*WOW* Lauer and Russert on the Today Show

[underpants]

No transcript or video yet.

Close quotes (the first one is verbatim)

Lauer: Tim, have you talked to anyone in the administration or around DC in the last 24 or 48 hours who thinks this is being handled well?

Russert: NO!

(dead air for about 5 seconds. No qualifiers no "but....."s nothing just NO! from Russert)

They actually went on to discuss funding, lack of preparation, inaction, basically how screwed the whole thing is, still.

Then Lauer said the following (~) "Look lets be blunt about this. The people we see suffering and dying are black and poor. Maybe shame on us for not covering this in the past but I think a lot of people were unaware how many people live well below the poverty line in this country"

Russert and Lauer then discussed how race and class are going to have to really be talked about and addressed in this country.

The NO part was what really got me.

[Cobalt Violet]

1. The media has ignore the growing poverty in America.

But runaway brides and missing white women are much more important.

[underpants]

3. I'd laugh

because that is very funny but it is more accurate than funny.

[Felix Mala]

18. That's Class Warfare!!!

Funny, only one side seems to have any ammunition or defenses in this battle.

[iconoclastNYC]

31. Exactly.

The whole class warefare thing is the only thing Republicans have to counter this line of argument.

Which is why we should use it.

They are the party of the haves and the have-more.

Our party needs to return to its roots: fighting for the people, the poor, the middle class, and the powerless.

When will the millionaires that run our party get it?

[MADem]

39. Ted Kennedy, a millionaire, always got it

And I respect the hell out him for it. Of course, the other team paints him as a drunken, bloviating liberal who will give away their hard earned tax dollars on things like Headstart, medical care, and education, instead of 'sensible' things like tax cuts, bombs and a bloated, contracted effort in Iraq.

[LittleClarkie]

48. And I bought it too, until I heard him speak

an infinitely sane man is our Teddy.

[Love Bug]

2. Good -- let's see if they can put up or shut up

The real test of their sincerity will be a few weeks from now when we've moved on to the next "white girl missing in whatever" story and see if they are willing to follow up with discussions about the links between race and poverty. I'm not holding my breath.

[Cobalt Violet]

12. There must be a lot of new missing white women after Katrina.

[OneTwentyoNine]

4. When super Bush ass kisser Russert changes his tune its over....

This disaster is way,way to deep for even the most seasoned Bush ass kisser to stay on board. They're jumping ship on this one and for once actually reporting FACTS as they see them....

[belle]

35. And talking about race and class on the teevee! strange days indeed

about fucking time may i add

[bushisanidiot]

5. AWOL Bush is between a rock and hard place.. if he shows sympathy

to the poor blacks in new orleans he will alienate his base..

there's going to be race riots all over the country over this.. i can just feel it..

[underpants]

8. I was thinking last night how this could be say two months from now

As bad as some of the response has been so far (see below) when these people from New Orleans ;-) are still being taken care of two months from now we are going to see how caring and patient W's base is going to be. Their true stripes but get out there for all to see.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=152276&mesg_id=152276

[chomskysright]

Don't you know: THE VICTIMS BEAR SOME RESPONSIBILITY: Brown

[Prodemsouth]

13. Yeah, When I look at African Americans they have a very angry

look in their face- I don't blame them. I Think you are right something will trigger it.

[Clark2008]

19. Make that, "Between IRAQ and a hard place."

Which is exactly where Bush needs to be given all the suffering his miserable policies have created.

[holboz]

6. The "Two Americas" ...

That so many poo-poo'ed during the election.

Nobody can deny that this is a damnable abomination. Those that think everything is fine and peachy keen are beyond redemption anyway.

I can't wait to see how Bushit's visit to NO will play out today.

[underpants]

11. Oh no we don't want THAT wedge issue

The haves (at best 5%) and the rest (95%). I could go into a Zinn type rant but you know that story...Western "Civilization" and all.

[BootinUp]

7. I hope they are not just mouthing platitudes

that will be forgotten in the near future.

[blondeatlast]

9. Why did it have to take this much devastation to wake them up

from their pleasant dreams and our extended nightmare?

Regardless, thank God that they are.

Jaw, meet floor.

[bribri16]

10. These fucks were elected precisely to ignore the black and poor.

Russert and the rest of the media know that. Shame on them for their coverup of this and Iraq!

[BikeWriter]

15. Exactly, the black and poor have not been in the equation.

[1932]

33. Exploiting an underclass in the US, Haiti, Iraq -- it's part of the policy

It's not even an accident.

This is how they make the wealthy wealthier.

[candice]

41. Part of getting them "elected" was to prevent African-Americans ...

from voting--from Katherine Harris' voting list purging to Ken Blackwell's reduction in voting machines (and his central tabulator in his office that was probably in direct contact with Karl Rove's machines in the White House (Rove said he had the right figures (and the polls were off) because he was in "contact" with all the precincts).

[underpants]

57. ahem... *cough* warondrugs*cough*

Sorry I had to clear my throat.

[Eloriel]

14. Wow is right.

Thank God, tho, that SOMEONE is actually noticing and getting it about racism. I'm so disillusioned with my country and the media, that I'm actually surprised they get it.

[driver8]

16. Me, too. I'm surprised they actually have the balls to mention it.

[calimary]

38. Truly. I'm shocked to hear this also.

Our media has to be shocked and embarrassed, "pants'ed," wedgied, swirlied, and full-frontal'ed, dragged naked into the street before they wake up.

The coverage of the hurricane's wreckage and the lack of preparation and short-sighted, miserly, political corner-cutting and the HORRENDOUS inequality we have NOT addressed in this country - "the elephant in the room" as even that insufferable blow-hard Jack Cafferty called it yesterday (I LOVED that - the ELEPHANT - republi-CON pet symbol, too - in the room), it's been on display for ALL THE WORLD TO SEE. CNN is an international network. And the BBC and other international media are covering this also. And it's all there for everyone to see. We are ALL shamed by this. Publicly shamed. Can't say we don't deserve it. Well... I partially take that back. Liberals, progressives and the rare Democrat with any spine - like those in the Congressional Black Caucus and the rest of us who supported them and didn't drink the Kool-aid and have been fighting this battle virtually alone in the wilderness - I think WE actually do NOT deserve it. We tried to keep it from happening.

You DON'T RUN GOVERNMENT LIKE A BUSINESS!!!!!!!! You just don't.

Business is there to cut corners, keep costs down, and make a profit.

Government is there to help people, and to work for the GREATER GOOD. "Making a profit" isn't even part of the equation.

The next time I hear somebody blathering that we should run the government like a business, I may just throw something at 'em. Preferably my partially-digested lunch.

:grr:

Howard Dean was correct. These ARE our people. WE HAVE TO BE THERE FOR THEM. The republi-CON party won't be. The republi-CON party has NO INTENTION of being for these people. These are NOT their people anyway. They like the moneybags and the moneymongers. WE HAVE TO BE THERE to fight for the outsiders and the little guy and those who are left off the gravy train. Those already on the gravy train who care only about their own self-interest, are already WELL-TAKEN CARE OF, thank you very much. They don't need the government looking after them. Government should be for the OTHERS WHO DO NEED LOOKING AFTER.

Okay. Call it the "nanny state." FINE. Turn up your nose. But I'd defy ANYBODY in the "have's" or the "have more's" - with kids - to go it alone WITHOUT having a nanny around to do the dirty work while they go get their manicures and pedicures and luncheons and club dates and massages and tennis lessons. Sorry, I live in an area where you see a LOT of that. TONS of that. Almost every stroller being wheeled around some neighborhoods in this area is operated by some below-minimum-wage nanny, usually a Hispanic (and probably an illegal). These folks tend to think a nanny's a pretty nifty thing to have. These folks don't turn their noses up at the idea of a nanny when it comes to their own self-interest and maintaining their own sense of self-involvement. Well, guess what? Our country needs it, too, then.

[kodi]

43. the obligation of government is to do justice to its citizens,

part of this obligation is to foster conditions in which wealth is produced. the obligation is not met by substituting the wealth-producer for the government.

bush thinks it is for obtaining and securing property.

[mattclearing]

17. Glad to have been the 5th person to recommend this thread.

I had no idea they said that on the Today Show. I was watching the Early Show, and Harry Smith was on the ground there, and it was nearly as brutal. He was interviewing, calm, collected, yet clearly miserable and angry black people, and dispelling the media myth of the unruly mobs.

[noonwitch]

20. I was amazed to hear Matt Lauer say that!

It's about time someone stated the obvious.

[underpants]

21. Uh-oh ABC too -- Katrina Aftermath Raises Questions of Race

Katrina Aftermath Raises Questions of Race

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Primetime/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1089382&page=1

[Arugula Latte]

40. Uh-oh! What if Poppy Bush doesn't golf with Matty anymore?

Now I'm :scared:

[enough already]

22. Two white millionaires sitting around talking about poor blacks

Maybe they should stop sucking up to Bush, get off their asses and go help.

[NoFederales]

23. The "sincere" questions at work: 'You don't really think that this unpre-

paredness/slow response to Katrina is about race do you?' WTF, the scales fell off of your eyes for once, your very question begs the answer doesn't it? A whitebread microcosm in America has so insulated itself from reality, it's hard to be patient, or compassionate to them. Many are just so drunk with the kool-aid, I guess, but there are many others who have found these last few years of renewed racial segregation and race-hating to be a haven for their animosities. Depending on how the disaster response is handled this Nation could well see some serious violence.

NoFederales

[underpants]

25. They are already pulling the trigger on that

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=152276&mesg_id=152276

[jbnow]

26. It is hard to believe

if all those wide eyed children had blond ringlets would they still be in there? Would they really have gone so long without food and water?

It's so hard to believe that it could make a difference, but as each hour passes I can't imagine that with blue eyed babes. Of course I couldn't imagine it with anyone.

And later I will care more about racism and classism and failure of leadership...but right now I want those people out of there.

[StaggerLee]

24. Thanks

Since I don't have cable I have to rely on DU for most of my news.

Recommended.

[izzybeans]

27. The race and class part has really got me. They're the big

fat elephant in the smelly American room.

It seems the contradictions are just to staggering not to speak no evil any more. We'd seen it it and heard it, but sat silently not talking about it for far too long. The fact that Matt Laur can recognize that is huge. That means any Tom Dick and Harry Jane whiteguy and gal can probably too. That is if they pay attention.

[underpants]

28. Let me say this

I know of one person who did try to raise this issue-at least he mentioned it.

John Edwards. It was in his stump speech and he gave several speeches on it. PAndering politician? Not really at least not in my opinion (but then I like the guy).

Of course he was summarily dismissed as a pandering politician and a wannbe populist by pretty much everyone with a microphone in front of them.

[izzybeans]

55. Well he grew up in the south and seemed to be pretty well

in tune to both issues given his upbringing. I too didn't dismiss it as pandering.

[underpants]

56. -

growing up in Va. I became very aware of it. The story of my little league basketball team tells why I look for this insidiousness.

Long story. PM me and I will write tell you about it if you want to hear it.

[Sapphire Blue]

29. Did they discuss the steadily increasing poverty rate under this Admin.?

Did they discuss the funding cuts in social programs under this Admin.? Did they call for restoring funding for social programs? Did they discuss bush's tax cuts for the rich? Did they happen to mention that bush arrogantly refers to his base as the 'haves & have mores'?

This Admin. has given the people of America the finger in so many ways, none more callously than the poor. The poor are invisible to much of this country. John Edwards has the ability to see the 'invisibles', to hear those who have been silenced, to reach out to those who have been ignored and forgotten... as do Al Sharpton and Dennis Kucinich. These are the leaders who speak up and care for 'the least of these'... while bush calls himself a Christian.

Will we support leaders who speak up and care for 'the least of these'? Will we speak up for 'the least of these'? Will we demand not only answers, but action? Or will 'the least of these' be ignored & hidden away like a dirty little secret?

The people have no food... and the emperor has no clothes.

May God / Allah / Jehovah / YHWH / the Creator / Waheguru / the One have mercy on us, awaken our souls and restore humanity.

30. morning shows

Those talk show people seem to me to have minds like sieves, and never are held accountable to have a brain or truly form an opinion. It is extremely hard to find intelligent voices talking about things. This country has no leadership around caring for people. It is get a mcjob or lump it. However the weight of people in poverty eventually touches even the people high up in their roosts, so this "let them suffer" leadership can't last forever.

I listened to the Mike Malloy show last nite and he played excerpts of Bush speech. Most of what Bush is preoccupied with and truly cares about is the movement of oil. That was his mantra, get oil, help oil, move oil, on and on . Just incredible. :crazy:

[1932]

32. I said this about CNN yesterday: FIRST TIME EVER CLASS MENTIONED ON

TODAY SHOW.

That is stunning.

Edwards was right about Two Americas. I guess this is the lag time -- nine months -- for the media to understand why that speech took a third tier candidate and made him a contender.

[underpants]

34. #28 above

Yes Edwards did actually mention TWO AMERICAS regularly-part of his stump speech

[belle]

36. That was always the best thing about Edwards. My own problem with him

had to do with his sucking up about the war in Iraq and his general appearance of light-weightedness on a lot of things. But he was by far the best when talking to/about the poor and working class, esp. in the south: it's what he knows.

[1932]

37. I think we're now seeing which issues really mattered.

[Sapphire Blue]

45. and #29 above.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

42. Did they say poverty has increased every year during idiot's tenure?

[Sapphire Blue]

46. I had the same question & more... see #29 above.

[Mad_Dem_X]

44. I saw that - I almost had a heart attack

Both men looked angry. I've never seen Russert like that. God, the tide is turning, isn't it? FINALLY.

[DearAbby]

49. God the lives lost in the meantime...the tide is turning, but it took sooo

long for them to wake up. And who is the blame of this ignorance to other people's suffering? This is the very reason we need a balanced and fair Media.

[underpants]

47. VIDEO LINK-"It's uniform and universal" "lack of planning" mentions 9/11

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/?ta=y

[earth mom]

50. Empty words. Nothing has or will change.

Russert and Lauer are FORCED to look at the issue of the poor right now, but soon they will find "more interesting and important" :eyes: stories to focus on like the next Celebrity trial or the next missing white girl or the great gifts available at Neiman Marcus this coming Christmas for the snobby upper crust. :sarcasm:

The poor and middle class have been given the shaft, will continue to get the shaft and things will only get worse for them because the economy is in the crapper and tons of jobs have been outsourced. :grr:

[AX10]

51. True.

It's only at this time that the poor are given a spotlight. Once, it's over, we'll be right back to affluent young white girls who made stupid choices by running off with shady people and the media will be telling us that we should consume our time with this 'tradgedy'.

[1democracy]

53. I don't think so...

As we listen and see the people who are stranded or getting out-- the mother with the baby, the young man pushing an old man in a wheelchair through 2' of water to find help,...and when you hear people tell their stories you realize these people are me, like my family. They have the same wants and needs as I do, even if I am more affluent. They wear the same cloths, love their children and families--- just like I do. We are all the same, rich and poor. We are all human beings and we are also all Americans. And then you start putting yourself in their place, and begin reacting with outrage on their behalf.
This is a sea-change in the nation's mindset. We are ONE nation, and we will be judged by how we care for the least among us-- the poor, the young, the powerless.
What is so shocking is that apparently the leaders of this country didn't even care enough to be glued to the TV to watch the horrors unfold (we know they elected to do nothing about it!) so they haven't experienced the transformation that the rest of the nation has-- as usual they are out of step, returning to Washington early NOT to deal with the aftermath of Katrina but because the Senate was coming back early to appropriate $ for the recovery efforts, the Pres. had to cut his vacation by 2 days to perform a recess appointment before the Senators returned!
The jig is up. The uncaring is there for all to see, and it FEELS like the administration does not care about any of us, and that won't be forgotten. The stories of the survivors will be told for months, like 9-11 and that will keep this front and center for the foreseeable future.

[underpants]

52. I'm not kidding this was actually on Rush's show today

He had a fill in and this bozo had some pollster on. She was discussing how you should really look at approval numbers and was talking about the main concerns of American people. She then starting talking about Cindy Sheehan being the second biggest story (liberal media) last week .... after Natalie Holloway.

Seriously.

[Imagevision]

54. Russert and laurer should have Mayor Kagan on their shows

for further discussion!!


http://downingstreetmemo.com/

[leesa]

58. Yes. Shame on you. No maybe about it.