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Russell Simmons Calls Barack Obama A “Mouse”
Posted by Brian
Either I am reading the wrong blogs or I just can’t figure Russell Simmons out. I am pretty sure it is I can’t figure him out. Less than a week after his world tour against the lyrics in rap music, Russell has called Barack Obama a “Mouse” because of his statements against rap lyrics after the Imus fiasco.
In an interview with the New York Times, Russell Said:
Deborah Solomon:What do you make of Barack Obama, who recently said that rap musicians should reform their lyrics?
Russell Simmons:What we need to reform is the conditions that create these lyrics. Obama needs to reform the conditions of poverty. I wish he really did raise his money on the Internet, like he said. I wish he really did raise his money independently.
Deborah Solomon: What are you saying? I think about one-fourth of his campaign contributions came from small donations made over the Internet, even though he collected more than any other Democratic candidate from Wall Street people.
Russell Simmons: So at the end of the day, he’s controlled, too. That’s my point. He’s a mouse, too, like everybody else.
Russell has now said the he will endorse Dennis Kucinich.
I think Russell’s main mission was accomplished as he is #25 on the Bestsellers list.
Russell Simmons Calls Barack Obama A “Mouse”…
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[...] Continued here: Brian [...]
This is a joke; Russell and all these so called Black leaders need to shut the _ _ _ _ up! These peopel are ridiculous, criticizing Obama because he has some mainstream appeal and he doesn’t come across as a fool on talk shows or in print. I hate the fact that so many Black people are lining up to tear him down. Why is he held to a higher standard than past presidents? Ronald Reagan was and actor and Governor, Bill Clinton was a Governor, George Bush was a businessman, GW was a failed busnessman and a poor Gorvernor, Barack was the first rookie Senator to get legislation passed and the first Black Senator since reconstruction, so why are people trying to tear him down? Barack is like Jay-Z at his height- so many cats taking shots at the throne, they need to make nice like Nas, so their next joints can blow up like hip Hop is Dead.
This upsets me that Russ would take this stance. Some of the rap lyrics do need to be toned down I dont see how he or anyone can dispute that. Didnt he recently call for radio to ban the N word and bitches and ho’s or something to that affect? Wasnt he in a sense controlled when he was head of Def Jam by the Universal Music Group? It’s sad cause he has some power and instead of backing a good politician like Obama he wants to tear him down like that and you know the mainstream media will eat that up.
To Shak:
Well I’m not a personal fan of Jay-Z, although I know his music very well. So I cannot see the comparison you are making between he and Obama. Jay-Z may be a shrewd business man, but he promotes a culture and lifestyle that degrades the true worth of human beings in general, let alone his own people–money doesn’t always equal acheivment and achievement doesn’t always equal success. Jay Z is influential, but his message isn’t pure, so he’s being a hypocrite if he talks about the game and makes it appear as though he hasn’t sold out in order to acheive what he has–the fact that he took that route to make it says enough, and I know many people think just like Jay-Z cause they feel the world only offers them so many options, and it’s up to them to make the most of what’s handed to them—they’re partially right, the WORLD does offer limited resources and options, but that’s only to warp OUR veiw of values so we become a slave to industry, intsead of the other way around. So call me a hater if you want, but I’m not envious of my man’s success, God only knows as a black woman who struggles on her own, and does all I know to do to perserve my God given self worth, I wish every person, my black brothers and sisters especially, had true success, but I’m not going to condone what isn’t true success, cause I am tired of being a slave, and I really believe Jay -Z is smart enough to realize that at the end of the day too, that’s why I’d expect more from a brother like him. I don’t measure success by the standard he has become, becuase I know he’s not really free, although he’s got a lot of luxury to convince him of otherwise–I know he’s the kind of cat who in his heart of hearts realizes what I’m sayin. Although he’s very transparent and eloquent with words, that doesn’t make him pure,and it doens’t make him the best role model either, I’d like him to abandone the commercialism chains of the media and industry completely, not use it when it’s convenient and then throw them away when convenient–so that he could be a real role model for his “fanbase”, and not just do a random charity event or sponsorship to ease his conscious. We need to change who and what we call our icons, we need to search for truth and base it on what’s real, not just what looks real or feels good. What’s real is how our actions and words and examples effect everyone–people who have the gift of influence but who don’t consider that need to be taught how to be role models, that’s all. Obama may be endorsed by those who expect Obama to “dance to their tune”, but that is the name of the game, Simmons is being somewhat of a hypocrite to attack him for taking his endorsements, what I’d like to know is who is endorsing Obama and why? If people researched that more with Regan and both of the Bush Administrations, they wouldn’t have been caught off guard with the real agenda and direction this country was headed for. Like I said in other posts on this blog, democracy is about a system of checks and balances, as we all should know, so endorsements in and of themselves aren’t the problem, it’s who and what we endorse that causes us to loose the balance this country and world needs. If you take money and payment from crooked people in the wishful thinking that it will only help to create the platform you need to do some good in this world, then you’re nothing more than a Jay-Z, I mean Unlce Tom, who although you may be able to help some people, in most cases you’ll only help them look and act just like you, and that limits you reach of influence. The last time I checked, money and economic prosperity do not equal freedom, treating human beings with respect and dignity regardless of class or color, is taking us closer to the picture of God-given liberty that was intended for all. I’d like to research Obama’s endorsers more carefully though, because as I think as a black man he can become a true role model, if he models the truth and not just what someone is paying him to say.
JUstMYwOrD,
Your point is well taken, but I think you missed my point. My Jay-Z reference was not to endorse him, promote him or whatever(even though I am a fanand critic of his)my point was that when someone is at the height of their profession, fame and influence people will attack and criticize them even if there are no apparent weaknesses or flaws. I think this is the case with Obama’s Black critics. They see no apparent flaws in him and think it is a flaw or weakness that he appears to the ideal candidate (Black or White). Its that ridiculous thought process that, if white people like him, he must be bad for Black people, or he can’t possibly be “authentically” Black. That was part of my point. The other part was when Nas and Jay-Z got on better terms they both did well and made finacially lucrative music. What that means in terms of Obama and his critics is that if they make nice by working with him, endorsing him and acknowledging that their platforms are already in aligment. As opposed to attacking him and challenging him with criticism that is unwarranted and foolish at best. What has Al Sharpton ever done to warrant a presidential run? His credentials softer that his perm.
Well I see where you are coming from to a point, I guess I’m not sure what you’re saying exactly, are you saying that a position of power and influence shouldn’t be examined and subjected to public scrutiny ? Or are you saying that people should know what to scrutinize? Cause again, the point I was making is that Jay-Z deserves a lot of the scrutiny he gets, and Obama is just emerging on the scene, but we do need to know about him (past and present) and we need to hear what he’s going to bring to the table, in order to judge the future this country will have with him. I don’t think black people are all second guessing him just because he’s popular amongst a lot of whites. I happen to know he’s popular amongst some pretty influential blacks too, i.e., Oparah and Jesse Jackson to name a few, like I said before, I think researching his endorsers is worth the effort, cause when you find out why they believe in him for the position, you get a better picture of what he’s being paid to do, and ultimately Americans have to know if he’s being paid to do his job (which is to serve this entire country) or if he’s simply being paid off, to serve a select few–Simmon’s was implying he’s being paid off, I’d like to know why he’s willing to make a statement like that, being a man of influence himself.
Shak:
The other thing is, I do really hope Obama is the credible candidate he appears to be, I believe it would do so much for our people, on many levels, but still that doesn’t make him exempt from the political process, black people, in my opinion should be more interested in supporting him as a candidate, and I’ve already stated my reasons for that in other posts, but that doesn’t mean that’s the only reason why we should support him, we have to scrutinize him and see what he’s about.
[...] changed from a few months ago between Russell Simmons and Barack Obama from when Simmons called Obama a Mouse. Obama has praised the pair as “great talents and great businessmen”, insisting [...]