But as is well known, the Bush administration didn't settle for "a little revenge". It embarked upon a military adventurism and expanded the war on terror from Afghanistan to Iraq. There were several reasons for Springsteen to oppose this administration - e. g. its social policy and general morality - but the most compelling reason must have been the danger of a new Vietnam in Iraq. So in 2004 Springsteen broke with 30 years of reserve concerning partisan politics and joined the Vote for Change concerts, which were explicitly supporting John Kerry against Bush. In this connection Springsteen made a very interesting statement about the way he interprets the values inherent in his song writing: "I felt like I couldn't have written the music I've written and been on stage singing about the things that I've sung about for the last 25 years and not take part in this particular election".
Without diminishing the courage of Springsteen's decision or his immediate sense of a moral obligation it is worth noticing the political rationale in his support for Kerry. Springsteen has never been a revolutionary, and The Rising may very likely have given him a new confidence in his ability to represent the average American in political matters. On the other hand the Bush administration is perceived by Springsteen (and many others) as being extremist. So in Springsteen's view the Vote for Change concerts were so far from being a matter of the artists opposing society that it was really Bush who marked the deviation. Or as Springsteen expressed it himself in New York Times: "Our American government has strayed too far from American values. It is time to move forward. The country we carry in our hearts is waiting." (Chords for Change, August 5 2004).
Well, as we all know, Springsteen didn't succeed in representing the majority of American voters. Bush won the election leaving the artists from the Vote for Change concerts wondering whether they had really contributed positively to the outcome of the Democratic campaign. Springsteen's situation was particularly uncomfortable since his participation had made him a lot of enemies from among his own fans. The discussion forums on his own web site has been stuffed with insults, and a considerable amount of people has sworn to get rid of their Springsteen albums and boycott his music in the future. Off course, Springsteen is too rich to suffer any real harm from a politically influenced decrease in sales numbers. But there is also a human aspect to it, and in many cases the ties broken will be of a deeply ethical nature, almost like friendships. Moreover, Springsteen is not likely to take comfort in the prospect of his music being symbolically connected to just one part of a polarized America.
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