Randy Newman is ‘Dreaming’ about the Obama-Romney race

Randy Newman has fired his satirical barbs at racism and the gruesome legacy of slavery before, most notably in “Rednecks” and “Sail Away.”

Now he’s taking aim again with a new song that’s related from the perspective of a (presumably white) voter who declares that, “I’m dreaming of a white president.” One line goes: “He won’t be the brightest, perhaps, but he’ll be the whitest, and I’ll vote for that.”

The 68-year-old singer and composer, who’s backing President Obama for reelection, told the Associated Press that he wanted “I’m Dreaming” to convey his thoughts about the pervasiveness of racism -- which he called “the great issue of this country” -- albeit with his trademark wry comic touch.

“I felt that that sentiment exists in the country,” Newman told AP in an interview Monday. “I don’t know how many people you can get to admit it. I think maybe zero.”

Newman is making the song available as a free download on his website, and encouraging listeners to make a donation to the United Negro College Fund.

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