Political satire v. vulgar, deplorable trash

What would America be without political satire? Some of the greatest laughs have been made from making fun of politicians. Saturday Night Live is famous for it. Jib-Jab is downright funny.

However, there is a difference between political satire and vulgar trash. Most, if not all, respectable political satires on U.S. presidents or presidential candidates have poked fun at all sides equally. When Saturday Night Live makes fun of a president, you’d better bet they’re going to make just as much fun as the next one. When Jib-Jab creates their fabulous, animated cartoons they poke and prod all the candidates. No one is left out. That’s respectable. That kind of political satire takes in the whole picture. That kind of political satire actually has the possibility of making people think and grow in positive ways.

On the other hand, vulgar and deplorable trash disrespects and degrades, inflames and instigates, polarizes and pigeonholes. Need a good example? Look no further than Ludacris’ new “Politics as Usual (Obama is Here).”

In the song, Ludacris calls U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) an “irrelevant bitch” and wishes for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) to be paralyzed in a wheelchair:

Hillary hated on you, so that b^$&%* is irrelevant
[…snip…]
McCain don’t belong in ANY chair unless he’s paralyzed

Ludacris also seems to think he’s got a guarantee of a presidential pardon should his gang-banging-glorifying lifestyle turn into reality:

with a slot in the president’s iPod Obama shattered ‘em
Said I handled his biz and I’m one of his favorite rappers
Well give Luda a special pardon if I’m ever in the slammer

No, wait… scratch that. Ludacris thinks he’s V.P. material:

Better yet put him in office, make me your vice president

God knows I’ve used some tough rhetoric before, but I’ve always come out at the end still being able to speak kindly and respectfully with my adversaries. How the hell can Ludacris have any sort of respect for someone with such dishonorable language?

Does he actually think it is appropriate use the terms “irrelevant bitch” to describe a sitting U.S. senator, former first lady and former presidential contender? Does he think it appropriate to wish paralysis on another sitting U.S. senator, current presidential contender and decorated U.S. veteran and prisoner of war?

Ludacris needs a reality check. While the rest of the nation is moving forward, trying overcome divisive and damaging rhetoric, hate, racism, bigotry and malice, Ludacris is doing nothing but moving us backward. I’m more than sure this isn’t the kind of “change” Obama preaches. Perhaps our historic Democratic candidate needs to rethink his iPod playlists.

Pure trash. That’s all I have to say.

To Obama’s credit, he has distanced himself from Ludacris and his song. “While Ludacris is a talented individual, he should be ashamed of these lyrics,” Bill Burton, an Obama campaign spokesman, said in an e-mail statement. Burton also called the song “outrageously offensive.”

Posted in Democratic Party, Politics, United States |