I have this theory that hip-hop’s saturation of the entertainment world made it possible for Barack Obama to win the Democratic primary, and now could be America’s first black president.
Think of the number of young people that grew up seeing black entertainers in positions of influence and mainstream success.

Even outside of the fan circle, in Iowa and Wisconsin, the subconscious drip, drip, drip of.. “we can do that too” splatters and eats away at the opposite idea which is.. well, THEY aren’t smart enough. That media bred familiarity is why blind racism seems so outdated in this political cycle.

Let’s toss in Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods for sports; Will Smith for movies; and.. Dennis Haysbert for TV?

Dennis Haysbert - also known as David Palmer the American president on 24 - is taking partial credit for Barack Obama’s success (he also contributed $2,300 to his campaign.)

“If anything, my portrayal of David Palmer, I think, may have helped open the eyes of the American people,” said Haysbert. “And I mean the American people from across the board - from the poorest to the richest, every color and creed, every religious base - to prove the possibility there could be an African-American president, a female president, any type of president that puts the people first.”

To prove that connection Haysbert told a story about stopping for dinner in Dana Point, California.. a ‘very wealthy, very white and very Republican’ town..

“I go into this little restaurant with that demographic and a lady comes up to me and says, ‘You know, I want to vote for you.’ I don’t know if it is a joke or that people just like to say those things. But to me, for them to say it out loud means they are thinking about it.”

Maybe Barack should bring him on as Vice-President to grab those ‘wealthy, white’ votes. 😛