Jay-Z backs Kanye West's telethon outburst

[sabra]

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2005-09-08T161231Z_01_YUE858334_RTRUKOC_0_UK-JAYZ.xml

Jay-Z backs Kanye West's telethon outburst

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Rap mogul Jay-Z is standing behind Kanye West, who went off-script to declare that "George Bush doesn't care about black people" during his appearance in last Friday's NBC telethon for Hurricane Katrina victims.

"I'm backing Kanye 100%," Jay-Z told Billboard by phone from London. "This is America. You should be able to say what you want to say. We have freedom of speech."

Jay-Z is also West's boss in his capacity as president/CEO of Def Jam Recordings. West's new album, "Late Registration," opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Wednesday.

During his Friday appearance, West added that America was set up "to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off as slow as possible."

[undergroundrailroad]

1. You go Jigga man!

I agree with Jay-Z, this is America and, yes, you should be able to say what you want!

Great post!

Undergroundrailroad :hi:

[Missy Vixen]

8. UGRR, that's right

This is America, and every voice is important and valued here...

:loveya:
Julie

[David__77]

2. He's wrong about that last part.

America was set up "to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off as slow as possible?!" I don't think so.

America was founded upon slave labor and genocide and exploitation. There should be no doubt about that--it's simply the a fact. That does not mean that the U.S. emerging was not a good thing or progressive relative to the existing political alternatives. But it was not founded upon the principles of class and racial justice--that's simply untrue.

[Teaser]

7. Read Again...

"AS slow as possible" is the operative phrase in that sentence. You typed it, so I know you read it.

[RageFist]

12. If Benjamin Franklin had his way it would be...

he made an appeal before congress shortly before he died to ban slavery in the constitution...he never owned a slave, either. Now THAT'S a founding father to be proud of.

[gratuitous]

3. And if what you want to say is true . . .

Then you not only have the right to say it, but in many instances the incontrovertible duty to say it, and Kanye West is spot on.

[goclark]

4. Go Jay Z and Kayne!!! ROCK

And please go and tell all your posse brothers what Bush has done to their grandma's and their children if they lived in New Orleans and Mississippi and Alabama.

Tell the posse.

[calimary]

9. Yes Indeed! The entire United States of America is a free speech zone.

West had every right to speak out, and in this case, yes, a duty as an American patriot to say it.

Some things just simply need to be said. And read. And SPREAD.

So much for the republi-CON claim that they're wooing African-Americans away from the Democratic Party...

BRAVO, Kanye!!!!

Kanye West speaks for me! As does Nancy Pelosi. As does Dennis Kucinich. As does Cindy Sheehan. As do John Edwards and John Kerry - AND "Hollerin' Howard" Dean. As does whoever that guy was, earlier today, who told dick cheney to go fuck himself - during a live shot on TV. THAT guy REALLY speaks for me!

[darkism]

5. "outburst"

More RW framing from the media...

[WindRavenX]

6. outburst it was not

Kanye stammered, did not yell, but he said WHAT HAD TO BE SAID.

He's a true patriot.

[Roachman]

10. That's not 100% backing

Jay-Z's not backing him 100% in that quote, he's just backing his right to say what he said.

Backing him 100% implies saying he was 100% right, which he was.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

11. Bush likes blacks

So long as they're working for him.

[Erika]

13. I can't believe the racists comments I've heard today

Including "those people deserve to die if they were too stupid to evacuate." They won't listen to arguments.

I'd say they are feeling very guilty and defensive.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

14. Sheez

A lot of those people were old or handicapped.

If someone says, "those people deserve to die if they were too stupid to evacuate" in my presence I'll rip their fucking face off.

:argh:

[Erika]

15. I wanted to but I work for a solid red employer

and it was at work. I could tell from her intense passion that the situation was getting to her. I've noticed all the Bushbots in the office are quiet, rigid, and uptight.

Plus, I had already announced, calmly, a few days ago that I felt Bush was a racist in his attitude. It hasn't exactly endeared me these people.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

16. Most people where I work dislike Bush

He's really been put down lately because of Hurricane Katrina.

Among those who like him one woman has changed her view of him. Others may make excuses for him but I've never heard anyone say the victims of Katrina deserved to die.

[Erika]

17. Unfortunately, in many ways we are the reddest of states

and nothing can be Bush's fault.

[SKKY]

18. Anyone who disagrees with Kanye's "arguments" should watch Fox...

...It was one of those rare moments when you can actually feel yourself being brain-washed. I'm watching the coverage on Fox (It's what AFRTS had on at the time) and as I'm watching I noticed something. All of the people they showed looting and rioting were, without exception, Black. All of the people they showed in distress, on top of their houses, swimming for their lives, or racing to pack up their things before the water came were Black. And all of the people they showed rescuing, or helping save lives, or serving dinners in shelters, or at the Astro-dome tending to the wounded, were white- without exception. This went on for 2 solid hours, covering both Hannity and Gretta's shows. It was chilling.