At some recent John McCain campaign rallies, John Mellencamp’s “Our Country†and “Pink Houses†have been booming out over the speakers. Uplifting heartland rock must have seemed like a smart pick, but there’s just one problem: Mellencamp is an ardent Democrat. And, until recently, he supported John Edwards – who had been playing “Our Country†and “Small Town†at his rallies. Mellencamp hasn’t yet made a public response, but his reps are quietly reaching out to McCain and asking him to stop playing his tunes. (McCain’s press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.)
Not to mention that the far-right types whose votes McCain is seeking won’t love the mildly progressive lyrics to “Our Country,†which call on the government to “help the poor and common man†and suggest that “there’s room enough here for science to live/ And there’s room enough here for religion to forgive.†And does McCain really want to associate himself with those “Pink Houses†lines about the “simple man†paying for the “the thrills, the bills and the pills that kill�
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John Mellencamp’s Hero Is The Dalai Lama
JOHN Mellencamp isn’t as devout a Buddhist as Richard Gere, but he might be even closer to the Dalai Lama. In an interview in Time magazine out tomorrow, the rocker, who will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, says: “My two heroes right now are Bob Dylan and the Dalai Lama.” The Tibetan spiritual leader? “Yeah. He held my hand for five minutes, man. It was weird. You’re not supposed to touch him. I thought, well, I kind of feel like his girlfriend.”
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2007 NFL Opening Kick-Off – Press Conference
Faith Hill
Kelly Clarkson
John Mellencamp
THE reverb is still echoing over Dan Quayle’s walkout in the middle of a John Mellencamp concert in Lake Tahoe last weekend. The singer-songwriter introduced his tune “Wall Talk” by announcing, “This next one is for all the poor people who’ve been ignored by the current administration.” As Quayle exited, the former veep explained, “I didn’t appreciate the comment, and besides, I didn’t think the show was very good.” But Mellencamp said he couldn’t care less that Quayle got his knickers in a twist: “I certainly wouldn’t have changed a word.” NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley backed Mellencamp, saying, “He’s right.” While that may sound odd coming from a former conservative, Barkley told a local reporter, “I was a Republican – until they lost their minds.” Quayle, known for his great golf game, served as veep under President Bush’s father from 1989-’93.
