performance at President Donald Trump's pre-inauguration concert. Just as many came to Keith's defense, defending his right to perform regardless of his politics.

The flap was elevated to a new level Friday when Fox News posted a story on the situation with the headline, "Country music festival facing pressure to nix Toby Keith from lineup after Trump inauguration performance."

Among those who weighed in on the controversy was Ari Fleischer, a one-time White House press secretary for former President George W. Bush.

"This ticks me off. Conservatives put up w liberal clap-trap from Hollywood & Broadway. Now one patriotic country singer is subject to this?" Fleischer tweeted.

Four minutes later, he tweeted, "One of these days conservatives need to engage vs liberal entertainment/educational institutions. Their bias helps define our culture."

Speaking to the Naperville Sun after his comments went public, Fleischer said he's tired of actors and musicians taking liberal political positions in public forums while conservatives are blasted for doing the same thing.

"How many times have conservatives watched the Academy Awards and been treated to overtly liberal political positions, but we still watch the movies and go to the shows," Fleischer said in a phone interview. "Now here's one small instance where a musician who is known for his patriotic songs has to put up with this."

Fleischer, a Toby Keith fan who has heard of Naperville but has never visited, advised people to go to the performance and enjoy Keith's music.

"That's the difference, he's not going to take the stage and submit people to his politics," Fleischer said.

Months before the November election, Keith declined to tell the Chicago Tribune which candidate he was supporting and said he had voted for both Republican and Democratic presidential candidates in the past, including Bill Clinton and George Bush. "This election, I don't think it makes a difference. I can't believe there's 300 million Americans in this country, and we've got these two as our final two. It's absolutely crazy," Keith said.

Ari Fleischer Pete Souza / Chicago Tribune Ari Fleischer, White House press secretary for George Bush, reacts to a reporter's remark during a press briefing in 2003. Fleischer weighed in on the controversy over Toby Keith playing an Naperville Ribfest, saying the country singer should be allowed to play without public criticism. Ari Fleischer, White House press secretary for George Bush, reacts to a reporter's remark during a press briefing in 2003. Fleischer weighed in on the controversy over Toby Keith playing an Naperville Ribfest, saying the country singer should be allowed to play without public criticism. (Pete Souza / Chicago Tribune)

Tickets for Keith's June 30 performance went on sale at 10 a.m. Friday. Special limited-time general admission tickets priced at $30 were sold out within two hours, said Erin O'Donnell, marketing and PR director for Naperville Ribfest. "Tickets are flying off the shelf," O'Donnell said. "We're very pleased with how things are going."

Regular general admission, front of stage and VIP tickets are still available.

ehegarty@tribpub.com

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