On CNN all day discussing Wright

Hey, folks!

I did a hit at 5:25 am on CNN's American Morning discussing Rev. Jeremiah Wright and just finished one on CNN's Headline News.

I'll be on CNN at 1:30 pm, talking to anchor Don Lemon.

Then I'll do CNN's Headline News at 2 pm.

And I'm scheduled to do AC360 to discuss race and politics at 9 pm.

All times are central standard time!

I have also posted the Odeo player to hear the sermon on www.rolandsmartin.com/blog, and will post them here on my Essence.com blog as soon as I can get to my computer.

Thank goodness I can update this blog from my Blackberry or Treo!

Roland S. Martin www.rolandsmartin.com CNN Contributor

Sent from Blackberry

Comments

[Sabrina]

Mr. Bells family should definetely file Civil charges and pursue a civil rights law suit. This is an outrage that these officers would get off scott free. Look at all the hurt this mother and children have gone through. Things just ain't gettin' any better are they? They should be held accountable and this would help ensure that officers take every percaution to make sure there is no weapon CHARGED before they fire! This is rediculous!

[Sandra on Wright interview]

Regarding the Wright interview:

Although I have not yet watched the Moyers' interview with Rev. Wright, my heart dropped and my blood pressure rose when I heard the snippets from the interview. Keep in mind that not everyone is going to see the full interview and are going to draw conclusions from the snippets. This is scary! But I plan to watch so that I can validate or invalidate my initial reaction. But here are my initial thoughts:
1. Why is he coming out NOW to address this issue? If he is trying to help Obama then why couldn't he have come out in the beginning of all this?

2. He is hurting not helping Obama. When the issue appeared to be losing some steam after Obama's speech on race, now with the timing of this interview it is adding fuel to the fire. A fire that North Carolina Republicans are beginning to fan.

3. One commentator pointed out that it appears that Wright is trying to mend his reputation rather than Obama's.

4. His comment about "Obama is a politician and says what a politician needs to his audience and he is a pastor who says what he needs to say to his congregation" can be construed as Obama will say anything to get elected. Which makes him on par with Clinton. (I cringe).

5. Final thought is we don't have to worry about whites hurting or keeping black people from opportunities when we tend to hurt each other all on our own. It is almost as if Wright is nailing down the coffin of defeat for Obama.

Well, I am praying God's will in this because it keeps me from wanting to choke Wright and Clinton and Rendell and......

[BS,PhD,MD]

Good Job on Headline News, Roland. I checked the blog and immediately turned on the tube. I probably missed the first minute or so but I came in just as you were calling Hannity out for his aversion to facts. LOL

[rikyrah]

I just want to thank you. I wasn't able to see you today, but I saw you last night, and you were great. Thank you for holding it down.

As for Dr. Wright, he was gonna surface sooner or later.

[Jody Gaddy]

Republicans are NOT the only racists in this nation. Hillary and Bill and many democrats are more dangerous racists. Jim Clyburn states that Hillary wants to completely destroy Obama so that she can run against McCain in 2012.
====================

April 24, 2008, 7:53 pm
Black Leader in House Denounces Bill Clinton’s Remarks
By Mark Leibovich

The third-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives and one of the country’s most influential African-American leaders sharply criticized former President Bill Clinton this afternoon for what he called Mr. Clinton’s “bizarre” conduct during the Democratic primary campaign.

Representative James E. Clyburn, an undeclared superdelegate from South Carolina who is the Democratic whip in the House, said that “black people are incensed over all of this,” referring to statements that Mr. Clinton had made in the course of the heated race between his wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Senator Barack Obama.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/black-congressman-denounces-b-clintons-remarks/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/24/james-clyburn-criticizes_n_98546.html

Video:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/23601329#24318677

[Ceddo]

1 and 2 posts
1- I just sent a comment to Essence about Tavis Smiley and C West. Here it is corrected (the french spelling part did not come out right (the computer fault): "Well, bon debarras et sans regret to Mr. Tavis "Hip-Hop" Smiley. And (as) for Mr. West: Harvard did good thinking about you and Princeton will soon follow. Please get yourself together, Mr. West. Dear M. L. King is not going to be happy about you two. No disrespect here but we don't want to be canned in the past, specially in a retrograde past".

2- I watched the JW interview w/B. Moyers. I'm asking you to call up David Gregory of MSNBC and asking him about his 1st question on his show last Thursday afternoon when he asked a snippet-question: "Did JW help Obama when JW said "Obama is a politician and I am a pastor" trying to suggest that Obama is a poltician as USUAL, saying what needed to be said at the moment. The point is ACCOUNTIBILITY. It's gonna be fun. Please do.

[simplycharming47]

I too watched the Wright, Moyers interview tonight and found it rather pleasant to watch without all the usual biased/self-righteous BS spewed by a bunch of hand picked blow hards talking about nothing.. But soon as it was over I turned to CNN and as ususal every freaking point was missed and Senator Obama was being blamed for the darn interview!!!. GEEZE!! sorry Roland I love you and will continue to read your blogs/commentary but I have officially added CNN to my S**T list. One other thing I especially abhor that mush mouth Campbell Brown. ugggh!! (she seemed so professional while working for NBC/The Today Show..

I dont know what else Pastor Wright can say or do to change the minds of those who have already made up their minds about him and Sen. Obama for that matter. I say move on Pastor and keep doing the good deeds that you were and I'm sure continues to do before all of this racist fodder started. As my mama would say "what wont kill you will make you stronger" that at least is my prayer for you and Senator Obama..

Now to Senator Obama, I say dont feel obliged to answer anymore of those "set-up I got cha" questions related to this over kill of a "story". Please just stick with getting your message out to the people. It just seems no matter what you say or dont say for that matter will be held against you in some form or fashion.

One thing all Americans know for sure and that is, it doesnt matter how articulate, how educated, regardless of your mixed ethnic background, there will always be that fool or group of fools who will never see you as being anything other than a YOU KNOW WHAT. So keep doing your thing and inspite of those who live each second of their miserable lives tearing you down just be encouraged by the millions who will cast their vote for you- THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA- GOD BLESS YOU SENATOR!!

[Denita]

I watched Bill Moyers interview with Rev. Wright last night at 9:30 PM Central Time. First, kudos to Rev. Wright for staying strong and being a true man of God. He talked about many aspects of his life and his love for God and for the people of his ocngregation was clearly evident to any one with an open mind. Second, kudos to Bill Moyers for conducting a balanced and comprehensive interview. I've never watched his show, but will now tune in. Overall, I don't think the interview did nothing to hurt Sen. Obama. Instead, for those who watched the whole thing, it showed an intelligent, concerned, proactive, strong leader who has a realistic and balanced view of his country. What else should anyone expect from a man who took a church from 87 members to over 6000, graduated from U of Chicago (that ain't easy), and counseled at least one presidents.

So after the interview, I tune to the news programs (not FOX - can't do it), to see what they have to say - nothing. I get up this morning and expect to see the news programs flooded with political advisors commenting on the inteview. Instead, I see less than 5 minutes on each of the news programs. Maybe there will be more on Monday morning. I assume that the interview gave them nothing to talk about - because intelligence, compassion and Godliness is not really newsworthy. We'll see.........

[deva]

Simply Charming---you are so on point! You to Denita. CNN had some mess to say after the interview. CNN reporters are just simple. They will find the bad in everything. We need to all write them and let them know enough is enough. It is time to rest the Rev. Wright saga. He is a good man and they know it.