As Soundcheck's senior producer and "chief political analyst," I spend a lot of time crunching poll numbers, creating colorful maps and Facebooking with my vast array of confidential sources inside the Beltway. It's not an easy job, but I'm able to connect dots that are beyond the grasp of other music shows on public radio.
For example: I recently uncovered a disturbing fact: Neither of the major candidates is a musician. Sure, Barack Obama can sing a little Al Green, and Mitt Romney apparently owns an iPod that his running mate hates. But they're hardly the kind of boundary pushing artist we celebrate every day here at Soundcheck.
Ask yourself: What if a real musician became president of the United States?
Join Soundcheck for an "October surprise" we're calling The Musician In Chief. Over the next few weeks, special guests will nominate eight musicians and make a case for that artist to become commander in chief. (Yes, even if that person is a drummer.)
Then, you'll be asked to exercise your civic duty to vote in a non-binding, non-scientific, online-only election. The winner will be announced on the show on Nov. 5.
[Important disclaimer: The musician will not actually assume the presidency, unless the winner of the Romney-Obama contest cedes his victory to our winner. – The Lawyers]
START THE CONVERSATION: Who do you think should become the first "Musician In Chief"? Our only rule: Your nominee must be a living artist. Copy and paste the questionnaire below into our comments section, or email your response to soundcheck@wnyc.org
Nominate Your "Musician in Chief"
Candidate Name:
Reason for nomination:
Campaign slogan: [sentence, short phrase or single word]
Probable running mate:
Core campaign issues:
During first 100 days in office, what will your candidate achieve?
Additional info:
Comments [1]
Candidate Name: Craig Finn
Reason for nomination: Excellent grasp of US geography. Could carry Florida just by the weight of all the votes he'd get from Ybor City. Carries a large cast of characters to form Cabinet.
Campaign slogan: Hold Steady America
Probable running mate: Nightclub Dwight, if he's still alive, otherwise Holly (she'll draw the Christian vote) or Patterson Hood (revive the Democratic south)
Core campaign issues: Build community: we need more ladders to the top of water towers; we need party pits; we need camps by the banks of all the rivers in this great land.
During first 100 days in office, what will your candidate achieve? Re-think all that nostalgia about 80s synth tunes. Drink and talk with Ahmadinejad on the top of water tower.
Additional info: Toured with Drive By Truckers.
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