Barack Obama wasn’t right about very much in his eight years as president, but a speech he delivered about black fathers hit the mark and still holds up today.
“Of all the rocks upon which we build our lives, we are reminded today that family is the most important. And we are called to recognize and honor how critical every father is to that foundation,” Obama said on Father’s Day 2008.
“But if we are honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that what too many fathers also are is missing — missing from too many lives and too many homes. You and I know how true this is in the African-American community. We know that more than half of all black children live in single-parent households, a number that has doubled — doubled — since we were children. And the foundations of our community are weaker because of it,” he said.
Which brings us to Nick Cannon (who I’m going to Google now to find out who he is).
“Nicholas Scott Cannon is an American television host, actor, rapper, and comedian,” Wikipedia says. “In television, Cannon began as a teenager on ‘All That’ before going on to host ‘The Nick Cannon Show,’ ‘Wild ‘n Out,’ ‘America’s Got Talent,’ ‘Lip Sync Battle Shorties,’ and ‘The Masked Singer.'”
Ugh. Are those really TV shows?
The 42 year old is apparently super rich — and potent. He has 11 children (plus a 12th on the way) from six different women.
Cannon had twins with then-wife Mariah Carey in 2011. Then he had three children each with Brittany Bell, an American model, dancer and beauty pageant titleholder, and Abby De La Rosa, a model and radio personality.
He also fathered a son with Bre Tiesi, a model and “star” on season 6 of “Selling Sunset” (whatever that is) and a daughter with LaNisha Cole, a model best known for her work on “The Price Is Right” TV show.
And he fathered two children with Alyssa Scott (who is, get ready for it, a model), with his 12th child due soon.
Cannon came out to discuss his prolific fatherdom when a British paper estimated he spends $3 million annually in child support.
“The jaw-dropping $3 million amount was calculated by taking into account several factors, including Nick’s status as a high-income earner, according to California practicing family law attorney and legal expert, Goldie Schon,” The Sun reported.
“When you have somebody like Nick Cannon, who’s an extremely high-income earner, the courts in California have the right to deviate from the typical child support guidelines.”
But Cannon said he doesn’t spend $3 million a year on child support.
“I definitely spend a lot more than that on my children annually,” the U.K. paper reported. “I don’t plan to ever have to participate in the governmental system of child.”
Here’s a shocker. Cannon was raised by his paternal grandfather, whom both he and his biological father called “dad.”
Which brings us full circle to Obama’s speech.
“What I’ve realized is that life doesn’t count for much unless you’re willing to do your small part to leave our children — all of our children — a better world. Even if it’s difficult. Even if the work seems great,” he said.
Guess that doesn’t apply to Cannon, who will no doubt move on soon and father Child No. 13.
“That is our ultimate responsibility as fathers and parents,” Obama said. “We try. We hope. We do what we can to build our house upon the sturdiest rock. And when the winds come, and the rains fall, and they beat upon that house, we keep faith that our Father will be there to guide us, and watch over us, and protect us, and lead His children through the darkest of storms into light of a better day.”
Not Nick. He won’t be there. As a father, here’s a word of advice: Be a father to the children you’ve already got.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
Joseph Curl has covered politics for 35 years, including 12 years as White House correspondent for a national newspaper. He was also the a.m. editor of the Drudge Report for four years. Send tips to [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @josephcurl.