BET Telethon Gets Surprise Call From Clinton

[sandnsea]

Telethons continued to raise awareness and money for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, from React Now to BET S.O.S.(Saving OurSelves) Relief Telethon, organized in conjunction with “National Urban League, American Red Cross, Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, Essence Communications, Artist Empowerment Coalition and major recording labels”.

In a surprise call-in, former President Clinton said that “the most important thing now is to worry about the people in Louisiana and Mississippi and Alabama”. But when questioned on the FEMA response, Clinton suggested that FEMA ought to be restored to a cabinet level position and that the head should be “a proven professional… someone who's qualified to be a director.”

The BET telethon got off to a momentous start when BET Founder Bob Johnson donated a million dollars, which was quickly matched by Viacom, the Bill and Melinda Gates and the Service Employees International Union.

MORE and LINKS:
http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/?view=plink&id=1362

[journalist3072]

1. Clinton will always be President in my book! eom

[sandnsea]

2. Gee

I guess no Dems can catch a break today. I thought it was cool that he was paying attention to the black community and called in. No wonder they call him the first black President, he pays attention.

Somebody gave that to me as marital advise years ago... "pay attention". Think it applies to lots of things.

[journalist3072]

4. That's why I respect him..

As an African-American, I really respect the fact that Clinton takes the time to dialogue with everyone.

When he was President, he frequently was on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, talking about what he was doing, and how his policies would positively impact the African-American community.

And he's continued to call into places like the TJMS, even since leaving office.

Bush doesn't even bother. He doesn't want to dialogue with anyone who is not in lockstep with his policies.

[sandnsea]

5. Well I did not know that

Explains an awful lot because I never understood what it was that African-Americans saw in Clinton that they didn't see in others. Do any other Dems do that, or is it pretty much just Bill?

[journalist3072]

7. Here's why we respect him

President Clinton was the first President to come along in a long time, that we really felt cared about what was happening in our community.

Shortly before he took office in 1993, President Clinton was asked by a reporter if there was any issue on which he would not compromise. He said "The issue of race."

He just had that common touch. For example, when he arrived here in DC, one of the first things he did was take a walk down Georgia Avenue. I can't recall any incoming President in recent history who bothered to care about Georgia Avenue in D.C.

And like I said, President Clinton and his Cabinet took the time to talk to us. His 2nd Secretary of Labor, Alexis Herman, also took the time to frequently call into places like the Tom Joyner Morning Show. She would talk about what she was doing in the Labor Dept. every day to help make sure the African-American community had jobs, etc.

Also, Hillary Clinton has been a frequent guest on the TJMS as well.

There was a huge sense of pride in the African-American community, because President Clinton surrounded himself with African-Americans like the late Ron Brown, and also Alexis Herman, Vernon Jordan, etc. These are people who have enormous respect within the African-American community, because they have been in the trenches, during the civil rights movement, etc.

[202 456]

3. I was SHOCKED and APPALLED to hear on another network...

That Condi called in too :puke: Does anyone know the reception she recieved?

[Arkana]

6. I really miss Ol' Bill.

I can tell you one thing--no asshole like "Brownie" would have ended up in a high-level position had this happened under him.

[Greybnk48]

8. I still think of him as the REAL Prez

I miss him every day. So articulate, so intelligent, and he surrounded himself with very bright people, of all races and genders.

[crankybubba]

9. we were better off too

everyone was better off with clinton as prez. Thing have gone in the toilet since.

[steely]

10. Me too - Rhodes scholar and everything aside -

he still had a certain personal vibe that I identified with bigtime.
Go Big Dawg.

[TankLV]

11. Me too. There was so much hope for the future and confidence for the

present.

If/when I criticize him here, it is like I am criticizing a loving member of my immediate family - no more, no less.

We had so much that has been lost.