Los Republicanos: Daddy Yankee and John McCain
by Guest Contributor Marisol LeBron, originally published in two parts at Post Pomo Nuyorican Homo
In what I’m guessing is a attempt to look young and hip John McCain, 71, continued his efforts to reach out to the Latina/o community by inviting reggaetonero Daddy Yankee to his campaign headquarters on Saturday afternoon.
Considering El Cangri’s sometimes raunchy lyrics and hustlin’ past it seems like a weird political coupling. “I don’t know anything about Daddy Yankee,” said McCain spokeswoman Nicolle Wallace. Great.
Supposedly McCain and Daddy Yankee first met when they were both named two of the 100 most influential people of 2006 by Time magazine.
According to Yankee “He invited me to have a brief conversation on how we can improve the living conditions in Hispanic communities.” The two were said to have discussed issues such as im/migration, education, and Latino/a youth. Yankee says he is not ready to endorse McCain yet hopefully because he will meet with Obama to hear him out on Latino/a issues.
This meeting is funny considering that McCain just put out a political attack ad against Obama accusing him of being a media whore. McCain is really trying to tap in to popular personalities to get his message out instead of actually just talking. I guess we’ll have to wait and see if DY is going to hop on the “Straight Talk Express.”
[Ed. Note - The above piece was published August 5th. The follow up, below, was published August 25th. - LDP]
Okay, so I’ve had some time to think about this whole Daddy Yankee endorsing John McCain fiasco and my take is McCain might have just shot himself in the foot and here is why…
McCain is obviously trying to appeal to the Latino/a vote by appearing with El Cangri and accepting his endorsement, but chances are DY’s endorsement will actually turn off some Latino/a voters, particularly the kind of Latino/a voter McCain wants to reach
Reggaeton is an extremely contested genre within the Latino/a community. More than any other musical genre, reggaeton truly highlights the the complexities of nationality, race, class, gender and generational division within the Latino/a community. Reggaeton is very often seen as something that is either strictly Puerto Rican, or more broadly Caribbean. Already there has been push back to having DY be the supposed voice of the Latino/a community because he is seen as representing Puerto Rican interests. Many people have also pointed out that DY can’t even vote for McCain so his endorsement is irrelevant (which is true but it’s bogus that people aren’t talking about the fact that that’s because Puerto Rico is a colony).
The reason why DY’s endorsement might really hurt McCain is because of people’s perceptions of El Cangri and reggaeton. Although claims over reggaeton’s ownership are now fought over, during the 1990’s reggaeton sparked a culture war in Puerto Rico over issues of race, sex, taste, and class. Reggaeton was seen as cafre, a term which is highly racialized and classed and denotes low culture. Reggaeton was seen as too Black and too American because of its close association to hip-hop, and therefore inauthentically Latino/a. It was seen as music that was devoid of culture and little more than a copycat of hip-hop when it first came out. It was also highly sexualized and suggestive with its visible trademarks being aggressive lyrics and perreo dancing. Not to mention, reggaeton was born out of the caserios (projects) and was initially funded by the drug game, which only added to the moral outcry against the genre. Reggaeton culture was immediately and vehemently denounced by the conservative and Christian segments of Puerto Rican society as crass and indecent. Although, it is extremely popular and much more sanitized today, reggaeton still maintains its association (real and imagined) to money, drugs, violence, and sex in the minds of many Latinos/as and Americans alike. It is that association that many Latinos/as, particularly those who tend to vote republican, are trying to distance themselves from. That is where McCain’s plan backfires.
Daddy Yankee does not represent a performance of Latinidad, that many conservative Latinos/as feel comfortable with. I think the unease around Daddy Yankee’s endorsement has to do with the fact that he actively and aggressively markets himself as de la calle and as a gangsta. Reggaeton and Daddy Yankee represent a version of Latinidad which is raced and classed that some Latinos/as want to distance themselves from. Rather than addressing the social realties that reggaeton speaks to and represents, it remains easier for certain segments of the Latino/a community to dismiss reggaeton and the culture around it as an aberration of Latinidad. It’s crazy because in a way this whole Daddy Yankee – McCain thing made me think about the way’s in which Latinos/as are climbing over each other for a piece of that Americano Dream. At whose cost are Latinos/as representing themselves as idealized American citizens?
Crazy as it may sound McCain is right Daddy Yankee is “an American success story” (ugh), but he may not represent “an American success story” that conservative Latino/a voters are ready to embrace. Guess McCain should have studied Leslie Sanchez’s cringe-inducing Los Republicanos: Why Hispanics and Republicans Need Each Other a little closer because now he has a “Reggaeton Problem”.
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
DiosaNegra1967 wrote:
i think i’m gonna be sick…..hmmm….latino/a performers should tread very carefully with the GOP….anyone remember what happened to Ricky Martin after he danced with W in 2000?
*smh*
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 9:28 am ¶
DEAF FEMINIST PUNK!! wrote:
ew. I just vomited in my mouth.
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 9:28 am ¶
Jus Plain Ol Me wrote:
The Daily Kos has an interesting take on the values issues involved here as well. Apparently, McCain talked up Daddy Yankee’s song “Gasolina” without knowing the sexual theme of the song and the song title.
What will McCain do next? Call on Lil Wayne to perform “Lollipop” as a shout out to the confectioners union? This is truly as bad as Obama accepting an endorsement from Lil Jon while telling the audience of high school kids to get their “skeet skeet” on.
It is obvious that NO ONE in McCain’s inner circle has a clue when it comes to youth oriented cultural issues. Look at the track record: Daddy Yankee, the Britney and Paris Hilton ad, the cluelessness about the internet. Does anyone have other examples?
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 10:04 am ¶
Eva wrote:
This just shows how out of touch McCain is.
Notice Daddy Yankee isn’t endorsing him either.
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 10:13 am ¶
Jus Plain Ol Me wrote:
Eva:
Daddy Yankee is endorsing McCain. You were probably reading the portion of the writing that was from the time period before Daddy Yankee made a decision. It was (according to the posting) published originally on August 5.
The Aug. 25 event was an endorsement.
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 10:16 am ¶
DEAF FEMINIST PUNK!! wrote:
mmm. I had no idea who Daddy Yankee was. when I saw the photo of that guy in sunglasses, I immediately thought it was Akshaye Kumar (the Bollywood star) and I thought “NOOOOO!!!! DON’T BRING BOLLYWOOD INTO THIS CRAP-FEST!!!”
anyway, aren’t most Latinos Republican??? I never really understood that.
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 10:31 am ¶
gatamala wrote:
I’ve had enough of politics. I’m done.
What will McCain do next? Call on Lil Wayne to perform “Lollipop” as a shout out to the confectioners union? This is truly as bad as Obama accepting an endorsement from Lil Jon while telling the audience of high school kids to get their “skeet skeet” on.
*spews coffee on keyboard*
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 10:37 am ¶
L-K wrote:
@DFP – No, most Latinos are not Republicans. If I’m not mistaken, when nationality is taken into consideration, the Latino group who strongest identify as Republicans are Cubans, particularly those who reside in Florida.
And for the general Latino population, I will quote directly from the Pew Hispanic Center’s publication “2008 National Survey of Latinos: Hispanic Voter Attitudes”:
“In addition to their strong support for Obama, Latino voters have moved sharply into the Democratic camp in the past two years, reversing a pro-GOP tide that had been evident among Latinos earlier in the decade. Some 65% of Latino registered voters now say they identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party, compared with just 26% who identify with or lean toward the GOP. This 39 percentage point Democratic Party identification edge is larger than it has been at any time this decade; as recently as 2006, the partisan gap was just 21 percentage points. ”
http://pewhispanic.org/reports/report.php?ReportID=90
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 11:12 am ¶
DEAF FEMINIST PUNK!! wrote:
@L-K:
oh okay. yeah i knew that most Cuban Americans were Republican, so I had wrongly assumed that most Latinos must be Republican, too. Thanks for clearing it up
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 11:32 am ¶
bianca wrote:
I’ve resisted reggaeton for a very long time, which is a form of blasphemy for a poor Puerto Rican like myself (add to that the fact that I don’t eat pork and I’ve got to joke that you can’t question my allegiance cause I still like to rock red lipstick on a regular basis!)
My younger sister is into the genre and it is from her that I was exposed to The Noise (where Ivy Queen got her start) and all the other past and current artists. When DY came on the scene I was bored with his sound and honestly began to believe my friends who said reggaeton would be the genre that would create a riff between us and “youth.” Which sadden me as I’m in the education field.
Then I heard a young scholar present on DYs lyrics at the Lehman Hip Hop Conference and how he had pro-independence for Puerto Rico lyrics (a value I share) and asked my sister to borrow her cd. But I couldn’t find the songs, she wasn’t familiar with them and it’s become a lost interest of mine, until today. I still can’t find those songs. Then I taught a class on Latina sexuality and used Ivy Queen songs to discuss power, sex, communication, sexual orientation, violence etc. I’ve tried to embrace the genre and I think my attempts have not been in vain.
All this to say, I’ve called my sister and spoke to her about DY and her response: “I know nothing about DY, he’s so pop now, he’s wack.” When I asked if she’s heard of his endorsement she said “Are you serious? Well I guess it makes sense since he’s all rich now.” I find this fascinating! I wonder if DY realizes he’s lost some of his original core fan base (some of whom were vocal on Latina Magazine’s website (http://www.latina.com/entertainment/daily-latina/more-daily-latina/latinacom-exclusive-daddy-yankee-explains-why-he-suppor) post this endorsement.
What does this endorsement really mean if some supporters of DY left him long ago? I think it shows how out of touch and disassociated both men are with Latinos especially those from the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. I find it refreshing that for some youth; artists who flaunt their wealth have lost appeal.
Thanks to L-K for answering DFPs question. Y gracias a Post Pomo Nuyorican Homo para compartir sus pensamientos.
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 11:37 am ¶
coco wrote:
first the jabawockeez, now John McCain, who will Daddy Yankee collaborate with next!?
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 11:40 am ¶
Jus Plain Ol Me wrote:
Nice insight Bianca. I was wondering whether Daddy Yankee would be viewed as selling out. It sounds like he was already there.
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 11:45 am ¶
Joseph wrote:
CAPTION THIS PHOTO!
…I’ll go first:
::Thought bubble over McCain’s head::
“I hope I can get this ring off before he sees it…”
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 12:02 pm ¶
Latoya Peterson wrote:
@Jus Plain Ol’ Me – *dead*
@Joseph – *resurrected, laughed, died again*
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 12:03 pm ¶
jvansteppes wrote:
I like the fact that Daddy Yankee wears sunglasses indoors. I think he’s a Corey Hart fan.
Why do white politicians always want endorsements from people they clearly have no personal relationship with? Remember when they all tried to suck up to the WWF?
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 1:07 pm ¶
RJG wrote:
This only reminds me of that video spoof of cribs they did about the Straight Talk Express, where they reference how the bus has 16 inch rims or something.
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 1:12 pm ¶
lxy wrote:
Daddy Yankee endorsing John McCain sounds so ludicrous that it could be confused for a SNL parody.
The only problem is that it’s not parody but real life.
Next, I fully expect Dick Cheney to announce that he’s doing an album with Mos Def after he get’s done with his VP gig.
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 1:43 pm ¶
crogirl wrote:
@jvansteppes: dead @ Corey Hart reference. LOL!!
My question to all this is, when is the fire and brimstone going to spew?? Obama was ripped to shreds for his association with Ludacris & other rappers, and can’t forget Reverend Wright (because, well, if they say racist, misogynistic things, Obama must feel that way too). So where are the people screaming that McCain must be a sexist, misogynist, and a straight up gangsta because he’s now “friends” with Daddy Yankee?
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 1:44 pm ¶
JD/ formerly J wrote:
Is it just me or does McCain look WICKED uncomfortable. I feel like though McCain may not have gained anything, Daddy Yankee has definitely lost what few fans he had.
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 2:42 pm ¶
Dawud wrote:
I laughed for about 2 minutes when I heard McCain say that he thanked Daddy Yankee for his endorsement. WTH!?!
Never heard of Daddy Yankee anyway.
The sad thing is that anyone would vote or not vote for a candidate based upon the endorsement of a celebrity that probably has the political IQ of a kumquat.
I damn sure am not voting for Obama because he got Luda’s endorsement or Diddy’s.
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 3:18 pm ¶
ieishah wrote:
this is some distinctly american bs.
you’d never see rafael nadal stumping for zapatero (spain pres), or joy denalane smiling for photos with angela merkel, or mc solaar visiting a youth center in the 19th arrondissment alongside sarkozy in france . . .
there should be an amendment to the damn constitution that dictates separation between pop culture and state.
i’m trashing my ‘oye mi canto’ remix cassingle immediately.
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 4:28 pm ¶
Wanderinglady wrote:
I know he’s old school, but LL Cool J has been a supporter of the Republican Party for some time. For example, he backed NY governor George Pataki (see this article from 2002): http://www.daveyd.com/FullArticles/articleN1271.asp
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 4:50 pm ¶
deb wrote:
LOL
Word.
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 4:59 pm ¶
Arturo wrote:
Should anybody be surprised a guy who calls himself Daddy is endorsing a grandfather?
But seriously, McCain’s tax programs are only gonna benefit people in DY’s or LL’s tax brackets, so it makes sense for the GOP to score those types of endorsements.
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 5:07 pm ¶
Miss Tiff wrote:
WHAT? I mean…just…WHAT? UGH! Never more will I be able to listen to Gasolina without thinking of JM! Just…UGH! And what’s worse, my fantasy sexy times with Daddy Yankee have been sullied! No amount of bleach, OxyClean and rubbing against a rock will ever cleanse them! Me and my vibrator are off to take an antiseptic bath! Just…YUCK!
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 5:30 pm ¶
Joshua wrote:
Maybe I am missing something, but what does this have to do with Racialicious?
I don’t see how this is the intersection of race and pop culture.
Also to correct the article:
“DY can’t even vote for McCain so his endorsement is irrelevant (which is true but it’s bogus that people aren’t talking about the fact that that’s because Puerto Rico is a colony)”
DY could vote if he moved to the states with enough time to register in any state. As Puerto Ricans are US citizens since 1917. Also, PR is not a colony, but a commonwealth or an associated free state if you translate the Spanish name. There is a big difference between these two/three.
On celebrity endorsements, people should and can (1st amendment) use whatever methods they can to affect and change the world to their liking: people with money, donate; people with time, volunteer; and people with a podium, speak.
These comments were tangential to my initial question. What does this have to do with Racialicious? The story’s main focus is on an endorsement of one by the other and not the implications of Reggaetón. Please find another story to comment on dem bow, Panama and DY’s lyrics.
[Mod Note - The editor decides what is on the blog, and politics/pop culture stars/a misunderstanding of how to reach the Latino vote makes the cut. If you don't like a topic, skip it. - LDP]
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 6:17 pm ¶
Joshua wrote:
If anything, this is the intersection of pop culture and politics.
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 6:20 pm ¶
gatamala wrote:
My younger sister is into the genre and it is from her that I was exposed to The Noise (where Ivy Queen got her start) and all the other past and current artists.
YES!! I remember Ivy in the noise. I first heard them in college. I went to PR in 1996 and was obsessed!!!!! I still have that cassette (yes) from back in the day.
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 6:32 pm ¶
The Cruel Secretary wrote:
@ jvansteppes–friend…Cory Hart? My love for you grow even more.
@ bianca–great insight on the DY=sellout/youth perception.
@ Marisol–great post!
@ Joseph–you ain’t right, my friend. LMAO
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 6:37 pm ¶
Katie wrote:
Quick thing first: I read Racialicious all the time and I was so surprised and impressed to see a grad from my school (Oberlin) here. Congrats! This is awesome! I remember Marisol speaking at the Many Voices panel I went to as a first-year in fall ‘06.
I usually don’t comment, but… Anyway, I find it super-bizarre that Daddy Yankee is endorsing McCain. Although, I find a lot of what McCain does bizarre in general.
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 7:20 pm ¶
Gothic Guera wrote:
Mala @ Vivir Latino has a great entry on how this will actually hurt Latinos. I feel ashamed that I listen to 2 of songs when I was younger! I guess this is a way for McCain to connect with the youth!
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 8:14 pm ¶
Gothic Guera wrote:
That reminds me according to my French teacher 50 cent is a Republican.
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 8:17 pm ¶
Marisol LeBron wrote:
@ Katie — Thanks for the support! Yay Obies!
@ Joshua – Commonwealth is a fancy word for colony. The idea that we are living in a decolonized world is a fantasy. The UN’s committee on decolonization feels that Puerto Rico is a colony and several meetings to address the subject. Puerto Rico remains the worlds oldest colony. Also, I very specifically addressed how reggaeton is historically a raced and classed genre, which clearly points to that intersections of race and popular culture.
@ Everyone: Please check out my new post at Post Pomo Nuyorican Homo:
http://postpomonuyorican.blogspot.com/2008/08/los-republicanos-part-tres-please-make.html
… Apparently DY got shot down by Obama which is why he is now endorsing McCain, and he now plans on carrying on with this farce by performing at the Rebublican Nation Convention. This is getting crazy and I’d be interested in hearing people’s take on this.
Posted 28 Aug 2008 at 10:14 pm ¶
Nina V. wrote:
I’m Puerto Rican, and DY’s endorsement of John McCain has made McCain a household name. Also, Puerto Ricans are moving to the States in record numbers, especially to the politically important Florida. This can’t hurt McCain at all. Also, DY is loved and acclaimed by a large Mexican, and South American sections.
McCain wants to get his name out there amongst Latinos? He just did. Daddy Yankee won’t lose many fans over this because of the nature of his business. He sells catchy songs, he sells dance music, and if the song is good, its intended public won’t care about Yankee’s political alliance when dancing to it.
I’m an Obama supporter, I deeply wish I could vote for him in the national election as I did in the primary. But I won’t be blind to the fact that McCain just had himself a nice day with Latino community spotlight. Now Latinos know he’s there, that he’s not Obama and that he has history with Latin figures that like him.
This can’t hurt him at all.
Posted 29 Aug 2008 at 1:32 am ¶
Sergio Padilla wrote:
Here it is.
Posted 29 Aug 2008 at 3:49 am ¶
Latoya Peterson wrote:
@Marisol – You want me to cross post?
Posted 29 Aug 2008 at 6:21 am ¶
Joshua wrote:
@ Latoya and Marisol – I take your points about editors discretion and the content of reggaetón makes JMac and DY “strange bedfellows.”
However, after thinking about my reaction initially and then my decision to post, I came to the conclusion that I didn’t like these stories (which I first heard about when a friend of mine invited me to a Facebook group essentially called Latinos against DY endorsement) because it has a tone of “what is this intercity Latino doing endorsing a republican?” This reaction is equated in my mind to paternalistic liberals saying the same about black republicans. And maybe this is why it should be on racialicious.
Posted 29 Aug 2008 at 8:18 am ¶
Latoya Peterson wrote:
@joshua –
It’s kind of shocking the DY would endorse a republican candidate like John McCain, but that’s hardly unusual. As a few people have pointed out in the comment threads, there are quite a few prominent rappers who are fans of republicans. I liked Marisol’s analysis because it talked about the issues of courting the “Latino vote” when that vote is comprised of a lot of different nationalities – particularly, when DY is seen as promoting “Puerto Rican interests.”
I find your line about “paternalistic liberals” interesting for a couple reasons, particularly considering, if anything, Racialicious would be maternalistic. And I don’t really give a shit what your party affiliation is – people who excuse racism don’t get a pass here. Same thing with asshole conservatives who like to sneer at liberals.
However, I also find this interesting as well, considering the widespread black social conservative movement, and the developing trend of young blacks defining themselves as “independent” rather than joining any political party. Unfortunately, I have not yet found the right kind of voice to represent this on my site.
Either way, obnoxious people of any political/ideological stripe are not welcome.
Posted 29 Aug 2008 at 8:40 am ¶
PANSY wrote:
WOW! The same man that is for keeping Latinos out of the states and wanting to okay gun control so that his hee haw boys can patrol and kill the borders. I am sorry but I do not want another millionaire as a president so that he can tell me that my problems are not problems. STICK A FORK IN THE BOTH OF THEM THEY ARE HECHO!
Posted 29 Aug 2008 at 8:43 am ¶
atlasien wrote:
I heard a (perhaps apocryphal) story that Eazy-E went to a George Bush White House fundraiser dinner that cost a thousand dollars a plate.
Then when people predictably blasted him for supporting Republicans, he responded that he’d just gotten $100,000 worth of publicity out of his $1,000 dinner.
Posted 29 Aug 2008 at 8:50 am ¶
Joshua wrote:
Latoya,
I am sorry if I offended you or I came of as obnoxious. Your line about maternalistic made me laugh(in a good way). I agree that Marisol’s analysis was interesting and I never said that it was not, nor did I give any indication to my party affiliation.
It is true that this subject is hard to formulate and that is why I like racialicious as a safe place to have open tough discussions. I have been trying to catch up on all your podcasts since I discovered your site a few months ago.
As Marisol latest post on her blog brings up, Fat Joe called DY a sellout, which questions his motivations instead of debating the issues. Here is a reverse for the sake of argument: should a white evangelical southerner be called a sellout if he votes democratic? I say no, because if he is a “sellout” then what does that mean for a minority northern politician and his/her chances. I live in a majority black district in the middle of the bible belt that elected (by 4-1) a liberal white Jew to represent us. If people voted on identity he would have lost, and if America does the same Obama will too.
Posted 29 Aug 2008 at 11:15 am ¶
Latoya Peterson wrote:
@Josh –
Fat Joe called DY a sellout, which questions his motivations instead of debating the issues.
Good point. The whole quote does show Fat Joe discussing the issues for why he is appalled, but maybe we should make that a separate post. We could have a whole conversation about the politics of selling out. I think I’ll put it on the roster for Monday.
Edit – Oh, and not a problem. Like I say all the time, I can only pick things up from what you type, it is not always clear if your intent was to voice a different view or start shitting on crazy liberals. We’re good.
Posted 29 Aug 2008 at 11:21 am ¶
Latoya Peterson wrote:
And here’s the whole quote from the Reaggaetonica blog -
“I opened the newspaper and got sick to my stomach[...]. I felt like I wanted to vomit when I seen that. The reason why I called [Daddy Yankee] a sellout is because I feel he did that for a [publicity] look, rather than the issues that are affecting his people that look up to him. How could you want John McCain in office when George Bush and the Republicans already have half a million people losing their homes in foreclosure? We’re fighting an unjust war. It’s the Latinos and black kids up in the frontlines, fighting that war. … We over here trying to take the troops out of Iraq and bring peace. This guy immediately wants war. If not with Iraq or Afghanistan, he’ll start a new one with Iran. I feel real disgusted that Daddy Yankee would do that. Either he did that for a look, or he’s just not educated on politics.”
[...]
“Like I said, with me, my whole philosophy on blacks and Latinos is: We’re all one[...] We’re in the same ghettos, same inner cities, and we’re suffering from the same problems. Every problem the blacks have, the Latinos have. There’s two systems of health care: the one for the rich that’s really good, then there’s the one for the inner city, where they leave ladies in the emergency room unattended for 24 hours until they drop dead. … People don’t even check on her hours after she’s dead. This is normal stuff. This is what’s happening in the U.S.”
“Why should my man Daddy Yankee be endorsing McCain? This is the only urban guy in the universe to endorse John McCain. You got people who look up to [Yankee] — young teenagers that look up to him and might make the wrong choice. John McCain is the wrong thing to do. I don’t think the Republicans care much about minorities. I can’t believe [Yankee] went and endorsed this guy.”
http://reggaetonica.blogspot.com/
Posted 29 Aug 2008 at 11:27 am ¶
bdsista wrote:
Miss Tiff, I got some toy spray for dat. I almost pulled the Daddy Yankee bio in the middle school library when I heard this. But then I remembered, 11-13 year olds can’t vote, but we do want them to read, so I just won’t get the updated edition (if) it comes out.
Anyone else do Reggaeton? I like it, but can’t stomach this? Oh and why don’t people call 50 cent and LL out on their BS? They support the very people who supported David Duke-A former Grand Dragon of the KKK? so they want to keep Black folks poor and oppressed? I guess it makes for good backdrop in your next gangsta in the hood video.
Posted 29 Aug 2008 at 11:33 am ¶
atlasien wrote:
That’s totally, totally different. Here’s a great article about the Cohen-Tinker race and why Tinker’s attempt to play identity politics failed.
People generally vote what they think is in their best interest. When black people are attracted by a black candidate, it’s simply logical, because black candidates can generally be trusted more to have the best interests of black people at heart. But any candidate of a different race should also be able to overcome that by making a claim that they WILL represent other people’s interests. The question is: how strong is that claim and how convinced are the audience?
I can think of two other illustrative examples from here in Georgia. A county-level local Democratic primary near me was won by a black newcomer against the established white competitor. The district had just made a demographic turn to black, and the black competitor emphasized pretty strongly that people should vote for him because he was black. In other respects he was a terrible candidate (he advocated for the Fair Tax, which is economic idiocy and means he’s probably a crypto-Republican). I think the district made a bad decision, but the white candidate also dropped the ball in failing to foresee and guard against this.
In another example, Congressman Sanford Bishop is a long-serving conservative black Democrat representing a rural, majority white district. He’s been able to make the case to both his black and white constituents that he’s serving their best interests.
And then of course there’s your white Jewish Cohen, who won in a majority-black district by doing everything right and making a strong, persuasive argument that he would represent the interests of his black constituents.
The Republican and Democratic party both serve the interests of white people, so there’s not as many identity issues at play for white voters. Some white subcultures strongly believe that either party doesn’t serve their issues, but as white people in general, the issues isn’t present.
But when it comes to people of color, Republicans are just way more racist. It’s not that Democrats aren’t racist, it’s just that Republicans are really, really, really, really, really racist. People of color that vote Republican boggle my mind. I can sort of understand why some of them do it… like how a lot of older Vietnamese-Americans and Cuban-Americans are single-issue anti-communist voters. But in general, they seem to be blinded by strange religious convictions (e.g. the prosperity gospel), are incredibly rich and cynical, or are just totally soft in the head. I hate to generalize in such an insulting way, but I can’t think of any nicer way to say it.
Posted 29 Aug 2008 at 11:52 am ¶
Marisol LeBron wrote:
Hey Latoya,
Feel free to crosslist if you want, but no pressure. Also, thanks for putting up the whole Fat Joe quote. Although most times I wonder why people even let Fat Joe speak in public since he often ends up putting his foot in his mouth i think what he said is actually very interesting and says a lot about how Latinos/as are thinking about the election in terms of what it means/says about them in terms of race.
Raquel Rivera’s blog Reggaetonica quotes Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez who critiqued the New York Times story on Obama and the Latino vote:
“A complex and nuanced understanding of the vast diversity of Latino America is not among those things.[...] The sloppy, inaccurate story goes on for 32 agonizing paragraphs, using the terms ‘black’ and ‘Latino’ as though they were mutually exclusive – which they are not. Historians estimate that 95 percent of the African slave trade to the Americas took place in Latin America. [...] The story also erroneously portrays Latinos as a race unto themselves – an error egregious enough to be stated in our own census bureau’s definition of Hispanic as a person ‘of any race’. Including ‘black’.”
I think we need to critique folks who are reporting on the Latino/a vote as if it were at odds with other communities of color and their needs and concerns. I think we also need to think about the ways that politics of authenticity are being used to justify certain votes. For instance in the Latino/a community you’re authentic if you’re republican because their policy supposedly aligns with Latino/a values, simultaneously you’re a sell out if you’re not voting for Obama because that means you want to be white. We need to be very weary of these attempts to use stereotypes and monolithic notions about who a “real” [insert group here] would vote for.
I don’t challenge Daddy Yankee’s desire to endorse whoever he feels is the right candidate, but I do challenge the way that he is very blatantly being used to court the Latino/a vote with no concept of the differences within our histories and experiences. Its pandering of the worst kind and it needs to be called out.
Posted 29 Aug 2008 at 12:01 pm ¶
KuriusJurge612 wrote:
@Latoya
My sista I’m sorry to get off topic but are you the moderator? IF so is it aight to suggest topics? Or to offer to write guest articles?
Posted 29 Aug 2008 at 12:21 pm ¶
Natalia wrote:
Nina V. I agree with you, this actually got McCain out there with the Latino community. It was the first time I saw McCain’s face in Spanish speaking channels without having something negative to say. There are many people that really like DY, I’m one of them, and I’m not talking about teenagers, I’m talking about professionals, educated people. I have noticed that DY is losing many of his fans because they consider him a sell-out, his music now is “wack”, his lyrics don’t make sense and he’s too “soft” and not “hood” enough. For people that actually know him and listen to his music, besides “Gasolina”, can tell you that now his lyrics have some type of meaning, I can bring examples if you want. Many adults now don’t mind him as much as they mind other reggaeton singers, because of all the programs he has in Puerto Rico, for example Corazon Guerrero. Anyway, all I want to say is that this might has been a great help for McCain’s campaign, but we are going to have to wait and see what happens. Also, please don’t generalize, the Latino community is very different, not every country in Latino America is the same!
Posted 29 Aug 2008 at 4:36 pm ¶
bianca wrote:
@ Natalia, do you think DY has lost some of his core fan base because his lyrics have changed to appeal to older educated professionals? Perhaps this is the group of people McCain wanted to appeal to and it sounds like you think he’s succeeded. I would wonder if this group of people already know about McCain pre-DY endorsement and as a result are now openly conversing about the two. What do you think? More open conversations or more of an “introduction” of McCain to DYs current fan base or something more?
I’ve tried to find those lyrics on “Barrio Fino” but couldn’t so I’m taking you up on your offer to provide references. It’s the only one of his albums that I have, but the library has his others (and a 45 person wait list! I wonder if that was a recent jump) so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Posted 29 Aug 2008 at 9:40 pm ¶
emi wrote:
Oh, wow! I know the name Marisol LeBron – I was Oberlin ‘06.
Aaaand now I’m going to read this post & go read Marisol’s blog.
Posted 30 Aug 2008 at 12:27 am ¶
Mike wrote:
That reminds me of this.
“I never have dinner with the President.
I never have dinner with the President.
I never have dinner with the President.
And when I see your ass again, I’ll be hesitant.”
Posted 30 Aug 2008 at 8:23 am ¶
TC wrote:
Yay Obies on Racialicious!
Thanks Marisol!
Posted 01 Sep 2008 at 2:35 am ¶
CG wrote:
Glad to see this topic being addressed here, but to merely look at the picture and know that Dandy Yanqui is endorsing McCain is to miss the broader context of the endorsement. Obviously, McCain was hoping that word about the endorsement would get out to the Puerto Rican / Latino communities and gain him some street cred. But everyone should really watch the video (C-SPAN):
rtsp://video1.c-span.org/archive/c08/c08_082508_mccain.rm
This event took place at Cindy McCain’s former high school. Watch how uncomfortable McCain looks when he’s presented with two football jerseys with the name McCain on the back (they are numbered #1 & #72–we’re to assume the latter is supposed to be a reference to the year Cindy graduated and not the Senator’s age).
I couldn’t help cringing and moaning in discomfort as McCain encouraged Dandy Yanqui to hug the high school choir girls standing behind them. Maybe their moms didn’t mind, but I imagine if they knew anything about the content of his music they might be deeply offended by McCain’s offering up their daughters for his pandering stunt. McCain could hardly disguise his anticipation to leave the scene before the choir sings…
Posted 02 Sep 2008 at 6:53 am ¶
Ariztlan [arizona} wrote:
Viva Juan Mccain!
Posted 14 Sep 2008 at 1:03 am ¶
abw wrote:
Atlasien, republicans of color are both an enigma and an anathema to me!I concur with most of what you say about Cuban’s and Vietnamese Republican voters too. I will be the first to say Democrats are flawed, but Republicans are not the answer either.
Anyway, I did not like when 50 endorsed Bush. I am almost sure that I heard somewhere that he regretted his decision but this was a bogus decision the first time around! This goes for the other rappers that support this point of view and the fact that they endorse republicans does not surprise me either.
Posted 09 Oct 2008 at 5:59 pm ¶
niki wrote:
Well, “Fat”ass Joe called daddy yankee a sell-out, and i do not think thats true. daddy yankee is the best person i know! luv u daddy!
Posted 16 Oct 2008 at 8:10 pm ¶