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As of this morning, the most popular item on the conservative Washington Times' website was this piece from Joseph Curl, headlined, "Hip-hop legend MCA passes on; Obama says not a word" (thanks to reader R.P. for the tip).
I've come to expect the right to go after President Obama for just about everything, but I have to admit, I didn't see this one coming.
Adam Nathaniel Yauch, "MCA" from the Beastie Boys, died Friday, after a lengthy bout with cancer. He was just 47. The Washington Times piece expressed annoyance at Obama because the president didn't mention MCA's passing.
[H]alf-white Barack Obama (exactly my age) didn't say a word, even though he was talking to college kids that day.... Funny the "coolest president ever" doesn't say a word about the passing of MCA. Weird and kinda sad, actually. [...]
The president took time from his busy schedule to comment on the passing of black musicians. When Whitney Houston, a longtime crack addict, died this year, the White House put out a statement.... And when accused pedophile and drug addict Michael Jackson died in 2009, the White House weighed in with the president's thoughts. [...]
Mr. Obama is said to have 2,000 songs on his iPod, but he's never mentioned the Beastie Boys. Too bad. He could learn so much from them. Still can.
So, let me get this straight: Obama's lack of a reaction to MCA's death is evidence of the president's ... racism? As far as this newspaper columnist is concerned, the "half-white" president -- why Obama's racial diversity is relevant in that sentence is unclear -- only cares about the deaths of African-American musicians?
Dylan Byers, to his credit, noted, "[L]et's get bent out of shape reminding him that the President doesn't comment on the passing of every musician, nor is he expected to. Let's also remind him that Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston -- whose deaths, Curl notes, the President did mention -- sold far more records (an estimated 750 million and 170 million, respectively, versus the Beastie Boys 20 million). Chill, Curl."
That's good advice.
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Another whimsical piece from the Washington times on the death of journalism. Loved it!
", the "half-white" president -- why Obama's racial diversity is relevant in that sentence is unclear"
Here is your "clarity" moment - it's supposed to be a "signal" to white people that the President ignores his "white half" - course I'm not exactly sure which "half" top/bottom, left/right - he is referring to.
I am guessing the "white" half is the right half. Just sayin.
Let's turn someone's long time battle with Cancer into a zinger at that evil half-white President! ...Because we're soooo much classier than you guys! *puffs chest and struts around*
... President seems more R&B styled then Hip Hop anyway.. I guess that's a bad thing? Since when in hell does any Republican care about ANY Hip Hop artist and don't they usually condemn such music?
I know of some white artists who died in the Industrial, Grunge, and Electronic scenes during Bush's presidency.. I should of attacked the man for not giving some words to those guys too! ... *eyeroll, facepalm*
Give me a break..
Nicely said.
My dog died- and half white Obama didn't even send me his favorite recipe!
CURL: Hip-hop legend MCA passes on; Obama says not a word
weren't they just bitchin that obama is too cool? now they're complaining about his lack of hip hop cred?
ps
down the same most read articles list a bit is this headline
George Lindsey: Actor who played Goober on 'The Andy Griffith Show' dies
how are they gonna react if obama "says not a word?"
pps
when did thor start writing headlines for the watimes?
Thor reference +1
Well, this seals it. Obama will not get my vote come Novemeber.
You know, the Beastie Boys campaigned for Obama in 2008. So I guess idiots like Joseph Curl can accuse him of ingratitude as well.
Hey Curl? Buddhist or not, Adam Yauch would've kicked you in the nuts for tarnishing his name with this vile piece of conservative @!$%#tery.
You make like his music, but it's clear that he would've despised you.
the other angle here, if obama suddenly morphed into the host of entertainment tonight and starting noting every celebrity passing, the right would complain how he was trivializing and demeaning the office of the president....feigned outrage never sleeps
I don't listen to their music because it doesn't appeal to me. When that particular freedom of choice is no longer allowed in this country , and just because some whiney republicans say that's how it must be (???), they can ALL just KMA. Enough is enough.
I'm honestly more saddened by Goober's passing, and I personally think it's as much if not more culturally relevent. Only place I've found almost any mention of it, though, has been NPR. Is that some sort of statement? I doubt it. With just shy of seven billion people populating the earth right now, it's kind of hard to stand out, and even harder to remain that way.
Oh, good grief! When does it stop?
It stops when enough Republicans are voted out of office and have to ask themselves why they did not get elected.
Unfortunately it won's stop then.
I wish I weren't so worried about losing my business, trying to figure out how to pay for my health insurance with a pre-existing condition, and working out some way to pay for my son's college education. It would be so glorious if the biggest concern I had right now is the president neglecting to mention this person's death.
I couldn't help myself, I just had to read how Obama is racist because he didn't say anything about the death of MCA. Reading the whole thing didn't bring any clarity, I still don't get it, it's truly absurd.
Oh, do not even look at the WT comments section for the Curl piece-- the first comment has over 400+ "likes" already and says that the reason Obama didn't comment on MCA's death is because Obama hates MCA and everyone like him because he was "Rich, white, Jewish and successful." Yes, that's it, Obama hates white, rich Jews. Um, sure.
Srsly. Bizarro, brain-damaged freeper world.
And had he commented on MCA's death, the right would be whining about that, as well.
I'm tired of the bla-bla.
Maybe someone should remind him that the press asked Obama about Jackson, Houston, and yes, even Trayvon. Did the press ask him about MCA? No? Maybe that's why they didn't get any statement? DOH!!!
I think this politicization is appalling and disgusting. Makes me want to take after Mr. Curl with a whiffle ball bat.
This is BS with a capital BS. If POTUS had commented, he would have been criticized for politicizing the death of a Muslim loving Buddist. MCA died too young. From Cancer. F*** Cancer. If this country actually gave a care, we'd be investing in beating cancer. Instead, we invest in wars in the Middle East. I'm sorry MCA. Thanks for fighting for our rights!!
You know, just how many Tea-publican rap fans could there be?
When it comes to rightwingnuts, it's not possible to imagine the bottom of their obsessive hatred. And I think we know why they hate him.
I'm 100% white, and while I had heard of the Beastie Boys, I knew nothing about them, never heard of "MCA" or "Adam Yaruch," and didn't know they were rappers. If pressed, I would have told you they were punk rockers, and if pressed for a song they'd sung, I would have probably guessed "The Future's So Bright." (I've just looked that up and found out it's by Timbuk3, so don't bother correcting me.)
The only thing that proves is that I never listened to their music. In the 1980s I was in to swing and listened to Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey. Sounds like Obama didn't listen to hip-hop, either.
This is the very definition of nontroversy. Somehow, I just don't see "Beastie Boy Republicans" being the next hot demographic ripe for the pandering.
When Obama commented on Trayvon Martin the wingnuts tripped all over themselves to say he should've kept his mouth shut. Now they are demanding that he do a eulogy for one of the Beastie Boys? So much STFU in there.
Hey, the WT hired him, and sadly, the product the Times produces is tethered to such intellectual debauchery! Curl is blind to his racial rage! He proffers a piece that is more revealing about his own inabilities to think past race, than it serves as the indictment he thinks it does!
Hell, J. Curl wouldn't even know jack@!$%#e about the other person who shares his initials. Curl probably thinks the exultant J.C. had blue eyes and fair skin, belying his place of origin and the cultural and ethnic make-up of far west Asia!
I just wonder how pious and ethical he believes himself to be after reading such a piece of false witness! -Kevo
Whitney Houston appealed to almost everyone. Michael Jackson WAS known to everyone over 4 generations. I vaguely knew of the Beastie Boys because ONE of my nephews in into them, Ozzie, etc. Therein lies the difference.
Amazing guitarist Michael Burke died yesterday and he is black no statement or acknowledgement from John Boener or any Republicans