According to a Democratic source, mogul Russell Simmons, labeled by music channel VH1 as “the most important businessman in the history of rap music,” will host President Barack Obama’s rally in Bridgeport on Saturday.
The politically active Simmons famously took some time to decide to publicly endorse candidate-Obama in 2008.
This will be President Obama’s third appearance in Connecticut over the past year, and his second since late September.
The President visited the state in October, 2009 to stump for the embattled U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, who ultimately decided to retire earlier this year after a 30-year career.
Obama was in Stamford in late September as the guest at a pricey fundraiser for the Democrat hoping to succeed Dodd – state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal – who is facing tough, self-financed Republican opponent Linda McMahon.
Saturday’s rally is for the entire Democratic ticket, but is also intended to boost freshman U.S. Rep. Jim Himes’ prospects for re-election Tuesday to represent Fairfield County. Himes is battling former Republican state Sen. Dan Debicella and his 2008 victory has been credited by some to turn-out in Bridgeport, which was attributed to Obama’s popularity.
The free Obama rally begins at 2 p.m. at The Arena at Harbor Yard.
This is a busy weekend for Harbor Yard. On Tuesday night the venue hosts World Wrestling Entertainment’s Smackdown.
McMahon is the former CEO of WWE. Democrats allege her husband Vince, the company’s chairman, purposefully scheduled Smackdown for Election Night to boost support for Linda and cause hassles for voters trying to head to the polls in the heavily-Democratic Bridgeport. WWE has denied the charge.
I can’t end this blog post without noting Simmons teamed with WWE’s voter outreach initiative a few years back.
Blumenthal and his supporters have been highly critical of how the McMahons have run WWE and of the sexual and violent content of some of the company’s programming.
The McMahons have countered it is hypocritical for Democrats to bash WWE when so many, Obama included, have used the company as a platform to reach out to young voters.
UPDATE: It didn’t take long for someone in the comments section below to question why Democrats are condemning WWE as degrading to women yet embracing a rap/hip hop artist.
I suspected that criticism would be raised once news of Simmons’ visit broke.
Linda has been a CEO..she’s NOT a creepy sleezy career politician, which is all Blumenthal offers…I am voting for her regardless of how many idiotic hit pieces you do…Please grow up…Obama is a marxist..and the Democratic Party has been hijack by them..so I cannot vote for a single democrat until they change their leadership and get people back in charge who believe in our Republic, capitalism..and freedom to make our own decisions….NO THANKS>>>Personal attacks are signs of desparation..
Shame on ALL of us for even considering entertainers to send to Washington, especially in times like these. This isnt a show, a game, nor an auction. No wonder its so clutserstucked. Gee, who will I vote for the guy enforcing the laws of the state and constitution for a life time or the guy that has been scaming and skirting the laws all his life? Circus master/book or the guy who knows law and has worked hard for me as Connecticuts chief advocate?
This should be a no brainer Connecticut. Wait, isn’t that what Vince is counting on, nutmeggers without brains. without eyes, or ears or even noses?
What are the bookies giving Blumenthhal, a 12 point spread? Thats it? Anyone think Vince has money on both just to hedge his bet?
I have read the above comments some of them does not even make sense.
these four people have really lost it, they are talking completely about casting their votes for things that aren’t even relevant as to who one should vote for. Myself now I am going to avoid the b/s and look at the candidates and their abilities so as to figure out who will best serve mine and my state’s purpose in WASHINGTON.
Russell Simmons? Oh my! No violence, sexual content or mysogeny in rap music – no sir! This is so entirely hilarious.
Hypocrisy at its finest – as per usual with the Dems. Republican business people, bad. Democrat business people, good.
November 2nd cannot come soon enough for me.
Tell me about it, Rick. Who cares about those “knuckleheads” in the entertainment industry. Who do they think they are endorsing candidates, running for office…
Wait a minute…
You do realize the background of the candidate you’re supporting for Senate, right Rick?
Brian, you say Russell Simmons is a “mogul” of rap music. I never heard of him, but no matter. So WWE is degrading to women, but rap music isn’t, when it advocates beating up on women, raping them, pimping them, lyrics with the worst filth, denigrating blacks, calling them the “N” word?
Simmons and Obama can enjoy being in the gutter together. The President has no respect for people who obey the law, reverence the U.S. Constitution, salute the flag, read the Bible and take pride in America. Obama bows to foreign heads of state, while trashing his country’s patriots and sues one of the states for enforcing the very laws he swore to uphold when he took office.
Bridgeport under democrat mayors, in a democrat run blue state which has an unemployment rate of 14%, while the state and national rate is around 9%. And they keep voting for the same party year after year that has put them in shackles and tolerates high crime rates . It would seem that they would get wise, doesn’t it. But they have been kept down by the ruling elites for so long, they have learned that it doesn’t pay to fight. They have given up.
The rest of us, while we can, better break the chain and send Linda to the Senate, now, while we can. Vote for Linda, November 2, next Tuesday.
Anytime I see knuckleheads from the music industry or film industry, such as Ron Howard, Gary Trudeau and Jane Pauley, or now this buffoon from rap backing a candidate, I always know to vote exactly the other way.
An endorsement from clowns like this is about as worthwhile as an endorsement from a yellow journalist like Brian Lockhart, or an endorsement from a crook like Chris Dodd.