Andrew Rasiej has reserved Giants Stadium for September 1 of this year, the same date as the Republican National Convention, and is circulating an internet petition at draftbruce.com to get Bruce Springsteen to perform a concert that night in opposition to all the noise the Republicans will be making. It's a novel idea, but below a concerned citizen writes to Mr. Rasiej urging him to reconsider the headliner.

Dear Andrew,

I have read of your efforts to circulate a petition to get Bruce Springsteen, rock savior, to perform a nationally televised concert on September 1, the date of the Republican National Convention. I have visited draftbruce.com and believe your mission is a most righteous one.

While I applaud your efforts at getting Americans to note the alternatives to a George Bush presidency through this so-called "concert for change," I am concerned that the Republicans you seek to fight will trump you in the end.

Mr. Springsteen is a public figure of great esteem, but the statements he has made in some of his songs I think will haunt him and any efforts to promote liberal causes through him. He's a good man, a strong man, a wonderful artist. And I know he prefers to let his songs speak for themselves. And this could be a real problem for the fight against the Republicans. If the Republicans get a hold of the Springsteen songbook, I am afraid they could really do some damage both to Mr. Springsteen¹s image and to the liberal cause.

In fact, I am not so sure that Bruce is any more sterling an example to the American public than our current president. I am just warning you, that having witnessed over the past three years how the current administration can twist the words of their foes and spin the hell out of their own statements, watch out for what Bush's spinmeisters will do when they get hold of the Boss's lyrics and try to paint him as an unsavory character.

They'll say that when it comes to family, Bruce is a deserter:

"Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack/ I went out for a ride and I never went back."
(Hungry Heart)

His past is littered with DUI cases:

"She keeps talkin' she'll be walkin' that last block/ She can take a subway back to the ghetto tonight/ Well I got some beer and the highway's free"
(Sherry Darling)

He believes in the war:

"Well you just got to fight for what you want
You got to fight for what you want" (You Gotta Fight)

He's age-ist:

"Hey, bus driver keep the change, bless your children, give them names,
don't trust men who walk with canes"
(Does The Bus Stop At 82nd Street)

He's got some strong ideas when it comes to genetic testing:

"Two hearts are better than one
Two hearts, girl, get the job done
Two hearts are better than one"
(Two Hearts)

He supports the sharing and stealing of copywritten material available on the internet:

"The flag of piracy flew from my mast, my sails were set wing to wing"
(Growing Up)

He's a practicing cannibal:

"Tonight I'm layin' in your arms carvin' lucky charms/ Out of these hard luck bones" (Better Days)

And most damaging of all... He may be a witch:

"Chicken lips and lizard hips and alligator eyes/ Monkey legs and buzzard eggs and salamander thighs/ Rabbit ears and camel rears and tasty toe-nail pies/Stir them all together, it's Mama's Soup Surprise."
(Chicken Lips and Lizard Hips)

Mr. Rasiej, I ask you, Harry Potter aside, name one witch whom you can trust. Just one.

I can't think of any. Now who the hell would listen to a person on matters having to do with the future of our country and who governs it when they find out that if they were to believe that that person where a six-string slinging sorcerer?

Before you move too much further ahead with your campaign, I ask you to reconsider the headliner for this concert. Consider yourself warned. I like your idea, but if I were you I would just proceed with more consideration when it comes to choosing the artist.

Very few people like Republicans, Mr. Rasiej, but fewer still like a witch.

Yours,

Jon Wolanske
Concerned Citizen
Bruce Springsteen Fan
Democrat

P.S. Feel free to contact me; I have many ideas for a Springsteen replacement. For starters -- how about Anita Baker?
P.P.S. Mungo Jerry?