Posted on 11/05/2004 10:16:09 AM PST by 50 Cal
P. Diddy says he got off on the wrong foot when it came to his political endeavors in 2004. If he could do things over again, he wouldn't have yelled for folks to get George W. Bush's "ass out of office."
"I was a little reckless with my comments, to be honest," Diddy said on Tuesday (November 2). "I realized I relinquished my power too early after I educated myself. I shouldn't have said that until I felt that there was somebody that could be better for my people. ... I learned a lot in this process. I learned that my power could be used better. Instead of attacking Bush, it would be better to light a flame under young Americans and let them make the decisions."
A more informed Diddy has been sticking to a bipartisan approach in telling people to register and get out to the polls. The objective of his Citizen Change organization has been simple: They want to educate, motivate and empower, and in the process they've made the phrase "Vote or Die" a household slogan.
With Election Day is finally here, Diddy not only voted, but he also spent his morning encouraging folks to make their voices heard. Here he tells MTV News how his Election Day went:
"I started off like 4:30, 5 o'clock in the morning. I briefed myself for the day, just getting the information of what today was going to be. Today is going to be a long day, a lot of back and forth between different studios and the office. I did local radio in New York. I went to CNN, then here at MTV. I had interviews in my office, then out in the street. I went to two polling areas and voted in Harlem, the Upper East Side. Basically when I went up in there, I was shutting them down. I was running wild. They was kicking me out after a while.
"[Voting] gave me a lot of butterflies. It felt like my vote counted. It really felt when I pulled that lever that my 'ching' went in. The vibe with all the kids [voting], it looked crazy. I know it never happened with so many young people, with minorities, it was crazy. You could tell we were making history. A young lady came up to me and [said] this was her first time voting, and that's because of the Vote or Die campaign. She was taught by us, she got interested in voting, and it wasn't that difficult. She said she was voting because of the campaign, and it was a great feeling. That's been happening a lot, to be honest.
"There's a lot of other people who had something to do with [getting people to come vote]. Choose or Lose and the Hip-Hop Action Network, Declare Yourself and all of the college campuses. I think we brought some energy to it. I think [Citizen Change] did it in a different approach, unconventional methods, but we got a lift from some of these other organizations that are the foundation. We're the new kids on the block.
"Don't underestimate the small guy. Nobody really respected us. Nobody really thought we would come out and vote. It really taught me that if you speak to young people, speak to minorities, they could change the world. The future's ours. It's our turn now. We've been left out of the game for too long. Time for y'all to let us in now.
"After the polling, I came to MTV. It was great. It's been crazy in the streets outside in Times Square. It's been crazy here with the staff. Choose or Lose and Rock the Vote really planted the seed for Citizen Change. It was great to be here and partner up with them. They have all the knowledge and it was just great.
"My day was packed with the electoral process. I'm tired. I'm extremely tired. I'm exhausted, my body hurts. [Getting people to vote] wasn't as tough as doing the marathon, 'cause a lot of the young people were interested. A lot of the young people were truly interested in the process."
"I briefed myself" ??? he put on his pants? that is good.
After we level Fallujah, we need to warn everyone to get out of the MTV building. You know what comes next.
Vote or Die, Mutharf**ker!
Visit a Red area once in a while, Mr. Diddy. You might learn a thing or two (if you're willing).
Someone shut this idiot up, please.
Like 4:30? It just seemed like it, P - especially when you're used to getting up around 3 pm everyday.
Briefed himself? Well, now MTV doesn't have to ask if it's boxers or briefs, do they?
Info on what the day was going to be? Translate: He checked the calendar to see if it was actually Election Day.
I..I..I...
What a nutcase - another megalomaniac living in fantasy world...a lot like kerry actually.
P. Diddy please shut up and don't sing.
I know musicians are self-centered but does this guy actually think the election's outcome was influenced even slightly by anything he did? Get over yourself, bro.
Yeah. That way you could potentially sell your $30 t-shirts to twice as many people.
LOL! Relinquished his power too soon! Premature.......? You fill in the blank. OH GROSS!
"You have to answer for Tupac, P."
P-diddy should have changed his slogan from "Vote or Die" to "Vote or I'll shoot you and then try to bribe my get away driver to take the heat"
Maybe that would have gotten Kerry more votes.
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