Senator Barack Obama made some big headlines this week when he called for radio host Don Imus to be fired for making comments that were both considered sexist as well as racist. Obama said of Imus:

“I understand MSNBC has suspended Mr. Imus,” Obama told ABC News, “but I would also say that there’s nobody on my staff who would still be working for me if they made a comment like that about anybody of any ethnic group. And I would hope that NBC ends up having that same attitude.”

Imus of course was fired for the comments and many now hope that the controversy will lead to a further mission, that of cleaning up the airwaves from racist and sexist comments in total. To do that it means cleaning up hip-hop music which is broadcast across America and often filled with very sexist and often racist lyrics. It is a fight Sen. Barack Obama appeared to join with the following statement comparing rapers to Imus:

They are “degrading their sisters. That doesn’t inspire me,” Obama said of some hip-hop artists when a man in a crowd of about 1,000 questioned him. The Illinois senator was responding to a question of what inspired him, and said God and civil rights activists. “And I think that we have not talked enough about the harmful images and messages that are sent. I think that all of us have become a little complicit in this kind of relaxed attitude toward some pretty offensive things,” Obama said. “And I hope this prompts some self-reflection on the part of all of us.

It is a good political position to be a part of, the problem is the following.

In 2000 candidates Gore & Lieberman ran into a similar problem. They ran on a “clean up Hollywood” position where they said violence, profanity & sex had become too rampant in entertainment. The problem? Million dollar fundraisers where they were seen repeatedly accepting money and hob-nobbing with the Hollywood crowd.

The picture of Obama & rapper Ludacris was taken during a private meeting in November before the Sen. announced his candidacy. Ludacris has been repeatedly scolded by commentators and those concerned about profanity as well as racist & sexist remarks. In his songs Ludacris repeatedly glorifies the word Ho using it as a song title and a slur. It is usually accompanied by language and imagery much more graphic and offensive then what Don Imus said.

There are some people who will and have argued that racial discrimination is discounted when a person is a member of that race. Even if you take that out of the equation Ludacris serves up plenty of highly sexist material that degrades women and makes it to the airwaves and the ears of many young girls & boys.

So were exactly is the logical progression? If Sen. Obama & others believe that Don Imus should be off the air for such language shouldn’t the offensive music of Ludacris be off the airwaves as well? Would Sen. Obama stand for a picture with Mr. Imus at a charitable fundraiser, smile and meet for a personal chat as he did with Ludacris? As for those on the opposite side if they are for cleaning up hip-hop shouldn’t they have fought against Imus and those like him?

The Imus issue is a difficult one for both parties. Many Republicans who opposed his return regularly appear or listen to programs like Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly and the like which have histories of saying racially insensitive remarks. Media Matters has compiled an extensive list of examples. Those who were for his return and also appear or partake in those other shows often talk about the ill effects of rap music. Shouldn’t they take all degradation the same?

Meanwhile Democrats are heavily invested with Hollywood and recording artists. I doubt this will be the last meeting between Sen. Obama & hip-hop stars. I also doubt the others running for the primary will avoid meetings with entertainers, producers, directors etc. who create material that is offensive, degrading and profane and I highly doubt they will stop taking their money.

How can there not be a quid pro quo? How can politicians shun one man or one industry and then return to voters and claim no outrage for another?