I forgave Mellencamp, so get off Springsteen's ass...

[HardWorkingDem]

It really makes me wonder how often those so quick to criticize take the time to entire a person's entire life time of actions, work and behavior. Here we have a bunch of DU members upset that Springsteen made a deal with Wal-Mart to sell a cd. He's admitted to making mistake and I bet will soon make an announcement that all profits from the selling of this cd will go to some charitable organization.

But what still happens? My goodness, look at this guy's history and current interviews. This man is one of our best, open and popular leftists out there!

The guy performs in front of a US President with Pete Seeger! And people here question his motives? Get real people.




As for Mellencamp, at first I was pissed at him for doing the Chevy add and then I read several interviews where he explained it and discussed what it takes to get his music out in the general public anymore and what has resulted in it? Some of his best work in some time.

[Warpy]

1. What do you hire these people for?

I despise Robert Duvall's politics, but I hire him because he's one of the best character actor/storytellers in the business.

Most right wingers are minor talents but there are a few out there who have been outstanding. I hire them for their talent, not their politics.

[HardWorkingDem]

2. Well....agree and disagree........

I don't know if this is a fair contradiction or not. There are some I see the same way, but others I don't. I do think an entertainer's personal politics are important, but maybe that is just when they become an open advocate for things. I'm trying to wrack my brain to think of a rabid right winger that I wouldn't support, but can't think of a specific name. But I do believe I would not buy the products of someone on the right who appeared in the same ways as Springsteen does for liberals. Take Stephen Baldwin. He's so whack and disgusting I would not pay to see one of his movies. Duvall, yes, because he doesn't carry himself the same way. I don't think this makes me a hypocrite.

[Warpy]

3. Baldwin was never much of a talent

so I'd never consider buying or renting any of his performances on DVD.

Duvall is actually quite active, although he doesn't manipulate the press as well. His politics stink. However, he's one of the best character actors in the business and that's what I buy. If I ever hear him do a political speech, I'll probably throw something at him.

[HardWorkingDem]

15. Ted Nugent is another one....

I wouldn't buy one of his cds or tickets simply because of his politics. He does have two songs I like, but his views make me sick. However, I feel at one of his shows he has all the right in the world to make them known to his audience.

[endless october]

4. i'm not big on walmart, but i won't dogpile on Springsteen.

talented dude, like his work. i don't know if he qualifies as a national treasure like Dylan, but he's close.

[inthebrain]

5. Melloncamp has always been whore

Of course is "getting his music out into the general public" came with a nice paycheck.

I find that guy to be a talentless hack anyways. He never really did anything that made me stop and go, "wow, that's something new". Mellancamp's music is purely leeching off of what has come before. He never has anything interesting, original or thought provoking to offer. He never really says anything in his music.

He's terrible.

And the fact that he's a sell out doesn't surprise me. The Chevy ad is not the first one he's done.

[otohara]

10. Whoring For Barack Obama, Farmers & Anti War

and his love for America.

You may not like his music, but aside from the Chevy ad, tell me what you speak of when you say....he's always been a whore?


TO WASHINGTON
Eight years of peace and prosperity
Scandal in the White House
An election is what we need
From coast-to-coast to Washington

So America voted on a president
No one kept count
On how the election went
From Florida to Washington

Goddamn, said one side
And the other said the same
Both looked pretty guilty
But no one took the blame
From coast-to-coast to Washington

So a new man in the White House
With a familiar name
Said he had some fresh ideas
But it's worse now since he came
From Texas to Washington

And he wants to fight with many
And he says it's not for oil
He sent out the National Guard
To police the world
From Baghdad to Washington

What is the thought process
To take a humans life
What would be the reason
To think that this is right
From heaven to Washington
From Jesus Christ to Washington

[inthebrain]

13. The chevy ad was not the first time he sold his music for advertising

And sorry, this guy came out with his anti Bush music when it was SAFE to do so.

THere were a lot of other artists, I'm thinking of the Dixie Chicks and Pearl Jam in particular, that came out with theirs when it was UNSAFE to do so.

Mellancamp obviously saw gold here and went for it. Funny that "Our Country" was sold to GM long before it was even released on an album.

[HardWorkingDem]

14. Evidently you know nothing of Mellencamp...

Do you even know that during the refurbishing of the Statue of Liberty back in the 80's he went on national tv in an interview and said he didn't give shit if it fell over because of the money being spent on it versus the plight of the American family farmer?

I'd love you to show more examples of his supposed "whoring"...

Guess you never heard the song Country Gentleman off of Big Daddy, either.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[brentspeak]

16. Congratulations on winning Dumb Post of The Day.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

6. I forgive him for WalMart, but not the song "Outlaw Pete" on the new album...

...seriously.

That's 8 minutes of my life that I can never get back.

I posted the "Springsteen Calls WalMart Deal A Mistake" thread yesterday, but I just copied and pasted without comment. I thought it was interesting that he spoke out but really don't care of he sells his CDs at WalMart or Wally World.

[nutsnberries]

8. i posted about forgiving Neil Young (below) before seeing

the PICTURE on your posts! -love it! :)

[nutsnberries]

7. I forgave Neil Young

for comments about Reagan. Mellencamp and Springsteen are ok in my book too.

[MADem]

9. The people who don't like the situation can make themselves feel good by not buying the product.

And as for WalMart, their employee practices may not be the best, but at least their paychecks don't bounce. This is a difficult economy--a lot of those WalMart jobs are keeping people afloat, like it or not. And I rather doubt the entire WalMart workforce is Republican.

People who hate WalMart shouldn't shop there or, if they make products, sell them there.

It's not like Springsteen is abusing a child, after all. He's not doing anything illegal.

Don't participate if it bothers you.

[blues90]

12. none of these artists even know who you are and you forgive them

They will make and sell their music and have been for many years , they don't need anyones personal approval. Get real!