Russell Simmons Defends Cross-Party Political Endorsement
Russell Simmons, an independent, is catching hell from his liberal colleagues for endorsing a conservative.
In his own defense, the hip-hop mogul released a statement today that serves as a good example of how this country’s voters need a good kick in our collective ass. Blind loyalty to your chosen party, while easier and far less challenging, is no longer viable, and never was truly American. The ugly truth in this new millennium is that our archaic, limiting party labels are quickly becoming obsolete, and if we the people can get with the program while we still have our current borders, we might have a fighting chance.
Here is the statement in full:
Some of my liberal friends and associates are quite upset with me for personally endorsing Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele for the United States Senate. Steele is conservative and a Republican. I am an Independent who has, in the past, supported numerous Democratic candidates with the recent exception of my endorsement of the re-election of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a moderate Republican.
At a time when the ranks of the poor and impoverished across America and throughout the world are on a steady increase, I am going to support and endorse those political leaders who are bold enough to commit publicly to playing an active leadership role in building an effective legislative strategy to end poverty and ignorance. Real leadership, however, should not be limited, solely defined or circumscribed only by political party affiliation.
Hip-hop culture is global and universal. It not only transcends race, ethnicity, class, gender, geography, religion and national boundaries, hip-hop also transcends established political parties. Hip-hop is inclusive, not exclusive, of all of the realities that impact the quality of life of millions of people who daily cry out for a better way of life.
I was pleased to witness Michael Steele as a statewide official taking action in Maryland during the last four years to reform mandatory minimum sentencing laws, initiate educational programs for incarcerated youth, increase access to minority community economic development, clean up the environment and develop alternative energy sources, as well as support equal, high-quality education for all in the public school system. My attention was focused on these accomplishments and the fact that Steele kept the promises and commitments that he had made to the voters.
Steele’s criticism of President Bush and the war in Iraq further exemplifies that Steele is an independent thinker and leader who is not chained or bridled by the neoconservatives of the Republican Party. Of course, I know that no politician is perfect and there are many issues that Steele and I do not agree on. What’s important to me is that I believe, after reviewing his track record, Michael Steele will be a leader in the U.S. Senate toward making ending poverty and ignorance a clear priority.
Love is neither liberal nor conservative; it is what God gives to us all. Love requires justice, fairness and openness for new ways of making a difference in the quality of life for all people everywhere. One of my mentors, Dr. Benjamin Chavis, encouraged me to directly connect my daily private practice of Yoga to my public actions and endorsements. Dr. Ben was with me when I made the trip to Baltimore to announce my support of Lt. Gov. Steele. In one of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, it is written, “The practice of concentration on a single subject is the best way to prevent the obstacles and their accompaniments.†In other words, a singular focus or concentration on ending poverty is a necessary commitment by anyone who is serious about this issue.
That night Steele announced, “I declare a new agenda for America; an anti-poverty agenda – an economic empowerment agenda that I will take with me to the United States Senate – because empowerment creates opportunity that poverty will never let you see. To tell you the truth, not enough people in either party are willing to even say the word ’poverty’ ….. much less do anything about it. To begin, unlike a lot of Republicans, I believe we need to raise the minimum wage.â€
Great movements for change always require taking risks and acting outside the close-minded boxes of society. Building an effective anti-poverty movement will need many elected officials like Steele and many others from different constituencies from across the nation and throughout the world. Let’s stay focused. Don’t get distracted by party labels. Let us all work together and share responsibly in God’s love for all. Let’s end poverty and ignorance!
September 1st, 2006 at 1:36 pm
Word!!
September 1st, 2006 at 3:27 pm
As a Black Conservative, I am pleased that Russell Simmons is thinking and not following. In a time when our community is plagued with self-serving, egotistical and hypocritical leaders, I value an independent thinking.
I believe Russell Simmons is a true example of the American Dream, an example that Black youth can learn the importance of having a strong work ethic, family values and a spiritual foundation.
I thank you Russell Simmons, for being a vocal and true force in the country. While I may not agree with some of your views, I do agree with the value system you seem to be living.
In interviews and features on your life, I see and hear a true since of family, spiritual foundation and gratitude. In many ways, one may say you sound like a conservative.
I do not understand why Blacks continue to have blind loyalty to the Democratic Party, and liberalism. What have they done for us, and are they going to do for us. I challenge every Black person that reads this to look hard at your core values, and then look at the values of the people you have and will vote for.
September 5th, 2006 at 10:10 am
If Mr. Simmons has chosen to support Michael Steele, that is his choice, but he should understand that Mr. Steele will not fight against poverty or for minorities while in the Senate. Mr. Steele will caucus with Republican lawmakers, the same lawmakers that sat on their hands during Katrina, and the same lawmakers who passed tax cuts for the richest Amercicans (such as Mr. Simmons).
Mr. Steele does not support stem cell research or equal marriage. Mr. Steele does not support equal rights for all Americans.
Also, MR. STEELE is in bed with MR. BUSH. Karl Rove is doing fundraisers for Steele, and lots of Bush Raised money is going to Mr. Steele’s campaign.
If you want a person in the Senate who will not stand up to Bush, who said a few weeks ago, “Bush is my Homeboy”, than Mr. Steele is the choice for you. If you want 2 more years of Bush apologism and permanent tax cuts for the very rich and for no one else, vote for Mr. Steele. If you want to see wages stay the same, vote for Mr. Steele, because I guarantee you, his party, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, will never raise the minimum wage (without giving rich Americans MORE tax cuts first).
Real change starts with a Democrat: Mr. Kweisi Mfume. Mr. Mfume is a true progressive who has been active in the Maryland community for years. His service and REFUSAL TO TAKE SPECIAL INTEREST MONEY makes him the best, and most trustworthy candidate in the race.
How Mr. Simmons, normally a progressive and democratic supporter, took this logical leap is beyond me. Mr. Steele is simply part of a Republican Karl Rove strategy to dupe people into looking at the Lt. Gov. skin rather than his politics and statements. His statements, other than in the clearly planted and politically motivated WAPO leak, prove him to be a Rubber-stamp Republican.
September 22nd, 2006 at 5:11 pm
Wow Simmons has really tanked his cred on this one. His Yoga philosophical reasoning for supporting the GOP is totally ridiculous & embarassing.
Simmons says he just supports Steele, yet this is one of the few senatorial races this year that could decide which party could control senate.
Now the Steele campaign is flat out lying, putting up signs and stickers that say he’s a democrat! The nerve!
I guess money does change everything huh Russell? Glad your one of the very slim minority of folks that financially benefits from GOP rule, how nice for you!
No more Def Jam purchases for me.
September 25th, 2006 at 9:27 pm
You folks are fools if you think the Party of George Allen is going to do anything for black folks. Simmons is looking for political support for his business interests, which is fine, but this bullshit about love and yoga is pathetic.
October 2nd, 2006 at 7:06 am
Hi everyone! I just wanna say that politics is a favorite subject matter of all people—from youth to elders. When it comes to the topic of Politics, each individual is anxious to speak his mind and so are squabbles that are ready to explode. For all we know, Swiss politics has been silent in the global village; whereas U.S. and Asian politics are so alive. On the contrary, Swiss politics is also an extraordinary hotspot of debate and a favorite past time of each opinionated Swiss inhabitant.
October 11th, 2006 at 8:26 am
I stand with Simmons in his right to make his individual decision. However, I think he should be mindful that his individual decision effects a wider range of people. Also, he need to remember that Michael Steele promises are not much different from Bush promises during election. It is called politics -
what ever it takes to get in office.
October 11th, 2006 at 11:32 am
Russell Simmons personal ego has gotten in the way of his intellect. Michael Steele will work to end poverty???????
What has Russ been smoking?
Truth be told - Steele is a part of the Republican majority that have done everything in their power to lock BLACK PEOPLE up, make BLACK PEOPLE poor, while the rich get richer.
WOULD PEOPLE PLEASE GET TO THE POINT WHERE THEY REALIZE A DEVIL IS A DEVIL REGARDLESS OF RACE (DON’T BELIEVE ME - A REFRESHER - CONDOLEEZA, CLARENCE THOMAS!!!)(
October 13th, 2006 at 6:42 pm
I believe that individuals are charmed by Steele when they get to know him. I am sure that he is a fine person; however, it is his politics that are wrong for the working middle class and the poor. Russell -this person up to recently praised Bush at every oportunity. It is just now that he is critical of him. Steele is a politician who knows how to campaign -say almost anything to get elected.
October 31st, 2006 at 11:23 pm
Russle Simmons, as many others have stated, is pretencious and self serving. Hip-Hop started as a voice for the underdog, it was a raw form, a folk art, taking little resourse and turning into gold. intellectual gold that is, not this bling, bling garbage that being peddled. hip hop is now a slap in the face of poor people, throwing money in the air and hawking clothing thats rediculusly over priced. Russle Simmons embraces all that is shamefull about Eurocentric culture including the phony “it’s all love” defense. An “Uncle Tom” is not a black man who doesn’t speak ebonics or wears clothing that fit him, but one who sells out his own people for a buck.
January 4th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
[…] A few months ago (yeah I know it’s been a while, but here I am again, ok?), I made a reference to the disappearing border of what was once the United States of America. Now that the Social Security Administration (SSA) has released the first known public copy of the US-Mexico Social Security Totalization Agreement, the plot is truly out in the open. […]
February 16th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Russle,
My name is Edi, for some crazy reason I was up at 2:30 am and caught the A&E school house class? Here is a project I designed while studing Psychology in college I named it C.H.E.E.C.A(CHILDRENS HIGHER EDUCATION CULTURE AWARENESS) I named it for that was the favorite choiced word our Psychology Teacher Ms. Maria E.Lopez Moreno called the female students. This woman has the heart of the people buy she led me on a journey of recovery. While under going the treatment for Hep-C I was able to carry a full 12 units (B average) work 20 as a outreach cordinator for a non-profit org. and be in a wheel chair due to a ruptured achilies tendon. The important part here is this woman who was mentored under Cizar Chavez’ was the inspiration of the program. This program brings the “elderly” of the communities, with their much needed cultural understanding to all the underprivilaged children(welfare resicipients are manditory after school help programs) to utilize the culture differences for every day living. The value of our elderly is going to waste our history is destined to be repeated if we don’t know what we are about, but to incorporate your history into mine will be a wonderful change . Heck I don’t know what I am other than a character who loves people old young alike we NEED them all of every ethnic and sosial economical back grounds I just don’t have the resources for it I sort of like the back ground any way. Unless I’m clowning it up but thanks for every thing you’re family is doing . Edi if the spellings way off forgive me it’s like 5am
March 20th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
I can summarize this article:
RUSSELL SIMMONS = SELLOUT