There are a few things in life that really define who you are as an individual. The guy who sells ThePerryTrain her tuna sandwiches thinks that mayo is a deal breaker. Some consider condoms a deal breaker, others prefer the great cat vs. dog debate, then there is farting in bed. But Irving, well, they have their own deal breakers:

(Catch more dealbreakers here)

Left-leaning politics and music, particularly of the indie variety, aren’t exactly strangers (see above). In another recent post here theshark claimed that the indie crowd are a lot like New Yorkers, Democratic to the core. However, the candidates’ passing over of this demographic is often not so much to do with their reliable affiliation, but rather due to their apathy: Young people are the most likely to stay away from the polls.

There have been political groups that have tried in the past and even met some success. Rock the Vote claims that in 2004, the youth vote (ages 18-24) saw a higher increase in turnout than any other age group. But because the organization has clear links to MTV, it’s hard to classify Rock the Vote as “indie,” and the organization is non-partisan, which means that it’s still not one of the candidates’ camps reaching out to voters.

After my post about LA bands last week, I found out that maybe the indie community was starting to wise up and make some noise about politics and that noise sounds sort of like random dissonant tones in a non-rhythmic pattern.

I was first tipped off to “Noise for Obama“ by Brian Miller from Foot Village. No surprise there, as he started the site along with Brian Chippendale from Lightning Bolt/Black Pus. I probably would’ve forgotten about it had I not seen the website later that night again via one of the ticket-takers at New York’s Knitting Factory.

Thanks to the internet, in less than a day “Noise for Obama” spread over 3,000 miles through old friends and fiber optic cables. Already containing quotes supporting Obama from members of bands like Russian Circles, Lightning Bolt, Deerhoof and more, it’s clear that artists aren’t afraid to speak out for a candidate in this election.

Knowing that a politician can’t be everywhere, these bands could easily act as unofficial surrogates as they travel around the country on tour in the days leading up to the election. Even though the Obama campaign is not involved, he probably appreciates the help to rally his base.

Sadly, I couldn’t seem to find anyone making noise for McCain.

New Yorkers love to complain that major party presidential candidates overlook them, figuring that NY is and will forever be a blue state. This may be true, but I know of an even more shunned group of people who barely get even a passing glance come election season: the indie crowd.

The explosion of the “indie movement” (whatever the fuck that may actually mean) in recent years signals a significant change in the direction that the music industry is taking – less major labels, more DIY. You’d think that a smart, ambitious candidate would notice this and try to take advantage of the ever-growing number of impressionable, voting-age indie music fans and scenesters. But no, not even youth demi-god Barack Obama has attempted to reach out to this overlooked, under-appreciated vein of potential voting gold, instead preferring to pander to mainstream music fans and buddy up with major label acts like Bon Jovi. I guess he’s hoping to lock up that coveted “32- to 50-year-old New Jerseyan with bad music taste” demographic. What’s even more troubling is 99 percent of the major rock acts politicians pander to are so out of touch with the political wants and needs of their average fan, it makes their support seem egotistical and selfish. Do you think Richie Sambora really cares about universal health care?

Indie bands, on the other hand, are way more in touch with the realities of everyday, middle class, blue collar life. Take A Place To Bury Strangers, for example:

But war and health care aren’t the only issues pertinent to the indie crowd. Believe it or not, not all of us are left-leaning, flag-burning, America-hating liberals as Fox News would have you believe. In fact, patriotism is a big deal to us. Indie bands just see things a bit differently. Remember the whole “Obama-flag-pin-patriotism fiasco?” Well thanks to Times New Viking, we now also have the “McCain-touchdown flap”:

Now I’m being realistic here. I don’t expect Obama or McCain to be making a surprise appearance at Pianos or The Music Hall of Williamsburg anytime soon, and I don’t expect anyone from their campaign to be reading this (probably because our blog and website are too hip for the politico crowd). But I do hope this inspires at least one or two people to go out and get our voice heard. Let the candidates know we are tired of being ignored, and we want some good campaign music to boot. Seriously, how cool would it be to see McCain or Obama come out to The Hold Steady?

It’s pretty hard not to get caught up in the whole Democratic nomination fiasco that’s basically handing the November election over to John McCain. Both Clinton and Obama talk a lot about health care, but as I was pessimistically ranting to my girlfriend last night, I don’t think either candidate, nor Rambo McCain, will be able to develop and institute a universal health care system, at least not with a Congress so split down party lines right now. As someone who hasn’t had health insurance since I left my last job back in February, I recently sought information on obtaining coverage through COBRA, which… well I’ll let Virginia Coalition tell you why that was a BAD idea:

I wish these guys were exaggerating how much COBRA costs, but they’re really not. The letter I got in the mail from my old employer offered me medical coverage under my old “decent” United Healthcare plan through COBRA for a mere $675 a month! $675!!! That’s almost how much I pay in rent! I had better be getting sick roughly 3 times a month, or at least developing Diabetes or cancer to justify paying that shit.

As I said before, I don’t think any of the candidates in this year’s election will deliver when it comes to health care, and that really pisses me off. We the people deserve better than this. Better treatment, better choices, better candidates. That’s why I’m calling for the United States government to scrap the woefully outdated two-party election system that decides our next leader and institute the fairest, most democratic system ever developed by mankind –

A 64 Person NCAA-Style Fight-To-The-Death Presidential Tournament

Click on thumbnail for the full tournament bracket

No more of this convoluted primary-caucus-Super Delegate bullshit. Here’s how the new system works – Each state (yes, even West Virginia) votes to elect one representative to compete in the tournament. That’s 50 competitors right there. The 14 remaining slots go to the following:

• Washington D.C. – It’s our nation’s capital and all.
• Some Puerto Rican Guy – To represent Puerto Rico. Note: Does not have to actually be Puerto Rican, just Spanish. No one will know anyway.
• A Kodiak Bear – Shake things up a little. Imagine if he wins, it would be pandemonium. Plus, who else is possibly going to stand a chance against…
• Chuck Norris – Because Chuck Norris fucking said so.
• The WWE Champion – Politics are filled with as much, if not more bullshit than professional wrestling, so it’d be a perfect match.
• The NCAA Champs – Ok, so they’re not technically A candidate so much as 12 or 15 candidates, but it’s time the winner of the NCAA tournament got something better than a fucking trophy.
• Miss America – So she’s got the beauty but no brains. So what? Bush has neither. Plus, do you think Iran would dare bomb a pair of tits like that?
• American Idol Winner – More Americans vote each week for their Idol than they do the President, so this makes perfect sense.
• Carl Weathers – Gains automatic entry based on the fact that he’s the only member of the original Predator trio (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura) not in politics.
• Youtube Winner – You’d think this would be a slot reserved for the person who uploads a Youtube video detailing the best and brightest plan for digging America out of the doldrums. WRONG. This slot goes to the biggest asshole on Youtube, as voted on by his peers. I’m talking about a guy who uploads a video of him beating his children, or cheating on his wife with her sister, or stealing money from the poor. A real jerkoff is what this country just might need.
• Andrew W.K. – The most positive man in America, and quite frankly, my personal hero. Will teach America how to “Party Hard.” Also, how to save money on laundry bills by wearing the same t-shirt and jeans for 5 straight years.
• John Basedow – Those abs. Those abs.
• The Pope – Was such a hit in his recent visit to NYC, we’ve brought him back by popular demand, whether he likes it or not. Can fight each match in the Popemobile too. Which will come in handy when he’s facing…
• Jet Li – International martial arts superstar takes on the Pope to finally answer the age old question – who’s more powerful, Jesus or Bruce Lee.

Each match lasts until one opponent either submits, goes into a coma, or just flat out dies. There’s no time limits, no ties, and no runoffs. Two men (or women, or in this case, bears) enter, one man (woman or bear) leaves. When there are only two competitors remaining, we then let the country vote for which one should be our next President in the most Democratic and trusted way – a show of hands. Then they fight to the death anyway. If the person (or bear) who emerges victorious is also the winner of the general vote, then they become President. If they don’t win the general election, we start all over again with a whole new tournament. Now you might be asking, why make them fight in the first place? Why not let the people’s vote choose the winner? Because you can’t give the people too much power. They’re human, they’re prone to making mistakes. Why not leave everything up to a combination of choice and fate?

My money’s on The Bear.

You can’t swing a dead cat nowadays without somebody uttering “Why the fuck are you swinging a dead cat?” But once you apologize and put fluffy (RIP) down, then they usually wants to talk politics. And can you blame them? 2008 is going to be a historic year for American politics. The Democratic nominee for President will either be someone who the South hates, or someone who the South REALLY hates. You rarely see a single candidate. much less two, elicit that kind of united response from such a large group of people. But all kidding aside, The Shark is very excited that change looks to be on the horizon, because, let’s face it, anything looks better than the boondoggle we have in office right now. I’d take a puppy in an oversized top hat with a bowtie for the next 9 months over G Dubs. Sure, the rest of the world would probably laugh at us at first, but how long do think they’d be able to resist THOSE CHEEKS OH MY GOD THEY’RE SO CUTE I JUST GOTTA SQUEEZE ‘EM!!

Politics can be polarizing, but we here at Uncensored Interview respect all views and opinions. Whether you’re a fan of H.C. or B.O., or even that old Republican dude who once had glass rods shoved up his peehole in ‘Nam (now that’s Hardcore!), we love ya, and we want to hear what you have to say via V-Sponse about the upcoming election. In fact, some of our artists have already started duking it out on our site over their choice for the Democratic nominee. Consider it just like the CNN debate, minus CNN, Chris Matthews, expensive set design, HD cameras, a live studio audience, and $400 haircuts. Speaking first for Senator Barack “Not Osama” Obama, we give you Falu:

And representing Senator Hillary “Legs” Clinton for the indie rock crowd, The Pierces: