Still Torn in the USA: Bruce’s Call for Unity
THE ISSUE: Andrea Peyser’s column criticizing Bruce Springsteen’s Super Bowl ad for Jeep.
Bravo to Andrea Peyser for her critique of the Bruce Springsteen Super Bowl commercial for Jeep (“It’s Blunder Road,” Feb. 9).
What Peyser may have overlooked in calling Springsteen a fraud is that despite his voluminous song catalogue chronicling the despair and plight of the working man, if Springsteen were actually true to the values in his soulful songs, he’d have been the biggest fan and financial supporter of President Donald Trump, who fulfilled his self-prophecy of becoming “the greatest jobs president that God ever created.”
As Bruce would surely retort, “Trust the art, not the artist.” But in this case, I trust neither.
Eugene R. Dunn
Medford
The best Super Bowl commercial, in my opinion, was Bruce Springsteen’s Jeep ad.
It wasn’t so much a pitch for Jeep. It served as a call for unity after we experienced our worst year in history. We must express our freedom.
Filmed in the nation’s heartland, there was, thankfully, no mention of Trump or President Biden. Let freedom ring. Thank you, Boss.
Matt Engel
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
I was gratified that I was not the only one perplexed by Jeep’s Bruce Springsteen commercial.
Here is a Trump-hater who said, “It is time for an exorcism in our nation’s capital” and “In just a few days, we’ll be throwing the bums out.” Now Bruce is lecturing us about civility and tolerance?
I feel like Rumspringa has ended and now I have to decide how I’m going to live the rest of my life. I can either come into the fold, pledging obedience to the Democratic Party, or keep my independence and be shunned, left to my own devices.
One thing I am sure of: I will never buy a Jeep.
Rosemary Swantek
Copiague
Brava to Andrea Peyser for her piece on Bruce Springsteen.
Bruce’s worn-out, world-weary Tom Joad act has been exhausted for many years now. I am so tired of this multimillionaire old crank talking down to me and the rest of America.
Who is he kidding with his fake Okie facade? I guess life is tough riding the rails between his spreads in New Jersey and California. I can only hope he reconsiders his decision to stay put in light of Trump’s defeat. Australia beckons, Boss.
Joseph Shepherd
Shrewsbury, NJ
I hope Peyser had a complete understanding of Springsteen’s history before levying her critiques.
His recent commercial, paid for by Jeep, was about finding the middle ground and promised land he so often describes in his discography — not driven by the right or the left, but by the hope that a common ground can make this country a better place.
Further, his sense of capitalism should not be in question, as he almost surely doesn’t need the money nor the buzz that comes with endorsing an automobile.
He’s worked hard and earned what he has. He’s a man who proudly voices his beliefs, using both his platform and his money. A simple commercial endorsing a brand cannot tarnish a legacy more than 50 years in the making.
Joe Zito
Whitestone
The Jeep commercial was sickening. I did not watch the Super Bowl, but I have since seen this commercial online.
I never had any real opinion of Jeep, and I don’t really care for Springsteen. But this commercial was nauseating. The “reunited states of America”? This implies that we are united only if a Democrat is in office.
It’s just another lie from the side that pretends to want to bring the country together. I’ll never buy Jeep.
Steve Preziosa
Deptford Township, NJ
I think we all owe Springsteen a thank you.
That pathetic and putrid commercial he did for Jeep proved what an absolute sellout and money-hungry slob he is.
As for Jeep, we should be boycotting them for being associated with Springsteen.
Storm Destro
Bayonne, NJ