I was watching the Red Cross celebrity fundraiser on NBC and Mike Myers and some black guy were talking. The black guy was clearly agitated and he clearly wasn't speaking from the script. Then he drops the line in the title. If anyone else saw this, who is he?

I wasn't watching, but someone on another forum said it was Kanye West.

That's absurd. What about Condoleeza Rice?

It was Kanye.

 

KANYE WEST ON NBC FUNDRAISER: 'GEORGE BUSH DOESN'T CARE ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE... They're saying black families are looting and white families are just looking for food...they're giving the (Army) permission to shoot us'... Actor Mike Myers asked people to donate... then Kanye West went on a tirade about Iraq... MORE...

I agree with him. If you look at the newspapers they have crying white kids on the front and black people stealing from Wal-Mart when you go to the second page. I'm surprised this hasn't turned into a bigger issue before today.

I wasn't watching, but someone on another forum said it was Kanye West.

http://buttlands.net/kanye.avi

The video's worth watching for Mike Meyer's horrified reaction alone.

NEW YORK -- It began, fittingly enough, with jazz from New Orleans natives Harry Connick Jr. and Wynton Marsalis. But "A Concert for Hurricane Relief," a heartfelt and dignified benefit aired on NBC and other networks Friday night, took an unexpected turn thanks to the outspoken rapper Kanye West.

 

Appearing two-thirds through the program, he claimed "George Bush doesn't care about black people" and said America is set up "to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off as slow as possible."

 

The show, simulcast from New York on NBC, MSNBC, CNBC and Pax, was aired live to the East Coast, enabling the Grammy-winning rapper's outburst to go out uncensored.

 

There was a several-second tape delay, but the person in charge "was instructed to listen for a curse word, and didn't realize (West) had gone off-script," said NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks.

 

Immediately after the airing was over, Marks said it was undetermined how much, if any, of the tirade would be included in the taped West Coast feed three hours later.

 

The host was NBC News' Matt Lauer, who invited viewers to contribute to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by phone or on the Web. Some 18 presenters performed musical numbers or gave information on the tragedy's huge scope.

 

Louisiana native Tim McGraw teared up as he told Lauer, "I know the citizens that weren't affected by this directly are gonna stand up and do good things for people." He sang two songs, then became the first of the evening's stars to sign a Gibson Les Paul Special guitar to be auditioned online.

 

Faith Hill, a Mississippi native, sang "There Will Come a Time," with the inspiring lyrics, "The darkness will be gone, the weak shall be strong. Hold on to your faith."

 

New Orleans son Aaron Neville performed Randy Newman's soulful "Louisiana 1927" with the memorable chorus, "they're trying to wash us away, they're trying to wash us away."

 

New York governor George Pataki presented the Red Cross with a check for $2.5 million and promised, "This great state will do far more."

 

"In terms of property damage," said actress Hilary Swank, "the estimate is at least $26 billion in insured losses and perhaps twice that in uninsured losses over a 90,000-square-mile area - approximately the size of Kansas."

 

Other speakers included Lindsay Lohan, Eric LaSalle, Glenn Close, Richard Gere, John Goodman and Leonardo DiCaprio.

 

Comedian Mike Myers was paired with West for a 90-second segment that began with Myers speaking of Katrina's devastation. Then, to Myers' evident surprise, West began a rant by saying, "I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family, it says they're looting. See a white family, it says they're looking for food."

 

While allowing that "the Red Cross is doing everything they can," West - who delivered an emotional outburst at the American Music Awards after he was snubbed for an award - declared that government authorities are intentionally dragging their feet on aid to the Gulf Coast. Without getting specific, he added, "They've given them permission to go down and shoot us."

 

After he stated, "George Bush doesn't care about black people. Please call -" the camera cut away to comedian Chris Tucker.

 

Concluding the hour a few minutes later, Lauer noted that "emotions in this country right now are running very high. Sometimes that emotion is translated into inspiration, sometimes into criticism. We've heard some of that tonight. But it's still part of the American way of life."

 

Then the entire ensemble performed "When the Saints Go Marching In."

 

In a statement, NBC said, "Kanye West departed from the scripted comments that were prepared for him, and his opinions in no way represent the views of the networks.

 

"It would be most unfortunate," the statement continued, "if the efforts of the artists who participated tonight and the generosity of millions of Americans who are helping those in need are overshadowed by one person's opinion."

 

Friday's program was the first of several TV benefits planned through next weekend.

 

NBC and the five other major commercial broadcast networks, along with PBS, plan to unite next Friday for a special. The same night, BET will air a benefit. And on Saturday, Sept. 10, the MTV networks will air a special.

The most amusing piece from that article is the chunk where they said the person in charge was instructed to look out for cursing. I guess because Kanye's one of those rapper guys, he was gonna be laying down some bombs.

 

"I think the negro may try to slip some dirty language into the script, so keep your ears open, your finger on the censor button, and your free hand on your wallet."

You know, as much shit as this is probably going to stir up, I can't help but agree with Kanye on a lot of his opinions. Namely this quote:

 

"I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family, it says they're looting. See a white family, it says they're looking for food."

In a lot of ways, recently, Kanye has reminded me of Tupac Shakur and Muhammad Ali in that he has a podium, so he's going to express his racial beliefs.

Besides the fact that "George Bush does not care about black people", I think Kanye really nailed it when he said that he himself had a hard time facing the harsh reality and that he was also shopping before he set up a donation. Unlike Bush, however, who has NEVER admitted blame for ANYTHING, I believe Kanye when he said that he called up his manager and would donate as much as he could within his power.

Bill Maher mentioned it tonight too, two stories off Yahoo news where one had a black kid "looting" and two white people who "found bread" and it appeared that both pictures were of the same activity.

 

I know a lot of people like to think racism is only something that happened back in the 60s, and that anyone who mentions it now is just a troublemaker, but stuff like that kind of slaps you in the face.

Hence why racism of any kind will never ever be dead in this world.

The psychologist in me wonders if people really care whether or not George Bush is racist, or are more pissed that he's being accused of it while they support him. It'd be a really interesting study in whether people actually care about their leaders or whether they care more for how their leaders reflect on them.

Exactly, are you in denial that the President is a piece of shit or in denial that you support a piece of shit?

Why is anyone surprised by this statement? Why is it such a big deal?

 

Anyone who doesnt get why West said what he said should go out RIGHT NOW and befriend a black person because youve obviously never ment one in your life.

 

 

AND why the fuck are the press acting like this shouldve been censored? "He was instructed to listen for curse words...didnt realize hed gone off script..." So if they realized it they wouldve censored what West said? OK way to go NBC.

 

 

Mamas tired of this whole situation.

You better believe they'd have censored it. You think they want that kind of statement publicised?!

AND why the fuck are the press acting like this shouldve been censored? "He was instructed to listen for curse words...didnt realize hed gone off script..." So if they realized it they wouldve censored what West said? OK way to go NBC.

Yeah, telethons aren't supposed to be a place for celebrities to say what is really on their mind and potentially influence people and turn politicians against the network. The celebrities are supposed to read some generic crap and not stir shit up.

It was Kanye.

 

KANYE WEST ON NBC FUNDRAISER: 'GEORGE BUSH DOESN'T CARE ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE... They're saying black families are looting and white families are just looking for food...they're giving the (Army) permission to shoot us'... Actor Mike Myers asked people to donate... then Kanye West went on a tirade about Iraq... MORE...

I agree with him. If you look at the newspapers they have crying white kids on the front and black people stealing from Wal-Mart when you go to the second page. I'm surprised this hasn't turned into a bigger issue before today.

So how does that equal George Bush not caring about black people. He can't control the media's behavior. Words coming out that the only reason the city was even evacuated is because Bush got on the phone and begged the local government to do it.

 

And it's also ignorant trash. Yes, they are shooting to kill but that's because the thugs have taken over. Shooting these idiots shooting and raping everyone in sight benefits the blacks in the area as much as the whites.

I'm going to stay away from the racism subject here, believe it or not, because I don't want to start the finger pointing and "I told you so"-type crap that it would eventually degenerate into. Everything that I've wanted to say or add has already been said.

 

I will say to Mad Dog that no one is trying to equate the media's portrayal of black people to Bush's alleged racism. One has nothing to do with the other and are somewhat mutually exclusive. What we are saying is that the media has, whether intentionally or unintentionally, unfairly portrayed people of color and most people upon seeing how they treat their white subjects and black subjects would see it as racism. I think kanye says Bush doesn't care about Black people because while I don't find Bush a particuarly educated man, I know he knows that the majority of people that live in the affected areas of New Orleans are black and poor. Bill Maher said it best last night when he said that, "Bush doesn't understand that the people in NO can't just pack up their Range Rover, grab a case of Poland spring water outta the garage and go to their summer home."

 

It's been said time and time again by people more qualified than myself to speak on the subject but had this been some upper crust white neighborhood instead of the 9th Ward of NO, help would have been swifter and more efficient than it has been to the people that are currently there. It does sicken me that we can spend all sorts of funds on a what I find to be senseless war on terrorism overseas but grandmothers and children are dying right here and criminals are running around with no restoration of order in sight because a lot of our means to do so are in Iraq. Why can't we do better than this for our own citizens? Why weren't helicopters dropping pallettes of food and medicine or whatever else was needed on Day One? There are a million questions as to why certain things happened so slowly and I think that is where people like Kanye West's frustration lies. Would this be the case if the majority of these people were white? Would they go in to shoot and ask questions later if these were white people? I'd say probably not because it would've never gotten to this point. They would've been taken care of so there would not be the air of desperation that brings out the worst in people for it to even occur. Instead, Bush left people in dire straits and then acts surprised when they riot, loot, rape and pillage.

 

But at least now he has an excuse to kill off the rest of the "trash" that the flood didn't get.

It's true. Even those being rescued via helicopter are just being dropped off on the highway with no food or water, for the most part.

 

While this was an event designed to bring people together, I don't believe it hurts for one of the celebs in attendance to show some real emotion instead of reading whatever's fed to them. Even before Kanye's soon-to-be infamous ending, the difference between him and Meyers was like night and day. You had one guy reading from a teleprompter and the other, speaking from his heart. And anyone who says he just did this to stir shit to promote himself or that he wasn't speaking from the heart can eat a big bag of fuck. You clearly have no clue what you're talking about.

 

And what's with the people saying that Kanye was designed to bring in an audience, but ended up driving them away? Anyone who knows how he is or is a fan, wasn't going to be offended by what he said. Only the yuppie, young, conservatives, who bought Kanye's latest CD with dad's credit card may have been driven away by his statements.

 

Hell, I showed the clip to my mom and she had no god damn idea who Kanye West was (she couldn't even pronounce his name when I asked if she'd heard about it and even then, she thought I was talking about something I hadn't put on the grocery list), but she still agreed with everything he said, even if she admitted it may have not been the place to say it.

 

The people who bashing Kanye are the conservatives who'd look for the first possible chance to jump on him or anyone else with similar opinions. They care not what he said. Somehow, I think that if Mike Meyers had said it, people wouldn't be this up in arms about it.

It does sicken me that we can spend all sorts of funds on a what I find to be senseless war on terrorism overseas but grandmothers and children are dying right here and criminals are running around with no restoration of order in sight because a lot of our means to do so are in Iraq.

Every state still has at least 50% of their National Guard equipment and ranks. LA had the manpower from the start but the governor waited forever, yes the state governor is the one responsible for state National Guards, to send out the LA Guard. LA in fact has 75% of their National Guard at home right now. There were also 350 buses under state and city control that sat in a parking lot during this whole thing. Manpower was not a problem here it was the local government completely dropping the ball during the first 72 hours.

 

Why weren't helicopters dropping pallettes of food and medicine or whatever else was needed on Day One?

You're really going to just drop pallettes into that mess and let the thugs that are killing and raping people take it all? What happens when the rest of the survivors are still without? You need armed protectors of such things to make sure it gets to the people that go. It also doesn't help that no one foresaw that the levees weren't going to protect the city. It also doesn't help that the local government decided to send people to the Super Dome and not properly equip the place.

 

Would they go in to shoot and ask questions later if these were white people?

Mississippi had the police under orders to shoot looters before the storm even hit. Those types of orders have been given in Florida in the past. You also have idiots shooting at rescue workers and trying to steal every piece of equipment that enters the city. To actually effectively evac the rest of the city these people need to be dealt with. It's at a point now where lethal force is necessary. Shooting the the problem causers benefits the black people in the area just as much as any white people.

 

I'd say probably not because it would've never gotten to this point.

Other cities probably would've seen their police force trying their best to handle things instead of looting and running away.

 

Instead, Bush left people in dire straits and then acts surprised when they riot, loot, rape and pillage.

The state and city officials are the first line in dealing with these situations. Bush wasn't in charge of ordering the LA National Guard into action and he wasn't in charge of the city planning for this situation. The feds are the relief pitchers in disasters. If the state fucks it up beyond repair before they get there it's going to be hard for the feds. Bush is also the one that convinced the New Orleans people to evac the city. There's only so much Bush can do in this given situation.

 

Bush also has more than just New Orleans to deal with when it comes to damages. There are whole parts of Mississippi that don't exist anymore and he has to deal with that as well as New Orleans.

 

These are also the buses that went unused for the evac.

I'm suprised Kanye didn't say the Hurricane only targeted black people.

A few corrections and clarifications from your post...

 

Manpower was not a problem here it was the local government completely dropping the ball during the first 72 hours.

No, it was the local govt. dropping the ball pre-hurricane.

 

It also doesn't help that no one foresaw that the levees weren't going to protect the city.

This satetement is incorrect. Engineers were telling the feds and anyone who listened that the levees could not take that kind of hit for years. So, Bush cut funding.

 

It also doesn't help that the local government decided to send people to the Super Dome and not properly equip the place.

The Superdome did have food and water temporarily. The convention center did not.

 

Other cities probably would've seen their police force trying their best to handle things instead of looting and running away.

Tis is another case of blaming the victim. The police force was busy dealing with rescue operations. If looters were grabbing food and drugs , so be it. In the 5 DAYS afterwards, when the police themselves were left for dead, just like the rest of the city, about 50% of the force walked. the way you worded your statement, it seems like you think the police themselves were the looters.

 

Also, you can't sit there and act like every fucking looter is a rapist and terrorist. Most were stealing goods for subsistence. If I were in that situation, and I needed diapers and baby food, I would have done the same thing. Was there a bad seed? Absolutely, and it puts a black eye on any goodwill that was being attempted. BUt to lump the few with the entire populace is narrowsighted and ignorant.

 

The feds are the relief pitchers in disasters.

And the federal govt. failed miserably, a point that many Republicans AND democrats agree on.

 

There's only so much Bush can do in this given situation.

Well, he could have started by ending his fucking vacation.

 

Bush also has more than just New Orleans to deal with when it comes to damages. There are whole parts of Mississippi that don't exist anymore and he has to deal with that as well as New Orleans.

 

He has other parts to deal with, sure. However, the fact that NOTHING was being done in New Orleans and Geraldo and the other guy from Fox pointed out that the refugees were not even allowed to leave the fucking city tells you what kind of mess this was. In regards to the other parts of the country, who I feel for, they weren't swimming in shit, rotten corpses, and chemicals. By Tuesday afternoon, it was reported that 71 million dollars had been raised for the releif effort and that there were tons of supplies ready to go to New Orleans so we could feel good about the American human spirit and pat ourselves on the back. Instead nothing showed up for 5 fucking days. Is that the local govts. fault? The fucking local govt. doesn't even exist anymore except in name only. Is this a national disaster or a local disaster? It's a fucking American disaster and Americans were let down and allwoed to live in third world conditions when it could have been prevented before (local and state blame) AND after (federal blame)... which is what we are tlaking about.

Two main things:

 

1. The Gov of LA requested troops as early as August 28th and got no response, so the whole "OMG LOCAL GOVERMENT IS TEH BLAME~!" is out the window. Maybe you can fault them in a long term sense, but immediately before and at the start of this mess they were trying to get some federal help and got no response.

 

2. George Bush himself has said the federal response was inadequate, so it shouldn't turn into a political debate when the man himself says things got fucked up. The one thing everyone of all stripes should agree on is the federal government failed (and in some spots is continuing to fail) a lot of people on a scale that should never be allowed to happen in America. This isn't even a democrat vs republican thing, this is a "can we rely on the government to help people when disasters strike" thing.

And what the fuck is going to happen when we have another terrorist attack? We KNEW this hurricane was going to happen and continue to have people dying as we speak. God help us all if we rely on the govt. to back us up in case something pops up out of the blue.