Bill O'Reilly and Sarah Palin Weigh In on Rapper Controversy

David Jones, president of the State Troopers Fraternal Association of NJ, appeared on The O'Reilly Factor tonight and unloaded on the White House for inviting rapper ‘Common' to a poetry event...a rapper who's on the record supporting convicted cop-killer and former Black Panther Assata Shakur. For New Jersey police, the outrage centers on "A Song for Assata" lyrics like "Your power and pride is beautiful. May God bless your soul." Shakur, formerly known as Joanne Chesimard, was convicted for the 1973 slaying of Trooper Werner Foerster on the New Jersey Turnpike. She escaped prison in 1979, and is living in asylum in Cuba.

Bill O'Reilly's Talking Points: Another bad PR move By the White House

Sarah Palin, appearing on Wednesday's "On the Record," blasted the White House for insensitivity to law enforcement for giving Common a platform at a poetry event:

PALIN: It's just -- it's too easy. You know, the White House's judgment on inviting someone who would glorify cop killing during Police Memorial Week, of all times, you know, the judgment, it's just so lacking of class and decency and all that's good about America with an invite like this. And you know, it's just so easy to assume that they're just inviting someone like me or somebody else to ask, "Come on, Barack Obama, who are you palling around with now?"

This rapper -- we thought that we were to be united under the leader of the free world, Barack Obama, in tamping down racism and inciting violence and cop killing, certainly, and killing a former president. All those things that this rapper has glorified and really is known for, it just certainly reflects a lack of judgment on the White House's part.

And I'm saying this not a proponent of stifling any kind of free speech. I am obviously a proponent of free speech. I'm not anti-rap. In fact, like Bret Baier, I know the lyrics to "Rapper's Delight," too. But I am saying just common decency in the White House -- wouldn't we like to see a reflection of all that is wonderful and great, a shining city on a hill that the White House is supposed to be, with events inside of that house that reflect the patriotism and the decency and the influence of America. Read more ...

Rap mogul Master P came to the defense of Common, arguing that everyone deserves to have a second chance after making mistakes:

MASTER P: Well, you know, I think Sarah Palin definitely has her opinion, but I think in the real world, people do deserve a second chance. I think that Common is a person that grew up. I mean, he had controversial lyrics, he had profanity in his songs, the same way I had in my past. And I think as a child -- look, everybody goes through something in life. And I think people deserve a second chance.

I mean, when I look at her life, nobody's perfect. I look at my life, nobody's perfect. I believe that God is the only person that can judge us. And I also look at that people do make mistakes, and you give them a second chance. I mean, her daughter [Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol] made a mistake at an early age. People still accepted her. And I just think that me, my family, I shouldn't -- we shouldn't judge people by what they do in the beginning of their life. I think that -- I deal with a foundation called Urban Born. We try to help kids on the streets to change their life.

And I think making statements like that will make kids give up. Read more ...