Today's show comes right at the nexus between conventions, between Tampa and Charlotte -- with a detour to a New Orleans recovering from the now-former Hurricane Isaac. Yesterday with Thomas Roberts, New Orleans resident Melissa previewed the brief visit to her city made by now-official Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, giving him props for bringing the cameras there (a stated goal of his), but also reminding folks that communities struck with that kind of flood and wind damage need policy more than photo-ops -- and in that light, questioned his choice of running mate:
He has on his ticket a vice-presidential candidate who stood in the way of FEMA funding. He has in his policy platforms things that would reduce the ability of the Gulf coast to be safe from storms. He made fun of, last night, the idea of global warming and rising waters, and did that while people are suffering on the Gulf coast. So the photo-op is nice, I'm happy for it -- but it's got to bring policy with it.
A Politico op-ed seconded the point Melissa has been making all week, and well before: for all the Republican praise lavished on small businesses, you know what they can't build? Levees:
Having healthy disagreements is vital for our democracy. But this Category 1 hurricane is an urgent reminder that government plays an important role in protecting citizens and property, particularly where the private sector is unable or unwilling to do so. There are also few instances where government is more crucial than in the construction and maintenance of vital public infrastructure.
We've just heard the Republicans for the last several days presenting whatever argument they have for why they should be in charge, why government isn't the answer, "you DID build that," and so on and so forth. Today, now that they're done, Melissa will offer a retort of sorts. (The headline and the video above are teasers for exactly how we're framing that. Tune in to find out.)
Tune in at the top of the show for that, and other topics which include: the vain appeal Romney is making to women voters; the welfare lie they keep repeating, and naturally, Hurricane Isaac, including some of the heroes that emerged from the crisis.
Our guests will include:
- Irin Carmon, staff writer at Salon.com.
- Karen Carter Peterson, Democratic State Senator from Louisiana, and Chairwoman of the Louisiana Democratic Party.
- David Coates, political science professor at Wake Forest University.
- Bob Franken, syndicated columnist.
- Nancy Giles, comedian, writer, and contributor to CBS News' "Sunday Morning."
- Monica Mehta, business and finance expert and author of "The Entrepreneurial Instinct."
- Ronald Scott, author of "Mitt Romney: An Inside Look at the Man and His Politics."
- Rebecca Traister, senior writer at Salon.com and author of "Big Girls Don't Cry."
You can watch Melissa's commentary on Romney going to New Orleans below. (The President will be there on Monday.)
As always, folks -- be sure to interact with us during the show here in the comments of this post, on Facebook, and on Twitter, using the hashtag #nerdland. We look forward to having you join us at 10am ET on msnbc!
MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry joins Thomas Roberts to talk about Mitt Romney's campaign stop in New Orleans on Friday - one day after his big speech before the Republican National Convention.
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I am astonished by the lack of critical thinking skills applied to Clint's "performance".
3 doors down, BeBe Winans, Taylor Hicks are all musicians and what did they do.... performed music.
Clint is what.... an actor....and what did he do...he performed an ad lib skit. that is what actors do. That is it.
Musicians don't just get on the stage at a planned political event and simply jam.. they play songs which they have rehearsed. The choice to allow Clint to ad lib anything at such a critical moment was a bad one. He did a poor job. It was confused and didn't send a clear message about anything except the inability of the Romney campaign staff to vet their speakers properly.
I think the point you have to recognize here is that conventions are paid commercials designed to build up your candidate and jump start their fall campaign run. Instead, Clint's antics have resulted in all the conversation about his antics and not about the candidate. Now if the candidate had said something profound, perhaps this would have been overcome.
I understand that it 'stings' when one of our idols is the centerpiece of a humorous skit....especially one by an academy award winner and holllywood hero. But, I will let the people who were actually in the room at the time be the"experts" on whether he did a poor job and if that was a bad choice. I believe the laugh and applause meter ....speaks for itself. With all due respect.... your "perception" and opinion....like my original comment...lack critical thinking.
So now I suppose I need to provide a list of qualifications to prove I have a right to claim some authority on the topic, so I will. I am highly trained as both a debater and also as an actor/director in what Hollywood lovingly refers to as "the industry". I know what I am talking about and can even go so far as to claim I understand the performance medium Mr. Eastwood used better than he did, and far better than the majority of his audience in the room.
His appearance was disheveled and his delivery garbled. He appeared to have lost concentration early in the routine and from that point gave up on whatever his original plan was, and simply improvised poorly until his time was up. His work was certainly not up to professional standards.
Whether the people in the room with him cared is irrelevant. The audience in the room were already sold on the product. They didn't need more convincing. Those who did were watching from the comfort of their own homes and did not feel the collective excitement that a celebrity generates when in the same room.
Thank you for your 'credentials' and self-proclaimed status. You may want to get a refund from your training...as it clearly left out some basic critiquing skills.
1) set your emotion aside.
2) He was in "character" from the time he walked on and walked off...including his appearance and his delivery...someone of your esteemed status...surely you get that?
3) As an "opening act" ...he achieved the objective...get the crowd ready and excited for the main event...key note.
4) if you have the chance to book Clint for your event....don't turn it down!
as most of us are at yours :-)
Isn't that like asking people coming out of a Tom Petty concert if they like Tom Petty and then turning around and saying that 98% of people agree with Tom Petty? That's an interesting comment coming from the guy who questions critical thinking skills......sounds like you have a strategy of "the best defense is a good offense" so you question other people's critical thinking skills.....
@drano Don't give up... I think you might be getting closer.... You are correct... one would not ask 50 Cent fans who didn't attend a Tom Petty concert to be the experts on Tom's performance. ...I think you might be on your way...good job!
@KirkWR
Okay, maybe you are a bit more mentally crippled than I first thought, so let me rephrase 1.7..
Was the purpose of the convention to make the person who is ALREADY GOING TO VOTE FOR YOU clap harder...or is it the job of the convention to introduce your candidate in a way that causes those NOT ALREADY CONVINCED TO VOTE FOR YOU to clap and consider voting for you?
Your statement suggests that just because a carnival barker gets his audience (people who paid to see him) to "agree" with him by laughing , that those watching from outside of the arena (who didn't pay to see him) are also "agreeing" by laughing, when in fact they're offended.
Do me a favor, look in the mirror and see if you don't have some blueberry pie smeared on your face.
@drano - I think you finally got it, as you didn't "rephrase" your 1.7 which was: Isn't that like asking people coming out of a Tom Petty concert if they like Tom Petty and then turning around and saying that 98% of people agree with Tom Petty?
You have actually jumped to a completely different question. So, I will take that as mission accomplished! Now, as far as what the "RNCs purpose for the convention" question. I will have to assume that it is not "either/or" but rather "both/and" ..... even though though I am not a Political Consultant and this is above my pay grade... I am willing to use my critical thinking skills and say....the entertainers/performers and musicians (Clint the actor fits this role) were likely there to fire up the base...... the other speakers...Rubio, Rice, Davis, Love, Cruz and others.... there to reach those "outside the arena".
I hope that helps you understand and answers your second question.
Peace.... KWR
it was a real success, after all today we're talking about Romney and not about Eastwood.....right. Wiggle around it all you want.
@KirkWR
another thought.....the RNC could have hired any novice and put them on with the same material at 2am and gotten the same "value" out of Eastwood's performance.
I think there are 2 arguments here, what do the comments reflect on the RNC and Eastwood, and what was the ROI? I'm commenting on the ROI, are more people likely to vote for Romney because of Eastwood or are less people going to vote for Romney because of the skit?
My guess is that the skit isn't going to convince people that they should vote for Romney because they like Eastwood, but it could dissuade some people for voting for a campaign that would lower itself to air material that disrespects the presidency.
Hope this helps clarify what I was getting at in 1.7....if you want a true representation of who likes Petty in my example, or how effective the Eastwood skit is, you have to sample a larger group than just people who attend a Petty concert, and to determine if the skit was effective or not, you have to consider more opinions than just those that were already going to vote for Romney. Other than media, Ron Paul supporters and convention employees, how many people do you think were at the convention that were not already going to vote to Romney? How many undecided were watching on TV?
@drano Yes, Clint knew exactly what he was doing....As most entertainers/actors do when it comes to PR and what the media like to latch on to..... it was genius. And RNC would have been fools to turn him down.
Great discussion Drano....hope to do it again soon.... Shalom...kwr
@KirkWR
I agree and you have a great weekend/holiday.
Melissa, your Show is becoming worthless. You rebuttal is
failing woefully.
The idea of a Show is for you to have an AGENDA – things you
want to accomplish and kind of bring understanding/clarity or educate the
public about.
The Eastwood Chair – how dare you an AAW not to say what
even White people are saying – the act was racist, condescending, and INSULTING
to the POTUS! Period.
I know you may have a lot of topics to cover, but you should
and must have a conclusive, though not exhaustive discussion as time and the
format would not permit it.
You seem not to have matured into not allowing talking
points and letting wrong assertions rebutted affectively. It is your Show and
you have the AUTHORITY and POWER to set anyone straight, use it and do a better
Show.
Ms Harris Perry was WAY gentler with that snarky conservative ___— than I would have been. BRAVA
and as someone that also just survived Issac, it broke my heart seeing the storm took the home you wanted to restore.
Not to go all mehta on y'all, but for the conservo-investor faux-news contributor to have any real standing in the conversation she really needs to do more than repeat talking points based on straw men or women.
Ronald Scott's take on Romney's leadership as a president, specifically that he would represent the people and not bow to party ideology, rings very false to me after seeing how the legislature has been working over the last several years.
If Republicans have no problems holding the national economy hostage to get what they want during the Obama administration, what is to stop them from doing the same thing under a Romney administration? They have a strategy that is working for them, they are not just going to set it aside, especially when their candidate has just been elected (which they will certainly view as an acceptance of their platform).
Should Romney attempt to hold the line on reproductive rights, as Mr. Scott has predicted, then I believe they will simply return to form and refuse to allow his administration to get anything else passed until they get their social agenda signed into law.
So true and women of all political affiliations need to see through this and vote and not for Romney/Ryan ticket.
Melissa, you were talking about CHOICE, but you have allowed Moinca to change the subject and you did not MAKE the POINT why you raised the choice issue. You failed! You are EASILY thrown off course. Stay on course and make your point.
Eastwood knew very well what he was doing, and it was a very creative skit. I'd welcome the chance to do the same to Robme in any venue, so thanks for the opening Clint!
As to the nature of subliminal racist content, I'm not convinced. Certainly it pales in comparison to throwing peanuts at an African-american correspondent.
Now, as to the contributions of Monica Mehta, I can only say that the panel was remiss in not calling out her lies and distortions more forcefully. Mr Obama has a fine track record with small business — he has improved small business loans, and supported generous tax write-offs for investment, he has lowered taxes on small business. People like Monica, pseudo-entrepreneurs, have no solid connection to the real problems of small business and just parroting the whining of the Chambers of Commerce as they make special pleadings for irresponsible environmental policy or budget busting tax breaks will not provide it.
LIKE
I'm sorry. I just had to come here to say I've got Melissa's show playing in the background while I read at the Huffpost.
Way too much screaming and talking over one another to suit me. If I want to listen to a show of inconsiderate, screaming panelists, I'll tune into Fox. Is that what you want?
Yeah, Dr. Harris-Perry needs to show a bit more leadership in general, and some panels are way worse than others is running away with the agenda!
I actually think Perry was much more effective in letting Mehta's conservative filter develop over the course of the show and I was absolutely impressed when Mehta made the mistake of delivering the tired old republican talking point equating wealth to risk she hammered her statement and the ideology behind the statement at the same time. I think it was masterful, even if unintended.
"Romney's NOLA photo-op?" How about the one with O b a m a's tribute to Neil Armstrong showing a picture of himself? The senator praising Landrieu failed to acknowledge O b a m a refusing to sign that order for 3 days after Governor Jindal requested it. Governor Jindal has overseen the relief efforts. All Landrieu has done is sold out this state. Governor Romney's visit was a sincere effort; unlike O b a m a who did not decide to visit until he heard about Governor Romney's visit. The people affected are conservative and this RED STATE will vote for him in November.
Remember in 2011 when Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky were under water due to massive flooding, and Missouri and Alabama were devastated by a series of tornadoes, and how many of the citizens living in these areas were left standing on their rooftops for days begging for help while others perished needlessly in the streets because the Obama administration did not respond? Me neither.
Recently in March 2012 we watched as severe storms and tornadoes swept across the Midwest and the South, and once again the Obama administration was on the ground before, during, and after to offer communities immediate aid and assistance.
There's something to be said for competent leadership. And there's something to said for government that is responsive to the needs of the public. This is change. Good change. Change you can believe in kind of change.
I am really tired of your (Republican) lies. President Obama talked to Jindahl way before Issac hit Louisiana and guaranteed the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (not your prescious state governments) would make sure that Louisiana received Federal Relief and any other assistance they needed!
I see what Mehta just did there: she begged the question by posing the straw man that the we are saying that the "reformers" hate the "poors". Intellectually dishonest! Please go back to Fox and don't come back!
And please don't allow her to continually interrupt everyone, especially the hostess. Where is the gong or a long stick with a hook on it?
I think Perry let Mehta hold on to the stick and hook herself with it :-) I also think letting Mehta act rudely also played out well when she finally had enough and made her statement debunking what Mehta had been saying.
I agree and hope she's never given any air time on respectable TV programming again.
Oh, Melissa!!!
FANTASTIC SHOW! I am so glad that you made the point that being POOR in America is RISKY - A HELLUVA LOT more RISKY than being rich in America!!!
THANK YOU Melissa for the RANT about there being NO RISK for rich people to be caught in a safety net again, and again, and again.
I knew you were building up a head of steam when you said you weren't going to let that go before the commercial break. You have much more decorum and manners than I have, I would have cut that conservative woman's mic and thrown her off the set. Then she does the TYPICAL Republican giggle, after you went off...to dismiss everything you said.
Wow ...doesn't sound very civil or open minded. Instead of "cut her mic and throw her out"... why not have a conversation with her like adults do?
If there were two adults to have a conversation, she would have.
I absolutely respected Melissa's passionate response to the mind boggling assertion posed by Mehta that the poor or disadvantaged don't take risks. I guess she wants the poor small business owners, I'm thinking of the person with the Windex and squeegee, maybe Mehta is suggesting that they jump out in front of traffic, or instead of a city intersection, work the freeway during rush hour when traffic is stop and go. Should single mothers with children start taking risks by cruising store dumpsters for expired food and restaurant dumpsters for the food left by patrons such as Mehta herself? Mehta later comment about roads really illustrates her feeling of superiority, the roads everyone built is used by entrepreneurs to conduct business and others to go to Dairy Queen. That speaks volume's about Mehta's core feelings that everyone who isn't an entrepreneur is basically lazy and deserve what they get.
For those that feel that Perry crossed a line by losing her temper, I would say that if more hosts did the same at least we would be having an honest discussion. If more people would call out BS more often, then maybe the BS pushers wouldn't be so quick to offer it up.
I'm waiting for someone to call out those who say Obama had total control for the first 2 years. Obama lost any ability to get legislation through the senate when Kennedy became to ill to participate and then Brown was elected in the special election. This was ONLY because the GOP decided to use the filibuster as a tool to prevent legislation from coming up for a vote. This is probably one of the more blatant lies forwarded by the GOP, one that had a basis in truth at the beginning of Obama's term, but wasn't even true 8 months into his term.
interesting logic... it's okay to be uncivil and close minded when someone you disagree with makes a strong case. That sounds like very immature logic to me.
@KirkWR
exactly how long would you listen to a child throwing a temper tantrum before you stopped, how long would you listen to someone trying to tell you that the earth is flat.....how long would you listen to OBVIOUS BULL@!$%# before you put a stop to it. How Long?
@KirkWR
You and that conservative woman can EACH
Take a number,
wait over there with the other wastes of flesh,
until I give a F_— what you think.
@drano Great question! Answer: As long as it takes. When one responds to a "temper tantrum" with another "temper tantrum"... it only goes down hill. Rise above the 'mix'....never go into the gutter with them...you will only get muddy.
@boyinBoycott In reading the anger and vitriol in your post... I think of the greatness of MLK, jr. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”
calm down... we are all Americans and in this together
with Love...KWR
Even though I disagree with most of what Mehta said - the one thing she was right about is that Mom's will vote economics. Can we get a good job and can our children find any job? Can we afford a safe place to live? Is there enough to eat today? Those are the ultimate questions many ask theselves in the voting booth. I've been poor and not poor (never "rich"). Just as the rich don't understand the value of foodstamps, WIC programs, etc., we Democrats need to be honest with ourselves about what really influences women when they vote. I love MHP - but would love to see a panel of people on any of these talk shows that was totally comprised of people who have lived their entire lives in households with incomes under $150,00.00 and outside of NYC. You would hear a very different conversation.
@KirkWR
Conflating my example of a temper tantrum to Perry's response is either intellectually dishonest or lazy, which is it?
Perry made an impassioned statement in reaction to what many would consider an absurd statement, that the poor are poor simply because they don't take risks like entrepreneurs and instead of using roads for business they go to Dairy Queen.
Really, this is the best you got?
@drano lest you forget, here is your post (notice the use of "temper tantrum" to describe the panel behavior):
- exactly how long would you listen to a child throwing a temper tantrum before you stopped, how long would you listen to someone trying to tell you that the earth is flat.....how long would you listen to OBVIOUS BULL@!$%# before you put a stop to it. How Long? -
I will repeat my answer to your question: "As long as it takes..." a 'child' throwing a temper tantrum will be recognized and remembered as "the child who has a bad temper" an adult who responds to said 'child' with calm and reasoned feedback will be remembered as a credible and responsible person with self-control and incredible character.
@KirkWR
We're homing in on the problem, you're twisting the intent of my words. No where in my post did I imply that my example of a temper tantrum was what I was comparing the panel to just as I never said anyone on the panel said the earth was flat! Your reply did answer my question though, you're not intellectually challenged, you're intellectually dishonest.
@drano ..my apologies for not inferring that the illustrations you used on a comments page about a TV panel were to be taken literally and not figuratively in relation to when/how Melissa responded to a panelist on and during the show.
No wonder you were so confused, I was not actually giving parenting advice and that is what you were wanting. I believe you can go to the National Parenting Center at tnpc.com for an answer. Good luck....kwr
@KirkWR
Sweetie you couldn't handle if you saw me ANGRY. I could draw on a well of RAGE that a G*D DAMN 1/1000th would MELT your cheap PC screen, So don't condescendingly quote MLK to me. I was there when they murdered JFK, and Bobby and King, and Milk, and said NOTHING for three Mother F___ing years as gay men like me died of AIDS.
Now go sit at the Kiddies Table ===> that way
@BoyinBOycott Sir, I can assure you there is nothing but the deepest of respect attached to the MLK,jr. quote. And again... I sincerely believe that we....all of us, with our different backgrounds, our different experiences, our losses and our different beliefs .....are in this together.
Peace to you my friend.....kwr
Wahoo!! Don't you dare apologize for your PASSION! (okay, you're being a grownup. You're forgiven.) I worked at a residential program as a teacher and made about 60 percent of what I would make in public school in Philadelphia. I worked part time at Barnes and Noble (I now blog) and when I told an aide (African American) I had to get to my other job, Marcus said, "Mr. Jerry, you're like a regular person: you work 2 jobs!" I am white (Lily White: descendant of a colonial governor of Connecticut) and it was a real eye opener. If you see a person of color who is moving a little slow on the job, they're not lazy, they're EXHAUSTED.
As to the notion of race baiting policy, Monica should have the intellectual honesty to recognize that her subset of "brown" people could just as easily be targeted for that kind of dishonesty as Melissa's subset of "brown" people.
Never mind Monica's totally illogical discussion of the merits of entrepreneurial people, she just doesn't have a clue and can't manage any clear assessment of small business it seems. Melissa might as well have had Ann Coulter in there.
Loved the rant. You're absolutely right. I've gone hungry and I've been wealthy. Had to steal lettuce out of my (poor) neighbors garden and make peanut butter and lettuce sandwiches, no bread, to get by. It's much easier "risking" my money on Wall Street than it ever was to go to bed at night hungry, counting the hours till you'd steal more lettuce from your neighbor's garden and have your one calorie challenged meal a day. I get as tired as you do listening to rich people talk about risking their money. There should be a different word for it. Oh, hey, there is, it's called investing! Never liked the show more than when you got fired up!
Ditto. I have a brother-in-law who's a CPA, a small businessman, who has always carped (the polite word for it) about taxes, all taxes, state and Federal and how put upon he is trying to pay this fee, that tax, keep up with the regulations etc. He lost about $1 million in the downturn in his portfolio - why he didn't shift assets to cash at the earliest is beyond me - but he still has more money in cash, investments, property than I will ever see in my lifetime short of winning the Powerball. You'd think he is collecting cans by the side of the road for the nickel deposit to hear him talk poor.
Brilliant show this morning. Fantastic discussion. Your retort to Monica Mehta was powerful. Her staggering ignorance and parroting of unsupported GOP talking points had me retorting at the TV rather vigorously all morning. Monica needs to be educated on a few facts. For example, more jobs have been created at more than twice the rate under Democratic administrations than under GOP administrations. That includes President Obama. Interesting to have her on the show -- provides an opportunity to debunk the propaganda she's peddling. Amusing that she's an "expert" when her critical thinking skills and understanding of history is so lacking.
Your guess Mehta seems to have a cultural indoctrination that results in her willingness to accept class status as a commonality. Culture is transposed even when the person is transplanted to a different cultural set. We all have the same type of bias inserted though culutre into our instinctive set of values.
Thank you Melissa Harris-Perry for speaking the truth. Unvarnished, with the eloquence that only passion can bring.
Melissa, do not apologize for letting loose - it was righteous anger and entirely on point. I am probably the whitest person you'll ever meet short of an albino but I agree whole-heartedly about the insidious color code words and images that have been a part of political and personal conversations for decades. The working poor of all sorts are on the receiving end of the same canards: they're lazy, they made poor life choices (some had NO choice, others no way of knowing what was a better choice), all want something for nothing (handouts of OUR hard earned money, like scrubbing toilets and washing dishes is SO easy.) The folks making unwarranted assumptions about others need to walk the proverbial mile in their shoes for a while.
Some second generation kids have that air of entitlement. Because their parents made it and set their children up they think that everyone else had the same advantage -- but our society simply isn't set up that way. In order for Capitalism to work there have to be winners and losers -- Metha (or whatever her name is) was merely lucky -- I thought it was interesting she claims to be an expert, yet had absolutely no statistics or facts that were relevant or true!
THANK YOU! I was listening to your show today from the other room and had to go rewind when you talked about the RISK of living in poverty in the United States. I work with young people who live in those neighborhoods and every day I admire their courage. To "live" in what is really a war zone even sometimes inside of their homes. Sometimes these young people are "couch hoppers" staying with friends just so they can sleep instead of worry about whatever is happening inside or just outside of the place they should be able to call home. In essence to live in poverty in America is to be homeless because a home should be safe and healthy place to grow up.
Melissa Harris-Perry, we're with you
Today Melissa H-P says to race-baiting by Republicans, "It's not a dog whistle. We hear you, and we're calling you on it."
NPR reporter Ari Shapiro on August 30 reported on Romney speaking to American Legion in Indiana:
"...But this largely gray-haired audience is not an Obama-friendly crowd. Bobbie Lucier is a retiree from Manassas, Virginia. She's there with her husband, who's a vet. And she has strong feelings about President Obama.
"BOBBIE LUCIER: I just - I don't like him. Can't stand to look at him. I don't like his wife. She's far from the first lady. It's about time we get a first lady in there that acts like a first lady and looks like a first lady."
Yesterday, in Cincinnati, Romney introduced his wife as a woman"...who will light up America." Read: "lighten up America"????
Melissa H-P, we're with you.
You really don't need Monica back on your show. She hasn't got a freakin clue what she is talking about. Especially on the subject of welfare. Who is getting welfare that don't really need it? You should have asked her. I have a friend that showed me who is getting welfare that don't need it and it isn't the poor nor the blacks. It's the well off white folks. Yeah, the same ones that claim the poor are getting rich off of welfare.
Monica's been drinking the koolaid way too long to be able to put her brain in gear without the fear talking points from the teapubs. Don't invite her back. I dang near threw my coffee cup through the tv. I got mad at her ignorance far sooner than you did.
But of course that would be a waste of good coffee!
Melissa, i feel i can comfortably call you that. especially after seeing the most compassionate and passionate displays of human emotion i have ever seen from a talk show host. I was with you and you exploded with the same message almost word for word that i wanted to say just as soon as your guest sad what she said. i have been watching your show from it's inception and i can say that you are a refreshing change to the talk show staples. i am still shaking from what you said but i now feel relieved for you having said it. i need a cigarette....please continue....and i am deeply sorry for your loss and with God's support rebuild.
Thank you Melissa I could not agree more with your statement about the poor.My husband and I own our own business,and are poor.We have benefited from government programs,my children are able to go to college with FASA and will do something that I did not do. I hope that they will be able to have better paying jobs than me. The reason the rich do like entitlements because they do not see how this benefit's them. Please keep informing us about what affects us all. I am white and a democrat .
Thank you, Melissa, for the extra measure of passion that you showed this morning in talking about just who is living with risk in our society. I've followed you ever since you first began turning up as a guest commentator on other shows, and I have to tell you: I am a white woman over 50 and you are a hero and a role model for me. I appreciate and admire the clarity of your analysis, the implications of issues that you pull out like threads from a tangled mass (or mess), your candor, and your strong witness and striving on justice issues. I appreciate your commitment to New Orleans as home, and to its people, and I was glad but not at all surprised to hear that you'll be (re)building your house. Thank you for what you are doing -- and, even more, for who you are.
I totally agree and the only difference between you and I are gender.
I agree with several points - the repub lady would not shut up to let others make a point, and it was irritating to behold. Sometimes when it goes free for all I want to make it stop.
Also, I was very happy Melissa made the point about it being risky to be poor. (Wake up, America!)I did not find myself offended in any way by the righteous indignation, but I am sure it will be used against her all week. (Forget them!)
I don't understand how these people swear they are more godly than the rest of us, but want to be so very un Christ like when it comes to material support for others. I gues it all comes down to the 'other' thing, so sad...
Love the show, I am rooting for Melissa all the way! You always make me think more profoundly. Thank You.