I think there's the a great potential and risk when people begin to identify presidential candidates with rock bands. It's transmits a subliminal message that teh candiate is somehow like the rock stars... I'd rather voters inform themselves about the positions the candidates hold.

Interesting that you identify McCain with country music. Thank you for proving my point.

Sorry - I think that such as in Germany and in Oregon - this rockband craze to get the younger "voters" on board for a free concert with food or drinks to PROP up the attendance reporting to the Main Stream Media is unacceptable.

If you are going to give a concert such as Elton John did for Hillary Clinton as a fundraiser event - different story - but to do it all for publicity sake is disgusting - and of course the media jumps all over it expressing how many loving voters are there for their man.

I am very happy to see artist encourage the youth to vote.

I just wish it were a little more educational when it comes to issues and fair too.

Seems to me most artist have a hard time explaining why they support a candidate, most recently you have artist tearing the other candidate down rather than building up the candidate that they support .

What is wrong with people who look to Famous musicians and Hollywood elite to guide their important political decisions ? It is not like the majority of these Stars are going to be up for A Nobel prize anytime soon ! I mean , P Diddy , and Ludacris are telling people how to vote and people are freaking listening !!! Don't get me wrong , they are incredibly talented , musically , but if I have a serious health problem , I am not going to call up my Hair dresser to get a diagnosis - nor will I base my political decisions on what some rock star thinks !!!

I question how many go to these rock concerts to hear Bo or to hear the band, I'm pretty sure its to hear the band.

 But thisleads me to another point, if Bo cared so much about the US economy, and we know he has an in with these rock bands both home and abroad.  Why didn't he pull together a few concerts and publically inform the people of the US what was happening, educate them, give them a chance to have a say on the bailout.  People would have shown up for the concert and would have gotten educated at the same time.  Instead he chose to sit on his duff and correspond by telephone.  lol guess he's practicing for that 3 am call.  Sad truth is he's doing a dress rehearsal with your jobs, lives and money.

I believe that all youths want to identify themselves to a Rock star.  Unfortunately, some people never grow up.  It's hard for me to understand how people can still identify themselves to a rock group or otherwise. 

Movie stars and rock stars are known liberals that just "need" attention.  Yes, many have talent,but many are seeking approvement from an ever-loving audience.  It's said that BHO has to identify with bands to gain popularity.  How many people would be at his debates or campaign rallies without all the hype about a band?  Geez

Who is BO and BHO? 

Trish from Canada writes:

But this leads me to another point, if Bo cared so much about the US economy, and we know he has an in with these rock bands both home and abroad.  Why didn't he pull together a few concerts and publically inform the people of the US what was happening, educate them, give them a chance to have a say on the bailout.  People would have shown up for the concert and would have gotten educated at the same time.  Instead he chose to sit on his duff and correspond by telephone.  lol guess he's practicing for that 3 am call.  Sad truth is he's doing a dress rehearsal with your jobs, lives and money.

 How do you know that he has an 'in' with musicians? And if he did, so what? What do you say to the musicians that played at the RNC? Many of the concerts I listed happened before the most major economy fallout that happened just over a week ago. Plus, did you ever think that perhaps that he couldn't be in several places at the same time? Just askin'.

I think that people, especially the younger generation does look up to musical artists and while they might not agree with everything they say or do, they do have an audience that does pay attention. If musicians want to throw a party to support a candidate and I assume volunteer their time to raise money, what is the offence? I think some are seeing a great conspiracy theory here from the Obama Camp where there isn't one. If you don't support the man and are not going to vote for him, fine, but it seems like people are trying to find anyway possible to find holes in his campagin.

Contributing Editor - Race, Ethnicity & Culture

Writing is Fighting: www.lainad.typepad.com

In this case I think it's giving an unfair slant. Anyone who is against Obama is intimidated, called a racist, maybe gets their tires slashed. So the performers who happened to favor Obama's opponent would be afraid to speak publically. So it may look like all the musicians are for Obama, just because the others are afraid to speak out.

My position is that it is a shame that our Nation's youth take their lead from musicians AT ALL - not simply dependant upon whom the musician supports . Should the Entertainment Community really attempt to position them sselves as the moral athority in this Country ?

Are we , as a Nation ,so lacking in educated and politically astute persons that a young person's only exposure to the political experience is via MTV or BET or VH1 ?? That is disgraceful .

Look at the character and the life experience of those who would guide you . It is inappropriate to lure the young people of this Country into making an ill informed decision based on a concert - regardless of your party affiliation .

We should be encouraging them to research and educate themselves in this process - to never follow blindly , and to make an INFORMED vote based on the results of their in depth discovery .

People loved Castro , they followed him , he held concerts , he was the face of 'change' in Cuba . If more people had researched his 'plan'. Maybe Cuba would be a different place today . Don't believe the hype .

Four years ago I made a pilgrimage to one of the Vote for Change concerts, which were held in critical swing states.  It was a phenomenal experience--Springsteen, R.E.M. and Tracey Chapman played movingly and powerfully at the one I attended, and the crowd had revival energy.  It didn't affect the election, but it did charge up the hopeful dems in the audience.  

One suggested correction to your article from the fangirl in me.  Springsteen's limelight can NEVER dim.  It will burn brightly forever. 

Deb

www.debontherocks.com

blog

www.3smartgirlz.com

consulting

Springsteen's light will never be dimmed! In fact, one of my favourite metal bands, Mastodon recently professed their love for Springsteen. So I apologize! 

 Fsteele, I understand that you are entitled to your opinion, but In my opinion it's comments like, Anyone who is against Obama is intimidated, called a racist, maybe gets their tires slashed. So the performers who happened to favor Obama's opponent would be afraid to speak publically Which is why some look sideways at people who denounce Obama.

If you don't like his politics, fine. But there always seem to be these common insinuations against Obama and his supporters, especially in the blogosphere -insinuations that are commonly used against black folks of being 'oversenstitive' (i.e. defending and / or calling out prejudice and bigotry against themselves, which apparently is a No-No) and prone to violence - in your case, vandalism that make people wary. Plus, do you watch Fox News? Them folks aren't afraid to critisize Obama. I could say that everyone who is supporting Sarah Palin resent progressive thinking,pro-choice, non-religious, non-hypocritical liberal women, and feel that if a woman isn't married and does not have multiple children is a freak...but I won't go there. that would be ignorant, wouldn't it?

As for people looking up to musicians, I dunno. I certianly did as a kid and I still do today - I was in love with Judas Priest's Rob Halford and guess what? I actually interviewed him about a month ago and I still had the same admiration for him as I did when I was 11. I think it depends on a lot of factors as to what fans can get so enraptured with musical artists and how far they want to take their admiration. Some do so quite literally and some, like myself, admire the freedom and the fact that these people have been able to make a succesful living doing what millions of people would give their left arm to do.

Contributing Editor - Race, Ethnicity & Culture

Writing is Fighting: www.lainad.typepad.com