Senator Obama comments on Imus controversy, tepidly condemns rap music

… and Tom Maguire wonders if He Who Walks on Water (Y2K Edition) will use his newfound Hollywood connections to do something about it.

Hmm. Good question. I doubt he will, considering how he feels the responsibility is ‘on us all’ to do better at not contributing negatively to the cultural issues facing the black community:

FLORENCE, S.C. – Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Friday questioned the way some rappers talk about women in songs, saying the lyrics are similar to the derogatory language used by embattled radio host Don Imus.

They are “degrading their sisters. That doesn’t inspire me,” Obama said of some hip-hop artists when a man in a crowd of about 1,000 questioned him. The Illinois senator was responding to a question of what inspired him, and said God and civil rights activists.

Earlier this week, Obama criticized Imus, who was fired Thursday for labeling the Rutgers women’s basketball team “nappy-headed hos.”

“I do think we’ve seen a coarsening of the culture,” Obama said in an interview with The Associated Press after the town hall meeting. As a constitutional lawyer, Obama said he was a free speech advocate.

“But just because you can say something doesn’t mean you should say something,” he said. “And I think that we have not talked enough about the harmful images and messages that are sent.”

He said as a parent it was a constant struggle to reinforce his two daughters’ sense of self-esteem.

“I think that all of us have become a little complicit in this kind of relaxed attitude toward some pretty offensive things,” Obama said. “And I hope this prompts some self-reflection on the part of all of us.”

Don’t you love it? After tepidly condeming rap culture, he turns around around and essentially says “look, we’ve all played a role in this, we can’t just blame one group of people.” Really? What exactly have *I* done to contribute to the rap culture? What has HE done? The President? I’d like an explanation, Senator, into just how we all have played a role in the thug mentality that is prevalent in certain segments of the black community due to, in part, the glamourization of violence and degradation in rap music.

Now, I could appreciate a generalized rant about our culture if that was what was at issue here, but it wasn’t. The issue was Don Imus’ “nappy-headed hos” comment as it compared to rap music and it’s influence on the black community. Nice way to skip out of issuing a more serious condemnation in favor of the general “we’re all guilty” standard liberal line whenever people start focusing more intently on problem segments of our society. Guess the Senator didn’t want to risk offending any black voters with a long overdue bit of straight talk, eh?

Jaxebad says:

April 16, 2007 at 12:50 am

I would venture to say that you contribute to rap culture if you buy CDs from any of the Big 4 music labels; even if the particular music you choose is not harmful to the culture, the companies in question also promote the same artists who speak these harmful messages.

Now you may think that what I’m saying is a stretch, but no more so than you blaming Obama for this.

camojack says:

April 16, 2007 at 3:47 am

Well…it’s better than nuttin’, honey.
(Doesn’t mean I’d vote for him, though)

Drewsmom says:

April 16, 2007 at 6:15 am

Yeah, he and the two idiot rev’s will mention the vulgar language of hip hop but neither he or they will do squat about it and would probably take money from them for his campaign ….. oh, the utter hipocracy of it all. !!!!!!!

Dallas says:

April 16, 2007 at 8:59 am

If the Rutger’s players were offended by the Imus statements, does that not mean that they are offended by racist remarks in general; or just remarks made by white guys?
I wonder if the Rutger’s players have any rap music with those kinds of lyrics on their I-pods.
If so, that would lead one to believe that they are selectively offended, and are riding the gravy train of the victimhood express.
Until rap music cleans up its act, I think all this blather about Imus should be ignored.
What he said was wrong, but screaming about Imus while the big 4 are raking in the cash for a lot worse is utter nonsense and does nothing but foster cynicism for the civil rights movement.

Marshall Art says:

April 16, 2007 at 9:14 am

Jaxebad may have a point, but it’s a weak one. Though my purchase of rock CDs may enrich the companies also selling rap, it isn’t necessarily support of either rap or the companies’ decision to sell rap. But to boycott them altogether could indeed affect such decisions. That being said, I don’t see that Sis was “blaming” Obama for anything but cowardice in watering down his remarks regarding rap. Rap is clearly a manifestation of this coursening of the culture with so much of it being the stuff of Akon, Snoop Dog, et al.

As for Obama being a constitutional lawyer, he should know that the free speech amendment was not intended to allow for punks spewing foul language, but for protecting criticism of the government.

Sister Toldjah says:

April 16, 2007 at 9:29 am

You’re right, Marshall – I wasn’t blaming Obama for rap music, just taking him to task for not using the opportunity presenting itself to him to be more forceful in his condemnation of ‘rap culture.’