FR EXCLUSIVE: Springsteen Called For Impeachment of President Bush at DC Concert

Kristinn | September 13, 2003 | Krsitinn via Angelwood

[Angelwood]

Rock star Bruce Springsteen called for the impeachment of President George W. Bush at a nearly sold-out concert at FedEx Field just outside of Washington, DC tonight. During the introductions of his back-up band, The E Street Band, Springsteen said of saxophonist Clarence Clemons, "It's time to impeach the president and get a man in there to get us out of this mess." The audience cheered in response.

At a recent concert at Fenway Park in Boston, Springsteen touted liberal comedian Al Franken's new book and encouraged people to read it. In the Spring, Springsteen issued a statement defending the Dixie Chicks after they told a foreign audience that they were "ashamed that the President of the United States was from Texas."

At least Springsteen chose to make his statement about impeaching President Bush in the nation's capital. However, his timing just two days after the nation marked the second anniversary of the September 11 attacks is sure to make his remarks even more controversial than otherwise, especially because the nation's capital was a target.

Springsteen was silent during the eight years of Bill Clinton's presidency: A time when children were gassed and burned to death at Waco; our national security was betrayed to the communist Chinese government in exchange for millions of dollars for Clinton's campaign coffers; and when Clinton lied under oath and obstructed justice in a civil rights lawsuit filed by one of the "little people" that Springsteen champions.

Springsteen's current album and tour are based on the September 11 attacks and he has several songs about the bravery of those who gave their lives responding to those attacks. Springsteen's tour is scheduled to end at the beginning of October with three dates at New York City's Shea Stadium.

[MotleyGirl70]

"Shut up!" LOL!

[visualops]

bump for truth

[Conservative til I die]

Celebrities: What don't they know!!!

[Conservative til I die]

Awww, hero worship. Get off Springsteen's nut, dude.

[ABN]

I was there at the Springsteen concert last night. Here is what I heard:

1. As described, he called for the President's impeachment, and tried to get a chant going of Impeach, Impeach, Impeach.

2. He mockingly referred to "an undisclosed location" and later said that he welcomed people of all political persuasions - except perhaps for Dick Cheney.

3. What really took the cake (where I had to get up and leave) is when he totally stopped singing and went into a political monologue, talking about how we may have been misled into the war in Iraq, and how serious it was to have such misrepresentation when it dealt with the lives of our Servicemembers. It was presented as if it was a fact that there had been significant falsification, and his recommended solution (as reported above) seemed to be that we should get someone in there who will get us out of there.

I've been a long term fan of Springsteen, but this to me was beyond irresponsible - it either ignores the threat (tough to do after 9-11) or recommends surrender. I guess the arguement will be that there was no threat from Sadaam, that he was unrelated to al Queda - but this will be proven wrong, and in the interim we should give those with access to the real intelligence (i.e. the President) the benefit of the doubt, so we can function effectively (an important safety tip when at war).

[Rebelbase]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!

[Conservative til I die]

Listen to the Rising,the best tibute to the Victims of 9?11 hands down

Tribute? More like profiteering. Really, get off the dude's nut.

[NEW YORKCITYGOPMAN]

This is his statement from his opening night show at Giants Stadium, 7-15-03. I attended the 7-17-03 and he said essentially the same. Now, he has obviously become more strident and vocal in his anti-Bush rantings.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN STATEMENT ON OPENING NIGHT AT GIANTS STADIUM


"People come to my shows with many different kinds of political beliefs; I like that, we welcome all. There have been a lot of questions raised recently about the forthrightness of our government. This playing with the truth has been a part of both the Republican and Democratic administrations in the past and it is always wrong, never more so than when real lives are at stake. The question of whether we were mislead into the war in Iraq isn't a liberal or conservative or Republican or Democratic question, it's an American one. Protecting the democracy that we ask our sons and daughters to die for is our responsibility and our trust. Demanding accountability from our leaders is our job as citizens. It's the American way. So may the truth will out."

[ace2u_in_dc]

I respectfully disagree - He did not "Call for Impeachment"... As part of the band intros, he has ALWAYS called for Clarence to run for President.

He did not try to lead the crowd in chants of "Impeach". I was in the GA area right in front of the stage, and it just did not happen.

What is being discussed is what has been termed "The PSA" that happens in the second encore. He spoke about demanding accountability from Both Democrats and Republicans. He actually stated that his shows draw from both sides of the political arena, and all are welcome.

Up until last year, Bruce Springsteen publicly supported President Bush. The issue seems to be the Iraq "crisis", and the reasons that lead to war, and the costs afterward.

And, in no specific order, some answers to some misconceptions:

"The River" was written about his sister, he just did not use her real name.

"Born in the USA" is about how we, as America, treated the Vietnam vet after the war was over.

Bruce Springsteen also gave a PSA last night to support the Capital Area Food Bank.

41 Shots was totally blown out of proportion. The final line is "You can get yourself killed by simply living in your American Skin".

"The Rising" has one central theme. HOPE! Hope that drives a person to overcome a tragedy. Hope to stop suicide bombings (the tour premier of "Paradise" was also last night) and the hatred between peoples.

Bruce is a life-long democrat. But he does not actively promote one candidate over another.

[ace2u_in_dc]

Not at all, is was almost the same thing last night...

[spookycc]

Hang in there, M-ak. Just remember we are in the right and your husband is standing up for the worthiest of causes. Thanks to both of you.

[soozla]

Bruce Springsteen=A legend in his own mind

[NEW YORKCITYGOPMAN]

So his statement last night was essentially what he said in July, then? He did NOT seriously ask for Bush's impeachment last night?

[tgslTakoma]

K, ABN, CF... you were there last night. Although you all already told us what you heard and saw, would you care to respond to ace2u's differing recollection?

How was the sound in Fed-Ex Field? Maybe folks in the nosebleed sections couldn't hear Springsteen's ill-informed comments? Just guessing myself, as I've never been to FEF.

[ace2u_in_dc]

Pretty much the same speech. It was also the same as he gave in Philly last month...

The only difference was the poking fun about "Undisclosed Loaction".

[ABN]

The quote that you had from July sounds very close to what he said last night.

I maintain that he did attempt start a chant of Impeach, Impeach, but it didn't catch on. He said it 4 or 5 times, thrusting a fist in the air. I believe that it was during the "Rock and Roll Excorcism" that he was perfoming for DC.

[ABN]

I was up in the nosebleed seats, and could hear him fine.

[ABN]

The start of the PSA where, where he says that they welcome all, is where he inserted his quip that he wasn't sure about Dick Cheney.

[ace2u_in_dc]

"Rock and Roll Excorcism" was during Mary's place, I believe, during the main set. That was before the "Born in the USA" PSA lead-in in encore 2.

Last night's setlist:

Band came out to Another Saturday night

1. I WALK THE LINE
2. The Rising
3. Lonesome Day
4. The Promised Land
5. The Fuse
6. Empty Sky
7. You're Missing
8. Waitin On A Sunny Day
9. No Surrender
10. HUMAN TOUCH
11. She's The One
12. Badlands
13. Mary's Place
14. PARADISE - dedicated to Capt. Bob Dolan (?)
15. Jungleland
16. Into The Fire

17. PINK CADILLAC
18. Bobby Jean
19. Ramrod
20. Born To Run
21. Seven Nights To Rock

22. My City Of Ruins
23. Born In The USA
24. Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)
25. Dancing In The Dark

[ace2u_in_dc]

I agree that he was poking fun at Cheney, with the "undisclosed location" joke and such. He did not say it with malace, as far as I could tell.