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Max  Blumenthal

Meet the Republican Rapper

The Conservative Political Action Conference always produces a breakout star. This year’s winner: a hip-hop artist whose artistic inspirations include Nancy Pelosi.

I met the world's first self-proclaimed "Republican rapper" on the second day of the 2009 Conservative Political Action Conference. He is Hi-Caliber, a former construction worker from New Jersey who told me that after just 10 minutes of listening to right-wing radio shock jock Michael Savage ranting about "Islamofascism" and illegal immigration, his "whole views on the world changed." Now Hi-Caliber records inspired battle anthems against President Barack Obama, who he denounces as a "socialist in the White House;" he attacks Nancy Pelosi as "phony baloney;" assails the liberal media; calls for a border fence; and warns darkly of the Fairness Doctrine.

In this Daily Beast exclusive video, Hi-Caliber kicked some of the most novel rhymes I have ever heard. Hear him for yourself.

Click below to watch the video.

Max Blumenthal is a senior writer for The Daily Beast and writing fellow at The Nation Institute, whose book, Republican Gomorrah (Basic/Nation Books), is forthcoming in Spring 2009. Contact him at maxblumenthal3000@yahoo.com.


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February 28, 2009 | 11:25am
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xbainx

Now if we can just get the 13 year old conservative (Robin, boy wonder) Joe the Plumber (Martian Manhunter) and of course Sarah Palin (Wonder Woman) together we'll have sort of a retarded Justice League. Steele and Jindal can be the wonder twins. Or Shaggy and Scooby. But basically it's a bad cartoon.

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12:43 pm, Feb 28, 2009

johncraig

I lost count of how many times I cringed during this video. I don't know what's worse, the idiot rapping or Blumenthal's head bobbing.

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1:43 pm, Feb 28, 2009

ctdar3

You Have got to be kidding is this joker for real?
He should a handed you a barf bag with the lame 'spit' he offered now everyone's a rapper this is just the same knee jerk GOP strategy that cultivated Palin, Steele, & Jindal , yeah you clowns can be down like democrats or independents

HA ,,, Never your rap suks 'homey'

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1:58 pm, Feb 28, 2009

breh03

What's next GOP...you've been so disconnected from the people of this country for so long that your desperation is becoming painfully clear. Rappin' are you serious? Can't wait to B'boy Bohner spits his CD.

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2:19 pm, Feb 28, 2009

davishyde

I see him as the opener for the next Chuck D show

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4:22 pm, Feb 28, 2009

maxpower1013

hahahahahahah
An uneducated guy accidently listens to Savage one day and becomes "conservative." At this point at just feel sorry for them

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4:46 pm, Feb 28, 2009

bande-a-part

I can't tell if Blumenthal's praise for these "novel rhymes" was meant to be cheeky, or if it was designed to appease conservative readers looking to be represented on the Daily Beast, but I cannot believe he meant such plaudits in earnest. The rapping captured in the video comes across like a scene in an ironic documentary, in which the subject can't know how sad and misguided he appears to the audience. Blumenthal's collegial nodding appears to be of the same category unless it is meant as ironic encouragement, a la Sasha Baron Cohen -- but Blumenthal gives no hint to the camera that this is his intention.
Back to the rapping, I thought it worth looking up the origins of the word hackney, and it didn't disappoint:
"A horse or pony of a light breed with a high-stepping trot, used in harness."

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4:53 pm, Feb 28, 2009

Dreamer4Ever

Oh wow. Look out, Zack De La Rocha. You've got competition.

Wait, no you don't. Nevermind.

Really, this guy makes Eminem look like Boots Reilly. His fake eubonics do him no favors, and his "spitting" sounds sleepy.

Why is right-wing music so lame?

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5:26 pm, Feb 28, 2009

Brendino

Okay, Mr. Blumenthal, so I know that you don't like this guy, but this is one of your most neutral pieces yet. Please go more in this direction.

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7:08 pm, Feb 28, 2009

jaspeterson

Yeah, I can just see Mitt, Rush, and Joe The Plumber with the Newtster at the wheel low-ridin' through the streets of the hood jammin' to this cat.

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9:55 pm, Feb 28, 2009

muybuena

I feel like I just entered an alternate universe! Now all we need is an uneducated Black country-western singer writing songs about how happy he is to be a dirty flag burning liberal ever since he "accidentally" stumbled onto Olbermann.

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10:26 pm, Feb 28, 2009

Swick2730

You know the conservatives would love his ethnic confusion. I wonder if kids will ever just try to be themselves again instead acting like they're from South Central LA(black and white). Really? You got your education on the streets? But you sound so informed? You had me fooled. Worst flow I've heard all week. He'll make money just because he's an oddity. It's a shame because he has no serious poetic talent and his ideas are just parroted from the worst kind of haterz.

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12:07 am, Mar 1, 2009

thenanyu

That was beyond awesome. Max, did we mention you have no balls? Why didn't you rap battle him? Where was Max-B, AKA, Liberal Lyin'? See what I did there? Balls Max. Get some.

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1:11 am, Mar 1, 2009

happy1ga

I heard a group of conservative rappers in a club in Canada last year. They are very popular there, and about the same talent as this guy. Someone will like it, at least I could understand wth he was saying, which is better than some rap. LOL.

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7:29 am, Mar 1, 2009

roger37

Good Lord. I'm 71, a registered Republican (but not for long), and even I expelled my cappuccino from my nose when I heard how totally stupid this looked and sounded.

It even approaches Michelle Bachmann telling Michael Steele, "You be da man, Michael, you be da man." Except the rapper is a tad less inappropriate.

I mean, how frigging uncool can you get?

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11:34 am, Mar 1, 2009
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Meet the Republican Rapper

by Max Blumenthal

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