Boss Backs Barack, Bashes Bush

Anthony Riccio, center, work with fellow traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on June 1, 2012. / AP Photo/Richard Drew

Rock star Bruce Springsteen endorsed Democratic Sen. Barack Obama for president Wednesday, saying "he speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years."

In a letter addressed to friends and fans posted on his Web site, Springsteen said he believes Obama is the best candidate to undo "the terrible damage done over the past eight years."

"He has the depth, the reflectiveness, and the resilience to be our next president," the letter said. "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.'"

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Photos: Celeb Political Action - Part 1

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The bard of New Jersey is known for his lyrics about the struggles of working-class Americans, particularly in the economically ravaged factory towns of the Northeast.

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Photos: More Political Action - Part 2

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Springsteen and his E Street band were part of the Vote for Change tour, a coalition of musicians opposed to the re-election of President Bush in 2004. He wrote the anti-war ballad "Devils and Dust" about Iraq.

President Reagan used Springsteen's then-popular song "Born in the USA" at campaign rallies in 1984 until he was asked by Springsteen, who supported Democrat Walter Mondale, to stop. The song about a Vietnam veteran's hard times was often misinterpreted as a patriotic call to arms.

For Springsteen, speaking out about political issues is an important part of a musician's role in society.

"There's a part of the singer going way back in American history that is of course the canary in the coalmine," he told 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley in an interview last year. "When it gets dark, you're supposed to be singing. It's dark right now. And so I went back to Woody Guthrie and Dylan and the people who said, say take Pete Seeger, who wants to know, doesn't want to know how this song sounds, he wants to know what's it for."

Springsteen did not directly mention Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Obama's rival for the Democratic nomination, in his letter, but appeared to take issue with her recent criticisms of comments made by Obama about working-class voters in small towns in Pennsylvania and controversial statements by his pastor.

"Critics have tried to diminish Senator Obama through the exaggeration of certain of his comments and relationships," Springsteen wrote. "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 ... 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."

[ranger1948]

pookeye
Not supporting obama doesn''t make me a racists but a realist. I didn''t fall for his lies. Give me a black candidate worthy of the office and i will vote for him.

[phillysage]

Is it any surprise that anyone who calls himself, "The Boss" would be in league with the grossly unqualified, yet pathetically and audaciously Arrogant 3-year Senator from Illinois.

[aldon61]

I could care less who "the Boss" supports; he''s just a voter expressing an opinion. I like his choice, but if I were undecided or supported another candidate, is endoresment would be meaningless to me.

[blackspirit3]

IF WE START JUDGING INDIVIDUALS BASED ON THE PERSONS WHO THEY WORK WITH, SIT ON BOARDS WITH, ATTEND LODGE WITH, ATTEND THE SAME CHURCH, OR ATTEND THE SAME COUNTRY CLUBS, WE WILL NEVER HAVED A PRESIDENT, EVERYONE KNOWS AN IDIOT OR AN ****** WHO TALKS DUMB - IF YOU DO NOT KNOW ANYONE LIKE THAT -THEN ITS PROBLY YOU.

[Linda Kay Ward]

After reading some of these comments, thought I may be entering a time zone. So let me bring you, who choose to remain ignorant, express bigotry, and vote with racism, to a reality check.

USA born and bred in the 50''s, now fifty something who finally sees hope after my family has been stripped of their men and women from four wars.

Let''s reshape America into a brighter future for our children. Let''s support hope that is expressed in the music of the Boss and now in the politics of Barry.

[jack3213]

SAME OLD -SAME OLD- ARGUMENTS -BUT MORE ''BITTER'' & ANGRY- WHERE''S THE SURPRISE. THEY ARE FIGHTING EACH OTHER BECAUSE THEY ARE DENSE, THEY ARE NOT SMART ENOUGH TO UNITE THEIR OWN PARTY SO THEY ARE SPEWING HATRED FOR THINGS THAT WILL DRAW THEM APART. THE WAR WILL NOT END IN THE EVENT A DEMOCRAT COMES INTO OFFICE, NOR WILL GAS PRICES AUTOMATICALLY DECLINE. THE NAIVE AND AND YET HOPEFUL PEOPLE THINK CHANGE IS AUTOMATIC WITH A PRESIDENT OF A DIFFERANT PARTY AFFILIATION- GROW UP- THAT ISN''T THE CASE- NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE- WOULD YOU RATHER FINISH SOMETHING SUCCESSFULLY THAN RUN AWAY LIKE A COWARD BECAUSE YOU ARE AFRAID? TYPICAL AMERICANS OR SHALL I SAY-TYPICAL ''LIBERAL'' THE NEVER SATISIFED PEOPLE. CHANGE COMES AT A PRICE- AND THE PRICE YOU WILL PAY FOR A DEMOCRAT IS NOT A GOOD CHANGE- IT IS A VERY BAD ONE.

[ranger1948]

kansas 1946
that isn''t hpow i learned it in school. I can''t bel;ieve how many people are falling for obama''s lies. If he is elected you will regret it, if he lives to serve. I know there are many racial groups in the states who will not accept a black president, but especially not one like obama. I don''t wish to see anyone killed but i think it will happen if obama is elected.

[tulcak]

if you''ve been listening to springsteen''s music since the 1970''s and you are surprised at his support for Sen. Obama, then you truly are an idiot. springsteen is a true American... Sen. Obama is a true American. this bullsh*it that we have had to endure first under raygun and now under bush is the antithesis of our country and our constitution.
Sen. Obama will be President Obama and the whining of the republicans and the dishonesty of clinton and mccain will not change this.
i just hope he doesn''t get assassinated like all the great humans who began the movement toward civil rights and great dreams.

[kansas1946]

The way I see it, if you don''''t stand-up and place your right hand over your heart, like you are suppose to do, when the national anthem is played.

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This is what is wrong with Americans. They DON''T know what you are "supposed" to do. You are not supposed to place your right hand or any hand over your heart with the national anthem is played. You are supposed to stand. To recite the pledge of allegiance, you place your right hand over your heart to seal the "pledge." Obama did exacly as he should have done during the national athem, he stood. We learned this in high-school.

[wolfcruiser]

The way I see it, if you don''t stand-up and place your right hand over your heart, like you are suppose to do, when the national anthem is played,(Barrack Obama),you have no right running for president! There is just something about this
guy that isn''t right, to many unanswered questions! He tends to be a yes man and a backstepper and secretive!