Well if we can’t listen to an over-the-hill, alcoholic rock star about the political qualifications of the most complex job in human history, then who can we listen to? What are your thoughts on oral surgery or chemical engineering Bruce? I’m just as interested…
The Blaze – World-renowned signer Bruce Springsteen isn’t quite sure President-elect Donald Trump is “competent” enough to serve as commander in chief.
Springsteen told Marc Maron in a new episode of the “WTF” podcast that he’s legitimately fearful of where Trump will take America, because the rock star isn’t sure that Trump is fit to serve as president.
“I’ve felt disgust [about politics] before, but never the kind of fear that you feel now,” Springsteen said, according to Entertainment Weekly.
“It’s as simple as the fear of, ‘Is someone simply competent enough to do this particular job? Do they simply have the pure competence to be put in the position of such responsibility?’” the New Jersey native and “Born in the U.S.A.” singer added.
Springsteen is concerned about the direction of America under Trump’s leadership.
“When you let that genie out of the bottle — bigotry, racism, intolerance … they don’t go back in the bottle that easily if they go back in at all,” the singer said. “Whether it’s a rise in hate crimes, people feeling they have license to speak and behave in ways that previously were considered un-American and are un-American. That’s what he’s appealing to. My fears are that those things find a place in ordinary, civil society.”
Springsteen predicted that the president-elect will make “as big a mess as he can.”
Still, Springsteen said he understands how Trump got elected, citing the fear of radical Islamic extremism and an uncertain economy, and praising Trump’s campaign message as “very simplistic, but very powerful.”
“There’s plenty of good, solid folks that voted for Donald Trump, as well as people who had other agendas,” he said.
This isn’t Springsteen’s first time publicly bashing Trump — the rocker has been outspoken in his criticism of the billionaire businessman.
Previously, Springsteen labeled Trump a “tragedy for our democracy,” and a “flagrant, toxic narcissist,” and said that our country is “under siege by a moron.” He also wrongly predicted that Trump would lose to Hillary Clinton.Springsteen has been a longtime political activist supporting liberal and progressive ideas and policies. Over the last decade, he has advocated for LGBT rights, including an ad campaign in 2012 supporting same-sex marriage and canceling a concert in North Carolina earlier this year over the state’s controversial HB2 “bathroom” law.
In addition to using his platform to give voice to progressive ideas, Springsteen has been an avid Democratic donor.
He also notably took issue with former President Ronald Reagan when Reagan used his song “Born in the U.S.A.” at one of his campaign rallies during his run for reelection in 1984.
Springsteen’s anti-Republicanism hasn’t stopped at least one Republican from being a fan of his, though. That Republican is New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has reportedly been to more than 140 Springsteen concerts and who acknowledges his political differences with his rock idol. Videos of Christie dancing at Springsteen concerts routinely get uploaded to the internet.
Image Source: floppingaces.net
