ATLANTA (CNN) - I’m not exactly sure how it happened. But yesterday I found myself involved in an intense discussion about politics in the middle of the newsroom with…. Wait for it…. rapper Ludacris and rocker Tommy Lee. The two men were here to promote their new reality show “Battleground Earth.” In the show both artists try to out green each other while trying to coax viewers into environmental consciousness.
Out of the gate I asked about green backlash. Many people feel like this entire “going green” movement has become more marketing than reality. They agreed that while people might see it that way, it’s not necessarily so, at least in their view.
Tommy Lee admits he’s not a political junkie - he says he rarely watches television or listens to news reports. So he had no opinion on the presidential candidates’ environmental policies. In fact, he had no opinions on any of their policies. “Man, tell you the truth, I only listen to music,” he said in front of the entire room and about four cameras. He seemed sincere. I didn’t press him.
Ludacris, however, was very opinionated. He very strongly said to me, “I support Barack Obama.” He is happy with Obama’s environmental policies, and keenly aware of just how much attention this election is garnering from the American people. But when I tried to press him on other issues like race, religion and HIV in the black community, he steered the conversation back to his stance on the environment. He did promise, however, to address those issues with me in another interview at another time. Smooth. Ludacris has come a long way in a short time: from rapper to social activist to environmental cheerleader.
As he and Tommy Lee walked off, entourage and reality TV cameras in tow, I thought to myself: if someone had told me at breakfast that I’d be talking with Tommy Lee and Ludacris later in the day about the environment and politics I would have called them a liar, which just goes to show, you never know. For hanging out just a bit with music superstars, I got mad props from my colleagues here at CNN.
From CNN Politics
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To all the
"If not Hillary then McCain" fools...yes fools. You obviously are not Democrats in any way , shape, or form and must be a gluton for punishment under the failed Republican rule.
and, even dumber.......
"Hillary in 2012" morons
You think that she will be entitled the nomination once again. WRONG. I hear many people write how they are bitter and will not support Obama and that he can not beat McCain w/o your support. Well, there is a possibility that the statement may be true. But to think that people will support Hillary in 2012 after many of you plan on turning your back on the Democratic party because your candidate lost, YES LOST, are greatly mistaken.
Smarten up and grow as an enlightened person.
-57 female, white, lesbian, veteran, farmer from WV
Billy from Fla,
Your postings are always so negative and wrong. If you read the article then you would see that it does not say that Tommy Lee is supported Barack Obama. Tommy Lee said that he does not follow politics.
So if you are going to be negative then at least get your information straight.
Pat Riot, you need to do your research. Ludacris went to college.
Who's the dummy now?
To NC Voter:
Post your comment to the correct article...No one cares about your declaration.
Hey Pat Riot
"Figures that Ludacris supports Obama. Most highschool dropouts seem to. Probably because they've never read the constitution"
You ignorant buffoon.................most highschool dropouts support Clinton...Know the facts before spewing your stupidity
You conduct great interviews as well as several others at CNN so I am not surprised by the men talking candidly with you.
I will always remember you with the family of the bridge collapased victim and of course you dancing with Usher while honoring James Brown.
You are good.
To Kevin Leo: I agree, but it's important to make the distiction between earning an MBA versus daddy's money buying an MBA. And it is very clear that George Bush has not earned anything.
Re: Huckabee's stupid comments at the NRA event –
This is a typical comment from a conservative supposedly godly white man. It doesn't surprise me in the least. He can get away with this and more, however, because he's a white man.
He's bitter because nobody believed in his campaign. He's no different than our current administration and the country has all but proven that we're ready for a change. Whether that change comes in a great black man with wonderful vision for this country's future and the future of the world or in an old saggy faced crybaby pseudo liberal white woman with spite and entitlement in her heart – we will have change. The majority is speaking and we're saying "YES WE CAN". We will have a dem (preferably Obama) in the oval office in '08 and (I predict) with another democratic congress – YES WE WILL!!! Later for that sorry old bigot and his cheap shots. He's simply trying to maintain some relevancy after his pathetic attempt at becoming the next potus.
"He did promise, however, to address those issues with me in another interview at another time. Smooth."
Bust out Luda! Bust out!!
yes they can, they are americans and they knows what is goin on
"-Smarten up and grow as an enlightened person.
-57 female, white, lesbian, veteran, farmer from WV"
I'm sorry guys but you can delete this and I just wanna say, OH MY.....LOL!!!
Good points, Kevin Leo.
I would add , Pat Riot, that your statement that most high school dropouts seem to support Obama is highly ignorant. Do you realize that the vast majority of college-educated voters are Obama supporters?
Hate all those that opposed OBAMA!!!
Millionaire entertainers can afford being green. As the purchasing power of the dollar continues to plummet (thanks to low interest rates by the Federal Reserve to pander to a few million homeowners), they aren't going to give a darn about buying "green" products at a hefty premium. They're going to be worried about just feeding and clothing their families. Give them a quality product at a low price – who cares about being "green." Let someone else worry about it in 100 years. The planet's not going to burn up.
10 years from now as the planet's 10+ billion people compete for resources like oil, coal, steel, corn, etc – no one is going to care about being green. Wait and see!
Research before you type
Name: Ludacris
Birth Name: Christopher Brian Bridges
Height: 5' 7"
Sex: M
Nationality: American
Birth Date: September 11, 1977
Birth Place: Champaign, Illinois, USA
Profession: actor, musician
Education: Oak Park River Forest High School, Oak Park, Illinois
Benjamin Banneker High School, College Park, Georgia
Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia
Sounds like Tommy Lee should vote for Hillary. Since he "rarely watches TV or listens to news reports" he is probably unaware that Bill made a mockery of the White House when he was President and if Hillary is elected as either President or Vice President Bill will have another chance to disgrace this nation as First Husband/Second Husband. Lee will not remember how Bill spent all his time on intern affairs and not on foreign affairs and that is why we are in Iraq now. Lee would likely believe that Hillary actually loves Bill and his cheating ways but not think that Hillary only has him along only for the voters she thinks Bill can still attract. Tommy Lee would probably love to get invited to the White House to party with Bill (presuming other uneducated voters elect Hillary). Bill wouldn't have much to do as First Husband so he could introduce Lee to a lot of new, young, interns. Sounds like a perfect plan to me.....
Obama 08
"a REAL American"
I have read several of your posts. You never have anything constructive to say, just hateful garbage. You should change your moniker to "a REAL American racist bigoted tool". I hope no one actually conssiders you a representation of REAL American.
Billy from Florida...no where in the story did it state Tommy Lee was voting for Obama...It stated that Ludicris was the supporter.
See that's what the media means, when they say only the uneducated people vote for Hillary.
It's in black and white and you still did not get it right.
HILLARY SUPPORTERS AGAINST OBAMA
WE HAVE CREATED A MOVEMENT TO WRITE HER NAME ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER
THERE WILL BE RALLIES IN FL THIS COMING WEEK TO PROTEST THAT THE DNC IS NOT ALLOWING FLORIDIANS TO EXPRESS THEIR IDEAS AND VOTE.
OBAMA CAMPAING STOPPED THE PROCESS TO HAVE A SECOND PRIMARY THERE
OBAMA IS THE ANTIDEMOCRATIC POTENTIAL NOMINEE AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY SHOULD CHANGE ITS NAME
DEMOCRTA AGAINST OBAMA
ALL THE WAY TO THE CONVENTION
STOP FALSE SPEECHES AND THE CANDIDATE PLAYING WITH PEOPLE DREAMS
STOP OBAMA WHO REALLY IS NOT A NEW AND BETTER KIND OF POLITICIAN
YES WE CAN!
HATE HATE HATE!
YES WE CAN!
HATE HATE HATE!
OBAMA '08
DEMOCRTAS DIVIDED TO STOP OBAMA
ALL THE WAY TO THE CONVENTION
Hey Pat Riot!
Actually, most high school drop outs have favored Hillary (i.e.: West Virginia). get your facts straight and try not to sound as ignorant. by the way i seriously doubt you have read the constitution, most people haven't
OBAMA 08!
w/ John Edwars and Clinton @ his side
"I AM WOMAN HEAR ME ROAR!"