Posted on 08/12/2004 5:58:33 AM PDT by OESY
For the left-leaning rock fan, the "Unplug Bush" fund-raiser here on Tuesday offered plenty of chances to rage financially against the president's political machine.
Concertgoers, who paid $50 to hear acoustic sets by a string of politically minded musicians, could also spend money on paraphernalia like Redefeat Bush condoms ($3) and baby outfits emblazoned with the word "vote'' ($25). The event, organized to raise money for Democratic voter registration, generated $4,000 in revenue, according to the Committee to Redefeat the President, the political action committee that staged the concert.
About 200 attended, though organizers said they had hoped for 300 to 400. The turnout left the 750-capacity El Rey Theater a cavernous tribute to apathy or to a weak marketing plan. Besides the hefty ticket price, the performance conflicted with a concert to benefit Senator John Kerry's presidential campaign was planned at the Echo Theater across town. And the artist lineup - featuring Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Michelle Shocked among others - did not approach the star wattage of the widely publicized Vote for Change concerts, during which big names like Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M. and the Dixie Chicks are to barnstorm across nine swing states in October.
David Lytel, the founder of the Committee to Redefeat the President, did not appear upset with the turnout. "Politics is still a person-to-person endeavor," he said. "If a couple of hundred people's lives were touched last night, that's good."
Onstage, in front of a large screen displaying a montage of graphics unflattering to George W. Bush, the performers delivered their takes on the proceedings and election. Brandon Jordan, the singer of the punk band Killradio, stood next to a cardboard cutout of the president while singing "Freedom": "Just stay the least informed and the best entertained/'Cause who needs information when you haven't got a brain." While railing against the president, the performers did not go out of their way to stoke support for Mr. Kerry. "John Kerry does not stand for anything," Ms. Shocked said from the stage. "We know that. We're just going along."
Jonathan Bates, the frontman for the operatic rock band Mellowdrone, suggested from the stage that his preaching was reaching a small group of the already converted: "Obviously, if you paid $50 to get in here, you're voting."
Liberals are pathetic.
he, he
I'd say 'yes' to both, really.
And that title? I agree - pathetic.
Concertgoers, who paid $50...Besides the hefty ticket price.
I don't live in NYC, but even in my insignificant metro area, $50 bucks is not a "hefty" ticket price for any concert.
Hey, you pay almost 10 bucks just to go to the movie. Sounds like a lame excuse for a poor turnout to me.
From what I have seen on FR posting concerning turn outs for Kerry and Edwads this is about right, no one shows up.
No one cares about them.
They are now like the new auto-flush toilets, just walk away and they flush themselves.
Redefeat Bush condoms...
%%
???!
Boy, that about sums it up, doesn't it?
"Obviously, if you paid $50 to get in here, you're voting."
&&&
Voting how many times? The scumbags will double vote and dead vote as they did in 2000.
First time I've ever heard of a vendetta being referred to as a "marketing plan!"
'Redefeat bush' CONDOMS?
Umm.. I'm NOT going there on that one.
ping
"John Kerry does not stand for anything," Ms. Shocked said from the stage. "We know that. We're just going along."
I love her “Arkansas Traveler” album.
Good to see that she’s only half-an-idiot! I can still respect her craft, in a medieval dwarf jester sort of way.
"Bring me grog, then sing some more for me, wee funny person!"
Words....right out....my mouth. WTH?
Holy mother of God! Four THOUSAND dollars for an anti-Bush fundraiser? Has this amount of money raised ever been matched by any political event in the history of EARTH?
I'll bet the guy selling bottled water outside the Bush rally in Phoenix pulled at least $4,000.
"Redefeat Bush condoms..."
Remember when candidates gave away emery boards, matches,
pocketknives and potholders? Couldn't do that now!
Emery boards? Sexist.
Matches? Dangerous.
Pocketknives? Deadly.
Potholders? Only if they're stuffed with real pot.
What's really funny about this is that if the New York Times says 200 people showed up for the event, it was probably actually about 60.
"The event, organized to raise money for Democratic voter registration"
Translation: get the Democrat voters there and make sure they "vote early and vote often".
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