Written by NewsOne Staff on May 12, 2011 3:50 am
WASHINGTON — The White House is standing by its decision to invite the rapper Common to participate in a poetry event despite conservative and other criticism that the musician has glorified the killing of police officers with his lyrics.
Spokesman Jay Carney says President Barack Obama has spoken out against violent and misogynistic music lyrics. But Carney also said media reports about Common’s participation in Tuesday night’s East Room event distort what the rapper stands for.
Carney says Common has earned praise for being a socially conscious rapper. He adds that Obama appreciates Common’s work trying to get children in their Chicago hometown interested in poetry.
Republican strategist Karl Rove and 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin have expressed displeasure at the White House for inviting Common.
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Palin: Obama Is “Pallin” Around With Cop Killing Glorifiyng Rapper
NEW YORK – In an interview with Fox News, former Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin, said that President, Barack Obama made a bad decision by inviting rapper Common to a poetry reading at the White House because of a song he did about Asaata Shakur, who was accused of killing a police officer.
Yahoo reports:
“You know, the White House’s judgment on inviting someone who would glorify cop killing during Police Memorial Week, of all times, you know, the judgment– it’s just so lacking of class and decency and all that’s good about America with an invite like this,” the former Alaska governor said on Fox News Channel’s “On the Record.” “And you know, it’s just so easy to assume that they’re just inviting someone like me or somebody else to ask, ‘Come on, Barack Obama, who are you palling around with now?’ “