Letter from Denver
by Brooks Boliek

DENVER, Colo., Aug. 25 — The news that The Boss is going to perform at Barack’s nomination on Thursday, and that performers from Everclear to Kanye West are scheduled to play at different convention parties coupled with my friend Glynn’s missive about the song “Sixteen Tons” got me thinking about music even more than usual.

For years the Democrats used “Happy Days are Here Again.” FDR chose the song to signal new hope for the end of the Great Depression. Former President Bill Clinton switched that to Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow.” Personally, I never liked that song. Too damn sappy.

Both Obama and McCain have a handful of old standards that they play at campaign stops. Obama likes Springsteen’s “The Rising” and U2′s “Beautiful Day.” ABC reports that at Saturday’s rally in Springfield, Ill., with newly-minted veep-mate Joe Biden, the campaign played the Brooks and Dunn country smash “Only in America,” a tune that was also a favorite of President Bush’s campaign.

McCain has been partial to Brooks and Dunn too, playing “That’s What America is All about,” and Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best,” and ABC says that he’s been playing Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” which Diamond recently admitted was about Caroline Kennedy. Now talk about your ironies.

While Obama is the first viable presidential candidate who admits that he likes hip-hop. He famously borrowed Jay-Z’s swipe-dirt-off-the-shoulder move to “brush off’ his “haters” during a much-dissected speech in April that seemed loaded with hip-hop swagger.

Rappers love him, but that love is not often reciprocated as he has to temper his affection for rap.

In an interview with BET earlier this year, he said:

“I love the art of hip-hop. I don’t always love the message of hip-hop. There are times when even…. with artists I love, you, know there’s a message that is not only sometimes degrading to women; not only uses the n-word a little too frequently; but, also something I’m very concerned about, it’s about material things.”

I think Obama’s got to get out of the proverbial box on this one.

My candidate for the Barack Obama for President Campaign Song is (drum roll please): Chris LeDoux’s “Working Man’s Dollar.”

It’s got lyrics that you can rap, rock or yodel. And, it has the added benefit of hitting that blue-collar theme that the Democrats so want to nail at this convention.

If you don’t know LeDoux here’s a little introduction:

He was a country music singer-songwriter, bronze sculptor and rodeo champion. He released 36 albums, many self produced which he sold out of his car. Still, he sold 6 million records, was awarded one gold album and was nominated for a Grammy and Academy of Country Music Pioneer award.

In his New York Times obit, the Great Grey Lady called him the last of the cowboy singers. Unfortunately he died on March 9, 2005.

After reading the NYTimes obit I bought his greatest hits, which included “Working Man’s Dollar.” If there was justice in the world, it would be the Obama Campaign song.

Frankly, I’m not sure of the fair use defense on publishing lyrics, or I’d have The Locust Fork Journal print the whole thing. But since I believe in copyright law, here’s the chorus and the first stanza:

Well, I’m just a Workin’ Man’s Dollar
In the pocket of his old blue jeans
I ain’t like my Wall Street brother
He’s in a bank so shiny and clean
Well, I’m faded and I’m wrinkled
Tattered and stained with sweat

But I’m the 1st one called
when Uncle Sam Needs a hand with the National Debt
I’ve been wages for the farm hand
For drivin’ an old John Deere
I’ve been laid on a bar in a tavern
To buy a workin’ man an ice-cold beer
I’ve been tipped to a truck-stop waitress
Taped where I was torn
And in the hand of a child I was laid on a plate
In a church on Sunday morn

Now tell me, what could be better?

Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman pleaded for Colorado’s congressional delegation to vote to hold Karl Rove in contempt of Congress before it adjourns for the year, according to the Rocky Mountain News.

Over the past year, Siegelman has spoken nationally about the need to bring former Bush adviser Rove to justice for what he termed his tampering in the case and fabrication of the crime. Rove is good friends with the husband of the U.S. attorney who prosecuted Siegelman.

On Monday morning, he brought that plea to Colorado’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention, speaking at the group’s kickoff breakfast. After telling his story, Siegelman asked the 70 delegates to go to their congressional representatives and tell them to vote for the contempt citation before the issue is lost to history.

“I guarantee you . . . that if the Congress does not vote to hold Rove in contempt when they come back from recess, he will walk off into the sunset and it will be a great disservice to the country,” Siegelman told the crowd.

The state’s two Democratic congressmen who attended the breakfast split on whether they want to see the contempt citation.

Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Golden, said he would vote enthusiastically for it, feeling that letting Rove get off would set a precedent of allowing high-ranking officials to thumb their noses at congressional subpoenas.

“There are times that you want to move forward,” Perlmutter said after the breakfast. “But sometimes you have to look back to see the direction that you have to go forward.”

But Rep. John Salazar, D-Manassa, said that he believes there are more important things to do than go after Rove.

“I believe that any administration has to be held accountable, but the main issue we have to be focused on right now is winning the election,” Salazar said outside the breakfast. “I’ve never been one who’s into digging up bones.”

Well, that’s “fair and balanced” news for you. Some are for it. Some are agin’ it.

We say what good is winning elections if the Constitution is trampled in the process? Some Democrats are willing to sell their soul to the company store. You?

AlterNet also now has a story on it:
Don Siegelman Calls on House to Hold Karl Rove in Contempt

Full Audio