The New York Post has come under fire for a questionable headline related to its coverage of former President Barack Obama's long list of Democratic endorsements.
"Obama Endorses Controversial Rapper Ahead of Midterms," the headline reads.
Obama endorses controversial rapper ahead of midterms https://t.co/cYrVh0HKS6 https://t.co/vUTJvmRyqV— New York Post (@New York Post) 1533168664.0
That "controversial rapper" is Antonio Delgado, who has pledged to fight for universal, affordable healthcare for all, a tax code that works for working people and the middle class, and to restore opportunity" for individuals "across the Hudson Valley, Catskills and Capital region," according to his website.
The Post notes:
Delgado, who is challenging first-term GOP Rep. John Faso in the Hudson Valley and Catskills region, released an 18-song CD in 2006 titled “Painfully Free.”In it, Delgado, a Schenectady native, spews the N-word, compares “dead” presidents to “white supremacists” and blasts the country’s two-party political system.
The Post's headline was immediately decried as racist. None of the other candidates on Obama's list––which includes a host of women and people of color––have faced such scrutiny, or been subject to questionable headlines.
This headline is racist 👇 https://t.co/jvdU8QDcwS— Shannon Watts (@Shannon Watts) 1533186934.0
Several people pointed out that Delgado is a Rhodes scholar and graduate of Harvard Law School.
Alternative headline: Obama endorses Upstate native, Rhodes scholar and Harvard Law grad for NY-19 ahead of midterms https://t.co/VZ4eOk98mw— Emma Lasch (@Emma Lasch) 1533171398.0
LMFAO!! Antonio Delgado, “the controversial rapper,” is a Rhodes scholar with a degree from Harvard Law School. https://t.co/9XWreBna6F— Michael Skolnik (@Michael Skolnik) 1533187417.0
@nypost The headline should have read " Former President Barack Obama endorses Rhodes Scholar Antonio Delgado from… https://t.co/HttYDPM2t7— Sonji (Publicist) (@Sonji (Publicist)) 1533178561.0
Another reminded readers that the Post endorsed President Donald Trump in 2016 despite his numerous scandals.
@nypost NewYork Post endorsed controversial bigot in 2016.— IllinoisNewDemocratRicoP (@IllinoisNewDemocratRicoP) 1533170484.0
Delgado himself has not commented on the Post's headline, but he did take the time to thank Obama for endorsing him.
Delgado said he is "Honored and truly humbled" by the endorsement, adding that Obama "stands for so many of the values that we hold as our foundation," including "preserving and improving our democracy" and "a commitment to service."
Honored and truly humbled to receive an endorsement from @BarackObama. He stands for so many of the values that we… https://t.co/DCgWfCRtId— Antonio Delgado (@Antonio Delgado) 1533143322.0
Obama's announcement included only his first round of Democratic endorsements. There will be more to come, particularly as we get closer to November's midterm elections.
“Today I’m proud to endorse such a wide and impressive array of Democratic candidates – leaders as diverse, patriotic, and big-hearted as the America they’re running to represent,” Obama wrote yesterday.
Today I’m proud to endorse such a wide and impressive array of Democratic candidates – leaders as diverse, patrioti… https://t.co/i0MECnqfJr— Barack Obama (@Barack Obama) 1533140404.0
Obama added that the individuals he's endorsed would “strengthen this country we love by restoring opportunity, repairing our alliances and standing in the world, and upholding our fundamental commitment to justice, fairness, responsibility, and the rule of law.”
I’m confident that, together, they’ll strengthen this country we love by restoring opportunity, repairing our allia… https://t.co/CgiImgqCDD— Barack Obama (@Barack Obama) 1533140424.0
Notable figures on the list include Jared Polis, who is running for Governor of Colorado and, if elected, would be the first openly gay governor in the United States, and Georgia's Stacey Abrams, who is the first black female major party gubernatorial nominee in the United States. Both of them are popular in their respective states.