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Obama campaign criticizes Ludacris

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor July 30, 2008 08:22 PM


There's a new celebrity tribute to Barack Obama, but his campaign isn't exactly loving it.

The rapper Ludacris has a video, titled "Obama is here," that predicts the Democrat will win the presidency and urges blacks to get out and vote. It features footage of Obama dancing on the "Ellen Degeneres Show" and shooting hoops with US soldiers.

All well and good.

The problem is that the video also disparages Hillary Clinton using the b-word and calling her "irrelevant" -- and mocks John McCain suggesting that he belongs in a wheelchair, not the White House.

"As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism, and degrading images that he doesn’t want his daughters or any children exposed to," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement today. "This song is not only outrageously offensive to Senator Clinton, Reverend Jackson, Senator McCain, and President Bush, it is offensive to all of us who are trying to raise our children with the values we hold dear. While Ludacris is a talented individual he should be ashamed of these lyrics."

22 comments so far...
  1. If Reverend Wright could rap; this would be Obama's "church" music.

    Posted by sara July 30, 08 09:10 PM
  1. Ludacris surely does not help the "coming together" in this country. There is so much race hatred and sad to say, it is more the Blacks hating the Whites, even though much has been extended to help them through welfare, schooling and so many ways.

    And I'm a liberal (Hillary supporter).

    There does not seem to be any thankfulness expressed. They continue to go back to how it used to be, not what is possible today.

    If they do not appreciate America and our values, they can leave. No one is forced to stay here. The world awaits! I dare him/them to find another country with as much freedom as we have.

    Ludacris and his ilk would be jailed in another country for their Audacity amidst honorable people.

    Rap music only defines hate-filled so-called musicians who want to spread their philosophy!

    Posted by Jane Kelly July 30, 08 09:16 PM
  1. I think a better response would have been to say that while Barak Obama certainly hopes that everyone in this country gets out to vote, these lyrics do not represent the views of the Obama campaign. They should have left it at that.

    Posted by Lisa July 30, 08 09:19 PM
  1. So, the Obama campaign thinks Ludracris is "talented." Hmmm. Yes, he's right up there with Eminem and other "talented" individuals. Well, Ludacris is right about McCain and Hillary, but I don't understand why the shallow message of Barak Obama appeals to someone as "talented" as Ludacris. Well, he is Ludacris, after all.

    Posted by Doug July 30, 08 09:25 PM
  1. If this keeps up, we may see fathers in black homes, women being called women instead of ho's and b itches, the end of butt shaking (personally vile and disgusting...seeing that makes me want to hurl), baseball caps worn properly, the demise of "do-wraps", real music composed with musical notation instead of (c)rap, the return to R&B, personal responsibility instead of government dependency, and a real healing of the racial divide...when blacs become Americans and stop being Africans.

    Posted by Keith July 30, 08 09:35 PM
  1. This election aint bout color or race,
    its a discrace.
    dont ax me what i tink. cus i aint got a mind a my own.
    its on loan,
    been played by da media and all that jive,
    if i had me a real job id still be alive,
    sittin here in prison with my home boys,
    filling my arse with prison toys,
    im uneducated even tho theres much potential,
    rather be on the street than pushin a pencil,
    Spend my money on bling and property, all for the exposure,
    but in few years i become a victim of forclosure..
    Obamas gut my back casue my boy is black,
    oops what that you say,
    McCain wins on election day!!

    Posted by Tim July 30, 08 09:54 PM
  1. Barack is full of it, he chums around with this slime and then when the scourge makes a vid from the hood for brutha Bama's campaign he chucks him under the Obama bus of ambition.

    It's getting pretty crowded under the Obama 'not the person I knew " bus, he may have to dig a mass grave for all those peeps his too good for now that he's the Messiah.

    The anointed "Baarack Hussein of Obama" if you please.

    Posted by ChicagoRay July 30, 08 09:58 PM
  1. Obama you are too nice to be President we need some tough talk guy like John Mccain that don't scare to face difficult choices like facing a military conflicts.You should be above the world not the world above you get that?

    Posted by skmj July 30, 08 10:44 PM
  1. This is just the start if obama gets elected. Just what America needs a president with supporters who have IQs

    Posted by bill July 30, 08 11:05 PM
  1. Once again the new Messiah has turned his back on his race. What happened to free speech?Altho I dont condone the song, Ive heard worse from Jesse Jackson.Seems like the new Messiah has gotten too comfortable with his wealth. Place in Politics,and million dollar home. Im sure Black people in low incomes can relate to him just fine. Just dont walk across his property,looking for a shortcut.

    Posted by Don July 30, 08 11:07 PM
  1. The ghetto is comin' to the white house, gonna change the name to the black house. Graffiti and profanity everywhere. 4 years that'll be worse than Bush.

    Posted by Dude July 30, 08 11:14 PM
  1. Obama in his interview w/Rolling Stones said Ludacris was among moguls & rappers who were "great talents & great businessmen". Obama & his wife doe not like white people; it's evident in his first books and her thesis.

    A week ago in Sugarland Texas a couple driving home, an anti-Obama sticker on their vehicle, was followed home by a black woman who parked right behind the couple's vehicle in the couple's driveway and started ranting and raving about them being racist and that she would get someone to talke care of them later. The black way was cited. A liberal journalist in Houston Chronicle wrote that while he did not like the sticker he did not think it was racist. Is this what America has become: just because you have a negative opinion about a candidate, the Obama supporters will cry "racist". How sad.

    Posted by Clyde July 30, 08 11:48 PM
  1. If Ludacris and rap music is so apalling to Obama, why does he count himself as a fan of Ludacris? He even had the guy over to his office after he was elected.

    Posted by john July 31, 08 01:46 AM
  1. Bill Burton, cleaning up for Obama, as usual, claims the ludicrous Ludacris is a "talented individual," just as Obama has claimed. The values Obama holds dear , and was trying to rear his daughters by, were those of Wright and Pfleger. I don't see a dime's worth of difference in the Ludacris lyrics and the rants by the other two. To appease white American voters, Obama and his camp will say anything. It's what they practice that is most revealing, though. Guess who, besides Mr. Ahmadinejad --- or maybe alongside the aforementioned --- is coming to dinner at the White House if we are lucky enough to have Obama as our next King?

    Posted by Judy Kilgore July 31, 08 02:29 AM
  1. Go ahead and vote for whomever you feel is best for the job as President...but keep race out of it...grow up and leave the past in the past. Black and white are not the only ones who live in this country...grow up and stop the maliciuos talk and this includes Obama using race against everyone....stupid talk! You want high IQ's in office...start using your own "common sence" and stop playing games with American lives...the people will decide who is hired in ANY POLITICAL OFFICE so use your common sence vote for freedom, keep America #1 in the World or we will all be suffering (black or white) we'll be in the same boat...suffering together for the stupidity of the people.

    Posted by CJC July 31, 08 12:44 PM
  1. when are the black leaders going to stand up and denounce this as evil hate. you have a rapper saying such hateful things toward sitting united states senators, a war hero (mccain), a former first lady, etc. this should be eye opening to a certain community, but no leadership. not even from obama. this is so sad, and is a reflection on the lack of knowledge of history, and the efforts made by the two senators to make this world a better place. what next... why doesn't he call eleanor roosevelt, abigail adams, and martha washington horrible names also. shame.

    Posted by fred July 31, 08 01:39 PM
  1. when are the black leaders going to stand up and denounce this as evil hate. you have a rapper saying such hateful things toward sitting united states senators, a war hero (mccain), a former first lady, etc. this should be eye opening to a certain community, but no leadership. not even from obama. this is so sad, and is a reflection on the lack of knowledge of history, and the efforts made by the two senators to make this world a better place. what next... why doesn't he call eleanor roosevelt, abigail adams, and martha washington horrible names also. shame.

    Posted by fred July 31, 08 01:45 PM
  1. RAP IS A WAY OF EXPRESSING HOW US HIP HOP INDIVIDUALS FEEL. IT IS OUR TALK IT IS OUR LANGUAGE. THOSE OF U THAT ARE AGAINST IT OR OFFENDED BY IT DON'T KNOW IT OR UNDERSTAND IT. WE SPEAK WHAT WE FEEL AND ALOT OF TIMES U HAVE TO LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND IT. IT IS STREET TALK ONLY THE STREETS CAN UNDERSTAND IT. AND DON'T FORGET HIP HOPP LISTENERS ARE 80 % WHITE. ALL THE ONES THAT ARE SO OFFENDED ARE PROBABLY INDIVIDUALS THAT DON'T EEN VOTE SO SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!! DO YA RESEARCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted by JAYFREAZY July 31, 08 03:36 PM
  1. With friends like this...

    Posted by dirp August 2, 08 04:40 AM
  1. I think we all need to come together and vote.
    We as people of the United States should stand for change and act.
    It is not about Obama or McCain, but it's about making politicians and encouraging citizens to change this country. It would be foolish to listen to just to the media and not research the issues yourself. Do not just act but think for yourself. I know we need a change.

    Mr.Vickerstaff

    Posted by Mr.Vickerstaff August 2, 08 11:33 AM
  1. Barck Milhouse Hussein NObama is as much white as black. Why is the black card alwys being played. Blacks and Whites have equal rights in this country, What could be more fair than that. Conservatives don't constantly bring up the fact Mccain is white. So why should anyone care if Nobama is HALF black?

    Posted by stay to the right August 2, 08 12:35 PM
  1. Senator Obama stands for equality and unity of all people, for the good of all people. His message runs far deeper than a vulgar rap song. Americans are searching for a better way, and a better place to live, and to raise our children.
    We are searching for peace of mind, security, and a good life. What I've seen of rap, is crap. I can't imagine why anyone would waste their time spewing vulgarities, spreading hatred, and being seen in public with their underwear showing and pants hanging around their knees. It makes me wonder if they are slow minded. People are entitled to their own views, but if their views are full of hate, maybe they could do us a favor, and refrain from spewing their hate on everyone else. This election is too important for childish behavior. Let's focus on things that really matter and will improve our lives. Vote for Barack Obama!

    Posted by CynPro August 3, 08 06:32 PM
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About political intelligence Field reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors covering the 2008 presidential campaign and the national maneuvering of Bay State politicians.

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