Springsteen endorses Obama

[bill]

Source: brucespringsteen.net

Dear Friends and Fans:

Like most of you, I've been following the campaign and I have now seen and heard enough to know where I stand. Senator Obama, in my view, is head and shoulders above the rest.

He has the depth, the reflectiveness, and the resilience to be our next President. He speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years, a generous nation with a citizenry willing to tackle nuanced and complex problems, a country that's interested in its collective destiny and in the potential of its gathered spirit. A place where "...nobody crowds you, and nobody goes it alone."

Read more: http://brucespringsteen.net/news/index.html

---

This will resonate with white males in a big way

[panader0]

1. Bruce for Minister of Music

[dubeskin]

9. Here here!

A much needed position filled by the best!

[CoffeeCat]

2. Wouldn't it be great if Springsteen...

...did a concert in PA or Indiana?

That would be beautiful!

I can't think of any musician who better represents salt-of-the-earth, hardworking Americans.

Springsteen gets it. Ordinarily, celebrity endorsements seem a bit vacuous to me. I wasn't
impressed with the Oprah endorsement. However, I think this is different. Springsteen has
been the voice for those "lunch pail" Democrats. He's the real deal.

I think this could help Obama in PA a bit. It definitely won't hurt.

[yardwork]

25. Yes, this will help Obama in Pennsylvania, no question!

[Zambero]

30. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street "Bitter Boys" Band

Yeah!!! I always CLING to great music during times such as these. Go Bruce!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kolesar]

54. Give it a rest, would ya'?

[Zambero]

78. Yeah, I'll give it a rest alright...

As soon as Hillary stops aiding and abetting the GOP (better yet, she throws in the towel), which is way past due! Since when do you claim ownership to this site?

[Kolesar]

101. "Since when did you accomplish a post with more than one sentence?"

[Ned_Devine]

56. Like the way you're "clinging" to that meme? Pretty weak sauce

[Zambero]

79. If you're still clinging to Hillary...

Then your "sauce de la meme" ran dry a long time ago!

[Ned_Devine]

80. My bad. I mis-interpreted your comment...

...I'm an Obama supporter

[Zambero]

98. Yes!!! (I also thought otherwise)

I'm also a big Bruce fan. I sure hope he's active with events for Obama through the fall campaign.

[cyndensco]

87. I also don't place much importance on celebrity endorsements

but I think Springsteen's support is great. He is one of the few who seems concerned about others. I am not an Oprah fan but felt her "endorsement" of Obama was a good thing. She had always been impartial, never publicly supporting a candidate, and I was very happy she broke her silence on this one. (Though too many read Oprah's endorsement as racially based, not because, as she said, he is brilliant).

Can't wait to see who people like Sean Penn and Ben Affleck are supporting.

[Kittycat]

3. Woohoo!!! Rock On Bruce!

[amihol]

12. pfpfpfpfpasdsadd :DDDDD

[Rosa Luxemburg]

4. cool!

[CPschem]

5. Awesome!

expect concerts at Obama rallies once he's the nominee!

[GDAEx2]

6. Thanks Bruce

Saw the Boss on election eve '04 in Cleveland, after working as a precinct captain for Kerry for 2 months. JK was polling 5:1 in my precinct. The feeling of optimism was tangible, the last 4 years just a bad dream. The future bright. Bruce rocked us and talked about John Kerry and then rocked us more.
Then the rain came with election day and I hit the bottom. I nearly checked myself into the hospital with severe depression.
Better now. In retrospect I think the US needed to hit the bottom too in order to realize that things need to change fundamentally.
Hence the rise of Barack Obama and the return of my hope.
Sorry to vent.

[Kolesar]

7. Remember Bruce's quote about Kerry being "the candidate with the maturity..."?

That is my frame of reference for damn serious policy and leadership decisions that need to be made to solve global warming and the resource shortage problems of the not too distant future. Did you know there are food riots in other countries?

[GDAEx2]

8. Right you are, Boreal

We need someone to take control and guide this consumer based society gently onto the off ramp before we go hurtling through the barricades and over the edge of the precipice.
We passed the "Bridge Out" sign a mile ago.

[karynnj]

105. Though it wasn't just Kerry's maturity, it was who he was and his positions

Springsteen had known and respected Senator Kerry for years. Springstein's comments in Madison were great.

[NC_Nurse]

10. Great news! I know a lot of Springsteen lovers.

:toast:

[Lucky 13]

11. Go BOSS!

Kick

[DeepModem Mom]

13. K&R

[0007]

14. bttft and recommend with many kudos for a great post.

[rocktivity]

15. Which is why the cows in New Jersey STILL say

"BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUCE!"

:bounce:
rocknation

[radhika]

16. Wow - Worked for Kerry, didn't it?

I love Bruce too, but I really don't think celeb endorsements do crap.

[heliarc]

26. If news programs can do damage by misrepresenting a candidate's

words and then running them on repeat, (you do believe that don't you?) Well, why is it too hard to assume that a candidate can be helped (or hurt) by the timed statements of celebrities who command at least a portion of the media airtime that can do so much damage in the news cycle?

I'm not saying that the way Springsteen goes goes the nation, but I do think that things like this factor in. In this case, Springsteen has been a voice for labor for quite a long time. And his decisions about unions or political allegiances have always informed a discussion among his fans and his detractors. Discussion is what propelled Obama past Hillary on Super Tuesday. I'm convinced about that. Most of it was Obama's eloquence and his honesty, but I think that when someone as pivotal as Oprah declares her position, it has effects that are very important to the political climate and the media discussion.

http://tbogg.firedoglake.com/2008/04/09/oprah-is-black-since-when/

I'd encourage you to look at how the tides of public opinion truly rock and jib when Oprah declared her support for Obama. When she had Michael Moore on her program the Message boards at her site shot out the roof, and women in her audience were talking about the issues. I logged in because I was curious, and what I learned was that even though most of Oprah's message was drowned by reactionary (Big Gift show) blather, there was at least a discussion that involved a lot of point and counterpoint, that had to get people thinking. I'm guessing she had some effect even if it was minor.

[Magleetis]

17. Good news

Go Bruce!!! Lets hear some music at those Obama events.

[SteppingRazor]

18. In other news, I just scored a floor ticket to this Friday's Springsteen show.

Woooooo!!!


:woohoo:

[OneBlueSky]

42. lucky you! . . . if you haven't seen him before, you're in for a treat . . .

I first saw Springsteen in 1974 . . . the guy at our college who booked acts for our three "big" weekends was really good, and that year he scored Springsteen AND Billy Joel -- before anyone knew who the hell they were . . .

the next year, Bruce decided to open the Born To Run tour in the same little upstate New York theater in our little college town in the middle of summer -- when the town was literally deserted . . . people thought he was nuts, but the word was starting to get out, and the show was a sell-out . . . a few weeks later, he appeared on the covers of both Time and Newsweek in the same week, and the rest is history . . .

I last saw Bruce and the boys at the Centrum in Worcester MA during the Born In The USA tour . . . turns out a friend's cousin was the box office manager, and we had front row seats, stage right at stage level . . . awesome! . . .

don't know what you paid for your tix, but whatever it was, you'll get your money's worth . . . :)

[SteppingRazor]

58. Nope, never seen him before...

I paid $150 for a ticket. A buddy of mine couldn't go, and paid for these through a ticket broker (original price was just under a hundred), so I was kinda helping him out. As for seein him in '74 ... well, I wasn't born yet. I really missed out on the Golden Age. Not just of Bruce, but rock in general. The laundry list of bands I wish I could have seen is deathly long.

On edit: but since you're a long-time fan. here's something from '75:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PYPSZiE0OAs


(If he encores with this on Friday, I will weep openly)

[JerseygirlCT]

60. You will LOVE it. But be prepared to become a

convert.

You won't leave the concert unchanged, I promise!

[abq e streeter]

70. Hi Stepping R...have a GREAT time---you will!

I'm the crusty old Bruce fan that said that ticket price is awful high... BUT even at their ages, this band rocks like a bat outta hell, and has walked the walk for as long as there's been an E Street Band. You WILL have a great time.... ENJOY! And to all of you that have seen this tour or will see one or more of the shows, I'm INSANELY jealous. Still praying that they do a show within 500 miles of Albuquerque, but can't swing going further than that. But that's how good this is gonna be, even in their geezerhood, Stepping Razor. I'm 56, and this is the only band on the face of this or any other planet I'd still travel hundreds of miles to see. Bruce is one of us, a true progressive whose whole musical history is an affirmation of that fact.

[JerseygirlCT]

59. I think I hate you

j/k. Mostly.

Enjoy it! I'm very jealous!

[Highway61]

72. Wow...so glad you got the ticket

and decided to go. You will have an AWESOME experience!

[mdmc]

19. One of he few good guys to stand up to Raygun back in the day

While all those DINOS were suckin, THE BOSS refused to let Raygun use Born in the USA for his campaign.:kick:

[abq e streeter]

71. And among the few to publicly stand up for the Dixie Chicks too

[mdmc]

76. That I did not know

thanks for the info:toast:

[greiner3]

20. Nothing whatsoever to do with the OP;

However, I dreamt that I went to a Springsteen concert last night. Loved it!

[PBS Poll-435]

21. Is he a Super-Delegate?

:rofl::rofl: :radio:

[keith the dem]

48. Just Super!!!

[DS1]

22. Elitists always stick together

;)

[evolvingsteve]

24. you're right!, Elitists DO stick together...

you immediately reminded me of Hillary and Rupert Murdoch, and their Lovely Elitist relationship, thanks for that!

...the Clinton's are to the Democrats what the Bush's are to the Republicans, an elite family legacy that needs to end in the White House....millions of dollars in both of their bank accounts speak louder than words in the end....oh, and that great picture of her and the FOX News Owner is priceless....

I don't have time to post that picture so if a fellow Obama supporter can help me out, that would be great!



:kick: :patriot:



P.S. that is soooooo awesome that Bruce is on board, far above from a normal endorsement in my eyes, more like rockin' more music to influence voters and give us all a great soundtrack on our road to the White House while having a great mind like his to show his friendly support of the campaign and fans to help back that up!



:yourock:

[DS1]

33. there's a few pics of her with Murdoch

there's also a few with her and Scaife

[evolvingsteve]

38. !

Thanks!

[Ganja Ninja]

50. Here's another picture of the happy couple.

And here she is with her new friend Richard Mellon Scaife. No doubt planning her next attack on Obama.



Seriously though for her to sit down with these men after all they've done to her, her husband and the Democratic party shows a serious lack of character.

[uberblonde]

90. Oh, I thought it meant she was a Christian...

Practicing forgiveness. Would you feel better if she yelled "God damn them!" instead?

[Ron Green]

23. "Born to Run,"

Obama is. Read his books and you'll come to that conclusion.

[Cant trust em]

27. Guys like Obama, baby, they were born to run

for President that is.

[Marnieworld]

28. Cause when you think of Springsteen elitist is the first word that comes to mind!

I love Bruce. This doesn't surprise me at all, in fact it was just understood for me. I think the recent "controversy" prompted this eloquence and I appreciate it even more. And the guy's on tour too but took time out.

Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce! :patriot:

[VWolf]

29. Bruuuuuuuuuuce!

As a Jerseyan (exit 154), I heartily endorse the Boss's endorsement.

[Dr.Phool]

31. It's not a coincidence.

Pope comes to America.

God makes his endorsement!

[Kolesar]

53. I thought Todd was God

[Ganja Ninja]

32. Another bitter American speaks out. n/t

[Greyskye]

34. Thanks Boss!

:headbang: :yourock: :headbang:

[DebbieCDC]

35. MY HERO!!! (see my sig line)

Former Jersey Girl (exit 15W)

Love that Boss and Love that Obama. :loveya:

[OneBlueSky]

36. The Boss certainly has a way with words . . .

first, he captures the true essence of what the campaign SHOULD be about, succinctly and accurately:

"the real issues: war and peace, the fight for economic and racial justice, reaffirming our Constitution, and the protection and enhancement of our environment."

then, he equally succinctly and accurately tells us what needs to be done:

"After the terrible damage done over the past eight years, a great American reclamation project needs to be undertaken."

Bruce speaks the truth, and captures it all in just a few words . . . brilliant . . .

[stevenleser]

37. 'The Boss' Rocks in more ways than one!!!!!!!

:yourock:

[pjt7]

39. Good work Bruce-

If Obama get's Arnold & Powell on his side, it is OVER.

[NOLALady]

40. And that's why he's the

Boss.

[Clear Blue Sky]

41. How much do celebrity endorsements really matter?

It seems that every candidate has a collection of these types of endorsements.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

47. They don't matter at all if they don't endorse Clinton.

:sarcasm:

And most of them don't really matter all that much in any event, but there are a few big names whose endorsement might have a little clout. Springsteen is one of them.

[Mike Daniels]

66. They don't matter....people just like to think they do

Granted, if someone was leaning towards a particular candidate an endorsement of that candidate by a celebrity could possibly validate the other person's opinion. That said, if you need a celebrity to validate your opinion then you probably have bigger issues than indecisiveness.

However, depending on how someone feels about the celebrity an endorsement can easily work in reverse and push "leaning" voters the other way.

Of course, the swaying effect is pretty much nil when you come to the "base" voters. I'm sure there are many Republican music lovers who enjoy Bruce Springsteen on a purely musical level. However, if anyone thinks they're going to up and vote for Obama just because Bruce endorsed him, well....

[Clear Blue Sky]

68. True

Springsteen (and other celebrities) have a limited following as well. How many in their early 20s know him? Like when I was 20 having Lawrence Welk endorse someone.

[cyndensco]

88. Celebrity endorsements worked another way with me in 2004

When Patricia Heaton was supporting and very vocal for bush, I just could not watch Everybody Loves Raymond anymore. I couldn't stand the sight of her....

[texastoast]

43. I saw him Monday night in Houston

He rocked the house. I was in the pit with the pigs and three people away from Craig Biggio and his son. Hog heaven (sorry).

[DebbieCDC]

51. I can relate -- was in the pit in Seattle right at the stage

What a night!!!

[Bread and Circus]

44. "He speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years"

Statement of the day, if not the month!

[DainBramaged]

45. Not for nuthin, but I don't think it makes a difference

My support for Obama will not change if the Pope endorses him, and it wouldn't have made a difference to sway me If I didn't support him.

[cottonseed]

46. The Boss for Secretary of Rock!

nt

[Infinite Hope]

49. lol It isn't going to have significant impact. I'm pro-Obama, but be real here.

Individual endorsements even from highly respected public officials rarely have significant impact. Musicians? Not there either.

[Weevlitz]

65. You are absolutely right...BUT..

sadly...there ARE indeed people in this country who look to their favorite celebrities for guidance in matters such as these. Now while I don't think the Boss' endorsement will clinch the nomination for Obama...it's another example of every little bit helps! :O)

[Citizen_Penn]

52. The Boss rocked Houston Tuesday,

now, he's rocking Obama.

Funny, I was wondering while at the concert - Bruce must be an Obama supporter.

His music is so full of love for our country, our spirit, our shared sense of purpose - he's got to see what I see in Obama.

The Boss never disappoints.

Rock on.

[maddezmom]

84. Welcome to DU

It was a great concert!! :hi:

[CBHagman]

55. Does he want to be our friend?

Does he want to guard our dreams and visions? I suspect so. And baby, he was born to run.

On edit: And for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, check this out:

http://brucespringsteen.net/songs/BornToRun.html

Together we could break this trap
We'll run till we drop. Baby we'll never go back

[bklyncowgirl]

57. Seems every time Clinton & the media come down hard and unfairly on Obama

...another formerly influential but nonaligned person decides to endorse him to stop the bleeding.

First it was Bill Richardson, now it's The Boss.

Nice work, Hillary, keep slamming the guy--I've heard the Pope's in town.

[JerseygirlCT]

61. Yes. Awesome. nt

[smoogatz]

62. Thant's it! Springsteen is dead to me. Dead, I tell you!!111!

Not. Time to fire up iTunes...

[Eric Condon]

63. I hope Bruce gives fundraising concerts that go like this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BeDAcDHjt7A

[heliarc]

64. This is the best answer a bitter (but hopeful) pop singer could make

to the stupid media circus over Barack Obama's exceptional social analysis of late. Welcome to the party Bruce!

[cseper]

67. LIke most of you, I've been following the campaign and

and I have now seen and heard enough to know where I stand. Senator Obama, in my view, is head and shoulders above the rest. Because...?

Hope, Change and Unity. Oh, and "Yes we can"

That's it! Vote for Obama.

Experience = none!

Accomplishments = none!

Solutions = None!

Military service = None!

Hope, Change and Unity. Oh, and "Yes we can"

That's it! Vote for Obama.

With the sorry condition our country is in I firmly believe that Hillary is the only candidate that can begin to straighten it out on Day 1.....and even with her wisdom, past experience and know-how it will take a full 4 year term to overcome the problems our current administration has created. No other candidate has as much to offer at this vital time in our history.

[TornadoTN]

75. Bitter much?

Did you get that right from her website or from John McCains? Too bad it doesn't have any substance to anyone who has done even a tiny bit of research.

At least it was comical.

[ExPatLeftist]

81. Wow, you hit all the pre-ordained talking points

and not an original thought in sight.

Seriously, read it yourself and see if you don't sound like a parrot.

As for your accusations, they have already been answered thousands of times here, so I won't bother. I've got no soundbites to regurgitate to you.

[Citizen_Penn]

96. Thanks for sharing

Respectfully disagree.

It's Obama time

The past is the past.

Her actual governing ELECTED experience is very little. Governance by marriage is not a democratic principle - more appropriate in a monarchy.

We fought that war long ago.

Moving on..

Sorry you won't be part of the revolution.

[Clear Blue Sky]

69. Who cares about Springsteen?

Informed voters want to know the endorsements of Brittney, Paris and Lindsay...

[texastoast]

93. They haven't much brains apparently

and very little writing talent in the vein of Woody Guthrie.

[Highway61]

73. This will make seeing him

this summer all the better...way to go Bruce!!!!! So proud of him for stepping up to the plate. Couldn't come at a better time for Obama! Kick

[Dr Fate]

74. Thanx Boss.n/t

n/t

[Snarkturian Clone]

77. Yay!!! Another celebutard endorsement.

This is about as important as my cat's vote.

[Joey Liberal]

82. I agree with "The Boss"! n/t

[mcollier]

86. Listen Obama Fans

Bruce has my respect for his insightful words in endorsing Obama, he's also a great American Patriot who sings on the side... :-)

[madrchsod]

83. what`s going on here! no picture of the boss and kerry?

dam my work is never done.....



obama and the boss rock`n madison in the future? will rodeo show up?

[Scurrilous]

85. Great news.

:thumbsup:

[Toasterlad]

89. Who Give Two Shits What Bruce Springsteen - or Any Other Dinosaur Rocker - Thinks?

[JerseygirlCT]

92. I do.

I'm waiting to hear from a few others I admire, too.

People who speak out about the things I care about will always draw my attention.

[Toasterlad]

102. Seriously, JG?

If you were undecided, would Springsteen's endorsement be enough to sway your vote? No offense, but that's a bit scary. I'll wager dollars to donuts* that you're way more informed about the issues than he is.

*mmmmm... :donut: ...

[JerseygirlCT]

107. His would, my husband's would, other people whose opinions

I trust would.

Not make my decision, but influence it, for sure. My FILs early support of Obama was critical in my giving him some serious thought, for instance.

And while I do think I'm fairly well informed, I know from years of following Springsteen that he is, too. He's been working for causes that matter for a very long time. And an artist speaks most loudly through his/her art - persuasive stuff to me.

I can't imagine being truly undecided at this point, actually. We've had plenty of time to weigh the candidates and the issues. I knew conclusively after S. Carolina, for instance. Had seen quite enough to rule out one candidate by then. And the way the other handled the situation spoke volumes to me, as well.

[Citizen_Penn]

97. I do, too nt

[JChan]

100. Typical

Good Lord ... if this is how the US voter decides whom to vote for were frekin doomed.

"uh ... hey man The Boss likes Obama .... so dude Im votin for him."

My only hope is those posts came from 20-somethings ... if not this country is done.

[Citizen_Penn]

103. Country is done by your

flawed logic.

2 x 20 +

keep slinging that crap, baby - the stench will overcome you soon.

[JerseygirlCT]

108. You know, there have been many flimsier and more stupid

reasons for people to support candidates.

"Bush is a God-fearing Christian man" "Bush is the kind of guy you want to have a beer with"

People vote with very little information all the time. A considered and thoughtful endorsement from a considered and thoughtful man? You could do worse.

[Joey Liberal]

106. I do and Philly sucks! n/t

[Toasterlad]

110. The Springsteen Bloc, Ladies and Gentlemen.

[lonestarnot]

91. Cool.

[Little Star]

94. Springsteen can't hold a candle to Elton John!!!!!!

Not even close!

[Citizen_Penn]

99. This isn't "my pop star can whoop your pop star", honey

Some of us consider Springsteen to be a true American poet - a folk singer, in the spirit of Guthrie and others who tells the American story.

Elton John is just a pop star. He does good work for charities, etc.

Still, they're not the same kind of people. Springsteen is an American icon. John is British.


Vote For Hills, Vote for Obama - I could give a rodent's bohind.

But you're missing the point if you think it's about just the music for those of us that love the Boss. He sings our STORY.

[DebbieCDC]

104. I hope you just forgot the sarcasm emotion

[laststeamtrain]

95. I'm waiting for the 'Dimebag' Darrell endorsement before I commit.

Or Kurt Cobain.



Will I get a special participation medal for voting?

[neohippie]

109. dimebag darrel endorsement

According to the Magic 8ball web site, Dimebag Darrel would endorse Obama, but your results could vary!