I was at a concert Saturday night, and the band had a big banner behind their drummer with their name and logo on it.  The banner was in place throughout their set, just in case you forgot who you were listening to.  Immediately following their last song, the banner descended, showing a picture of Barack Obama. 

The concert was in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and the headliners were the Dropkick Murphys, an Irish punk band hailing from the Boston area, made famous by their songs' inclusion at Red Sox games.  For the casual reader, this means that pretty much the entire audience was a bunch of young, drunk, Massholes (a technical term), famed for their extreme leftist thought and their democratic politics. 

As the Obama poster became visible, I rolled my eyes and started my hatred for the band on the stage (the Mighty Mighty Bosstones).  I'm a firm believer in the separation of celebrities and politics.  No famous person, simply because they're well-known and recognizable, should have the right to spew their personal political opinions to groups of attentive onlookers.  Just because you're a good musician or a famous actor doesn't give you the privilege of lecturing people and gaining followers for your political leanings.  That's like being an astronaut and preaching against cholesterol medication.  Fame shouldn't equal influence. 

Nevertheless, an amazing thing happened that night.  The band finished playing, the Obama poster became visible, I rolled my eyes ... and then ... wait for it ... the crowd started booing.  Yes, booing.  I'm not sure if it was the biggest coincidence in the history of the universe (a bunch of young republican Massachusetts residents all at the same concert on the same night), or if they agreed with me about the separation of state and status.  But either way, it was great to see a group of people stand up for their political independence.  It was the biggest, best, and most enjoyable political fail I've ever witnessed. 

(For the record, it didn't matter if the poster had a picture of Obama, McCain, Bush, Bin Laden, or Barney.  All politics should be off limits at non-political events.) #politics