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Cornel West "Barack Obama Is NOT The Fulfillment Of Martin Luther King's Dream!"

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indimuse Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 04:02 PM
Original message
Cornel West "Barack Obama Is NOT The Fulfillment Of Martin Luther King's Dream!"
Edited on Sun Jan-16-11 04:02 PM by indimuse
 
Run time: 03:46
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTLrNVg6UQs
 
Posted on YouTube: January 15, 2011
By YouTube Member: MOXNEWSd0tCOM
Views on YouTube: 3159
 
Posted on DU: January 16, 2011
By DU Member: indimuse
Views on DU: 8890
 
;)
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democracy1st Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 04:10 PM
Response to Original message
1. K & R
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Smarmie Doofus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 04:22 PM
Response to Original message
2. Don't need to watch a video to know that.
Oh... all right. I'll watch it.
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Peregrine Took Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 08:50 PM
Response to Reply #2
16. +1. Exactly.
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Smarmie Doofus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 04:27 PM
Response to Original message
3. OK. CW is worth it. No one says it better. K and R
Edited on Sun Jan-16-11 04:27 PM by Smarmie Doofus
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emilyg Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 11:41 PM
Response to Reply #3
29. +1
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Ramulux Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 04:30 PM
Response to Original message
4. West is such a pimp
Hes relentless and tells it like it is, I fucking love the guy.
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RufusTFirefly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 04:54 PM
Response to Original message
5. I love me some Dr. West.
Edited on Sun Jan-16-11 04:55 PM by RufusTFirefly
Talk about a great communicator. Simultaneously folksy and sophisticated, he never pulls his punches.



The Democratic Party elites are too often unwilling to tell the American people just how connected they and their Republican colleagues are to powerful corporations and influential lobbyists. Their caving in to Bush's Iraq war, and their support for the loosening of regulations on corporations that led to the recent wave of scandals, are two blatant examples. In these legislative votes, most Democrats failed to follow their conscience, following instead the polls and their reelection strategies. Unlike their idol, Bill Clinton--a masterful neo-liberal communicator who subordinated his conscience to the exigencies of reelection strategies, but was able to conceal his opportunism with his charisma--the vast majority of Democratic Party elites are rendered impotent by their timidity and paralyzed by their cupidity (their courting of corporate donors). Their unprincipled compromises reinforce the idea that corporate influence and lobbyists' clout run the U.S. government.

From Democracy Matters
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ElsewheresDaughter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 12:21 AM
Response to Reply #5
30. I have loved me some Dr West for more then 25 years...Zinn introduced me
Edited on Mon Jan-17-11 12:25 AM by ElsewheresDaughter
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RufusTFirefly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 05:14 PM
Response to Original message
6. Love the quote from Arianna a little earlier in the program
After pointing out that the US now falls behind even France in upward mobility, she said

"When it comes to upward mobility, we are 10th. We are after France, after Spain, after the Scandinavian countries. To be behind France in upward mobility would be as if France were behind us in croissants and afternoon sex."
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Enthusiast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 08:10 AM
Response to Reply #6
38. I agree, that was awesome! nt
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WhiteTara Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 05:36 PM
Response to Original message
7. Barack Obama is not THE Fulfillment of Martin Luther King's Dream
he is ONE of the fulfillments.

When I heard the conversation on CSPAN (very good by the way. Tavis Smiley is somehthing else.) the emphasis was not on the word NOT, but on the word THE.
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liberation Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 05:43 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. True
Edited on Sun Jan-16-11 05:47 PM by liberation
Maybe he is twelve of the fulfilments for that matter... it makes little difference about our current situation.
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WhiteTara Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 05:48 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. True. n/t
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ThomThom Donating Member (752 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 09:35 AM
Response to Reply #8
45. yes we have a black President but it doesn't matter if he acts
like a Republican. It doesn't matter if we have a black Supreme Court Justice if he thinks like someone on the right. The system is broken and we nee to stop throwing our votes away. Support people that agree with your ideals but don't just vote for someone with a "D" after their name. That no longer works. If there is a mass movement to other parties maybe down the road things will change. But as it stands now, we are heading for a dark time with no chance of a good outcome.
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WhiteTara Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 09:42 AM
Response to Reply #45
48. I'm just clarifying the OP's emphasis
and it was not what Cornell West saying. The OP was twisting the truth for political purposes.
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pocoloco Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 10:23 AM
Response to Reply #45
51. Why is this so hard to comprehend?
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demwing Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 11:20 AM
Response to Reply #45
60. "We are heading for a dark time" True. We are IN a dark time
But the follow up: "with no chance of a good outcome"

If that were true, then we should just stick our heads between our legs and give our asses a goodbye kiss.

Who here is ready to give up?
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maritzasolito Donating Member (74 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 07:32 PM
Response to Reply #7
14. Intersting.....
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Clydetwitch Donating Member (76 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 09:25 AM
Response to Reply #7
44. Does make a difference. nt
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Plucketeer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 06:01 PM
Response to Original message
10. K & R
Love straight talk!



GOP JOBS PLAN
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Ken Burch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 06:16 PM
Response to Original message
11. Well, I don't think the prez ever CLAIMED to be.
n/t.
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Lint Head Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 06:18 PM
Response to Original message
12. Cornel West for President!
I love him!
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jjewell Donating Member (78 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 07:23 PM
Response to Original message
13. Not "THE" fulfillment, but "A" fulfillment...
Well put, well said, well done...
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ermasdaughter Donating Member (40 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 02:13 PM
Response to Reply #13
76. Glad you pointed that out.
The headline totally misrepresents the statement.
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ejbr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 08:48 PM
Response to Original message
15. k & r !! n/t
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anAustralianobserver Donating Member (440 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 08:54 PM
Response to Original message
17. Here's the whole discussion
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democracy1st Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 12:53 AM
Response to Reply #17
32. thank you sir!
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Dokkie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 08:56 PM
Response to Original message
18. K & R
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xiamiam Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 09:14 PM
Response to Original message
19. consistently refreshing .love Dr. West..nt
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my2sense Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 09:42 PM
Response to Original message
20. K & R
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defendandprotect Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 10:03 PM
Response to Original message
21. Obama is the opposite of MLK, Jr. -- and/or FDR -- Love Cornell West--!!!
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defendandprotect Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 10:04 PM
Response to Original message
22. May I ask, from how many sources do we have to hear that Repugs/Dems are working together ....
for corporate interests vs the people's interests before EVERYONE here gets

the message and works it into a Plan B?

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ElsewheresDaughter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 12:33 AM
Response to Reply #22
31. Dr West dispute with Lawrence Summers......
mind you this is from wikipedia so who knows who edited this

In 2000, economist and former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers became president of Harvard. In a private meeting with West, Summers allegedly rebuked West for missing too many classes, contributing to grade inflation, neglecting serious scholarship, and spending too much time on his economically profitable projects.<9> Summers allegedly suggested that West produce an academic book befitting his professorial position. West had written several books, some of them widely cited, but his recent output consisted primarily of co-written and edited volumes. According to some reports, Summers also objected to West's production of a CD, the critically panned Sketches of My Culture, and to his political campaigning.<10> According to West's book Democracy Matters, Summers wrongly accused him of canceling classes for three straight weeks during 2000 to promote Bill Bradley's presidential campaign. West contends that he had missed one class during his tenure at Harvard "in order to give a keynote address at a Harvard-sponsored conference on AIDS." Summers also allegedly suggested that since West held the rank of Harvard University Professor and thus reported directly to the President, he should meet with Summers regularly to discuss the progress of his academic production.<11>

West contends that popular coverage of the controversy obscured the true issues at stake in his dispute with Summers. West argues that Summers's vision of academia is corrosive to a deep democratic commitment that strives to connect the academy with society at large, so as to fulfill its calling to educate the public. He contends that the controversy with Summers was indicative of the fact that "a market-driven technocratic culture has infiltrated university life, with the narrow pursuit of academic trophies and the business of generating income from grants and business partnerships taking precedence over the fundamental responsibility of nurturing young minds." <12> According to West, during the controversy he was highly regarded in the academic community, "had more academic references than fourteen of the other seventeen Harvard University Professors", and "had nearly twice as many such references as Summers himself."<12> At the time, West had been focused on reaching wider audiences as part of his effort to encourage civic engagement—especially amongst youth—in the hope of revitalizing what he calls a deep democratic commitment that would counteract the encroaching political nihilism that he argues threatens the future of American democracy. While West doesn't deny the importance of academics engaging the more specialized concerns of their fields, he strongly opposes the sentiment that academia must limit itself to those rarefied interests. Academia and academics, he contends, have an important role to play in promoting public discourse that cannot be achieved if professors lock themselves in their ivory towers instead of engaging society-at-large and the salient issues of the day. Ultimately, this was the root of the quarrel, according to West.<12>

Summers refused to comment on the details of his conversation with West, except to express hope that West would remain at Harvard. Soon after, West was hospitalized for prostate cancer. West complained that Summers failed to send him get-well wishes until weeks after his surgery, whereas newly installed Princeton president Shirley Tilghman had contacted him frequently before and after his treatment.<11> In 2002 West left Harvard University to return to Princeton. West lashed out at Summers in public interviews, calling him "the Ariel Sharon of higher education" on NPR's Tavis Smiley Show.<13> In response to these remarks, five Princeton faculty members, led by professor of molecular biology Jacques Robert Fresco, said they looked with "strong disfavor upon his characterization" of Summers and that "such an analogy carries innuendoes and implications... that many on the Princeton faculty find highly inappropriate, indeed repugnant and intolerable."<14>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornel_West
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tomp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 08:37 AM
Response to Reply #22
39. i've been asking that question since i got here in 2001.
it hasn't happened yet.

THAT'S HOW GOOD THE DEMOCRATS ARE AT MISLEADING.

we need somewhere else to go.
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defendandprotect Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-11 01:42 PM
Response to Reply #39
105. Love your summation --- !!!
Keep on tellin' it -- !!!

Agree with you completely, but when we find someplace to go, it has to be

as a huge liberal voting bloc -- we can't go anywhere alone .... !!


:)
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Radical Activist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 11:23 AM
Response to Reply #22
61. No kidding. Look at all the Republicans who voted for Obama's major agenda items
like health care, cap-and-trade, Wall Street reform and more.

Oh wait...very few did. Using your own logic, doesn't the fact that Republicans opposed Obama almost non-stop for two years prove that he isn't working with them and is instead protecting the people's interests?
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Capitalocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 02:11 PM
Response to Reply #61
74. No.
Much of the health care reform bill was Republican policy just a few years ago. Now they oppose it because they can... for the sake of political theatre. But when the time came, one of them was put forward to pass it. It's a win-win... a piece of legislation with a few upsides but some major flaws which does nothing to change the status quo gets passed, the status quo is protected, Republican policy is passed, we Dems are supposed to be excited about it, and the Republicans get to wash their hands of it. It's a big win for everyone but us.
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Radical Activist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 08:40 PM
Response to Reply #74
96. So you're a single issue voter?
Obama made it clear that he considers the health care bill a building block to be improved upon. I hope someday you choose to be a part of making that progress happen. The status quo would have been even better protected if no bill had been passed at all.
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Capitalocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 09:13 PM
Response to Reply #96
97. How would you recommend I be a part of that?
How are you going to be a part of that?

And no, I'm not a single-issue voter. If I was, my single issue would be the rule of law, meaning increasing transparency and getting rid of torture, indefinite detention, extrajudicial execution, illegal prisons, illegal rendition, illegal wars... oh, but we're not allowed to talk about that either now that it's all continuing under Obama.

Tell me in what issue, exactly, Obama is not a Republican.
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Radical Activist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-11 12:29 AM
Response to Reply #97
100. You must be pretty happy
since Obama ended Bush torture policies on his first day in office, added more transparency to extraordinary rendition, ordered the closing of Gitmo, is providing due process trials for Bush detainees, ended the Iraq War, reaffirmed the timeline for Afghanistan withdrawal, and added a new layer of judicial review to wiretaps and other counter-terrorism measures. It's easy to see that progress is being made if you look at the basic facts instead of the sensational exaggerations of a few bloggers.

The last time I checked, Republicans don't support more regulation over every sector of the economy as Obama has done. Greens can bitch and moan about compromises all day long but the fact is that progress is being made on every issue area progressives care about. It's not the slightest bit like the last Republican President. If you think he's anything like Bush then you're out of your fucking mind.
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Capitalocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-11 01:28 AM
Response to Reply #100
101. So what you're saying is
that Gitmo is closed, the U.S. no longer tortures, no longer hands prisoners over to known torturers, the guilty in Gitmo are being tried and the innocent have been released, the wars are over, the U.S. no longer spies on its citizens, a new war hasn't been started in Pakistan or Yemen, we're not drone bombing innocent people, Obama hasn't claimed the right to execute anyone, anywhere, anytime, with no trial, including U.S. citizens, and Obama's policing Wall Street instead of handing them barrels of our money?

Gee, I wish I had checked the basic facts. It must be really wonderful living in your world. I think you should think twice before trying to tell others they're out of their fucking mind.
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Radical Activist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-11 04:20 AM
Response to Reply #101
102. Progress is progress.
Why do you hate progress? All of those policies have changed for the better since Bush left office. The fact that Obama has not accomplished utopia does not make him anything remotely resembling Bush. I see that you no longer attempt to defend that assholery of equating Obama to Bush. It cannot be done factually.
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Radical Activist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-11 04:34 AM
Response to Reply #101
104. Since you're so knowledgeable
why don't you share with everyone how many Gitmo detainees have been given trials, are in the process of receiving a trials or have been released since Obama took office? And how many remain? That would be a good starting point to make an honest comparison of Obama's actions to his Republican predecessor.
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Radical Activist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-11 04:31 AM
Response to Reply #97
103. You can start by treating HCR as a first step.
Repeating cynical Green party cliches about HCR being a big sell-out doesn't help accomplish that. It merely encourages defeatist cynicism and apathy, which are poison to successful organizing.

Part of the bill allows states to set up a single-payer system. Why not work on getting a state to adopt it? After one state tries it then people will see it work and actually know what it is. Only a person with their head up their ass would expect Obama to propose single-payer when most Americans don't even know what the word means. It takes grass-roots organizing first and expecting Obama to do that for us would be a lazy cop out.

Obama included a provision to allow states to set up single-payer because he knew that would be the next step. Change in America has always happened through a step-by-step process. Holding a grudge that we didn't get everything all at once is pointless and reveals an ignorance of movement history.
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liberation Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 02:43 PM
Response to Reply #61
82. Sigh, no.
Technically you are using your "own logic" (based on a fallacious premise to boot) and trying to project it as another person's logic. So you're doubling up on the fallacy, nice.

Obama having all his policies being shot down by the GOP, even after he watered them down to cater to GOP requests even when the Dems had majorities in both houses, mean many things. In fact the easier case to make out of that is that maybe he is just a rather shitty politician, for example. Rather than the more convoluted claim you're trying to establish that somehow it is clear proof he is working to defend the interests of the people.

Anyhow, I'll leave you to your usual spinning to justify every action for a center-right administration. Which is obviously the hallmark of a supposed "radical activist." LOL.
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Radical Activist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 08:03 PM
Response to Reply #82
90. So your argument
Edited on Mon Jan-17-11 08:03 PM by Radical Activist
is that when Republicans agree with Obama (even though they usually don't) it means he's selling out the people. And when Republicans disagree with Obama, which they usually do, it ALSO means he's selling out the people.

And you think I'm the one spinning? :rofl:

The fact that Obama had to water down legislation for conservative Senate Democrats and Lieberman is a reflection on the US Senate, not Obama. At least for those of us who have at minimum a high school level of understanding of how government works.
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defendandprotect Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-11 01:46 PM
Response to Reply #61
106. They voted for reducing Medicare by $500 billion which Obama gave them....
why wouldn't they -- it was one of Arlen Specter's great aims in life!!

Republicans didn't want anything passed because it's a threat to the private

health industry -- even if you say one band aid in 1 million will be free!

And, the additional advantage of depriving Obama/Dems of any victory.

The REFORM pushed by Obama was simply used to smash single-payer -- MEDICARE FOR ALL --

and move an old Republican plan --

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Radical Activist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-11 02:19 PM
Response to Reply #106
108. Why did all Republicans vote against it if they liked it so much?
Edited on Tue Jan-18-11 02:19 PM by Radical Activist
You're repeating random talking points, but you're not defending your argument. In fact, it's funny that the only person you mention, Arlen Specter, isn't even a Republican anymore. One reason why Republicans opposed it is that they understand (better than many bloggers) that it will be used as a building block to do more. That includes the provision which allows states to set up a single payer system.

Single payer had no chance of passing Congress and most of the public still don't know what the word even means. Blaming Obama for that is senseless. It's going to take more grass-roots organizing before that can happen. Expecting Obama to do that work for you is lazy and authoritarian.
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defendandprotect Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-11 02:38 PM
Response to Reply #108
109. Only YOU are saying they "liked it" .... they don't like it because it's a threat to PRIVATE
Edited on Tue Jan-18-11 02:38 PM by defendandprotect
health care --

And because it would have been a "win" for Obama --

Evidently you need to catch up with the public --

76%+ of the public supported single-payer MEDICARE FOR ALL -- in still growing

numbers when the back room deals with private h/c industry were made by Obama.

You know ... those deals that smashed anything but privatized health care in America!

And, apologies for any "expectations" we may have had of Obama -- it was wrong to do so --

Agree with that completely!

It would be an understatement to say any comparisons with FDR are over --

other than the depression-like conditions the economy still suffers!

Nor should we have expectations of millionaire and multi-millionaire Democrats we might

expect to work for the good of the nation --

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Radical Activist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-11 02:57 PM
Response to Reply #109
110. You said they liked it in comment 22.
You claimed Dems and Pubs were working together for corporate interests against the people. But now you finally admit that they weren't really working together. Republicans were fighting Obama every step of the way. So basically, your argument is made up bullshit.

I'm glad to see that you now believe Republicans fought HCR because it's a threat to private health care. I keep reading that it was nothing but a giveaway to the insurance industry designed to protect private health care. But that can't be true if it really is a threat to private health care like the Republicans believe it is. Isn't a threat to private health care what you want?

It's the Senate that needs to catch up to the public. It's those back room deals that resulted in the best bill we could get passing the conservative Senate. I guess you were shocked by this but negotiation and compromise is how nearly every bill becomes a law. That's how grown-up politics works when we have to do more than take righteous stands alone on a blog.
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defendandprotect Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-11 11:14 PM
Response to Reply #110
111. Your post is confused ....
Edited on Tue Jan-18-11 11:14 PM by defendandprotect
and convoluted --

Re read #22 --

Democrats and Republicans are working together against the interests of the public --

but mainly in BACK ROOM DEALS -- though Blue Dogs used to meet with the GOP.

Does that mean that the GOP wants to give Obama a public win? No.

Meanwhile, if you want to avoid being alerted on or being put on "ignore" --

So basically, your argument is made up bullshit.

try to stick with debate -- and avoid childish insults - makes you look desperate.


And, yes, GOP will try to fight any attempt to limit private health care as I've

previously pointed out! That was the very essence of the back room deals with Obama!


I'm always shocked when Democrats adopt Republican agendas - and push them!

That's not "grown up" -- it's betrayal of the public.

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bobbolink Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 10:04 PM
Response to Original message
23. "And every day, Martin asks back, 'How deep is your love for working and poor people?' "
:applause:

:cry:

:applause:

I don't think any of you can understand how much people like me need to hear sentiments like that!!

Until you do, there is a huge gulf between us that will show at election time.
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heliarc Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 10:35 PM
Response to Original message
24. Gotta love Dr. Cornell West.
Truth be told. always.
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L0oniX Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 10:53 PM
Response to Original message
25. Always good to hear Cornel West.
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DeSwiss Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 11:01 PM
Response to Original message
26. K&R
- Nope. Not by a long-shot.....

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hulka38 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 11:09 PM
Response to Original message
27. Can people handle getting spoon fed pure truth?
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awoke_in_2003 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-16-11 11:18 PM
Response to Original message
28. Big ole K&R for Dr. West...
Arianna is nothing but an anti-establishment hack.
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donheld Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 01:06 AM
Response to Original message
33. love it!
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grahamhgreen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 01:53 AM
Response to Original message
34. He rode to the White House on the blood, sweat and tears of generations, hopefully
he'll pay them back.
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madrchsod Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 07:37 AM
Response to Original message
35. obama is a liberal republican.
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defendandprotect Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-18-11 01:49 PM
Response to Reply #35
107. We should be so lucky .... !!!
We have a right wing party now -- and a radical right wing party --

if obama were even in the center of that he'd be a right wing centrist!

Rather, it looks like the T-BAGGERS are the push off for the rise of the

Fourth Reich!!



:nuke:
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timtom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 08:03 AM
Response to Original message
36. What power!! What chrisma!!!
Dr. West is brilliant and amazing! He truly speaks for me.

Thanks for posting this.
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Enthusiast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 08:09 AM
Response to Original message
37. K&R! I love Dr. West!
He is right on!
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wysimdnwyg Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 08:41 AM
Response to Original message
40. If only I was young, had the grades and the money
Can you imagine attending Princeton University right now? Among their fine faculty are three of the biggest names in social and economic commentary today. Just think what it would be like to have classes with Cornel West, Melissa Harris-Perry and Paul Krugman. Alas, I understand Ms. Harris-Perry will be moving to Tulane next year.
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impik Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 08:45 AM
Response to Original message
41. Bitter, jealous, no class whiner.
Pathetic. Him and all those who recced this crap.
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EFerrari Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 09:07 AM
Response to Reply #41
43. "It's just Socratic criticism."
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ProSense Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 09:51 AM
Response to Reply #43
49. Yes, but
Edited on Mon Jan-17-11 09:52 AM by ProSense
the interpretation seems to be that it's a criticism of President Obama in the context of trivial BS. West uttered the phrase you cited to David Frum, who he obviously believes has a role to play.

Given the state of the nation, anyone who thought Barack Obama was the fulfillment of MLK's dream must have believed King had a narrow dream.

President Obama is one man, who has been President for two years, if he could have fulfilled King's dream in that time, he would own greatness above anyone else. It's unlikely that he will fulfill King's dream in two terms of the Presidency, but he will likely help to advance it.

President Obama can, as West stated about himself, try to do his part to help fulfill the dream.

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EFerrari Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 12:08 PM
Response to Reply #49
63. That's right, your interpretation. West isn't even really talking about Obama
but about America.
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ProSense Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 12:47 PM
Response to Reply #63
68. "but about America."
I suppose that's why the OP title includes the word "America"?

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EFerrari Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 02:53 PM
Response to Reply #68
85. The title has to be the exact title at youtube in this forum. n/t
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Buzz Clik Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 09:38 AM
Response to Reply #41
47. +1
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fascisthunter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 10:11 AM
Response to Reply #41
50. here
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purrFect Donating Member (112 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 10:48 AM
Response to Reply #41
53. lol
do not criticize dear leader, eh?
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davidthegnome Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 11:57 AM
Response to Reply #41
62. Really?
In two sentences, you just insulted thousands of progressives - it does lead me to wonder who the really bitter one is.

K & R. I can't help it - what can I say, I'm pathetic as hell. ;-)
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keepCAblue Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 02:27 PM
Response to Reply #41
77. The whining truth hurts, doesn't it? n/t
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deutsey Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 06:36 PM
Response to Reply #41
88. Man, I wish I could've been one of those pathetic ones who recc'ed this
Edited on Mon Jan-17-11 06:41 PM by deutsey
Got here too late, though.

So here's a kick.
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Capitalocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 09:25 PM
Response to Reply #41
98. Jealous?
Of what?
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dionysus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 08:52 AM
Response to Original message
42. nothing like using MLK Day as an excuse to crap on the administration.
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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 09:38 AM
Response to Reply #42
46. Deleted message
Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
 
purrFect Donating Member (112 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 10:49 AM
Response to Reply #42
54. criticism is, the only way to progress
fyi
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ProSense Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 10:59 AM
Response to Reply #54
55. No
it isn't

Criticism without action does nothing.

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purrFect Donating Member (112 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 12:57 PM
Response to Reply #55
72. first things first
action without discussion and criticism, leads NO WHERE.

fyi
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ProSense Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 01:09 PM
Response to Reply #72
73. "action without discussion and criticism, leads NO WHERE."
Completely inaccurate.

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Capitalocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 02:12 PM
Response to Reply #72
75. Question is, when does the action happen? nt
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EFerrari Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 12:10 PM
Response to Reply #42
64. It's too bad that advocating for the disadvantaged sounds like an attack on the administration
to you.
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stillrockin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 02:39 PM
Response to Reply #42
80. The emperor has no clothes, like it or not.
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liberation Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 02:47 PM
Response to Reply #42
83. Yeah, how dare that black guy open his big mouth on MLK's day, right?
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tjwash Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 10:48 AM
Response to Original message
52. Going to be "shit on the president using someone else's idea of what MLK stood for" day on DU I see.
This is about the 15th thread I've seen here after looking around for 5 minutes, trashing the President using that theme.

Good to know...I'll avoid this place for the next few days.
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Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 11:03 AM
Response to Reply #52
56. Deleted message
Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
 
EFerrari Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 12:11 PM
Response to Reply #56
65. He attacks corruption in the two party system.
Surely you're not defending corruption. :)
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keepCAblue Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 02:31 PM
Response to Reply #52
78. "...someone else's idea of what MLK stood for..."
MLK didn't stand AGAINST the Vietnam War? MLK didn't stand FOR the poor, the disenfranchised, the working class?

Then what, pray tell, DID he stand for, if not for precisely that which Dr. West espoused?

Do tell us YOUR IDEA of what MLK stands for.
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stillrockin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 02:41 PM
Response to Reply #52
81. It's a painful truth that this president does not advocate for the poor.
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liberation Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 02:51 PM
Response to Reply #52
84. It's is a free country, you can make this day whatever it is you want it to be
Obviously nothing was stopping you from turning this into a "bring your strawman and red herrings" day. So why the sad face?
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amyrose2712 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 11:03 AM
Response to Original message
57. Another "Bitter" "Jealous" REC AND KICK!
From someone that supported Obama in the primary, and can agree and disagree with the president at the same time. It gets annoying that criticizing the administration is confused with hating the president. I have not seen many here that "hate" him.
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rabies1 Donating Member (434 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 11:06 AM
Response to Original message
58. Obama IS a great orator - that may be all he is
Did he listen to what he was saying at little Christina's funeral?
"An America she would be proud of"? Please, her neighbors are losing their homes,
jobs going overseas. America, (and he doesn't seem to notice or maybe even care)
is going down the toilet. He's not breaking up the big banks, not going
after Bush and Cheney, allowing BP etc to continue ..
Need I go on? His speech, though eloquent, pissed me off. His actions?
He's turned his back on the people who elected him. Even sounding angry at them.
Change? - Guantanamo, war, net neutrality, environment, tax breaks for filthy rich .. change what??
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Radical Activist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 11:12 AM
Response to Original message
59. I enjoyed the irony of West calling out Obama for being eloquent in his language.
Edited on Mon Jan-17-11 11:20 AM by Radical Activist
And how does West make his living?

I found it a little disappointing that West repeatedly said that all he can do is speak out with the truth. No, anyone can do more that just speak. You can organize. You can try to become an active participant in making history rather than merely observing it passively, helplessly. It reflects a disempowering mindset that seems common among the third party left. Their failure to accomplish change through a third party leads them to feel cynically that any meaningful change is impossible, when they should instead be considering that its their own tactics which are at fault.

West chooses to orate with eloquent language rather than organize or attempt to govern. That's fine. It makes it much easier to maintain self-righteous purity over those who have to do more than use pretty words.

Anyway, he delivered a powerful rebuke to all those who believe that Obama was the complete fulfillment of MLK's dream. Who are those people again? This is the first time I've heard anyone suggest it.
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EFerrari Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 12:18 PM
Response to Reply #59
66. Before you attempt to analyze, let alone chastise, Cornel West
it would be helpful to know anything about him or about the tradition he's speaking in or at a minimum, what he actually said.

Or else it's likely that you will wind up sounding like an uninformed loyalist who discounts not only the man and his achievements but also like someone who is insulting a culture you don't even see, let alone, understand.
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Radical Activist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 08:07 PM
Response to Reply #66
91. So you have no response to what I wrote.
I'm very familiar with West, and I take your lack of rebuttal as a compliment to the strength of my comment.
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EFerrari Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 08:16 PM
Response to Reply #91
93. LOL
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Radical Activist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 08:24 PM
Response to Reply #93
94. Perhaps the problem is that you have a poor sense of irony and sarcasm.
Asking what West does for a living was a rhetorical question. I already knew the answer. He makes his living speaking and writing books very eloquently. That's why it was ironic that he would mention Obama being an eloquent speaker as though its some sort of accusation. Get it now?

And how do West's policies compare to his eloquent words? Oh, that's right, we don't know the answer to that question because West has the luxury of merely preaching without having to compromise or govern.
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Radical Activist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 08:25 PM
Response to Reply #93
95. And you're still incapable of forming a response.
Again, thank you.
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rabies1 Donating Member (434 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 12:52 PM
Response to Reply #59
71. Good point...
What DOES West do? I don't know anything about the man. I've seen him speak on Bill Mahr etc. I've seen him do what Ariana does, share ideas, communicate them. What upsets me is that Obama COULD do something - and he doesn't. He's not leading us, helping us, regular or (little) people. Just borrows to give to the very wealthy and cut basic things like social security etc. for the rest of us.
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proud2BlibKansan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 03:09 PM
Response to Reply #71
86. West is a professor at Princeton
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rabies1 Donating Member (434 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 03:24 PM
Response to Reply #86
87. Thanks Proud!
Man, I wish he'd been my professor.
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Radical Activist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 08:13 PM
Response to Reply #71
92. He makes most of his living using eloguent language
through books and speaking appearances. Which is why I chuckled that he would level that at Obama as though it were some soft of criticism.

Obama has not cut social security. He did cut taxes for low income people and keep unemployment benefits going for us regular unemployed people. I'm looking at actual accomplishments, not fearmongering from bloggers. Obama has done much, and frankly, I don't expect him to lead us. The people need to lead themselves instead of looking toward someone in the White House.
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russspeakeasy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 12:33 PM
Response to Original message
67. Oh Yeah.............!
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PatrynXX Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 12:47 PM
Response to Original message
69. Well he is entitled to his opinon
But I would disagree. Bad timing if this came after Obama's speech last week. :(
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ProSense Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 12:51 PM
Response to Original message
70. WH: Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King's Life and Legacy
WH: Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King's Life and Legacy

Does anyone thing that MLK would have contempt for President Obama?

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Capitalocracy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 09:28 PM
Response to Reply #70
99. I thing so.
Not sure I would call it "contempt", but I don't recall Dr. King saying that war or poverty were bad "unless a Dem is in the White House".
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stillrockin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 02:36 PM
Response to Original message
79. I love you, Dr. West!
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Stuckinthebush Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-17-11 07:57 PM
Response to Original message
89. Dr. West is right. LISTEN!
Obama is not THE fulfillment of Dr. King's dream he is A fulfillment.

Hear the man.
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