Posted on 08/27/2008 11:18:46 AM PDT by Schnucki
Bruce Springsteen will not be performing at Barack Obama's closing speech, his campaign said, as the Democratic candidate seeks to avoid association with celebrities.
In a break with recent tradition, the Democratic National Convention will be free of major performing artists after Republicans have successfully turned Mr Obama's surging popularity against him.
The 2004 convention featured cameos from Patti LaBelle, Willie Nelson, the Black Eyed Peas and Carole King, while in 2000 Stevie Wonder and Luther Vandross played in the main convention hall.
Earlier in the week Obama aides said Springsteen was to perform a short acoustic set at the 76,000-seater Invesco Field stadium where the Illinois senator will formally accept the party's presidential nomination on Thursday night. Other reports said Jon Bon Jovi had also been asked to sing.
But sources within the campaign said that the New Jersey-born rocker, who is a strong Obama backer, would not be singing, and denied that there had ever been any plans.
"Bruce Springsteen will not be performing at the convention. There have been some inaccurate reports out there on this; just wanted to set the record straight," a spokesman said.
In a further sign of confusion within the Obama ranks about the presentation of his big night, it emerged that he will deliver his speech from an elaborate columned stage resembling a miniature Greek temple, a setting that could easily lead to charges of an over-inflated ego.
The decision to exclude pop singers indicates how Republican rival Senator John McCain's effort to turn Mr Obama's fame into a weakness has rattled the Democrat's campaign. In the wake of Mr Obama's speech before 200,000 in Berlin, Mr McCain released an advert likening Obama to gossip-page perennials Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.
Hollywood stars including Ben Affleck, Josh Brolin, Annette Bening and Spike
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Sorry BossLady, Spike Lee sez it can't be BC...time must now be qualified as BB (Before Barack) or AB (After Barrack).
Will fronds of arugala be waved?
One of my happiest and most endearing memories of the 2004 election night is remembering the looks of stunned disbelief in Boston’s Copley Square as Jon Bon Jovi, James Taylor, Carole King and other has-been rockers performed on a stage while these dope-addled rockers were waiting for Jean Francois Kerri’s rousing victory speech. It was priceless
Laurels Out!!! Organic Arugula In!!!!
All Hail Bacchus!!!! ;)
He used the Boss to lure in the crowds.
Milli Vanilli would be more appropriate.
Maybe they read FR. We were all making fun of the fact Barrack was once again going to have bands before and after his speech tomorrow. I guess they don’t think coming out of Greek like structure seems celebrity like, someone said he was going to rise up on a elevator. What a bunch of clowns.
ping
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