Wish I Tivo’d this. AP reports:
It began, fittingly enough, with jazz from New Orleans natives Harry Connick Jr. and Wynton Marsalis.But “A Concert for Hurricane Relief,” a heartfelt and dignified benefit aired on NBC and other networks Friday night, took an unexpected turn thanks to the outspoken rapper Kanye West. Appearing two-thirds through the program, he claimed “George Bush doesn’t care about black people” and said America is set up “to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off as slow as possible.”
The show, simulcast from New York on NBC, MSNBC, CNBC and Pax, was aired live to the East Coast, enabling the Grammy-winning rapper’s outburst to go out uncensored.
…
Comedian Mike Myers was paired with West for a 90-second segment that began with Myers speaking of Katrina’s devastation. Then, to Myers’ evident surprise, West began a rant by saying, “I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family, it says they’re looting. See a white family, it says they’re looking for food.”
While allowing that “the Red Cross is doing everything they can,” West ? who delivered an emotional outburst at the American Music Awards after he was snubbed for an award ? declared that government authorities are intentionally dragging their feet on aid to the Gulf Coast. Without getting specific, he added, “They’ve given them permission to go down and shoot us.”
After he stated, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people. Please call ?” the camera cut away to comedian Chris Tucker.
Concluding the hour a few minutes later, (host Matt) Lauer noted that “emotions in this country right now are running very high. Sometimes that emotion is translated into inspiration, sometimes into criticism. We’ve heard some of that tonight. But it’s still part of the American way of life.”
Then the entire ensemble performed “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
Hear that NBC? There is no news unless it is Kanye news. Anyone see it live? It was cut out of the west coast airing.
UPDATE: Stream the whole thing here.
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if you disagree with what i said feel free to add me to msn stestewart2005@hotmail.com
I would love to have been a fly on the wall hearing what Kanye heard in the studio from people at NBC and other celebs he was surrounded by when he walked out of tha building, got in his limousine, and headed home.
His comments will be heralded as one of the turning points in the efforts to save lives in the Gulf Coast region because think about it:
If you’re George Bush, you don’t want Kanye West to be right. So you’re going to do everything you can to make sure what he just told the world isn’t true. If you don’t, you’re going to lose.
Kanye’s comment was a brave and brilliant chess move.
And remember: Kanye didn’t JUST say “George Bush doesn’t care about black people,” he also mentioned the poor and the less well-off as getting aid “as slowly as possible”.
You freepers might not like what he said, and if you didn’t then GOOD. You shouldn’t. Instead of trying to spin the whole fucking thing, you ought to be out doing something to prove Kanye West is wrong.
If you can’t or you won’t, you were too fucked in the head before this tragedy and the chances are good you’ll be totally fucked after this tragedy.
bravo kanye because what he did and said took a lot of guts. I’ve just gained a lot of respect for this man and just became a fan what he said was true whether you want to believe it’s a race issue or not i know people (white) nowadays don’t like to talk about it whether it makes them comfortable or not but the fact that he bring the race issue in this it is what it is i think people should realize that i don’t want to say goverment but bush doesn’t care about black people
Dear Sharon,
Given the numerous numerical facts mentioned in my article, it is humourous that you ‘pigeonhole’ my description of the problem as limited to the ‘deep south’. I am overly aware of demographics across North America. Of course you’re correct that it’s absurd to call the oppression of the classes a problem of the southern US. It is, however, much easier to see in the south due to the idealogies of the people living there. As recently as 1995, a white man ran for the seat of gov’nur [sic] and publically proclaimed he was a racist. I don’t think you will see many gubernatorial candidates proclaiming they are card carrying members of the KKK in the state of New York.
Allow me to break it down like this, if you can repair the class disparity in the south, you can repair it anywhere in the country.
While I agree that he was ‘brave’ in saying that, I have lost all respect for Kanye West. I was a big fan of his and now regret that I even bought his latest CD.
First off, what do people think that Bush could have done about this? He’s the president, he can’t stop Mother Nature. Yes, aid should have been quicker, but sitting here that is really easy to say. Can you imagine the logistical problems getting to that area when all of this is going on? Not only is everything wiped away (airports, roads, etc.), but when they tried to bring in helicopters people were shooting at them. Would it have been better for them to keep coming and get hit with a bullet only to crash in a sea of people and take out a couple hundred of them? I would head out too if I were the helicopter pilot.
There really is no point in planning ‘disaster recovery’ because every situation is different and has it’s own problems. I realize this, and while I do agree that you’d think something could be done quicker, I don’t think this is ‘all Bush’s fault’ like a lot of you do.
And, this is pretty good publicity for Kanye’s recently released album isn’t it?
Kanye is another example of annoying blacks who want to blame everything on race. When in doubt throw in the race card. As far as i’m concerned he should be there looting and shooting at the national guard with his friends.
Jen said:
First off, what do people think that Bush could have done about this? He’s the president, he can’t stop Mother Nature.
—————————————————
In 2001, FEMA warned that a hurricane striking New Orleans was one of the three most likely disasters in the U.S. But the Bush administration cut New Orleans flood control funding by 44 percent to pay for the Iraq war.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. He could have done a lot before this even happened, instead his adminstration made cuts vital to protecting the infrastructure of the region.
Jen, with respect, I think you’re misrepresenting people’s arguments here. No one is saying this all Bush’s fault or that he is somehow in control of mother nature.
It’s his administration’s response to this disaster that people have legitimate complaints with. There is plenty of blame to spread around at the local, state and federal level, but Bush is the top dog, and as the saying goes, the buck stops with him.
No administration, no matter what their political stripe, would be getting an easy ride with these results.
I live in Mississippi. I would like to thank all of those who have given blood, dontated money, given food, clothing, etc. It is nice to see America coming to the rescue of their own.
What people in MS and LA have gone through is unimaginable. The things we are seeing are devastating. It kills me to see that so many are taking this tragedy and turning it into a political battle, a race issue, or using it as a media ploy. THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR ANY OF IT. Yes, many dropped the ball in the rescue of so many people and that has been admitted. However, the blame cannot lie on one person. There was local, state govt that had their part to do in LA and did not. I just don’t see how anyone could EVER be fully prepared for something of this magnitude. Please stop using this tragedy for personal forums.
Many have died and more are. Families like some of my family members have lost their homes. Like many others, we still have loved ones missing. And people want to use this time, their energy, to place blame? To complain, to gripe, to get their 15 minutes? Everyone is entitled to their opinions. However, I urge you to use that time and energy to help the victims.
The road to recovery will be a long, hard one. But I am confident that the people of MS and LA will get through this. The people in MS have shown their strength. We have the “good ole boy” factor in so many of us and a strong work ethic to jump in, help our neighbors, and get this cleaned up. I know we can do it. But we need help. Everyone of you can help in some way. No gesture is too small. Just please, please, stop dividing, stop with the politics, the race issues and focus on what is a proactive approach to helping your fellow Americans. We appreciate it more than you know.
Their will be plenty of time later to look back, see what mistakes were made, and to learn from them. And we all will.
God be with all of the victims.
http://www.redcross.org
Written with much love and hope.
Dear Amy,
After reading your comment I would like to offer you a Hug and a nice cold drink. Maybe you can’t and won’t see it right now b/c this experince might have humbled you a bit but maybe later then you will understand why a lot of people including Kayne are just a tadd upset.
Was anybody acting like this in the days after 9/11?
This country is beyond repair and beyond ignorant when it comes to race. I think your middle class educations constricted your minds with Political Correctness – none of you are even able to express the racism that’s deep within your hearts. And because you’re guilty of that, you try and cover it up but when the shit hits the fan we know how you really feel.
More people died than on 9/11. A city was still standing after 9/11. And I guarantee you 90% of the white people in this country were trying to enjoy their three day weekend rather than mourn for a second for the TEN FUCKING THOUSAND dead people and the other HUNDRED THOUSAND who were deprived of food and water for 5 days. Their children were there. They say their elderly die in front of them. Those people have to keep living.
I’m sick and fucking tired in this country of being told when it’s ok to speak about something. First they shut the journalists up by doing that, now they’ve shut us up. That’s because you all want the idea of the subservient kind negro who doesn’t get out of their place. You don’t want the RAW HONEST TRUTH. It’s gotten so bad we all just shut up. If the basic facts of what has happened don’t move you to outrage or understand outrage, then you are no longer human or you have some issues regarding race you’ve never honestly confronted. Look in the mirror. Bitches. Kanye is dat nigga!!!!!
I read through about 20 posts before mentioning this. Maybe they finally got around to discussing it. People are giving props to K.W. when his selfish rant caused many to turn off a broadcast that was intended to benefit disaster victims. REMEMBER THEM?
Last night was not supposed to be about Kanye West. He is a person with acess to the media and has plenty of opportunities to get his political viwepoints out.
He screwed hurricane victims with his selfish rant. I detest Bush, but absolutely disagree with what Kanye did.
Welp, thats what happens when you knowingly decide to live that close to the ocean and 5 fucking feet below it. I mean c’mon, If I stick my dick an inch from a steel bladed fan and sneeze and cut it off….are you gonna feel bad for me?
Please people, were only 3 little steps from primal instinct in the lifespan of this earth. May the strong surive.
Kassim, when you make statements like “none of you are even able to express the racism that’s deep within your hearts,” you are making a blanket statement which is the trademark of bigots. When you use the word “bitches” you show you have no respect for women. You have your own issues to deal with. People in glass house…….
New Orleans was built below sea level. The people who lived there chose to live in a city, mind you the ONLY CITY IN THE WORLD that is located BELOW SEA LEVEL and is RIGHT NEXT TO THE FUCKING OCEAN.
Now it’s clearly very difficult for the majority of the public to realize this but even though New Orleans is 200 years old and nothing like this had ever occurred on this scale before, this was BOUND TO HAPPEN.
How is a Hurricane and New Orleans location George Bush’s fault? How can any person honestly side with the mindset that the government is withholding their support due to a race issue. The levies broke on the second day…..so how in the hell was the federal government supposed to know they were going to have to round up 600 buses and solidify locations for 100,000 people on day one?
The city is 70% black and 30% white, you have an inept white female Democrat governor and a white limpwristed Democratic Mayor at the helm. Why are they not stepping forward with some authority and conviction? Why is no one calling them out for their inability to lead in this time of crisis?
New Orleans has been a city based on gambling, drinking and debaucery since it was established and now it’s paying the price for it’s past.
And fuck Kanye for running his mouth during a FUNDRAISER, it might have been the right time but in no way was it the right place. Tasteless
On a personal note, one of my best friends works in the editorial department at the New Orleans Times Picayune, and just before I found this board I received my first email from him since the disaster. He still has not been able to get in touch with many of his friends and co-workers.
If you wish to use your time on this planet to preach hatred and intolerance, that is your right. But a decent respect to the people who have died and are dying, displaced and suffering, should require that each and every one of us use THIS time to think of those people, the victims.
You sound like you have lot’s of energy Kassim, try focusing it on what you can do to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
You can go back to being a hater any time.
I am a fan of Kanye West, however, I am disappointed that he would use his airtime to bash Bush. It’s one thing if he were at a rally or convention, but he was supposed to be provoking people to raise money for the Red Cross. Instead, he chose to put himself in the spotlight. Also, the comment on the black people being portrayed poorly in the media is ridiculous. I saw coverage and witnessed people of ALL races looting. This isn’t a time to be focusing on a artist’s opinion of the president, but rather a time to be pulling together to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
http://www.citymayors.com/mayors/new_orleans_mayor.html
Yup, just your typical white, limpwristed, Democratic, American mayor.
(responding to this)
“The city is 70% black and 30% white, you have an inept white female Democrat governor and a white limpwristed Democratic Mayor at the helm. Why are they not stepping forward with some authority and conviction? Why is no one calling them out for their inability to lead in this time of crisis?”
Adam, God bless you.
kanye west said everything that needed to be said.
george w bush can suck deeeez nuuuutz.
btw, did you see the look on myers and tucker’s faces? they looked like they soiled their undies.
Rosie, what needed to be said was, “Please help the victims by contributing money.” He could have made his statement on Air America, or many other sources.
His selfish rant cost hurricane victims money for help they need desperately, only you are too ignorant and hate-addled to realize that.
It was a fundraiser!!!!!! TV sets turned off when Kanye selfishly took the focus off the dying and the hungry and the sick and the wounded and instead focused it on himself. He damaged the relief effort as surely as the thugs who fired potshots at rescue choppers. Kanye should be ashamed.
Jesus, now were blaming the victims? Pathetic.
So, what next #1 Hater, should we evacuate California because, you know, the big one is coming? Oh, wait, the sinners have it coming anyway, right?
Tell me, were all the churchs wiped out by Katrina a part of God’s plan too?
Dumb ass.
John Tierney in the New York Times (he is one of their 2 right-wing editorialists) and an editorial in yesterday’s Washington Times both blamed the people of New Orleans for the crisis. There is a wholehearted, indivisible committment from some on the right to shift blame away from the Bush administration. It is their only option right now, they have totally screwed themselves with their hubris and ineptitude, and can not handle the truth because the truth is they are leading America to ruination.
ok i’m actually not sure about any of the racism allegations but the government is sure handling the aftermath of the flooding a little poorly. forcing people to stay in the superdome with armed guards in horrible living conditions without enough food or proper sanitation is just wrong. why have they turned disaster victims into prisoners and the superdome into a prison? they have also blocked the red cross from entering louisiana to help because they have determined it’s too dangerous for them. the government is once again acting as “big brother”, thinking that they know better than others what is good for them. i would rather take my chances on my own than to live in conditions described here in the la times:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-superdome1sep01,0,4489032.story?coll=la-home-headlines
wwww.redcross.org
wwww.unitedway.org
http://www.feedthechildren.org
If you can, please do everything to try and help the people affected by this awful event. Now then, onto the current issue…
I say right the fuck on. Kanye West as always been an outspoken and brave figure in music, and one of the few major contemporary musicians with the balls to say things that might piss someone off, because he believes it. I rememeber at Live 8 he brought up the fact that a lot of the black population (a great deal percentage more than the white community) is affected by AIDS, but people don’t talk about that as much. The truth is George W. Bush may not actively “hate” black people (it’d be hard to do so and have one as your Secretary of State for two consecutive terms), but he doesn’t care about them as a group. All he cares about is himself, and that’s the plain truth. Good for you Kanye, for bringing up an important issue in a time when people might not be so apt to think about the people actually involved in this crisis. After 9/11 it was said we shouldn’t offer criticism either, that we should just go along with whatever our present and did and pass the PATRIOT act or vote for a war we didn’t need to go into. As for the people who defend Bush… god damn, can you drop your blnd party line towing for just once and admit your guy did a major mess up? The state and local authorities were supposed to handle it? Yea, the fire department can totally handle an entire major city SINKING INTO THE OCEAN. One of the most important ports in our country that carries a great deal of the grain and corn and other supplies this country exports and that leads to an area (the Gulf of Mexico) that contains one third of our nation’s oil supply I THINK QUALIFIES AS A FEDERAL PROBLEM!! Maybe we couldn’t have predicted it (which I highly dispute. Radar is a powerful thing). Maybe it was too much of a surprise to act in time. But still, there is a lot that could’ve been done that wasn’t. And if the president wants to help the people he supposedly cares about he should his ass off his ranch and out of New Orleans holding press conferences and back to Washington. Also, you know, one thing he does have power over is fucking not accepting foreign aid from other countries. That is just an arrogant move that says we don’t really give a damn about fixing this. He also could’ve done something about it by reinforcing the levees (that’ve been there since the city was built), by not destroying wetlands and taking away a natural sheild from the wind and rains, and not allowing developers bulldoze over the land. Or, you know, he could’ve not lied us into a war and sent thousands of troops (including plenty of Guardsmen) to die when they should’ve been helping fight a crisis like this. But whatever. The simple truth his the president and his administration and everyone involved handled this the wrong way. Now the people who least deserve it are paying dearly. Isn’t that always the way?
And to the people who say it’s the people who live their’s own fault for not leaving sooner or for just being there in the first place, wow, fuck you right to hell. Talk about not thinking about the victims.
Rant end. Hope I didn’t go off the page…
wwww.redcross.org
wwww.unitedway.org
http://www.feedthechildren.org
If you can, please do everything to try and help the people affected by this awful event. Now then, onto the current issue…
I say right the fuck on. Kanye West as always been an outspoken and brave figure in music, and one of the few major contemporary musicians with the balls to say things that might piss someone off, because he believes it. I rememeber at Live 8 he brought up the fact that a lot of the black population (a great deal percentage more than the white community) is affected by AIDS, but people don’t talk about that as much. The truth is George W. Bush may not actively “hate” black people (it’d be hard to do so and have one as your Secretary of State for two consecutive terms), but he doesn’t care about them as a group. All he cares about is himself, and that’s the plain truth. Good for you Kanye, for bringing up an important issue in a time when people might not be so apt to think about the people actually involved in this crisis. After 9/11 it was said we shouldn’t offer criticism either, that we should just go along with whatever our present and did and pass the PATRIOT act or vote for a war we didn’t need to go into. As for the people who defend Bush… god damn, can you drop your blnd party line towing for just once and admit your guy did a major mess up? The state and local authorities were supposed to handle it? Yea, the fire department can totally handle an entire major city SINKING INTO THE OCEAN. One of the most important ports in our country that carries a great deal of the grain and corn and other supplies this country exports and that leads to an area (the Gulf of Mexico) that contains one third of our nation’s oil supply I THINK QUALIFIES AS A FEDERAL PROBLEM!! Maybe we couldn’t have predicted it (which I highly dispute. Radar is a powerful thing). Maybe it was too much of a surprise to act in time. But still, there is a lot that could’ve been done that wasn’t. And if the president wants to help the people he supposedly cares about he should his ass off his ranch and out of New Orleans holding press conferences and back to Washington. Also, you know, one thing he does have power over is fucking not accepting foreign aid from other countries. That is just an arrogant move that says we don’t really give a damn about fixing this. He also could’ve done something about it by reinforcing the levees (that’ve been there since the city was built), by not destroying wetlands and taking away a natural sheild from the wind and rains, and not allowing developers bulldoze over the land. Or, you know, he could’ve not lied us into a war and sent thousands of troops (including plenty of Guardsmen) to die when they should’ve been helping fight a crisis like this. But whatever. The simple truth his the president and his administration and everyone involved handled this the wrong way. Now the people who least deserve it are paying dearly. Isn’t that always the way?
And to the people who say it’s the people who live there’s own fault for not leaving sooner or for just being there in the first place, wow, fuck you right to hell. Talk about not thinking about the victims.
Rant end. Hope I didn’t go off the page…
I believe nearly 22,000 national guard members responded to hurricane Andrew.
We are still waiting for the 7,000 troops Bush promised to arrive in New Orleans.
The reason we should not say “right on” to K.W. is this:
A mainstream network, invited a mainstream audience to watch a divergent group of artists, spanning the spectrum of ideological thought and political leanings, to come together for a few hours to help aid VICTIMS of a horrible disaster. The night was supposed to be about them and for them.
By turning the focus on himself, and making the evening a forum for HIS personal beliefs and HIS personal political ideologies, K.W. violated the spirit of the evening, and turned off a large portion of the viewing audience who were sitting there with checkbooks in their laps WAITING to sign away money to aid the dying and the destitute. He took food, water and medicine out of the mouths of victims. It was an unforgivably selfish act. He is a public person with many opportunities to inform the media of his political beliefs. He should NOT have spit on hurricane victims in order to get his anti-Bush “hard-on.”
I detest George Bush. But I know something of propriety and decorum. K.W. is a stupid, selfish punk.
I lived in New Orleans, and I remember the state authorities and officials being sub-par.
Sure is nice to have a scapegoat, though.
Honestly, though, I’m trying to keep positive about all this, but it almost feels like there’s someone bleeding in the middle of the street, with two people helping that person, while everyone argues about why he’s been wounded and what was wrong with the crime. I mean, discuss if you want, no one’s going to close the internet, but its just grating on me. I donated, and I plan to get some supplies to the drive, and then I am done.
shame on our government, for ignoring the poor black people, poor white people, all other poor races, of that region,and showing america what it is really made of, while people die daily, the elderly and the children suffer. key word here is poor.
every body hurts.
everyone in that region will suffer one way or antother, and we as a nation, used to being coddled, are now facing uncomfortably high gas prices, as a result of previous poor planning in new orleans. may god richly and completely,reward each and every one involved in
recovery efforts, (those who helped, and those who didn’t) simple reciprocity.
mother theresa remembered these words and so saw past the outside of a person, to their soul and honored and loved people she knew were in obvious trouble.
“what so ever you’ve done to the least of these, you’ve done to me”
jesus.
every body hurts.
i mention this because bush talks so freely about how he is this “born again christian”
what happened with that? huh bush? showing a little christian compassion? a
little christian love? a
little christian hypocracy? do you bring that up
only when it benefits you to say you are a christian?
Rob: No, let me break it down for you. You are an asshat who seems to think you are an expert on the ideology of a huge region of this country. I doubt that are an expert in anything. My family is from the south and has been for generations. I have lived all over the country so have had the chance to view racism in its many forms. What exactly do you base your theories on? And, if you are referring to David Duke, as abhorrent as he may have been, he did not run on a racist platform nor was he a current member of the KKK when he ran for office. That’s not to say he didn’t still have ties but to say he openly espoused those views is just your idiotic of trying to make an overly simplistic and stereotyped point.
Rob: No, let me break it down for you. You are an asshat who seems to think you are an expert on the ideology of a huge region of this country. I doubt that are an expert in anything. My family is from the south and has been for generations. I have also lived all over the country so have had the chance to view racism in its many forms. What exactly do you base your theories on? And, if you are referring to David Duke, as abhorrent as he may have been, he did not run on a racist platform nor was he a current member of the KKK when he ran for office. That’s not to say he didn’t still have ties but to say he openly espoused those views is just your overly simplistic way of trying to make a stereotypical generalization into a given.
I CARE, KANYE MERCHANDISE
100% PROFITS GO TO RED CROSS
http://www.cafepress.com/ICAREKANYE
Did Kayne West know that more than any other president in U.S. History, GW Bush has helped organize more financial relief, medical care (providing 250,000 Africans with Antiviral care) and humanitarian aid for Africa? Even if Congress has yet to approve the $15 Billion dollar package he set out for in 2002, it’s definitely a step in the right direction. Say what you want about W’s other foreign policies, but to say he “doesn’t care about black people” is really lame. Not being prepared for a hurricane crisis is one thing….
1. what is with people blaming the victims? Have you lost your damn minds? So what if they lived in a city that was below sea level, and had a warning? Many of those people built their lives in the New Orleans area. They’re supposed to just leave their familial history and culture to go live elsewhere? What about the West Coast and its being built on a faultline? What about Florida and the South-East coast being more prone to hurricanes? Anyone who blames the victims for living there, or says that they had enough warning to get out of their own volition ought to give their head a shake in this life, ’cause I guarantee you there’s a special place in hell for you in the next one.
2. The local and state governments are useless. There is no doubt about it. And they will get theirs. But what is with people deflecting attention away from the Bush administration? As for scapegoating Bush, please tell me how he’s a scapegoat. When people say ‘Bush’ they mean his administration, and to a lesser extent him personally. All you freepers need to give us a break with the idea that we’re attacking him, and only him, personally. He’s not a scapegoat – he’s the ultimate figure of accountability. Why can’t people see that? When you work at McDonald’s, the fry-guy is responsible for the fries. It’s his job to make sure they are golden and tasty. But the manager still has to crack down on him, even if she goes nowhere near the deep-fryer all day. You know why? Because if I roll in, and my fries are soggy and cold, she’s the one who’s gonna catch hell. Get it? It may not have been her fault directly, but she’s the one who will be held accountable at the end of the day. Bush and his buddies should have been on the state and local governments to get ready, and if they weren’t ready they should have intervened, because they must have realized that FEMA and federal aid were going to be called on in the lack of local preparedness. Bush and his idiot friends love to take praise, why can’t they take blame too? He wants to parade around like a cowboy on the international stage, but doesn’t want to be anywhere near politics when trouble hits. You Bush apologists, and even those of you who merely refuse to hold him accountable for his lack of actions, need to really think about what you want out of a president.
3. As for the logistics of organizing this? Of course it was going to be difficult. It was tough and it was bound to hurt and kill people. Again, the state and local authorities really failed the people. But don’t tell me Bush couldn’t do anything, or that his hands were tied. I bet if Katrina somehow enabled two dudes to make out more easily and in a romantic atmosphere, he would have been down there sandbagging the place himself. Anyone remember the emergency midnight meeting of Congress after the umpteenth STATE judge allowed Terry Schaivo the right to remove her feeding tube? Hm… seems the feds can move pretty quick against state actions when they feel the state isn’t adequately representing the people’s interest.
4. Why are people so reluctant to believe that the Bush administration doesn’t care about poor people (and by extension black people)? Look at his goddamned agenda: cuts to social welfare programs, cuts to health care, cuts to environmental programs (many of which you’re seeing in direct relation to the tragedy in New Orleans). All of his spending cuts have hampered the health and well-being of all Americans, but in particular poor ones. Why is it so hard to realize that this is merely an extension of that? It’s the logical conclusion of having a president who is actively for big business, and actively against substantive equality and aid (in any context, race, class, gender), that he would be negligent to those in need. He’s been negligent his entire time in office, and in some cases actively malicious.
5. Can someone please tell me how this is a publicity stunt on Kanye’s part? The dude is on the cover of Time, has what is sure to be a #1 album, is getting rave reviews all over the place. If anything, this is going to alienate people. He spoke his mind, and good on him for doing it. Hopefully he didn’t interfere with generating funds, but I hope that what he caused the Red Cross to lose through ignorant people who would be turned off to desperate need because of what a celebrity said, he generated through people who became more attuned to this tragedy because of its class and race implications.
Kanye is an idiot, arrogant rapper. But he’s got people talking about the tacit politics under a national tragedy. And in a world where we know Paris Hilton’s summer vacation schedule, I think that’s a good thing. Any discussion about the state of this country is a good thing, particularly at a time like this.
6. To the victims – our hearts are with you. You may not be able to discern it from a board like this, but we are doing what we can to get you aid. Please don’t let our political arguments discourage you or let you think that we’re not doing what we can to help you. Because we all are. These discussions are nothing more than trying to make sense of what a tragedy this is – a privilege we have at the moment, and which we’re trying our best to restore to you. Again, please go to http://www.redcross.org and give what you can.
It’s not just the black and the poor Bush doesn’t care for. It’s also whites, Asians, Middle Eastern folks and basically anyone who he isn’t in business with and isn’t a “good buddy” of his. Those soldiers he sent to Iraq weren’t just black folks and minorities. He doesn’t give two damns about them.
Don’t focus on such a narrow statement and defend it. Look at it as it really is. Bush doesn’t give a damn about the people in this country and he never has.
Everytime I hear him speak about some tragedy I get sick to my stomach. The man is so cold and emotionless and when he’s shaking hands with the “common man” you can tell he doesn’t want to be there. He doesn’t had the tiniest bit of human warmth or compassion.
Doesn’t it suck we still have three years left with this idiot?
I knew this blog would eventually get pretty heated responses along the way, but there are a few things I’d like to say. As a Louisiana resident my entire life, we’ve had teachers and parents tell us for years about the condition of the levees, the inevitable hurricane that would destroy New Orleans with water if they weren’t properly taken care of, coastal erosion, etc.
Amidst the sadness, anger and chaos arose. People lost loved ones, homes, pets, etc. Many didn’t evacuate because they honestly thought they’d live through it since relatives lived through a very devastating hurricane years ago. And many didn’t evacuate because they didn’t have the financial means to get out of there, pure and simple. Here you are, with hundreds of thousands with nowhere to go and criminals within the mix, and thousands more presumed dead. Where is the government aid? Where are the National Guardsmen and women? And where was all of the money for coastal and levee improvements?
On a larger scale, our local and national governments screwed up years ago. It’s not so much the current mayor of New Orleans and governor of our state, it’s the past politicians who had their priorities in the wrong places. And Bush is to blame for cutting funding over the past three years or so to improve our coast and levees. Those levees could have been improved in that if a hurricane this devastating were to come, at least the water levels for the most part would have been under some kind of control, if not fully. And where were our National Guard troops to help with the effort and ease the situation? They’re over in Iraq looking for “Weapons of Mass Destruction”.
Kanye was obviously speaking from the heart and reacted on that. Agree with him or not, it needed to be said just to open people’s eyes or at least got them talking about it. Things have been swept under the rug for too long. Anytime you see your own brother, a police officer, break down because they’re in desperate need of help in New Orleans and he’s doing all he can out there, it says something. And this was someone who was once a in the National Guard and an avid Bush supporter. After all he and everyone else is going through in New Orleans, he is furious that reinforcements, help, supplies, etc. has taken so long to get there.
Politics and argument aside, this was a very tragic situation. I never thought I’d live through something like this. Many of us are angry and upset about it, as was Kanye. Like what he said or not, all I ask is for you to do what you can to help people in the affected states. Thank you.
It`s to bad kanye west had to ruined everyhing. I am tired of black people always blaming whites for the problem in the world.If it was a white men blaming blacks he would be called a racist. Mr.west I believed the majority of the looting and stealing sneakers,weapons,beer,plasma screens and rapping are black hoodlums
I totally agree. SIX DAYS of LIP SERVICE AND INACTION.
Meanwhile, when Bush’s brother comes a calling after a hurricane. $$$,$$$,$$$ just comes pouring of George’s ASSHOLE. What F is up with that?
People sit sanitized while babies DIE. In the next couple of weeks when all the real horror stories surface, then we’ll see the true cost of Bush’s NEGLIGENCE and CHRISTIAN values.
George, just go back on vacation since that’s ALL YOU’RE GOOD AT.
By the way, he WAS ON VACATION when this happened. Obviously, his golf game was more important then his citizens.
please read
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/03/opinion/03dowd.html?ex=1126497600&en=9627b8e6e61d7407&ei=5070&emc=eta1
“K.W. violated the spirit of the evening, and turned off a large portion of the viewing audience who were sitting there with checkbooks in their laps WAITING to sign away money to aid the dying and the destitute. He took food, water and medicine out of the mouths of victims. It was an unforgivably selfish act.”
If people were waiting with baited breath for Mike Myers or Chris Tucker or Kanye West or Harry Connick Jr. to push them over the edge to donate to the Red Cross…
Well I don’t think anyone had their checks ready all filled out teetering on the edge ABOUT to sign their name, reached for a drink of Snapple, heard Kanye, spit the Snapple out, ripped up the check.
If they did?
This country is a lot worse off than we think.
I have the whole thing recorded on DVD
Kanye West if a stupid fucking punk ass nigga, and yeh, Im black.
“By the way, he WAS ON VACATION when this all happened.”
right, shame on Bush for not having psychic powers and canceling his vacation because he knew a hurricane was going to hit. Btw, where was Kanye “i care about my people” West the night that all this happened? Oh yeah, dancing around on stage at the vma’s talking about how all black women are gold diggers.
I’ll say it again….Kanye West is a publicity whore. Always has been, always will be. Is it just a coincidence that all this blew up a day or two before the release of his new album? NO.
Kanye did this with one intent: to draw attention to him….and it worked. This has been blasted all over the news networks, internet blogs (like this one), yahoo’s front page, etc. And this is exactly what he wanted. Any press is good press, right Kanye?
I have news for all of you. KANYE DOESN’T CARE ABOUT THE BLACK PEOPLE in New Orleans either. He cares about record sales. A month from now, Kanye will be sleeping comfortably on his 1000 thread count sheets, while the people in the devistated South will still be without nothing. Where will he be then? Hanging his platinum record up on the wall of his mansion…that’s where.
Take the $13.00 you were going to spend on Kanye’s album and donate it to the American Red Cross. If he cares so much about “his people”, this is what he would want anyways, right?
Dear Sharon,
Read, think, then post. I supported your views and clarified my original statement becuase of the point you raised. In simple english, I agree with you. Whether or not you agree with the point I made is not of my concern. I made a generalization about a problem and you called me on it. In fact, you were even a bit insulting, fair enough. The fact that you stooped to name-calling makes me sad, one day we may be face to face and trying to work together to make a better country. My apologies if I offended you. The reactionary in me feels the urge to defend myself but there is no point. Re-read these comments in a few days and I think you’ll see we’re on a similar page. There is a problem and we’d both be eager to fix it.
Despite what kind of person Kanye might be (ego wise), I think what he said was heart felt. Many people have been shocked/appalled/moved by this, why assume he is any different? I have to agree with those above who said Kanye may have harmed his record sales rather then helped them.
Bush has been on vacation for over 20% of his presidency. I don’t know anyone that gets just over two months of holiday a year from their job, unless they either work for themsevles, or don’t take their job too seriously. You’d think that with knowing the hurricane was coming he’d maybe go put some time into the office to at least look like he was working.
And yes, I think Kanye would prefer it you spent your money on the Red Cross rather than on him. The guy called himself a hypocrite on national TV. I don’t know him so who knows what his intentions are, but he did seem genuinely moved to want change down there, even if his earlier actions might not have shown it. Oh, and I guess because he’s rich he can’t speak out on what he perceives to be an injustice. Right? Because he is wealthy, and will continue to be wealthy after Katrina has come and gone, that somehow invalidates his opinion? Guess what, Bush, and Cheney, and Rice will all return to their fancy pads, go back to vacation (or, rather, continue them), and spend your tax money like it’s going out of style Except when they go back to their lives, they’re not going to be just be making records and entertaining people. THey’re going to continue the implemenation of policies that further alienate and divide the American public, not to mention undercut the potential for social progress among diverse and marginalized groups, and continue a war that is financially and spiritually devastating to the country. I guess because Kanye is a rapper, and not a politician, there’s no chance he can be sensitive to the needs of people, nor can he speak his mind whether or not you agree with it. The politicans have that market cornered, eh?
When the Dixie Chicks spoke out on Bush in a non-televised concert in London, UK, that info made it back to the US, and they were banned from playlists and saw their record sales dropped. Weren’t they even banned by clearchannel? If you think this isn’t going to have negative repercussions for his ‘career’ you’re dead wrong. You can already sense the neocons are getting ready to call for his head in the media. Disagree with him all you want, but to suggest that this was a press opportunity is foolish. Then again, you probably think Bush cares about everyone equally in the first place.
Yes as Kanye and everyone eles now know there are no white people in the ghettos.
Wow. I don’t have much to add to all this except I think its amazing that so many people are saying cogent, interesting, well-informed things (with the occasional ignorant rant thrown in). This disaster was terribly fumbled, and while we should be concentrating on fixing the problem right now, many of these issues should remain as things to be worked on. I hope that this tragedy causes positive political change in a way that 9/11 simply didn’t.
For an example of how fucking awful this has been, this is a quote from an AP article:
In addition to civilian deaths, New Orleans emergency service agencies
have had to deal with some suicides among their ranks, Mayor Ray Nagin said.
“I’ve got some firefighters and police officers that have been pretty much
traumatized,” he said. “And we’ve already had a couple of suicides so I am
cycling them out as we speak, but we have a problem. I can get them to Baton
Rouge, but once I get them to Baton Rouge there’s no hospitals. They need
physical and psychological evaluations.”
If that doesn’t indicate some gross incompetence on the part of the city, state and federal leaders, I don’t know what does.
Stereogum is a fucking joke and this blog is a fucking joke. Why don’t you rich NYC punks focus on Indie musie and forget about the politics. You are a disgrace to this nation and a disgrace to Indie music. Stereogum is a loser, creating hype by slamming Britney Spears and creating a disgrace to the whole music scene.
Bunch of fucking punk losers on this blog…
Ban Stereogum and do justice to the indie music world. And quit having Daddy support you, you fucking punks……….
oh by the way did I say Fuck You…. Stereogum sucks big time. Go back to fucking college punk.
michael moore reads da gum?!
WRONG:
“George W Bush doesn’t care about black people.”
RIGHT:
“George W Bush doesn’t care about people.”
Kanye West definitely made a fan of me.
I just wanted to clarify, when I made the “scapegoat” comment, I meant blaming the federal government and all that. The feds were slow to respond, but in all honesty they are set up to handle federal matters, and there was no way they could have predicted this, just as much as Louisiana could not have predicted how harsh this was.
It’s a bit like blaming the McDonalds corporate CEO for overcooking your burger at the local chain.
When can you speak your mind, or the truth without consequences, in this country without it getting in the way of someones pocket book? Everything is backed by the dollar, even the news. There is no freedom of speech cause no one will hear you unless you have a bullhorn paid for by valtrex and huggies. Sure there is the net, but really you are preaching to the converted on the net and the people who hear you are just a handful.
re: nycjerkoffs
I neither live in New York, get supported by my parents, or believe that thinking about politics is “a disgrace to this nation or a disgrace to indie music.” I’m not sure how politics can be a disgrace to indie music. I’m also not sure how you can “create hype” by “slamming Britney Spears.”
Oh, and it is so BORING when people insult other people for no real reason. I suppose that some people haven’t matured to the point where they realize this.
MrQuick,
I get your point about division of powers and all that. But do you really think Bush’s relationship to an impending category 5 hurricane that he knew was coming is analagous to the relationship between the CEO of McDonald’s and a heat lamp in Pasadena? I really hope you’re wrong. ‘Cause if you’re right, we’re fucked.
The only controversy here is that it only a rap artist will say what so many citizens, lawmakers, and public figures already think.
Respect.
http://blog.verbosecoma.com/archives/001451.php
Adam writes:
“If people were waiting with baited breath for Mike Myers or Chris Tucker or Kanye West or Harry Connick Jr. to push them over the edge to donate to the Red Cross…
Well I don’t think anyone had their checks ready all filled out teetering on the edge ABOUT to sign their name, reached for a drink of Snapple, heard Kanye, spit the Snapple out, ripped up the check.
If they did?
This country is a lot worse off than we think.”
______________________________________________
Adam, you believe Kanye’s right to turn a charity fundraiser for disaster victims into a forum for anti-Bush invectives is more important than the cause that EVERY other person at the event came together to support. HURRICANE RELIEF!!!!
I don’t care if you do not like the people who turned off their TV sets at that moment. They are not important to me, and you are definitely not important to me. What should be remembered and prioritzed are the victims of this tragedy. Kanye West did not do that. He put his own personal feelings above the victims and thereby hurt the cause that many people gave their time and efforts to support.
Kanye is NOT muzzled. He has many opportunities to get his political views aired. He made a horrible decision to air them in the middle of a mainstream charity fundraiser.
One more point, Adam. Your attempts at humor to try and make your point, (When the focus of the evening which Kanye TRASHED was the hurricane victims, DEAD and DYING, starving, homeless, sick, scared, in-shock and every other destitute condition you can think of) are REPUGNANT. You think this whole thing is a big joke, and this board is your opportunity to show everyone what a big, hard brain you have. As you say, this country is in bad shape, in large part to selfish, uncaring compassionless morons like yourself.
The editing out of kanye’s outburst is even more evidence that the media does have the final say… or at least they think they do. The media is to blame for a lot of the missconstrued believes that many of us hold. Props to kanye… and prayers to the victims… fnck the “media” kill your tv
patrick gorse,
i think everyone’s just frustrated by the whole thing. this whole thing is a mess no matter which way you look at it.
My thoughts are that the president of the united states should have done more to prepare his people, the people of this great nation, for what was going to happen. He had ultimate control here… he could have ordered money and relief before that thing hit… in fact he should have. the media had been warning of a large storm… hence the evacuations.. they knew it was going to be big. They had time to prepare for this… bush failed… our president failed to act “for the people”. he let all of us down, and let many die, just as with iraq. Our president is ill-equiped to do his job. his illfated attempts to calm the masses by flying over only mock those who now have nothing… shame on you Mr. President… shame on you… you let your people down. you let all of us down. prayers to the victims and those affected by this and all of Bush’s un-actions.
“Worst President ever…” ~comic book guy (simpsons)
“The editing out of kanye’s outburst is even more evidence that the media does have the final say… or at least they think they do. The media is to blame for a lot of the missconstrued believes that many of us hold. Props to kanye… and prayers to the victims… fnck the “media” kill your tv”
This is typical mindless babble. It is akin to shooting into a crowd of people because two or three are guilty of something.
There are many good things on television. Yes, there is plenty of bad as well. Responsible, well-informed people use there brains to pick out and choose the good from the bad. Idiots advocate “killing your TV.”
This is the kind of intolerance that the left supposedly detests. I know, I am on the left, and I despise intolerance.
And by the way, the reason NBC removed K.W.’s hate-speech for it’s West Coast broadcast, was they were more concerned with helping hurricane victims than promoting K.W. They were just fine with taking checks from folks who agree with Bush, and airing K.W.’s comments would have turned those sets off. Also, I believe many on the West Coast DID see the event live on MSNBC and CNBC.
WHAT THE FUCK DON’T U PEOPLE GET? Bush can’t make people who don’t want to leave, leave. Then u fuckers would bash him for that. I am sooo sick of hearing how white people hate black people. It is really Black people who HATE white people. If it weren’t the truth then blacks wouldn’t ALWAYS make it a racial issue. Get off your high fucking horse, and stop thinking everyone owes you something. I am African American and I am appauled by the way we are handling ourselves. Stop dwelling on racial shit and deal with the problem that needs to be dealt with.
patrick gorse,
where was adam making funnies? i didn’t see that. i’m not trying to be a smart-ass, i just didn’t see it… unless you meant that snapple comment.
further, i still don’t get how kanye diverted attention away from the hurricane victims. wasn’t he talking precisely about hurricane victims in his divergence from the teleprompter? my understanding is that he’s a guy who’s shocked at what he’s seen and feels the need to respond. he said what he felt was an urgent message – that hurricane relief right now is falling short. i assume in his mind it was a message that needed to be said right now to stir people to action now, not tomorrow or a week from now through a critical hindsight approach. you can disagree with the message, but how can you say he diverted attention away from the victims? again, not trying to be a smart-ass, i just don’t follow. what if he had diverted from the script and said “oh, the government’s doing a great job… everything is going to be fine”? probably in his mind sticking to the teleprompter was akin to that – a tacit approval.
i think that if you believe that kanye was being sincere, you’ll believe that precisely what he was doing was drawing attention to the victims. if you believe he was being disingenuous, well then doing anything other than reading the script would have distracted from the tragedy. in the end it seems to me that the “script” – in the broadest sense of that word – of this disaster ain’t doing the job. good on him for diverting from it and taking some kind of action.
Jennifer!! Where do you want people with no cars and no money to go? Do you want them to walk away and get flooded in the open? They stayed with their houses or went to public shelters , because those were their ONLY options.
where was adam making funnies? i didn’t see that. i’m not trying to be a smart-ass, i just didn’t see it… unless you meant that snapple comment.
__________________________________________
What does the above mean? You make a point, and close by disagreeing with yourself.
K.W. could have made his comments on Air America, in the Letters to the Editor of USA TODAY or the New York Times. He D I D divert attention from hurricane relief!!!!!!! He thought it was more important to raise his public persona than raise money for the destitute. He took food, medicine and water out of the mouths of the suffering. Reliving the suffering was why everyone came together that night, everyone except K.W. Thousands turned off their sets when he turned a charity fundraiser into his own personal agenda.
I am in no way trying to muzzle K.W. He is a public person with plenty of opportunities to get his opinions aired in front of a mass audience. He showed he has no class and no sense of propriety.
What does the above mean? You make a point, and close by disagreeing with yourself.
K.W. could have made his comments on Air America, in the Letters to the Editor of USA TODAY or the New York Times. He DID divert attention from hurricane relief!!!!!!! He thought it was more important to raise his public persona than raise money for the destitute. He took food, medicine and water out of the mouths of the suffering. Relieving the suffering was why everyone came together that night, everyone except K.W. Thousands turned off their sets when he turned a charity fundraiser into his own personal agenda.
I am in no way trying to muzzle K.W. He is a public person with plenty of opportunities to get his opinions aired in front of a mass audience. He showed he has no class and no sense of propriety
Patrick, we get the point you have so eloquently stated about 15 times… I understand you believe yourself to be the “good guy” here to chastise everyone who expresses their opinions on free speech but, as someone previously stated, are people really stupid enough to just say “Oh, that rapper is a no-talent liberal asshole…In turn, I’m going to withhold my donation check because I disagree with his opinions”? I’d like to give America the benefit of the doubt…
patrick gorse,
oh. i didn’t think adam’s snapple remark was as vicious or as “repugnant” as you claimed it to be, nor did it strike me as an attempt at humour. it just seemed like he was painting a picture of the average viewer in the comfort of her own home. the only reason i noted it in my question was because it was the only thing that seemed a bit odd in his message (most of which i agree with by the way). i assumed by your response that adam had made some really horrific remark.
i get that you’re frustrated. we all are. but i don’t think placing decorum over conviction is really the right approach. we’ll never know if kanye lost the red cross money that night. people like adam and i doubt it. and you seem certain that he did what he did for publicity rather than out of compassion. i disagree, but we’ll never know the truth of that either. let’s just agree to disagree, and remember, like you say, that the victims right now need to come first.
Stopped in to see if this insanity was still going on. You people really need to get a friggin life. Why don’t you all shut your traps and do something to help the situation?
And Patrick, just shut the fuck up Ok?
Donate to Red Cross, write to your local Congress representative, write to Bush if you want, offer yourself and your house/money to help these people, pray, pray again, donate your time to this relief or some other charity but for God sakes don’t start a war with people on this God forsaken (shame on bonehead Stereogum) idiot blog. You people are an embarrasment for this country and you are defiling the poor people who have died in New Orleans. Get a Fucking life and do something usefull.
And shame on Stereogum for letting this travesty go on for so long and for his shameless hype of a horrible situation. Yeah, he thinks it makes him so popular and powerful….. What a loser he really is….
God you people are beyond pathetic….
Edwin writes:
Patrick, we get the point you have so eloquently stated about 15 times… I understand you believe yourself to be the “good guy” here to chastise everyone who expresses their opinions on free speech but, as someone previously stated, are people really stupid enough to just say “Oh, that rapper is a no-talent liberal asshole…In turn, I’m going to withhold my donation check because I disagree with his opinions”? I’d like to give America the benefit of the doubt…
___________________________________________
Edwin, I invite you into the living room of middle America. Someone who NEVER watches rap artists is doing so, because he is concerned about hurricane victims and wants to get involved with the recovery process. All the artists performing and appearing on the program have come together in the spirit of cooperation and sacrifice and are trying to encourage the country to join them in that effort.
On comes, K.W. with his speech. Whether you think the person (Many Bush supporters watching as well) is stupid if he turns off his set at that moment is irrelevant. Maybe they were just angry. But trust me, it happenned, sets went dark, and victims were shortchanged. At the moment K.W. opened his mouth, the focus left the victims and went instead to him. It was a charity fundraiser, and THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENNED!!!
What K.W. did only served to make the discourse in America more harsh. Now a charity fundraiser is not safe from promotional grandstanding for one’s personal agenda that is antithetical to the purpose EVERYONE else there is committted.
Free speech does not mean you should say anything anywhere. It means you can. But when you abuse that right, as K.W. did, you deserve to be subjected to righteous criticism.
Oh, BTW, Edwin, give me one more example where you give America the benefit of the doubt.
getalife writes:
“Stopped in to see if this insanity was still going on. You people really need to get a friggin life. Why don’t you all shut your traps and do something to help the situation?
And Patrick, just shut the fuck up Ok?”
_______________________________________________
I donated a week’s worth of pay. That is not easy for me. And BTW, nice to see that “free speech” “just shut the fuck up Ok?” is alive and well in America.
Obviously, selfishly saying whatever you want whenever you want is more important to the majority of people on this board than helping the victims of a terrible tragedy. Pity.
Hey getalife, you should have a blog about being a holier-than-thou asshole. I’d read it every day, and then have arguments on your comment board about which god I should pray to and which Senator would read my letter. I wish we were all as righteous as you are.
Pardon my being a prick, but do you really think no one here cares about this situation but you? Everyone is doing what they can, and I think (aside from donating) that discussing the situation is good for people, no matter if it is a pop culture blog or whatever. Let people talk.
10-to-1 says getalife hasn’t donated money or time. 10-to-1 says he hasn’t done shit. His guilty conscience dictates that he should come in here and berate a bunch of internerds having a conversation about a current event to make himself feel better for his inaction.
Since he’s so involved he should provide a receipt or proof of how he’s positively contributed to the disaster, and allow Stereogum to post said proof along with his contact information. Then we can all write to him and thank him for showing us the light, since, you know, it hasn’t been encouraged a million times in the comments for people to donate to the Red Cross either time or money you fucking chump.
Edwin and Patrick why don’t you both go in a corner and blow each other?
I have spent the last week trying to locate two family members who are lost in the aftermath of New Orleans. I came upon this blog to see if there was any relevant information related to disaster survivors. But after viewing the blog, I see it is just a bunch of stupid American citizens ranting about what they think is right. Shame on you all and I hope that you stop and think about what you are doing. You have no clue, none what so ever. People are still dying and you are sitting here talking about what Kayne West said. Fuck you all…..
A celebrity who is an influence to entire generation of young people, had a chance to inspire those young people to do something good… and he used his moment to preach hate….
…he did nothing to help those poor black people down there in New Orleans, and it further divided the next generation of whites & blacks making racism take a back seat to human kind….
it’s outbursts like that that keep racism alive, if you’re for supporting someone who has kept that alive… I guess all I can say is thats sad…
” Where do you want people with no cars and no money to go? Do you want them to walk away and get flooded in the open? They stayed with their houses or went to public shelters , because those were their ONLY options.”
no, i wanted them to get in buses that the mayor should have provided.
I respected Kanye till I saw that. I thought he was one of the classiest people to arrive in the music biz in a long time, but then he opened his mouth to spill some uneducated rant.
How can people say that Bush doesn’t care about black people? Sorry, but I’m just not seeing any evidence of it. So you people hate the Republican party, so the Democrats “favor” minorities… I still don’t see any support for the comments made here.
I live where the eye of Ivan hit last year, and my hometown was totally devastated, but the government did a great job helping us. That is the main thing at fault right now in this situation. It’s not the Republicans. The government and government agencies are made up of more than just conservatives, just in case you all forgot that.
Help should have been sent in much earlier, and the fact that it wasn’t pisses me off to no end. If they had deployed troops to just the outskirts immediately, this wouldn’t have turned out to be quite the huge disaster that it has become.
I’m back in my hometown right now because my college was shut down temporarily because yet again, I was right where the eye hit. Because of the lack of the order and control in the affected areas, I’m scared to go back to school. Things have gotten out of control. A man shot a woman in the head over a bag of fucking ice. That could have been prevented had the government sent in reinforcements sooner.
GOVERNMENT. Do not blame the Republican party solely for what happened. It was the government as a whole’s fault.
who’s patrick gorse????
Has Kayne donated 1$ off of every CD of Late Registration? No. I wonder how much dude gave? Nothing prob. he went back to his little house that night after the stunt for his album sales, wore his pink polo shirt and sipped crystal while he admired the blood diamonds his “brothers” in africa were killed for.
The government is still jacked up but kayne is riding the train.
Hypocrities are the worst. Talk is cheap.
Patrick’s comment:
” Where do you want people with no cars and no money to go? Do you want them to walk away and get flooded in the open? They stayed with their houses or went to public shelters , because those were their ONLY options.”
b writes, in response :
no, i wanted them to get in buses that the mayor should have provided.
___________________________
Great!!!! You wanted them to get on imaginary busses.
Unfortunately, busses that were NOT there was not an option!!!!
Insanity!!!!!!!!!!!!!
getalife writes:
Edwin and Patrick why don’t you both go in a corner and blow each other?
I have spent the last week trying to locate two family members who are lost in the aftermath of New Orleans. I came upon this blog to see if there was any relevant information related to disaster survivors. But after viewing the blog, I see it is just a bunch of stupid American citizens ranting about what they think is right. Shame on you all and I hope that you stop and think about what you are doing. You have no clue, none what so ever. People are still dying and you are sitting here talking about what Kayne West said. Fuck you all…..
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getalife, those folks in New Orleans (If they exist) I hope they are allright. Also, I hope you never get in touch with them. If they are real people, they now have enough problems wiithout having to deal with the likes of you.
Who’s Patrick Gorse?
Looks like he is some Atheist fruitcake form So Cal…….
http://atheistparents.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5449&sid=bdef44b7ba6675c89e8582166cf80240
I disagree with an nes article that claims God is Pasadena’s personal protector by preventing rain on their parade just days after the tsunami, and that makes me an atheist homosexual? And by the way, I’m not, but what if I was? Are you a bigot? wildone, you are a true ass.
I disagree with an news article that claims God is Pasadena’s personal protector by preventing rain on their parade just days after the tsunami, and that makes me an atheist homosexual? And by the way, I’m not, but what if I was? Are you a bigot? wildone, you are a true ass.
nope. can’t imagine there were any buses anywhere in new orleans. especially not here:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050901/480/flpc21109012015
and i’m not sure what the mayor could have done with those buses. or the governor. maybe the same thing they do in other states when hurricanes come? use them to evacuate? maybe? it was the mayor’s job, after all.
and to be clear, i’m not blaming the people. god knows what i would have done faced with something like that. but too bad the mayor didn’t try. now we’ll never know.
Does the mayor have the authority to order people who have been asked to evacuate to drive the busses?
Remember, busses don’t drive themselves.
And really b, you are criticizing me for a comment I made in response to this, written by jennifer:
WHAT THE FUCK DON’T U PEOPLE GET? Bush can’t make people who don’t want to leave, leave. Then u fuckers would bash him for that.
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in which I responded to her:
Jennifer!! Where do you want people with no cars and no money to go? Do you want them to walk away and get flooded in the open? They stayed with their houses or went to public shelters, because those were their ONLY options.
At this point you made the inane comment in criticism of me:
no, i wanted them to get in buses that the mayor should have provided.
b, are you also Jennifer? If so, why the deception? The answer is probably that you are trying to back off earlier statements you made without offering a retraction. Gutless.
I’ve got links on fd5000.com to the video as well.
This is what happens when you have a state
government who doesn’t care. When you have a governor and mayor who don’t care about the poor
black populus. Futhermore, this is what you get
when political policies encourgage repression of a people group (being those under the poverty line, a majority of which are black) by economically sedating them, e.g. welfare. How many times did you see people screaming about not having any food given to them?
After hurricanes ivan and dennis, both of which i was directly in the paths of, we recieved immediate help, six to eight hours later. This in part to a state government absolutely prepared for events such as these. Without pointing fingers at the federal government, maybe we should look at the immediate group of people who set this formerly pending disaster in motion long ago.
Also, this is what you get for having a city under sea-level. Cheers to the American Venice!!
Bravissimo!!!
FEMA, which was a stand-alone agency that responded well to emergencies was re-organized after 9/11 and put under the control of the Dept. of Homeland Security. They dumped the top people who were experts in responding to natural disasters in favor of neo-cons with a “post 9/11″ mentality, who are in favor of keeping the agency primed for terrorist attacks, not natural disasters. Bush has destroyed FEMA. Hence the disaterous results in the Gulf Coast.
Here is the simplified non-fiction version for you direct from my big hard brain:
What I was saying was the comment about people sitting with their checkbooks out waiting to donate was ridiculous. If people are going to donate they are going to donate, if they aren’t they aren’t. I honestly do not believe anyone who planned a Red Cross donation would not donate after Kanye’s one minute speech. (Most of which was about the media not Bush.) If people in this country are so partisan that this is true, that is what is repugnant.
Unless you meant the Snapple, many of which’s flavours are, in fact, REPUGNANT.
I just want to say “HA!” to the unnamed bloggers who said Stereogum was an escape from reality and the news! There is no escape brotha!!! Learn to deal. I love you Stereogum.