Chuck Berry won't sing for "Johnny" in election

Reuters.com ^ | 6/9/08 | Fernanda Ezabella

[melt]

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Republican candidate John McCain may have used his song in the U.S. presidential campaign, but veteran rock 'n' roller Chuck Berry has no doubt whom he wants to see in the White House next year.

"America has finally come to this point where you can pick a man of color and that not be a drawback," the legendary 81-year-old guitarist said of Barack Obama, who clinched the Democratic presidential nomination last week and would become the country's first black president if he wins in November.

"It's no question, myself being a man of color ... I mean, you have to feel good about it," Berry, himself a black pioneer in the 1950s music scene, told Reuters by phone from New York ahead of a Brazil tour that starts next week.

"Definitely a proud and successful moment for all the people of this country, not just black people, but Americans in general."

McCain, now preparing to take on Obama in the November presidential election, used Berry's hit "Johnny B. Goode" as an early campaign theme, although he has since switched to Abba's "Take a Chance On Me."

[Paleo Conservative]

“Take a Chance on Me” as a theme song? Horrible. Sounds like begging. Or lack of confidence. Sheesh.

I think a better theme song for the McCain campaign should be the Stones' Satisfaction, because in this election, "I can't get no satisfaction."

[Sax]

No need to ping me on any other racism you believe that you see on the Board, ping Admin with a complaint, or at least slam the particular Freeper who is posting it.

I don't get my undies in a twist to that degree, people live with their own outlook. I just felt the urge to mention it.

[fr_freak]

So, one good turn, or in kind, makes it ok? I think the idea of a conservative centers around personal responsibility. I don't choose to go down into that mud pit.

Whatever the idea of a conservative is, it certainly isn't taking it in the shorts and letting yourself be abused. The Left has been promoting racism in all non-white, non-Anglo groups against white guys for decades now. The fact that a complete moron like Obama has the potential to win the presidency is the result of pure racism - that is people are going to vote for him simply because of his race, while simultaneously voting against McCain because of his race. If, by some evil miracle, Obama were actually to win, white people, men especially will get it in the shorts even more than ever. There will be no end to the "reparations".

What you are suggesting is that even to resist this, even to recognize that anti-white racism is the sole reason that Obama stands a chance, and that even to recognize the irony and the inherent danger, is "veiled racism". Well, how about we stop worrying about the "veiled racism" and start worrying about the overt, nasty, in-your-face racism that is about to put a retarded communist within a hair's breadth of the White House? How about that?

[libh8er]

Chuck Berry and Little Richard. Icons of the era.

[Sax]

That sort of crap takes care of itself. Those words hang in the air and damn the speaker, no need to join in and share in the guilt. Rise above it.

Plus, Obama is headed for a defeat on a colossal scale - take that to the bank.

[Bommer]

Funny, first Barak wasn’t black enough, now he’s blacker than Malcom X.

[dfwgator]

This man was at the epicenter of the creation of rock & roll.

Yeah, but that's only because his cousin Marvin saw Marty McFly.

[Sax]

Yeah, but Marty was only bringing back the same rock & roll that Chuck had originally created and influenced Marty to begin with, so it now it was super-concentrated Chuck & Roll!

Marty McChuck:

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

How about Big John?

The next line is "Big Bad John." Though accurate, it probably won't attract many voters.

[Mila]

"They’re even bragging about it...”HE’S A BROTHA..”

I could be wrong, but I think that if Obama is elected those black voters who only voted for him because he was a "brotha", are in for some major disappointments. They should remember that in actual fact, he's only their half brother.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Hmmmm! Is it true that Berry put a camera in a women’s restroom? I seem to remember somethin’ creepy like that. He’s had several brushes with the law. As a musician, I actually know guys who have played in his “pick up” bands. He’s a notorious jerk to the people who play with him. I always liked his early lyrics, and found his guitar style interesting in that he adapted Johnson’s boogie-woogie piano style to guitar. But the thing I always liked about his early records was Johnson pounding away at the keys. And I’m a guitar player!
Anyway, he’s known as a very unpleasant individual.

[DaveMSmith]

he has since switched to Abba's "Take a Chance On Me."

Abba, the 1970s Swedish band? McCain couldn't manage to find one American group with a song? What a disaster...

[LegendHasIt]

I wonder what James Brown, the “Godfather of Soul” would have said about this.

He was a staunch Republican.

[RedCobra]

Most Blacks are voting for Obama because he’s BLACK. They either don’t know or don’t care about his extreme leftism.

[RedCobra]

No, good ol’ MLK would be part of it too. After all, a leftist ideology would be no problem at all for him, but it would essentially would be that Obama is black.

[RedCobra]

James Brown would cast a vote for Obama for the same reason as I said MLK would.

[lexusppd]

Sure you can....you racist!:-)

[metesky]

The old Spy Magazine ran a story 20 years ago that said old Chuck suffered from coprophagia. I believe it.

[Vaquero]

“If you’re listening to a rock star in order to get your information on who to vote for, you’re a bigger moron than they are. Why are we rock stars? Because we’re morons. We sleep all day, we play music at night and very rarely do we sit around reading the Washington Journal.” - Alice Cooper

We still love ya Chuck....just stay outta politics

[agere_contra]

Can we get the Edsels to sing “Obama Lama Ding Dong?”