8 Politics

CHAPTER 8 Politics When Bruce was a boy, his family didn't talk about politics a lot. His mother told him that since they were "working people," they were Democrats. She said that because the Democratic Party has a long history of passing laws to help the poor. But Bruce never really thought much about politics or the purpose of government. For most of his career, Bruce kept his feelings about political issues out of his music. But in 2003, the United States invaded the country of Iraq in the Middle East. As with Vietnam, Bruce didn't think the United States needed to be in this war. Bruce knew that a lot of his fans respected his opinion. It was time for him to speak his mind.

John Kerry In the 2004 presidential election, Bruce threw his support behind John Kerry, the Democratic candidate. John Kerry had fought in the Vietnam War. He had met Bruce twenty-three years earlier at a Vietnam veterans benefit. Now Bruce and the E Street band led a concert tour called the Vote for Change tour. During the tour, other groups like Pearl Jam and the Dixie Chicks played concerts, too. The goal was to inspire people to go out and vote for John Kerry.

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John Kerry lost to George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election. But Kerry's defeat did not end Bruce's commitment to politics. A few years later he read a book called Dreams from My Father. It was written by Barack Obama, who was then a US senator from Illinois. The book described Obama's life and his search to discover his roots. Bruce was inspired by Obama's words. When Obama ran for president in 2008, Bruce gave the young senator his support. Bruce posted an endorsement of Obama on his website. He wrote, "He speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years." Obama was pleased to have Bruce behind him. He even joked with his wife, Michelle, that the reason he was running for president was because he couldn't be Bruce Springsteen!

Bruce spoke at a campaign rally for Barack Obama just two days before the 2008 election. He told the crowds that he always saw America as a place where everyone had the right to a job, an education, and a home. He said, "I want my country back. I want my dream back. I want my America back! Now is the time to stand up with Barack Obama... roll up our sleeves, and come on up for the rising."

Barack Obama won the election two days later, becoming the first African American elected president of the United States.