Rockers Unite to Oust Bush

[CatWoman]

Bruce springsteen told a crowd of 50,000 New Yorkers on October 4th to "shout a little louder if you want the president impeached." Two weeks later, John Mellencamp posted an open letter to America on his Web site, declaring, "We have been lied to and terrorized by our own government, and it is time to take action."

Meanwhile, Moby, Eddie Vedder and Michael Stipe are organizing a TV-ad campaign that will run anti-Bush commercials during the week of the State of the Union address in January; Dave Matthews is railing against the war in Iraq in interviews; and at press time, at least three multiband rock tours planned to take aim at Bush-administration policies. Green Day, NOFX, Tom Morello, Dixie Chicks, Don Henley, Willie Nelson and Steve Earle have all played (or plan to play) for political candidates or causes. Hip-hop stars have also gotten involved.

"We have a voice and a responsibility to speak out," says Jay-Z, a member of Russell Simmons' Hip-Hop Summit, which aims to register 4 million voters before the 2004 election. "People listen to us."

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/newsarticle.asp?nid=19029

[hlthe2b]

1. Well, I know they can influence the 20 somethings...

the question is, can they get them to VOTE?

[CatWoman]

4. Remember when MTV did the "Rock the Vote" campaign?

I'd love to see them do that again.

[maddezmom]

2. and probably lots of 30 somethings

and I think they can encourage 30+ folks to vote...and it won't be for *bush.

The way I look at it, everything helps!

[imax2268]

3. I think so...

kids now-a-days listen to these artists because they are saying everything that these kids want to hear...I'm sure they can get many of them to vote...if not all at least some of them...

[ninkasi]

5. Good for them!

It would be great if they could get their fans to register and vote to get Bush and his thugs out.

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. It's about time

this revolution needs a good sound track.

[CatWoman]

8. a la the Beatles???

:D

[Kanary]

7. awwww, the poor Party Of Cain

will be crying "Conspiracy!!"

Hurrah!

Kanary

[calimary]

17. Hee Hee Hee! Party of Cain. Say it loud, say it proud!

Thanks Kanary for picking up on that!

It's a reference to Cain, that lovable lunkhead in Genesis who turned to God during a tense moment and asked the very famous question "Am I my brother's keeper?"

Dems would say - "yes, of course, that's what we're here for."

The Party of Cain will say "NO WAY! I'M KEEPIN' IT ALL! IT'S ALL MINE! IGMFU!* Fuck my brother. Let him get his own!"

(IGMFU, by the way, stands for I Got Mine, F--- You.)

[Zomby Woof]

9. sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

:kick:

[CatWoman]

11. Just like my big brother

:hi:

[matcom]

13. just like my mistress

:D

:loveya:

[CatWoman]

15. ROFL!!!!!!

Someone has an itchy hijack finger :D

[matcom]

19. thats not my finger baby

but close :D

[wryter2000]

10. Hip-hop

I was listening to some hip-hop yesterday. It has tremendous potential to push a positive political message. I hope that guy gets millions of young people involved.

[LastKnight]

33. ever since zach de la rocha went solo...

(de la rocha, formerly of Rage Against the Machine) we have a new source of political music in hiphop, probably not classified as posative, however, very left wing but focuses on death, destruction, aka 90 % of bush's polocies.however his album has been under construction for an insane ammount of time he has released a sinlge or two as a collaboration between him and a DJ or 2, one specifically about the iraq war

-LK

[chaska]

12. Well, it's about time.

Where were all these people before the war and while the Dixie Chicks took their flogging? Better late than never, I guess. Actually, this gives me hope.

But the right will roll out their bands too. Ted Nugent, Metallica (I believe), Toby Keith and the rest of Nashville. Overall, though, I think the tide of history will work for us as far as the bands are concerned. I have heard, for example, that Toby Keith has had some doubts about his stance on the war. Their side will be, if not demoralized, certainly less energized than ours.

[CatWoman]

16. I remember when the controversy erupted around the Chicks

that Bruce Springsteen came out and spoke for them.

Even posted a tribute to them on his web page.

[death by oi]

14. punkvoter

fat mike of nofx set up punkvoter.com to encourage young americans of voting age to... well... vote! :) i think this is a really good way to encourage voting among young people, especially since they can register through it.

i love the way they phrase their mission statement, "to send that idiot son of an asshole back to texas!"

:D

[Snellius]

18. We have Springsteen. Bush has Wayne Neuter.

Wayne Neuter and Britney Spears.

[pinkpops]

23. britney?

not britney?

[theriverburns]

20. Why do I get the visual of

middle aged white guys all over the country playing 'Catscratch Fever' over, and over, and over again?

[Eric J in MN]

21. text of John Mellencamp open letter

Here is the full text of "An Open Letter From John & Elaine Mellencamp":

"As the echo of the war drums fades away and the angry masses calling for blood slowly disperse, we as a nation must now confront the truth. We face the unpleasant reality of an uncertain future, compromised safety, a failing economy, and the question of how a society of otherwise reasonable citizens was systematically lied to and manipulated into backing the political 'hijacking' of Iraq.

"Before a single bomb was ever dropped, some of us, formerly called the 'anti-American and unpatriotic,' have questioned or opposed this war. Now, each day, as the dust settles and the truth slowly surfaces, more and more people come to the inevitable conclusion of what a debacle this whole war was.

"Thirty-nine-thousand bombs later, no weapons of mass destruction uncovered, no dangerous dictators captured, no connection to September 11th. What have we gained but relentless media coverage of a fallen statue and some stolen oil fields--the spoils of this misadventure. Not to mention lucrative corporate payoffs and an enormous price tag of over $80 Billion...some tax cut.

"But what have we lost? We have lost the lives of over 300 Americans. Approximately two U.S. troop deaths each day, 193 deaths since the war was declared over. In total, an estimated 20,000 people have died, thus far, in this conflict.

"In addition to the lives given for this effort, our nation has suffered the loss of respect within the world community, particularly the United Nations (news - web sites). We have managed to squander any goodwill we once had to now succeed in solidifying our image as the globe's leading bully. Arrogant and thoughtless.

"The word Democracy means literally 'by the people.' This is the basis of our government and society. It is what this country was founded upon and what makes us American. It is not just our 'right' but also our duty to speak out and voice our thoughts and opinions. How, then, was it possible that, in the land of freedom, those who opposed the common opinion were called...'un-American?' Resentfully, we wonder.

The song 'To Washington' was met with criticism and was labeled an anti-war song. That was not at all the case or intention--it was merely a report of the political climate, in the age-old tradition of the troubadour spreading the news through song and story. Professionally, we, the Mellencamps, have the opportunity to travel extensively, and we take full advantage of that by talking to, listening to, and experiencing the diversity our vast country has to offer. The lyrics of 'To Washington' are not just a personal opinion, but also the view from a very wide horizon.

Who is to say what is or isn't 'patriotic?' Do the flags that wave from every minivan really offer any support? Where is the support for the thousands of servicemen and women who return to the states to see their benefits cut, their health problems ignored, their jobs gone, and their families living in poverty? How are they repaid for their efforts, for risking or losing their lives? So far, dismally.

"This nation was founded to enable freedom and diversity of opinion, and many lives have been lost to secure that liberty. Paradoxically, some still resist the open mindedness that is the very foundation of this country.

"The Governor of California was removed from office based on finance troubles. And yet George W. Bush has lied to us, failed to keep our own borders secure, entered a war under false pretense, endangered lives, and created financial chaos. How is it that he hasn't been recalled? Perhaps this time we could even have a real election...but that wouldn't fit the Bush administration's 'take what you want and fire people later' policy. Take an election; take an oil field; take advantage of your own people--a game of political Three-Card Monte.

"The fight for freedom in this country has been long, painful, and ongoing. It is time to take back our country. Take it back from political agendas, corporate greed, and overall manipulation. It is time to take action here in our land, in our own schools, neighborhoods, farms, and businesses. We have been lied to and terrorized by our own government, and it is time to take action. Now is the time to come together."

[mrgorth]

22. What I'm waiting for

is my boys in U2 to do a free concert on network TV to benefit the Dem nominee. That'd rock. Bono rules.

[liberalcapitalist]

24. what is Mellencamp's website URL?

n/t

[CatWoman]

25. ....

http://www.mellencamp.com/peacefulworld/

[CreekDog]

26. Mellencamp's got brass ones...

That's for sure.

He's been politically opinionated for quite some time. He railed against Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson back in the 1980's in an interview (with Rolling Stone I believe).

[CatWoman]

27. make sure you check out the message board, too

:D

[BeHereNow]

28. Watch Clear Channel erase them all

from the media...
Not a peep about Sheryl Crowe since the
she made public statements against the
neo-cons...
As Bill O'Really-fascist says,
"SHUT UP, SHUT UP! You commie terrist rockers"

[littlejoe]

29. I can get behind Mellencamp and Moby, but...

If Springsteen told me to to clap louder I'd tell him to go piss up a rope.

[littlejoe]

30. On second thought,

I wouldn't be caught dead at a Springsteen concert in the first place!

[opihimoimoi]

31. Well, they should get involved, itsTHEIR FUTURE

and for the fans, yup, them too.

The world will be theirs in a couple of years, now is the time to say how they want it served, all they gatta do is vote for a better world and they will get it.

[Arugula Latte]

32. Toby Keith, Ted Nugent...

Gawd, what a pathetic band of losers the rightwing claim.