Home > Blogs > Post Content
|
August 8, 2011--CNN's Carol Costello had a rather testy exchange with PBS host Tavis Smiley and Prof. Cornel West about their fierce criticism of President Obama. Smiley and West have been two of President Obama's most high-profile African American critics. They are currently on a nationwide "Poverty Tour" to highlight what they say is the lack of attention given to poor people in America. Smiley and West appeared on "American Morning" Monday to discuss the tour. Smiley was blunt about what he saw as the damage done by Obama in the recent debt deal. "I think this debt ceiling deal, Carol, was really a declaration of war on the poor," he said. "The Congress, the president, respectfully, have declared war on the poor...no unemployment extensions for poor people. No closing of a single corporate loophole, not one new tax, not one cent of new tax on the rich and the lucky." Costello didn't seem to be buying this line of thinking. In response, she cited a Heritage Foundation study which, she said, claimed that poor Americans lived relatively comfortably. "What are they complaining about?" she asked, and, citing the study again, continued, "[rich] people pay the taxes in America and the poor don't pay any." West called this a "lie," saying that "most of the taxes are paid by middle class. One out of four corporations don't pay a penny of taxes." After Smiley ran through some of the things he would like President Obama to do to tackle poverty--including discussing the issue more and having a national conference on poverty--Costello asked another skeptical question. "The president represents everybody in America," she said. "[He's] dealing with a lot of stuff right now so why concentrate on one segment of the population?" "When the banks had a national emergency, they bailed out and found $700 billion," West shot back. "When we go to war, we find $1.3 trillion."
Posted By: Richard Kigel
Monday, August 8th 2011 at 8:52PM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
|
|
|
I am so damn sick of the TEa Party and their ridiculous claims to preserve prvilege for the rich. About time we see some passion for the struggling folks in America.
Monday, August 8th 2011 at 9:50PM
Richard Kigel
|
|
|
I hope the voters in Wisconsin are smart enough to see through the millions coming in from out of their state to try to influence and buy the election.
I am watching The Ed Show right now. Everyone is talking about voter energy. Let's hope so!!!
Monday, August 8th 2011 at 10:48PM
Richard Kigel
|
 |
My thought on this- If we really want to give a voice to poor people throughout the United States why don’t we help voters to become more knowledgeable and educated on the issues and how our government woks. Also why don't we teach people where to go for facts instead filtered TV messages. Politicians respond to votes and unfortunately we don’t turn out to vote like we should. It’s great to be heard on TV but our voice sounds much louder at the polls. If the majority of people in the United States are poor then shouldn’t the majority of voters be poor and therefore be able to dictate the direction of congress by voting for candidates who work in their best interest? I am just concerned that we are appeasing people by letting them vent instead of empowering people by getting them to vote.
Tuesday, August 9th 2011 at 1:35AM
Andrea Parker
|
|
|
Andrea--great obsservations!
You make some very valid points. Sometimes rallies, bus tours, marches and picketing accomplish nothing but venting.
You are exactly right when you pinpoint the absolute importance of voting in gaining power.
Lincoln had this great quote: "God must love poor people because he made so many of them."
He is right. The numbers are there.
But the main problem with gaining power through voting is many of them don't vote--for various reasons. First, simply, they may be working too hard or they may have to travel to far to their polling place which may be easily accessible by car--but for someone who has to rely on public transportation, not so easy.
They may not even be registered to vote. They may be so disheartened and feeling powerless that they don't care.
And within the past year, Republican State legislatures have passed new restrictive impediments to voting for poor people--like requiring state issued photo ID. For someone who has a drivers license, that is no problem. But for many poor, disabled, sick, elderly--they may not have a drivers license. So they will need to take the extra step to make a special trip to their state DMV to obtain a photo ID.
The only reason for this law is to throw up a roadblock against those folks actually voting.
Here is the value of rallies and protests like the one Cornel West and Tavis Smiley are sponsoring. You yourself nailed it when you said the magic word: EDUCATION!!!
Tuesday, August 9th 2011 at 9:22AM
Richard Kigel
|
 |
Hello to All,
Professor West and Mr. Smiley are fighting a losing battle. Professor West and Mr. Smiley's fight is with God and not with White America. Professor West and Mr. Smiley should want sovereignty for Black Americans and not what they feel White America should give to Black Americans.
The most powerful Christian man and well educated was Dr. King and he did not achieve his goals because the goals will unachievable from White America.
As a Christian Dr. King should have studied how God dealt with the same similar situation when Pharaoh was forced to let the children of Israel go free.
What say you?
Tuesday, August 9th 2011 at 9:40AM
Harry Watley
|
|
|
Right, Irma.
We'll see what happens after tonight. The results in Wisconsin will go a long way to foretell how disgusted the voting public is with these people.
Tuesday, August 9th 2011 at 12:48PM
Richard Kigel
|
 |
YES WE CAN...YES WE MUST...
Tuesday, August 9th 2011 at 1:36PM
Siebra Muhammad
|
|
|
That only shows that people are not as dumb as some politicians think.
Why would ANYBODY want to prevent those wealthy folks who can burn 100 dollar bills from paying their fair share when the coutnry is in such desperate need?
Tuesday, August 9th 2011 at 1:49PM
Richard Kigel
|
 |
personally, I wish these two carpetbaggers; negraSuccess!
TAVIS SMILEY AND CORNEL WEST; as american negros, with a histories of acceptance of the source of slaverAmericana -------- paganChristianity --- are beggars and have accepted begging since Dr. MLKing begged for human-civil rights.
farakhanMadoof and his littleBeggars are begging America for land in america, even harryDivine is begging for some land in america --- jamal is begging for land from America in Africa ----
even I am begging negros to learn something!
I guess Richard? ----- africanAmericans are some begging people---we missed the whole Pilgrims, Tea Party, Manifest Destiny Movement, the 49ers and I guess many africanAmericans cannot dance to this song:
O beautiful for spacious skies,
........For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!
Tuesday, August 9th 2011 at 1:53PM
powell robert
|
 |
@robert, how soon we forget the Native-Americans...oops...
the Native-Americans have been relabeled, classified as:
MEXICANS
MEXICAN -AMERICANS
ILLEGAL ALIENS. (N...U...P)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
|
|
|
Not yet ready of the truth, huh?...
Now how many wars did our president start since we no longer have 3 branches of government...(nup)
BUT, ALL AND ALL THANKS BROTHER COW, BECAUSE IT SEEM AT LONG LAST ALL EYES ARE NOW AIMED TOWARDS jOBS, JOBS, JOBS...AND THE STATE OF WISCONSIN. LOL (SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
|
|
|
JOBS, JOBS, JOPBS...
VOTER'S REMORSE...
deal with it the best Congress money can buy as this means all of you in public office: local, state and federal...
YES WE CAN...YES WE MUST...(S-M-I-L-E)
(I am sure wolf blitzer will e coverning the voters in Wisconsin early today eventhough it is going to hurt them to do so. looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool)( oh, and Ed of The Ed Show is not a democrat but a Progressive)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
|
|
|
@Rich, right now I am lsitening to Live W Megyn Kelly@ FNC...and, guess what is now their talking points...congress is being called to come back to washington...I wonder if this has anything to do with those town halls locally ae turning out for them like the Paul ryan's plan ended them up facing at their local town halls...
I was actually surprised to see the locals ganging u on John McCain for refusing to raise taxes on the richest...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
C-H-A-N-G-E (S-M-I-L-E)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
|
|
|
...YES my brother Cow...I can not wait for this unique event in our nation..."I" amd going to be greedy and continue to chant (pray) that I can e satisfied if they don't manage to recall all 6 members of their stategovernment law makers in one swoop today!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rich, another thing that is happening here in Ca. is the redistrictions have uncovered some politicians so desperate to keep the seats tha they have been redistricted ou tof until someting brand new is coming to light...some politicians may not have been actual residents in the counties they ran for office in...
will keep you posted on this little matter as it is something else that has not hit Fox's tlakin gpoints...could be because these are all republicans so far in this new scandal as he latest uncovered cover ups. (otfl) (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
|
|
|
What has happened in the past few months, happening at this very moment, and will be happening in our ntaion for the next few years will all, "I" belive, be the over due needs for responsible voters...its name is...
VOTERS REMORSE. LOL (SMILE)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
|
|
|
...what I really mean about the court battle is those big named mucky, muckys who so proudly signed their names to the contribution checks against the gay marriage laws here are fighting to have their names remail in private as they are being called out one by one by name...it is so cute, because they know Ca is called the land of the fruits and nuts we tend to lean so,so far left. (otfl) (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
|
|
|
Rich, I was watching Ed also...it is as if one must go to MSNBC to see any news related to politics that is not limited to finger pointing and playing th blame, vicitm games.
Tomorrow will be another 'first' in America and it is being treated as if it is not even news at all...
and, as far as out side interverences, romney may end up facing some back lash of the scandal still goin gon here in Ca. over the court battle between those who used Mormon faith, monies to pour into Ca. relating to the gay marrage votings here....these people are being forced to come out of hiding behind their religion out into the open to speak oncivil rights violations and illegal contributions cross states as crossing states to do an illegal act is a little federal violations...
much like your blog about what you put on the net can come back to haunt you even private political contributions in the name of one's own God...here in liberal Ca.it is called abuse/ illegal even. lol (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
|
|
|
@Rich, if true what I heard on CNN today by their host of Your Money, that $2.9 trillion has been lost since 7-27-11 even the filthy rich can't be too happy with anyone on the right . (otfl) (smile)
And, it that $35 million they just spent in Wis. ends up doing for them what those $$$$$millions did for Meg Witman here in Ca. then...oh well, they do so deserve it. lol (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
|
Blogs Home
|
|
|
