A Senator John Cougar Mellencamp?
EmailABC News' Devin Dwyer reports:
Indiana Democrats already have one potential challenger – Rep. Brad Ellsworth – in the race for Sen. Evan Bayh’s soon-to-be-vacant seat. But that hasn’t silenced a growing grassroots effort calling on rock star John Mellencamp to join the fray.
The movement to “Draft John Mellencamp for Senate!” has exploded on Facebook and Twitter in the days since Bayh’s resignation.
“I like the sound of Senator Mellencamp,” one tweet reads. (Or should that be Senator Cougar Mellencamp?)
The Seymour, Ind., native certainly has the star-power and home-state connections to make a serious bid. The question is will voters – other than Jack & Diane – endorse the singer.
John Patterson, 57, a former Kansas Democratic congressional campaign advisor and Mellencamp fan, created the Facebook group to gauge support for the idea in the hours after Bayh’s news, and since then it has gone viral.
“Right away, people took it and ran,” Patterson said of the group, which now has more than 3,600 supporters. “As long as we don’t get any Shermanistic ‘I’m not going to serve if elected’ from Mellencamp, we’re gonna roll with it.”
Several voices in the mainstream media have joined the chorus. Chicago Sun Times film critic Roger Ebert tweeted Monday, “John Mellencamp (D-Ind.) has a nice ring to it.”
Katrina Van Heuvel, editor of The Nation, told MSNBC Tuesday that Mellencamp could be a “populist candidate” and “a Heartland son of Indiana.”
Mellencamp has not publicly commented on the idea, but a statement by his agent Bob Merlis appears not to rule it out.
“He has no reaction/comment to offer at this time but, yes, he's aware of these efforts,” Merlis told ABC News by e-mail.
Mellencamp — whose songs “Our Country,” “Small Town,” and “Pink House” have become popular anthems celebrating working-class America – is a well-known liberal activist and co-founder of the nonprofit group Farm Aid, which raises money to support Midwest family farmers.
His lyrics – “Aint that America? For you and me..Aint that America, home of the free…” — muse on themes of farm life, economic hard times, and civil rights
During the 2008 presidential campaign, Mellencamp recorded radio ads for President Obama, and he chided Sen. John McCain for using songs “Our Country” and “Pink Houses” at campaign rallies.
Mellencamp, who most recently performed at the White House’s “Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement,” is currently collaborating with Stephen King on a play called Ghost Brothers of Darkland County and has a new album that will be released later this year. Merlis said Mellencamp is still planning to tour this summer and next fall.
If he decides to join the race, Mellencamp would have to win the favor of the Indiana Democratic committee which will select the state's nominee for the November ballot following the May 4th primary.
No Democratic candidate will appear on the primary ballot because Bayh's announcement that he would not seek reelection came the day before the deadline for petitions to place nominees on the statewide ballot.
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This makes since – we elcted Obama with no track record for doing anything but run their mouth.
Posted by: a citizen | February 19, 2010, 6:03 pm 6:03 pm
This makes since – we elcted Obama with no track record for doing anything but run their mouth.
Posted by: a citizen | February 19, 2010, 6:03 pm 6:03 pm
Well Illinois has already sent all it’s clowns and court jesters to D.C. Maybe Indiana should get in on the act too.
Posted by: jodoco | February 19, 2010, 6:18 pm 6:18 pm
Mr. Melloncamp has been politically active for years, and I have always respected him for being current on events that matter to real Americans.
I also think he would be hard to bribe by lobby’s because he has all he wants already.
Posted by: DewyB | February 19, 2010, 6:32 pm 6:32 pm
Never liked his Corn-Pone music and definitely never liked his leftist comments. God help us, not another flaming Liberal…..John please stick to farming its probably what you do best.
By the way: what is it about Celebs …they think juz because they have some stardom they think America gives a squat what they think or have to say?
Posted by: Tom | February 19, 2010, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm
Not the first time a celeb has been ran. Republicans only complain when it’s a Democrat. Never hear any complaints from Republicans about Ronald Regan, Arnold Schwarzenegger or even Sonny Bono.
Posted by: Alan | February 19, 2010, 6:48 pm 6:48 pm
I praise Sen. Evan Bayh for having the courage to stand up to his party and say, no, you won’t use me like that.
“No Democratic candidate will appear on the primary ballot” and I hope this sends a message to the other members of congress, to start doing more of what the people want, and less of a radical new agenda.
Posted by: Thank You | February 19, 2010, 6:53 pm 6:53 pm
This is a candidate that I don’t think will join the “Good Old Boys Club” that has driven many good politicians out off office, he will spit in their eye!
Posted by: Scores of Deja Vu | February 19, 2010, 7:45 pm 7:45 pm
I like John Mellencamp’s music, but I sure as heck don’t want him in the Senate.
Posted by: BigJ | February 19, 2010, 7:46 pm 7:46 pm
REALLY, John stick to singing, our congress is already a joke
Posted by: tim demanett | February 19, 2010, 7:47 pm 7:47 pm
‘little pink houses. For you and me.’
Posted by: j.com | February 19, 2010, 8:31 pm 8:31 pm
I find it interesting, the guy who founded farm aid; here is any interesting tidbit of information. The Obama administration has recently imposed a tax on farm land owners. I grew up in a “small town” in southwest Ohio. My parents own farmland; a major farming family in our town who have been around since anyone can remember are now paying a penalty of $1700 tax for each farm owned. John Mellencamp supports Obama yet started farm aid. He needs to look into who is supporting and what they are doing to farmers. With taxes such as this, we may no longer be able to feed our country. And if that happens… God help us. John Mellencamp and his liberal ramlblings is just another hypocrite, Hollywood, limosine liberal. “not forgetting where he came from”…. my ####!
Posted by: small town girl | February 19, 2010, 8:40 pm 8:40 pm
Alan…your 6:48 post. Thank you for an “enlightened perception”. You beat me to the punch. I hope he runs if he so desires. We need far more open minded thinkers in Congress than we currently have.
Posted by: CND FOX | February 19, 2010, 8:49 pm 8:49 pm
one thing that democrats cannot and will not ever be able to square with their egalitarianism and power to the common man message is their penchant for electing super-rich celebrities and celebrity-polticians to national office. to be sure, the republicans too are infested with the mega-rich and out of touch, but according to democrats, they’re supposed to be. it’s a basic hypocrisy that’s irreconcilable for them. i’ve always thought that the rich democrat is about the equivalent of the gay republican.
Posted by: davidfrat21 | February 19, 2010, 9:07 pm 9:07 pm
I counter with Terrible Ted Nugent!!
Posted by: Rocker | February 19, 2010, 9:08 pm 9:08 pm
All those perks that come with being in the Senate? Screwing the American taxpayer? Hurts so good!
Posted by: em | February 19, 2010, 10:00 pm 10:00 pm
Several years back, John Mellencamp got on Charlie Rose’s late night show and offered that Pearl Harbor was arranged or “staged” by the U.S. government. When pressed on what information he might have to believe this, Mellencamp then said “I can’t be 100% sure because I wasn’t there”. WHAT AN IDIOT!!!
Posted by: jimbo99 | February 19, 2010, 10:38 pm 10:38 pm
I don’t believe that Mellencamp has said he is going to run or not. I believe that this is just a group of Indiana residents that think he would do a great job. Why all the personal attaks on him? I could see the inflammatory remarks if he made the announcement himself. BTW – having grown up in Indiana, I believe that Mellencamp would make a great Senator – he knows the issues and what is important.
Posted by: Jen | February 19, 2010, 11:05 pm 11:05 pm
I think he will do just fine,(he can”t do much worse)
Posted by: sparky606 | February 19, 2010, 11:27 pm 11:27 pm
It’s so funny how people flip out when it’s a potential Democratic candidate that happens to have a past/current life in entertainment. But, it’s all good for the entertainers who become Republican candidates??? Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Fred Thompson. How about Independent, Jesse Ventura? Stop being such hypocrites.
Posted by: Heather | February 19, 2010, 11:32 pm 11:32 pm
At least he won’t be owned by corporations, like his republican opponent will be.
Posted by: Simon | February 20, 2010, 12:04 am 12:04 am
If Mellancamp speaks for the farmers, he needs to go up against his liberal friends about the Govt. induced drought starving our farmers in the San Joaquin Valley to save the delta smelt.
Posted by: Informed | February 20, 2010, 12:24 am 12:24 am
Too funny the righties, of all people, have the GAUL to bust on Dems for proposing electing John Mellencamp? Are you people serious? Where should I start?
Arnold Schwarzenegger (actor)
Sonny Bono (entertainer)
Tom Osbourne (football coach)
Jim Bunting (baseball player)
Fred Grandy (Gopher from the Love Boat)
J.C. Watts (quarterback)
Republicans really need to get their head out their “whoops” before they open their mouth. I’m sure it must leave a funny taste.
Posted by: dk | February 20, 2010, 1:31 am 1:31 am
typical irrational conservative logic being spewed here: They believe a well-traveled, creative and informed guy like Mellencamp is not qualified to be a leader, but they don’t have any problem throwing their undying support to airhead imbeciles, which include Sara Palin and pretty much all Republicans currently serving in Congress.
Posted by: Peter | February 20, 2010, 1:53 am 1:53 am
Senator John Mellencamp! Oh Yah!!
Posted by: rightbehind | February 20, 2010, 2:18 am 2:18 am
I agree with dk.. its typical and pretty sad how the repubs are attacking John and he hasnt even said he’s running yet. Conservative hypocrites who were always behind Arnie and other celebs: it isnt even his idea to run! Better for you guys to pay attention to looming disasters in your own party like Palin, and get someone credible that all of your party can believe in before you attack JCM ..
He could be the start of fresh thinking, having not done politics before- that this country desperately needs to be seeking. One things for sure: He can’t do any WORSE than the special-interest conservatives who only care about being re-elected, and therefore sabotage every attempt by forward-thinking dems to get anything done. If the number of re-elections was limited to 2 I think congress would actually be more concerned about the majority rather than their own party.
Posted by: whynot | February 20, 2010, 3:42 am 3:42 am
John Mellencamp in elected office? Sure. He has the right makings for it. An admitted sex addict who bagged numerous women while on tour, costing him several marriages…. substance abuse history leading to bypass surgery….starts great ideas like Farm Aid but failure to follow through after the nice words are said (Obama administration has imposed a bevy of new taxes). Sounds like the right stuff we need in Washington to continue on with the current corruption today.
Posted by: tim c | February 20, 2010, 6:28 am 6:28 am
We need to keep the ball rolling in the democratic side ,for at least awhile .I still haven’t heard a word of ANY policy from the radical right except that everything the dems do is wrong.Does anyone remember just a year ago we were going into a depression? This congress has stopped that and now needs time to finish the job and get Americans back to work.Putting the GOP back in will be a disaster none of can live with! Watch your healthcare costs at least double in the next 5 years if the GOP has their way!!!
Posted by: wdworld51 | February 20, 2010, 6:48 am 6:48 am
Love his songs, but really?
Posted by: LongT | February 20, 2010, 8:24 am 8:24 am
I think that he should make up his own mind about running for the senate. I think he would do a good job of it.
Posted by: Dru | February 20, 2010, 8:40 am 8:40 am
heather, the hypocrisy lies in the fact that the democrats constantly claim to be the party of the little man, to have their finger on the pulse of the struggling working class…yet, they have the richest members of congress and live in part to rub elbows with the hollywood and other cultural “elites.” that’s where the hypocrisy charges come from, and there’s no logical way for the democrats to counter the argument. you can’t hold yourself out as one thing but act in a completely different way.
Posted by: davidfrat21 | February 20, 2010, 9:04 am 9:04 am
John should go for it. Hes far more human then anything we got in washington right now. And he understands where the farmers are coming from and he actualy cares about them. Hes not fake by no means and is one of the Working Class of Americans with stong ties to his home state.
Posted by: tina | February 20, 2010, 9:35 am 9:35 am
davidfarat21…With names like Ron Reagan, Arnold Scwarzenegger, Fred Thompson and Sonny Bono on your side of the ledger – I believe I know who the real hypocrits are. Actually two of the four I liked, because they are moderates who proved that they were also “real human beings”. Too bad for our nation, extreme conservative don’t understand that concept.
Posted by: CND FOX | February 20, 2010, 10:20 am 10:20 am
John’s real people, not the phony baloney drive an old truck to fool the voters. John made it on his own. It wasn’t handed down to him. You go John!
Posted by: rightbehind | February 20, 2010, 10:32 am 10:32 am
Sad that people are so partisan and so ignorant in their assessments. Mellencamp would not be running as a “celebrity”. He just happens to be a well-known singer; because our society (and media) are so “celebrity-obsessed”, naturally this story will be framed as a “celebrity running for office”. In fact Mellencamp has a long history of commitment to service. If you want to call Farm Aid a “concert”, feel free. But the concerns underlying Farm Aid are real for people and as such receive “political attention”. Put your political bent aside and assess it for what it is.
Posted by: Brandt Robinson | February 20, 2010, 10:34 am 10:34 am
W was just a celebrity — “famous for being famous” — with no track record of achieving anything on city council, county board, state legislature, mayor, etc. At least Palin was mayor of something.
Posted by: Craigie | February 20, 2010, 10:36 am 10:36 am
‘Whynot’ — the Obama Administration has actually cut taxes. Show me the statute number of any tax increases that have become law or even been proposed. The “tax increase” myth is one of the worst casualties of the downfall of reporting. If Obama retired to Hawaii today, he would go down in history as one of the major tax cutters. Funny how Obama is tagged with the ‘negative’ parts of ARRA (stimulus) — which were tacked on by RINOs and DINOs — but not the ‘positive’ parts of ARRA. Clinton massively cut taxes in 1997, yet the “no nothings” blame him for a tax increase in 1993 on a tiny, tiny percent of Americans.
Posted by: Craigie | February 20, 2010, 10:48 am 10:48 am
Hey small town girl, you say “Obama has levied a tax on folks owning more than one small farm”… umm yeah, that isn’t small farming, that is buying up small farms and trying to run a corporate farm.
Real American farmers don’t own multiple farms… banks do that.
Posted by: DewyB | February 20, 2010, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm
Can we get him to run for New York Gov?
Posted by: DRDH | February 20, 2010, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm
CNDFOX, from your comments it’s apparent you think i’m a republican. you think wrong. the republicans are every bit as hypocritical as the democrats…but that doesn’t mean the democrats aren’t hypocritical. we’ll never get anywhere in this country until people stop thinking about “party” over everything else in politics. hardcore democrats and hardcore republicans alike have degenerated into complete idiocy and operate in an alternate universe.
Posted by: davidfrat21 | February 20, 2010, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm
You republicans are such sour losers. Get over it and stop crying and complaining. You don’t hear Californians complaining about the mess the terminator got us into.
Posted by: fredda harris | February 20, 2010, 8:08 pm 8:08 pm
If Mellencamp decides to run for senate in Indiana, it will be interesting to see what crawls out of the woodwork to attack because that will certainly draw out all that feel threatened. I think he would be a breath of fresh air, and despite lobbyists, he will stand up for the best interest of the people of Indiana and be a true representation of its citizens.
Posted by: DJ | February 20, 2010, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm
Fredda Harris and DJ, first, i’m pretty sure i’ve seen plenty of “impeach arnold” signs at rallies in calfornia. second, if mellencamp does run, will it be fair game to bring up all his past drug/alcohol abuse and sexual transgressions in the election? i sure remember a dui bush got 30 years or so ago being fair game for the left in 2000. as my original post in this thread indicated, the “rich” democrat is as antithetical to the democratic platform as a “gay” republican is to the republican platform. you can’t style yourself as the enemy of the rich, champion of the poor and downtrodden when your party is composed of mega-millionaires who live in compounds in the hamptons. you can try to explain it away with ad hominem attackes, but the fact remains that the existence of the uber-rich elitists in the party of the little man smacks of hypocrisy and lays bare the central hypocrisy of the american left…that the unwashed masses of commoners need to be “led” by cultural elitists who “know better”.
Posted by: davidfrat21 | February 21, 2010, 9:54 am 9:54 am
The Republicans are going to run 68 year old ex-senator Dan Coates who has lived out of Indiana for over 12 years & worked as a high-paid Washington lobbyist. He’s just moved back to Indiana to run He was a zero when he was in office before. I’ll take Cougar–young, interesting, pro-farmer & worker & not part of the Washington scene. Run John run.
Posted by: Dave | March 1, 2010, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm