The following post is swagger jacked from Roland Martin - you can read his version here.
Barack Obama is B-L-A-C-K!
John McCain is O-L-D!
Sarah Palin is a W-O-M-A-N!
Republicans are W-H-I-T-E!
More to the point some people won't vote for Barack Obama because he is black, no matter how many great speeches he gives, no matter how much they like his ideas and no matter how much they agree with his policies.
Some people won't vote for Palin because she is a woman and don't think a woman can handle being President or Vice-President.
Some people won't vote for John McCain just because he is old, regardless of the fact that he has had some great ideas in the last eight years, and is obviously in good enough health to face the rigors of a national campaign.
Whenever T.V. heads and pundits talk about "small town rural A" and "Walmart moms" and "hockey moms" that Sarah Palin and McCain are appealing to, they are talking about WHITE people.
And the Good Ol Party, the Republican Party, is made up almost entirely of white people - to call the GOP diverse is laughable.
So this whole argument and befuddlement about "why Obama can't seem to connect with small town voters" is just another way of saying that white voters have a hard time connecting with a black man running for president.
Clearly black people don't have a problem "connecting" with Obama - he is part of their tribe.
But what everyone is tight-roping around is the fact that gender, race, and age all are going to play a huge role in this election - maybe even greater than personality and issues.
This is an extremely close election - we all know this.
If enough people decide not to vote for McCain/Palin because McCain is old and there is a better than normal chance that Palin - a woman - might become president, then McCain will lose.
If enough people decide not to vote for Obama because they can't connect with a black man, that they refuse to vote outside of their tribe, then Barack Obama will lose.
And during an election where things like "truth" don't seem to matter anymore (especially not to the Republican party) - I would not be surprised to see some good ol fashioned race-baiting before this is done.
Unfortunately, there have been people that have used both "faith and flag" to cover up racism for centuries.
If you had to be old, female, or black in this election - what would you choose?
I figure I have the most diverse collection of music out of anybody who I know. (I know a big claim, but I will back it up if you challenge me) So I have decided to every once in a while just put my ipod on random shuffle and just list and comment on the tracks that play. The only rule is no skipping!! Here we go!
Mos Def "Traveling Man"
A chilled out beat and flow from by Mos. I swear I have heard this beat on another song. I can't place it though. Favorite part is the hook "memories don't live like people do". So true.
Mariah Carey "Heart Breaker"
The version I have has an intro by DJ Clue which is just special. The chorus is great and there are verses by Da Brat. What happened to Da Brat!?!?!!? Her flow on this track is better than 85% of rappers on the radio right now. The notes Mariah hits at the end of the song are just insane. And just have to throw it out there - Mariah Carey is so hot in the video. Is this what started dudes in the hood wantin white girls?
The White Stripes "Instinct Blues"
"Well the crickets get it, and the ants get it." A song about natural instinct versus human reason. The instrumentation and arrangements are great.
Jay-Z "A Million and One Questions (extended)"
"In the darkest night/ let out my gun for light" Jay-Z meanders through this track with his novacaine flow. Jay gives the Latin people a lot of love on this track.
Paul Simon "Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover"
Just a classic track. Seriously, listen to it right now.
Vast Aire, Timbo King, Prodiagl Sunn, and Byata "Slow Blues"
This a great song from a vastly underplayed mixtape called Wu-Tang Meets The Indie Culture. The Indie Culture on the mixtape is actually the underground rap scene and not rockers. It is a great mixtape and definitely worth checking out. The beat on this song is amazing!
The Shins "Young Pilgrim"
Great lyrics to a pretty simple instrumental. A really nice song. For whatever reason the guitar intro reminded me of Tenacious D.
Mary J. Blige feat. Jay-Z "Can't Hide From Love"
The Queen!!! This woman is so blessedly awesome. Just vibe out to this track.
Lil Wayne "Georgia Bush"
For me this song marked my transition into thinking that Lil Wayne might actually be the best rapper alive. It was so raw, morbid, and angry when it dropped right after Katrina. But the actual Georiga Bush part wasn't even the main event - part two is what got me:
"Money, money, money/get a dollar and a dick/Weezy baby that crack/muthafucka get a fix/got money out the ass/no homo but I'm rich/bout to go get surgery and put some diamonds on my wrist/yes!"
"I drink a lot of syrup/bitches say I'm sleep walking"
"Young New Orleans nigga/nigga just don't be retarded/we done lost everything and you're looking like a bargain"
"10 keys in the beamer/got a white girl drivin/couldn't do it much cleaner"
"and bring me that patron/I don't play/ no ice/ I like my drink strong not gay"
Journey "Don't Stop Believin"
One of my favorite songs of all time. I listened to this song as soon as my bus entered the city of Detroit for the Davidson versus Kansas game and it felt like I was in a movie.
"just a small town girl, living in a lonely world, she took the midnight train going anywhere, just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit, he took the midnight train going anywhere *music* a singer in a smoky room, the smell of wine and cheap perfume"
"everybody wants a thrill, paying anything to roll the dice just one more time, some will win, some will lose, and some are gonna sing the blues."
Barry White and the Love Unlimited Orchestra "Loves Theme"
Barry Barry Barry Barry!! What can you say just that baby making music. I feel like Kanye could do something with this sample. What is the instrument that makes that little porn movie "schwicga" sound?
Oli Clifford "Bum Breath"
This is a mash up of the Arctic Monkey's "Mardy Bum" and Beyonce's "Lose My Breath". The track is absolutely lovely - traditional mash up at its best! A perfect summer song for cruising around.
