There has been much comment about Barack Obama’s remark about hand-to hand combat in the House following the mid-term elections, some of it in a feisty, bring-it-on-dude vein like this, but much more of it deploring the divisive classlessness of this supposed post-racial and post-partisan president.

Frankly, there should be no surprise that a man with the music tastes this one purports to have should be edgy and combative. As recently as a few days ago, Obama’s IPod musical selections were the topic of a Wall Street Journal article and it was not to praise them, as indicated by the title, Obama’s Rap Palate, but even more so by the subhead, “Why praise violent, misogynistic hip-hop stars?” Why indeed?  

I don’t listen to hip-hop or rap and am no authority on the subject. However, having always been an avid follower of current events, I’ve been aware of this music genre since its advent back in the 70’s and the little bit of it that I have been required by circumstances to hear has only reinforced the negative impressions gained from my readings. There is no question that much of it it glorifies violence, drugs, misogyny, vandalism and all-around antisocial thuggery. It also serves to reinforce and perpetuate the use of Ebonics which many black leaders believe is detrimental to the social competitiveness of young blacks. Don’t take my word for that, ask Bill Cosby.

One has to wonder if the anti-cop theme running through rap could have been running through President Obama's head when he jumped precipitously and foolishly into the Cambridge police fray. Or the macho bravado characteristic of these urban warfare chants when he made the hand to hand combat comment? So why does the almost fifty year-old leader of this nation listen to such juvenile and criminal drivel and worse, brag to the world that he does? We should all hope that perhaps this is just a P.R. ploy by an immature president anxious to show young people he’s cool; he’s got Lil’ Wayne on his IPod with ear buds in place but he doesn’t really hear any of it.

Like twenty years of Reverend Wright’s sermons...