Posted on 10/05/2004 11:57:38 AM PDT by rhema
Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M., John Fogerty and Bright Eyes roll into the Xcel Energy Center tonight, part of the Vote For Change tour. It's just one of this election cycle's many celebrity-driven efforts, many of which are billed as nonpartisan, conscientious, get-out-the-vote public service campaigns. Truth be told, they are anything but. In fact, they're more about nurturing the cult of celebrity than nurturing good citizenship.
The Vote for Change tour is a "multi-city, multi-artist tour that will include approximately 34 shows in 28 cities in nine states over the course of one week. "This unprecedented coming together of musicians underscores the depth of desire for change in this country's direction," said Mike Mills of R.E.M. in a press release for the concert series.
Say one thing for the Vote for Change tour; at least it's honest in that it's nothing more than a public service message for John Kerry. Would that the others were that forthcoming.
Sean Combs (or is it P. Diddy?) got a lot of media play at the Democratic National Convention in Boston for the effort he's spearheading, Citizen Change, whose motto is "Vote or Die."
Of course, what most people don't know is that Combs is heavily funded by Ron Burkle, who owns Golden State Foods, the largest supplier to McDonald's and Kroger, making him the largest grocer in the United States. Burkle has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democrats over the years; his charitable foundation donates regularly to liberal causes like People for the American Way.
Even Rock the Vote, which claims it's just trying to raise political awareness and get young people to vote, is a blatant front for Democrat causes. Among the current issues it's championing are the alleged health care gap for young adults and censorship (do you have to ask by whom?). It's also taking a page out of the Democrat playbook and giving credibility to baseless rumors about a secret Bush plan to reinstate the draft soon as he's re-elected.
Rock the Vote also has launched a "Campaign Against InDecency," claiming it's "indecent" that 67 percent of 2003 college graduates were forced by economic hardships to move back in with their parents after graduation and that the average debt held by college students borrowing for their education is $18,400.
Pardon me while I cry a river.
Of course, I've never understood why the media give such credence to the political pronouncements of musicians, actors and other celebrities. They're no smarter than you or I. What they say doesn't matter any more than what's said at the coffee shops or hair salons across America. They just have a bigger stage on which to say it.
More important, most of what they say isn't very bright — or factual. Here's just a smattering of what passes for wisdom in Hollywood these days:
"If you think that rape should be legal, then don't vote" — actress Cameron Diaz on Oprah.
"The real terrorist threats are George W. Bush and his band of brown-shirted thugs" — comedienne Sandra Bernhard.
"My skin crawls when I think of the first week after 9/11. I was looking out of the window and there were people marching down the street carrying flags. It reminded me of spontaneous, angry Nazis and I thought, 'Oh, man, we are in a lot of trouble.' " — musician Rickie Lee Jones.
"Our country is founded on a sham: our forefathers were slave-owning rich white guys who wanted it their way. So when I see the American flag, I go, 'Oh my God, you're insulting me.' That you can have a gay parade on Christopher Street in New York, with naked men and women on a float cheering, 'We're here, we're queer!' — that's what makes my heart swell. Not the flag, but a gay naked man or woman burning the flag. I get choked up with pride." — Air America talk show host Janeane Garofalo.
"George Bush is not Hitler. He would be if he [expletive] applied himself." — comedienne Margaret Cho.
"There is no terrorist threat in this country. This is a lie. This is the biggest lie we've been told." — Michael Moore.
"We have a president for whom English is a second language. He's like, 'We have to get rid of dictators,' but he's pretty much one himself." — comedian Robin Williams.
And my personal favorite, for its eloquence and depth of thought:
"Bush is a [expletive] idiot." — Jennifer Aniston.
I could go on, but you get the point. If you want a more extensive treatise that pretty much sums up the out-of-touch rantings of America's artist community, look no further than tonight's headliner and his rambling interview in the current issue of Rolling Stone.
"I don't know if someone is going to run to the front of the stage and shout, 'I'm saved' or 'I'm switching,' but I'm going to try," Springsteen said. "I will be calling anyone in a bow tie to come to the front of the stage, and I'll see what I can do."
I'd like to tell The Boss that as a devout bow-tie-wearer I'll be rushing the stage tonight. But common sense prevents me.
I think he — and other Hollywood bloviators — would do well to follow the advice of talk-show host Laura Ingraham, whose best-selling book was simply titled: "Shut Up and Sing."
How about they just SFTU?
Yeah, i'm really bummed about John Fogerty. I liked what i heard of his newest album. Won't be buying it now....
Hear, hear!...Although I doubt that Wynton Marsalis or Diana Krall will be voting Republican next month.
Just build a 20 mile high fence around Hollywood. Then
electrify it.
Perhaps not, but they're not running their mouths all over the place
Bonnie Raitt lives in the same county I'm ashamed to live in, Marin County, CA in a little hamlet littered by wealthy latte drinking, BMW driving socialists. Everytime I have to go to that town, I keep an eye out for her so I can give her back my copy of "Nick of Time" and tell her to shove it sideways.
My 19 yo is also voting for Bush. I'm afraid she's going to lose her job. She's continually on people at work, including customers, that only idiots are voting for Kerry.
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