Racism and the Obama song

San Diego Union Tribune ^ | December 31, 2008 | Ruben Navarrette Jr.,

[BAW]

Here's a debate that strikes a familiar chord. When do song lyrics that are meant to be entertaining hit a sour note and become offensive?

Many conservatives think rap music crosses the line. In 1990, Republican officials in Broward County, Fla., declared obscene an album by the group 2 Live Crew and sheriff's deputies arrested members of the group after a performance. In 1992, the rapper Ice-T released an album featuring the song “Cop Killer,” which President George H.W. Bush called a threat to police officers. After law enforcement associations boycotted his record label, Time Warner, Ice-T pulled the song from the album.

During those skirmishes in the culture wars, you would hear liberals defend the creative process, praise the First Amendment and dismissively tell anyone who was offended by vulgar lyrics to “get over it” and develop thicker skins. Now those on the left have the chance to show us how it's done and walk it like they talk it.

And it's all thanks to “Barack the Magic Negro,” a cheeky parody of “Puff, the Magic Dragon” that pokes fun at the jealousy and resentment that older black leaders initially exhibited toward Barack Obama.

Did you catch that? This is not a song that makes fun of Obama – as some might assume from media reports – but rather one that makes fun of those who claimed that Obama was not being black enough or appreciative enough of the struggles of those who came before him. Mimicking the voice of the Rev. Al Sharpton, the song – which first aired on Rush Limbaugh's radio show – starts off: . . .

[BAW]

Timely opinion piece by Navarrette, bringing the real history of this parody into our morning newspaper. The song is not a parody of Obama, but a parody of the prior generation of prominent black politicians harumphing that Obama is not black enough to represent them.

[weegee]

Stalinists revise the historical record as they see fit. Those who persist in remembering the quotes of the past will be institutionalized in a prison for the criminally insane.

The Weather Underground would’ve done worse to the hold outs.

[ETL]

Rapper 'Ludacris'

Lyrics to Ludacris' Obama rap song, "Obama Is Here":

"Hey... I'm back on it

like I just signed my record deal, yeah the best is here

The Bentley Coupe paint is drippin wet, it got sex appeal

Never shoulda hated, you never shoulda doubted him

With a slot in the President's iPod, Obama shouted him

Said I handled my biz and I'm one of his favorite rappers

Well give Luda a special pardon if I'm ever in the slammer

Better yet put me in office, make me a Vice President

Hillary hated on you so that bitch is irrelevant

Now Jesse talkin slick and apologizin for WHAT~?!

If you said it then you MEANT it how you want it, head or gut

And all you other politicians tryin to hate on my man

Watch us win majority vote in every STATE on my man

You cain't stop what's 'bout to happen, we 'bout to make history

The first black President it's destined and it's meant to be

The threats ain't fazin us, the nooses or the jokes

Get off your ass black people it's time to get out and vote

Paint the White House black and I'm sure that's got 'em terrified

McCain don't belong in ANY chair unless he's paralyzed

Yeah I said it cause Bush is mentally handicapped

Ball up all of his speeches and just throw 'em like candy wraps

Cause what you talkin I hear nothin even relevant

And you the worst of all 43 Presidents

Get out and vote, or the end'll be near

And the world is ready for change cause Obama is here

YEAHHH! Cause Obama is here

The world is ready for change cause Obama is here

Yeahhhh, cause Obama is here

Say world is ready for change cause Obama is here

Hey!

http://lyrics.rapbasement.com/Ludacris_Politics%20(Obama%20Is%20Here)_lyrics_2129.html

[VeniVidiVici]

LOL! So now a rap about killing cops is equivalent to a song about Barack Obama sung to the tune of ‘Puff The Magic Dragon’.

Ruben, you’re an idiot.