I think I speak for many here when I say that I'm going to vote however Rip Taylor tells me to.
Owl_Eagle
" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"
Posted on 08/08/2004 8:27:34 AM PDT by SandRat
Bruce Springsteen has proved that he can get fans in a sold-out stadium to sing along with "Born to Run," but can he help John Kerry win the White House?
This is a question that many are trying to answer now that the Boss, Dave Matthews, Pearl Jam, R.E.M. and several other bands have announced that they will play more than 30 concerts in nine swing states in October.
The proceeds will go to a new Democratic political action committee, Vote for Change, and the goal, Springsteen wrote last week in a New York Times Op-Ed article, "is to change the direction of the government and change the current administration come November."
Political scientists and strategists say that celebrities are most effective as fund-raisers, not as vote-getters.
Fans, in fact, rarely want to hear political sermons from celebrities whose salaries and lifestyle put them outside the mainstream, says Darrell West, a political science professor at Brown University and the author of "Celebrity Politics."
In many cases, it's a matter of credibility. "Voters aren't used to celebrities giving political speeches so it's harder for them to be taken seriously in that role," West says. "We see them as entertainers."
Swing voters - the concerts' target audience - may be especially hard to win over with celebrity politicking. Polls show that the registered independents recoil at negative campaigning, and famous stars are often flashpoints for controversy.
The celebrities are often more caustic, or obscene, in their criticism, and conservatives rarely give them a pass. This year, the Bush-Cheney campaign has been particularly good at turning liberal partisan humor - from the mouths of Howard Stern and Whoopi Goldberg - into a talking point about the left's "hate-filled" mentality. In such an environment, Springsteen, Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and other musicians will have to avoid comments that appeal to a raucous crowd of 50,000 in Cleveland but not to the million-plus viewers of Fox News.
Hollywonk Piong sour note.
Like Kerry and Edwards. Ching ching $$$$$.
I always look to my favorite drug-filled veneral ridden atheistic liberal rock band for guidance on how I should raise my children, make moral decisions and vote in presidential elections. Heck, doesn't everybody?
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sarcasm/off
The drugged out hate America types who pay to hear these insults about America and GW are in the camp of Rat voters, or many don't vote. They will cheer the vile hatred, get drunk and stoned and repeat the D&S procedure.
What the Whoopis and other Follywood idiots do is to make us more broken glass voters and to help drive away the good moderate voters.
If a circus side show is considered America.
Clinton's Cabinet looked like a circus side show!
This tour will mostly draw the same crowd as michael morron F 9/11 film - strictly those already leaning towards F'ing kerry.
Owl_Eagle
" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"
Having celebrity status due to singing, acting or performing in the entertainment industry in some capacity definitely elevates your opinion above that of the lowly masses. I don't know why some folks don't understand that.
</ sarcasm >
Gee, I wonder why. But I was over at DU the other day and a woman there was explaining that she fired the termite exterminator who came to her house who rambled on about supporting the Republicans.
She was right, she hired an exterminator not someone to give political commentary. That wasn't part of the price. I feel the same way about entertainers and singers. I'm paying you for entertainment, not political commentary.
Sadly there are probably some people who influenced by the politics of Madonna or Ben Aflac. But I strongly suspect they don't put voting high on their list of priorities.
I beg to differ. Every election this statement about negative campaigning comes out and ever time there are promises to avoid it. It never happens. The reason is negative campaigning works. Also one can not help but notice that when Dems do it is seen by the press as standing for the truth. When conservatives go negative it's because we are hate mongers.
When an entertainer becomes irritating rather than entertaining, you fire them.
Most aren't old enough to vote.
I Hate The USA by Bruce Sprinstunkaryne
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