Czech Leader Taps Highway to Hell in Obama Speech

Czech prime minister Mirek Topolanek saw AC/DC when the band played Prague last week, and had one of the band's biggest tunes rolling around in his head when he diverted from a prepared statement about Obama's stimulus package.

According to the New York Times, instead of saying Obama's stimulus package would lead "the way to destruction" he used the phrase 'road to hell.'

According to the story, "AC/DC played here last week," Topolanek told the daily Lidové Noviny. "And their cult song Highway to Hell might have led me in that very improvised speech to use the phrase..."

Czech translator Petr Bilek said citing "hell" is not a big deal for Czechs in a speech like this:

Mr. Bilek suggests that this is in part “because American society is influenced by Christianity,” while Czechs are well-known for their atheism. A European Commission poll in 2005 (available as a .pdf) found that only 19% of Czechs say they believe in god, and a third identify themselves as atheists. So, Mr. Bilek told the Prague newspaper, “while for many Americans hell is truly a horrifying concept, Czechs don’t make such a big deal out of it.”

I wish politicians would whip out heavy metal lines in their speeches more frequently. Wouldn't it have been great if Bush had said "we're screaming for vengeance and we'll have those pesky Taliban dazed and confused after we make 'em run to the hills. If you think I am wrong, you've got another thing coming!"