BY LAUREN MENDOZA

In print | Published February 14, 2008

With primary season upon us, it is our duty to choose a candidate we feel is best suited to lead our nation. However, many citizens decide not to vote due to their busy schedules, indecisivness or pure unadulterated apathy. But even worse is when people vote without knowing anything about the candidates or the issues at stake. It takes time and willingness to research candidates’ voting patterns, stances on policies and their abilities to lead.

So, if for whatever reason you find yourself unable to pick a candidate based on merit, their values, or attractiveness (I miss you, John Edwards) then fret not. There are other factors you can take into consideration that take less time and effort to examine, such as music choice.

You can tell a lot about people by what they listen to, and even more by what they put on their campaign soundtrack for the nation to hear. The three remaining front-runners have selected a variety of songs that excite their supporters and serve as a personal bond between the politician and the people. Their music choice should set them apart from the other candidates and unite their supporters.

Let us examine the musical selections of leading Republican candidate, Senator John McCain. While campaigning in South Carolina last April, McCain displayed his aptitude for lyric interpretation and commendable music taste by alluding to “Barbara Ann.” When asked what his stance was on a preemptive strike against Iran, McCain wittily responded, “Remember that old Beach Boys’ song, Bomb Iran? Bomb-bomb-bomb…” Although this response lacked sensitivity, it demonstrated that not only does McCain admirably listen to upbeat, classic American rock and roll, but also demonstrates McCain’s willingness to lay the smack down. After John Edwards dropped out of the presidential race, McCain began using Edwards’ campaign tune, “Our Country” by John Mellencamp. His supporters united to angrily respond to criticism that his creative individuality is faltering by claiming that it’s only fair that McCain took Edwards’ song since Clinton and Obama took his ideas.

Senator Hillary Clinton has also used music to excite her supporters. In mid-2007 Clinton posted a video on the Internet urging her supporters to vote for her campaign song from a list that included songs by U2, the Temptations, the Staples Singers and others. Tens of thousands of people watched her online video spoof of “The Sopranos” finale, waiting in great anticipation to discover what song would power Clinton’s campaign. Eventually Celine Dion’s love ballad pulled through, and “You and I” became Clinton’s campaign song. But what can we interpret this dedication to the people to mean?

Does Clinton have a really good sense of humor? Or does it simply mean her support comes from forty year olds who jam out to easy listening and pine away for “My Heart Will Go On”? It was merely days after news spread of her song selection that many of her supporters protested the choice in online polls and blogs. It’s commendable that Clinton sincerely attempted to include her supporters in her campaign, but picking Celine Dion over the Temptations and U2 ultimately caused a rift with her supporters.

Initially, Senator Barack Obama chose to defy the norm and walked on and off at his first campaign event without any music cues. But with all the music hype from Clinton’s campaign, Obama supporters began to brainstorm ideas for his campaign song. Some very unique videos began to appear on YouTube, with Obama supporters belting out “I’ve got a crush on Obama,” promptly followed by “She’s got a crush on Obama” and “Open letter to Obama.”

Obama eventually decided to use something more listenable, and chose U2’s “City of Blinding Lights,” which won Best Rock Song at the 2006 Grammys. This is a significant step up from McCain’s offensive sampling of the Beach Boys, and displays Obama’s ability to take control of a situation, unlike Clinton’s diplomatic submission to a sappy love song.

Ultimately, this article is just a cynical approach to the ridiculousness that ensues when We the People decide to vote without checking the facts. It would be a dishonor to yourself and your country to vote for a candidate solely based on gender, race, physical appearance or partisanship. Get to know your candidates (obviously not just their favorite songs). If you are going to partake in a decision that will affect this nation and the world, take the time to learn who the candidates are, and what they support. And don’t forget, always do the right thing.

Lauren is a sophomore. You can reach her at lmendoz1@swarthmore.edu.

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