A couple of months ago, I argued here that Bruce Springsteen and other artists on MoveOn's tour to oppose Bush's reelection might well backfare, annoying swing voters, and causing a backlash against liberal performers. Well, I'm here to tell you I was wrong.
Bruce's rally in Madison, WI drew 80,000 people today and pumped up John Kerry's neck-and-neck race with BC04 in that state. And Springsteen will stay on the road through the eve of the election, closing things out with a huge rally in Cleveland next week. Wisconsin and Ohio, pillars of the promised land and a Bush defeat. I now believe that Bruce (and Jon Bon Jovi, who's also appearing with Kerry) can sway some key votes in the last hours, and I think the tour excited the base of support for the Democrats and gave the entire campaign an aura of excitement and charisma that - quite obviously - it has lacked in other ways.
Today in Wisconsin, Springsteen was sparse, direct, and elegant - devoid of irony - like the best of his songs:
"I've been writing songs about America for thirty year, about what America stands for, and what America fights for. The essential ideas of America's identity are what is at stake November 2."
Springsteen praised Kerry for honoring America's ideals, for addressing issues of economic justice, health care, civil rights, the environment, for advocating "a sane and responsible foreign policy," and for "safeguarding our precious democracy." He said Kerry has "an adult view" of our place in the world and "understands that we are not infallible." The Boss said Kerry has helped America face its "hard truths" and find a "deeper patriotism" and will "make our world a better and a safer place." Springsteen invoked the name of Paul Wellstone, mentioning that the late Senator from Minnesota had a saying, "The future is for the passionate." To that, Springsteen added: "Well, the future is now, and let your passions loose. The country we carry in our hearts is waiting."
Then he played The Promised Land, a 24-year-old song that has aged quite well - and a song that urges its listeners to "blow away the lies that leave you nothing but lost and broken hearted." In Wisconsin and Ohio, they're listening.
