Springsteen Rocks the Vote

<body topmargin="0" leftmargin="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" height="100%"> <tr> <td valign="top" width="105" bgcolor="#111111" text="#F7F7FF"> <div><img src="13cb55540.jpg" border="0" width="85" height="84" align="bottom" hspace="0" vspace="0"></div><br> <div><img src="13d039310.gif" border="0" width="57" height="49" align="bottom" hspace="0" vspace="0"></div><br> </td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#080000" background="079cb9a3.jpg"> <div> <b>Springsteen Rocks the Vote</b> </div> <div></div> <div> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript1.2" src="stm31.js"></script> </div> <div> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript1.2">  </script> </div><br> <div><img src="13c0749c0.jpg" border="0" width="116" height="156" align="bottom" hspace="0" vspace="0"></div> <div> <embed src="/music/examples/thisland.wma" height="60" width="145" autostart="true" loop="true" hidden="true"> <noembed></noembed> </div> <div> <p align="justify">Republicans <i>should</i> be worried. For the past 3 decades, every candidate for President has tried to align themselves with Springsteen. Reagan tried to use "Born in the USA" as a symbol of patriotism, not realizing that the song was actually a bitter rant from a Vietnam vet against the country that deserted him upon his return. Bruce said "stop" and Reagan had to pull the song (along with the use of his name on the campaign trail). Democrats have tried, as well. Again and again and again they come. They play his songs during rallies. They use Bruce as a placeholder for Mom and apple pie. The point is.. both parties have been trying to attach themselves to his image for years - to no avail.</p> </div> <div> <p align="justify">For the first time in his 4-decade career, Bruce is now speaking up .. politically. He has joined together with a string of bands - some big (Dave Matthews) and some small (Death Cab for a Cutie) - to make a change and to get John Kerry elected. When it comes to Springsteen, Kerry is the real deal. He's been a fanatic for years. He's had a framed poster of Bruce up on his private Senate chamber wall for decades and .. has seen Bruce in concert dozens and dozens of times. He could have gone with a more regal theme for his campaign, but Bruce's "No Surrender" has long been his favorite song. Now, at the most important stage of his career (a run for President), he wants Bruce alongside him.</p> </div> <div> <p align="justify">Republicans have mounted an anti-Springsteen campaign of their own. Politicians are taking out television ads to say.. "Why let Springsteen tell you how to vote?". Oh yes, they are definitely concerned about his impact. To put up all that money to try to SHUT up a .. <i>rock star?</i> I mean.. that's what celebrities do, right? They protest the establishment. So.. why care what some singer has to say NOW? Because it's Bruce.</p> </div> <div> <p align="justify">Anyone else and .. it wouldn't even register. They know his presence means something. As Bono recently said, "credibility .. you couldn't have more; Bruce Springsteen owns America's heart". While he's always CLEARLY been a Democrat, Bruce has never chosen sides. What's nice about his stand, though, is this: he's done so with class. Every other celebrity seems to be damning Bush and proclaiming him to be the Anti-Christ. Bruce wants it to be clear that he is not about to bash the President. It's not his style.</p> </div> <div> <p align="justify">Now.. am I a Democrat, you may ask? No. Am I a Republican? No. I'm an <i>American</i>. I take a look at the issues, see where the candidates stand and vote accordingly. I think both candidates love their country. I think both feel their way is the right way.</p> </div> <div> <p align="justify">I'm proud of Bruce. He's taken a few hits from some ignorant people ("I've been a fan for 25 years, but I'll never buy another album"), but.. they weren't really fans in the first place. He's an institution. He has more followers than any band/artist could dream of having. He can stand to shed a few pounds. Judging by some of the ridiculously inane complaints leveled against him in recent weeks, good riddance. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Mr. "Fan". "He's violated the trust between...". Blah blah blah.</p> </div> <div> <p align="justify">I won't vote for Kerry because of Bruce. I won't vote for Bush because of Arnold. I will vote based on the issues and .. a personal sense of who I think may or may not be the right choice to help lead us as a nation. I've always been a fan of Bruce's, though - and not just for his music. He's a good man. He's a good citizen. He is a true populist - a man of the people.</p> </div> <div> <p align="justify">For the Republicans to bash BRUCE.. well, now THAT may lead me to Kerry. Bruce is the Gary Cooper of our generation - Gary Cooper with a little James Dean thrown in. Now, you don't fuck with Gary Cooper. You don't fuck with James Dean.</p> </div> <div> <p align="justify">You want to fuck with Bruce? You'd better think twice. There's a reason why politicians love him so. There's a reason why he's still one of the biggest names in music 30 years after having made the covers of Time and Newsweek as an unknown, simultaneously.. There's a reason why he sells out stadiums in minutes with no album to plug. There's a reason why Bill Clinton has been urging him to run for President for years.</p> </div> <div> <p align="justify">Respect. Simply put.. people respect Springsteen. He's earned it...</p> </div> <div> <p align="justify">Those who <i>bash</i> him, therefore, are digging themselves an awfully big hole.</p> </div><br> </td> </tr> </table> </body>