Obama Rejects Ludacris Endorsement Song
A number of actors and musicians have thrown their support behind presidential hopeful Barack Obama, but Ludacris' 'Politics: Obama is Here' has caused a bit of a stir and is being publicly rejected by the senator's campaign.
The rapper blasts Obama's former opponent Sen. Hilary Clinton on the endorsement track, calling Clinton a "b----." Ludacris goes on to slam Republican presidential candidate John McCain, Rev. Jesse Jackson and President George W. Bush. Obama's campaign team released a statement condemning the track, which appears on the 'Gangsta Grillz: The Preview' mixtape, hosted by 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," campaign spokesman Bill Burton said in an e-mail statement Wednesday. "This song is not only outrageously offensive to Sen. Clinton, Rev. Jackson, Sen. 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."
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The WomenCount organization has also expressed outrage at Ludacris' harsh lyrics. "It is another example of hateful, sexist language being used on the campaign trail, and now is our moment to make it clear: not on our watch!" WomenCount's Communication Director Rosemary Camposano said in a statement.
Ludacris' camp has yet to address the recent backlash.