The Politics of Distraction

I agree this is much ado about nothing. The fact is we have a lot more things to be concerned about than who is invited to the White House. I do not recall in history any other President being watched so closely in my life. I guess they still are trying to prove that President Obama does not belong. However, we cannot afford to allow them to distract us from what is really important.

By now, most of us have become accustomed to the all-too familiar notion of the politics of distraction. With pressing issues like near double-digit unemployment, skyrocketing gas prices, a lingering budget deficit, growing international crises, struggling job growth and more, many on the right would rather avoid creating real solutions by averting our attention to nonsensical 'issues.' This week's target: a Chicago-based rapper by the name of Common. Only problem is, this time, those screaming the loudest forgot to check their own history.

Anyone with an ounce of reality knows that this wasn't the first occasion where a rapper went to the White House, participated in a function or was acknowledged by an administration. In fact, Bush Sr. invited Eazy-E, a solo artist and former member of the group N.W.A., to the White House. Not only do the folks at Fox News and those attempting to create this non-controversy have amnesia about hip-hop's presence at our nation's headquarters, but they also quickly forget their own embrace of Common. Less than a year ago, a report on FoxNews.com referred to the lyricist as a 'rap legend,' 'very positive' and a 'conscious rapper.' How quickly we forget indeed.

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