A Common Error

The white House's decision to go forth with having the poet/rapper "Common" appear at the first lady's invitation has taken on an interesting twist today. Now the president is defending the 'common choice' as a means to focus children on poetry.

It would seem, that the message here from the president is this. The poets message is irrelevant, what is important, is that there is a focus on poetry. So.......regardless of what the poet's message may be, the real importance comes from exposing youth to the realm of poetry.

Right mr. president. Got it.

"While the president doesn't support the kind of lyrics raised here, we do think some of the reports distort what Mr. Lynn stands for more broadly in order to stoke controversy," White House spokesman Jay Carney said Wednesday.
"He is within the genre of hip hop and rap in what's known as a conscious rapper," he said, adding that President Obama appreciates the way Common tries to get children to focus on poetry, "as opposed to some of the negative influences of life on the street."