Should Obama use "Born in the USA" as a re-elect theme song?

[pseudotriton ruber ruber]

I think it would be clever on several levels, but mainly on the level of "Here's a guy with confidence to play up what only his worst idiot opponents take seriously as an issue," and I don't think the Boss would mind, though the song is hardly as jingoisitic as the title would lead one to believe. Reagan tried it, and got blocked, but I don't think he ever heard it, just some staffers who didn't get it. Obama could be saying, "Yeah, I think the USA's got some issues, but none we can't fix with enough hard work" at the same time he brags about being born in the US.

[Desert Nomad]

Originally Posted by pseudotriton ruber ruber

I think it would be clever on several levels, but mainly on the level of "Here's a guy with confidence to play up what only his worst idiot opponents take seriously as an issue," and I don't think the Boss would mind, though the song is hardly as jingoisitic as the title would lead one to believe.

Maybe he should use "Back in the USSR" since those are the policies he likes.

[Der Trihs]

A cute idea, but adding more fuel to the fire probably isn't a good idea.

Originally Posted by Desert Nomad

Maybe he should use "Back in the USSR" since those are the policies he likes.

Hardly. He's about as left wing as Reagan.

[Desert Nomad]

Originally Posted by Der Trihs

A cute idea, but adding more fuel to the fire probably isn't a good idea.


Hardly. He's about as left wing as Reagan.

I can't see Reagan signing the Patriot Act or NDAA

[Der Trihs]

Originally Posted by Desert Nomad

I can't see Reagan signing the Patriot Act or NDAA

Why not? And what makes those left wing?

[Desert Nomad]

Originally Posted by Der Trihs

Why not? And what makes those left wing?

They may not be left-wing socially or economically, but they are totalitarian ideas. Having lived in a Communist country, I much prefer the freedom that America was founded on... and won't be voting for Obama or Romney... I live overseas so my vote won't get counted anyway.

[Mijin]

nm; too much snark

[Der Trihs]

Originally Posted by Desert Nomad

They may not be left-wing socially or economically, but they are totalitarian ideas. Having lived in a Communist country, I much prefer the freedom that America was founded on... and won't be voting for Obama or Romney... I live overseas so my vote won't get counted anyway.

America wasn't "founded on freedom"; it was founded by rich white men (many of whom owned slaves; some freedom) who made speeches about freedom. Not the same thing; America hasn't been especially free for a very long time. And Reagan was certainly anti-freedom.

[The Second Stone]

That would be a poor choice of campaign theme song. It is a song about a divided country ignoring its Vietnam era veterans. Incidentally, Reagan's campaign in 84 used it extensively and Springsteen objected. The Reagan people didn't even listen to the lyrics.

[ElvisL1ves]

Why would a candidate want to associate himself with the loss of American ideals? Would he think the bulk of his supporters, or those who could be attracted to them, can't be bothered to learn the verses of a song, only a one-line chorus, as if they're mostly pro wrestling fans?

Originally Posted by Mijin

nm; too much snark

No such thing. Come on, out with it.

[gamerunknown]

Originally Posted by Desert Nomad

I can't see Reagan signing the Patriot Act or NDAA

Yeah, Reagan was concerned with undue surveillance of US citizens. On the other hand, he didn't care particularly for South Africans, Grenadians, Iraqis, Saudi Arabians, Palestinians, Nicaraguans, Costa Ricans, Salvadorans, Hondurans or Guatemalans (unless they were subjugating the native population, of course).

[pseudotriton ruber ruber]

Originally Posted by ElvisL1ves

Why would a candidate want to associate himself with the loss of American ideals? Would he think the bulk of his supporters, or those who could be attracted to them, can't be bothered to learn the verses of a song, only a one-line chorus, as if they're mostly pro wrestling fans?

What? You think the Pubbies will look beyond the title? And point out subtleties in the lyrics? They'll simply go nuts from the audacity of Obama's association with the idea of "Born in the USA."

And if they DO raise the lyrics, he can just point out that Saint Ronnie tried to use it in '84, and no one on the right argued that the song was anti-patriotic then. Win/win.

[IntelliQ]

A Milli Vanilli song would be more appropriate...

[lost4life]

I hope this doesn't sound racist, but I think We Want the Funk would be a bad ass campaign song.

"Tear The Roof Off The Sucker"

[tomndebb]

This is election related, so I am moving it to Elections, although I suspect that it would do better in IMHO or even the Pit.

[Eonwe]

Originally Posted by pseudotriton ruber ruber

And if they DO raise the lyrics, he can just point out that Saint Ronnie tried to use it in '84, and no one on the right argued that the song was anti-patriotic then. Win/win.

Yes. Intellectual 'gotchas' have always proven to be boons to the candidates who make them.

[fumster]

Originally Posted by Desert Nomad

They may not be left-wing socially or economically, but they are totalitarian ideas. Having lived in a Communist country, I much prefer the freedom that America was founded on... and won't be voting for Obama or Romney... I live overseas so my vote won't get counted anyway.

Well let's see: you love this country so much that you live overseas and can't be bothered to learn that US citizens living abroad can vote.

[Jas09]

I preferred the one he played as entrance music at the Correspondent's Dinner last year - "I Am A Real American". Aka, Hulk Hogan's entrance music.

[mkecane]

Originally Posted by Jas09

I preferred the one he played as entrance music at the Correspondent's Dinner last year - "I Am A Real American". Aka, Hulk Hogan's entrance music.

I want to see Obama "playing" guitar like Hogan: http://www.mudtrap.com/images/hogan_guitar.gif

[Rhythmdvl]

Originally Posted by lost4life

I hope this doesn't sound racist, but I think We Want the Funk would be a bad ass campaign song.

"Tear The Roof Off The Sucker"

Chocolate City.

Actually, to stay in line with the OP and turn the birthers on their head, anything from Mothership Connection to Bop Gun would work--the mythology of aliens bringing back the Funk both pokes at the birther issue and is a much more positive message than BitUSA.

Would that make Romney Sir Nose?

psycho-alpha-disco-beta-bio-aqua-doo-loop

[BrainGlutton]

[hijack]

If the Working Families Party or something like it ever takes off at the national level, to the point of having any use for a song, its song should be, "Time Is On My Side."

[/hijack]

[bup]

Chocolate to the Bone.

[kaylasdad99]

Originally Posted by pseudotriton ruber ruber

What? You think the Pubbies will look beyond the title? And point out subtleties in the lyrics? They'll simply go nuts from the audacity of Obama's association with the idea of "Born in the USA."

And if they DO raise the lyrics, he can just point out that Saint Ronnie tried to use it in '84, and no one on the right argued that the song was anti-patriotic then. Win/win.

Thing is, it's my understanding that campaign rally music is primarily to pump up the energy level for one's supporters.

I would hope that President Obama's supporters are more likely to listen to the lyrics than are Gov. Romney's.

I'd prefer that the campaign not use the song.

[Guinastasia]

While I think it's a really bad song for a political campaign, you gotta admit, it WOULD really tweek the Birthers.

[Yookeroo]

I'd prefer he used a good song. I'm on board with the P-Funk suggestions. Better songs and probably more red meat to the Tea Partiers.

[BrainGlutton]

Well, "The Internationale" is long out of copyright, isn't it?

[Measure for Measure]

Well the Obama campaign does have a little fun with the paranoid conspiracy theorists. One of their mugs displays the long form birth certificate.
https://store.barackobama.com/made-in-the-usa-mug.html

[Chimera]

Oh, let's just lose all subtlety.

Cult of Personality

But only if at the very end of the song, he does exactly what I do. It has Winston Churchill's line "The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself".

After which I always add, in my best Winston Churchill voice... "and spiders".

[Der Trihs]

Originally Posted by Chimera

Oh, let's just lose all subtlety.

Cult of Personality

Or given the significant percentage of Republicans who think he might be the Antichrist, perhaps some Latin chanting, and red under-lighting at the podium.

[BrainGlutton]

Originally Posted by Der Trihs

Or given the significant percentage of Republicans who think he might be the Antichrist, perhaps some Latin chanting, and red under-lighting at the podium.

That's it! The theme song! Ave Satani!

[Shakester]

Originally Posted by Chimera

It has Winston Churchill's line "The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself".

Winston Churchill?

It was FD Roosevelt, first paragraph of his 1933 Inaugural Address.

Originally Posted by FDR

So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.

[Chronos]

Huh, I didn't even realize that Fear Itself was running.

[BrainGlutton]

Anyways, Honolulu is no "dead man town."

[Patch]

Originally Posted by Chronos

Huh, I didn't even realize that Fear Itself was running.

Santorum dropped.

[mlees]

"Shaft" theme song.

[Gangster Octopus]

He should use Beyonce's version of "God Bless the USA!"

[Little Nemo]

I think he should stick with "Hail to the Chief". Romney can't top him on that one.

But he can use James Garner's lyrics:

"Hail to the Chief
If you don't I'll have to kill you
I am the Chief
So you better watch your step, you bastards"

[Fear Itself]

Originally Posted by Chronos

Huh, I didn't even realize that Fear Itself was running.

I'm on the Dark Horse ticket.