Springsteen's music, for good reason, is often associated with progressive politics. However, it plainly resonates with conservatives as well, for equally good reason: The values of Springsteen's protagonists are frequently conservative values -- faith, community, courage and work.
Along these lines, was the famous faux-controversy, when Reagan was criticized for saying "America's future rests in... the message of hope in the songs of... Bruce Springsteen." -- however Springsteen may have intended the message of "Born in the U.S.A." (and the most likely intention was simply "to sell") -- Reagan did not mis-characterize the message (most of) its mass-audience heard.
Bruce's latest release, performed last night at the Grammy's, and seemingly written for the Obama 2012 campaign is an open attempt to bridge these poles. The song argues for progressive social policy ("We take care of...") on the basis of conservative, nationalistic, values ("...our own; Wherever this flag's flown...").
While this is, perhaps, savvy messaging, it has to be said that the combination of Nationalism and Socialism is, at the very least, in-artful and unfortunate.
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