October 6, 2008 — Patrick Zimmerman

Springsteen Plays at Obama Rally: “Obama Will Restore America’s Promise”

Bruce Springsteen called the Bush presidency “a disaster” and said many Americans have “justifiably lost faith” in the American dream. The legendary singer interrupted his seven-song performance at the Obama voter-registration rally in Philadelphia last Saturday to praise Democrat Barack Obama and bemoan the crises facing the next president. “After the disaster of the last eight years, we need somebody to lead us in an American reclamation project,” Springsteen said.

Springsteen said that America remains a house of dreams for some, but that too many people have given up on the promise of fairness and equality. “I’ve spent 35 years writing about America and its people and the meaning of the American promise, a promise handed down right here in this city,” said Springsteen, whose songs often depict down-on-their-luck, working-class dreamers. “Our everyday citizens… have justifiably lost faith in its meaning.”

The rally, planned by the Obama campaign just a week ago, drew tens of thousands of people to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Springsteen himself approached the Obama campaign and asked to help out.

You can read the full version of Bruce Springsteen’s comments here.

And you can watch the entire 42:30 minutes of his acoustic set here.

Springsteen Plays at Obama Rally in Philadelphia

Bruce Springsteen: The Streets of Philadelphia

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