Any ideas on what Oprah will do for the hurricane victims in the Astrodome

[Horse with no Name]

Her first show last year she gave everyone a car.
What do you think she will do?
I have thought about this all day and for the life of me, I can't figure out what she will do--I only know it will be big.

[ananda]

1. Oprah could..

provide a home for each of them.

She's that rich. So could Bill Gates, Ted Turner, Warren Buffett, and the Waltons.

They could also fund the education of all of them.

Sue

[Liberty Belle]

9. For a million or more people?

That's a lot, even for Oprah.

Maybe she could put them all up in luxurious temporary lodging (a cruise ship or resort?) to escape the horrors short term, and/or give everyone without insurance a large check to get started rebuilding their lives.

[Horse with no Name]

29. She could buy several apartment buildings

as an investment and let these people live their rent free until they could get on their feet.
I expect her to do something wonderful.
Just not sure what it will be.

[SoCalDem]

34. She just needs to give them all working cell phones

and see that their relatives scattered around the country have the same..then pay to fly them to where their FAMILY is.. That's all they want..

These people in NO, did NOT have to be "transported" to different states.. There are probably 3/4 of them who have relatives who would gladly "rescue" them and share housing with them until they get on their feet..

Southern families are HUGE..(the southerners I know, anyway) lots of cousins, aunts & uncles, sisters, brothers.. These family members never even had a chance to offer help.. their loved ones were spirited away to parts unknown...with NO contact with their extended families..

This would take the pressure off the caretakers for the people who are truly alone in the world..

[Horse with no Name]

37. I think that is horrible the way they have split these

families up.
It seems to me that they could have ASKED people where they would like to go.:(
Some people MAY want to go to Utah or Colorado...but some may just want to stay in LA or TX.
This is wrong on so many levels I can't even begin to hit them all.

[Liberty Belle]

2. Probably more than Bush has done.

[rndmprsn]

3. buy them new cars?

[undeterred]

4. She could bring in the Monkees

[Tyranny_R_US]

21. ...Jerk

[Henny Penny]

5. Get them a new president???

[Imagevision]

12. NEW PRESIDENT? OPRAH COULD SWING IT

POWERFUL BLACK LADY

http://downingstreetmemo.com/

[Mabus]

6. Have a new chapter for her bio

or bring in GOP'er Dr. Phil to help traumatize the survivors, er, I mean, help the traumatized survivors.

[Nikki Stone 1]

27. No, not Dr. Phil!!!!!!!!!

What a dope that man is.

[Sanity Claws]

7. My guess

She'll probably help link these homeless people up with what they need. I'm thinking of something on her website where these homeless people can find employers, schools, supplies, training.
She's tireless when she finds a cause.
BTW, I'm a great admirer of her. I kind of ignored her as just another celebrity until about 2 years ago when an acquaintance told me about her work. I've watched her show and am very impressed by her.

[Donailin]

8. She seems to be very wealthy and very generous and very

sympathetic to causes where there is great suffering. She will do the right thing for people, I'm sure.

[tjdee]

10. She shouldn't *have* to do anything.

Our rich private citizens, sure it would be nice for them to do something. But it makes me so angry that the government has its thumb up its ass and can't provide for its citizens, so everyone looks to charity and rich people. It's almost disgusting.

That said, whatever she does will be more than Bush, Rice, or any of those jerks have done.

[SoCalDem]

36. Yep.. Our president has turned us into a nation of beggars

begging for healthcare..begging for food & water..begging for our old age security..begging for our soldiers to come home..begging rich celebrities for help when our tax money is squandered on a personal war..

[julialnyc]

11. she is doing a special show tomorrow to raise money and awareness

with her angel network. There will be celebrities showing what they are doing and recommend ways to help. Two of the guests are Anderson Cooper and Nate Burkus (who was in the tsunami and lost his boyfriend)

[silverweb]

13. She'll kick her Angel Network into high gear.

She's already got the organization in place and she will generously fund whatever effort she organizes through it. It'll be something practical.

[Pithy Cherub]

14. Oprah's thinking WAY beyond that. Oprah is focused

on helping the Nation. Oprah will start a dialogue of the race and class. Oprah will rip the uncomfortable truths off. She has the moral authority to speak and generate momentum. Oprah did not by accident come with Barack Obama. Do not underestimate or trivialize what this means to Oprah. Which do you think Bush would have loved to have had with him - Barack & Oprah or the pubescent Dr. Phil and apologist T.D. Jakes? Just sayin'! Oprah is laying a foundation by first putting a human face on the scope of the tragedy. Then...

There is another black femaile billionaire out there that no one is paying attention to right now either. She was married to Robert Johnson, founder of BET.

[magnolia]

15. Maybe she gave them all...

...gift certificates from Hermes in Paris.

[Vinca]

16. I think this is too big even for Oprah money. nt

[julialnyc]

17. here's the katrnia message board at oprah.com

mixed feelings over there:
http://boards.oprah.com/WebX?50@@.f0b7e8e!DYNID=504GNPXXCTQWPLARAZ3BNWQ

[no_hypocrisy]

18. Those cute little gift bags . . . and a hug from Oprah.

[Tyranny_R_US]

19. WILL YOU WHINY F.... LEAVE HER ALONE?

I'm sorry but if you want to bother someone go bother Martha Stewart (oh right thats not going to happen, gee I wonder why?) at least Oprah is doing something, you can't say the same about David Letterman (among a few) who was working during this catastrophe and barely made a mention of it.

[Booster]

22. As I've said before, some people on DU hate Oprah more than

they hate Rush - she's a successful black woman; he's a successful white man. Not hard to figure out, except do they hate her because she's black or because she's a woman.

[Horse with no Name]

28. Dunno who you are talking to

But I like Oprah.
I didn't expect anything out of her until she came forward.I thought it was presumptious of folks to ask about it until she decided to do something herself.
I think she will do something just short of miraculous for these people.
I just can't figure out what it will be.
That was my only question. Lighten up.

[nini]

40. uh....... opinions of Oprah here are based in past reality

Our problem with Oprah is the self serving sense of what she does.

She can redeem herself with me to a point if she REALLY does something and not just publicize her 'generosity'. So far I have seen Oprah on the camera saying how outrageous all of this is. I haven't seen the same coverage of Al Gore who is not just seeing with his own eyes but is actually getting down and dirty and helping. Oprah has a habit of promoting herself while 'doing good' In my mind that diminishes her intent.

Her situation at Hermes in Paris a while ago proved she's not the down to earth girl anymore. She has her sense of importance and ego like most rich people - that turns me off and makes the gestures of down home folk appear to be quite self serving for her reputations.

How do you know Martha Stewart has or has not done anything? I'm not a fan of Martha Stewart either - believe me. but maybe Martha Stewart didn't feel a need to publicize a donation or whatever. There are plenty of rich folks out there that don't do a damn thing.. you are correct.

I'll not be so willing to jump into the Oprah love fest as many others have. I find her followers to be almost Stepford like with some women which is exactly opposite of what Oprah is supposed to stand for.

[Pharlo]

20. I don't understand why everyone thinks it is a requirement

for famous people to do charitable works in front of a camera.

They're private citizens.

If they wish to use their celebrity status to openly support a cause, that is commendable. (Any ordinary American who can't figure out for themselves that relief aid is needed without a celebrity explaining it to them, is seriously in need of help themselves.)

If they wish to make anonymous (and often generous) contributions, that too is commendable.


If they opt to do nothing, it's no one's damn business - it's their money. And maybe, just maybe, they will do something down the road when the immediate spotlight is off the catastrophe, but the lives of the victims are still a shambles.

Jeez, why lambast Oprah - or Letterman, Leno, Gates - or anyone else.

Anyone here asking what Jimmy Carter or Teresa Heinz is going to do?

Leave them alone to do what they wish.

One thing you can be certain of - many of them will do something, simply because it's not in front of a camera is irrelevant. What the hell business is it of anyone else?

Horse w/No Name: I realize the OP was just an inquiry, and I apologize if you feel I'm going off on you, but there have been so many 'celebrity' threads - it's as if many people believe that stardom brings an obligation to address every issue brought to the attention of the media....I just think an individual should have the option of performing charitable deeds without doing them in front of the camera.

[Lorien]

24. What it comes down to; people both love and loath celebrities

people are naturally attracted to success and passion for ones work, but what attracts them also makes them examine their own lack of stellar success. The bitterness of disappointment with oneself turns outward into hostility directed at the person that was the catalyst for the feeling in the first place; the admired celebrity.

One of my best friends is a comic book creator who is very well known by anyone who enjoys comic books. He's a self made success; he went from working at a McDonald's to owning his own animation studio to self publishing a comic book series that is an international phenomenon. He is very philanthropic, but when he does benefit auctions with buddies like Neil Gaiman or Frank Miller, he's attack for putting himself in the spotlight (comments like "well OF COURSE he can donate thousands to tsunami relief; he's a f*cking millionaire! He should be giving more and giving anonymously"!). When he donates money anonymously, fans say "why isn't ____ doing more? He should be doing a benefit, for chissakes"! He isn't horribly wealthy because he DOES make lots of donations and he helps his friends when they need it (he and his wife put me up for a full month when I evacuated from two hurricanes last year, and he even gave me his personal studio to use so I could remain employed). He's a mensch, but comic book journals are more than willing to attack him personally for the slightest misstep because they both love and loath him for his success. When I mention to new friends that he's an old friend of mine, they'll often say things like "jeez-how can you stand being around someone who's that freaking talented and successful? Doesn't it make you feel like crap"? I say no; he's inspiring, and he's my friend-and as a friend I'm proud of his success. Fortunately, my buddy doesn't really give a sh*t about his attackers any more, and I imagine the Oprahs, Celine Dions, and Lettermans of the world feel the same way.

[Horse with no Name]

31. It was merely a speculation

I've watched Oprah for years.
Her first show of the season is ALWAYS spectacular with alot of giveaways.
I know she is going to make a difference in these people's lives tomorrow--but I didn't expect her to until I saw her in Houston.
Was just throwing a question out there because I am really excited to see, that's all.

[CantGetFooledAgain]

23. The car stunt was a commercial for GM.

Didn't take a dime from Oprah's pockets (from what I heard).

That being said, she could step up to the plate here and probably will. Her greatest power is not in her wealth but in her visibility and the enormous regard that vast numbers of Americans of all races and political stripes have for her.

Go Oprah!

[Horse with no Name]

32. The magic of Oprah

She is very successful. She is smart. She is philanthropic.
Where Oprah goes, so goes a majority of the women in this country and ALL of her advertisers know that.
That is why they are willing to write off millions of dollars to throw in with her.
If Oprah buys Charmin toilet paper and loves it and says it on the air--overnight it will be the number #1 toilet paper (just an example).
That is the kind of power this woman yields.

[Zomby Woof]

35. The power to be...?

Mindless consumers?

To help people think for themselves even less than before?

Fuck Oprah and her narcissistic illness. If she were really compassionate, she would take her ugly mug off her magazine just ONCE.

[global1]

25. Give Everyone A Boat??? n/t

[earth mom]

26. What I hope Oprah will do is slam the shit out of * Co.

Because, with her base of devoted viewers-20 million or more-she can do some crippling damage to the BFEE. I seriously hope she will take advantage of her chance to change a lot of hearts and minds. That more than anything would be the best gift she could give all the Hurricane Survivors and the people in the Dome. Not to mention the rest of the country.

Bye Bye BushCo! :evilgrin:

[Zomby Woof]

30. She's a phony creep

A narcissist of the worst sort.

They better hope she doesn't buy them cars, and saddle them with the fees and taxes like she did to those poor souls last year.

She foisted Marianne Williamson upon the world.

She gave us Dr. Phil.

She forced Martha Stewart into the national spotlight.

She fawned over Ahnold and whitewashed the sexual harrassment charges against him under the rug.

Just a few weeks ago she threw a tantrum because a high-end store in Paris wouldn't let her in to shop 15 minutes after it closed. It seems the uber-wealthy Oprah has built up an uber-strong sense of privilege and entitlement. The store sells purses fo $6000, fer fucksakes.

She is vile and should just shut the fuck up.

[incapsulated]

33. What is with this damn Oprah obsession??

I want to know what my so-called elected fucking representatives are going to do, what Oprah or any other rich celebrity does is up to them as private citizens. I hope she helps these people, we are ALL giving what we can according to our own means, but this is more dependence on the "private sector" to clean up the disasters that Bush and company have created.

[earth mom]

38. When Oprah speaks people listen.

I know it seems crazy, but it's true. Her words aren't empty rhetoric like those from the assholes in the WH and in Congress. Her base is largely made up of educated middle to upper middle class women who will move heaven and earth to make things happen. If Oprah asks them to read a book or buy a cancer bracelet for Lance Armstrongs Cancer charity THEY DO IT. We're talking serious influence.

Politicians would kill for that kind of power.

[Ron Green]

41. Wow, if these educated women do whatever Oprah asks them to do,

what has become of education?

[lpbk2713]

39. I'd love to see it if she had Kanaye West on the show.

Oprah has a base of fans who are extremely loyal to her. Whatever she says is gospel as far as they are concerned. So if Oprah says Boosh is an asshole (in so many words) then that many more people will be convinced. I love it.