This guy has been so far up Obama's a$$ since day one, he'd be a dream target for his opponent.
Ads + Rallies = Hugs + Embraces
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 Mellencamp is a drug addict and a moron.
I enjoyed some of his music but that is about it.
Must think Indianans are as stupid as Minnesotans.
Why the name recognition alone might get him 3 %. And , man, if he can sing... (can he?)
He buy able...and as immoral as they come...He’d have to get his drug use under controll or we’d have another Patches in DC.
Indiana’s own version of “Al Franken” sans talent?
I’ve read about mellenhead over the years here at FR. He makes Franken look like an intellectual.
So he may be a loudmouthed collectivist asshole, but he seems like the kind of guy who wouldn't take a bribe in order to be a good member of the politburo? It will be most gratifying to be healthcare-rationed to death or marched to the gulag knowing Comrade Mellencamp is too much a "man of the people" to compromise himself with mere money.
Political zealotry and an air of incorruptibility make a dandy combination for advancing tyranny, and is one of the oldest scams in the book. Lenin, Mao and Hitler...
Mr. niteowl77
In order to be able to write music, you need to be able to READ music. Does this putz even know how to read music? Paul McCartney can't.
I heard him interviewed a couple of years ago and came away thinking he was Sean Penn's long lost twin brother.....
He is an overgrown teenager.
Well said.
The Democrats could certainly do worse. And probably will.
Old school, new school. Dems don’t understand that everything ISN’T free and you can’t take things away from people and give it to others without serious consequences.
Do you think Mellonhead would understand the horrible consequences of deficit spending and staggering debt? I doubt it.
Mellencamp??
Sure, why not...
A Drug-addicted Drunk who hangs with internationally-wanted pedophiles and child porn peddlers, who also happens to be an ex-rock star would be the perfect Democrat Candidate.
For California.....
It won’t fly in Indiana.
This guy has been so far up Obama's a$$ since day one, he'd be a dream target for his opponent.
Ads + Rallies = Hugs + Embraces
“Political zealotry and an air of incorruptibility make a dandy combination for advancing tyranny, and is one of the oldest scams in the book. Lenin, Mao and Hitler...”
I’m going to REMEMBER that!
First the Senate, then The Pink House...
Brother. Maybe it’s time to repeal the 17th Amendment. I give Minnesota and “Senator” Franken as exhibit A.....
Well there’s a young man in a t-shirt
Listening to a rockin’ rollin’ station
He’s got a greasy hair, greasy smile
He says: “Lord, this must be my destination”
‘Cuz they told me, when I was younger
“Boy, you’re gonna be president”
But just like everyting else, those old crazy dreams
Just kinda came and went
“Mellencamp certainly has the home-state credibility. Few rockers have been so closely associated with a state as Mellencamp with Indiana.”
Mellencamp is so closely associated with his home town that he doesn’t even claim it. He is from Seymour, but claims Bloomington as his hometown. Bloomington is as liberal as it gets. He has no credibility since he can’t even acknowledge his roots. Another disgusting liberal.
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