It seems as if Puff Daddy has traveled 180 degrees since his Vote Or Die campaign. Diddy was in the streets in 2004, pounding the pavement in the name of his political service group Citizen Change, imploring the youth to take part in the political process. Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, and 50 Cent were a part of the team. Vote Or Die t-shirts were everywhere. South Park spoofed the movement in classic South Park fashion. It was all happening.
This weekend, in an interview on MSNBC’s Politics Nation with Al Sharpton in promotion of his new charter school in Harlem, the media mogul took a decidedly different position on our electoral process.
“I honestly think the heat has to be turned up so much that as a community, we got to hold our vote,” Sean Combs said. “Really revolutionize the game. Make them come for our vote. It’s a whole different strategy but I think we need to hold our vote because I don’t believe any of [the candidates].”
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Hold our vote? Yeezus.
Diddy also stated in the conversation that while he believes President Obama did an “excellent” job in office, the black community was “shortchanged” by his administration, and that Hillary Clinton needs to talk directly to Black America.
Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton did such an effective job courting the black community during his successful campaigns in 1992 and 1996 that many referred to him as the first black president. Who can forget Bubba blowing the sax on the Arsenio Hall Show?
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During a campaign stop in Akron, Ohio two weeks ago, Republican candidate Donald Trump arguably made the most bombastic pitch to Black America in modern Presidential Election history. Standing in front of an audience filled with white faces, Trump made his plea to minorities:
“You can go to war zones in countries that we are fighting and it’s safer than living in some of our inner cities that are run by the Democrats. And I ask you this, I ask you this — crime, all of the problems — to the African Americans, who I employ so many, so many people, to the Hispanics, tremendous people: What the hell do you have to lose? Give me a chance. I’ll straighten it out. I’ll straighten it out. What do you have to lose?”
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A more measured Trump pandered to the black church on Saturday. While speaking to the Great Faith Ministries in Detroit, the former reality show star said, “When I see wages falling, people out of work, I know the hardships this inflicts and I am determined to do something about it. I’m going to get things done.”
Battling a tidal wave of inquiries into how she handled confidential information, baseless accusations that her health won’t hold up should she be elected, investigations into The Clinton Foundation, and the searing brand “Crooked Hillary” bestowed upon her by her once friend turned political opponent, Clinton hasn’t held a press conference in 274 days. She still leads Trump in the national polls, yet somehow still seems to be on the defensive.
At least Trump’s talking to black people. Clinton’s talking about emails.
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“Hillary Clinton, I hope she starts to directly talk to the black community,” Combs told Sharpton. “It really makes me feel hurt that our issues are not addressed and we’re such a big part of the voting [bloc].”
Fellow mogul Russell Simmons, who has endorsed Hillary Clinton, feels Puff’s frustration, but does not cosign the remedy.
“I totally agree with everything Sean says yet I’m worried about the consequences of not voting,” Simmons told HipHopDX exclusively. “It’s true black and brown people and poor whites were not prioritized soon enough. Their agenda was not served as much as I would have expected. The prison industrial complex, mass incarceration, and issues of poverty were not big enough priorities when we had the power. Now we are receiving too little too late. But I will be voting and urging others to vote.”
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With 62 days until the Presidential Election and near toss-ups in potential swing states Florida, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin, Team Trump needs America’s minorities to move less like Uncle Rush and more like Diddy.
Justin Hunte is Brand Ambassador of HipHopDX and hosts The Breakdown and #DXLive. A former Editor-in-Chief of DX, Hunte’s been featured on Revolt TV’s “Revolt Live” and the AllOutShow on SiriusXM, as well as in digital campaigns for Lexus, Honda, Brisk, and Simple Mobile. Prior to joining HipHopDX, Hunte spent 5 years working in investment banking at Banc Of America/Merrill Lynch and has covered music, politics, and culture for numerous publications. He is currently based in Los Angeles, California. @TheCompanyMan on all socials.
