NJ State Police Association Outraged Over Rapper Common's White House Invite for Lyrics "A Song for Assata"

NJ state police union express outrage over White House invitation to rapper Common because of lyrics to song, "A Song for Assata," in defense of fugitive cop-killer & former Black Panther Joanne Chesimard, AKA, Assata Shakur.

Now the a union representing the New Jersey state police is getting involved in the dogfight over First Lady Michelle Obama's invitation of rapper Common to a White House poetry event. The State Troopers Fraternal Association union is taking offense to Common because of the lyrics to "A Song for Assata," about convicted cop-killer and former Black Panther Assata Shakur.

FOX News, after saying last year what a positive influence the rapper was, is now condemning him for a poem he recited in 2007, in which he called for harming former President George W. Bush. Guess who also joined the bandwagon in the condemnation? Sarah Palin. You and I both know this wannabe silver medalist in presidential politics has no clue who Common. She's just getting into the dogfight.

For New Jersey police, the outrage centers on "A Song for Assata" lyrics like "Your power and pride is beautiful. May God bless your soul." Shakur, formerly known as Joanne Chesimard, was convicted for the 1973 slaying of Trooper Werner Foerster on the New Jersey Turnpike. She escaped prison in 1979, and is living in asylum in Cuba.

"The young people who read this stuff, hear this stuff, are getting a very dangerous and deadly message," said David Jones, president of the State Troopers Fraternal Association union. Source: NBC New York

This is a sticky situation and I have always said we must be mindful of the things we say and do in life because they will come back to haunt us. I don't follow Common's music to the point where I can say I am truly a big fan of his, but the songs I have heard, have been largely positive and I admire him for that. I don't like inflammatory lyrics from any singer, no matter their political ideology. Ted Nugent recently called for pressure to be applied to President Obama. What pressure is he talking about, since he made those comments during a speech at the National Rifle Association. You can't pick on Common without going after those people on the right who foment the same drama. If the White House retracts the invitation, they will be caving to the right once again. If they let it stand, they will be called coddlers and friends of controversial people, no different than the right. How is this different from the lyrics that came out of the civil rights movement?

Song for Assata: