CHICAGO (AP) — Rapper Ludacris is a strong supporter of Barack Obama but the Democrat's presidential campaign is calling one of the artist's latest rhymes “outrageously offensive” to Sen. Hillary Clinton, Republican Sen. John McCain and President Bush.
The song that brags an Obama presidency is destiny uses an expletive to describe Clinton, calls Bush “mentally handicapped” and says McCain doesn't belong in “any chair unless he's paralyzed.”
POLITICS AS USUAL — Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, left, accepts a grant for Film Independent at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's annual installation luncheon at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
The lyrics also don't spare the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who recently apologized for crude comments he made about Obama. “If you said it then you meant it,” intones the rapper, whose real name is Chris Bridges.
The Obama campaign on Wednesday blasted Bridges’ “Politics As Usual” song, which is on the “Gangsta Grillz: The Preview” mixtape with Atlanta spinner DJ Drama.
“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,” Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said in an e-mail statement. “This song is not only outrageously offensive to Senator Clinton, Reverend Jackson, Senator McCain, and President Bush, it is offensive to all of us who are trying to raise our children with the values we hold dear. While Ludacris is a talented individual he should be ashamed of these lyrics.”
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Obama included Ludacris when he talked about hip-hop moguls and rappers he thought were “great talents and great businessmen” Obama has even met privately with Bridges, talking with him in Chicago about young people in 2006 before he announced his run for president.
In the two-minute track, Bridges makes a pitch for Obama to name him vice president, rhyming “Hillary hated on you, so that (expletive) is irrelevant.”
Bridges' publicist and manager did not immediately return calls for comment Wednesday.
But DJ Drama was taken aback by all the attention. He said he'd like to invite both Obama and Bridges to appear on his radio show to address the controversy.
“My platform is there for Luda and Barack to talk to each other,” the DJ said. “Let's deal with the issues in hand. I don't have a problem doing it because they are two individuals who I highly respect.”
Bridges also encourages Black voters to go to the polls on Election Day in the song.
“The world is ready for change 'cause Obama is here,” Bridges raps repeatedly.
Bridges' albums include “Release Therapy” and his acting credits include the Oscar-winning movie “Crash” and “Hustle & Flow.”
