Bruce Springsteen Endorses Barack Obama

[TheZug]

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

From the site:

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."

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.

After the terrible damage done over the past eight years, a great American reclamation project needs to be undertaken. I believe that Senator Obama is the best candidate to lead that project and to lead us into the 21st Century with a renewed sense of moral purpose and of ourselves as Americans.

Over here on E Street, we're proud to support Obama for President.

Bruce Springsteen

[FrenchieCat]

1. Great taste!

[catgirl]

2. Way to go Bruuuuuce!

And he's the working person's hero. Good timing.

[babylonsister]

3. I've seen and heard enough, too! Go Bruce and OBAMA! Now,

how 'bout a couple of concerts to inspire the masses? :D

Very nice endorsement.

[southern_belle]

4. Thanks, Bruce!

:applause:

[cali]

5. thanks, Bruce!

great to hear from the man whose music has focused on the "bitterness" of the working class.

[sniffa]

6. He's dead to me now

Burn his records, every last one of 'em!

[SoFlaJet]

39. ROTF

you KNOW it's coming sniffa

[IsItJustMe]

95. and undoubtedly, Bruce is a sexist too.

:sarcasm:

[thevoiceofreason]

7. Turn the page

[SoFlaJet]

40. That's Bob Seger

you must be a youngster

[thevoiceofreason]

104. You're right. Oh well.

That time period remains a blur.

[thevoiceofreason]

105. I'm actually not young

So I appreciate you not saying "That's Bob Seger, moron." Which, in all fairness, would have been justified. I'll try to reduce my posting at odd hours!

[MagickMuffin]

8. Can we give him Super Delegate status, he's earned it

:applause:

He also endorsed Kerry and campaigned with him







Brrrruce:yourock:

[FrenchieCat]

9. Can that be arranged?

What neat is that Bruce is endorsing during primary season.

Get the message Hillary?

[MagickMuffin]

13. If I could I would, he'd be a Great Super to have on the Team,

but just having him make an endorsement this early in the game, says a lot.

I'm glad he made it known before Tuesday's vote. Perhaps he'll go on the campaign trail with Obama sometime before Tuesday.

[Cha]

100. Yesssss, it looks like Bruce has

been following it closely like us..

"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."

It's a beautiful endorsement and enough time before the PA primary that Springsteen could get out there and make the case from his view!

[SoFlaJet]

42. Bruce goes to the restaurant I work at as a musician down here

and a little over a year ago (the last time I saw him) I thanked him for everything he TRIED to do for John Kerry. he said "well we do what we can". I really wish that pick he gave JK in Ohio would have had it's place in the oval office

[WinkyDink]

10. I wish he'd endorsed John Edwards.

[judasdisney]

94. Me too

[judasdisney]

97. Me too

.

[Olney Blue]

11. This is a wonderful endorsement for Senator Obama!

[TheZug]

12. And right when it counts, too--Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, along with Boston and of course Jersey, is hardcore Bruce country.

[SoFlaJet]

43. absolutely

Bruce's first fan base outside the Jersey shore was the Philly crowd

[karynnj]

59. Excellent point!

Philly is closer to Asbury Park than Northern Jersey is.

[Window]

14. K/R.

:kick:

[FrenchieCat]

15. Concert anyone?

:)

[ClassWarrior]

30. Roger Waters endorsed him too. Now THAT'd be an interesting duet.

NGU.

[calimary]

55. SWEET!

Now, if I could get my kid's band to open for them...

www.myspace.com/acidicband

:evilgrin:

[Window]

70. That's precisely what I was thinking.

GMTA.



Peace:thumbsup:

[bklyncowgirl]

16. THE BOSS TO THE RESCUE

Way to go Obama!

[moobu2]

17. Who did he endorse last election?

Oh yeah…

[bklyncowgirl]

18. He did not endorse anyone in the primaries but endorsed Kerry in the general election nt

[karynnj]

61. Kerry was also the first person he EVER endorsed

He did approve the Kerry campaign using his "No Surrender" song even though he had rejected all requests in the past. I think that was in the primaries - so there was at least tacit support. He had known and liked Kerry for years, but had always been reluctant to endorse. Here I think this shows that HRC's elite/bitter attack really angered him. Previously he had said positive things of both HRC and Obama.

[bklyncowgirl]

82. Yes, I think so too.

Funny, the same thing happened with Bill Richardson. To take him at his word, he got down off the fence after Hillary ran the 3:00 in the morning ad and said that Obama did not pass the commander in chief threshold.

Keep it up Hillary and you may just piss off more influential celebreties. I hear the Pope's in town.

[JerseygirlCT]

85. Yes. nt

[Voltaire99]

19. Of course the Boss isn't going to go for Lady Macbeth!

Too much moral intelligence.

Backing the wretched Hillary is a profoundly shallow and embarrassing position -- the Democratic Party equivalent of going for Bush.

[Darth_Kitten]

25. No, he'll just go for the empty suit promising hope.

yup.

Lady Macbeth? Right. :eyes:

[stevenleser]

96. *plonk*

[NDambi]

20. Hey! GLORY DAYS...!!!!!

[islandmkl]

21. there goes rodeodance's avatar!!....

[NDambi]

22. lol Fo shizzle..my Pfunkdizzle

[Adelante]

23. Great news

:D

[Darth_Kitten]

24. Head and shoulders above the rest? Uh, there's only one other, Bruce.

Why do these celebs think their endorsements are so important?

[bklyncowgirl]

26. Perhaps because no one else has documented the state of the working class like Bruce

"Born down in a dead man's town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
end up like a dog that's been beat too much
spend half your life just a coverin' up."

Born in the USA
I was born in the USA.

How's that for bitterness

[dbmk]

37. The entire lyrics deserves a repeat

Born down in a dead mans town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
You end up like a dog thats been beat too much
Till you spend half your life just covering up

Born in the u.s.a., I was born in the u.s.a.
I was born in the u.s.a., born in the u.s.a.

Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man

Born in the u.s..a....

Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man said son if it was up to me
Went down to see my v.a. man
He said son, dont you understand

I had a brother at khe sahn
Fighting off the viet cong
Theyre still there, hes all gone

He had a woman he loved in saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms now

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
Im ten years burning down the road
Nowhere to run aint got nowhere to go

Born in the u.s.a., I was born in the u.s.a.
Born in the u.s.a., Im a long gone daddy in the u.s.a.
Born in the u.s.a., born in the u.s.a.
Born in the u.s.a., Im a cool rocking daddy in the u.s.a.
---

Anyone doubting that history repeats itself? Except that the gas fires are not burning anymore in many places.

[bklyncowgirl]

53. Absolutely, thanks nt

[me b zola]

109. Bruce understands the complexites of (American)life

Highway Patrolman
by Bruce Springsteen


My name is Joe Roberts I work for the state
I'm a sergeant out of Perrineville barracks number 8
I always done an honest job as honest as I could
I got a brother named Franky and Franky ain't no good

Now ever since we was young kids it's been the same come down
I get a call over the radio Franky's in trouble downtown
Well if it was any other man, I'd put him straight away
But when it's your brother sometimes you look the other way

Me and Franky laughin' and drinkin' nothin' feels better than blood on blood
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"

I catch him when he's strayin' like any brother would
Man turns his back on his family well he just ain't no good

Well Franky went in the army back in 1965 I got a farm deferment, settled down, took Maria for my wife
But them wheat prices kept on droppin' till it was like we were gettin' robbed
Franky came home in '68, and me, I took this job

Yea we're laughin' and drinkin' nothin' feels better than blood on blood
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"
I catch him when he's strayin', teach him how to walk that line
Man turns his back on his family he ain't no friend of mine

Well the night was like any other, I got a call 'bout quarter to nine
There was trouble in a roadhouse out on the Michigan line
There was a kid lyin' on the floor lookin' bad bleedin' hard from his head there was a girl cryin' at a table and it was Frank, they said
Well I went out and I jumped in my car and I hit the lights
Well I must of done one hundred and ten through Michigan county that night

It was out at the crossroads, down round Willow bank
Seen a Buick with Ohio plates behind the wheel was Frank
Well I chased him through them county roads till a sign said Canadian border five miles from here
I pulled over the side of the highway and watched his taillights disappear

Me and Franky laughin' and drinkin'
Nothin' feels better than blood on blood
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"
I catch him when he's strayin' like any brother would
Man turns his back on his family well he just ain't no good


Listen to this song at the link:
http://brucespringsteen.net/songs/HighwayPatrolman.html

[PVnRT]

27. Why do any of them matter?

About the only effect I've seen of any endorsement this cycle is from fundies like Pat Robertson ordering their faithful sheep around and Bill Clinton, which is not exactly an endorsement, but similar.

[Armstead]

51. I like your username -- I'm guessing it's from "The Ruling Class" ?

Great film. One of the scariest I've ever seen, on an existential level.

[PVnRT]

52. Fight Club

Can't talk about it.

[Armstead]

65. Watch the Ruling Class sometime

An old British movie starring Peter O'Toole.

"I am Jack...." is a key line in that movie.

Starts out as a black comedy, but by the end the psyche of the viewer is ripped to shreds.

More restrained and British in an old-fashioned way than Fight Club, but just as powerful.

[Mooney]

46. Should they just shut up and sing?

[Tarheel_Dem]

48. why don't we ask Sir Elton?nt

[Citizen_Penn]

76. Don't know why he does

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

you're welcome to your opinion, and me to disagree with it.

THEY CALL IT AMERICA.

[JerseygirlCT]

86. He's comparing Obama to both Clinton and McCain, I believe. nt

[BeyondGeography]

28. The Boss, Obama...it's enough to make me love my country again

:patriot:

[madrchsod]

29. madison wisconsin-kerry and the boss

we need this primary over with by north carolina...

[ClassWarrior]

33. One of those dots halfway to the Capitol is me!!

:thumbsup:

NGU.

[meow mix]

31. K&R

[kevinmc]

32. Bruce Springsteen "bitch slaps" Elton John .... Film at 11 ... n/t

[slinkerwink]

34. guess these elitists recognize each other....

;-)

[SoxFan]

35. Time to play some Springsteen to celebrate

I think I'll go with the "Live From Dublin" album.

[powergirl]

36. The Boss knows of what he speaks

Great post! :toast:

[SoFlaJet]

38. YEA!!!! I Friggin TOLD you

Bruce was going to endorse Barack. Now expect the Clintonites to start a mass CD, tape and vinyl burning of Springsteen material and telling us how all along they thought he sucked anyway. Now I haven't read any of the replies yet, only the original post-let's see if I'm right....

[zulchzulu]

41. EXCELLENT!

Bruce is the Man!

[Lisa0825]

44. I just saw him Monday night!

Great show! WestHoustonDem and I were talking about some of the statements he made between songs, along with his lyrics about the life of average Americans, and how he HAD TO BE an Obama supporter, though he didn't come out and say it then. I wish he had announced it at the show. We would have gone nuts! LOL

[Citizen_Penn]

77. I was thinking the same thing at the concert

Thinking - I feel like I'm at an Obama Rally.

Only thing missing was the mention of his name.

[Lisa0825]

98. EXACTLY!!!

And welcome to DU! :hi: :pals:

[Teaser]

45. He is dead to me

.

[TheZug]

47. Me too--just like Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Bill Richardson, and Keith Olbermann!!!!

[Teaser]

50. whoah....maybe we're the ones who are dead then

and they're the ones who are still alive.

Trippy.

[MadBadger]

49. Anybody shits on Bruce...I'm comin after you.

[Perky]

62. I will jump in to that fray too

[mac56]

80. I'm with you on that too.

nm

[thewiseguy]

54. Thanks Bruce!

[not_too_L8]

56. I went to see Santana and he also endorsed Obama

[DevonRex]

60. I'm dreamin' of a Santana/Springsteen concert now. Thanks.

That's a wonderful thought to have in my head all day long today!

[PBS Poll-435]

57. Is he a Super-Delegate?

:rofl: :radio:

[GarbagemanLB]

67. No, but three of those came out for Obama today as well.

[PBS Poll-435]

68. Good for him. He is going to need them...

[myrna minx]

58. Yay! n/t

[rodeodance]

63. congrat to obama

[Perky]

64. "Is there anybody ALIVE OUT THERE??!!" Csn I get a FIred UP!!

[Citizen_Penn]

78. He sang Last to Die Monday in Houston

damn near made me cry....

[OneBlueSky]

66. no on has summed up what this campaign SHOULD be about as well as Bruce . . .

this says it all, and in very few words:

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

nothing else need be said . . . except maybe:

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

there it is . . . the whole thing in two sentences . . . brilliant . . .

[Catherina]

69. Springsteeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen!

:applause:

[cottonseed]

71. The Boss for Secretary of Rock!

He's come to the same conclusion most Americans have. Way to go.

[Taxmyth]

72. Used to love Bruce

in the 80's. But now Little Stevie is best known for his Soprano's gig and who knows what Clarence has been up to (hope he's doing well). Bruce's last couple of CD's have been disappointing to me but Congrats to Senator Obama for getting this endorsement.

[sonias]

73. Bruuuuuuucccceee!

No retreat and no surrender, baby!

:woohoo:


Sonia

[redstate_democrat]

74. Love Bruce Springsteen!

[Kurovski]

75. K&R. (nt)

[anonymous171]

79. Elitist!

[Divine Discontent]

81. I like the Boss coming out Early in the election process and backing Obama!

this is GREAT. It also guarantees to some extent, mass coverage of the endorsement, whereas if he waited til sept. it might not have been given much air time, I think this endorsment will be talked about on every news type program at least for a few seconds, and that may help change some minds, and his comments on the book.

[cui bono]

83. Good timing... n/t

[JerseygirlCT]

84. A thinking man's choice

Good for him, though I'm not in the least surprised.

He's one more bit of proof that "salt of the earth" and "able to use one's brain" are not opposed.

[FightingIrish]

87. The Boss has spoken. It's so "Over"

[Pisces]

88. Gotta love Bruce, I saw him in LA back in 85'. He was awesome!!

[MagickMuffin]

89. Another pic of "the Boss" and JFK

:loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya:

[MagickMuffin]

90. Another pic of "the Boss" and JFK

:loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya:

[loyalsister]

91. Back when Obama was a community organizer......

This Land Is Your Land?:

"I guess I don't know if you talk to some of the unemployed steel workers from East L.A. or Pittsburg and Gary or a lot of people out there whose jobs are disappearing, I don't know if feel if this song is true anymore. I'm not sure that it is, but I know that it ought to be."
"Reminds that with countries just like with people it's easy to let the best of ourselves slip away"

One sunday morning in the shadow of the steeple by the ....I saw the people and they were hungry and they were wondering if this land is made for you and me

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1yuc4BI5NWU&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1yuc4BI5NWU&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>


I suspect that bitter-gate hit a nerve, given Springsteen's sensitivity and real empathy for bitterness.

"I always look at my work as trying to measure the distance between American promise and American reality," Springsteen says. "And I think (Obama's) inspired a lot of people with that idea: How do you make that distance shorter? How do we create a more humane society? We've lived through such ugly times that people want to have a romance with the idea of America again, and I think they need to.

"The hard realities and how things get done are important, too, but if you can effectively convince people that it's possible to make things better, they get excited."

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2008-02-27-spri...

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

92. "Baby this town rips the bones from your Barack..."

:D

[maxpower]

93. Way to go Bruce

A nice articulate piece of writing. Well said.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

99. GOBAMA!

[Bennyboy]

101. Bruce and Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)

The Ghost of Tom Joad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp-oDAxx8So This song tells you all you need to know why this is not a surprise...

[mdmc]

102. yes!

[Historic NY]

103. "The Boss" has spoken.......

I remember him with Kerry in Madison Wi. lets hope his voice is not in vain this year.

[wisteria]

106. Bravo Bruceeeeeee! n/t

[LulaMay]

107. OOH! Ooh! DO WE GET FREE CONCERT TICKETS?! Bruce Springsteen? Who cares?

[Catherina]

108. No free tickets for you Lula May

I don't think you'd be comfortable at a Springsteen concert anyway. Contact Prussian Blue. According to them, the most pressing social issue facing the white race right now is "Not having enough white babies born to replace ourselves and generally not having good quality white people being born." Sound familiar?