Fearless dissident artist censors his anti-CIA lyrics at Obama event
posted at 2:30 pm on January 19, 2009 by Allahpundit
How do you speak “truth” to power when it’s your guy in power? You don’t. Behold the latest Obama tribute from will.i.am, now a rebel without a cause:
One of the lyrics to the original version of that tune is this:
“Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism. But we still got terrorists here livin’ In the USA, the big CIA The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK”
That line likens the CIA to a terrorist organization. Apparently making such an incendiary charge with Barack Obama sitting just steps away was too much — after all, Obama will be in charge of the CIA as of tomorrow. So when the verse came up, the singer instead rapped these lines:
“Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism But we still got terrorists here livin’ In the USA, … no education and we got that racial hate”
Seconds later the camera cut to a smiling and approving President Elect Obama.
One of the amusements of the Obama years will be watching the counterculture transition from inveighing against The Man to trying to get The Man reelected. The iconic Obama poster designed by “iconoclast” Shepard Fairey was the first small data point in that evolution. This politic bit of self-censorship is another, although I admit, I didn’t expect the agency that plays Snidely Whiplash in so many lefty fantasies to be absolved so soon. Then again, even by the standards of most Obama cultists, will.i.am’s always been unusually devout; if the avatar of Change asks you to suspend your criticism of the government in the interests of Hope, how do you tell him now? Exit quotation: “It seems odd to have a VIP section for a concert about unity.”
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
curious. is anyone really tuning in to watch this stuff? I’ve never watched an inauguration. I see no reason to do so.
lorien1973 on January 19, 2009 at 2:33 PM
will.i.am
stupid.you.is
Kini on January 19, 2009 at 2:33 PM
I didn’t think will.i.douche could get any more annoying, but he comes through every time.
This is going to be a long 4 years.
Pasalubong on January 19, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Racial hate?! When a black man is president with a nearly 71% approval rating of a job he hasn’t even started?!
Skywise on January 19, 2009 at 2:35 PM
no education and we got that racial hate
Sooooo…..would that racial hate be evidenced by the black guy who just got elected POTUS or those who say that speaking negatively about Obarfa constitutes racism?
Bishop on January 19, 2009 at 2:35 PM
In between the food channel, home and garden, history channel and scifi channel, I occasionally visit Fox News for the non-stop coverage
Kini on January 19, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Dolts playing on sacred ground. Our country is becoming an “Idiocracy.”
We need to take back our country quick.
Gird your loins!!
jencab on January 19, 2009 at 2:37 PM
If you gots “no education”, it must because you didn’t try.
MarkTheGreat on January 19, 2009 at 2:37 PM
If this happened under a Republican Administration entire english and history departments at major universities would be at work decrying the “chilling” effects on our political discourse.
Imagine Olbermann? “This, sir, is a direct repudiation of the principles of our Founders and their noble fight for our Republic! You, sir, must go!!”
SteveMG on January 19, 2009 at 2:37 PM
OT
Bush commuted the sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean!
Kini on January 19, 2009 at 2:37 PM
“I know something for a sure thing,” Hitchens continued. “The demand for torture and other methods I would describe as illegal, the demand to go outside the Geneva conventions — all this came from below. What everyone wants to say is this came from a small clique around the vice-president. It’s not educational. It doesn’t enlighten anyone to behave as if that were true. This is our society wanting and demanding harsh measures.” Therefore, he went on, the demand for prosecution or other measures against Bush administration officials would likewise have to come from below, via the grassroots. “Otherwise it’s just vengeful, I suppose, and partisan.”
Christopher Hitchens
Hitch is right on this. I disagreed with these methods, but they did come from demand from below. And the idea of prosecuting the Bush Administrtion for it is wrong becuase if it did come from below, a change in attitude would be really over the economy tanking not the use of these techniques.
Mr. Joe on January 19, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Can we swear the guy in today and be done with the hoopla already. I am tired of my tv being hijacked.
HawaiiLwyr on January 19, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Socialist societies always have a VIP section.
CP on January 19, 2009 at 2:40 PM
Obviously, will.i.am is the next choice to head CIA if the Panetta nomination craters.
GoHskrs on January 19, 2009 at 2:41 PM
The CIA did everything it could to hurt Bush and the effort in Iraq, so Democrats should love them.
clearbluesky on January 19, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Gird your loins!!
jencab on January 19, 2009 at 2:37 PM
I do that everyday just for the hell of it. My neighbors sometimes call the police, but this is America, go**damit!
Bishop on January 19, 2009 at 2:41 PM
That guy creeps me out to no end. “will.i.am.” Is there a name more full of narcissism? It’s almost as if he wants to take the place of the Great I Am.
baldilocks on January 19, 2009 at 2:42 PM
HawaiiLwyr on January 19, 2009 at 2:39 PM
You get to deal with the routine security crackdowns and inevitable traffic, mess and inconvenience which will occur everytime Hussein takes his vacation.
Muhahahahahahahahahaha!
Bishop on January 19, 2009 at 2:43 PM
This doesn’t make sense to me.
First he says that the grassroots demanded harsh measures. His conclusion then is that you can only prosecute Bush if the grassroots demands it.
Sounds like he’s saying it would on the up and up to prosecute Bush for doing what we wanted as long as a sufficiently large group of us changed our mind.
JadeNYU on January 19, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Censorism takes many forms
Vashta.Nerada on January 19, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Tru dat, playa. Master Yoda your inspiration?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on January 19, 2009 at 2:44 PM
baldilocks on January 19, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Maybe, but I’m pretty sure we can start calling Barry “The Golden Calf”.
kingsjester on January 19, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Heh! A little like this.
brtex on January 19, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Don’t worry. He will be free to let loose the dope rhymes after the Fairness Doctrine is enacted. His counterpoint? Hannity.
/sarc
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on January 19, 2009 at 2:46 PM
No education, check: Chicago after Obama-led Annenberg education project spent $10,000,000 and achieved no results.
Racial hate, check: Main theme of Obama’s preacher of 20 years.
will.i.am be “speaking truth to power”, AKA “sayin’ the stuff the cool kids say”!
drunyan8315 on January 19, 2009 at 2:47 PM
will.i.was
JetBoy on January 19, 2009 at 2:48 PM
MLB network is replaying the ’07 playoffs among other historical baseball shows. I haven’t even had to see an add for barackendise.
cobrakai99 on January 19, 2009 at 2:48 PM
“hip-hop superstar” – a coveted position outranked only by “tank-wipe.”
whitetop on January 19, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Still though, when you think about it, this is a good sign for the Steelers.
Obarfa is half black, the Steelers wear a half black uniform.
Wooooooo…scary tie-ins all over the place.
Bishop on January 19, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Ok, now I feel begrimed for equating the Steelers in any way with Obarfa.
Big Ben saluted the troops, Obarfa is ashamed of being patriotic.
Steelers no equal Obarfy.
Bishop on January 19, 2009 at 2:51 PM
You turned your TV on?
capitalist piglet on January 19, 2009 at 2:52 PM
The NBA find it acceptable to use that song in their promo’s which is just another reason why the NBA is no longer worth watching (cheating refs was just another in a long line of reasons).
Hurricanes on January 19, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Obama is cool, CIA is cool, surveillance is cool, Gitmo is cool, torture is cool, Iraq is cool, so cool now means lying, Obama is very cool…
right2bright on January 19, 2009 at 2:55 PM
If you set your tv’s v-chip to block out pornography, you won’t have to watch any Obarfa coverage.
What else could the a$$-kissing parade of tingly-legged, orgasming, spontaneously conceiving media whores be called other than porno?
Bishop on January 19, 2009 at 2:56 PM
For the first time in their lives, they are proud of America.
jay12 on January 19, 2009 at 2:57 PM
I am so sick of the Obama slober fest…make it STOP!
milwife88 on January 19, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Looks like Cheney isn`t the only Dick to leave town. :)
And no, that wasn`t a slam on Cheney, think it through.
ThePrez on January 19, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Not even a good Jedi mind trick can get into the noggin of the deranged liberal intent on preserving his BDS to the bitter-clinger-end.
Speaking of out of control BDS…. There’s a special VIP section for the liberal elites.
Kini on January 19, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Right, porno all around, the only difference is with porno channel, you watch other people get it, and other channels we are watching ourselves get it. Without kissing first!
beththebaker on January 19, 2009 at 3:00 PM
I didn’t watch Bush’s inauguration when I voted for him. I have absolutely no intentions of watching Barry’s.
UnEasyRider on January 19, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Is the NEA offended? They should be.
Disturb the Universe on January 19, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Somehow I doubt that the “racial hate” is even remotely referring to anti-Israel protests.
jimmy the notable on January 19, 2009 at 3:13 PM
On the (slightly) positive side, the ubiquitous Obama T-shirt has replaced the ubiquitous Che T-shirt as the fashion icon for the useful idiot crowd.
Disturb the Universe on January 19, 2009 at 3:15 PM
So you mean the TV’s full of leftist propaganda? Imagine that. Pravda, anyone?
mr.blacksheep on January 19, 2009 at 3:16 PM
True enough, but somehow I don’t think he was thinking of Bill Ayers.
Disturb the Universe on January 19, 2009 at 3:17 PM
No education? You flippin’ idiot. We have way too much education of the liberal kind. Just because you and your hippie douche bag friends are not educated, doesn’t mean America has an education problem – you do.
Grafted on January 19, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Let me guess… The CIA are the good guys now because BHO is in change now?
F-in’ D-bag.
Claypigeon on January 19, 2009 at 3:19 PM
Golly — Now I’m not surprised Cher wasn’t on the list of performers. She would have had to do a whole lot of censoring.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6E98ZRaU1s
D2Boston on January 19, 2009 at 3:19 PM
It’s really only 35 1/2 % approval, they really wouldn’t have voted for the white half if it wasn’t already mixed in.
Because after all, it’s all about character now…
kirkill on January 19, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Right, porno all around, the only difference is with porno channel, you watch other people get it, and other channels we are watching ourselves get it. Without kissing first!
beththebaker on January 19, 2009 at 3:00 PM
So that’s what the DFL means by “stimulus.” It’s all so clear now.
I just hope they buy me a drink first and ask me what my sign is.
Bishop on January 19, 2009 at 3:20 PM
Gold…comedy gold my brutha.
Obasims for all.
Wyznowski on January 19, 2009 at 3:20 PM
OT: That bit about Ayers and Canada is hilarious. They had to cancel his speaking engagement there, and here’s a quote from one of those involved:
Sometimes, I just sit here shaking my head.
capitalist piglet on January 19, 2009 at 3:22 PM
All I have to say now is, “Go Cardinals!”
kirkill on January 19, 2009 at 3:22 PM
Ugh. I just can’t take this anymore. It seems all libs (male and female) are ready to drop down on their knees and give BO a BJ. Blech!
Did anyone else notice while watching football yesterday the ads for the show 2 and a Half Men? Done up like Obama’s posters, saying Yes We Can! Makes me sick, and glad I don’t watch those shows anyway.
StephC on January 19, 2009 at 3:33 PM
will.i.am has been on.da.skids ever since the Blackeyed Peas went their own separate ways.
I mean, the dude’s name alone sounds like the lead-in for a bad rendition of a Dr. Seuss poem.
pilamaye on January 19, 2009 at 3:48 PM
actually after the gag messia is crowned
the cia and fbi will all be staffed
with Muslims..
So therefore since we know islam is a religion of peace
that the song lyrics can be truthfully changed
But what will they replace the cia and fbi with?
Oh i know
Christians..
You know those pesky evil people who committ mass murder against all who dont follow their beliefs..
Oh wait a second that wasnt christians
that was….
jcila on January 19, 2009 at 3:52 PM
- From CNN article in headlines above.
It doesn’t matter what you stand for apparently as long as you are cool.
Disturb the Universe on January 19, 2009 at 3:56 PM
It is disturbing (pun intended) because all the world leaders throughout history who were viewed as “cool” at the time, or who are viewed as “cool” now were the most dangerous.
The “cool” manager is the one with the worst record and worst managed department because no one respects him/her.
The “cool” coach is the one who ends up getting fired because the players have no discipline and lose every game.
The “cool” parents are the ones who buy the beer for their teens to have a party, and one of them drives home drunk.
Your “cool” friend is the one who gets drunk all the time, does stupid things, borrows money and never pays it back…
I could go on and on.
Damn it, the last thing we need is a “cool” president.
reaganaut on January 19, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Billy and Bernadine?
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on January 19, 2009 at 4:13 PM
…another doggerel “poet” waxing “brave” (knowing he’ll never be called to account) who has harsh and unsubstantiated things to say about his country, his country’s institutions, his neighbors, or anyone better than himself….
*YAAAAAWN!*
…this is getting tiresome….
…singers, actors, writers, all taking shots at a country which ensures that, unlike most of the rest of the world, they can go on making money trashing that country…congratulating eachother on how gutsy they are….
…personally, I’m rapidly going off singers, actors, etc….I’m considering sticking to jugglers from now on…as a class of performer, jugglers are refreshingly apolitical….
Puritan1648 on January 19, 2009 at 4:28 PM
Are rappers the kind of Culture we are goingto see presented at the White House? Obama needs to remember he has people older than him he is serving who appreciate true culture.I hope we don’t all have to go the baggy pants route.
Maybe I am just old but when my future President is listening torap and enjoying it I really don’t want him deciding what to do about the economy or foriegn policy while he has Ludicrus playing on his IPOD.
Kevin in Southern Illinois on January 19, 2009 at 5:16 PM
Bwaaaaaahhhh! Perfect.
Jaibones on January 19, 2009 at 5:45 PM
Sissy.
Hog Wild on January 19, 2009 at 6:41 PM
Amazing the amount of bullshit now passing for intelligent discourse.
GarandFan on January 19, 2009 at 6:43 PM
Are you kidding? These guys
willshall no longer be allowed to mock the Prez… Yo. Like, waz up wit dat man… Da prez is coo… We gotza flow yo. Ma hoopdie need gas so I can go see da “O”…Very entertaining fish out of water like flip-flopping coming down the road.
RalphyBoy on January 19, 2009 at 10:45 PM
Speaking of self-censoring, I heard Beyonce even wore panties.
Not that Obama would care, either way.
Mee-chelle is the man in that family.
profitsbeard on January 20, 2009 at 1:05 AM