The Boss doing Kerry no favours Poll shows rock star Bruce Springsteen turning voters away

NEW YORK - Madison Avenue had unwelcome news for John Kerry's campaign yesterday as advertising executives said Bruce Springsteen, who is campaigning with the Democratic presidential hopeful, turns away more votes than he attracts.

The campaign trails have begun to look like Hollywood Boulevard as both presidential candidates inject star power into their campaigns, with Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger appearing with George W. Bush in Columbus, Ohio, yesterday.

While many stars have spoken out about their presidential preference, with most opting for Mr. Kerry, a major ad industry study shows most voters prefer candidates who keep their distance from Hollywood. The exception is the celebrities who do not ram their political opinions down voters' throats.

Known to fans as The Boss, Mr. Springsteen is so outspoken he drives twice as many people to Mr. Bush as he keeps for Mr. Kerry, says the poll by Pere Partners, a New York ad agency that specializes in the entertainment industry.

But even though he's a movie star, Mr. Schwarzenegger is more easily accepted when he pushes his views because he has already moved into politics, being elected Governor of California.

"The results tell us if you go to a concert and pay $100 for a ticket, you want to see The Boss sing because he is an American icon and tremendously talented," said Glenn Pere, the agency's president.

The survey names Michael Moore, director of Fahrenheit 9/11, as another high-profile celebrity whose campaigning is doing more harm than good to Mr. Kerry.

Not all the irritating celebrities are on the Democratic side. Actor Charlton Heston, who backs gun rights, and Bill O'Reilly, a leading Fox News host, are doing their best to annoy liberal Republican voters into the Kerry camp.

Mr. Peres says the survey shows people want to know only the superficial things about celebrities -- such as where they eat, what diet they are on, what car they drive and where they vacation

"Americans don't want to know a celebrity's point of view when it comes to politics," he said.

Nonetheless, there are a few celebrities with genuine clout, such as talk-show host Winfrey Oprah, former Army General Norman Schwarzkopf, comedian Jon Stewart and basketball player Charles Barley.

"Oprah is a Democrat, but comes across differently from other celebrities," said Mr. Pere.

"She doesn't preach, and you feel she understands both sides. Being well informed also makes her extremely credible."

For his part, Mr. Bush has simultaneously tried to capitalize on celebrities and criticize his opponent for being star struck.

"You might remember that my opponent said the heart and soul of America can be found in Hollywood," he said in Michigan this week, adding, "I understand most American families do not look to Hollywood as a source of values."

Yesterday, he took pains to refer to Mr. Schwarzenegger as "Governor" and did not mention his movie career.

But the U.S. President was unable to distance himself completely from the celebrity world.

The musician who co-wrote and sang the 1970s hit Still the One said Mr. Bush should stop playing the tune at his campaign events. John Hall, who recorded the song in 1976 after writing it with his then-wife, Joanna D. Hall, said he has told his lawyers to write a formal letter of complaint to the Bush campaign because he does not support his re-election bid.

I think it was over at Hugh Hewett blog, who wrote that the rally in Madison was huge and that Bruce stepped up to the mike to preach and said

"Mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble mumble..."

Speakers encouraged the crowd of 80,000 to vote early at Madison City Hall, which remained open late to accommodate the deluge, but it never materialized. Maybe Springsteen does turn off people.

Springsteen also went into a dorm at the invitation of some women, and the press was there to report that when asked what their favorite Boss song was, they apparently didn't know any titles and only laughed. Well, he is an old man, now, isn't he?

By the way, somewhere around here I have an unopened LP copy of Born in the USA. I got it as a gift way back when and never opened it because I thought Springsteen's croakings were unentertaining (although I was a rabid Joplin fan...maybe I only like feminine croaking NO PUN INTENDED.) Anyway, maybe I ought to go to Ebay to see what it may be worth?

Campaign for Kerry (Fast Eddie, Rhoda, and the Meathead in York, PA stump for Kerry)
York Dispatch ^ | 10-29-2004 | CARYN TAMBER

Posted on 10/29/2004 11:15:30 PM EDT by Daveinyork

Campaign for Kerry Celebrities, Gov. Rendell stump for Democratic ticket By CARYN TAMBER The York Dispatch

Friday, October 29, 2004 -

At the end of a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry at York City's Colonial Court House yesterday, more than a hundred Kerry supporters crowded together to sing the refrain from "You've Got a Friend."

It's a popular sing-along tune, but yesterday's rendition was unique: It was led by Carole King, who wrote it.

King has been campaigning for Kerry across Pennsylvania this week with Gov. Ed Rendell; actress Valerie Harper, who played Rhoda Morgenstern on "Mary Tyler Moore"; and actor/director Rob Reiner, who played Michael "Meathead" Stivic on "All in the Family."

They stopped in York and several other towns in this swing state Wednesday and yesterday, criticizing President Bush, promoting Kerry and urging voters to make one last push to turn out the Democratic vote on Tuesday.

"Our name often brings more people into the discussion, which is a good thing," King said, talking about why she and the other celebrities decided to hit the campaign trail. "After that, we better know what we're talking about, and I believe we do."

10 times: King said many people have told her they wish they could vote for Kerry 10 times. They can, she said.

"You go vote yourself and then bring nine other voters," she said.

Rendell praised former President Clinton, hailing his eight years in the White House as ones of job creation, economic surplus and worldwide respect for the United States.

When Clinton traveled abroad, "he was treated like a rock star because he was so loved and revered," Rendell said. "Open your eyes. Do you think any of that stuff would be happening today?"

He blamed Bush's tax cuts for job losses in Pennsylvania.

"Those are the wrong choices for Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but they're the wrong choices for York and Lancaster, too," Rendell said.

For her part, Harper told the group of sign-waving Kerry supporters that they were "beautiful."

'Most important election': She also called the Bush administration "the most appalling presidency in my 65 years" and told the crowd that people in her home state, California, are "so fixated and focused" on the swing state of Pennsylvania.

Reiner called Tuesday's vote "the most important election of our lifetime" and criticized President Bush on the Iraq War.

"Wouldn't it be nice to have someone who tells the truth in the White House?" he asked.

Midway through his speech, a train rolled down Pershing Avenue, blocking out his voice.

"Is that train heading for Crawford?" Reiner shouted, referencing the Texas town where Bush owns a ranch.

The rally ended with "You've Got a Friend," after which the celebrities and the governor fanned out to sign autographs.

"It was a charge," said Jo Margolis of Warrington Township, who has been working for the Kerry campaign. "It was wonderful. I've set my life aside. Everything in my life is on hold to (do) whatever I can to bring about a change."

Push Pennsylvania benefit: Richard Dalton of York City said he believes Pennsylvania would benefit under a new president.

"Oh, I loved it," he said after the rally. "We need this change. I'm glad they came and visited York because we need help."

"Everyone's fired up," Rendell said before boarding his bus to head for the next stop. "I don't think anybody's going to sit it out."

But, he said, he has been cautioning Kerry supporters across the state, "so's the other side."

A handful of Bush supporters attended the rally, too, including Mary Homsher of York City, who held a sign proclaiming, "W Stands for Women."

"W Stands for Women?" queried Kerry campaign worker Eric Rosenbach.

"W Stands for Wimp," said Phillip Smith of Springettsbury Township, also a Kerry supporter.

"I'm just glad I've never said an insulting word to the opposing party," Homsher said.

-- Reach Caryn Tamber at 854-1575 or ctamber@yorkdispatch.com .

"Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen
Born down in a dead man's town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
You end up like a dog that's been beat too much
'Til you spend half your life just covering up

[chorus:]
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.

I got in a little hometown jam
And so they put a rifle in my hands
Sent me off to Vietnam
To go and kill the yellow man

[chorus]

Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says "Son if it was up to me"
I go down to see the V.A. man
He said "Son don't you understand"

[chorus]

I had a buddy at Khe Sahn
Fighting off the Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all gone
He had a little girl in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm ten years down the road
Nowhere to run, ain't got nowhere to go

I'm a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.

You are totally right. I remember the multiple, loooonng threads on FR with links to the NRA, GOA, and JPFO. Good thing too because the NRA could not keep up with phone sign-ups.

At that time I lived in CA where the NRA still has Membership Councils. At the Thursday meeting we were told that, in order to get "Refuse To Be a Victim" materials for an upcoming gun show, the lady had to be given an internal number for VA HQ because she literally hadn't been able to get through for days on end via the main number.

It was good they told us that because the MSM were hyping the MMs like crazy and, because of Columbine, even pro-gun stalwarts in the Senate were weakening down.

I called Trent Lott's office and told the very nice lady who answered the phone about my anecdotal evidence, both Members Council and FR, that the public was not reacting the way they had been represented in the MSM. I'm sure they were getting thousands of calls.

I said that I knew Sen. Lott's office had internal phone numbers that they could use to verify my info--and that she would need to use those numbers because she'd never get through otherwise.

She listened carefully and said she'd follow up. Somebody must have, or more likely, the NRA contacted the GOP leaders and told them themselves because the Senators developed a little more spine and headed off what could have been a really destructive bunch of legislation.

This was a huge turning point in the success of the gun grabbers' program. Columbine unnerved everyone, but when so many people surprised everyone by supporting pro-gun groups instead of whimpering apologies for the acts of a couple of wack-jobs and retreating from supporting our rights, the gun control movement went into shock.

Prior to that guns, gun owners, and the NRA particularly were horribly demonized. People were intimidated. IMO if talk radio and the web hadn't been there for this information to get out, the results of Columbine and the Million Morons might have been very different.

Back in the late 70s some one gave me and a friend tickets to a Jackson Browne concert. Wasn't really a fan, but he was well known, and I went. The concert turned out to be one of the no nukes concerts (I'm sure kerry was a supporter of them). Any way after a song or two, mr. browne starts his preaching of the anti nuke message. The fans started yelling out song titles, and it was apparent that they wanted music, not politics. Browne told them to "Shut the **ck up and listen." That's what's going on today. I have a favorite singer who happens to support kerry. I would go to see him in concert. But if he performed for kerry i would not go. It would only strengthen my resolve. Did you notice from the kerry/sprinsteen event the other day that supposedlyhad 80,000 people attend. It was not loud and enthusiastic. The Bush/Arnold rally in Ohio was much more electric last night, than thios BIG kerry/bruce thing.

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