Little Pink Senate Chamber for John Mellencamp?

By Dino Sossi Posted Feb 19th 2010 07:51PM

John Mellencamp may ride an Internet wave of support all the way to the United States Senate. That is, if he wants it.

Over 3,500 people (and counting) have joined the "Draft John Mellencamp for Senate" Facebook group, and some prominent political analysts believe that a Mellencamp campaign could result in him replacing Indiana Democratic Senator Evan Bayh, who recently announced he will not seek re-election.

Mellencamp is a "voice for working people and a champion of farmers," stated Brent Budowsky of 'The Hill,' touting the rocker's populist credibility. "[He's] one of the great advocates of small-town America," he added.

The Indiana-born Mellencamp has already engaged in political fisticuffs with the Republican political machine, which may prove his toughness to doubters. His representatives demanded that John McCain refrain from using Mellancamp's hits 'Our Country' and 'Pink Houses' during the 2008 Presidential campaign.

Although a lack of practical experience is usually a challenge in electoral contests, recent changes in the political landscape could work in Mellencamp's favor.

"The only good news is that with the Republicans cozying up to all sorts of untested Tea Party oddballs, it would be hard for conservative pundits to engage in any of their customary celeb-bashing if Mellencamp were to actually throw his hat in the ring," writes Patrick Goldstein of the L.A. Times. "In politics, this is the year of the amateur," he adds, although he does have doubts about Mellencamp's electability. Katrina vanden Heuvel, an editor of 'The Nation,' believes that Democrats need a "populist candidate" like Mellencamp to keep Bayh's seat in the Republican-leaning state of Indiana

Representatives for Mellencamp could not be reached for comment.

Other famous Hoosiers that could make the run for Senate include David Letterman, Larry Bird, wrestler-author Mick Foley, David Lee Roth and La Toya Jackson.

Mellencamp, 58, is beloved for his rootsy, heartland rock that focuses on issues like poverty, politics, racism and mortality. He has earned over 22 Top 40 hits and sold over 40 million albums worldwide. He co-founded 'Farm Aid' to highlight the plight of family farmers and to raise money to allow them to remain on their land. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2008.

Tags: farm aid, john mellencamp

Comments

(90)

Saturday 20 February

By Corky

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Actually, fool, the downhill slide started in 2002. And if you're one of the anisocialists then I have to assume you have not taken advantage of unemployment and have no desire to collect social security, medicare, or VA benifits.

By KADEN

U DO NOT NEED MOVIE STARS IN OUR WHITE HOUSE, U WANT DRUGS BOOZE SEX NO THANKS, WE NEED A GOOD BIZ MAN TO GET US OUT OF THIS MESS

By paul

the tea party is real and you folks who think it all republicans must not get out much or your really happy in the direction as a country we are heading! the tea party consist of folks who keep accepting what the goverment is doing without regard to usa the voters and taxpayers.mellencamp and sprinsteen shouls run on the i hate america party ticket both do not represent the songs they sing

By gobluespartyon

You're wrong Paul I don't think Bruce or John Mellencamp don't like America as you have claim show me facts where they have said they dislike America. You're talking out of your ass Paul. For The record I wouldn't vote Bruce or Mellencamp.

By April

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What? On the wrong page, aren't you?

By Reese

Mellencamp is smoking himself to death; now it has gone to his head. He sings OK and that makes him a politician? Whatever - all dems. must go..........

By Charlie

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Just what this country needs another America hating leftie from the entertainment industry in office. The fact that we were tricked into voting the socialist half breed into office should have awakened the nation

By Bob

Just another liberal idiot...what's news here?

By druid0621

I like his music - always have. But being a celebrity is not enough preparation for the Senate. Does he bring anything of substance to the table? I'd hate to have another Obama on our hands.

Saturday 27 February

By Michelle from IN

No thanks! He's way too liberal!

By dyna94

I like some of his songs and I like a lot of Springstiens songs but I've also heard some of their political rants and raves. Both are Far Left Wing. We do not need any more of those in office and yes, Billie thrasher, you are a sad little individule.

Randy Maille, Talk about brain dead.

By pr1nter3

Please, no. Don't do it. This is another Hollywood/Rock-n-Roll bozo that thinks he can do anything he wants. Besides, Indiana is too conservative for him to win. Just look at Al Franken. He BARELY got away with that race in a very Blue state only after some "found" ballot boxes showed up after the race was too close to call. We got away with that one, but just tell Mellencamp to sing. He's good at that. He would be a total disaster for the party if he ran in conservative territory like Indiana. Evan Bayh was just centrist enough to pull it off, but Johnny Cougar would never win there.

By car17fann

ummmmmmmmmm no!

By Wendell

Liberalism, which has been hijacked by Progressivism has one legacy that should be clear to a nation with about a hundred TRILLION in unfunded Mandates. IT DOESN'T WORK. It simply creates obligations for the next generation that cannot be paid. We are on the way to collapse under the weight of Federal entitlements. All liberalism does is make us feel like we have addressed a problem, while actually making it worse. You can't build a castle in the air people. Hard work creates wealth, liberalism steals it and then creates a credit card in your name with no limits. It's unsustainable.

By deepvoicedm4f

I did not care of Mr. Mellencamp's music anymore than I cared that Bob Hope would entertain our troops each year. However, on a more realistic, national level, I respect Bob Hope as much as I do Mr. Mellencamp. As a performer, he has entertained our troops more often than most of the other, contemporary stars.

Some of you cannot have it both ways. You cannot dog the politicians and then claim that those who seek office cannot be smart enough to hold the office because of their profession. If there is any performer in the last decade and since the 2 wars, who has a pulse on the exploitation of our troops, it should be Mr. Mellencamp. Ladies, how about 'Cougars for Cougar' as your slogan. Let's get rid of these career politicians. Run Johnny, run.

Listen up adults in America. Would you let your teenage daughter run your family finances? That is what you get with Liberalism in power in Washington. Everyone gets designer jeans. Everyone should feel good about themselves. No one should say bad things about others. SAVE the PUPPIES. Is there a place for these sentiments? yes, except for the jeans, but Dad and Mom still have to create the cash flow and pay the bills. Designer jeans have to take a back seat. Liberalism is juvenile mentality with the force of law. Democracy, Democracy, Democracy. News flash, we are a REPUBLIC. Our founders were scared to death of Democracy. That is why we have small, local democracies operating within a Federalist system. Democracy is mob rule. Not governance. Liberalism is feeling good and doing harm at the same time.

Liberalism equals great music, moving lyrics and horrible government.

By Duke Malibu

Ole Cougar-Mellenhead couldn't be any more disastrous than the current administration... Talk about your amateur hour... Unfortunately, it's gonna last for 3 more years ! Hey, what's one more uneducated Lib in power ??.. this country is in rapid decline, anyway...

By tom

I'm sure the career politician is not running because of the "partisian politics" when his own party held conrol of the Senate, Congress and White House. Now the dumbocRATS think that they can just get some has-been singer to run. Well I have a song for them; na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, good bayh.

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