If Oprah went broke, I'd send money to make her rich again.

[linazelle]

I LOVE that woman.

She has done so much for so many people. If anybody deserves to be rich, it's her.

[Kenroy]

1. good for you

I don't get the Oprah-hate here.

Of all the billionaires in the country, people here act like she's the only one with obligations to give it all away. In fact, she gives away more in a year than I'm likely to earn in a lifetime.

Nobody posts "What is Warren Buffet doing?" or "What are the Walton Family doing?", but the only black, female billionaire is expected to personally pay for every crisis in the country.

[kstewart33]

2. Well said.

Hey guys, lay off Oprah. I don't any other billionaire down there trying to do some good. Do you?

[Jade Fox]

4. Good post.

[goclark]

5. Not sure but Eileen Norton may be a billionaire

She was divorced about 3 years ago from ? Norton of Norton Anti Virus fame.

[Kenroy]

8. ah, quite possible

so I'll stipulate that Oprah is the only self-made black female billionaire :)

[goclark]

17. Eileen Norton is African American

and a marvelous person.

Very down to earth and always giving to causes, particularly the Arts.

She is usually low key but I am sure she would give to New Orleans.

Do a google for her.

[LostinVA]

14. She gives more away than most CORPORATIONS

literally. And before all of the Oprah-bashers on DU (of which they are surprisingly many) say, she's a corporation ... how about Harpo? She is NOT a corp., she is an individual who grew up poor and made it big, and has given back to the community so much. I don't care if she buys $5,000 purses (it's her money!), or brags about hanging with Julia Roberts, or picks some Godawful books for her reading club.... she has more heart and soul and empathy than most people. She rocks.

And, I agree that I think she is focused on because she's a black woman. It's very strange. As is people saying she's a BUsh lover or a Repub... she unfortunately allowed her very long friendship with Maria Shriver to mean she had that idiot Arnold on her show. I don't agree with her decision, but people, she's done so much else!

[aquart]

3. I was just saying that.

I'm PLEASED she's rich.

She went down on the ground and let anyone who needed to, hug her. And she sent in every famous face she could corral to do the same. Anything to help people who were treated like refuse feel like valuable people again.

[Booster]

11. I love Oprah and admire her a lot, but I've always gotten the

feeling that she is just a little uncomfortable trying to comfort people on a personal level. I'm like that too, so I recognize it in others. Not to say she's a bad person; just a little unsure of herself in that regard. The person who impressed me was Julia Roberts; now that woman knows how to hug people; putting her arms totally around people and burying her face into theirs. I was also very impressed with Mathew Mc (whatever); seems like a real good guy.

[Kenroy]

12. I agree

Julia Roberts really impressed me. There was absolutely NO sense of any barrier between her and the people she was comforting. The way she talked to those teenage girls, and just spontaneously hugged them... the way she kissed and snuggled those babies - it was sincere.

They were all great - Chris Rock starting to well up when talking about his daughters, Matthew McCaunaghey (however you spell it) saving those dogs and cats, and just being real with people. I thought Travolta was a little grandiose, but hey, he brought five tons of supplies, so he gets a pass. Priscilla Presley was great shopping for items, and showed a practicality one wouldn't expect from someone with her background.

Two people I've never much liked have totally changed my opinion because of this: Julia Roberts and Celine Dion. Both of them showed a really sincere, heartfelt reaction that, I guess, a lot of us mistakenly presume celebrities don't have. We forget they're just people, affected by the same things that affect us. And no sane person could not be terribly affected by what we've seen this last week.

As to Oprah herself, I don't get the sense she's uncomfortable doing it. I think she may just be cautious because of her incredible fame and status, and that DOES tend to bring out the crazies. But I have no doubt she VERY sincerely empathizes with these people.

[aquart]

13. I noticed the discomfort. I admire her more for it.

It's something of a personal ordeal, but she did it because she knows it means something to them.

It's an ordeal for Bush, too. So he ducks it or rehearses it or carefully screens it. Mostly he does his damnedest to avoid the American people.

[jim3775]

6. There is one thing that bothers me about Oprah

What was with the complaining and calling racism a while back because that Paris store wouldn't give her special treatment?

Other than that I have no complaints.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

9. I thought that the store would not let her in and she believed it was

because of her race. Im not sure at all though, have you got a link?

Whatever the case with THAT incident, she is right. Many black shoppers have said they feel unwelcome at upper scale stores.

[Catherine Vincent]

10. Oprah wasn't the one to make a fuss about it.

It was the people that were with her.

[Skittles]

16. dup

*

[Be Brave]

7. I'm happy for her success. And that she has a generous heart

and is giving back to society.

[Neecy]

15. you know...

I've always been sort of neutral on her - I don't watch daytime talk shows, so I'm not familiar enough with her to have an opinion.

But DAMN. I did watch both of her shows this week, and they were amazing. I've watched hours and hours of cable and network news during this event, and nothing had the impact on me like those two hours. Stunning and emotional, and she didn't hold anything back because 'the people' can't be trusted with the facts. Watching it made me realize just how shallow our news coverage is, and how much we aren't told by the corporate media.

I'm definitely a fan now.

[2bfree]

18. The shows were great...............

Very touching.........I usually don't like all the celeb stuff but if the celebs brighten the faces of the victims like that it is a really good thing.