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Bob Dylan Speaks Out For Barack Obama

6/6/08, 7:00 am EST

Bob Dylan has come out in favor of Barack Obama. In an interview with the London Times, Dylan described the Democratic presidential nominee in Kennedyesque terms when asked by an interviewer for his take on the US election. “Right now America is in a state of upheaval,” Dylan said. “Poverty is demoralising. You can’t expect people to have the virtue of purity when they are poor. But we’ve got this guy out there now who is redefining the nature of politics from the ground up…Barack Obama. He’s redefining what a politician is, so we’ll have to see how things play out. Am I hopeful? Yes, I’m hopeful that things might change. Some things are going to have to.”


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Comments

Brent | 6/6/2008, 7:43 am EST

Barack Obama: The Musician’s Candidate. I don’t care how many endorse him, I still disagree with his policies.

very cautious Dylan, of course | 6/6/2008, 8:46 am EST

Every word he says some take as holly one. So this way is maximum anyone can get. Ok, US may have somebody who is not Master of War no 1. But who knows. Everybody is corrupted, dont they.

Denton | 6/6/2008, 9:07 am EST

Very Cautious, next time, in English please.

Skippy | 6/6/2008, 9:21 am EST

Dylan’s endorsing Obama? Oh that’s it. Now Obama is definitely going to win the presidential election.

Dave | 6/6/2008, 9:25 am EST

Thats ok, I disagree with Brent’s Policies

Jungleland | 6/6/2008, 9:29 am EST

Thank you Brent.

>>Barack Obama: The Musician’s Candidate. I don’t care how many endorse him, I still disagree with his policies.

Sanchez | 6/6/2008, 9:41 am EST

Its the part about making this newsworthy thats wrong.

Rory | 6/6/2008, 9:54 am EST

“The Times are A-Changin’” will show up somewhere in Obama’s campaign. I can just feel it.

gappytoofcondi | 6/6/2008, 10:26 am EST

Don’t stand in the hallway,
Don’t block up the door,
Ya betta start swimming
Or you’ll sink like a stone
OH THE TIMES
THEY ARE A CHANGIN’

Bob | 6/6/2008, 10:34 am EST

So, Dylan is backing Obama. Big whoop – so am I. Where’s MY Rolling Stone blurb…?

Ryss | 6/6/2008, 10:46 am EST

i think he has some fresh ideas to spice up that country of theirs, and personelly i think the US needs him…and hey the times are a changin’

Jake Burns | 6/6/2008, 11:06 am EST

McBushcain sucks

Moses Cotton | 6/6/2008, 11:12 am EST

Carefully read, it is not an endorsement. It is a hopeful obsevation.

Steve-O | 6/6/2008, 11:24 am EST

Has The O found himself a running mate? I believe he has.

Anonymous | 6/6/2008, 12:03 pm EST

Obama/Dylan ‘08. Who’s with me?

Brian | 6/6/2008, 12:04 pm EST

Oh, great, well now we can all get on with our days.

grimm | 6/6/2008, 12:26 pm EST

Hey Denton, what’s your second language? I’m betting, like most of us Americans, you don’t have one, so don’t be so critical!

Nader Applesquinnie | 6/6/2008, 12:31 pm EST

I’d like to kick Bob Dylan in the balls and read him some poetry.

Nathan | 6/6/2008, 1:19 pm EST

Let’s tally:
Obama – Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen,
The Beasties, Radiohead and basically every important rock n roll artist with any sense of conscience.

McCain – Toby Keith.

NATE'S WRONG | 6/6/2008, 1:23 pm EST

everyone knows toby keith is a democrat

Marty P. | 6/6/2008, 1:32 pm EST

I woulda thought Dylan would support McCain since they both mumble when they try to talk.

BK | 6/6/2008, 2:03 pm EST

If I made the silly money Bob made I would believe in change too. I might even believe in unicorns and leperchauns as well. But I’m in the real world, where taxes and leadership with experience are important to me. Sorry Obama, but you just can’t fool all the people with your wild and unrealistic expectations.

mike | 6/6/2008, 2:32 pm EST

This is great news. It’s been a while since Dylan expressed hope for any candidate, or made an explicit statement about a particular politician. I’m happy to hear it. It obviously has no bearing on who will win the election. But when one of the most important artists alive today makes such a statement, contrary to what some may think, it is important & it does matter.

In other news, someone on this site has named themselves after the WORST Springsteen song of all time. What’s the matter? Was Mary, Queen of Arkansas taken?

Rich N. | 6/6/2008, 2:42 pm EST

Anyone but McBushcain!

Anton Cermak | 6/6/2008, 4:03 pm EST

Uncle Bob is running circles around O’Bama on the road.

Ange | 6/6/2008, 4:30 pm EST

I like how they used the photo from the Times They Are-a-Changin’. Clever bastards.

BA | 6/6/2008, 6:26 pm EST

damn Bob! you were the last to not give into loser political endorsements, now you’re just like springsteen (ironic) just a grumpy old man trying to seem hip

David Berger | 6/6/2008, 7:18 pm EST

I am a big fan of Bob Dylan and Barack Obama. All the Democrats have to do is point out that John McCain has voted with George W. Bush 95% of the time, and they will have the election in the bag!

Kliff Ritz | 6/6/2008, 7:52 pm EST

Anybody that is even thinking about voting for McCain, someone who is not much different from The BuSh Administration, is anti-America, anti-Life, anti-Choice, anti-Intelligence and deserves everything that is happening to our nation at the moment. Conservatives don’t care about poor people or helping people. Enough said!!

tick tock | 6/6/2008, 10:19 pm EST

People should take care of themselves,

Jeremy Johnson | 6/6/2008, 10:40 pm EST

B to the A to the R-A-C-K. Barrack Obama!

Hillary | 6/6/2008, 11:13 pm EST

I don’t like Dylan,don’t like Obama and disagree with his policies. I better keep on listening to The Chieftains,Sarah Brightman and Utada Hikaru.

pdiddy | 6/7/2008, 3:11 am EST

The Bush administration is actually part of a Democratic plot to help Democrats get elected. It all makes sense now!

Laibish Husenffefer | 6/7/2008, 3:31 am EST

Obama – The Great Unknown! The only reason his star has risen so quickly is that for the moment he was campaigning against Hillary Clinton. Now that the true test of grit, strength, leadership, and intelligence is about to be confronted we’ll see just how well this Obama fellow fares.

Dylan | 6/7/2008, 9:03 am EST

Who the fuck cares??

EnglishBloke | 6/7/2008, 11:03 am EST

Obama running mate will probably be someone with greater economic expertise then him so that probably only rules out anyone under the age of 13.

Bill | 6/7/2008, 2:54 pm EST

I agree whole heartedly with Bob Dylan’s points about Barack. I have read they laughable disputes of the idiots who are anit-Obama. It really is dissapointing to see that the country I’ve been born and rasied..which supposedly is built on progessive thinking..has cave man remarks against a man who is trully intelligent, has much personal strength, and is articulate..not to mention has shown an integrity that is virtually non-existant in world politics. Someone mentioned that don’t agree with his policies. Sounds like the kind of fanatic Republican closed minded, hillbilly, fearing change that has set us back 8 years. I hope to see more intelligent and positive minded people step up.

Jay Jay Horsecock | 6/7/2008, 3:19 pm EST

Obama is a Barack man. WOCKA WOCKA WOCKA!!!

Concerned | 6/7/2008, 4:13 pm EST

What is important to note is that Bob is recognizing that America needs a change. The rest of the world noticed it 4 years ago, but unfortunately the citizens were duped by the fear mongering of the Bush Administration.

If you happen to enjoy the current economic disaster and global ridicule then vote for John McCain. Then you can continue to employ an illegal occupation of a sovereign country, borrow more money from China, and spy on your citizens for
Orwellian enjoyment. I suppose if you have Halliburton, Blackwater, or L-1 stock, you’ll be chearing for Oceania all the way.

Which Obama policies are the problem? The one that gets soldiers home, or the one that gives health care to Americans?

Barack Obama signals to the world that Americans have opened their eyes, and are prepared to lead the future.

larry buchas | 6/7/2008, 5:21 pm EST

Anyone with brains supports Barack Obama. Dylan & Springsteen are the best examples.

Otherwise the McCain followers should get ready to enlist for World War III.

Daniel | 6/7/2008, 6:12 pm EST

“You know, sometimes Satan comes as a man of peace”

Mike | 6/7/2008, 10:58 pm EST

Anyone who thinks Obama is espousing anything new should read about the Johnson and Carter administrations. Cliches and wasteful government spending won’t turn this country around. Freedom will.

Bill Zysblat | 6/7/2008, 11:14 pm EST

I’m a very important person, so fuck you all.

Jeff | 6/8/2008, 12:06 am EST

The USA’s problems are far greater than one man is capable of lifting us out of.

In the end, Obama is firmly entrenched in the political establishment. He is beholden not to glorious new ideas or solutions, but to the Democrat Party and its lobbyists.

freddy | 6/8/2008, 4:01 am EST

why not Gore and barrack. It’ll be Al O Bama or Boy o Boy. Kinda makes me wanna puke!

Anonymous | 6/8/2008, 4:09 am EST

Bill (previous poster), this quote of yours actually seems extremely judgemental and close-minded:

“Someone mentioned that [they] don’t agree with his policies. Sounds like the kind of fanatic Republican closed minded, hillbilly, fearing change that has set us back 8 years.”

So, somebody disagrees with your candidate and that makes them a close-minded hillbilly? It sounds like you may actually be the person you’re describing – but I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you’re not.

I think it’s great that Dylan spoke about his hope for a positive change coming about because of this election. I’m hopeful too. But I’m not putting my hope in any one man and I certainly don’t put much stock in artist endorsements (if that’s what this was). Whether it’s Obama or McCain, they’ll be my president and I’ll hope (and pray) they make decisions that are in our best interest and in the best interest of our neighbors.

billy | 6/8/2008, 7:06 am EST

dont follow leaders

Raju | 6/8/2008, 9:36 am EST

Barack Obama will win!

heheh | 6/8/2008, 2:56 pm EST

the rise and fall of Obama: he deffeats hillary! then gives in to public pressure and takes her as his running mate…

Fred | 6/8/2008, 2:57 pm EST

I don’t know that it’s really fair to say it’s a party thing, or to say that the only reason people don’t like Obama is because they’re racist. That is probably true for some, but isn’t it our right as Americans to not like somebody because we don’t agree with what they believe?

Homesick | 6/8/2008, 3:38 pm EST

…watch the parkin’ meters

Eric | 6/8/2008, 5:49 pm EST

Dylan for V.P. !!!!

I got the WWIII blues!!

arliss | 6/8/2008, 6:30 pm EST

OK, Bob Dylan endorses this stupid SOB. Barack Obama stands for change? What change? He is a man with no platform, no direction, and a wife that looks like the ass end of a cow.

big b | 6/8/2008, 7:08 pm EST

It’s really sad to see some peoples wants to keep down this same road with bush-mccain for 4 more years. We are worst off with bush in the white house, crime is up, unemployment is up, the dollar is weak. How can peoples make an honest living with jobs are going overseas everyday for the past 8 years. Let’s add two words,”New Orleans”, it’s shows and proves how much the bush white house cares about peoples here. We need a change, I NEED A CHANGE.

MW | 6/8/2008, 8:02 pm EST

This is great news :)

gadzook | 6/8/2008, 8:15 pm EST

Dylan for President
Springsteen vor VP

fadeout. | 6/9/2008, 1:23 am EST

i love the fact that bob dylan LIKES a candidate can inspire such heated debate… so many questions raised by this discussion though… does freedom include freedom from untimely death? does somebody that doesnt like bob dylan need to weigh in on something that was obviously intended for those of us that do? personally i do care what bob thinks. it wont change my vote, but someone who’s art has meant so incredibly much to me and who’s thoughts therefore have played such a part in the way i think/feel/believe seems to ask more attention from me than someone who hasn’t. why does that only piss off people that dont agree with an artist; or enjoy that artist?

beatnic | 6/9/2008, 1:49 am EST

master of war, i hope you die

Regal | 6/9/2008, 4:36 am EST

I love how a few geniuses like Hillary Clinton use the phrase “Bush-McCain” and all the sheep adopt it immediately. Apparently no one remembers the two don’t even like each other, let alone agree on much.

Dave | 6/9/2008, 8:34 am EST

Regal, what you said was correct back in 2000, but you might want to read up on McCain’s voting record in the past 4 or 5 years before repeating that statement.

BarnabyJones | 6/9/2008, 9:45 am EST

I agree that McCain was much more moderate than Bush (and I liked him for that), but for the past year or so he has shifted so hard right that I’m surprised he doesn’t need a neckbrace. I understand he needs to galvanize that Bush-neo-con base, but pulling for the support from ultra-conservative Christian Right leaders that he openly denounced earlier comes off as weak willed pandering and could hardly be described as “maverick”.

mb | 6/9/2008, 1:02 pm EST

arliss lost me at the cow comment. RollingStone, how is arliss’ comment considered “ON-topic”? Delete it. I respect Dylan so much. I agree with him, but I’m not voting for Obama because of Dylan’s endorsement of him. And I don’t Bob Dylan thinks you should either.

Anonymous | 6/9/2008, 2:41 pm EST

Who knows anything about Obama…ANYTHING? Tell me five things he’s done, of any importance, and he gets my vote…here and now…Please, I beg of you…I challange YOU…anyone…bring it on…five things that qualifies him for President. Make that your duty as an American until election day. If by then…you still feel this desire to place him in the highest office on the planet…well…then…you deserve what you’ll have coming to you over the next 4 years…This isn’t Afirmative Action for a spot on campus at UofM…this is the presidency people…I challenge Dylan, Springsteen, Matthews…the whole lot of ‘em…YOU…GAME ON!!!

Say what | 6/10/2008, 1:15 am EST

Obama….greatest president since Gore. Oh, wait…

auramac | 6/10/2008, 2:52 am EST

My, my.. some of you snotties are not taking your Flintstones and surely have been staying up way past their bedtimes… playing video games. You people know nothing about Obama, I see- then again, you know nothing about Dylan, yo Mama, or life itself. Ya can hit a keyboard but all your hits- they add up to nothing, you’ve got nothing to say. So shut up.

Tommy T | 6/10/2008, 12:17 pm EST

They’re both fools — we need someone like Roosevelt ‘the buck stops here’ — ’speak softly and carry a big stick’ – nothings gonna change if this county stays as divided as it is.

SDunn | 6/12/2008, 11:59 am EST

Anonymous you asked? Well here are 5 thinks Obama has accomplished since you have decided not to do any research yourself:

1) He helped pass his state’s first earned-income tax credit to help the working poor in the state senate working on both sides of the isle.

2) He passed the first ethics and campaign finance law in 25 years (a law a Post story said made Illinois “one of the best in the nation on campaign finance disclosure”).

3)Obama’s commitment to ethics continued in the U.S. Senate, where he co-authored the new lobbying reform law that, among its hard-to-sell provisions, requires lawmakers to disclose the names of lobbyists who “bundle” contributions for them.

4) He worked with Republican Senator Lugar on the nuclear proliferation bill to get nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists.

5)He is an advocate for Veteran’s rights and fights for them on the Veteran’s Affairs committee. He has authored many bills regarding temporary housing for homeless veterans, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)testing for those who just came home, and fighting for funding for Veterans’ health care.

He’s a fighter for the rights of women and voted yes for the equal pay/equal work bill that was fought in the senate. He’s a huge supporter of a woman’s right to choose. He’s an advocate for civil rights whether you’re black, white, hispanic, asian, or native american.

I could go on and on! He’s a fighter, but not in a way that wouldn’t polarize our nation or cause division like the other candidates.

Let me add one more!
6) He has run a brilliant campaign, never having CEO experience, and beating one of the most formidable well known candidates that the Democratic Party has ever known.

ginni | 6/13/2008, 12:55 pm EST

OBAMA IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PERIOD.

matt | 6/25/2008, 12:59 pm EST

Bob Dylan is laughing at all of you
nowhere in this statement does he “endorse” anyone…he is making an observation that anyone with a brain would be able to make.
Obama , win or lose, for or gainst him, HAsS brought change and hope to some people and to the world in general it would seem, And YES some things will have to change
find me where it says Dylan will be voting for Obama?
I have read alot on Bob, nearly everything he says is cryptic, since he was 22 he has never given a straight answer, and this is just another example ifyou think about it

matt | 6/25/2008, 1:00 pm EST

Bob Dylan is laughing at all of you
nowhere in this statement does he “endorse” anyone…he is making an observation that anyone with a brain would be able to make.
Obama , win or lose, for or against him, HAS brought change and hope to some people and to the world in general it would seem, And YES some things will have to change
find me where it says Dylan will be voting for Obama?
I have read alot on Bob, nearly everything he says is cryptic, since he was 22 he has never given a straight answer, and this is just another example of that if you think about it

MrMagicEyeLens | 7/1/2008, 3:06 am EST

He may not say the exact words “I endorse him,” but the message is clear, he likes Obama. We know he won’t be endorsing McCain.

me | 9/6/2008, 4:00 am EST

i was never the biggest fan of Dylan’s, however I respect him greatly for the influence he has had over many generations…

On that note, I do think it makes a pretty strong statement that a person who has never endorsed a candidate before felt the need to mention that Obama is a much needed breath of fresh air for our country.

personally, my decision to vote for a candidate would never be influenced by a musician or celebrity endorser, but who knows…maybe they might serve as the right encouragement to get someone who may not have been interested before to get involved and become a part of whats going on in our country.

i must say, i’m a bit dissappointed after reading many of the comments below. i’ve been hearing a lot of unconstructive arguements on both sides and it seems like a lot of people have not been doing their research. i really hope that if these people are going to the polls that they do take the time to find out as much about both candidates as possible to make the most diplomatic decision.

its unnerving to me that someone actually had to write “Who knows anything about Obama…ANYTHING? Tell me five things he’s done, of any importance…” This person should learn to empower themselves to start doing their own research and learn for themselves that Obama has done many great things!

my vote is for Obama/Biden! our country needs some radical changes and i know that we will see change for the better with them in office!

BeatlesDylan | 9/29/2008, 7:41 pm EST

Vote Obama

Anonymous | 10/6/2008, 4:23 pm EST

het tommy t, roosevelt did not say the buck stops here, truman did. dipstick..tsk

chuckdettman | 10/27/2008, 6:26 pm EST

I thought Dylan was above the fray….i am disapointed he jumped on the obama mirage, kinda an oxymoron, the leader Dylan becoming
a the follower he dared us not to become, i
guess he has become drunk with success and did not want to alienate future fans that are Obamanites, Bob, since when have the masses
been right?

Dennis | 10/28/2008, 6:26 pm EST

Do you guys realize that if McCain-Palin win, Sarah Palin will be one 72 year olds heartbeat away from president of the United States. If this doesnt scare the hell out of you, it should.
Anyone else think she is quite under-qualified to be President???

tvcarm | 11/4/2008, 3:08 pm EST

always been a Big fan of dylan and i will remain one. But i am not a big fan of obama. I am voting for the 2 “right to life” candidates who have the same view as dylan on rights to life for the unborn.

kid dylan | 1/15/2009, 7:56 pm EST

palin 72 heart beats away from being prez. & that scares you? obama has zero experience & he is the president. & that doesn’t scare you? i got to admit you are a very brave individual.

roisin ryan | 1/21/2009, 8:04 am EST

it is sad that old ‘bob’ is showing his age there isn’t anything really wrong with obama but he has the same look and feel as blair. politicians and musicians dont mix bob demonstrated against power and people’s lack of right’s. the problem is i dont like this much support. obama is a rich college kid another one in power. he comes from a rich background on both sides of his family he is playing to the heartstrings of people already and i dont think it is right he’s another puppet, he’s not one of us. i’ve had enough of these over educated people in power making so called rational defense policies. we have less freedom now than we had 30 years ago, we won some freedom but lost some along the way as well.

roisin ryan | 1/21/2009, 8:10 am EST

put it another way he was on a golf course when the isreali’s and palestinian’s were killing each other in the most barbaric way over chirstmas, obama’s response to the whole thing “no comment”. we need a revolution we need to take down our seats of government by force democracy works but only for the rich the common man is still disregarded

roisin ryan | 1/21/2009, 8:10 am EST

put it another way he was on a golf course when the isreali’s and palestinian’s were killing each other in the most barbaric way over chirstmas, obama’s response to the whole thing “no comment”. we need a revolution we need to take down our seats of government by force democracy works but only for the rich the common man is still disregarded

Truth Fairy | 1/21/2009, 11:00 am EST

Just reading through all this. Boy, do a lot of you guys have to grow up.

Sounds like the folks who were pissed Bob went electric. Should they have been? Is an artist allowed to be a human being. Geez. What a fantasyworld people live in.

:(

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