Draft Bruce

June 22, 2004 8:35 AM

Draft Bruce
"A New York concert promoter has mounted an online campaign to 'draft' Bruce Springsteen to headline a rock 'n roll show to upstage the Republican National Convention on the night it nominates President Bush...." Said promoter Andrew Rasiej, "I've spoken to the manager of REM, to Bon Jovi's people and the rest of the names I've mentioned and they all said, 'if you build it, we will be there.'"

I'm not a big fan, but this has the potential to be momentous.
posted by mapalm (31 comments total)

" Republicans and Democrats both asked to use his 1984 hit "Born in the U.S.A." -- a song about how unwelcoming America was to returning Vietnam veterans but often mistaken for a patriotic anthem -- for use in political campaigns. Springsteen declined the requests."

made me laugh
posted by Grod at 8:38 AM on June 22, 2004

The www.draftbruce.com website seems to be down...
posted by BobFrapples at 8:51 AM on June 22, 2004

I don't know. I think all the people who would go to the concert would be better heard standing outside of the Republican Convention.
posted by trbrts at 8:52 AM on June 22, 2004

The misuse of Born in the USA has always amused me. The place I work for used it (probably illegally) in this 'inspirational video' on like the 10th anniversay of our division. So you'd see these video clips of our various product accomplishments complimented by lyrics about having to go kill Vietnamese and getting kicked around by the man, etc.
posted by xmutex at 8:55 AM on June 22, 2004

would be better heard standing outside of the Republican Convention.

Protesting outside the 10-block security radius doesn't get your cause any publicity. This would. Remember this is all about influencing the TV audience, not the crowds inside the venue.

Of course, if this goes forward, we'll undoubtedly be subjected to a Toby Keith/Tim McGraw mulletfest during Kerry's nomination.
posted by PrinceValium at 8:58 AM on June 22, 2004

Bon Jovi? Come on. The Democrats have plenty (probably most) good artists, why drag out these?

Oh well, if Springsteen pulls out Crazy Gore, this could be a huge coup... for the GOP.
posted by dagny at 9:01 AM on June 22, 2004

Why do Americans always want celebrities to save the Republic?
posted by 327.ca at 9:02 AM on June 22, 2004

I nominate Morrissey for the concert.

xmutex, I'll second you on the misuse of "Born in the USA." I once had the "pleasure" of seeing a high-school-aged YMCA group of synchronized swimmers perform to that song decked out in red-white-n-blue and waving flags. Ha ha.
posted by Shane at 9:05 AM on June 22, 2004

This is so childish.

I actually enjoy watching conventions. Both Democratic and Republican. Process in action and all that. I even remember Clinton's neverending nomination speech for Dukakis. Comedy gold.

Besides, isn't the Boss old news pretty much? "Born in the USA" came out in 1984.
posted by konolia at 9:08 AM on June 22, 2004

Perhaps someone should help this guy set up a PayPal account so that people can donate to pay for Bruce's appearance fee? Think of how much cash was raised for Star Wars guy.
Bruce can't say no to cash, can he? Can anyone?
posted by nprigoda at 9:47 AM on June 22, 2004

Besides, isn't the Boss old news pretty much? "Born in the USA" came out in 1984.

And The Rising came out in 2002. I have trouble deciding if it is his best work since Born To Run, or his best work period.

After that, a 2003 best of disc, a live disc (with E Street) and a couple of very successful tours.

So, yeah, he hasn't done squat since Bored Born in the U.S.A.
posted by eriko at 9:53 AM on June 22, 2004

konolia: Springsteen is probably the most popular live act in the world right now.
posted by jpoulos at 9:53 AM on June 22, 2004

Konolia, dear, snarkiness just isn't your thing.
posted by Space Coyote at 9:55 AM on June 22, 2004

Why do Americans always want celebrities to save the Republic?

Good question. I think this is a horrid idea, personally. It might upstage the nomination, _or_ it might be a window of opportunity for the bush-fans to point and go "look at how childish they're being trying to step on the convention like that." Of course, that's tat for tit, considering the timing of the convention vis a vis 9/11, but there you go.
posted by swerdloff at 9:59 AM on June 22, 2004

I even remember Clinton's neverending nomination speech for Dukakis. Comedy gold.

I think you meant "insomniac's cure" instead of "comedy gold."
posted by me & my monkey at 10:03 AM on June 22, 2004

konolia: Springsteen is probably the most popular live act in the world right now.


For real? Sorry, I really didn't know. All I ever hear about is Britney and her ilk. Good for him.
posted by konolia at 10:40 AM on June 22, 2004

Of course, that's tat for tit, considering the timing of the convention vis a vis 9/11, but there you go.

I think that the timing of the convention has a good chance of backfiring. It's quite crass, and I expect many people will recognize that. Perhaps it would be best to let the Republicans dig their own hole?
posted by mr_roboto at 10:55 AM on June 22, 2004

It's so childish, and I'm not even sure how the concert will upstage the convention when the convention will be broadcast live on every network channel plus cable news.
posted by gyc at 11:20 AM on June 22, 2004

I wonder if the FCC will consider the concert a commercial for the Democratic Party, and invoke equal-time requirements? Obviously that's ludicrous, yet the fear of same seems to have been what nuked the MoveOn.org prizewinning anti-Bush ad a few months back - no network would take MoveOn's money. I would be surprised if that doesn't turn out to be a huge stumbling block for this effort as well.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 11:25 AM on June 22, 2004

Once again, the campaign is Bush vs. Not-Bush.

Not good for Kerry.
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 11:54 AM on June 22, 2004

If the Republicans tried this (let's skip that they woudln;t get the acts...) a lot of people would be freaking out and screaming some odd conspiracy theory.

Fortunately in this case we are spared that. It's just kind of pathetic, not really dangerous.

On the other hand, if they are serious about this thing I suggest that now that the Olsens are 18, if you REALLY want to upstage an event the possabilities have just opened up dramatically.
posted by soulhuntre at 11:54 AM on June 22, 2004

I wonder if the FCC will consider the concert a commercial for the Democratic Party, and invoke equal-time requirements?

There are no equal-time requirements. The Fairness Doctorine hasn't been in effect for years.
posted by drezdn at 12:29 PM on June 22, 2004

Once again, the campaign is Bush vs. Not-Bush.

Not good for Kerry.

On the contrary, excellent for Kerry. The less you see him, the more you like him.
Plus, Bush consistently loses in polls when the choice is Bush vs not-Bush. It's when Kerry - or any other actual choice - is introduced that the polls tighten.
posted by CunningLinguist at 12:32 PM on June 22, 2004

Once again, the campaign is Bush vs. Not-Bush.

Not good for Kerry.

Since Kerry is not Bush, your logic is a bit suspect. Nice troll, though!
posted by mkultra at 12:40 PM on June 22, 2004

It's so childish, and I'm not even sure how the concert will upstage the convention when the convention will be broadcast live on every network channel plus cable news.

It's not the concert's fault if the networks want to commit ratings suicide by showing this ghoulish, morbid pandering they're calling a convention.
posted by Space Coyote at 12:54 PM on June 22, 2004

Steve_at_Trollwood, on the contrary, anything anti-Bush is pro-Kerry. The fact that Kerry's above trying to capitalize on every little stupid thing that Bush does or says is demonstrative of his character more than anything else.

Besides, if your opponent seemed hellbent on hanging himself before the election, wouldn't you let him?

A smart candidate will allow the spotlight to shine on his opponent when that spotlight is highlighting all of the opponents failings.

Good for Kerry, very good for Kerry indeed.

On Preview: Hey Space Coyote, if Comedy Central were smart (and they are) they'd run the convention but with the Lie-o-meter in the bottom corner of the screen to try and keep track of the little white ones and the big nasty, stinky brown ones they'll be laying and spewing.
posted by fenriq at 1:04 PM on June 22, 2004

I dont think anything anti-bush is pro-kerry, most of the people i know that are on the fence, dont like bush, but are far from convinced that kerry would be better.
posted by yeahyeahyeahwhoo at 1:49 PM on June 22, 2004

Why do Americans always want celebrities to save the Republic?

Why is it human nature for people to always look for something outside themselves to save them?

As for me, I always get a smirk when radio stations use Elvis Costello's "Radio, Radio" in their ads.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 5:07 PM on June 22, 2004

...keep track of the little white ones and the big nasty, stinky brown ones they'll be laying and spewing.

Sounds like a job for smell-o-vision™!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:25 PM on June 22, 2004

Since Bruce has always been very fast to have his PR firm decline all such opportunities in the past, the fact that there has been only silence on his part so far gives me hope that he's considering the idea. Most excellent idea I've read this month.
posted by billsaysthis at 9:11 PM on June 22, 2004

I nominate Morrissey for the concert.

Um, we want people to actually attend the concert, dude. An evening with Morrissey would make the GOP convention seem like a night in Danni Ashe's hot tub.
posted by jonmc at 6:26 AM on June 23, 2004