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Inside Portland

Fall 2012 | The Portal of Portland | Founded February 2003

Obama has legions of screaming fans.  He packs arenas.  He made the cover of Rolling Stone.  Fresh off an appearance in Portland, meet the first political rock star.


Story by Sam Heiney

espite penning protest songs and staging benefit shows, rock stars never run for elected office.  Bob Dylan became the voice of a generation by performing politically-charged anthems.  Green Day won a Grammy in 2005 for American Idiot, the chart-topping rock opera which assaulted the “redneck agenda.”   2006 saw the release of Bruce Springsteen’s The Seger Sessions, a cover album dedicated to songs of protest and social activism.  The Dixie Chicks had their albums burned by American conservatives and even pop princess Pink performed a ballad excoriating President George Bush.   Actors, athletes, wealthy socialites and all manner of minor celebrities end up in office, but where are the legends of rock, the vanguards of popular culture?  Seriously, can you name a single rock star who became a political candidate?

We live in an age of celebrity candidates and politicians. Former President Ronald Regan was a famous film and television actor before becoming a saint to the modern Republican Party. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the current Governor of California, is better known as the unstoppable Terminator from a trio of science fiction movies than for his gubernatorial policies.

John Glenn — the first American astronaut to orbit the earth — was elected US Senator from Ohio in 1974. In 1996, Steve Forbes took a break from his responsibilities as editor-in-chief of Forbes Magazine and ran for President.  Forbes the magazine has approximately 900,000 subscribers. Forbes the candidate won the Arizona and Delaware Republican primaries.  Even Porn Stars run for political office. Adult-video actress Mary Carey ran against Schwarzenegger in 2003 for Governor of California.  Carey is known for classics like “Hot Showers 6” and “Fun Bag Fantasies 5.”  Her website reads, “Finally, a politician you want to be screwed by.”

Memorial Coliseum has a capacity of nearly 13,000 and was reporting a sold-out show.  Not bad considering the gig was announced three days before.

Our political candidates include actors and athletes, businessmen and heroes, astronauts and porn stars, but no rock stars — until now.

While a candidate for US Senate in Illinois, Barack Obama shot to national prominence with a keynote address delivered during the 2004 Democratic National Convention.  Todd Leopold, the CNN.com Entertainment Producer and freelance writer said that Obama received “the Democratic convention's glamour slot, giving the keynote address in the heart of prime time. He's the party's rock star.”  Obama won his Senate seat with 70% of the vote.

Two years later, NBC News deputy political director Mark Murray, described Obama’s announcement of his candidacy for President by saying, “Some have referred to Obama as the ‘rock star’ of the Democratic Party. And, perhaps appropriately, the audience participated as if they were at a rock concert, not a political rally.”

Rock star comparisons persist, gaining popularity and frequency as the current Presidential campaign continues.  If you doubt his rock star pedigree, consider the political rally held the morning of March 21 in Memorial Coliseum.  The Junior Senator from Illinois paid a visit to the Rose City, giving Portlanders a first-hand taste of the Obama phenomenon.

Memorial Coliseum has a capacity of nearly 13,000 and was reporting a sold-out show.  Not bad considering the gig was announced three days before.  Organizers encouraged supporters to arrive early and they weren’t disappointed.  People streamed from MAX trains and parking lots into the Rose Quarter complex.  A frantic man holding a hand lettered sign reading “NEED TICKETS” was begging for extra passes to the rally.  Long lines formed in front of security stations where Secret Service agents wearing dark suits, sunglasses, and earpieces observed the crowd.

As the stadium filled, cheers erupted randomly from section to section.  A large union contingent wearing matching neon green shirts shouted challenges back and forth as if they were at a high school football game.  A young man sporting a ripped tank-top and backwards baseball cap produced a harmonica and swayed drunkenly while playing a tune only he could recognize.  Excitement was building.

 

Barack Obama Rocks Portland

 





Photos by Christopher Vetter

Roughly 13,000 Oregonians crowded into Memorial Coliseum on March 21 to experience Barack Obama.  The Illinois Senator spent two days traveling throughout Oregon.  He currently leads former frontrunner Hillary Clinton in the delegate race to capture the 2008 Democratic Presidential Nomination.
 

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Western Culinary Institute
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Coming Soon:  PDX 100, Las Vegas Travel Guide, Ask Anita Advice Columns, Cinetopia, Blazers coverage, Seattle Travel Guide, Shawn Levy from the Oregonian, PDX Art Museum, the Oregon Zoo, Restaurant Reviews, Portland Boating, the Oregon Coast, Wyoming Travel, Film Reviews, plus Local Stories.

 

 
 
 

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Inside Portland is an online magazine covering life in the Portland Metropolitan area.  We explore news and trends that impact the Pacific Northwest.  Inside Portland offers concert information, relationship advice, movie show times, links to Portland publications, travel features, and insightful articles on local events and personalities.  This publication is not affiliated with any of the publications, personalities, or organizations featured in Web links and articles.  Archived Web pages may feature links that are expired.  All rights reserved.  ©2012