By Jill Zuckman
Charleston, S.C. – Every campaign likes to find just the right music to open up events and gin up the audience.
Some work, some don't.
In 2000, "Love train" never ceased to pep up the crowds for Vice President Al Gore. On the other hand, Celine Dion's "You and I" fell flat for Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and was eventually discarded.
When Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was attempting the Sisyphean task of rescuing his broken presidential campaign, the music played at his town hall meetings was fitting: "Don’t Stop Believing" by Journey.
Now that he's won the New Hampshire primary, his advance teams have turned edgy. Really edgy.
In Grand Rapids and Pontiac, Michigan today the campaign played very loud rap music. Here at the Citadel in Charleston, with an audience that included many older veterans and retirees, the campaign played "Let's get it started" by the Black Eyed Peas - heavy on the bass. At the rally's end, they played "It's just a good vibration" by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, which also seemed a tad inappropriate for both McCain, 71, and the crowd.
Perhaps it's time for a new play list.
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Comments
Did anyone catch Johnny McCrazy's speech last night?
The talking heads on MSNBC said it was as though every one of his consultants had submitted to him a separate paragraph, and he just mashed them all together, they were laughing out loud. It was the only time I have ever agreed with the MSNBC pundits.
The music that McCain's flunkys were playing last night was "Rocky" and then it was almost as if McCain dropped all the index cards on the way to the podium and had to stare at them directly all the time to know what to say.
After Michigan, McCain will be put back on a porch somewhere in Arizona so he can continue shaking his fist at speeding cars.
Posted by: John E | January 9, 2008 8:13 PM
Republicans, PLEASE NOMINATE THIS GUY, as a Democrat I would love it.
McCain probably lost any momentum he had after his victory in New Hampshire when he gave his victory "speech" and sounded like a 5 year old trying to remember the alphabet.
From The Skeleton Closet:
John McCain is a maverick senator, Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war for 5 years in North Vietnam. In 2000, he nearly beat George W. Bush by being an outspoken, even honest politician, which stunned everybody. He also is known for crafting bipartisan approaches to issues such as smoking and campaign reform.
This time around though, at 71, he apparently decided "now or never" and seems to have sold his soul, suddenly adopting a bunch of boilerplate conservative positions he was brave enough to resist 8 years ago. Now, conveniently, he's even claiming to be a Baptist instead of an Episcopalian.
It doesn't look like anyone's buying it though. McCain went from front runner to 3rd or 4th in various polls, spent all of his huge pile of cash and lost most of his staff. Maybe he'll be a maverick in a new way -- curing Republicans of their tendency to elect the candidate who "has earned it" by loyalty and longevity even if doomed to failure (e.g. Bob Dole.)
Full story here:
http://www.realchange.org/mccain.htm
Posted by: Billy Zoom | January 9, 2008 8:19 PM
Music by "...Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch". Oh my. I realize that poor old Lawrence Welk is dead, but Marky Mark!?!?! I guess Vanilla Ice was just too cool for old St. McCain.
Let's face it...coolness and Republics are oxymorons. Never the twain shall meet. Now morons and Republics...that's a match made in heaven.
Posted by: weinerdog43 | January 9, 2008 9:02 PM
I don't know anyone who voted for a candidate because of his intro song, but that's just me. As for the candidacy, McCain just took apart Romney in his own backyard, despite being outspent 2 to 1. I'd say they guy is a helluva scrapper.
Posted by: Dekom | January 9, 2008 9:57 PM
Music and McCain: What are they thinking?
Maybe the problem is..they ARE NOT thinking???
Posted by: lochnessmonster | January 10, 2008 7:38 AM
Will this work? Sing to rap beat.
McCain's my man
The brother done 'nam
Don't call him McCrazy
He ain't no flash in the pan
Gonna fight global warmin K Street will be a squirmin
So don't be lazy votin day
McCain will be determined
Posted by: Springburn | January 10, 2008 8:09 AM
Yes, being a fan of Fleetwood Mac is a great reason to vote for someone, Jill.
Posted by: Jeff | January 10, 2008 10:38 AM
Why is it that right wingers tend to make derogatory and patronizing comments to women in the Swamp. I mean Paulo or John D will make completely ignorant and hateful remarks and Jeff/Bill stays silent, yet when Jill writes an article that Jeff/Bill thinks is absurd he doesn't hesitate to mock her. Strange.
Posted by: john | January 10, 2008 12:38 PM
"McMCCAIN BURGER PLEASE"
THAT WILL BE 100 YEARS IN IRAQ PLEASE.
MR. ABSEENTEE SENATOR FROM ARIZONA, FACING A STATE RECALL FOR A GREAT LACK OF STATEMENSHIP AND PERFORMANCE ON THE HILL.
71 YEARS OLD AND COUNTING BACKWARDS. FLIP FLOPPING ON EVERY KEY ISSUE OTHER THAN GEORGE BUSH HE'S OUR MAN IF GEORGE CAN RUIN I CAN. THE MAC IS BACK.
ANOTHER GOP COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET AS THE MAC DADDY OF THE WHITE HOUSE. MAC DADDY IS SECRET FOR DO NOT TELL.
SO OFF THROUGH THE WOODS HE GOES.
THE GREAT RONALD REAGAN DIDN'T CARE ABOUT YOU BUT I DO.
Posted by: Roger Morris | January 10, 2008 1:29 PM
John,
I refute the ignorant/hateful comments from the leftists because they're usually about McCain and as a volunteer I know all the untruths they're rooted in. I let them stand on their own ignorance when they're about the administration, congress or just about anyone else.
I find that most of John D's comments are much more rooted in the truth and nowhere near ignorant or hateful and definitely not as close to hate speech as say, John E and his aliases, are. Usually I just ignore Paolo because he's a provocateur just typing things to be controversial. If the left is so concerned with the the stuff he says they can refute what he has to say. He's your John E so you correct him.
Honestly, I really don't pay that much attention to what goes on here, at all, beyond the threads I post in, to be frank. I'm still looking for the "derogatory or patronizing" comments to women in this thread. I merely pointed out that Jill Zuckman has devoted a whole post to the McCain campaign's choice of music which is not a substantive campaign issue to me.
It seems to me the drive by media pattern is if you play rap you're making the older voter uncomfortable and if you play classic rock you're not cool enough for the Paulites, Obamabots and other campaigns with lots of young people involved. Either way, the media will spin the story negatively, so why not play what you like?
p.s. And for the last time I don't know who Bill is.
Posted by: Jeff | January 10, 2008 3:02 PM
Something that's MUCH more important than what music a candidate plays at his ralies.
McCain is up 9 points in the latest Strategic Vision poll in Michigan. Romney is fading fast. A Swamp post on this news? Don't hold your breath. They're too busy doing five posts about the very important John Kerry endorsement. I can't wait to see who Dukakis endorses.
http://strategicvision.biz/political/michigan_poll_011008.htm
Posted by: Jeff | January 11, 2008 12:02 AM