Vote for Kerry, rocker says
2004-10-12 11:33
Washington - Rock star Bruce Springsteen urged fans early on Tuesday to support "change" by voting for Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry as he wrapped up a marathon five-hour concert that brought to the US capital more than a dozen performers.
The concert at the MCI Centre in downtown Washington concluded an 11-state tour by a group of rock music idols, including REM, Pearl Jam, Jackson Browne, Dave Matthews, the Dixie Chicks and others determined to bring about President George W Bush's defeat in the November 2 election.
The musicians, who started their unusual mission in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 2, have performed in states where the battle between Bush and Kerry is seen as closest.
In a declaration issued at the beginning of the tour, the group described itself as "a loose coalition of musicians" brought together by what they saw as the need "to make a change in the direction of our country".
They said they were fighting for a government that is "open, rational, just and progressive".
About 1 500 people gathered late on Monday for the concern in Washington that continued past midnight.
After firing up the audience with his all-time hit Born in the USA, Springsteen switched to a more serious subject by shouting into the crowd: "Raise your voice for change!"
He then proceeded to sing Because the Night together with Michael Stipe, the lead singer of REM, and Are You Ready with the Dixie Chicks, a leading country trio.
"We are here tonight on a mission," declared Springsteen, widely referred to as the Boss. "We've got some work to do between now and Election Day. I want to say to the swing voters, what the hell are you waiting for? Halliburton?"
Halliburton is the oil services company that Dick Cheney ran before being elected vice president in 2000 and which has received billions in contracts in Iraq that were never put to public tender.
The singer said it was time to move America to embrace the great promises made to its citizens.
"America is not always right, but America is always true," the Boss continued. "Civil rights, protection of the environment, low wages forcing so many people to work two jobs. I believe Senator Kerry and Senator Edwards understand these are important issues."
Senator John Edwards of North Carolina is Kerry's vice presidential running mate.
- AFP