Obama still trails among blue-collar, white middle-aged men, especially Catholics, but if you could get just one person from that demographic -- oh, oh, he's the one:
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."
At the moment, critics have tried to diminish Senator Obama through the exaggeration of certain of his comments and relationships. While these matters are worthy of some discussion, they have been ripped out of the context and fabric of the man's life and vision, so well described in his excellent book, Dreams of My Father, often in order to distract us from discussing the real issues: war and peace, the fight for economic and racial justice, reaffirming our Constitution, and the protection and enhancement of our environment.
Who needs Bob Brady -- Obama now has the real "Boss" in his corner, Bruce Springsteen:
Posted by Will Bunch @ 9:34 AM
Permalink |
64 comments
Whose Bruce Springsteen?
Why should I give any more credence or weight to the political views of an entertainer, as opposed to those of the cashier at the local WaWa?
Multimillionaire Bruce Springsteen, knows as much about being blue collar, as, well, Obama. Just because the flower children were heavily influenced by the political opinions of singers, doesnt mean todays blue collar workers are influenced by the opinions of Bruce. It does however fit with the hope and change mantra.
You know what's funny, suburban liberals actually think Bruce Springsteen is popular with blue-collar workers. Maybe in 1984 they did but definitely not now. I'm amazed the Boss hates republicans so much. He did so well in the 80's.
If Bruce Springsteen goes on a 30 date concert tour, about 25 of those are NYC/NJ/Philly shows.
Will, confessing that "secret pact you made,
Back when Obama's love could save you from the bitterness?"
Oh yeah, he's the One......
Whoop de dam do.
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"At the moment, critics have tried to diminish Senator Obama through the exaggeration of certain of his comments and relationships."
Exaggeration of his relationships? Such as Obama having a lunatic as a pastor for 20 years - a paster who also married him and baptized his child?
Exaggeration of his comments? I've heard and read waay too many liberals agreeing with Obama's basic sentiments (including one from the Philly area on NPR this morning) for criticizm of Obama's comments to be an exaggeration.
More rationalization from Obama supporters.
As a longtime fan of the Boss, I know he tours all across the States and does multiple shows in each city. He has numerous fans and the same fans will see him multiple times in the same city. So when he does 25 shows in the Philly/NJ/NYC metro area, he is also doing the same all across the country and Europe as well. That is why he is the Boss.
Also, kudos to Will....I like the reference in the title of the post.
Springsteen has as much of a right to endorse a candidate as any of you do. He grew up in a blue collar, working class part of NJ and is as aware of and concerned about the problems faced by working people as anyone else is. You don't like or agree with him? That's your right. But it is foolish to assume that the only people who are knowledgeable or experienced enough to express an opinion are the pundits and politicos.
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"At the moment, critics have tried to diminish Senator Obama through the exaggeration of certain of his comments and relationships." Precisely and rightly so. Moreover, let's add something new to this list, namely, his newly-developed ability to want to say what everyone wants to hear. For example, his claim (phony)that he's a "committed Christian" while favoring legal abortion and legal rights for homos. I can remember seeing this philosophy decribed in MAD Magazine in 1976, as follows "He'll win all voters up north and down south, by making full use of both sides of his mouth." Enough said.
Will, are these your regular commenters? And if so are they always such idiots?
Three words I've never seen in the comments before..."Kudos to Will." LOL, thanks!
Moe, yes -- welcome to the Attytood "community." It's a trip.
I'm voting for Obama.
Bruce Springsteen went from being the patron saint singer of the working class to the darling of the Napa Valley Chardonney-sipping, French goat cheese-eating, NPR-listening, white guilt-sodden, pansy-a$$, blame America first crowd. Who cares what the guy has to say and why does Will Bunch always bring him up?
"You know what's funny, suburban liberals actually think Bruce Springsteen is popular with blue-collar workers." .............That reminds me of Reagan's hilariously air-headed attempt to appropriate the Boss's blue-collar message in 1984.
I'm waiting to see who Rage Against the Machine is endorsing.Wait,a bike messenger just walked in, let me check with him.Hey Will,how's Burrell doing in the MVP poll.
"Will, are these your regular commenters? And if so are they always such idiots?" Posted by moe99 Moe99; only the ones who stray off topic and use the comments section as a "chat" tool, instead of forming an opinion on the post itself. Welcome to attytood.
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Publius- On his current tour, the only place he is doing multiple dates in the US is in Anaheim.
Overseas, where he will bash America like the wuss he is, he does do multiple dates.
From Wikipedia on the "Seeger " Tour:
Springsteen commented to the sparse crowd in Columbus, Ohio, "We are not great in numbers, but we are mighty!"[12] The Indianapolis venue saw a "yawning green lawn (empty as it was)."[5] A Milwaukee area venue, already cut down in size, was only about half full.[13] For a show outside Chicago, The Chicago Tribune reported that "Springsteen faced a sea of empty seats ... The 11,000-seat pavilion was barely half full, and the 17,000-capacity lawn was barren.
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Amazing. Even though "Genius" (aka Idiot) is using a new format - he's still not bright enough to realize that when you press "submit" more than once, your post appears more that once. Genius: so stooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooopid it hurts.
"Bruce Springsteen went from being the patron saint singer of the working class to the darling of the Napa Valley Chardonney-sipping, French goat cheese-eating, NPR-listening, white guilt-sodden, pansy-a$$, blame America first crowd."--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now wait just one minute, Dom. Being a man of good taste, I'm sure that you'd have to agree that some French goat cheeses are pretty tasty.
"Napa Valley Chardonney-sipping, French goat cheese-eating, NPR-listening, white guilt-sodden, pansy-a$$, blame America first crowd." - AND he supports FLUORIDATION! No, really! The bleating whiners in the marginalized minority continue their descent further into irrelevance. It's a good day.
Springsteen is "blue collar"??? LOL! He's the ultimate Limousine Liberal! He's to the left of Jimmy Carter. Hey Bunch, when is the last time you actually spoke with "blue collar" people? Do you really think they all want a big government welfare state? That's just what guilty white collar liberals like you and Springsteen THINK THEY WANT or THINK THEY NEED. Liberals are know-it-alls who want to dictate to the peons.
Remember, his current tour is a second go-around that started last summer. As for the Seeger Sessions, I can hypothesize that many of his traditional fans were not interested in a folk music concert, making his draw less desireable. I can say that I wasn't interested in him playing folk.
Hopefully, after tonight's debate, Will can post "She's going down, down, down...."
BRUUUUUUUUUUUCE
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Yeah, because you posted twice intentionally. Good lord, Idiot. Just because you might be thick enough to believe such obvious backpedaling (a notion supported by the stupidity of your Republican sycophancy), it doesn't mean that anyone else who reads Attyood (well, with the exception of Arn) would be similarly stoooooooooooooooooooopid.
"Springsteen has as much of a right to endorse a candidate as any of you do.......it is foolish to assume that the only people who are knowledgeable or experienced enough to express an opinion are the pundits and politicos."___________________It is equally foolish to assume that a musician has any more knowledge of the issues than your local port-a-potty cleaning man. In fact, compared to the aforementioned laborer, Bruce doesn't know sh*t!
Priceless. Frightwingers crying elitism. Here's a hint, we want someone elite to be president, so they can handle the complex issues the country faces. Especially after "everyman" George leaves office after presiding over a huge increase in spending, a ballooning debt and deficit, and the further devaluation fo the dollar. As for elite, ask McCain why he left his 1st wife in a wheelchair for a heiress to the Anheuser Busch fortune. He's one of you-riiiiight.
Just looking at these comments, is it any wonder the rest of the country sees us as hicks? Even the South has moved beyond this --we've got to quit this petty carping and take a good look at ourselves.
Glad to see not much as changed. Idiot/Genius desperately trying to define his manhood by choice of dog/caffinated drink/candidate.
Thanks, Bruce! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yApAg0hl490
"It is equally foolish to assume that a musician has any more knowledge ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Typical comment by a Republican elitist, disparaging the political acumen of a working-class port-a-potty cleaner by pointing to him/her as some minimal standard. (And btw, legatus, maybe you can point to where anyone said that Bruce has more knowledge of the issues than anyone else. No one has. It's fascinating how liberals are accused of elevating celebrities "knowledge of the issues" above anyone else. Clearly, deference to "authorities" is much more of a Republican attribute. Project much?).
I don't have a clue why Bruce would endorse Obama, but you'll never hear me say one bad word about The Boss.
"Liberals are know-it-alls who want to dictate to the peons.
Posted by MiddleNameHussein"
As opposed to conservative Clear Channel who refused to play Springsteen's new album b/c God forbid any different viewpoints are out in the public? All of the political partisans out there: both the GOP and DEMS betrayed the public. They're only values are to serve themselves and their own power. At least McCain and Obama portray themselves as something different than the present party machines. I am just praying that the Obama and McCain campaigns flesh out their positions over the course of the election process so I can determine which of them will serve the public better.
I can see all the white, middle aged, blue collar men (probably bitter) running to the ballot box to vote for Obama because a singer who was last relevant in the 1980's told them to.
Of course, the Boss runs out the liberal mantra: Don't worry about what Obama actually does, and says, and who he associates himself with. Judge him by his intentions and the stuff he wrote in his book. Let's not be too distracted by reality.
Cool. This would be a much better photo-op endorsement than McCain had with twinkle-toes Bushie. And about that elite thing - I don't recall any of those republicans on Wall Street raising money for food banks like Second Harvest and helping those effected by Hurricane Katrina. I doubt any McCain supporter would ever say this about the aftermath of Katrina "He told the crowd, I saw sights I never thought I'd see in an American city. The criminal ineptitude makes you furious."
Sleuth:
1. Maybe you can show where I disparaged the political acumen of a working class laborer. I didn't. That particular spin came from within yourself. I was saying that he has every bit as much knowledge as anyone else, that his opinion is as valid as anyone else's, that the fact that he is in a low paying job should NOT reflect on his political savvy, and that the fact that entertainers have a platform does not make them any more knowledgable than "everyman". Tell me, why did you automaticallly consider his political acumen to be a "minimal standard"? 2. Maybe you can point to where I said that anyone else has stated that Bruce has more knowledge of the issues. Once again, this spin has come from within YOU. My point isn't that someone said that he has more knowledge, rather it is that when an entertainer gives his pov, and a blogger like Will writes a commentary about it, there is the (unjustified) implication of a certain credibility.
Oh by the way Boss, Obama's book is called "Dreams FROM My Father". Now I usually don't nitpick, but you would think such a learned rock n' roll hero could get the title of such an important book correct.
Publius- you have to be a typical provincial philly liberal white male age 45-55 with a Volvo to boot who vacations at the Jersey shore every weekend between Memorial day and Labor day.
look at the "Make Money off 9/11 Tour" in 02-03. Only places he plays multiple dates is DC, NJ/NYC/CT, Boston, and Philly.
http://www.brucespringsteen.net/live/index_risingtour.html
Clear Channel doesn't play Springsteens new stuff b/c they realize how ridiculous it is for a geezer to be singing about "Girls in their summer clothes" The Boss hasn't been relevant to 18-40 year olds since, well, 1984.
Do you really think they all want a big government welfare state? That's just what guilty white collar liberals like you and Springsteen THINK THEY WANT or THINK THEY NEED. Liberals are know-it-alls who want to dictate to the peons.
Compared to right wing holier-than-thou types who think it's perfectly okay to listen in on your (yes, YOUR) phone conversations, who have stripped us of the right to habeas corpus (look it up ... it's in the Constitution), who have bankrupted the country with an unnecessary and dangerous war, who think it's okay to reject a new GI bill that will help returning vets, who want to legislate what medical decisions a woman can make, who waste our time with strawman issues like who can or can't get married, who have done absolutely nothing to help working people, and who are perfectly comfortable polluting the environment that YOUR children are going to grow up in? The government under Bush is a government of the rich, by the rich and for the rich. It is more bloated than any in history. How any working person can support the right wing is beyond me.
And for those of you who denigrate Bruce because he was talented enough and lucky enough to become successful, you might want to consider getting past your petty prejudices and actually listen to his lyrics. He's singing about YOU.
Working Class people of America: Please listen to Springsteen (particularly the Seeger Sessions, Human Touch, Lucky Town, Magic, The Rising, Nebraska, The Wild...,The River, Ghost of Tom Joad,ect)> you'll be blown away how boring, hyped-up, and depressing these albums are.
Trust me, even though Jann Warner or Dave Marsh probably gave it 5 stars, you'll never catch them listening to Nebraska on their way to work.
just curious
Actually, I am a 29 year old attorney from South Jersey (Cape May County)who has voted Republican his whole life; I can't afford a Volvo so I drive a Focus and if I could afford anything else it would be a Prius so I wouldn't pump more money to terrorist nations (yes attorneys do not always make much money considering I face a mortgage and 6 figures of student debt). Oh, by the way, Springsteen was on the cover of Spin Magazine with the Arcade Fire, who noted their respect and influence of Springsteen (which their last album "Neon Bible" has a distinct Springsteen influence).
I should probably add that Springsteen is probably the closest thing to mainstream rock that I frequently listen to as I prefer college radio, indie, alt-country, and alternative.
Publius- you have to be a typical provincial philly liberal white male age 45-55 with a Volvo to boot who vacations at the Jersey shore every weekend between Memorial day and Labor day. look at the "Make Money off 9/11 Tour" in 02-03. Only places he plays multiple dates is DC, NJ/NYC/CT, Boston, and Philly. http://www.brucespringsteen.net/live/index_risingtour.html Clear Channel doesn't play Springsteens new stuff b/c they realize how ridiculous it is for a geezer to be singing about "Girls in their summer clothes" The Boss hasn't been relevant to 18-40 year olds since, well, 1984.
Posted by jeffreyg61 "
Actually, I am a 29 year old attorney from South Jersey (Cape May) who has voted Republican his whole life; I don't drive a Volvo (Ford Focus - and I'd rather drive a cheap, fuel efficient car than a luxury one).
As it relates to Springsteen's relevance/influence to the younger crowd, Bruce was on the cover of Spin Magazine (for all you old fogeys out there, it is an alternative music magazine and it is way cooler than Rolling Stone, which is a complete sell-out) with the Arcade Fire (one of the more important alternative bands in music now), who recoginzed Bruce's importance and relevance. Also, their recent album "Neon Bible" has a distince Springsteen flavor to the lyrics. Also, the Killer's last album "Sam's Town" was basically a cop of Springsteen's Born to Run. The Hold Steady's "Boys & Girls in America" is clearly influenced by the Boss both musically and lyrically. Conclusion: Bruce has relevance, but most conservatives are unfortunately so out of it when it comes to being young, cultured and cool.
I'm confused. Am I suppose to feel sorry for you for 'facing a mortgage and 6 figure of student loan debt?' Maybe you should focus on more billing hours instead of getting mad on a blog.
Well, I'm glad you also feel superior for listening to indie rock as opposed to 'mainstream rock.'
Springsteen is to Dylan
A) Nickelback is to Pearl Jam
B) Coldplay is to Radiohead
C) Bubba Sparx is to Eminem
The correct answer is A!
The new war on Terror strategy: By Prius's, fight terrorists. I bet your a hit with the ladies.
http://clubs.ccsu.edu/Recorder/editorial/editorial_item.asp?NewsID=188
Jeffreyg61 (@2:00 p.m.), just as Bruce is entitled to endorse whomever he wants in politics, you're entitled to express your own taste in music. However, your assumption that the "working class people" would uniformly agree with YOUR musical tastes is about as far "elitist" as you can get.
Publius-Thank you,I feel so enlightened now.Not that music would be a matter of choice or anything.Please remeber to use blue ink on your originals,it's a big help to the prothonotary.
I'm actually 27, libertarian/conservative, and saw both the Killers and Arcade Fire on both tours last April and May. I liked both Sam's Town and Neon Bible and can appreicate some Springsteen. But is he the working man or in touch with the working man? Nope. Is he popular outside the northeast? Nope.
Just b/c you might like some music, doesn't mean you have to like the politics.
I also appreciate that Brandon Flowers doesn't tell me how to vote. In fact, he called out Green Day for their anti-american sentiments overseas.
Arcade Fire, well, I can appreciate their music without appreciating their politics.
Will-Was it the blue ink ? Just trying to help the prothonotary.
No, don't feel sorry for me....I was just making a counterpoint to a perceived assumption that despite certain political beliefs (or profession) I don't have a lot of money nor am I a liberal "elite" whatever that is; I came from a blue-collar, middle-class background. I guess the only reason I am no longer the "salt of the earth" is because my parents taught me to get an education and get a white-collar profession and do better in life than what they did. Kudos to them. Personally, this whole elite/regular guy debate doesn't make sense to me. I thought the whole point of chasing the American Dream was to get an education and do well for yourself... essentially, the goal was to become the "elite". I don't know why becoming educated is relatively disparaged by so many people. Granted, I understand the frustration of the middle class as a result of the apparent snobbery of liberals (god forbid someone should want to hunt, own a gun or pray to god). However, I think the snobbery goes forth both ways. I honestly believe that there is a "blue-collar snobbery" and certain members of society ridicule those who appreciate what is perceived as fancy (i.e. french wines and cheeses). To me, if you like PBR, fine; if you like Chimay, fine. But most of our arguments our nonsense. Live and let live. As for my music snobbery, again, I don't care what others like; I was just merely attack your assumption of Springsteen's irrelevance and your assumption of me being about 20 years older than I am. As for billing more hours, a five minute break here and there never hurt anyone (I'm sure that everybody that is posting is at work or working from).
So jeffreyg61, apparently we are of the same age demographic and political persuasion who appreciate alternative music. That is amusing. Except I am just probably more of a rabid defender of Bruce.
MMMMMMMMM How sweet it is, now we know the truh about obama. great story here from someone who was at the sf fundraiser...
bitter, u bet i am knew there had to me more than a 30sec sound bit
please pa,, post this in ur newspapers , thank u
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-coleman/i-was-there-what-obama-re_b_96553.html
Why are we fighting? You think Bruce is Great, I think he is just above average. Agree to disagree.
Agreed; I think I was more ticked about the generalization about me being 50 year-old, volvo driving hippie.
Dear Brooklyn Girl:
Posted like a true KosKook. Your incoherent babble and silly simplifications of conservative beliefs would have made Lenin proud. Keep up the bad work.
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About Will Bunch
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Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
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