Is Rapper Ludacris a Closeted Republican?
By HHR | October 28th, 2009 | Category: Featured, General, HHR Contributors | 20 comments
Tim Mak, a contributor to NewMajority.com and a former Koch Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute suspects Ludacris is a Republican. In his latest article entitled “Goldwater, Reagan and… Ludacris” the writer opines about a recent fundraising event held in DC by hip-hop artist Christopher Bridges aka Ludacris.
According to the article, the event took place at the The National Press Club on Friday, and Ludacris was reported to have given a speech filled with conservative, Republican talking points.
Ludacris started his speech by calling for a “paradigm shift” towards leadership “that is very basic and that starts with self-ownership and personal responsibility”.
To read the entire article go here: http://www.newmajority.com/goldwater-reagan-and-ludacris
on 
on 
on 
Dream on!
Luda is a die hard Obama fan.
Here us what he said of McCain in 2008: ”He don’t belong in any chair unless he’s paralyzed.” Here is what he rapped about George W. Bush: “mentally handicapped.”
He also rapped: “The world is ready for change because Obama is here.” Luda is no fan of GOP policies. Why would he be?
He also insultiedHillary Clinton (“Hillary hated on you, so that bitch is irrelevant) Again what he says may be very different from what he does. The song “Politics As Usual” from Ludacris’ mixtape The Preview has stirred controversy due to lyrics in the song criticizing Reverend Jesse Jackson (“Now Jesse talkin’ slick and apologizin’ for what?/ If you said it then you meant it”).
Also Barack Obama Slams Ludacris’ ‘Outrageously Offensive’ Song In a statement yesterday (July 30th), campaign spokesman, Bill Burton, distanced Mr Obama from the song.
“As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism, and degrading images that he doesn’t want his daughters or any children exposed to,” Burton said.
‘Ashamed’
He added that the song was not only “outrageously offensive” to the politicians but “to all of us who are trying to raise our children with the values we hold dear.”
Ludacris should be ashamed of these lyrics
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He sounds like most grown Black men, almost anyone who’s talking to Black people. He sounds like Bill Cosby when he’s talking to Black people. Hell, he sounds like Obama does when he’s talking to Black audiences, or at least when he’s in church. It IS a conservative point of view, very definitely. But that doesn’t mean it’s a Republican position.
Black people as a whole are conservative, and yet only something like 2% of us identify as Republican. You ask your average Republican why all these conservative, church going, small business owning Black people won’t look twice at the party of Lincoln, and what do they say? The Democrats have bought us off with welfare. Because apparently we’re all on welfare and love the government.
The party sold it’s soul with the southern strategy, and as a whole is simply racist. It absolutely cannot communicate in any positive way with us. Increasingly, it’s the same with Hispanics. And it’s killing the party.
The Democrat Party created, defined, and perfected the Southern Strategy where do you think Republicans learned it from?. The Democrats used it for centuries, Republicans barely a decade. African Americans were still joining the Democrat Party despite the party’s abusing us, lynching us and bombing our churches. There was no powerful GOP base of Republicans’ in the South at this time. To compare today’s heated debates to anything that occurred on the Dems watch is silly. Democrat must take responsibly for there own history. The majority of Dixiecrats by large numbers remained Democrats to there death.
However, there were Conservative Dixiecrats who used the arguments of “localism” as a way to terrorize blacks. This is not to say that Conservatism is racist, but when local authorities use States Rights arguments to attack it s citizens something has gone seriously wrong. The Conservative movement for the most part gave lip service to the Dixecrats in order to win elections.
William F Buckley of the Conservative magazine National Review in 1957 came out in support of the segregationist South, famously writing that “the central question that emerges… is whether the White community in the South is entitled to take such measures as are necessary to prevail, politically and culturally, in areas where it does not predominate numerically? The sobering answer is yes – the White community is so entitled because, for the time being, it is the advanced race.” He apologized many years later much too late.
Nevertheless, despite your disdain for Republicans, Republicans were funding and establishing black colleges like Howard University and Spellman. These same Republicans went on to get elected the first black Senator. They were the same Republicans who overwhelmingly voted for the Civil Rights bill. Lyndon Johnson gets the credit because people forget his own party opposed him therefore needing an overwhelming number of Republicans to pass the bill.
Lynchings and bombings were thrown at blacks by Democrats and we still managed to avoid the bombs and wiggle or way into that Party, SO SPARE ME THE REHTORIC that “We can’t be Republicans”, because of the Southern Strategy, the whole purpose of the civil rights movement was to demand a seat at any table despite racism. If the GOP was really a racist American institution then where are the sit ins and the boycotts to get inside. This is a bit strange because this seems to be a protest to stay out.
Most Black people are well aware of the two party’s histories, and all are well aware of their contemporary actions. Both parties have screwed us over and represented the interests of the country’s racist White base over ours at various points in history. The bottom line though is that one party continues to do so, and the other doesn’t. You’re free to argue that 98% of our race is mistaken about who that party is, and that that 2% of Blacks who call themselves Republicans are the only ones who are correct, but I doubt that.
I disagree Most Americans do not know most Party’s History, a quick glimpse at the nations education system should prvoe this. I also take issue with that fact that you assume that the “bottom line though is that one party continues to do so, and the other doesn’t”.
What do the top 10 cities with the highest poverty rate all have
In common….Democrat Leadership.
Sorry Republicans arent the ones who run these streets if we did we would require more
Detroit, MI (1st on the poverty rate list)…hasn’t elected a
Republican mayor since 1961;
Buffalo, NY (2nd)…hasn’t elected a Republican mayor since
1954;
Cincinnati, OH (3rd)…hasn’t elected a Republican mayor since
1984;
Cleveland, OH (4th)…hasn’t elected a Republican mayor since
1989;
Miami, FL (5th)…has never had a Republican mayor;
St. Louis, MO (6th)…hasn’t elected a Republican mayor since
1949;
El Paso, TX (7th)…has never had a Republican mayor;
Milwaukee, WI (8th)…hasn’t elected a Republican mayor since
1908;
Philadelphia, PA (9th)…hasn’t elected a Republican mayor since
1952;
Newark, NJ (10th)…hasn’t elected a Republican mayor since
1907.
Einstein once said, ‘The definition of insanity is doing the
Same thing over and over again and expecting different results.’
It is the disadvantaged who habitually elect Democrats — yet
Are still disadvantaged.
Opinion: The Disadvantaged remain disadvantaged because they are
Looking for a Liberal Democratic Government to give them something, when
all
They have to do is work for it.
(How can a person be 5th generation & disadvantaged in this country?)
“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought
For, protected, and handed on to them to do the same, or one day we will
spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children
what it was once like in the United States where men were free”.
-Ronald Wilson Reagan
As they say, Correlation isn’t Causation. Blacks in Republican controlled areas are no less disadvantaged than those in Democratic controlled areas. And there are numerous areas like Atlanta and Raleigh-Durham which have large concentrations of affluent (or at least middle and upper-middle class) Blacks, and Democratic governance.
Blacks, and increasingly all non-White Americans, vote Democratic simply because they view the alternative as a largely racist group of people. You even reinforced this with your comment here: “The Disadvantaged remain disadvantaged because they are looking for a Liberal Democratic Government to give them something…”
As I said in my first post, that exact statement is the sort of thing that leads Blacks to decide that the party is racist. It implies that Blacks are all poor, all on welfare, all in government housing, and are all looking for the government to give them something. That’s demonstrably false, and every time you try to attribute the Democratic voting of 95% of our community to a desire for nothing but more welfare money, in-spite of the fact that millions of us are affluent, you just reinforce the idea that the Republican party is ignorant of our community, our motives, our desires, and completely unable to communicate with us.
Bottom line- you want Black people to vote Republican, you should probably stop insisting we’re all on the dole, voting Democratic only as a way to keep the welfare money flowing in.
The numbers for Blacks living in Republican controlled areas are tiny, compared to blacks living in Democrat Districts so while correlation isn’t causation “percentage” can speak volumes. Also I have never seen a study of black income in Republican districts so its speculation, Yes there are affluent black areas Prince George County in Maryland being one of the most affluent in the nation.
However percentage wise it’s a drop in the bucket compared to most other ethnic communities. I also take issue that Blacks, and increasingly all non-White Americans, vote Democratic simply because they view the alternative as a largely racist group of people. Please show concrete evidence preferably from a peer reviewed study before you make r such accusations.
Blacks according to most studies “peer reviewed” studies vote uniquely Democrat unlike most other groups. I did not “reinforce” this with the above comment you choose to reinforce my comments to give weight to your theory, a theory which I reject. That is your opinion and you are entitled to it, but subjective opinions are not facts.
Let me ask you a question imagine Democrats stop flooding tax payer money (many being Republican) into inner-city areas overnight? Do you think Democrats would get the 95%? I believe the answer is “NO”, but again that’s my opinion. I suspect that there is a correlation between money and votes; it has been that way since Roosevelt. My issues is not with helping people its finding the best way to empower them to be better contributors’ to there family, and society. Pouring money into areas is not and can’t be the proof of whether you’re for blacks or against them. What matters are metrics of improvement in family life,, wealth creation, health security and education. Democrat’s argument has been pretty consistent with regards targeting Republicans. They oppose the programs therefore they hate you and are racist and this has been the theme song for years.
The reason people are” lead to believe” certain ideas about groups of people, ethnic or political affiliation is because some ideas has already prejudge there decision making. I grew up in an urban area my mayors and leaders were all Democrats and know the fear that they spewed on radio, and at community boards about Republicans, despite the fact that many in the neighborhood count even name one Republican.
Before you give Republicans a lesson on race relations why don’t you hold your own party accountable given that our people put them into office every year and get little out of it every year, clean your own house before you opine about another.
They key here is in many areas compared to other communities blacks still have disproportionate numbers of criminal acts occurring to our children, blacks kids being raised by unlce sam in foster care again disproportionate to others, and going to jail. The black family amongst other things is crumbling and it’s not because of Republicans. If the probem is not money since we pour billions a year into uran areas and its not Republicans most missinag in action then what is it???
Once again, you talk about Blacks only as being poor, only living in urban areas and the inner city, and then attribute Black voting patterns solely to the Democrats ‘flooding’ these areas with tax payer money and buying Blacks off. We are not all poor, we are not all living in the ghetto, and we are not all living off of the government. Implying that we are, and implying that that’s the reason most Blacks vote Democratic, is the sort of clearly racist attitude that keeps 95% of Blacks from ever voting for this party.
PS. Black people pay taxes. But of course, in your mind we’re not “real” taxpayers, because real taxpayers are White, and the Democrats give their money to Black people.
Once again I am talking about figures i.e. “percentages” compared to the population and other ethnic groups. In fact, most studies show that most African-Americans are to some degree middle class. Nevertheless, with regards ownership, savings, small business, crime, family structure, hiv status and a host of other things we are far, far behind. I attribute blacks voting Democrat to a multiple of things not just money and programs, any who knows me know that I do let the GOP off the hook.
At least the Democrats “are there” Republicans are missing in action and as a result deserve the criticism it gets. However, that is no excuse to ignore the obvious in the areas that matter, I never said that most blacks were poor again you assumed this. However, my point is that in areas where blacks dominate in numbers and where Democrats run the cities the poverty rate is high.
My question is where is the net gain on the taxes these blacks have spent? I would argue that blacks could perhaps do much better of they choose where they tax money went instead if Uncle Sam. These cities that black tax payers of which I am one receive billions in money yearly, so as one commercial so aptly put it Where the Beef?
PS. It goes without saying that blacks pay taxes I am black and I pay taxes …Duh!
Richard
2008 Black Population: 41.1 million* ,Percent of US population: 13.5%
Prision: Black males ages 30 to 34 have the highest incarceration rate of any race/ethnicity. Of the total 2.1 million male inmates in Jail or Prison, Black males represent the largest percentage 35.4%, followed by white males 32.9%, and Hispanic males 17.9%.
Poverty: Poverty has always been a challenge for the Black community. Although poverty conditions for Black America have improved, the rates are still staggering when compared to that of all Americans. 43% of single mother Black families are living in poverty compared to only 7 percent of married-couple Black families.
Ownership: 53% of Blacks, who rent pay more than 30% of their income for their rent. 30% is the recommended threshold that a family should pay for housing costs. This leaves many families to make ends meet.
Urban Area Populaion:
The New York Metro Black population is the highest of any city in the United States at close to 3.5 million. New York City Proper has more than 2.4 million
Also lets not forget the abuse of tax payers money and power. Just look at the news reports this week.
Two Prominent Black Democrats under Ethics Investigation
The House ethics committee voted Thursday to launch investigative subcommittees into separate charges against California Democratic Reps. Maxine Waters and Laura Richardson.
The move indicates that the panel believes there is enough evidence to warrant further serious inquiry.
Waters has been under media scrutiny for her role in directing up to $50 million in bailout money to a bank where her husband had served on the board of directors until early last year. Waters’s husband has owned at least $250,000 in stock in the institution.
The probe of Richardson centers on a controversy surrounding home mortgages.
After Richardson won a special election in 2007, she defaulted on three separate mortgages for homes in San Pedro, Long Beach and Sacramento, Calif. She lost one to foreclosure, and it was sold to a third party before she regained it.
Separately, the ethics committee dismissed allegations against Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and released a 500-plus-page investigative report from the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), as required under transparency rules governing interaction between the OCE and the ethics panel.
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/65465-rep-graves-attacks-ethics-office-political-smear-
Birmingham Mayor Guilty Of Bribery, Fraud
Birmingham, Ala. mayor Larry Langford was convicted in federal court yesterday on 60 counts of bribery and fraud during his term on the Jefferson County Commission. The liberal Democratic mayor faces a sentence of up to 805 years in prison. Federal prosecutors said that Langford accepted money and gifts totaling $230,000+ from a banker in exchange for $7 million+ in business on county bond deals.
Langford and several supporters questioned the jury’s verdict, some blaming the conviction on race. “In Alabama, black people will never get a fair trial,” wife Melva Langford said. “There should be a total investigation of the Justice Department.” Prosecutor George Martin said calling for such an investigation was “ridiculous,” and he denied that race played a role in Langford’s prosecution or the trial’s outcome. “It was a diverse jury. It was because of the evidence, not the jury,” he said. One of Langford’s attorneys, Glennon Threatt, who is black, said he has done previous corruption cases with white defendants, and race was not a factor. The jury had blacks and nine whites. The case was tried in Tuscaloosa, 60 miles away, after Langford requested a change because of publicity.
Carole Smitherman, the president of the City Council, will serve as interim mayor until an election is held within three months.
http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/moving_america_news/13817
Democratic politicians violate ethics rules? Black people are in prison at high rates? Black people pay a lot of their income as rent?
None of that addresses any of the points I was making. I guess throwing a bunch of non-related statistics up is a nice dodge though.
Perhaps it’s because you were “not making points” you were “making ACCUSATIONS.” You made the accusation when you said “You ask your average Republican why all these conservative, church going, small business owning Black people won’t look twice at the party of Lincoln, and what do they say? The Democrats have bought us off with welfare.”
First, there are 55 million registered Republicans around the nation I am not sure, how you conducted averages from this pool. I am not sure again, if you took a pool to verify this. If so, I would like to see the polling and the numbers on this because I have yet to see anything that averages out Republicans views nationwide on this issue. I am assuming you are again offering up your opinion.
Regardless, my overall point was if the accusations of the GOP “institutionally” being racist were true we as blacks should be trying to break the GOP door down to get inside not run away especially given that this has been our method in the past. When we were not allowed in because of race we held sit-ins, boycotts and sued if the Republican Party an “American Institution” were actually a racist party why not continue this legacy?
Richard
Perhaps it’s because you were “not making points” you were “making ACCUSATIONS.” You made the accusation when you said “You ask your average Republican why all these conservative, church going, small business owning Black people won’t look twice at the party of Lincoln, and what do they say? The Democrats have bought us off with welfare.”
First, there are 55 million registered Republicans around the nation I am not sure, how you conducted averages from this pool. I am not sure again, if you took a poll to verify this. If so, I would like to see the polling and the numbers on this because I have yet to see anything that averages out Republicans views nationwide on this issue. I am assuming you are again offering up your opinion.
Regardless, my overall point was if the accusations of the GOP “institutionally” being racist were true we as blacks should be trying to break the GOP door down to get inside not run away especially given that this has been our method in the past. When we were not allowed in because of race we held sit-ins, boycotts and sued if the Republican Party an “American Institution” were actually a racist party why not continue this legacy?
My overall argument is that African Americans are loyal to Democrats not out of ideological beliefs they are in every poll conducted conservative. However, on economics and social justice they are very liberal. Republicans have along history with blacks. Around the time, that blacks started leaving the GOP was around the same time that economic conservatives began to enter the party. There form of strong libertarian economics is what I believe ruptured blacks relationship with the GOP, alongside the rise of the Dixicrats and there race bating.
Therefore, when you say its Conservatives blacks agree with not Republicanism this is where I take issue. Black Conservatism is different from say Austrian economic conservatism. Black Conservatism has it roots in Marcus Garvey and Booker T Washington and its focus is self-empowerment in the face of brutal racism. The argument is if we network and do it ourselves, we will not be reliant on other men or the State to help us. This did not mean black conservatism rejects the government when it seeks to empower people. The question today is whether the government so truly empowering people with such programs.
Republicanism has much in common with African-Americans but Dixicrats and economic conservatism especially the Libertarian wing does not.
Richard
Black Folk saw the writing on the wall… the Southern Strategy was just its insideous little moniker! Hell, LBJ, predicted the outcome of his signing the Voting Rights Act (?) and/or Civil Rights Act, …”we will lose the South for a generation.” He knew well the hatred Dixie harbors for people of color.
Some time back, a poster suggested Y’all oughta just form your own party. It’s quite Unseemly to stick your nose up the rear end of the very ppl who disparage you! Make no mistake about it, the secretary in the Kentucky state Senator’s office who sent the Obama as 44th “black face” president didn’t apologize for that Racist joke, she applogized for having sent it to the WRONG list serve!! hoo hoo errrr, sorry!
This feeble, I believe in Free Markets blah blah blah crap is Nauseating to hear in the face of the poverty stats you quote above, and they’re no better for the Latino community believe me!
BTW, your Minor Diety, Ronald Reagan, he of the “Welfare Queen from SoSide Chicago, driving up in a Cadillac to cash her welfare check” (who do you possibly think he was talking about?) Also said of poor kid’s school lunches, “ketchup is a vegtable”…..spoken like a true bare-knuckle Capitalist!
In closing I think I’ll kill this thread w/my famous, I hope, thread-killing rant, eh Jose? Why Black and Latinos will continue to vote Democratic……..SCOREBOARD a Black POTUS, Dems – 1, Repukes <0 LESS than ZERO, dig it Not NOW, Not EVER, NEVER!
Dare ya, Double Dog Dare Ya………..
Couldn’t agree more with Brillo…and Richard is throwing a whole bunch of random that has nothing to do with the fact that black won’t vote Republican
Yeah…Couldn’t possibly be anything else but ……..“randomnessness” ??