# Rapper Common invited to the White House **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 12, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683 "2011-05-12T18:07:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/1 "2011-05-12T18:07:01Z")
Has anyone else been following this latest faux-outrage from the right: > **[Common Appears at White House Event as Pundits Criticize Invite](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Music/rapper-common-appears-white-house-event/story?id=13585460)** > > A White House event that was intended to be a celebration of poetry and the power of spoken word has erupted into a cultural kerfuffle with charges and counter-charges of racism, tolerance for violence and misogyny between right-wing pundits and the... > [@](#): > > Common is hardly one of America’s most controversial rappers; aside from appearing in a number of Hollywood films and on a track with boy band the Jonas Brothers, he has also released a number of albums since the early 1990s featuring songs focusing generally on love, fatherhood, and improving the state of black America. > > But he doesn’t shy away from touching a nerve. > > The rapper’s controversial rhyme – “Why they messing with Saddam? / burn a bush cos’ for peace he no push no button / killing over oil and grease / no weapons of destruction” – is from his poem “Letter to the Law,” which he recited on a 2007 episode of HBO’s “Def Poetry.” It has now led some pundits to ask how appropriate it was for the White House to host the “vile” and “rapper” Jon Stewart also did a pretty funny bit about this last night: > **[Comedy Central The Daily Show Fan Page](https://www.cc.com/fan-hub/the-daily-show)** > > The source for The Daily Show fans, with episodes hosted by Jon Stewart, Ronny Chieng, Jordan Klepper, Dulcé Sloan and more, plus interviews, highlights and The Weekly Show podcast. The second part here: > **[Comedy Central The Daily Show Fan Page](https://www.cc.com/fan-hub/the-daily-show)** > > The source for The Daily Show fans, with episodes hosted by Jon Stewart, Ronny Chieng, Jordan Klepper, Dulcé Sloan and more, plus interviews, highlights and The Weekly Show podcast. Anyway let’s hope Obama never invites [Eric Clapton](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10qLYy6hiFQ) to the White House. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/2 "2011-05-12T19:54:14Z")
I like how the article uses the word “vile” as a noun. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/3 "2011-05-12T20:03:03Z")
Sean Hannity says it sounds like cop killing to him, that’s enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/4 "2011-05-12T20:39:58Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I like how the article uses the word “vile” as a noun. I guess he’s so vile that using the word as a verb simply wouldn’t suffice. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/5 "2011-05-12T22:20:30Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I like how the article uses the word “vile” as a noun. And that word is linked to an unrelated poetry article in the Nation. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/6 "2011-05-13T01:09:36Z")
there’s a new wrinkle to this issue. They’re now switching gears from the song Hannity cited to Common’s “A Song for Assata”. New Jersey State Troopers have condemned the White House for Inviting a rapper who glorified Joanne Chesimard. I lived not far from the NJ Turnpike exit where she was pulled over, and it’s commonly held there that she undoubtedly shot a New Jersey State Trooper. My relatives are upset about this. Common did write a song about Chesimard under her name (that she was using at the time) Assata Shakur (She’s Tupac Shakur’s step-aunt). Until just today,. I didn’t know that there was controversy about this, or how polarizing it is: > **[Assata Shakur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanne_Chesimard)** > > Assata Olugbala Shakur (born JoAnne Deborah Byron; July 16, 1947\[a\]) is an American political activist who was a member of the Black Liberation Army (BLA). In 1977, she was convicted in the first-degree murder of State Trooper Werner Foerster during a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike in 1973. She escaped from prison in 1979 and is currently wanted by the FBI, with a $1 million FBI reward for information leading to her capture, and an additional $1 million reward offered by the Attorney Gener... In any event, I think from here on out this is going to be the essence of Fox’s objections. I think Jon Stewart did a thorough job of skewering Hannity on last night’s [ui]Daily Show\*. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/7 "2011-05-13T13:05:41Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > I guess he’s so vile that using the word as a verb simply wouldn’t suffice. …much less as an adjective. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/8 "2011-05-13T13:43:59Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > …much less as an adjective. D’oh :smack: ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/9 "2011-05-13T14:44:18Z")
O’Reilly wants to debate Jon Stewart: [http://gawker.com/5801455/bill-oreilly-wants-to-debate-jon-stewart-over-evil-rapper-common](http://gawker.com/5801455/bill-oreilly-wants-to-debate-jon-stewart-over-evil-rapper-common) > [@](#): > > On tonight’s Factor, Bill O’Reilly—who “fought the good fight years ago against gangsta rappers years ago”—struck back at Stewart and challenged him to a debate. It would be nice to see Stewart pull a Cramer on O’Reilly, but they seem to be on generally friendly terms in spite of their political differences, as evidenced whenever they appear on each other’s shows. So while Stewart could probably still kick his ass in a debate, I doubt he’d go full Cramer though. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/10 "2011-05-13T21:07:18Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > O’Reilly wants to debate Jon Stewart: > > [http://gawker.com/5801455/bill-oreilly-wants-to-debate-jon-stewart-over-evil-rapper-common](http://gawker.com/5801455/bill-oreilly-wants-to-debate-jon-stewart-over-evil-rapper-common) > > It would be nice to see Stewart pull a Cramer on O’Reilly, but they seem to be on generally friendly terms in spite of their political differences, as evidenced whenever they appear on each other’s shows. So while Stewart could probably still kick his ass in a debate, I doubt he’d go full Cramer though. And Jon Stewart accepts: > **[People Inc. - America's Largest Digital & Print Publisher](https://www.people.inc/)** > > People Inc. is America's largest digital and print publisher, with brands including PEOPLE, Better Homes & Gardens, Allrecipes, Investopedia, Verywell, and more! Learn about career opportunities, our leadership team, and how we can help you reach... ---
**Author:** ![beartato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@beartato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beartato)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/11 "2011-05-13T21:10:50Z")
As has been pointed out in numerous places, we’re talking about a guy who co-starred in a Queen Latifah rom-com and made Gap ads. But, not surprisingly, black=thug over at Fox News. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/12 "2011-05-16T18:59:33Z")
I hope Stewart held out for rights to unedited footage of the debate and that he doesn’t let O’Reilly talk over him. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/13 "2011-05-16T19:27:21Z")
If Obama isn’t smart enough to retract the invitation of someone who glorifies a cop killer then he adds the NJ police union and those who support them to his list of detractors. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/14 "2011-05-16T19:35:37Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > If Obama isn’t smart enough to retract the invitation of someone who glorifies a cop killer then he adds the NJ police union and those who support them to his list of detractors. Let’s be honest here, the people who are upset about this are not, and will not vote for Obama anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/15 "2011-05-16T19:42:58Z")
> [@yanceylebeef](#): > > Let’s be honest here, the people who are upset about this are not, and will not vote for Obama anyway. Police unions and the people who support them? Really? I didn’t know they had an ax to grind but it just makes sense for the President to go out looking for people to piss off. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/16 "2011-05-16T19:52:26Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > there’s a new wrinkle to this issue. They’re now switching gears from the song Hannity cited to Common’s “A Song for Assata”. New Jersey State Troopers have condemned the White House for Inviting a rapper who glorified Joanne Chesimard. > I lived not far from the NJ Turnpike exit where she was pulled over, and it’s commonly held there that she undoubtedly shot a New Jersey State Trooper. My relatives are upset about this. > > Common did write a song about Chesimard under her name (that she was using at the time) Assata Shakur (She’s Tupac Shakur’s step-aunt). Until just today,. I didn’t know that there was controversy about this, or how polarizing it is: > > [Assata Shakur - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanne_Chesimard) > In any event, I think from here on out this is going to be the essence of Fox’s objections. I think Jon Stewart did a thorough job of skewering Hannity on last night’s [ui]Daily Show\*. Common apparently thinks she was framed, and thats basically what the song says as well. Thats a little naive, but I don’t think believing it is the equivalent of glorifying a cop-killer, any more then people who think that OJ was framed are glorifying domestic murderers or people that think Mumia is innocent are glorifying cop-killers. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/17 "2011-05-16T19:56:25Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Police unions and the people who support them? Really? > > I didn’t know they had an ax to grind but it just makes sense for the President to go out looking for people to piss off. It may piss a few of his supporters off, but he’s already done plenty to piss off many of those who voted for him (Guantanamo, his backing down in the HCR debate, a whole host of other issues). And this isn’t a big enough deal that it’s going to cause many people who would otherwise be inclined to support him (even if they are pissed off) to vote Republican. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/18 "2011-05-16T19:59:26Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Common apparently thinks she was framed, and thats basically what the song says as well. Thats a little naive, but I don’t think believing it is the equivalent of glorifying a cop-killer, any more then people who think that OJ was framed are glorifying domestic murderers or people that think Mumia is innocent are glorifying cop-killers. Or the even more closer parallel, Bob Dylan and Hurricane Carter. Both wrote songs about people they believe are innocent as part of a larger context of artistic work. No one gets pissed when Dylan goes to the White House. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/19 "2011-05-16T20:01:09Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Common apparently thinks she was framed, and thats basically what the song says as well. Thats a little naive, but I don’t think believing it is the equivalent of glorifying a cop-killer, any more then people who think that OJ was framed are glorifying domestic murderers or people that think Mumia is innocent are glorifying cop-killers. And regardless of whether or not you think she’s guilty, judging by that article **CalMeacham** linked to, there does seem to have been an awful lot of malfeasance surrounding her trial and imprisonment. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683/20 "2011-05-16T20:02:25Z")
> [@](#): > > “We cannot dictate who is invited to the White House, but we will always view Joanne Chesimard as a fugitive who killed one of our own,” Major Gerald Lewis, spokesman for the state police said in a statement. “We will continue our pursuit of her until she is brought to justice.” That really sounds outraged, doesn’t it? > [@](#): > > Sal Maggio, a retired troop commander with the state police, said his colleagues still talk about Shakur and the million dollar bounty the FBI has put on her capture. > > “Hopefully someday she’ll be caught,” Maggio said in reaction to news of this invitation. > > Neither Jones nor Maggio believe the president or first lady are fully aware of Common’s song about Shakur, though the rapper did appear at campaign events for Obama when he ran for president. > “I like the president and first lady,” said Maggio. “I think he’s doing a pretty good job lately.” Yeah, those New Jersey cops are all up in arms. This is just the Outrage Du Jour. Yesterday it was the that Obama had the temerity to actually kill Osama Bin Laden, now it’s this. It must be exhausting being outraged all the time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rapper-common-invited-to-the-white-house/581683.md?page=2)