Posted on 02/17/2010 3:05:13 AM PST by BIOCHEMKY
The guy who put populist politics on the charts with a song title "Pink Houses" John Mellencamp performed at the White House last week, as part of a program titled: "In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement."
The Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame member sang the song "Jim Crow" with veteran folkie Joan Baez -- as well as a terrific song version of "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize" -- on a night that also featured performances by Smokey Robinson, Natalie Cole, Yolanda Adams, the Five Blind Boys from Alabama and Bob Dylan, among others.
That was powerful company, but Mellencamp was up to it.
For the past quarter century, he has been penning and performing smart, often very political songs -- focusing on the farm crisis, economic hard times and race relations. He's been a key organizer of Farm Aid and other fund-raising events for good causes, and he's been a steady presence on the campaign trail in recent years, appearing at the side of numerous Democratic presidential candidates, including Barack Obama.
So, could Mellencamp perform in the U.S. Senate?
Could he be the right replacement for retiring Senator Evan Bayh, D-Indiana?
Forget the blah-blah-blah about celebrities in politics. We crossed that bridge decades ago.
The question is whether this celebrity makes the right connections with this state.
Mellencamp certainly has the home-state credibility. Few rockers have been so closely associated with a state as Mellencamp with Indiana.
Mellencamp has a history of issue-oriented political engagement that is the rival of any of the Democratic politicians who are being considered as possible Bayh replacements.
And Mellencamp has something else. He has a record of standing up for disenfranchised and disenchanted working-class families in places like his hometown of Seymour, Indiana.
In other words, he's worthy of the consideration that has led to talk of a "Draft John Mellencamp" movement. In fact, he might be just enough of an outlier to energize base votes and to make independent voters look again at the Democratic column.
Mellencamp's not making any campaign moves.
He's a savvy player who has been around power politics for a long time -- he counts Bill Clinton as a pal -- and he's smart enough (and humble enough) to know that the leap from rock star to senate candidate is a long one.
But John Hall, the songwriter and leader of the band Orleans, is now a two-term Democratic congressman from New York.
And the Republicans have run more than a few actors for jobs like senator, governor and even president.
Notably, President Ronald Reagan's 1984 reelection campaign wanted to use the song "Pink Houses" at campaign events. And John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign did indeed use it, even as Mellencamp explained that the Arizona senator might not fully "get" the point of the song about working families living on the backroads of America.
So Mellencamp has already crossed some partisan and ideological lines.
That's more than can be said for most Senate prospects -- be they Democrats or Republicans.
John is down right stupid. He can write music and that is about it.
crossing bridges doesn't necessarily mean your on the right road
I used to like his music, but after hearing the guy spout off, I am not even interested anymore.
If Mellencamp was able to run, I think he would win it— hands down.
He’s left but I don’t see him as the type to be bought off or be corrupt.
I think he would be more old-school Dem. jmo
As of right now it is just a face book page that is pushing for him to enter the race.
Evan has been considered a moderate in a moderate/right state.
Mellencamp has recently said that Obama and Clinton are not liberal enough.
“If Mellencamp was able to run, I think he would win it— hands down. He’s left but I don’t see him as the type to be bought off or be corrupt. I think he would be more old-school Dem.”
My exact thoughts too, but I could be wrong.
I was talking witha business associate in Indiana just yesterday, and she said that both Mellencamp and Larry Byrd would be very formidable candidates for elective office. Is Larry Byrd a Dim?
Oh boy! Al Franken and Frog Jaguarmelonball as sitting Senators.
What a country.
Mellencamp would be another Paul Wellstone.
“Mellencamp has recently said that Obama and Clinton are not liberal enough.”
THAT is FREAKING FRIGHTENING!!!
Was he somebody important?
You know I’m amazed more people havn’t been appalled at the ads shown during the Daytona race week of Toyota calling for ideas of a “build it your way” race car scheme, and they were harping on the sympathy, cute and cuddly cards with race cars plastered with kittens, baby seal pups and other fantasy images.
Undoubtedly millions will take the flashy spinning hypnotic lure in their mouths, its human nature to look for ideology through images either by sight or sound.
But establishing political figures solely based upon their tenure on radio stations is tacky to say the least.
That is why DU and Daily KOS has been pushing for him to enter the race since Bayh announced he is retiring.
Some of the photos from his glam-band days will make a lot of people go ewww, and then he is toast....
Yeah-old school.Here’s a ready-to-go Republican ad if he runs:
http://www.inthebullpen.com/archives/2007/6126
He would have a chance, but I would put it at slim. Mellencamp is a far-leftist loose canon and I doubt the Democrats would put him out there. He is like Frankin, but Indiana is not a left wing state like Minnesota.
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