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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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George Lindsey, who played Goober Pyle on Mayberry, passed away in Nashville today.
Look, I spent the weekend mourning MCA's passing, because the Beasties meant the world to me, but I wouldn't expect the President to comment on them because (a) he has better things to do and (b) if he mentioned it, the Republicans and Fox News would have tripped over themselves to find the most profane lyrics they could to take out of context and tar the President with. Remember the outrage when Common was allowed in the White House?
Just when we thought the Republicans could stoop no lower ...
The republicans can't have mass appeal to the youth vote when they say no to contraception, no to keeping loan rates low, and no to education. So instead, they hype this non-issue about how PBO is like he's "all that" but doesn't even mention the passing of a Beastie Boy? I mean, you've got to fight for your rights to party!
Jeez Louise. The Beastie Boys were so 20 years ago. The adults who listened to them then have more important issues on their mind now.
Actually, the Beasties have consistently put out great albums, most recently last year. Doesn't mean this isn't a non-issue.
There's a party on the left, a party on the right, you've got to party for your motherf'king right to fight...
This is getting out of control, they will not stop at saying stupid things because they are stupid. Republicans are like tiny children playing games with peoples lives, shame on them, please don't let them back in charge, this country can't handle another republican president. Now they are taking the votes away from the democrats and making all kinds of rules so we can't vote.
Too bad that every day many of the people that die of cancer don't have access to, oh, I don't know...Healthcare?
This CRACKS me up!!! I keep hearing the Beastie Boys "Sabotage" song in my head.....LOL
His name is Obama not Obituary!
who the @!$%# cares!
He is a troll that knows nothing about Hip Hop, politics, nor decency apparently. http://www.indiepundit.com/2012/05/08/joseph-curl-trolls-obama-and-mca/
It is notable to me that Obama commented on apolitical and more controversial stars' deaths, but didn't pay public respects to an artist who was vocal about his politics in ways that sometimes matched the president's.