Harry Belafonte as a Geopolitical Expert Commentator

[Egalitariat]

This guy is a genius to me. He has no more credibility as a geopolitical analyst than Barbra Streisand or Toby Keith, but he gets the right wing's panties in a wad everytime he opens his mouth.

I can't believe that they care what his opinion is, but I'm glad that they do. It'd be nice if our Democratic strategists could take advantage of the meaningless interference this guy runs for us on a weekly basis.

[robbedvoter]

1. WTF do you know about Belafonte's credibility?

He's been a lifetime activist - one of the most articulate and outspoken. Toby Keith?
Who the fuck made you credibility arbiter? Shame on you!

[Egalitariat]

2. Did you read my post? I think he's great. He gets RW media types to...

waste their energy responding to him, when hardly anybody else listens to what he says or cares what he thinks.

That allows our people to move, act, and react to the truly important issues and opinion makers.

[robbedvoter]

3. So why the backhanded compliment on credibility?

Why compare him with Toby keith?
he is more than a singer, you know. If you don't, read before throwing at him RW insults.
here, you can start your education here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Belafonte

In 1987, he received an appointment to UNICEF as a goodwill ambassador. In 2002 Africare awarded him the Bishop John T. Walker Distinuished Humanitarian Service Award for his efforts to assist Africa.
also, from UNICEF
http://www.unicef.org/people/people_harry_belafonte.html
http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/index.cfm?fuseaction=showIndividual&entitY_id=3695&source_type=A
Both the Peace Corps and UNICEF have honored Belafonte's work.

Just because Jon Stewart chose to ape Colon Bowell's contempt for belafonte is no need for us to be that clueles.

[stellanoir]

4. Oh chill both of you

at this point we'd better take any progressive voice wherever we can get it.

Belefonte has been a progressive voice forever. Keith is a wanker IMHO and not even worthy of discussion. Not to take sides or anything . LOL

[GoldenOldie]

5. Belafonte and all of the Hollywood set have as much right as any citizen

to voice their opinion. The majority of the Hollywood set are more informed and educated on worldly affairs than any of the elected politicians.

Actors/Actresses travel the world and are on locations for months at a time. Their profession requires them to research, study cultures, study personalities, governments, politics and by actually being on site and interacting with the local populations they have a better understanding of what is actually going on in the world than our elected politicians who may or may not fly in to visit the dignataries/dictators/royalty for a few hours and then return home talking and acting like they know what is actually happening.

Our elected politicians don't even take the time to read or research the bills they sign off on. Bills that can and do affect all of us....a good example is the Medicare Drug program.

Before anyone tells Hollywood to shut up, maybe they should listen to what they have to say and actually find out where they get their information.

[robbedvoter]

6. Belafonte is a humanitarian activist. NOT HOLLYWOOD!

Please educate yourselves about the voices that speak for you!
The ignorance and disrespect are unacceptable.