From the Stage at the Vote For Change Rally in Philadelphia

The following are my comments from the stage at yesterday's Vote For Change rally in Philadelphia:

Hello Philly,

I am glad to be here today for this voter registration drive and for Barack Obama, the next president of the United States.

I've spent 35 years writing about America, its people, and the meaning of the American Promise. The Promise that was handed down to us, right here in this city from our founding fathers, with one instruction: Do your best to make these things real: opportunity, equality, social and economic justice, a fair shake for all of our citizens, the American idea, as a positive influence, around the world for a more just and peaceful existence. These are the things that give our lives hope, shape, and meaning. They are the ties that bind us together and give us faith in our contract with one another.

I've spent most of my creative life measuring the distance between that American promise and American reality. For many Americans, who are today losing their jobs, their homes, seeing their retirement funds disappear, who have no healthcare, or who have been abandoned in our inner cities, the distance between that promise and that reality has never been greater or more painful.

I believe Senator Obama has taken the measure of that distance in his own life and in his work. I believe he understands, in his heart, the cost of that distance, in blood and suffering, in the lives of everyday Americans. I believe as president, he would work to restore that promise to so many of our fellow citizens who have justifiably lost faith in its meaning. After the disastrous administration of the past 8 years, we need someone to lead us in an American reclamation project. In my job, I travel the world, and occasionally play big stadiums, just like Senator Obama. I've continued to find, wherever I go, America remains a repository of people's hopes, possibilities, and desires, and that despite the terrible erosion to our standing around the world, accomplished by our recent administration, we remain, for many, a house of dreams. One thousand George Bushes and one thousand Dick Cheneys will never be able to tear that house down.

They will, however, be leaving office, dropping the national tragedies of Katrina, Iraq, and our financial crisis in our laps. Our sacred house of dreams has been abused, looted, and left in a terrible state of disrepair. It needs care; it needs saving, it needs defending against those who would sell it down the river for power or a quick buck. It needs strong arms, hearts, and minds. It needs someone with Senator Obama's understanding, temperateness, deliberativeness, maturity, compassion, toughness, and faith, to help us rebuild our house once again. But most importantly, it needs us. You and me. To build that house with the generosity that is at the heart of the American spirit. A house that is truer and big enough to contain the hopes and dreams of all of our fellow citizens. That is where our future lies. We will rise or fall as a people by our ability to accomplish this task. Now I don't know about you, but I want that dream back, I want my America back, I want my country back.

So now is the time to stand with Barack Obama and Joe Biden, roll up our sleeves, and come on up for the rising.

Here is the video:

Comments

[kcligon]

Right on, Boss!

[santamonica39]

Thank you Bruce, for everything you do for our country. Your music is a national treasure. And so are you.

[4wehttam]

Thank you Bruce!! Your support means more than you can EVER know.

[OldKnute]

YESSSSS!!!!

It is TIME!

“Evil is seen best by its Excess!”

Let them keep their DELUSIONS!
Let them keep their imaginings of POWER.
Let them keep the MONEY!
Let them keep their FEARS!
Let them keep their ENEMIES!
Their Wars, Weapons, Destruction and DEATH!




The BOSS is right! It is going to be very hard.

VERY HARD!

But they did not count on one thing,,, WE are AMERICANS!

WE are at our most strong, fearless and resolute, when the heal of the boot is at our throats! For over 200 years this quality of the American Spirit has been underestimated, negated, manipulated and abused.

WE are BUILDERS!

Yes,,, we can,, yes we can!

Sing people SING!

Together! Together,,, WE CAN!

It is TIME,,,, TO BUILD!

All the best

Knute Neo-LIB < ----Healing America, ONE Call at a Time!

[Jen4Obama]

Thank you Bruce, for using your celebrity for a good cause. This was beautiful and uplifting, and a much needed POSITIVE message that America needs to hear after all the negativity in the press as of late.

[hopefulinpa]

I was in Philadelphia and saw all of people lined up to attend the Bruce Springstein event. It was magnificent! I was there to attend another event down the street and as such to get where we were going had to circumvent the crowds in line. We had to go way out around due to the traffic patterns being changed to allow for all the people. It was magnificent. Needless to say, all I got to see of Bruce Springstein was his back up on stage with his guitar. But the event was sure impressive!
OBAMA/BIDEN '08!

[kissmygrits]

I was at this (after registering voters and canvassing for the O campaign in North Philly in the morning). It was awesome!

[gretcheno]

Was it packed?

[SpencersMom]

50,000+ people, stretched all the way down Ben Franklin Parkway to the Art Museum.

Amazing day in every way!

PEACE

[ShawnMichel]

Wisdom from an American treasure, Bruce Springsteen.

[JerseyWendy]

Thanks once again, Bruce, for putting into words so beautifully what I never can. Thanks for spending your time supporting Barack and Joe. We need them to win so badly. I want our country back too!

[vietnamvetforobama]

Thank You Bruce Springsteen! Obama-Biden need overwhelming support to win this election. You are the Boss.

[BackInNewYork]

You are the best!

[DebbieinPhx]

Ya know, there's a reason they call Bruce Springsteen, The Boss!!! When I heard about the concert you were doing on behalf of Barack Obama I nearly cried with joy. I only wish all of us could be there, but we will in spirit.

[bini]

thank you bruce springteen!

[oldfart1]

Well, you have Paul Newman and Bruce Springsteen, people who've been enormous successes, and success hasn't changed them, but Bruce is the best, because he has a special focus that we can all be proud of as Americans. We've never needed it more than we do now.

Bruce is right: Americans face a rocky time ahead, and the meanness, ruthlessness, and incompetence that Bush, Cheney, McCain and Palin represent are very, very dangerous. Obama has raised himself with great courage and he has impressed some very critical people with his understanding, temperateness, deliberativeness, maturity, compassion, toughness, and faith.

[knerd]

People who express common sense in art are prophetic.

If we don't stop what we are doing we are going to wind up where we are headed. The word "change" disrupts that pessimistic equation.

At this point, we can only HOPE. Maybe Barack Hussein Obama can galvanize Americans into rolling up their sleeve and accepting accountability and going forward with the hard work that needs to be done.