Common Joins President Obama to Get Out the Vote

Common, President Barack Obama, midterm elections

It wasn't long ago that rapper and actor Common, who has a reputation as being one of the more progressive and socially conscious members of the hip-hop community, wanted nothing to do with politics.

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"I wasn't really into politics. Any politicians I'd see on TV I'd turn the TV off because it all sounded the same to me," Common said during a conference call.

But when Barack Obama announced his candidacy for president, that all changed. Common said he found that Obama was addressing the issues that really mattered to him and people in the communities like Chicago where he grew up, so he supported Obama's successful run for president two years ago.

Now just three days away from crucial midterm elections for the House and Senate, Common is at it again, performing at two get-out-the-vote rallies in Chicago on Saturday and Cleveland on Sunday, urging people to go out and vote for Democratic candidates. It's part of an effort to energize that young base of voters that carried Obama to victory in 2008.

Lynda Tran, a spokeswoman for Organizing for America and the Democratic National Convention, said Obama has framed the election as a choice between progress and regression:

"It's a very clear choice about whether we can keep moving the country forward or moving progress forward by supporting Democrats or whether we want to return to those failed policies that got us in to this mess in the first place," Tran said.

Change, Common said, is a journey. And he believes Democrats are more equipped and more willing to take that journey than Republicans:

"I'm in full support of getting our people out to vote for our Democratic candidates. I'm in full support of Barack Obama and his movement," Common said.

"We have seen it with the running of Barack Obama that he has brought out people that usually wouldn't be interested in anything political, including myself to be honest. I've noticed in my campaigning and observation that young people are engaged and interested in participating in this election because it's a build up to continue to move towards the things we want and the things we need for this country," Common added.

Still the polls, while not perfect, are telling a different story. Just a few years after Obama's campaign energized millions of new voters, many of those same young people are disaffected or not planning to vote in Tuesday's elections.

Common says he understands why:

"The expectations were so great and so high that we were hoping for the impossible in many ways. That has made people not really feel the same way or the same energy. When you are still in fire a little bit it's hard to be enthusiastic," Common said.

"It's getting better ... people were so fired up that you think something is going to happen in that moment, but it's a journey, it's a process. A lot of us felt energized because of the moment, and we now need people willing to work to get to the promised land, to get to a better place. It takes work. It's not going to happen in one day or a year or two, it's going to be a journey and I think Barack Obama has been doing an excellent job."

Common said that's part of the reason he's involved. He's hoping his joining with the president will help to energize voters:

"I definitely believe that the president's efforts will help mobilize voters and my voice and participation will mobilize voters, because people know I just don't stand for anything. I've built a certain respect with people across the country that they know I'm not going to endorse anything that's not worth it. From the first moment I came in to contact with Barack Obama, I knew his message was a mission I could support," Common said.

This process, in many ways, represents a maturation of the hip-hop community, Common said. But that doesn't mean he'll follow fellow Chicagoan MC Rhymefest in to the political arena.

"I don't think I will run for political office, but I want to support people that I know have our interests at heart. That was a step for me and a step for hip-hop. The majority of hip-hop artists were opposed to anything that was politically inspired," Common said. "Barack Obama is a hip-hop fan. From short conversations, I know he's aware of hip-hop musicians and likes hip-hop. We already have a president who is aware of us and knows we are here."

And that can help with the issues that matter most to those in hip-hop's diverse community.

"Our community is concerned about our educational system improving. The hip-hop community is concerned about health care and that system improving. We are also looking at middle class and poor people having more opportunity, opportunity for jobs to work and create for their own family," Common said.

That's why Common said his political involvement will not end with Tuesday's midterm elections, regardless of the results.

"I'm in for the long haul. I'm supporting president Barack Obama and a lot of the Democratic Party because if there's anybody that's going to get it done the way we need it done, he will and Democrats will," said Common. "Beyond what happens Tuesday when the votes come back, I'm still in it."