Blitzer on Katrina Victims: "They are so black"

[Brwn_eyes0511]

From CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, Thursday, September 1, 2005, covering the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina:

BLITZER: "You simply get chills every time you see these poor individuals, as Jack Cafferty just pointed out, so tragically, so many of these people, almost all of them that we see, are so poor and they are so black, and this is going to raise lots of questions for people who are watching this story unfold."

Video : Real Player (http://newsbusters.org/media/2005-09-01-CNNTSRBlitzer.rm) or Windows Media (http://newsbusters.org/media/2005-09-01-CNNTSRBlitzer.wmv)

"and they are so black"???!??? What the freakin' hell is that supposed to mean! Can you imagine if Bill O'Reilly or someone at Fox News would have said this?

[Mari]

About this, I heard on a dutch news show last night they're evacuating black people now mainly while the white inhabitants of NO are allowed to go back to their homes. They actually interviewed a white guy while he went back to his house, who did confirm this happening. As if they're trying to export the poverty now they've a chance?! It's only theories but very strange anyway.
edit, Uh yeah, I just equated black with poverty, that's not exactly pc. On second thought, it wasn't I who did that.

[DownOnRodeo]

Another interesting tidbit:

http://www.snopes.com/photos/katrina/looters.asp

http://www.snopes.com/photos/katrina/graphics/looting.jpg

[Dreammms]

Another interesting tidbit:

http://www.snopes.com/photos/katrina/looters.asp

http://www.snopes.com/photos/katrina/graphics/looting.jpg

wow. what bull****.

[dissention]

"and they are so black"???!??? What the freakin' hell is that supposed to mean! Can you imagine if Bill O'Reilly or someone at Fox News would have said this?

:rolleyes:

You seem to be under the false impression that people believe the reporters and on-air "talent" at CNN are better than the ones at Faux News. Out of that entire channel, the only ones that I can think of who are marvelous journalists are Christiane Amanpour and Anderson Cooper. Wolf "Leslie" Blitzer is just as bad as the scum on Faux, maybe worse because he actively tries to come across as unbiased.

[dissention]

Another interesting tidbit:

http://www.snopes.com/photos/katrina/looters.asp


Kanye West made reference to this when he went off-script during a telethon to support the victims of Katrina.

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

[Livia]

I could listen to Christiane talk all day, I love her accent - and she is awesome!

I'm not sure if they were joking or not, but the morning show DJ's here mentioned Shrub's latest blunder...something like, "We need to give them a tidal wave of compassion." :eek:

[WELSH WITCH]

About this, I heard on a dutch news show last night they're evacuating black people now mainly while the white inhabitants of NO are allowed to go back to their homes. They actually interviewed a white guy while he went back to his house, who did confirm this happening. As if they're trying to export the poverty now they've a chance?! It's only theories but very strange anyway.
edit, Uh yeah, I just equated black with poverty, that's not exactly pc. On second thought, it wasn't I who did that.


I saw that too. At the end of the item the guy said he now understood the anger of the black people and believed that they were helped too late on purpose.

[chiliD]

Ok, so who DIDN'T consider how the relief effort would be different if New Orleans & Biloxi were 80-85% caucasians instead of being that percentage of African-American.

It is just painfully obvious.

[GateandGarden]

Ok, so who DIDN'T consider how the relief effort would be different if New Orleans & Biloxi were 80-85% caucasians instead of being that percentage of African-American.

It is just painfully obvious.Last I checked, Biloxi is nearly 80-85% caucasian.

[DavidMn]

I'm REALLY white. Guess I need to go to the tanning booth. :lol: :p

[gldstwmn]

Another interesting tidbit:

http://www.snopes.com/photos/katrina/looters.asp

http://www.snopes.com/photos/katrina/graphics/looting.jpg

Yeah that one is pretty gross. I will chalk up Leslie Blitzer's comment as a slip of the tongue.

[SuzeQuze]

I saw that too. At the end of the item the guy said he now understood the anger of the black people and believed that they were helped too late on purpose.

It is very difficult to believe otherwise although I hope it was not that sinister. I'm completely freaked by it all. A black man from the worst hit district was describing how he escaped to a nearby bridge in his truck which he stayed on. I don't think there was anywhere to go once he got up there. :shrug: But he said that he believed that the levee was blown up in the poor area to save the rich area. He was convinced of this. I guess when the levee broke it sounded like a huge explosion. There is nothing to back up this claim but it just shines a light on how these people are so used to being discriminated against that they will believe this.

[GateandGarden]

It is very difficult to believe otherwise although I hope it was not that sinister. I'm completely freaked by it all. A black man from the worst hit district was describing how he escaped to a nearby bridge in his truck which he stayed on. I don't think there was anywhere to go once he got up there. :shrug: But he said that he believed that the levee was blown up in the poor area to save the rich area. He was convinced of this. I guess when the levee broke it sounded like a huge explosion. There is nothing to back up this claim but it just shines a light on how these people are so used to being discriminated against that they will believe this.That's what I think it's about--poverty, not race. I have a hard time with people saying it's a race issue when I know that most of the people in MS are white and it was MS that took a direct hit. And I will be one of the first to play the race card, too. I've done it many times. I just don't think it's the case here. I think this is a matter of class. :shrug:

[dissention]

That's what I think it's about--poverty, not race. I have a hard time with people saying it's a race issue when I know that most of the people in MS are white and it was MS that took a direct hit. And I will be one of the first to play the race card, too. I've done it many times. I just don't think it's the case here. I think this is a matter of class. :shrug:

These people are impoverished partly because of their race. :shrug:

[GateandGarden]

These people are impoverished partly because of their race. :shrug:I know. I hate to make a generalization but I do think that the blacks who are (were...I really hate putting thing in past tense in reference to NO) living in poverty in New Orleans are poor because they are black. But what about all the poor whites in the Biloxi/Gulfport area?

[WELSH WITCH]

It is very difficult to believe otherwise although I hope it was not that sinister. I'm completely freaked by it all. A black man from the worst hit district was describing how he escaped to a nearby bridge in his truck which he stayed on. I don't think there was anywhere to go once he got up there. :shrug: But he said that he believed that the levee was blown up in the poor area to save the rich area. He was convinced of this. I guess when the levee broke it sounded like a huge explosion. There is nothing to back up this claim but it just shines a light on how these people are so used to being discriminated against that they will believe this.


I don't think that the levee was blown up, water can be pretty distructive. My country has known that since 1953.
But I can understand why that man thought it was foul play. Just like you said they have been discriminated for so long, they just think like that.

I have to say that some images I have seen on CNN made me think. It looked like the caucasiun people were shipped out before the African American. And the rescue people not knowing about the huge amount of people at the confention centre is hard to believe too. It was one of the places people were supposed to go to.

Hopefully the government learned something.

[dissention]

But what about all the poor whites in the Biloxi/Gulfport area?

They certainly aren't poor because they're white.

[GateandGarden]

They certainly aren't poor because they're white.I know that well. But my point in saying that was that it doesn't make sense to me to say it's all about race when those people are white and our president is white. I mean, sorry to sound so elementary. The difference is that those people are poor. But I see the indirect correlation--that the people in New Orleans are poor because they are black and that there is an unavoidable relationship there and has been for years and will be for years. But I can't help but keep pointing out that most of the people in Biloxi/Gulfport/the suburbs of it that were hit really badly, are white.

[dissention]

I know that well. But my point in saying that was that it doesn't make sense to me to say it's all about race when those people are white and our president is white. I mean, sorry to sound so elementary. The difference is that those people are poor. But I see the indirect correlation--that the people in New Orleans are poor because they are black and that there is an unavoidable relationship there and has been for years and will be for years. But I can't help but keep pointing out that most of the people in Biloxi/Gulfport/the suburbs of it that were hit really badly, are white.

I don't think anyone on here is saying that it's "all about race," they're saying that race is a factor in it, just as their class is a factor in it.

[GateandGarden]

I don't think anyone on here is saying that it's "all about race," they're saying that race is a factor in it, just as their class is a factor in it.I guess so. I didn't want that to be true so much.

[gldstwmn]

It is very difficult to believe otherwise although I hope it was not that sinister. I'm completely freaked by it all. A black man from the worst hit district was describing how he escaped to a nearby bridge in his truck which he stayed on. I don't think there was anywhere to go once he got up there. :shrug: But he said that he believed that the levee was blown up in the poor area to save the rich area. He was convinced of this. I guess when the levee broke it sounded like a huge explosion. There is nothing to back up this claim but it just shines a light on how these people are so used to being discriminated against that they will believe this.

Oh dear god. Horrible. :distress:

[strandinthewind]

Oh dear god. Horrible. :distress:

It was rumored to have been blown once before for that purpose, though that is not exactly true - It was blown for a variety of reasons, most of which I cannot remember now.

[dissention]

Howard Dean is on Randi right now. :woohoo: :wavey:

[SuzeQuze]

I don't think that the levee was blown up, water can be pretty distructive. My country has known that since 1953.
But I can understand why that man thought it was foul play. Just like you said they have been discriminated for so long, they just think like that.

I have to say that some images I have seen on CNN made me think. It looked like the caucasiun people were shipped out before the African American. And the rescue people not knowing about the huge amount of people at the confention centre is hard to believe too. It was one of the places people were supposed to go to.

Hopefully the government learned something.

Anyone who says race wasn't a factor in this is naive at best. It is all so very disturbing. I'm not saying anyone thought, "those are black people we can take our time saving them" but the fact that they are black definitely was a subconscious factor in their inertia, IMO. They did not have a sense of urgency that they would have had if the people there were white and middle/upper-class. White and poor? That may have made them "only" wait 3 days. :shrug: I don't know. :distress:

[SuzeQuze]

Howard Dean is on Randi right now. :woohoo: :wavey:

Dammit I missed this. Do you have time to give us a synopsis?

I am listening to her and Rhandi is saying the delay in action was due to fighting for control. The feds wanted control over the National Guard which the governor would not give them because they would only be able to shoot people as opposed to protecting them.

[GateandGarden]

Anyone who says race wasn't a factor in this is naive at best.I guess I am/was/pretty much always will be.

[SuzeQuze]

I guess I am/was/pretty much always will be.

Hmm, I thought you decided that you saw the racist factor in this? At any rate, that was not in any way a dig at you.

[GateandGarden]

Hmm, I thought you decided that you saw the racist factor in this? At any rate, that was not in any way a dig at you.Oh, I know it wasn't directed at me. I can see the race factor now, but I was pointing out that I was being naive before, and then it occurred to me that I'm tragically naive anyway in other cases and ways and I don't see that changing.

[reebokandlace]

I guess I am/was/pretty much always will be.


I took a class many years ago called Ethics 101. Because of everything that is going on in NO, I took the textbook Race, Class and Gender off my book shelf and started reading it again.

Here is an except:

"Racism shapes everyday social relations......White people deny racism in many ways. Failing to take a stand against racism, refusing to admit racism, acknowleging only extreme racism, and expressing anger at Black people who point out racism are all strategies of denial...."

[GateandGarden]

I took a class many years ago called Ethics 101. Because of everything that is going on in NO, I took the textbook Race, Class and Gender off my book shelf and started reading it again.

Here is an except:

"Racism shapes everyday social relations......White people deny racism in many ways. Failing to take a stand against racism, refusing to admit racism, acknowleging only extreme racism, and expressing anger at Black people who point out racism are all strategies of denial...."Is that posted directed at me? :shrug: (Had to ask).

[strandinthewind]

I took a class many years ago called Ethics 101. Because of everything that is going on in NO, I took the textbook Race, Class and Gender off my book shelf and started reading it again.

Here is an except:

"Racism shapes everyday social relations......White people deny racism in many ways. Failing to take a stand against racism, refusing to admit racism, acknowleging only extreme racism, and expressing anger at Black people who point out racism are all strategies of denial...."

But, then that begs the question of how much is fact and how much is truth and how much is reciprocated. They had interviews with older white people at the Convention Center who claimed that they were scared for their lives because the black people were threatening them. How much of that is learned behavior on both parts? How much of that is just because the people threatening them were just jerks? Racism is a fascinating and sad topic as it is so interrealted with actual real life experiences. Hopefully, one day mankind will get past it, though it has not for several thousand years.

[reebokandlace]

Is that posted directed at me? :shrug: (Had to ask).

No No No ....just in general. :xoxo:

[GateandGarden]

No No No ....just in general. :xoxo:Oh, okay. Thanks for clarifying. :)

[GateandGarden]

But, then that begs the question of how much is fact and how much is truth and how much is reciprocated. They had interviews with older white people at the Convention Center who claimed that they were scared for their lives because the black people were threatening them. How much of that is learned behavior on both parts? How much of that is just because the people threatening them were just jerks? Racism is a fascinating and sad topic as it is so interrealted with actual real life experiences. Hopefully, one day mankind will get past it, though it has not for several thousand years.I hope that mankind will, too, but as you said, that hasn't worked out so well so far. :(

[strandinthewind]

I hope that mankind will, too, but as you said, that hasn't worked out so well so far. :(

Well, it has gotten a lot better - in fact I suggest much better - but it needs to get better. Personally, I think it will never get better until the resentment (on all sides) caused by prefential treatment of minorities is erased and replaced by poverty being the standard, but that is another argument for another day.

[reebokandlace]

But, then that begs the question of how much is fact and how much is truth and how much is reciprocated. They had interviews with older white people at the Convention Center who claimed that they were scared for their lives because the black people were threatening them. How much of that is learned behavior on both parts? How much of that is just because the people threatening them were just jerks? Racism is a fascinating and sad topic as it is so interrealted with actual real life experiences. Hopefully, one day mankind will get past it, though it has not for several thousand years.


I agree Strand. "There are so many questions, about love, about pain, about strained relationships..."

The interesting thing is, the RACES of man have been separated by mountains and/or water for thousands and thousands of years, (think about it) only to trade commerce via ships, leaving a few adventurers (or conquerers) here and there. But never in the history of mankind have we thrown together all the races in one land mass/one government and said 'ok now everyone play nice'. The United States is the first to attempt this. Is it working?

[golddustwoman77]

From CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, Thursday, September 1, 2005
"and they are so black"???!??? What the freakin' hell is that supposed to mean! Can you imagine if Bill O'Reilly or someone at Fox News would have said this?

Actually, I can't imagine anyone saying it. It is wrong no matter who said it---Democrat or Republican! :rolleyes:

But I love how you are trying to draw attention from the real point at hand, how "W" and his adminstration, especially FEMA, dropped the ball on this! It is sad when "W" CAN come up with enough money to fight a war and rebuild another country, but he said that he couldn't come up the money to enforce the levies when Louisiana asked for it or evacuate people during a major disaster on our soil in a reasonable amount of time. Can we say the Republicans' priorities are messed up? :distress:

[Johnny Stew]

I didn't want to create a new thread for this, but I just read it on Yahoo News and wanted to share it. Seems like a good addition to this thread, so I'll post it here.



Barbara Bush: It's Good Enough for the Poor
John Nichols
Tue Sep 6, 1:08 PM ET

The Nation -- Finally, we have discovered the roots of George W. Bush's "compassionate conservatism."

On the heels of the president's "What, me worry?" response to the death, destruction and dislocation that followed upon Hurricane Katrina comes the news of his mother's Labor Day visit with hurricane evacuees at the Astrodome in Houston.

Commenting on the facilities that have been set up for the evacuees -- cots crammed side-by-side in a huge stadium where the lights never go out and the sound of sobbing children never completely ceases -- former First Lady Barbara Bush concluded that the poor people of New Orleans had lucked out.

"Everyone is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this, this is working very well for them," Mrs. Bush told American Public Media's "Marketplace" program, before returning to her multi-million dollar Houston home.

On the tape of the interview, Mrs. Bush chuckles audibly as she observes just how great things are going for families that are separated from loved ones, people who have been forced to abandon their homes and the only community where they have ever lived, and parents who are explaining to children that their pets, their toys and in some cases their friends may be lost forever. Perhaps the former first lady was amusing herself with the notion that evacuees without bread could eat cake.

At the very least, she was expressing a measure of empathy commensurate with that evidenced by her son during his fly-ins for disaster-zone photo opportunities.

On Friday, when even Republican lawmakers were giving the federal government an "F" for its response to the crisis, President Bush heaped praise on embattled Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Michael Brown. As thousands of victims of the hurricane continued to plead for food, water, shelter, medical care and a way out of the nightmare to which federal neglect had consigned them, Brown cheerily announced that "people are getting the help they need."

Barbara Bush's son put his arm around the addled FEMA functionary and declared, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job."

Like mother, like son.

Even when a hurricane hits, the apple does not fall far from the tree.

[dissention]

That cold bitch should be placed in there for a night or two and then she can tell us how comfortable it is. There's a special place in hell for that sick, sick thing.

[markolas]

That cold bitch should be placed in there for a night or two and then she can tell us how comfortable it is. There's a special place in hell for that sick, sick thing.

She's the best argument for forced sterilization that I can come up with.

[SuzeQuze]

For a couple of weeks before the hurricane hit I was dating a black man. A wonderful, spiritual, beautiful black man. I saw racism here and it made me feel sick. On this scale I am still in shock and cannot even comprehend it. It's like America has this awful, gaping wound right now and those people, those beautiful people as Diss said. How could they be foresaken?