one news now
At least some members of the much-touted crowd of 75,000 people at a May 18 rally in Portland for Barack Obama may have been there, in part, to see a popular local band that normally opens its concerts with the national anthem — of the former Soviet Union.
National media outlets have widely reported estimates of between 72,000 and 75,000 people in attendance at Obama’s rally. What they have largely failed to report, however, is that many in the crowd may have attended as much for a free concert as to express their support for the Democratic frontrunner.
“The rally drew 75,000 people, but the media did not give any credit to the opening act, The Decemberists, who are wildly popular in Portland,” says Robert Knight, director of the Culture and Media Institute of the Media Research Center. “I’m not saying that Obama wouldn’t have drawn a big crowd, but certainly when you have a band that popular opening for him on a beautiful day, that probably should have been mentioned by the media.”
By not mentioning the band, Knight says, the media has been able to avoid a well-known fact about The Decemberists.
“You’d think the media would find it interesting that a presidential candidate had a band open for him that typically plays the Soviet national anthem, the song that celebrates communism in Russia,” Knight says. “But the media has taken no interest in it.”
Knight says the Obama campaign could have easily learned that their opening act routinely starts its shows with the Soviet anthem by checking either Google or Wikipedia.
“The Obama campaign is secure in the knowledge that the mainstream media will not report any of this. Certainly they haven’t so far,” he complained. “They know that the media will not do anything to embarrass liberal candidates. They cover for them all the time. So, that might make them a little complacent about checking out people that they are associated with.”
According to the Wikipedia entry about The Decemberists, “The band is named in reference to an 1825 revolt over the Imperial Russian succession (Decemberist Revolt). It is not related to the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, although Meloy has referred to the historical Decembrists as a communist revolutionary group.”
More information on the band
* 45-minute free concert by The Decemberists
* band has drawn rave reviews from Rolling Stone magazine
* This group is very popular with the college crowd (their politics are liberal and they have a couple anti-war songs.)
* HERE is a LINK to The Decemberists website
Wild Thing’s comment………
It is not bad thing for a candidate to have a band for one of their appearances. But this band is anti-war, many of their songs are anti-war songs, and like the articvle says they open their concerts with the national anthem of the former Soviet Union. THAT does NOT belong in anyones USA campaign rally! Good grief and once again the media gives this the silent treatment.
…Thank you Mark for this article and link.
You mean THE BOLSHEVIKS and from LEFT to right:
Jack Ruby, Karl Marx, Liquid Lenin, Georgia Gulag and Vlad Belushi? – Back in the USSR 2008?
He would choose a band that’s against everything we stand for. They think they’re intelligent and they probably are, but very, very misguided. They appear to want socialism so badly so the government will take care of everyone. Have you noticed how so many of the very wealthy and famous who are all for socialism because they’ve got their money and they’re not going to share it. But they want us to.
God help America to make the right decisions this November. They way things are going, Looney Paul just might win due to backlash.
There is a pattern here, imperceptible by Obama followers but Portland is the perfect example of the inmates running the assylum.
I’ve an idea, let’s just lower the voting age to around say…, oh what the hell let’s make it 6 years of age, I know it’s trampling on the younger un’s rights but lets just do it for the children.
Just one more example of the myths surrounding the cult of Obama and it’s messiah. He doesn’t walk on water nor has he any substance to Hope, Change, and Unity. What a phony and empty suit.
Darth, good one, yes that’s them.
Lynn, that reminded me of something. The first time I realzied that there were well off people that were socialists, communist etc. I was so shocked. It didn’t make sense why they would be like that. Why not want others to be successful too. But you know your so right Lynn, not all but many of them don’t want others to get the American dream like they have. How sad to be that kind of person. I would love for everyone to be a big success and do well in life.
Jack, hahaha I know what you mean.
Les, I am expecting some nut case follower to say he saw Obama walk on water any day. hahaa I mean it, they are all nuts.
“These losers would have been perfect human shields on the DMZ for the NVA snipers!”
LOL good one Bob Hope.