Barack Obama and Chris Rock think alike.
Last week, Barack Obama made a speech on Father's Day in which he discussed the rising rate of absent fathers, specifically in the African-American community. "Too many fathers…are…missing from too many lives and too many homes. They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men."
When I heard this I said – hang on. That sounds familiar. Who said that before?
Oh! Chris Rock. In 1996.
According to Trey Ellis, Obama mentioned Rock's routine, "albeit cleaned up a lot." (I hope so!)
Video of Rock's bit and Obama's speech are below. But basically, here's the crux of it:
Barack Obama: Black men need to take more responsibility for their children.
Chris Rock: "I take care of my kids!" What do you want, a cookie?
Ellis also makes an interesting point: "The other side to this story, however, the one that is rarely reported, is the demonization of far too many dads after a family splits. I've heard from men who wanted to be involved dads but have been barred from seeing their kids by an unfeeling and decidely anti-male family court system." I'm sure that's true. But I don't think that diminishes Obama's (or Rock's) message.
Chris Rock (Not safe for work)
Barack Obama (probably safe for work but a little long)
image: huffpost
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