"I mean, who cheers Presidents at concerts?"

[babylonsister]

:fistbump:


http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/05/03/pete_seegers_90_birthday_concert_and_president_oba/

Pete Seeger's 90th Birthday Concert and President Obama
By M.J. Rosenberg - May 3, 2009, 10:33PM


On Sunday night Pete Seeger's 90th birthday was celebrated with a concert at Madison Square Garden.

It was great. Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Ben Harper, Richie Havens, Joan Baez, Billy Bragg, Rufus Wainwright, Arlo Guthrie, and a dozen or two other headliners performed.

And Pete Seeger, of course.

But here's the amazing thing. In my life, I have never been to a concert (let alone a lefty concert) at which the name of the President of the United States was cheered. At previous concerts I've been to over the decades, the names of Kennedy, Johnson, Carter or Clinton were no more likely to be cheered than those of Reagan or Bush.

I mean, who cheers Presidents at concerts? Traditionally, names of Presidents go unmentioned. Or they are booed.

Springsteen said that he never saw Seeger more happy than at Obama's inauguration, noting that Seeger saw Obama's ascendancy as proof that he, Seeger, had "outlived the bastards."

One more thing. The 30,000 people in the audience wildly cheered a letter from Obama saluting Seeger.

Two incredible things there. One, a President salutes a life-long radical (and also has him perform at his inauguration). Two, an audience of aging hippies and 20-somethings goes nuts every time the President is mentioned.

I can't believe I've lived to see the day.

Happy Birthday, Pete Seeger. The America of your music may be in the process of being born.

[AtomicKitten]

1. It's a beautiful thing.

:fistbump:

[FrenchieCat]

2. The America of your music may be in the process of being born.

So glad he got that gift.....long as it was in coming! :patriot:

[Arugula Latte]

3. On Inauguration Day, I kept thinking: "I'm so glad Pete lived to see this."

What a cool thing. Obama is the Uniter we've been waiting for. :toast:

[OneBlueSky]

4. here's a photo from the concert . . .

Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Dave Matthews, Tao Rodriquez and Pete Seeger perform onstage at Pete Seeger's 90th Birthday Celebration benefiting Clearwater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

and here's a link to the New York Times review of the event . . .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5592350&mesg_id=5592350

[grantcart]

9. Joan still looks great

[hisownpetard]

27. She's still incredibly great looking!

[pnorman]

14. Thanks for that photo!

The hard-core Teabaggers will no doubt freak out over O'Bama having invited an unrepentant "leftie" to his Inaugural ceremony. I urge all here who have written him off as "in the pocket of Corporate America", to consider that. The wingnuts probably have a much better sense of what he represents, than many of us here at DU!

pnorman
PS:As an "unrepentant leftist" myself, I don't regard O'Bama as a "fellow leftist". Instead, I regard him as pragmatic 'centrist", but with a STRONG sense of JUSTICE! (Also, apparently a "think 4 moves ahead" chess player).

On edit: Here it is on Democracy Now!: http://www.democracynow.org/2009/5/4/legendary_folk_singer_activist_pete_seeger
On further edit: The entire Inaugural event is available FREE from Audible.com: http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/products/ProductDetail.jsp?productID=FR_APNS_090120a&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

[Phx_Dem]

15. What a stellar group of musicians. I wish I could have been there.

But, at least we got to see Springsteen and Seeger at the inaugural concert, which was awesome. They were so great, as was everyone! I've watched that concert a few times now and will undoubtedly watch it a few more!

Happy Birthday, Pete. :party:

[OneBlueSky]

26. I'd be surprised if they didn't tape the show for later broadcast . . .

as, say, a PBS fund raiser and for sale on DVD . . . if they didn't, they missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will never happen again . . .

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

5. One of the good guys, living until 90? And active?

I'm amazed. :wow: :thumbsup:

[zbdent]

6. as I remember, there were small, but vocal groups who loudly applauded

(in a fashion which really appeared fake) Bush ...

and it was always put forth as "impromptu" ...

[leftofcool]

7. After all these years...

I still love you, Pete

[Bjorn Against]

8. I was there...

There were a few times that Obama was mentioned including the reading of a letter by Obama himself, and Michael Franti played a song which was very positive towards Obama as well. Obama did no doubt receive a very positive response. I do have to take exception to the New York Times' review of the concert however, as they made it appear as if it were more a celebration of Obama than of Pete Seeger. Obama received big applause, but for the New York Times to imply that people cheered him more than they cheered Seeger is quite simply not true and I think it really undermines what the event was about. This was a celebration of Pete Seeger's life and the work he has done for peace, civil rights, and the environment it was not an Obama rally.

[polichick]

19. Lucky you! Thanks for the clarification. :)

[ClarkUSA]

10. It took Barack Obama to make President "cool" to the folks that made up the term.

The circle is complete. Let's enjoy this moment in history. :party:

[LynneSin]

11. I've seen about 30 concerts during the Bush years and I can say one thing for sure....

...any of these groups wanted to get their audience in an up-roar they just had to mention Bush's name and everyone would be booing.

Some of these concerts included: Dixie Chicks, Bob Dylan, just about everyone who did Live Earth and Live 8 (saw them both), Roger Waters (he had "Impeach Bush" in big letters across the ass of the Pig), Bon Jovi, John Meyer, Alanis Morissette, Bruce Springsteen and of course Green Day (I saw them the night Katrina was plowing thru New Orleans and trust me Billie Joe Armstrong even mentioned "where will bush be when this hurricane hits").

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

21. It's a shame the Green Day guys were killed in that barge incident.

:cry:

[DebbieCDC]

12. Bruce & Pete

:loveya:

[Forkboy]

13. Never heard of any of those people.

:yoiks:

But seriously kids...

Happy Birthday, Pete!!!!! :toast:

[Cha]

16. That was such a beautiful concert in D.C.

before the 2009 Inauguration and Pete Seeger was an amazing component. I'm so grateful that this concert at Madison Square Garden was able to come to fruition with Pete Seeger's 90th Birthday:party: and the cheering for our Prez Obama:bounce:

What a gift:party:

Thanks babylonsister and TPM(great site)!

[damntexdem]

17. Well, didn't they cheer Bill Clinton when he played the sax?

But, then, President Obama doesn't even have to play an instrument. ;-)

[Fire1]

18. Yes, they sure did. I still love me some William J. Clinton.

[tigereye]

20. here's to "outliving the bastards!"

Happy Birthday Pete!


:toast: :woohoo:

[Canuckistanian]

22. "outliving the bastards.". That's my goal in life

Happy day, Mr. Seeger. :thumbsup:

[Kablooie]

23. I've just gotta say, Bush got his share of cheers in his early days also.

Unfortunately.

[ZombieNixon]

24. The last two concerts I've been to, Obama got a shout out.

And it drew a good amount of cheers. These were prog/death metal concerts, mind you, so not the most politically optimistic crowd, either. I thought it was cool. :)

[RomanHoliday]

25. I think they had to make a rule this year at the Oscars..

.. that you weren't supposed to say political stuff in the acceptance speeches cause the producers thought every winner would go on and on about Obama.