Editing LL Cool J (section)

===Political involvement===
In 2002, LL Cool J supported [[George Pataki]]'s bid for a third term as Governor of New York.<ref>{{cite news|last=Katz |first=Celeste |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2002-09-27/news/18213058_1_pataki-terror-attacks-karenna-gore-schiff |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730084630/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2002-09-27/news/18213058_1_pataki-terror-attacks-karenna-gore-schiff |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |title=Cool J comes out for Pataki|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |date=September 27, 2002 |access-date=March 30, 2012}}</ref>  In 2003, LL Cool J spoke at a U.S. Senate Committee hearing on the [[RIAA]] lawsuits against Americans distributing or downloading copyrighted music over [[peer-to-peer]] networks. He appeared to endorse the RIAA's position, claiming illegal file sharing was hurting his sales and that his session musicians "can't live" due to the lost income. [[Chuck D]] provided an opposing viewpoint, saying free file-sharing could be leveraged as a promotional tool and the industry was being overprotective of its copyright.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Katie|last=Dean |url=https://www.wired.com/gadgets/portablemusic/news/2003/10/60650 |title=Rappers in Disharmony on P2P |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]  |date= October 1, 2003|access-date=March 30, 2012}}</ref> LL also voiced his support for New York State Senator [[Malcolm Smith (U.S. politician)|Malcolm Smith]], a [[U.S. Democratic Party|Democrat]], during an appearance on the senator's local television show;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St5IyfFPOos | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/St5IyfFPOos| archive-date=2021-10-28|title=Senator Malcolm Smith Show w. LL Cool J part 3 |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=January 2, 2008 |access-date=March 30, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> LL worked with Smith in putting on the annual Jump and Ball Tournament in the rapper's childhood neighborhood of [[St. Albans, Queens]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ny1.com/content/features/one_on_1_archives_hp/91780/one-on-1--hip-hop-artist-ll-cool-j-leaves-footprints-beyond-music |title=One On 1: Hip-Hop Artist LL Cool J Leaves Footprints Beyond Music |website=NY1.com |access-date=March 30, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524134151/http://www.ny1.com/content/features/one_on_1_archives_hp/91780/one-on-1--hip-hop-artist-ll-cool-j-leaves-footprints-beyond-music |archive-date=May 24, 2013 }}</ref> In a February 10, 2012 televised interview with [[CNN]] host [[Piers Morgan]], LL Cool J expressed sympathy for President [[Barack Obama]] and ascribed negative impressions of his leadership to [[U.S. Republican Party|Republican]] obstruction designed to "make it look like you have a coordination problem." He was quick to add that no one "should assume that I'm a Democrat either. I'm an [[Independent voter|independent]], you know?"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1202/10/pmt.01.html |title=CNN – Transcripts |website=Transcripts.cnn.com |access-date=May 2, 2013}}</ref> In his 2010 book ''LL Cool J's Platinum 360 Diet and Lifestyle'', he included Obama in a list of people he admired, stating that the then-president had "accomplished what people thought was impossible."<ref>LL Cool J with Dave Honig, Chris Palmer & Jim Stoppani; ''LL Cool J's Platinum 360 Diet and Lifestyle: A Full-Circle Guide to Developing Your Mind, Body, and Soul'', page 14, Rodale, 2010</ref>