John Mellencamp ("Pink Houses") rips Bush for country not being united

[bigtree]

By ALAN K. STOUT

WILKES-BARRE - John Mellencamp is angry about all of the anger.

The heartland rock singer who gave us such cinematic songs as "Jack and Diane," "Pink Houses" and "Cherry Bomb," says he wants George W. Bush out of the White House not so much because of international affairs but because of how those affairs have torn apart his country. So he joined the "Vote for Change" tour, which comes to Wilkes-Barre's F.M. Kirby Center on Oct. 1.

"This country is so divided, and that's so wrong," Mellencamp says. "The common man is very understanding and has compassion, but for some reason today, that's evaporated. And that has to stop. If you sweep all of the other things aside - the war, the economy, gas - forget about all that stuff. Just this one issue alone is enough for me to say 'Wait a minute. This is not the way this country was supposed to be.' It's not supposed to be brother against brother or aunt against uncle or father against son."

Other "Vote for Change" participants include Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Pearl Jam and Sheryl Crow. The approximately 38-show tour will cover 32 cities in 12 states over 12 days. Pennsylvania is a key state in the Electoral College vote and thus a hot stop. (Springsteen will play Philadelphia on Oct. 1.)

MoveON PAC, an online political action group, is sponsoring the tour, and proceeds will benefit America Coming Together, a voter mobilization group that pushes for progressive political candidates.

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/thetimesleader/news/9486315.htm

[denverguy]

1. the 2000 'popular vote' was very nearly tied.

that's before Bush, can't blame him for country being divided..it's been growing that way for years

[Qutzupalotl]

2. He ran on being a "uniter"

then proceeded to install the most extreme, partisan, politically-motivated administration in history. Dissenting voices were never heard.

I think a president should be president of all the people, not just the radical right.

[denverguy]

3. in the opposite circumstance would you have wanted Gore

to 'compromise' everything as you seem to expect from the repubs?

[Qutzupalotl]

13. Yes

if his platform were one of unity, yes. He should listen to all sides. Otherwise, he'd be a hypocrite, wouldn't he?

[bigtree]

5. I blame bush

He claimed to be a uniter, not a divider.

"After being quiet on the subject for three years, President Bush has just embraced gay marriage because he knows the issue will win him some supporters even if it splits the country," a Kerry adviser said.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/articles/2004/03/11/kerry_says_bush_using_gay_vows_as_wedge/
_________________________

Bill Clinton accused President George W. Bush last night of deliberately dividing Americans to promote the interests of the wealthy and of using the Sept. 11 terror attacks to advance his right-wing agenda.

"They need a divided America, but we don't,"

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040727.wxdemocrats27/BNPrint/International
____________________________

Dean accused President George W. Bush of dividing Americans. Dean said that he is running for the Democratic nomination to combat tax cuts he thinks are unfair and an economy he says is hurting the American people.

"Seven trillion dollars of our wealth has disappeared, retirees have lost pensions and have to go back to work, college grads are moving in with their parents because they can't find a job," Dean said.

http://www.thewmurchannel.com/politics/2288491/detail.html
______________________________

Republicans had poisoned the political atmosphere in Washington, Kerry said, and he ridiculed Bush's promises during the 2000 campaign to be a "uniter, not a divider."

"He's been the greatest divider as a president in the modern history of this country," the Democratic presidential candidate said.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/reuters20040623_383.html

[denverguy]

8. again, see post #1

the last few national elections have been very close (;popular vote' wise)...it's an ongoing issue

[bigtree]

10. irrelevant to who's trying to further divide America

republicans before this bush were also to blame. Many of the present bush crew are from the nixon era. There is no question that the dividing of Americans is a republican tactic, begun in the '80's with Lee Atwater's 'wedge politics', and furthered in this administration with their 'values' campaign to use the constitution to discriminate against gays and lesbians, their continued opposition to affirmitive action, their abuses of civil liberties of immigrants, their targeting of our tax dollars to the wealthy while denying increases in the minimum wage and denying overtime pay.

The entire war campaign is an attempt to divide us beteen 'patriots who would support his preemptive war, and others who would 'weaken' American defenses.

[denverguy]

11. OK..we disagree on this little thing

take it easy

[bigtree]

12. denverguy

I don't come to this board to 'take it easy'.

That doesn't mean that I don't respect and appreciate your comments. I also don't take the politics of division and distraction lightly. Republicans use this more extensively and effectively than our party, who is more interested in forming coalitions and consensus than in divisive rhetoric and policies.

[sandnsea]

7. Why? Republican smears, that's why

And the Bushies are the Smearers in Chief. They have ripped this country apart and it's time they be held to account.

[Julien Sorel]

4. Didn't the Republicans try to use "Little Pink Houses"

as the theme song of their 2000 convention, but Mellencamp refused to allow it? I remember reading something to that effect. Kind of funny now.

[bigtree]

6. true

[Lavender Brown]

14. Yeah. It's totally inappropriate too.

Republicans are so deaf. :eyes:

[spooky3]

9. Excellent point--how many DUers have talked about arguments with family

over * (or at least strains and stresses)? In the past we could perhaps live with differences but * has increased and polarized them and it affects everyone.