Democrats are scared. Kanye West just ran away from their lock on the black vote in America. And, like fellow Democrats did during slavery, they are sending their hounds after the escapee.
The modern-day hounds are what Kanye talked about on Jimmy Kimmel’s show: the media, social and personal bullying in the left that goes on when one dares to have an independent thought.
Kanye had the guts to say what he has intimated, “Just as a musician, African-American — a guy living out in Hollywood — everyone around me tried to pick my candidate for me. And then told me, every time that I said I liked Trump, that I couldn’t say that out loud or my career would be over,” he told Kimmel.
This sends chills down the left’s mushy spine. They owned the black vote for years, taking it for granted, and championed policies that have just perpetuated the plight of African-Americans. Kanye is the Left’s nightmare, a reasoned minority who refuses to buy in as a victim.
Could rapper/actor Ice T be next? The first indication will be if he changes his name to Arnold Palmer.
Democrats try to pit those who work for a living against those who vote for a living. They take from the makers and give money to the takers in exchange for the takers’ votes — often twice in one election. It is easy to lavish other people’s tax money on people in order to stay in power. It’s much harder to stand on principle and make the hard, long-term decisions that are best for the country.
Trump, while indelicate and not nearly the messenger Obama and Bill Clinton were, knows that most people want to earn their money and enjoy the sense of self-worth that comes with a good job in a growing economy.
Even while liberal NPR points out that African-American unemployment is now at its lowest level since the government started keeping track of it in 1972, Democrats’ instinct is to push back.
From Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation, Eisenhower sending troops to integrate schools in the South, to the Civil Rights Act, etc., Republicans fought Democrats for those advances.
Let’s be clear on history. Almost all statues of Confederate generals were erected by Democrats, including by Nancy Pelosi’s dad in Baltimore. And more Republicans have died from recent gunshot wounds in Chicago than fought for the South in the Civil War.
The Left gins up racial tensions that need not be. Papa John’s CEO had to resign because he used the N-word in a conference call. The double standard here is that if a rapper took the transcript from that conversation and put it to music, he’d win a Grammy.
The Left’s trouble began when Kanye met with candidate Trump at Trump Tower. You knew it was a big deal because Kanye wore his most formal sweatpants and t-shirt. The two hit it off, drawn together by discussing prescription medications they both should be taking but don’t. Then Kim Kardashian, Kanye’s wife, met with Trump who pardoned her 63-year-old distant relative from a stupid life sentence for a non-violent drug conviction.
In an interview, Elon Musk, billionaire founder of Tesla, when asked who inspires him, said “Kanye West.” Like Musk, Kanye is an entrepreneur. Kanye bounced back after his manager and fellow rapper stole his money. I think his name is Lil’ Drinking Problem.
Kim and Kanye saw the video game business like “Call of Duty” and noticed one thing wrong with it: they were not getting a cut. So they invented a video game and made mad stacks of money. I think it was called “Call of Booty.”
In fact, Kanye is the only African-American husband or boyfriend who has survived the Kardashians. Kylie Jenner’s relationship with rap star Tyga blew up, and Lamar Odom was sunk by drugs, hookers and booze. Kardashians will soon replace urban police as the top threat to young African-American men.
Trump and Kanye may have bonded over being reality stars: Trump for “The Apprentice” and Kanye for “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.” Both can withstand brutal attempts by the left to humiliate them. Just how does one embarrass a reality TV star? No one quite yet knows.
Ron Hart is a syndicated op-ed humorist, award-winning author and TV/radio commentator who appears on Fox and CNN, you can reach him at Ron@RonaldHart.com or Twitter @RonaldHart.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of The Daily Caller.
