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Springsteen Does an Obama for Obama

Throughout convention week in Denver in August, the word swirled that Bruce Springsteen would appear the final night. It did not happen. And for Democrats, that was a good thing. Barack Obama--accused by foes of being too glamorous--did not need a rock star on the set on his big night (though Sheryl Crow and Stevie Wonder did appear early in the evening). But Springsteen is indeed doing what he can.

On Saturday, Springsteen appeared at an Obama voter registration rally in Philadelphia. Tens of thousands of people were there. He performed a thirty-minute acoustic set. But he also speechified. And he practically outdid Obama in political eloquence:

I am glad to be here today for this voter registration drive and for Barack Obama, the next President of the United States. I've spent 35 years writing about America, its people, and the meaning of the American Promise. The Promise that was handed down to us, right here in this city from our founding fathers, with one instruction: Do your best to make these things real. Opportunity, equality, social and economic justice, a fair shake for all of our citizens, the American idea, as a positive influence, around the world for a more just and peaceful existence. These are the things that give our lives hope, shape, and meaning. They are the ties that bind us together and give us faith in our contract with one another.

I've spent most of my creative life measuring the distance between that American promise and American reality. For many Americans, who are today losing their jobs, their homes, seeing their retirement funds disappear, who have no healthcare, or who have been abandoned in our inner cities. The distance between that promise and that reality has never been greater or more painful.

I believe Senator Obama has taken the measure of that distance in his own life and in his work. I believe he understands, in his heart, the cost of that distance, in blood and suffering, in the lives of everyday Americans. I believe as president, he would work to restore that promise to so many of our fellow citizens who have justifiably lost faith in its meaning. After the disastrous administration of the past 8 years, we need someone to lead us in an American reclamation project. In my job, I travel the world, and occasionally play big stadiums, just like Senator Obama. I've continued to find, wherever I go, America remains a repository of peoples hopes, possibilities, and desires, and that despite the terrible erosion to our standing around the world, accomplished by our recent administration, we remain, for many, a house of dreams. One thousand George Bushes and one thousand Dick Cheneys will never be able to tear that house down.

They will, however, be leaving office, dropping the national tragedies of Katrina, Iraq, and our financial crisis in our laps. Our sacred house of dreams has been abused, looted, and left in a terrible state of disrepair. It needs care; it needs saving, it needs defending against those who would sell it down the river for power or a quick buck. It needs strong arms, hearts, and minds. It needs someone with Senator Obama's understanding, temperateness, deliberativeness, maturity, compassion, toughness, and faith, to help us rebuild our house once again. But most importantly, it needs us. You and me. To build that house with the generosity that is at the heart of the American spirit. A house that is truer and big enough to contain the hopes and dreams of all of our fellow people by our ability to accomplish this task. Now I don't know about you, but I want that dream back, I want my America back, I want my country back.

So now is the time to stand with Barack Obama and Joe Biden, roll up our sleeves, and come on up for the rising.

Springsteen was speaking to an obvious point that sometimes is lost in the immediate fray of campaign: candidates often represent more than themselves--willingly or not. Is the promise of Obama the promise of America? Voters will decide whether Obama will get the chance to answer that question. In the meantime, if Springsteen's day job does not work out, he could have a fine future in political speechwriter.

Comments

God bless Bruce Springstein, I agree with him entirely.

The Republicans via the DLC, Democratic Leadership Council's-Republican-Democrats have looted the country. Everything Springstein said is correct, it was a Republican plan carried out by Republicans over many years and climaxed in the Bush administration.

I just hope Obama has the intestinal fortitude to get rid of the DLC Republican RIGHT WING organization of cooperators. With the DLC out of the way, representatives will be able to think for themselves as they represent their constituents, the common populous, on all streets, roads and highways, in every nook and cranny, uptown, downtown and all around town, not just Main Street and Wall Street.

Posted by: MarthaA on 10/04/08 at 8:52 PM Respond

How unfortunate to be "proud" of tainting voter registration with partisan politics. It reminds me of another candidate's daughter going door to door to get people to register ONLY IF they were going to vote for her dad, alias "Tricky Dicky".
The Democrats' possible victory but Democracy certain defeat.

Posted by: Kathy Giannini on 10/05/08 at 3:39 AM Respond

If Springsteen were making this speech for Hillary, Kathy Giannini would have had a different take on this. She's demonstrated her hypocrisy again and again in this campaign season.
It was a good speech, by the way.

Posted by: Paul Miller on 10/05/08 at 1:50 PM Respond

Our greatest National Treasures are the artists/poets who articulate the condition of our collective soul. Their voice not political slogans encourage us as a people to rise above the wreckage and pursue restoration.

Posted by: NCMom on 10/05/08 at 7:03 PM Respond

Unfortunately Bruce has put all the blame on the administration - The congress is so corrupt that they all need replacing and the "bail out bill" that just passed is a great example with all the pork added to the bill which will cost us all more in taxes no matter who is elected. This is not the America the "Founding Fathers" meant that Bruce is referring.

Posted by: Jim Williams on 10/06/08 at 10:36 AM Respond

To me, that's treason. I call it treason against rock 'n' roll because rock is the antithesis of politics. Rock should never be in bed with politics.

When I was a kid and my parents started talking about politics, I'd run to my room and put on the Rolling Stones as loud as I could. So when I see all these rock stars up there talking politics, it makes me sick.

If you're listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you're a bigger moron than they are. Why are we rock stars? Because we're morons. We sleep all day, we play music at night and very rarely do we sit around reading the Washington Journal.

Vincent D. Furnier

Posted by: Alice Cooper on 10/06/08 at 3:32 PM Respond

Thank you!!!! My sentiments exactly.

Posted by: Paula on 10/21/08 at 11:06 AM Respond