*Lupe Fiasco, an uncompromising lyricist recently shared his views about President Obama and the act of voting on a UK radio show.
When asked by radio host Tim Westwood whether or not he voted for Obama in 2008, Fiasco responded, “Nah. I haven’t voted for anybody, for that matter, sticking to that.”
He continued with, “The American federal government, the American system, America’s foreign policy is something that I can’t [support] … because when you vote for that person, you vote for that,” explained Fiasco. “You vote for bombs lodged in the sides of schools that say ‘Made in U.S.A.’ You vote for the tig a– canisters that Mubarak’s people were firing into the crowds. You know? American tax dollars payed for that … I don’t wanna represent that. I don’t wanna have that blood on my hands, even though it’s already on me.”
Fiasco also explained that he disagrees with Obama’s war policies in Africa (Middle East) sharing that instead of really ending the war, he’s moving military power, bombs, and guns from one country to another.
The interview continues here.
I fucks with Lupe but I don’t give a damn what he has has to say/what his opinion is on this. Of course that is my opinion. I vote on everything I can. The #1 MAIN reason for me voting is should I not, I feel I would be disrespecting my people that came before me who were flogged and killed for that right to vote. SMH at Lupe on this matter.
I think working for change and getting the right people in power is preferable to not voting at all, but I totally feel Lupe Fiasco, and I applaud him for at least being politically-conscious. It makes me proud to hear Black folks who dare speak outside the [Obama] box. Puffy did a while back and stated he wishes the prez would do more for Black folks, and he was eviscerated for it. (Of course he was. Koolaiders are simpletons who want everyone else to be simpletons too.) But kudos to all those who are not afraid to say “Hold up. Something in the milk ain’t clean.” Big ups.
don’t vote huh? how do you think you got the right to express your opinion?….oh and “fuck you too”
You have to vote to have an opinion or a right to express one? What a dumb azz statement. If Bush was in office when he made this statement your azz would be high fiving Lupe. He’s not a fan of the American Foreign Policy and no matter who is in office it stays the same. Should his opinion change now that the administration has a black face but continues with the same old shyt? I applaud Lupe for being a man with a definite opinion and don’t change it when it’s the popular thing to do.
Who agrees with everything this President has done or stands for? I for one can’t stand the waffling on illegal immigrants? Do what the law says and stop trying to play the middle to keep votes.
Are you so dumb that you do not realize that the right to free speech, i.e. the right to state an opinion, is an extension of representative government?
… which by definition means that people vote for who they want to represent them?
If you don’t like the American government and voting is not desirable, go live somewhere were citizens don’t have that right. Keep in mind that you lose all the other rights you so love.
Refusing to vote is a fake display of political expression. It does nothing. It is weak and impotent. You can praise it, but it will be undeserved.
Why should he go live somewhere else? If you didn’t like what Bush was doing did you go live somewhere else? Get off of that bull if you aren’t living it. That man has a right to not vote. If he doesn’t like either candidate what should he do? Don’t be silly, think outside the box.
Soop – I said anyone who doesn’t like voting and American Government should GTF out.
I didn’t say a person had to leave the country just for not likeing the temporary and present ruler.
Have you seen how much criticism I’ve given to Barack and Michelle Obama on this website???
Saying you don’t like the fundamentals of the governemnt system is way larger than not liking Barack Obama.
Think outside the box? Wow. I guarantee you have more avante garde thoughts than you do. And they are complex and sophisticated not this weak drivel you’re trying to pass off here as worthwhile.
You’re not thinking outside of the box. You want something for nothing. YOu want to spoils of a respresentative government without the work.
The right to vote was conferred by people who were active in government not passive.
Do you even comprehend the lack of principles you’re defending?
You want passive people to benefit from rights that were earned by active political means.
Ridiculous.
He can’t support the “American Federal government????”
Wow. Spoken like someone who is ignorant of the types of alternative governments that exist in the world.
Obviously, we’re going to disagree with candidates. I respect his disagreement with Obama…. hell, I can even accept his decision not to vote…. but to criticize the American government?
Perhaps he’d like to be ruled by a monarchy, dictatorship, or communist leaders?
Does he realize that bashing the president can get you jailed or killed in countriesa run by some other governments? It is laughable and pathetic for him to spit on the American system of democracy and representative government.
Americans should never criticize the gov’t?
Well that’s a new one.
The right to vote is just that- a right. It is not a mandate, like the purchase of government insurance.
We also have the “right” to education. That hasn’t “made” people obtain advanced degrees.
Like higher education, voting is a choice.
“It is laughable and pathetic for him to spit on the American system of democracy and representative government.”
Are you talking about the “representative” government which have Supreme Court justices for life who can do whatever the fuck they want.
Or the representative government which ensured gridlock, never mind that the Democrats, for example, held the majority in both houses.
There is so much flaws in our system of “representative” government, it’s a joke to foreign democracies.
Did you know that a bunch of five men, calling themselves Supreme Court justices, can hold the country hostage for fifty years? No?
Let’s say abortion or anything for that matter which they disagree with. If they say one thing, we have to abide by their rule until they die and hopefully are replace by someone with different views.
Oh, they have to make their ruling based on the constitution.
Well, there is one big problem with that. It is THEIR job to “interpret” the constitution.
And they are also above the law. Take Uncle (Tom)as. He can choose not to recuse himself from a case, even though it he was sponsored on retreats by the very same people who the ruling would affect.
Come on people. Don’t drink the Kool Aid. This representative government is a joke. Unless you believe that democratic changes should take fifty years and not four.
America voted for change, but no one was asking questions, on what the changes would be. Everyone is divided, we want prosperity, but it’s only going tothe rich. The rich have their reward, the worldly goods for not trusting in God. Look inward.
People are so blinded by the blackness of Obama that if someone disagrees with him they are automatically attacked. This is what the other side was doing when people disagreed with Bush or talked about Sarah Palin. It ends up being not about what you disagreed with, but that you had the audacity to disagree with President Obama.
I can’t really say that I care who you agree or disagree with, but if you don’t vote, then don’t complain. In the words of The Rock, Lupe should “know your role, and shut your mouth.”
People who voted for or against President Obama because he’s Black or a Democrat are idiots. I know why I voted for who I voted for. That doesn’t mean that I agree with everything they said or stood for, but voting is like picking the lesser of two evils.
I never heard of this uninformed dolt. However his agressive ignorance is shameful but reflective of the stupidity of his generation. I am glad that he doesn’t vote. We are better off for it because that idiot would not know how to evaluate the candidates and make an informed decision. He is more evidence that the fruit of “The Movement” has been wasted on the current generation. Sorry, I see no hope for these louts.
OK Lupe. Big up for having the “courage” to speak out against the war mongering GOP lap dog now sitting in the WH.
But you are wrong about voting. That’s why we have and will continue to have the likes of Obama in the WH. If we had the courage to vote for Dennis Kucinich, for example, during the Democratic primaries, all the stuff which you are complaining about would be taken care of.
The only way for us to have real change is for folks like you, to not only to be opposed to the system, but also be willing to do something about it.
Immortal Technique, Paris, Mos Def, and all the socially conscious rappers who were calling Bush out. Where you at?
He said he did not vote, not that he doesn’t vote. His message is peace, its that simple. In this day and age American people have lost their will to protest and rally and bring about “actual change.” Nobody takes it to the streets anymore. If u listen to Lupes music you will hear that he’s not like other rappers who have dumb it down to what is “hip” but its about being/thinking different for a real cause. Pay attention he could be on to something.
The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. * Ezekiel 22:29. * Isaiah 30:12 Wherefore thus said the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: * Lamentation 4:17-18 As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us. They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.
I’m sure there’s some candidate out there that shares his views (Green Party?). Even if it’s a write-in candidate who doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning, Lupe should still exercise his right to vote.