Roll Out, Luda
Your freestyling is not helping Obama.
"So drink some prune juice and let the shit go."
--Ludacris
Aug. 1, 2008--If you're in NYC this weekend, keep an eye out for Al Sharpton on the dance floor at 40/40. He'll be the one gripping a bottle of Moët, sandwiched in-between two supermodels with his tie loosened, sweating out his conk and hollering along with Fatman Scoop: "...Single ladies, make noise!" You know why he'll be celebrating? Because his name isn't Bob Johnson, Jesse Jackson or Ludacris. Eight months and counting in this election cycle and we haven't heard a word out of Reverend Al about Obama, McCain or anything else that might force our friends at Fox News to work late.
Meanwhile, Ludacris is still on top in the rap game but might want to rethink his head-first leap into political punditry. He stepped on his own perfectly good verse by dropping a "B" on Hilly Clint. Then he threw a wheelchair shot at a guy with permanent injuries from taking beatdowns in a POW camp. I don't care how messed up the country is right now or how nicely Obama is flossing with European heads of state. Another couple of ill-conceived comments by 'Cris or Bob or Jesse, and next thing you know it's four years of the McCain show up in this piece.
I'm pre-nominating Sharpton for a combined VIBE, THE SOURCE and BET lifetime achievement award if he continues to lay low and it winds up being the difference in a narrow Obama victory. Count me among the pleasantly surprised that Sharpton apparently figured out early on that kneecapping Obama à la Tonya Harding is not a good long-term play.
Memo to Luda: I know you mean well, but Obama can still lose this thing. Very, very easily. Last time I checked, he's still black and this is still America. We've got war, recession and frosted-blond school teachers getting it on with little boys, and Obama is only up by a couple of percentage points in the polls. In the words of Teddy Riley, "It ain't over." We're a nation that elected George W. Bush—wait for it—twice. If you think just because Obama rocked the mic in Berlin, Germany that he's going to blow up in Berlin, Connecticut, think again. In case you haven't been paying attention, the outcome in November isn't going to hinge on gas-tax holidays, health-care plans or even Iraq exit strategies. In the end, it's going to come down to whether or not Main Street, U.S.A. says, "Hey, guess who's coming to dinner!" or "Wait a minute—we invited him to dinner?"
I'm not calling for censorship, but I am calling for "sense"-orship. Any chance these right-wing player haters get to bad mouth hip-hop and put Obama on blast at the same time is like Christmas and Jefferson Davis' birthday all rolled into one.
I'm up nights worrying that we're never going to see the Zamunda-style inauguration ceremony that I've been dreaming about with Jordin Sparks leading in the procession like Petey Pablo in Drumline, unless everyone chills. Seriously, I've been on the Luda bandwagon since he was talking about "in the garden, all in the dirt," but trust me, if McCain wins, Ludacris won't be getting an invite to the inaugural ball. Try to keep in mind that if Obama loses, Luda will still be rich, and he'll still have Tyra on speed dial. The rest of us, all we have to look forward to is a President Obama and these bills.
When Bill O'Reilly tried to take 'Cris down from his Pepsi endorsement over "Move..." a few years back, Luda served up the ultimate rejoinder—I nearly busted a gut the first time I saw the video for "Number One Spot." So I'm asking Ludacris to do like Q said on the intro and "put your mojo on it." Come up with something slightly more cutting edge than what you have now, and if Obama wins, we can save the diss tracks for the after party.
For the first time in American history, an entire community, from sea to shining sea, is being asked to stay on message for a whole year to help a brotha get elected. During these last few months of the campaign, they're not going to "swift boat" Obama, they're going to "water board" his ass until he starts splitting infinitives and dancing a jig. So let's not fall for the okey-doke, people.
David Swerdlick writes about politics for PopMatters. He is a former contributor to Creative Loafing, and his writing has appeared in EbonyJet, AlterNet and The American Prospect.
Also on The Root:
Stephen Crockett Jr. explains what happens when thugs cry and Teresa Wiltz shows how a Will.i.am video attempts to help Obama.
Discuss:
Roll Out, Luda
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View All Comments »Mdouglas156 at 10/23/2008 2:53:39 PM
Comment:
How can ya'll say it's racism to vote for a black person if your black when white people do it all the time!?
Mdouglas156 at 10/23/2008 2:51:01 PM
Comment:
To those who have questions regarding why this article was wrote. Let me explain to you why; A lot of people find it hard to believe that this bi-racial ,but looks black, man has a chance a very big chance to become President of the United States. And some people want to ruin this for the people of all colors who are rooting for him. Meaning they are waiting for some of the ignorant black people to say dumb things and somehow try to pin that to Obama to make him look bad and unpresidential. All the smears and swift boat attacks haven't been able to get under his skin and make him lose his cool like McCain has done. So, this was a warning to all who publicly support Obama to get it together because the otherside will try to find anything in these last desperate moments to bring a comeback for their candidate. This isn't racism or lets play cool til we get the position and then act a fool. This is a smart, educated man who is out here trying to bring about change for all americans. And NO, America is not what it could have been or should be. Why you ask? Because people have no jobs, no income, no way to take care of their families and send their children to school. That's what's wrong in America. I work for a Non-Profit Law Firm and I see people of many colors and racial backgrounds that are hurting and need help and don't have the money or resources to get help. Any other questions?
Robin08 at 08/08/2008 3:35:01 PM
Comment:
Muffin,
Thanks for your response(s). I appreciate your willingness to dialogue.
I hope that you and the entire country will vote on the basis of actual facts and each candidates stand on the issues.
That said, I gather this perception of arrogance is an important issue to you. If that is the case I would urge you to look at the entirety of Senator Obama's life. To make that kind of judgment about his character I would think it's important to look at the life choices he has made and listen to people who actually know him as opposed to relying on political spin.
I have to take exception to the "arrogance" examples you offer. It seems to me you confuse arrogance with inspiration and idealism. Arrogance is defined as haughtiness, conceit, self-importance. I don't get that from any of the examples you site.
1. We are the change we???ve been waiting for. I could see you calling this arrogant if he had said, "I am the change you???ve been waiting for." But that???s not what he said and this isn't arrogant. The statement is in the spirit of the "We the people" terminology of our founding documents. Obama is telling his fellow countrymen that "we" -- everyday, ordinary American citizens have the power to change the government if we get involved. A central feature of his campaign has been the power and influence of lobbyists in Washington. The interests of the people have been subordinated to the drive for corporate power. This point is the reason Obama refused to take money from "federal" lobbyists or PAC's. The statement (we are the???) is equivalent to a coach telling his team we can do it ??? and so far it's working. Obama has gotten more people engaged and believing we can bring about the change we want to see than we???ve seen since RFK's run for the presidency.
Do you think MLK was arrogant for saying, "We shall overcome?"
2. Quasi-presidential seal. This is clearly in the eye of the beholder. IMO the logo does not have the air of formality I would expect of a presidential seal. Also, the logo was not Obama???s idea. In an article about his campaign mangers it was reported that Axelrod or Plouffe's (don???t remember which) came up with the logo. Obama thought it looked too "corporate" but he let them do their thing.
3. Need for multilingual America. How is this arrogant? Promoting a multilingual society is a good thing. Are multilingual people arrogant? Also, I don???t know where this so-called quote came from.
4. Clinging to guns and God. This arrogance tag is pure political spin. Both Bill and Hillary Clinton made similar comments in the past with no outcry then or now.
5. He will change world. First off he said "let???s" go change the world and/or "we" can change the world. Again, this is equivalent to a coach firing-up his team. This is about idealism and inspiration.