The 2020 election cycle has been rather odd so far. We've had Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) defending communist dictators like Fidel Castro. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) continually called herself a "progressive prosecutor" but even the left called her out for it. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has bought his way into the election cycle by dropping massive sums of money (almost $1 billion) of his personal money.
While all of those things have been weird, this might actually be at the top of the list (for now). Billionaire Tom Steyer held a rally in Columbia, South Carolina Friday night ahead of Saturday's primary day. The rally included Yolanda Adams, DJ Jazzy Jeff and rapper Juvenile.
appearing at a Tom Steyer rally tomorrow night in Columbia, S.C.: Yolanda Adams, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and Juvenile
— Josh Jamerson (@joshjame) February 27, 2020
Multiple people shared videos of Steyer dancing awkwardly on stage and Juvenile rapped "Back That Azz Up." The Steyer campaign has dubbed this the #BackThatVoteUp dance... or something along those lines.
#BackThatVoteUp Party before we Vote, Tom Steyer took the stage with Juvenile at Allen University.
— SC for Tom 2020 ?? (@TeamTomSC) February 29, 2020
Vote Saturday Tomorrow February 29th.
Polls open at 7am! #BackThatVoteUp pic.twitter.com/nM4j6guy10
Tom Steyer’s onstage dancing to Back That Azz Up pic.twitter.com/REXSh5qUXW
— Ryan Brooks (@ryanbrooks) February 29, 2020
The "Back That Azz Up" song was released in 1998, If that tells you anything. For as much money as Steyer has, you'd think he would try and get a more recent celebrity to play the gig.
three most recent places I have heard “Back That Azz Up”:
— Daniel Gallen (@danieljtgallen) February 29, 2020
1. Tom Steyer rally
2. Superdome before the Eagles-Saints playoff game
3. party at The Cottage in College Park in, like, 2012?
I woke up with back pain this morning and thought nothing would cure it. Oddly enough this video of Tom Steyer in a tie, disco overbite and all, “getting down” with Juvenile in his pointless bid for the presidency took the pain away. It was a miracle. #MakeItStopDearLord https://t.co/58j7Rv5ay4
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) February 29, 2020
All kidding aside, I have so many questions.
— Beth Baumann (@eb454) February 29, 2020
1. Does he wear the same tie everywhere he goes or does he have multiples of this exact print? Because he wears it for EVERYTHING.
2. Are we sure this isn't an SNL skit?
3. What person on his team thought this was a great idea? https://t.co/fBZAZg3Zi6
But the real question here: who thought this was a good idea? This is the definition of political pandering. South Carolina is known for its large African American population, something former Vice President Joe Biden has repeatedly said he has a strong relationship with. It's rather ironic that Steyer is attempting to appeal to blacks by having rappers at a rally. He's attempting to entice the very people he made a fortune on when they were incarcerated. Steyer made $1.6 billion of his fortune by investing in Corrections Corporation of America, a private prison system. He came under fire for that investment during Tuesday night's debate when Biden pointed out that tidbit.
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