Obama says singer's act wrong

Performer explains decision on anthem, writing 'I am an artist'

By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), David Montero, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 4, 2008 at 12:20 a.m.

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Rene Marie

Sen. Barack Obama said a jazz performer's decision to sing the "Black National Anthem" at Denver's State of the City speech this week was wrong.

"Well, Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing is a beautiful song that has been sung in African-American churches and other events for a very long time," the presumed Democratic presidential nominee told the Rocky Mountain News in a telephone interview on his way to North Dakota on Thursday. "We only have one national anthem. And so, if she was asked to sing the national anthem, she should have sung that. Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing is a beautiful song, but we have one national anthem."

Obama's remarks came as the controversy entered its third day.

Rene Marie, the jazz singer who belted out the surprise performance of the black anthem, triggering a public outcry, tackled her critics in a statement posted on her Web site - renemarie.com.

The assertions from some people that her unscripted performance would hurt Obama's presidential run are wrong, she said.

"Believing that would be a serious overestimation of my influence as an artist," she said.

Marie also said that what she did wasn't a "self-centered and calculated publicity stunt."

But in the seven-page statement, Marie tells people how they can buy her CDs.

"Once we receive the money order, your purchase will be shipped within 24 hours," she said.

The first half of the statement, however, deals directly with the anthem uproar.

"I didn't expect that singing the song would garner this kind of attention," Marie said.

"After all, I had sung the exact same song at the Colorado Prayer Luncheon earlier this year before a much larger and wider audience and there wasn't even a ripple," she said.

However, Marie said she understood how her actions could be perceived as dishonest, since Mayor John Hickenlooper had invited her to sing The Star-Spangled Banner instead.

"But I looked at it a different way: I am an artist," she said. "As such, if I wait until I am asked to express myself artistically, or if I must ask permission to do it, it would never get done."

Marie also denied that she was trying to make a political statement even though she told 9News that when she sang, she was trying to express how she felt about living in the United States "as a black person."

"I am apolitical, choosing to address social issues through my art, not politics," she said.

Despite the furor, don't expect Marie to apologize.

"The last thing I wanted to do was cause trouble for the mayor and so I have apologized directly to him for any distress that may have resulted from my singing," she said. "As for offending others with my music, I cannot apologize for that. It goes with the risky territory of being an artist."

Excerpts from Rene Marie's statement

* On switching the song: "I knew that if I asked to do my version of the national anthem, the answer would be 'no.' There are times, artistically speaking, when an event chooses us, a door is opened to heal ourselves and others through our artistic expression, so to speak."

* On why she agreed to sing: "I viewed the invitation to be a door opened to me to sing this version of The Star-Spangled Banner, that others needed to hear it as much as I needed to sing it."

* On suspicions that this was a publicity stunt: "While it's true many artists take advantage of today's mammoth-sized media machine, this is not the case for those artists . . . who risk so much when they courageously walk through that unpopular door."

* On what the song means personally: "It is a love song to my country."

* On claims that her song promoted racism: "Nothing could be further from the truth. The song you are referring to as the "Black National Anthem" is correctly titled Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing . . . I loved singing both songs but each one seemed to have their own aspects of exclusivity and segregation, not by design, no. But still the separation was palpable."

• July 4, 2008

  1:24 a.m.

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  jugdish writes:

  "Well, Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing is a beautiful song that has been sung in African-American churches and other events for a very long time," the presumed Democratic presidential nominee told the Rocky Mountain News in a telephone interview on his way to North Dakota on Thursday. "We only have one national anthem. And so, if she was asked to sing the national anthem, she should have sung that. Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing is a beautiful song, but we have one national anthem."

  What the...? Jugdish smell damage control here and willing media accomplices. Did phone call to Barack Obama campaign go.."You better tell our guy he's facing a ****storm when he comes to Denver to accept the nomination if he doesn't get out front on this one". And why is every misspelled?

• July 4, 2008

  1:43 a.m.

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  timeandagain writes:

  she looks purple. why is she singing the "black" national anthem?

• July 4, 2008

  3:23 a.m.

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  happymike44 writes:

  Well she did it for the attention.
  Now everyone in the country knows who she is.
  The biggest joke in front of a microphone.
  We have only one national anthem maybe it's about time she learn it.
  Instead of making a big fool out of herslf and everyone else.
  Hope they did not pay her.
  She also should sue her music teacher for her money back.
  Sounded like a sick bullfrog to me.

• July 4, 2008

  5:19 a.m.

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  campfiar writes:

  Don't go to her website, that's what she wants you to do. You can view the lyrics at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lift_Eve.... I've never heard the song performed, but the lyrics are poetic, nothing offensive really and could proudly be repeated by people of all etnicities.

• July 4, 2008

  5:24 a.m.

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  me2 writes:

  Still with the bi*ching.

• July 4, 2008

  6:57 a.m.

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  samsmargolis writes:

  "Itsy-bitsy spider crawled up the water spout..."

  Just trying to put a caption to that picture. Yeesh.

• July 4, 2008

  7:12 a.m.

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  LOUIE writes:

  I think we all, both sides of the isle Democrat and republican, have kicked this girl in the chops hard enough. After awhile the opinions become the same ole thoughts rehashed over and over. This girl has done quite a bit for others without reward; a list of charitable acts would serve no purpose but redundancy of character. She really blew it, she knows how America feels about the bastardizing of our national anthem. Next time the party you love meets, and decides to trash an American tradition as proud or equal to "Ole Glory", just throw tomatoes at the fool, and you can leave them in the cans if you feel that strongly about it. Lets go on to greater thoughts of progress. Mr. Hinkenlooper, as ringmaster, the show must go on, so far your acts have flopped; the last one was a real rock in the shoe. Maybe thats it, we throw our worn out shoes at bad political acts in mid speech, or do we have to check our shoes at the door for security reasons. Bras and jocks make great slingshots; do they want one lump or two lumps with thier tea?

• July 4, 2008

  7:15 a.m.

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  WestminsterJ writes:

  Jugdish seem like stupid Republican shill.

• July 4, 2008

  7:40 a.m.

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  notyouravg writes:

  Can someone please explain to me how this is tied to Obamba's run for the white house? If it reflects on anyone it should be mayor Hicky, he invited her to sing. People seem to think that because Obamba is black he speaks for all blacks and has all the black support. If this were true so would be the statement that McCain speaks for all whites and has all the white support. And we all know that is not even close to being true. It is long past time for the media to stop pointing our country in the direction they see fit.

• July 4, 2008

  8:07 a.m.

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  notyouravg writes:

  PajamaPulitzer: Please pull your racist head out of your a$$. If you and your kind are on point, then there is nothing to worry about. Every white voter will vote McCain (minus one, me) and done deal. Barack Obamba message is that of change and that is what scares many people and concurrently will bring even more to his side.

• July 4, 2008

  8:08 a.m.

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  LOUIE writes:

  notyouravg, because many in America think everybody votes along racial divisions, instead of what they truly believe to be best for our nation as a whole. Sadly these divisions carry over long after the elections and turn many of our people bitter, caustic, and they continue you trash our nations leader. I tend to think we each vote what we believe to be best for ourselves; often never looking at our nation and all her peoples as a whole. We are a selfish, jealous, lot of self-servng, materialistic, why does it cost so much, people. Thus we beat each other up like animals to establish a pecking order. Prisons are the mirrors of our society, go and you will learn many things...

• July 4, 2008

  8:10 a.m.

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  davies writes:

  Lesson for liberals:

  When your message is 100% about "tolerance" and "diversity", then you can reasonably expect this kind of behavior. That is, you give someone an opportunity to do one thing, and the person decides to do whatever he/she wants to do instead.

  If your message includes "personal responsibility" and "accepting consequences for your actions", then you are less likely to be encouraging people to do whatever they feel like doing.

• July 4, 2008

  8:24 a.m.

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  notyouravg writes:

  Louie, I agree with your post. I of all people know neither canidate speaks for all whites or blacks. I was poking fun at Pajama's way of rationlizing, but I don't blame her/him. The media is the root of most of our evils and the thoughts they place in feeble minds.

• July 4, 2008

  8:26 a.m.

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  KaySieverding writes:

  Mr. Obama shows that he is a candidate for all of us. He will be a president for all of us.

  The majority of U.S. citizens, I think, are descended from ancestors who came to the U.S. after the civil war and came for freedom.

• July 4, 2008

  8:45 a.m.

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  notyouravg writes:

  America is at a crossroads, NEVER before have we Amercians been faced with the final choice of a white vs non-white for the highest elected office in our country. As hard as it might be for some, we MUST look past skin color and elect the best man in this race. If we choose wrong our system allows us to undo our choice in 2012. Let us make the right choice now.

• July 4, 2008

  9:14 a.m.

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  samsmargolis writes:

  Ooo-ahh, notyouravg. Ralph Nader in 08!

• July 4, 2008

  9:16 a.m.

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  jaymoveonorg writes:

  notyouravg,
  Why will 95%+ of the black population vote for Obama? Even black conservatives are saying they will vote for Obama because he is black. The expectation is that black people who never voted before will come out and vote for Obama just because he is black. Some white people but very few when compared to the total population will vote for McCain because he is white.

  Isn't both an act of racism? I believe that if Obama wins it will be under the cloud of racism.

• July 4, 2008

  9:17 a.m.

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  MsAnn writes:

  I'm glad Obama denounced her. I'm black and I'm 100% positive that she was trying to be cute and figured if she did this, she was somehow showing her support and loyalty to Obama and his statement just shut her down.

  Unfortunately, there are many misguided black people who somehow think that the 'rules will change' if Obama is elected, (e.g. the Black National Anthem will now be the 'new' national anthem and the White House will be painted black and all sorts of other ridiculous foolishness). I'm glad he set her straight that it is NOT SO and hopefully it will open the eyes of others like her so that they will know, even if Obama wins, he does not intend to change the patriotism and traditions of this country; nor is he planning to put black people on a pedestal either.

• July 4, 2008

  9:45 a.m.

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  MaxInEnglewood writes:

  Notyourav & Froward,
  PJ is a moron, I learned to ignore their ignorant posts a long time ago. There are very few intelligent voices of reason on this forum and LOUIE happens to be one of them.

• July 4, 2008

  9:49 a.m.

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  LOUIE writes:

  I think you're going to find with either choice, republican or democrat, niether have the ability to bring us out of the finacial tailspin, that's global. America is not going to experence a turn around with either canidate. When it comes to financial integrity, I must admit, Mr. Obama has an edge. McCain was squarely in the mix of the S&L scandal, is honesty is going to be an issue? I don't know, who does? Good ole boy system doesn't always work, nor sit well with the people. Mr. Cheney was sucessful with this system, it seved Mr. Cheney well, McCain is not near as well suited as Mr. Cheney is. Problem is Mr. Obama's youth at handling such matters of global ramifications, is a hinderance to the business community's confidence. Experence is the qualifier necessary for the banks and markets to be secure in reinvestment and finacing America's future. The banks are already kicked to thier knees and may not be able to play ball with Mr. Obama's new ideas. Banks tend to get midevil conservative in hard times; hell, today they charge us for a Kleenix. Thus I really find it hard to see any clear economic gain with either canidate in office. Reagan had Stockman, Volker, and many other brilliant minds around him, McCain is weak in economic matters of state. His friends are the Good Ole Boys, just like he had in the S&L days with Keating. Republican Mr.Bush as a Texan, much like Democrat Mr.Johnson as a Texan, beat up the world good to ever mess with America. Texas has some bad boys when it comes to war and America's ideals worldwide. Mr.McCain doesn't have "it", he's not even on par with Bush. Bush was an in your face, tough guy; nobody can say Bush didn't rule like a little Caesar. Mr.Obama definately doesn't have "it". If honesty was the only issue, I'd say Mr. Obama would have the edge, because he has been facing every adverse issue from his minister to his patriotism squarely. If he does duck and weave like a young boxer in the political arena, he might just pull it off. McCain didn't have to duck and weave in the S&L scandle, Good Ole Boys handle it for you. Shove enough stuff under your rugs, and soon you'll be tripping in your own house. Don't ask me to define "it", I'll know "it", when I see "it"; "it's" kind of like that Supreme court justice when asked to define pornography!

• July 4, 2008

  10:08 a.m.

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  jbowen43 writes:

  During an interview a reporter asked a Presidential candidate about this silly incident. Why? It's of no national importance. That's the best you "journalists" can do? Maybe you should consider another line of work.

• July 4, 2008

  10:51 a.m.

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  fastnloose writes:

  What this singer did was pathetic.The only thing worse than her act, was that goofball haircut.Never go to a barber college,pay full price and get a complete doo!

• July 4, 2008

  12:43 p.m.

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  notyouravg writes:

  mwanecek writes:
  Why will 95%+ of the black population vote for Obama? Even black conservatives are saying they will vote for Obama because he is black. The expectation is that black people who never voted before will come out and vote for Obama just because he is black. Some white people but very few when compared to the total population will vote for McCain because he is white.

  mwanecek, name any one person, white or black who is anybody that is on record as saying they will vote for either candidate soley because they are black or white. you can not because for anyone to make a statement like that it would be political suicide. sir you show your true racism when you make such false statements.

• July 4, 2008

  1:26 p.m.

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  T1anda writes:

  I don't call it b*tching me2 I call it KA-ching!

  Rene Marie says: "once we recieve your money order your purchase will be shipped within 24 hours!!!"

  NOW we all know exactly WHY she pulled that crappola stunt!!

  Is anybody surprised????

• July 4, 2008

  1:35 p.m.

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  Blackconserv writes:

  How did this turn into a Republican/Democrat thing?
  Rene Marie is not stupid, she knew what she was doing, selling her CD's at the expense of patriotism "be Damned".

• July 4, 2008

  2:29 p.m.

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  LOUIE writes:

  Blackconsev, it an election year; even the weather forecast is political!

• July 4, 2008

  4:55 p.m.

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  raysmom writes:

  Louie- I don't dispute that Republicans have been spending like drunken whores- much to my dismay. But to say that Obama has an edge on McCain fiscally and morally, I just don't buy.

  They both have their skeletons- you pointed out McCain's perceived offenses with "The 5", which he was completely cleared of. McCain was also against the Bush Tax cuts, because he claimed, and rightly so, that increased spending & tax cuts don't jive. He would not roll them back now, because that horse has left the barn, and a tax increase would be a very bad idea right now, and it would be for ALL taxpayers. He also fought Medicaid spending- he wanted more competition from other pharmaceutical co's in Canada, and the right to shop prices. He lost, but he tried. He fought the Farm Bill, too- a 300 Billion $$$ giveaway program, that they said this week will double because of reparations written into the bill. He has been a fiscal conservative, consistantly.

  Have we ever found out what REALLY happened with Obama & Rezko, and their joint home buying efforts and fund-raising? Didn't Obama make claims about public funding, and then flip-flop? He has many questionable allies, too- he is a politician. And most importantly, Obama has never once crossed party lines in a vote- he is a great believer in re-distribution of wealth, which has never created a JOB, only more need. He will also subsidize and regulate our market system, to no good end. Didn't the Dems promise us cheaper gas back in 2006? Now they are trying to control the market- bad, bad idea.

  I haven't been happy with the Republicans the last 6 years, but the Democrats would make it MUCH worse- I am a conservative Democrat, and I will never vote for "The Great Divider- Santa Obama- I wouldn't care if he were purple- he is disingenuous and has no understanding of economics. McCain isn't my fav, but he is the better choice.

  (And let's not even get into Iraq- neither candidate is going to be able to change that overnight. No-one is going to be able to make big changes there for a while, unfortunately, and O is now admitting that as he reaches for the center. McCain's 100 year comment, taken grossly out of context, is probably right. We will be a presence in the Middle East for the long haul, no matter what.)

  Why is it, I wonder, that we choose Miss America from 50 contestants on the day of the contest, and President of the United Sates from 2, chosen months before?

• July 4, 2008

  5:27 p.m.

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  SlumsofWashPark writes:

  1) I don’t understand why the “Star-Bangled Banner” inspires so much mindless conformity and misplaced piety. It’s a song that glorifies war, is very hard for everyday citizens to sing, and is not musically interesting or remarkable.

  2) I don’t understand why it becomes a controversy for a Denver singer to sing a beautiful, patritotic song like “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at a Denver civic event. A Federal anthem is not necessarily appropriate at a city speech.

  3) Let’s get over the mindless obsession with national symbols. As true Americans—free-thinking individuals—we’re not obliged to worship banners, flags, songs or lapel pins and transform them into a kind of nationistic, zealous idolatry. Nothing could be more un-American than a requirement to feign piety about a song or a pledge. We ought to worship, if anything, our individuality and freedom from nationalistic fetishes.

• July 4, 2008

  7:52 p.m.

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  johnson writes:

  I bet this "actress" never gets another job in theatre. Can't trust her to go by the written script. Enough publicity, her 15 minutes of fame are up.

• July 4, 2008

  9:06 p.m.

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  RoloFan writes:

  She's gotten more than her 15 minutes of fame. Time to lay this baby to bed.

• July 4, 2008

  9:51 p.m.

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  Sankhara50 writes:

  Obama will not stand up for anything on principle, only on strategy. He doesn't have to stand up for her, but his rather empty response seems to be what Nader meant by "talking white", but it seems some people don't want to know what he's about, and feel Nader has no right to mention the obvious because he's a "white" Arab. My worst fear is Obama will win, and all our struggles as a people will be brushed under the rug as "backward thinking". My second worse fear is McCain will win, and people will be whipped from ever trying to stand up for a third party ever again.

  It reflects on Obama because some people thought his 20 years at Trinity meant something. He strategically played them like he's playing us now. He's the one that made a big deal of his "black" struggles when it payed off right. Now black oriented expression is backwards thinking. Pretty convenient. If it's not obvious, that's kind of convenient too. People want hope and change. Obama's not it. How can he be for "all of us" when he's for none of us? You say "Non-white" candidate like it means anything in this case. Nader is for the people and has proved it by his lifetime. He fought to give citizens the freedom of information act for crying out loud and tried to bring attention to the digital broadband spectrum givaway that many blacks are upset nobody mentions. Others would probably be upset if they understood or knew about it though, true.

  For what it's worth, it is a crazy political climate out there these days.
  http://www.washington-report.org/arch...

• July 4, 2008

  9:59 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Sankhara50 writes:

  LOUIE,
  I don't think Obama has financial integrity over Nader. Obama's chief finance chairwoman was a predatory lender pioneer. His fundraising is not worse than any other politician, but his "no lobbyist" claim is very questionable.

  http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/o...

  http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2...

  All Nader needs is 10% in polls to get in on the debates and make both candidates better people by making real challanges.
  The DNC & GOP debates have been "prepared" for some time.
  http://www.wisebread.com/why-league-o...

  These aren't final authorities, I know, but it seems pretty clear what's going on. He's just a politician playing angles. I don't know why Obama seems so much more honest to you. Please tell me how he's more honest than Nader.

• July 5, 2008

  12:07 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  LOUIE writes:

  I don't think Mr. Nader will be the distraction to the democratic canidate as he was before. Mr. Naders sails have no wind this election; and Mr. Obama coming from the "Land Of Lincoln", may split rails on the republican party. Mr. Obama has been hit with everything but the kitchen sink, and he's still moving with a lot of steam. I admire his ability to take the punches; it isn't easy, but the kid keeps coming back. Will America be as critical of Mr. McCain as it has been with Mr. Obama? Mr. Nader I don't think will be a factor this time around, the novelty of Mr. Nader is just not there as it was before.

• July 5, 2008

  12:18 a.m.

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  Sankhara50 writes:

  You mean Obama doesn't care about the truth or people's questions at all? He's running on cold hard cash. That does not equal fortitude or integrity. Nader's still fighting hard to give us an option of peace. You do realize Obama's made speeches implying pre-emptive strikes on Pakistan and Iran, with no need to prove anything to the public??? Just because Nader cannot control CNN like some does not make not a factor. He can at least give us an option.

• July 5, 2008

  6:19 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  LOUIE writes:

  "...feral cats that can hold a tune better in the rut." , what a line. I can't stop laughing; that was good! Thanks Skyebeader.

• July 5, 2008

  10:05 a.m.

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  Sankhara50 writes:

  Nice. I've never listened to her, and don't plan to. I was getting off topic from the fiscal integrity and honesty comments. With Obama, that's a whole other two faced book. Obama was right that she wrong here, and I'm not sending her any money for this "statement".
  Obama has implied things that make me wonder if he won't actually suppress black expression or acknowledgement of racial disparities once he's in, so I'm a little whitewash-shy when it comes to his statements.

  It's weird how it's like he's the new political voice for blacks somehow. I think that's what this was really about, Rene Marie desperately trying to assure herself that blacks will still be heard when this is all over.

  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/12...

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