No, Ice Cube not a sellout for advising Trump

Ice Cube has created a massive opportunity for Democrats.

The entertainment mogul stepped into the spotlight for criticism after saying that the Trump campaign had revised its plan for African American outreach after reviewing his “Contract With Black America.”

Cue the whiny liberal response claiming that Ice Cube was working with the president and selling out the people he’s long worked to represent and uplift.

He wasn’t. And he isn’t.

“Facts: I put out the CWBA,” the 51year-old rapper, actor and filmmaker said on Twitter. “Both parties contacted me. Dems said we’ll address the CWBA after the election. Trump campaign made some adjustments to their plan after talking to us about the CWBA.”

The reaction has swelled to the point that Ice Cube has feuded with CNN anchor Don Lemon and podcaster D.L. Hughley on Twitter.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris could and should put a stop to all of this and seize the energy it creates to reinvigorate Black support with two weeks to go before the election.

Ice Cube introduced his sweeping blueprint at the height of this summer’s protests and riots against police brutality. It’s a detailed approach to a range of issues, including lending reform, judicial reform and police reform.

“It is time for a complete paradigm shift in how we run our institutions and operate our country,” the contract states. “The problems facing America are too deep and wide to simply reform one area or another. Long-lasting solutions demand a comprehensive thorough ‘rethink’ of America so that each new approach in each area supports the success of others.”

Notably, it has a section on Black responsibility, reminding everyone that it makes no sense to ask for help if you’re not putting in the work to help yourself.

“This contract is a two-way street,” it states. “As we gain social and economic equality, we must begin to dissolve any bitterness in our hearts for past wrongs. We must become better citizens who are more productive on all levels of American society. …

“Our entertainers should be persuaded to deliver more positive content that leads our youth to make better choices in life. A new pride must develop with these new opportunities, and we must fight against negativity, frustration, hopelessness, depression, alcoholism, drug abuse, crime and violence.”

This isn’t his first step toward political engagement and activism, and it wasn’t created in a vacuum.

Ice Cube is a prominent supporter of a California bill that opens a pathway to reparations to help atone for slavery, and he’s well-known for speaking out about inequality and police brutality.

Race and ethnicity professor Darrick Hamilton and UN Ambassador Andrew Young are noted contract supporters.

Trump’s “Platinum Plan” for Black America is a shot directly at Democrats who cannot take the African American vote for granted.

Donald Trump’s 2016 margins of victory in swing states with a heavy Black presence were so slim that the 14% of Black male support he received was critical. (A negligible number of Black women supported him.)

Biden needs to dig into that margin this year to assure victory in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina — at a minimum.

The Democrats can seize an advantage if the Biden campaign steps up with more robust and specific proposals than Trump’s typical bombast and vagaries.

By the way, Ice Cube — a Hollywood film producer and driving force behind the Big3 professional basketball league

— doesn’t seem to mind the criticism. It’s the mark of a true leader; he’s willing to do and say unpopular things, based on what he believes is best.

And his responses on Twitter back that up.

“Black progress is a bipartisan issue,” he wrote. “When we created the Contract With Black America we expected to talk to both sides of the isle. Talking truth to power is part of the process.”

The Washington Post tweeted a story with the headline: “Ice Cube once rapped about arresting Trump. Now he’s advising the president on policy plans.”

He responded, “I will advise anybody on the planet who has the power to help Black Americans close the enormous wealth gap.”

He also made clear that he hasn’t endorsed Trump, nor is he working with Trump.

He’s trying to push an agenda aimed at equality.

And in doing so, he’s created a massive opportunity for Biden and Harris to seize the type of energy that could help their campaign in swing states with large numbers of Black voters.

Now it’s a question of whether Democrats will seize it.