Patti Smith

Patti Smith is often confused with Patty Smyth - the former lead singer of the band Scandal.

Political engagement

Smith was an active supporter of Ralph Nader's 2000 presidential campaign, touring with him and playing "People Have the Power" before crowds of thousands at the campaign's "super-rallies." She also performed at several of Nader's subsequent "Democracy Rising" events. She nominally supported John Kerry in the 2004 election; while she did not participate in the Vote for Change tour, "People Have the Power" was performed at all the shows involving Bruce Springsteen. However, after the election she raised money to help Nader's 2004 campaign, deeply in debt from lawsuits by the Democratic Party. She also toured with Ralph Nader in late 2004 and early 2005 to hold rallies to end the Iraq war and impeach President George W. Bush. Her mentions of Nader at concerts are usually greeted with boos by a substantial portion of the audience (who blame him for Al Gore's loss to George Bush in 2000), to which she responds, "They booed Thomas Paine, too."

Related Topics:
Ralph Nader - 2000 - John Kerry - 2004 election - Vote for Change - Iraq war - Impeach - President George W. Bush - Al Gore - Thomas Paine

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