Mo

LOS ANGELES - The MTV Video Music Awards are all about unique collaborations and blowout performances, but a few show guests Sunday added a touch of politics in this hot election year.

Host Russell Brand drew hearty applause when he said in his opening monologue he hoped the U.S. would elect Barack Obama in November.

He said that "some people _ racists" may not be ready to elect a black man as president, but then he noted that the nation was open-minded enough to put a "dumb cowboy" in office for eight years.

Russell Simmons voiced his views on the red carpet before the show.

"Palin, what's that?" Simmons asked about the John McCain's running-mate choice. "He went all the way to the right and got the most conservative person who knows nothing about the struggle of most Americans and made her the vice presidential nominee. That's amazing. Any skirt will do."

T.I., meanwhile, took a quieter approach, wearing a T-shirt during his performance with Rihanna that read, "Respect my vote."

A service of the Associated Press(AP)

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CWoodFan7

i thought it was very inappropriate...if they are going to insult politicians, then back them up...it just made him look stupid IMO.

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carebearcarrie

i HATED HATED HATED the host.

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gmc_rfc_06

Russell Brand was great, Obama all day...and George is an idiot.

T.I.'s shirt was good, people need to respect others vote.

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CWoodFan7

typical answer coming from a liberal

TheRealCowboy08

I wont go as far as Gary but i will agree,we should respect others' votes

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gmc_rfc_06

I'm not a liberal, I'm not anything. I'm not powerless enough to vote for whoever is on one side, whoever is the best candidate should be voted for. There are millions of people who will vote for someone because of the party they represent, I'm not one of them. You shouldn't really make accusations when you don't know the situation

Barack will change things and therefor is the best candidate IMO.

CWoodFan7

he will change things alright, ill give you that

but it wont be a GOOD change IMO

carebearcarrie

NO MATTER BHOW MUCH you HATE our current president, hes the one WE have. repect them. AND. WTF. Russel was the BIGGEST JERK on the planet Sunday night. hes a sex addict. and made fun of all PURE teens who wear purtiy rings, AND pretty much said republicans are dirt, II DONT CARE HOW much you really think that, but it SHOULD NEVER be said outloud EXPECTALLY on NATION TV.

i personally think Goerge was a great president. but at time i think he didnt know what he was doing.

im not old enough to vote, but perosnally im not going to bash the other canidate i dont like.

broker03

i agree with barack and his message of change. It fits him VERY well.......

1. He CHANGES his mind to get votes
2. He will CHANGE the tax code and raise your taxes


Oh sure change from Obama is for sure loud and clear.

On a side note why would you want your face all over tee shirts? Sounds like a dictatorship to me.

gmc_rfc_06

If that is Russell's opinion then yes it should, people seem to be forgetting what makes a great comedian. Look at all the true great comedians, they all peak on life, politics and other people...that's the way it is. Russell has the freedom to talk about anything and thankfully he's not scared to say what he thinks.

Einherjer9

Russel Simmons ran out of an awards show crying after Suge Knight got that guy to stab dr. dre with a fork LOL. Russel Simmons is a sissy and nobody cares what he thinks

CWoodFan7

he's not a very comedian, all i kept hearing that came from his mouth were very rude comments and that is NOT what a comedian is all about...comedians supposed to be funny and crack jokes, NOT BASH half the world! and pick ppl to shreds.

very well put danielle! he shouldn't have been the host of the VMA's, well maybe he should have because the whole show sucked anyways lol so he fit right in

gmc_rfc_06

He's regarded as one of the best comedians around for a reason, he is clearly funny.