I confess I had heard earlier this week that the leader of a Portland band that had gone national might endorse Steve Novick in the race for Senate from Oregon. They were right, it turns out, but that was just the tip of the iceberg--a whole host of national stars have come out for him. Oh, and there was something else--something YOU can get out of it, that isn't easy to get anywhere. Check it:
Colin Meloy (The Decemberists), Thomas Lauderdale (Pink Martini), Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam), Michael Stipe (REM), Britt Daniel (Spoon), Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie), Krist Novoselic (Nirvana & Flipper), Dave Dederer (Presidents of the United States), Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney), Rufus Wainwright Co-Sign Letter of Support
Today Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate Steve Novick announced he had received the endorsement of several major musicians including Portland artists Colin Meloy of The Decemberists and Thomas Lauderdale of Pink Martini.
{more if ya jump, including the special offer for YOU}
(the release continues, featuring Meloy's support)
"I think we need a new kind of progressive leader in the U.S. Senate who isn't afraid to take on the tough issues," said Meloy. "Meeting with Steve, I was quite impressed with his command of the challenges we face and his candor about what it will take to turn this country around. I'm proud to give him my support."
Meloy also announced that he will be official re-registering as a Democrat to vote in the upcoming Oregon primary for Novick. The campaign's new "Register for Steve" program will encourage non-voters and voters not currently registered as Democrats to join the party and show their support for Steve in the primary election. Already, over 75 Oregonians have pledged register as a Democrat and vote for Steve.
Meloy plans to also work this election with Head Count, a national non-profit formed by artists, music industry professionals and fans to encourage voter registration and democratic participation. More information can be found at www.headcount.org
"I encourage everyone to get involved the elections happening across the country, regardless of who you support," said Meloy. "The issues are too important, the stakes are too high, to leave it to someone else to decide for you."
(keep reading, I'll tell you the really cool part for you, yes YOU in a minute)
The Decemberists are a band I've become awfully fond of since moving back to Portland. They are smart, wryly witty, and highly creative--particularly Meloy, the band's frontman. They have achieved national prominence with their last album "The Crane Wife," and are much beloved around here, particularly with younger folk. You can tell Meloy is already a champion of voter involvement with his activities and statements about getting out there to register. Re-registering for Steve is a great concept, and while as a faithful non-Democrat my whole life I have pledged not to switch, the heat not to is getting intense.
(let me also tell you about two of the other folks not everyone nationally might be familiar with)
Pink Martini is not a band I listen to much, but an entirely different but equally large, somewhat older group of folks are just in LOVE with this band. Since I'm not the best person to describe them, I'll let bandleader Thomas Lauderdale do it:
"Pink Martini is like a romantic Hollywood musical of the 1940s or 50s – but with a global perspective which is modern. We bring melodies and rhythms from different parts of the world together to create something which is new and beautiful.
As a former intern for wildly popular mayor Bud Clark in Portland in the 90s, Lauderdale was inspired to create Pink Martini in order to improve the music at political events. Here's hoping he does that for Steve!
Sleater-Kinney is another band I was introduced to a few years ago, and I was privileged to see their second to last show ever, at Portland's famed Crystal Ballroom. They didn't make a big deal about it, but Corin Tucker and her bandmates were the foremost non-girl-band all-girl band in rock history. Juggling husbands and kids like so many other successful women, they became emblematic for an uncompromising ethic and flat out RAWK.
The other luminaries in the letter for Steve should be fairly well known to most music fans under 40, but to have people like Michael Stipe, Krist Novoselic, Stone Gossard, Rufus Wainright and the others back some guy running in Oregon--that just strikes me as unusual.
And I think while most endorsements have barely any practical effect, I think there is both symbolic and tangible gain from their support. This isn't just any list of rock stars thrown into a hat for show. Each of these people that I'm aware of, has shown a committment to integrity, individuality, and intelligence in their work and how they carry themselves in their lives and careers. Stone Gossard and Pearl Jam in particular have been nothing but heroes in their rejection of many music industry practices, and their opposition to corporate scam outfits like Ticketmaster and corporate scams in general has led a generation of musicians to follow their lead. Much the same can be said of Michael Stipe and REM, who have built themselves into global stars without compromising on the music and how to make it, and Stipe's long list of progressive causes.
Support from people like that is deeply impressive to me, and not just because I happen to have grown up and grown older on much of their music. From my vantage point these folks stand for doing it the right way, and doing it with intelligence and even a little bit of clever humor. They recognize those qualities in Steve Novick, I think--someone who is looking to change America for the better, not just occupy a seat in the Senate and start preparing for re-election.
Here's the text of their letter, and then I promise I'll tell you the really cool part:
Dear Voters,
We wanted to write you a short letter asking you to join us in supporting Steve Novick for the U.S. Senate. We know that we aren’t the typical people you hear from about an upcoming election, but Steve is certainly not the typical candidate.
Steve is a principled progressive who will take on the tough challenges we face today. Here are some of the priorities that led us to support him and we think will impress you
too.
A Champion for the Environment.
Steve’s childhood in rural Oregon instilled him with a deep passion for protection our natural heritage. He spent eight years at the Justice Department, suing polluters to clean up our land, our air and our water – including as lead counsel on the famous Love Canal case. And he’s made the environment a centerpiece of his campaign, calling for a comprehensive
approach to global warming to reduce our greenhouse emissions 80% by 2050.
An Anti-War Voice on Iraq.
Steve has been a strong opponent of the Iraq War
since before it began and will provide the best contrast with Gordon Smith’s flipflops on the war and his continued support of pro-war John McCain.
An Economy that Works For Everyone.
Steve has consistently decried the ballooning inequality in our country that is leaving too many regular Americans
struggling to get by. He will fight for tax fairness to make sure the rich are paying their fair share, a major reinvestment in rebuilding the middle class and trade policies that protect jobs here at home and don’t ravage developing nations.
Full Equality For Gays and Lesbians.
Steve believes that a loving couple should be allowed to marry, regardless of their sexual orientation. And he’s said
he is willing to lose this election rather than compromise on that principle.
Net Neutrality Is A Must.
Steve is strongly opposed to broadband providers creating a two-tiered system of access to information, in which content providers with money would have an advantage over those that don't. The government was primarily responsible for creating the Internet and everyone should be able to benefit from it.
No to Media Consolidation.
A free and independent press is the lifeblood ofdemocracy. Steve opposes moves by the corporate media to roll
protections, consolidate their empires and crowd out independent voices that are critical to having an informed public. It is harder and harder for authors, artists and others independent thinkers to get a start or reach an audience. Rolling back the safeguards against further consolidation is the last move we should be taking
at this time.
The upcoming election offers us a real opportunity to turn the page on the failed policies of President Bush and bring progressive change to Washington D.C. Steve Novick could
be a real leader for change in the Senate and we hope you’ll join us in supporting him this election.
Sincerely,
Colin Meloy (The Decembrists)
Thomas Lauderdale (Pink Martini)
Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam)
Michael Stipe (REM)
Britt Daniel (Spoon)
Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie)
Krist Novoselic (Nirvana & Flipper)
Dave Dederer (Presidents of the United States)
Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney)
Rufus Wainwright
OK, now I'll tell you the best part, especially if you're a Pearl Jam fan:
The Novick campaign announced that supporters will also be able to receive a premium ticket to an upcoming East Coast performance by Pearl Jam along with their contribution to the campaign. The ticket blocks, made available to the campaign by the group, will include sell-out shows in New York, New Jersey and Washington D.C. Additional details on the tickets will be made available soon.
Yep--soon, with your contribution to Steve Novick, you can get yourself some ducats for a sold-out Pearl Jam show. And you'll sit with the rest of the people who did it too, sounds like! The "Novick Section."
Keep tuned to novickforsenate.com for details on that.
OK, I'm a little pumped about this. I didn't have a bigger hero in the early 90s than Michael Stipe, and there aren't many bands I listen to more today than Colin Meloy and the Decemberists, so this was huge news. But the one thing it doesn't do, is surprise me. That's Steve. If you get to know what he's about, I think it won't surprise you either--and it won't surprise you to see him leading Oregon to change in the Senate this fall.