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Late Night: The Boss Hits the Road for Obama

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 11:02:22 PM EST
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Bruce Springsteen has joined the campaign trail with several college and stadium appearances scheduled:

  • Eastern Michigan University
  • A free acoustic set at Oestrike Stadium.
  • Saturday at a Philadelphia rally
  • Sunday at Ohio State University.
  • New York City (with Billy Joel) on Oct. 16.

It's all part of Obama's voter registration drive.

This is an open thread.

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    Late Night: The Boss Hits the Road for Obama | 30 comments (30 topical)

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    I grew up in NJ, been to his concerts, (none / 0) (#1)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 11:22:01 PM EST
    have most all of his albums, even partied with him on his boat after a softball game (ok, me and about 50 others) but man o man, who in the heck gives a sh!t about his political beliefs, whatever they may be.

    OK, some do I'm sure...

    For the record, it's not just The Boss, (none / 0) (#2)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 11:26:03 PM EST
    who really care what any celeb's opinions are politics?

    All right, I'm done with my rant. Carry on...

    Parent

    Well (none / 0) (#3)
    by Steve M on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 11:31:12 PM EST
    Who cares about the political opinions of a blogger?  or a blog commentor? :)

    Parent
    Not you and me. :) (none / 0) (#5)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 11:38:38 PM EST


    Parent
    like that actor Ronald Reagan? (none / 0) (#11)
    by of1000Kings on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 12:20:34 AM EST
    you're right, this world probably would be better off if actors just stayed out of politics...

    Parent
    That's not the point... (none / 0) (#18)
    by LatinoDC on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 04:58:05 AM EST
    it's a registration drive...

    Parent
    Fair enough. (none / 0) (#30)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 12:03:36 PM EST
    I was misled by the headline:
    The Boss Hits the Road for Obama


    Parent
    Most of these appearances (none / 0) (#4)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 11:36:28 PM EST
    are free. People don't go to hear Bruce speechify but to hear him play and sing. It's a voter registration drive, and the goal is to register his fans to vote as Democrats.

    This is about bringing new voters into the process and most of them are young. It's about raising their civic awareness and encouraging them to participate. Celebrity and music resonate with them. I think it's pretty smart.

    That they are doing it all over the country, with everyone from Magic Johnson to JayZ to actress Eva Longoria. They are great role models. More here.

    R2K sez (none / 0) (#6)
    by andgarden on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 11:39:27 PM EST
    Indiana is a one point race. Bush's man Mitch (Daniels) looks like he could be upset too.

    That I agree with: (none / 0) (#7)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 11:47:06 PM EST
    Celebrity and music resonate with them [young folk]. I think it's pretty smart.
    Some of us old[er] folk have already been through the "celeb as political touchstone" idealism schtick before, and have wisened up since that time...

    Celebrites can say sh!t like (none / 0) (#8)
    by Newt on Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 11:52:39 PM EST
    "If you ain't registered by now, we're going to kick your @ss after the concert."  

    They can alter assumptions, they give words to youth who are talking to their friends, they can help establish expectations.  Celebrities actually make it seem cool to be paying attention and taking care business, because, well, all the cool people are doing it.

    The few who aren't registered yet suddenly feel like an idiot for not paying attention or getting around to it.  And those Ron Paul holdouts start realizing that they're getting left behind by the rest of the people taking action this year.  

    Celebrities are effective.  

    Can you be pro-life and pro-Obama? (none / 0) (#9)
    by Cream City on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 12:07:52 AM EST
    Yes, you can, says Douglas Kmiec -- although he doesn't explain how you can do so and still support the Dem platform's pro-choice plank.

    I can't make the URL work, but see prolifeprobama.com for more in Kmiec's letter opening the site with this:

    "As Ronald Reagan's legal counsel and as a dean and professor at Catholic University and Notre Dame, I have worked to put the law on the side of life where it belongs.

    "I believe we are all called to build a culture of life - but there's more to it than just hoping that the next Supreme Court justice somehow deals with Roe v. Wade. A bad economy is threatening to human life. Women facing the moral tragedy of abortion - are facing it, now, today - and they need a supportive community and tangible help, not condemnation.

    "But after 35 years, a new approach is needed. Senator Barack Obama's strengthening of support for prenatal care, health care, maternity leave, and adoption will make help drastically reduce the numbers of abortions. Studies confirm it..."
    Do today's youth really care what Billy Joel (none / 0) (#10)
    by oculus on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 12:15:44 AM EST
    and/or Bruce Springsteen have to say?  

    Also, just watched the end of the Quayle/Bengsten VP depate.  Nothing has changed really.

    Parent

    Perhaps they're after. . . (5.00 / 2) (#21)
    by LarryInNYC on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 06:31:38 AM EST
    the ever-reliable over 65 crowd?

    Parent
    That's easy. . . (none / 0) (#20)
    by LarryInNYC on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 06:30:44 AM EST
    although he doesn't explain how you can do so and still support the Dem platform's pro-choice plank.

    He doesn't support that plank.

    It's a losers game to try to find an organized political party whose every position you agree with.  I spent many years as an Independent simply because I didn't want to have my opinion "determined" by the Democratic Party's platform committee.

    Parent

    Yeh, but the Dem nominee's spokesmen (none / 0) (#27)
    by Cream City on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 09:01:51 AM EST
    ought to support the Dem platform, especially this crucial plank on the rights of the majority of Dem voters.  Unless it's fine that they become formerly Dem voters.

    Kmiec is not just some guy voting for Obama, y'know.  He's leading the faith and family values tour for Obama -- and against the Dem plank.

    Parent

    The answer to your titular question is Yes. (none / 0) (#26)
    by indy in sc on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 08:45:49 AM EST
    If you are truly pro-life and believe in the sanctity of all life, you can support Obama because you believe that there is more to supporting life than the 40 weeks of pregnancy.  You care about that baby having good healthcare, a good education, opportunities for employment, etc.  Things the McCain ticket neglects.

    Parent
    Uh, that's a different Dem platform plank. (none / 0) (#28)
    by Cream City on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 09:03:18 AM EST
    But sure, pick and choose and call that being pro-choice, why dontcha.

    Parent
    I didn't call that being pro-choice. (none / 0) (#29)
    by indy in sc on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 09:07:57 AM EST
    Quite the opposite--it's being pro-life.  You asked can a person be pro-life and still vote Obama?  My answer is yes as I know several pro-life people voting Obama.  I mean scores of people at my church and my husband's church who are pro-life and see Obama's platform as the one that will truly lessen abortions--not through a crusade to overturn Roe--but through by addressing the underlying causes of unwanted pregnancies.  No need to be so snarky.

    Parent
    republicans don't like to (none / 0) (#31)
    by of1000Kings on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 12:53:55 PM EST
    address underlying causes...

    Parent
    Geeze! The LEAST they could do is a free show (none / 0) (#12)
    by nycstray on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 12:21:20 AM EST
    in NY. All they do is come here to take our freakin' money. And how can they get away with charging 10 grand a ticket? It was even more at the last Boss "fund raiser".

    Election Night Music (none / 0) (#14)
    by CoralGables on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 12:46:34 AM EST
    Always enjoy your late night music and although this is far from your taste, there is a made to order song for election night if the Dems take the White House, and pick up six or more seats in the Senate, leaving the GOP looking like roadkill... "Dead Skunk In The Middle Of The Road" by Loudon Wainwright. (far more enjoyable after several celebration drinks since it sounds best as a less than sober sing along)

    I may have to start an election night song collection as this could be fun.

    Lets do a vacation swap! (none / 0) (#15)
    by nycstray on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 12:54:51 AM EST
    You can borrow my place and addy, and I'll go relax on your beaches!

    This One's Gonna Hurt You (For A Long Long Time) (none / 0) (#16)
    by bridget on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 01:30:19 AM EST
    You hear that, oh you timid Lemmings who voted for the Bailout, happily saved the rich ... and broke my heart in the process. Spare me your Speeches, ya hear?

    Under the Circumstances
    Thanks goodness for Marty and Travis

    Here's A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares) (none / 0) (#17)
    by bridget on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 02:05:39 AM EST
    goodbye to all these Sordid Affairs

    Travis Tritt got it right

    Parent

    Bruce Springsteen and BILLY JOEL? (none / 0) (#19)
    by LarryInNYC on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 06:27:09 AM EST
    Good lord, what's next?  Peace in the middle east?  Obama is truly a miracle worker!

    I am probably the only person in the City of New York who actually likes both of them.

    Then (none / 0) (#22)
    by chrisvee on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 06:32:16 AM EST
    tell them to reschedule their joint concert for Philly as I have tons of friends who love both.

    Parent
    Really? (none / 0) (#23)
    by LarryInNYC on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 06:34:09 AM EST
    I remember XPN running a tag line "You'll never hear Billy Joel on WPXN".

    Parent
    I REALLY like both of them... (none / 0) (#24)
    by LatinoDC on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 06:35:56 AM EST


    Parent
    Who knew? (none / 0) (#25)
    by LarryInNYC on Thu Oct 02, 2008 at 06:54:45 AM EST
    I thought I was just weird.

    (Yes, yes, I know I could still be weird even if other people like Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel).

    Parent

    Late Night: The Boss Hits the Road for Obama | 30 comments (30 topical)

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