Powell 'appoints' soul legend James Brown to new diplomatic post ("Secretary of Soul")

AFP ^ | Tue, Dec 09, 2003

[presidio9]

US Secretary of State Colin Powell has named James Brown, the so-called "Godfather of Soul," to a new and unusual, but apparently fictitious, senior diplomatic position, the State Department said.

Spokesman Richard Boucher confirmed Monday that Powell had indeed appointed Brown to be the first US "secretary of soul and foreign minister of funk" but said the job description for the post had not yet been drawn up.

In addition, he told reporters that it was uncertain whether the new title carried with it any salary or if Brown would be entitled to an office at the State Department.

"I don't know that it has all been decided," Boucher said. "If we do assign any office space or write out the position description, you'll be the first to get it."

Powell made Brown's appointment public on Saturday while hosting a dinner for winners of the annual Kennedy Center Honors -- awarded to US artists and performers for outstanding work -- of which Brown was one this year.

"James, you know, I really could use you," Powell told Brown, according to a transcript of his remarks at the dinner released by the State Department on Monday.

"I could use you on those diplomatic conferences that I have to go to, sitting there all day long (in) meetings that went on forever and ever," he said to laughter from the guests.

"Man, you could have livened up things at the end of a long day, when we're all dying to reach an agreement on something!" Powell said, before announcing: "Godfather, I hereby appoint you secretary of soul and foreign minister of funk."

[presidio9]

Poppa's got a brand new badge...

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

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[WinOne4TheGipper]

Wasn't he the Ambassador of Soul.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Right on, the Godfather is the greatest.

[Brian Mosely]

The foreign minister of funk position would have gone to George Clinton, however his recent arrest screwed the deal...

[AppyPappy]

Brown: Hehheh a banny humpa thud maselp HEY!!
Powell: What did he say?

[dead]

I'm gonna touch myself! Hah!

[Ronin]

What DID he say?

[weegee]

Is Soul Brother Number One going to get to fly on Air Force One?

James Brown also had good relationships with Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.

He's gotten some flack from the left over it (so much for diversity of political thought among the Hollywood left).

I've seen him in concert twice (around 17 years apart) and he still puts on a great show. He also still talks the talk of community, education, and God (and it seems genuine).

[JennysCool]

I FEEL GOOD about this!

[headsonpikes]

YOWWW!! I feel good!

[headsonpikes]

Now I've got that d*mned song running through my head!

Love those horns.

[JennysCool]

Maybe this momentous announcement accounts for the earthquake! God's on da good foot!

[presidio9]

He's gotten some flack from the left over it (so much for diversity of political thought among the Hollywood left).

BTW, Al Sharpton has said many times that he considers the Godfather to be a real-life father figure. The two first met in 1973.

[JennysCool]

As we saw on SNL, Al does a pretty fine Godfather.

[presidio9]

Foreign Minister of Football?

[lonevoice]

Ya know, with the Godfather's criminal record (assault, weapons, drugs, jail time, etc.), he could make some very effective public statements about how his adoption of conservative values was the answer to straightening out his many problems. A lot of us might not understand what he's saying (Hehheh a banny humpa thud maselp HEY!! HAhaha), but those who most need to hear this message probably would.

How about a one two knockout punch of James and Arnold together stumping for Bush/Cheney 2004? James Brown isn't looking too bad at 75 years old.

[xp38]

That bust in the picture reminds me of the one in the old Batman tv series which flipped open to reveal a button that opened the door to the batpoles leading to the batcave. "To the secretarymobile James!!"

[presidio9]

"To the secretarymobile James!!

...better let me drive."