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Are Common's lyrics inappropriate for the White House? Weigh in
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Rapper Common is invited to the White House poetry event on Wednesday evening (May 11) - and as a lyricist, it's hard to deny that he's also a poet. However, his invitation has stirred up some controversy based on the lyrical content of his songs. ABC News reports that conservatives and police officers have protested.New Jersey State Trooper David Jones protested Common's invitation because of his song that praises Joanne Chesimard, a member of the Black Liberation Army, convicted in 1977 of the first degree murder of a state trooper. Chesimard escaped prison in 1979 after being sentenced to life.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney says that President Obama wasn't endorsing Common's lyrics with the invitation; he was simply acknowledging his impact on the hip/hop world.
"The president does not support and opposes the kind of lyrics that has been written about," Carney says. "He does not think that that is the sum total of this particular artist's work which has been recognized by a lot of mainstream organizations and 'fair and balanced' organizations like Fox News, which described his music as positive."
Ooh. Nice.
What do you think of Common's lyrics? The song in question is below. Should he be uninvited?
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Obama is racist and known for hatred of "Stupid Cops" and this rapper goes to the same racist church Obama sat in for Twenty Years. Van Jones is a communist racist also friend of Obama.
What the Helll is happening to Our Country and Our Govt. is their any decency or common sense anymore.
Misogyny, Killing Cops and a President has Obama lost his mind.
When you celebrate bad taste and lower the standards for the presidency you have a country in decay...
Police Officers' Outrage is justified. Van Jones and this rapper are RADICALS in Our House. For the first time in my life I am sad for my Country.
Yet another Obama Party on The Tax Payer Dime and if that wasn't offensive enough rappers supporting Cop Killers and Presidential Assasinations are Welcome to Our House....GRRRRRRRRRRRRR
you guys have some serious issues. Have you heard ANY other Common song? He doesn't support this stuff, it's one damn song. In my eyes the backlash towards this is ignorant. No one said a word when Ez-E (a rapper known for his song "**** the Police" was invited to Bush 41's White House. No one said a word when P Diddy was at the Republican Convention. WHY now are people outraged by a man who is one of VERY few decent rappers in this world and is a great role model for a younger generation.
i think it's kinda funny how no one criticizing common here has any actual knowledge of assata or her life. the fact that she was shot by a police officer unarmed, moved to a men's prison to get raped, brought up on trumped up charges including robbing a bank that did not exist and finally being accused of shooting a police officer 20 yards away with a revolver in a broken hand. none of it is at all suspicious or even debatable to you hypocrites? the fact that she was convicted doesn't necessarily mean she did it. looking at the facts even if you think she did do it you have to be willing to consider the possibility that she could have been innocent. but instead of trying to see if his argument was even valid you ignorantly lambaste him. a man you know nothing about. it's a sad day in a america when unadulterated hatred and racism is the basis of all intellectual discussion.
Its the lack of intellect that leads to racism and hatred. I'm a 57 year old white male and I know that poetry and songwriting are about content and context. Common's message is not about hatred or violence, its about avoiding them.
But it was no different in the 60s, the real haters said rock music was devil worship, Beatles were evil, etc. Haters should look in the mirror and admit to what they really hate, then move to be amongst their kind in the hills of Afghanistan and fight it out with each other.
I've felt Common is clearly racist for maaany years. I love his music too, a lot of it is great, but if you just listen, many of his songs are clearly racist, like Black Panther style. Wow, he's talented though, but a poor choice for the White House. There are plenty of other rappers who don't make these types of statements, but maaany who do and more.
let me reiterate that he's a poor choice for the white house during police week, that's the key there.. @ kinda funny
Also, yes, he's immensely talented, with many positive things to say, and I do agree people should know about Assata's case to gain more insight, but you're seriously telling me you're a Common fan (?), and you've never noticed any of his racist lyrics?!?!