Rav Casley Gera

I’ve come to the conclusion the ‘culture wars’ aren’t really about class resentment. People will elect and adore a toff if they think he’ll listen to them. The trick is to do just that - to listen. Not to pander, not to switch positions, not even to try to be like them - but to listen. And trust ‘em with the truth. Say, I know we disagree on gay marriage/abortion/lipstick/whatever, but we agree on the things that are most important right now, and I’m asking for your trust and help in turning them round. Obama’s stadium speech did that. He needs to do it more.

The truth is, it’s not ridiculous to prefer a less capable candidate who you feel gets you, to a more capable one you fear doesn’t. For people who don’t have time to read up on every candidate’s economic plan, or discuss in detail the success or otherwise of the surge, a candidate’s character has to matter. Obama has to swing it back to policy, because he won’t win on character. But he also has to acknowledge that people’s concerns about character are natural and legitimate, and pass a kind of minimum standard of honesty and humility, before policies can become the focus.

Like most of you, I’ve been following the campaign and I have now seen and heard enough to know where I stand. Senator Obama, in my view, is head and shoulders above the rest.
He has the depth, the reflectiveness, and the resilience to be our next President. 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.”At the moment, critics have tried to diminish Senator Obama through the exaggeration of certain of his comments and relationships. 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.

After the terrible damage done over the past eight years, a great American reclamation project needs to be undertaken. I believe that Senator Obama is the best candidate to lead that project and to lead us into the 21st Century with a renewed sense of moral purpose and of ourselves as Americans.

Over here on E Street, we’re proud to support Obama for President.

- Bruce Springsteen

This was probably inevitable, but still has a vague air of significance to it. Should certainly help sew up that wavering white working-class vote in the wake of bloody Bittergate.