Post by a.k.a on Apr 1, 2008 13:09:38 GMT 3
Just weeks ago, America knew where 50 Cent stood in this year's presidential race: solidly in Camp Hillary.
"I just think she'd do a good job," the MC said in a widely circulated Fox News video. "There's nothing bad about Obama in my eyes
either, but I just think Hillary would be my choice.
"I'm not sure America is ready to have a black president," he continued. "I think they might kill him."
However, after hearing Obama's stunning speech on race in America earlier this month, the rapper pulled what is now commonly known in political circles as a "Bill Richardson." In other words, he changed his mind after the speech and switched to Obama's side.
"I heard Obama speak," the rapper told the MTV News crew assembled at his Connecticut mansion to hear the new G-Unit LP and talk about his upcoming video game. "He hit me with that he-just-got-done- watching-'Malcolm X,' and I swear to God, I'm like, 'Yo, Obama!' " He threw his fist in the air. "I'm Obama to the end now, baby!"
However, he said he's now not certain which side he's on. "To be honest, I haven't been following that anymore. I lost my interest," he said. "I listened to some of the debate and things that they were saying, and I just got lost in everything that was going on. ... Don't look for my vote, for me to determine nothing on that. Just say, '50 Cent, he don't know, so don't ask Fiddy.'
"I just think there's people that might not be ready for an African-American president," he continued. "It'll be an issue, believe it or not."
The MC said that as a black man, "You've got to be conscious of racism, period. And it's still there. We don't deal with it as often as my grandparents did. My grandparents grew up in South Carolina, so they experienced the heart of that."
Never one to mince words, 50 doesn't mind that his comments get people talking.
"There's a lot of people that agree with me that may not voice their opinions, and I don't blame them for not voicing their opinions, but you need me."
It remains to be seen if losing 50's support will rattle Hillary's campaign, but it's safe to say it hasn't been the best week for the New York senator. Along with the loss of Richardson, the press — and the Obama campaign — has continued to hit her over her "misspoken" claim to have landed in Bosnia under dangerous sniper fire back in 1996. She has since disavowed the statement, which angered many of the veterans featured in MTV's "Choose or Lose Presents: Clinton & Obama Answer Young Veterans," among others. (Former MTV News correspondent Tabitha Soren recently published her own account of flying to Bosnia fifteen days before Hillary. No sniper fire for her either.)
While Governor Richardson has begun to speak out on behalf of Obama at campaign stops and on television, it was unclear at press time whether 50 will receive similar requests from the Obama team.
"I just think she'd do a good job," the MC said in a widely circulated Fox News video. "There's nothing bad about Obama in my eyes
either, but I just think Hillary would be my choice.
"I'm not sure America is ready to have a black president," he continued. "I think they might kill him."
However, after hearing Obama's stunning speech on race in America earlier this month, the rapper pulled what is now commonly known in political circles as a "Bill Richardson." In other words, he changed his mind after the speech and switched to Obama's side.
"I heard Obama speak," the rapper told the MTV News crew assembled at his Connecticut mansion to hear the new G-Unit LP and talk about his upcoming video game. "He hit me with that he-just-got-done- watching-'Malcolm X,' and I swear to God, I'm like, 'Yo, Obama!' " He threw his fist in the air. "I'm Obama to the end now, baby!"
However, he said he's now not certain which side he's on. "To be honest, I haven't been following that anymore. I lost my interest," he said. "I listened to some of the debate and things that they were saying, and I just got lost in everything that was going on. ... Don't look for my vote, for me to determine nothing on that. Just say, '50 Cent, he don't know, so don't ask Fiddy.'
"I just think there's people that might not be ready for an African-American president," he continued. "It'll be an issue, believe it or not."
The MC said that as a black man, "You've got to be conscious of racism, period. And it's still there. We don't deal with it as often as my grandparents did. My grandparents grew up in South Carolina, so they experienced the heart of that."
Never one to mince words, 50 doesn't mind that his comments get people talking.
"There's a lot of people that agree with me that may not voice their opinions, and I don't blame them for not voicing their opinions, but you need me."
It remains to be seen if losing 50's support will rattle Hillary's campaign, but it's safe to say it hasn't been the best week for the New York senator. Along with the loss of Richardson, the press — and the Obama campaign — has continued to hit her over her "misspoken" claim to have landed in Bosnia under dangerous sniper fire back in 1996. She has since disavowed the statement, which angered many of the veterans featured in MTV's "Choose or Lose Presents: Clinton & Obama Answer Young Veterans," among others. (Former MTV News correspondent Tabitha Soren recently published her own account of flying to Bosnia fifteen days before Hillary. No sniper fire for her either.)
While Governor Richardson has begun to speak out on behalf of Obama at campaign stops and on television, it was unclear at press time whether 50 will receive similar requests from the Obama team.