Bruce for Barack!

Man I've been so disgusted with politics lately that I haven't had the stomach to post anything, but this news today makes it all a little worthwhile again. A little backstory: In the past few weeks I've been on this random classic rock kick and I've had typical stuff like the Stones, Hendrix, Beatles and Dylan on heavy rotation on my iPod. But even more than those acts, a brother like me has had the works of Bruce Springsteen playing over and over, mostly his ballads, and I can't seem to tire of the stuff. I've been playing familiar tracks like Streets of Philadelphia from the Philadelphia movie which won him a Grammy, and also tracks that I only just now learned about like The Ghost of Tom Joad which I'm now completely addicted to. Of course there's one of my absolute favorite live tracks American Skin (41 Shots) inspired by the NYPD's Amadou Diallo disgrace, which really showed his conscience and won me over a few years ago (and made me finally realize why my Jr. high school algebra teacher Mr. Baker used to wax on and on about Springsteen and sometimes not even teach us any dang math so he could teach about 'the Bruce'). Years later I can appreciate him as an enduring artist and small piece of the whole culture.

So what a pleasant surprise it is to hear this news from the man himself, especially during this insane week in the presidential campaign -- Springsteen endorses Obama! That's what's up. Later for all that crap about Clinton representing the blue collar crowd, Springsteen reps that harder than anybody in the public eye and now he's on board with brother Barack. My faith is slightly restored, perhaps I'll watch that last debate tonight afterall.

Here is an all-Springsteen YouTube page.

Here is Bruce's statement from his website, April 16, 2008.

Dear Friends and Fans:

LIke most of you, I've been following the campaign and I have now seen and heard enough to know where I stand. Senator Obama, in my view, is head and shoulders above the rest.

He has the depth, the reflectiveness, and the resilience to be our next President. He speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years, a generous nation with a citizenry willing to tackle nuanced and complex problems, a country that's interested in its collective destiny and in the potential of its gathered spirit. A place where "...nobody crowds you, and nobody goes it alone."

At the moment, critics have tried to diminish Senator Obama through the exaggeration of certain of his comments and relationships. While these matters are worthy of some discussion, they have been ripped out of the context and fabric of the man's life and vision, so well described in his excellent book, Dreams of My Father, often in order to distract us from discussing the real issues: war and peace, the fight for economic and racial justice, reaffirming our Constitution, and the protection and enhancement of our environment.

After the terrible damage done over the past eight years, a great American reclamation project needs to be undertaken. I believe that Senator Obama is the best candidate to lead that project and to lead us into the 21st Century with a renewed sense of moral purpose and of ourselves as Americans.

Over here on E Street, we're proud to support Obama for President.



Bruce Springsteen

Bet.

UPDATE: Hey, wouldn't it be cool if Springsteen wrote the next catchy Obama song just like will.i.am did earlier in the campaign?

Today the folk musician said, "I always look at my work as trying to measure the distance between American promise and American reality," in comments to the media after his endorsement. Then he added, "And I think he's inspired a lot of people with that idea: How do you make that distance shorter?" (I saw it on Time.com/quotes).