Audio By Carbonatix
Flipped over to KHOW en route to the office this morning, arriving at the dial spot just in time to catch ten minutes of the most incomprehensible radio I’ve ever heard in my life. Host Peter Boyles noted that he’d posted a video on his page of the outlet’s website that had to be seen to be believed — but for those in vehicles or without computer access, he felt obligated to play it on the air. What followed was more than two minutes of random, mostly incomprehensible noise. I could tell that children were singing something, but that’s all I could suss out, since they sounded as if they’d be lined up against the rear wall at Carlsbad Caverns. That was followed by Boyles and various callers expressing amazement at what they’d just heard, but not really explaining what it was. It was the radio equivalent of listening to people cackling at a private joke.
Turns out the reason for their mirth and mock horror was the video above, in which students from a New Jersey school croon a tune with lyrics penned to honor President Barack Obama. In the cosmic scheme of things, it’s a minor transgression — an example of over-enthusiasm and poor judgment by a single teacher, and nothing more. But in this ultra-polarized political climate, which went into full freak-out mode over an Obama speech that merely encouraged kids to study hard (note this blog about an opt-out letter sent to the parents of kids at one Douglas County elementary school and a followup detailing the response at an area high school), a dopey decision can suddenly become a favorite right-wing talking point. Or, in this morning’s case, a squawking point.
Look below for the lyrics to the song, thoughtfully provided by the KHOW webmasters:
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama
He said that all must lend a hand [?]
To make this country strong again
Mmm, mmm, mm!Barack Hussein Obama
He said we must be clear today
Equal work means equal pay
Mmm, mmm, mm!Barack Hussein Obama
He said that we must take a stand
To make sure everyone gets a chance
Mmm, mmm, mm!Barack Hussein Obama
He said Red, Yellow, Black or White
All are equal in his sight
Mmm, mmm, mm!Barack Hussein Obama
Yes
Mmm, mmm, mm!Barack Hussein Obama
segue to
Hello, Mr. President we honor you today!
For all your great accomplishments, we all [do? doth??] say “hooray!”
Hooray Mr. President! You’re number one!
The first Black American to lead this great na-TION!
Hooray, Mr. President something-something-some
A-something-something-something-some economy is number one again!
Hooray Mr. President, we’re really proud of you!
And the same for all Americans [in?] the great Red White and Blue!
So something Mr. President we all just something-some,
So here’s a hearty hip-hooray a-something-something-some!
Hip, hip hooray! (3x)
