We got a statement from Obama denouncing this song and talking about how he has always and consistently opposed the negative stereotypes, language and misogyny in rap lyrics.  He almost certainly "hopes" those sorts of things will "change."  

Interestingly, though, the Guardian in the United Kingdom revealed in June that Obama boasts of having Ludacris (and J-Hova, who's own, frequent messianic self-descriptions may lend an insight into the image The One has so carefully crafted this last year) all over his own iPod.  Not that he didn't qualify his musical tastes at the time:

"It's culturally incisive and politically vital. It speaks truth to power. It's the last bona fide innovation in pop music. I just wish it wasn't so damned...vulgar..."

I actually agree with that statement.  100%.  As I read it, seeing eye to eye with the man for the first time ever, I had a warm shiver running up my leg that must be akin to what Chris Matthews feels on a daily basis.  (/snark... Don't worry, it dissipated quickly.)

Rap is culturally incisive and politically vital.  Or, it was.  In it's heyday of the 80s and 90s rap was genuine.  It spoke of a real-life experience in some tough neighborhoods.  Suburbia didn't like it because it could be ugly but that was the point.  The lives of the men and women perfecting the art were ugly.  Art, at it's best (I believe), reflects life and inspires a reaction.  

Now, I wouldn't call Ludacris "high art."  I think rap went commercial the minute TV started covering the feud between Pac and BIG.  Even those two, a pair of the greatest musical talents of the late twentieth century devolved into brazen, cartoonish showmanship that eventually cost them both their lives.  Now the rap scene is dominated by hacks like 50 Cent and Lil Wayne.  The real stuff is underground these days.  Mars Ill, Sev Static, Playdough, Sintax the Terrific.  But that's neither here nor there.  The cats still in the mainstream game, Luda's in the top five.  I'll give the man credit.  I may even have him on my own personal iTunes playlist.  

But now Senator Obama is decrying the use of the "B" word and attacking a rapper for some relatively mild lyrics.  So I can't help but wonder... which Ludacris songs, exactly, does the candidate have on his iPod?

Is it the world famous "Move, B$*&@"?

Or maybe my personal favorite, the chart topping single "Splash Waterfalls?"

No, no, no... I've got it... it's "Hoes in my Room," isn't it.

Oh, and one final series of questions... A) WHY are the negative stereotypes and misogynistic rap lyrics a bad thing and B) if they're worth publicly decrying and condemning, WHY have you endorsed them in the past?  Just curious.