CNN offered a sneak preview of their upcoming Parker-Spitzer program on Wednesday’s Anderson Cooper 360 with the new hosts, pseudo-conservative Kathleen Parker and “Client Number Nine” Eliot Spitzer agreeing that the “well-spoken” Imam Feisal Rauf changed few minds with his recent interview. The two also forwarded their network’s charge that “Islamophobia” is growing in the U.S . Anchor Anderson Cooper began the segment by asking the two about Soledad O’Brien interview of Rauf, which took place the previous hour. Parker, the ” Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and noted conservative commentator ,” as Cooper called her, endorsed his appearance and went on to characterize the two sides of the debate over the planned Ground Zero mosque. In her view, those who oppose it “were going to sort of be looking for ways to convince yourself that he was…trying to be this, sort of, secret jihadist .” On the other hand, the supporters of the mosque ” understand that he seemed as a reasonable, rational person who’s well-spoken and has something important to say .” The former New York governor agreed with his future co-host: SPITZER: I think Kathleen got it exactly right. You saw in his commentary- which I found persuasive, thoughtful, and very well-spoken- precisely what you believed going in…Those who were skeptics heard, in his invocation of national security, a threat. Others, who were more sympathetic to him, understood that, in the context of international affairs, his saying- look, be careful that we don’t create additional reasons for those who are radicals to hate us. And so, you can use this as a Rorschach test, and see in it exactly what you already believe. Later, the CNN anchor brought up some of the wider controversies involving Islam in the United States and raised the “Islamophobia” charge: “We’ve seen these incidents now moving away from just this mosque, but to opposing- some oppose the building of any new mosque in the United States, or some expose just the expansion in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. And those who support it say, ‘Look, this is Islamophobia.’ Do you buy that?” Spitzer went further than just accusing people of “Islamophobia.” He all but said that the country has always had a streak of bigotry: SPITZER: I think there’s a big element of Islamophobia, but I think this is also part of our history, and we need to be careful that we appeal to our better angels, as Lincoln said …..I dug out George Washington’s letter to a synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island in 1790, where he addressed this and he said the wonderful thing about this nation, a new nation at that point, three years old- 220 years ago, he wrote this- is that we are tolerant, and we need our political leadership to speak to tolerance. We need to go back to those values, so that everybody can do what the imam wants to do . The Democrat actually erred with his history, as the U.S. wasn’t three years old in 1790, but fourteen years old, if you date it from the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. His future co-host raised another common liberal argument, that many were just ignorant of Islam and Muslims: “We keep hearing this, ‘they’re going to do this, if you let them get in.’ You let them do this, then they’re going to demand, demand. Who is the ‘they’? I mean, these are Americans, too, and it makes me wonder how many people out there watching tonight actually know someone who is a Muslim? …I think we’ve got to stop thinking of Muslims as being ‘them.'” One might surmise from this appearance, given the former governor’s liberal credentials, and Parker’s swipes at conservatives, as she did earlier in September against Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin , that CNN’s upcoming program is going to be less like Crossfire and more like an Amen corner. The full transcript of the segment from Wednesday’s Anderson Cooper, which began 38 minutes into the 10 pm Eastern hour: COOPER: Joining me now are Elliot Spitzer, the former governor of New York, and Kathleen Parker, Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and noted conservative commentator. In October, their new program begins right here on CNN at 8 pm. Welcome, thanks very much for being with us- good to have you here. KATHLEEN PARKER: Thanks, Anderson. Thanks for having us. COOPER: What did you think of the imam tonight? PARKER: You know, I thought it was very good that he came out and spoke and that people could see him in person and hear his voice. I think he probably changed very few minds. I think people are going to see exactly what they were already prepared to see. If you’re against it, you were going to sort of be looking for ways to convince yourself that he was playing some role- you know, in trying to be this, sort of, secret jihadist. And then, if you were for it already, then you understand that he seemed as a reasonable, rational person who’s well-spoken and has something important to say. I doubt that he really changed many hearts and minds, but maybe, it’s a start, as he says, toward a conversation that needs to take place. COOPER: Elliott, do you think he changed minds? ELLIOT SPITZER: No, I don’t think. I think Kathleen got it exactly right. You saw in his commentary- which I found persuasive, thoughtful, and very well-spoken- precisely what you believed going in, and you saw that on your panel earlier in the show. Those who were skeptics heard, in his invocation of national security, a threat. Others, who were more sympathetic to him, understood that, in the context of international affairs, his saying- look, be careful that we don’t create additional reasons for those who are radicals to hate us. And so, you can use this as a Rorschach test, and see in it exactly what you already believe. And I think he was well-spoken, but- COOPER: The lines are so clearly drawn, right? SPITZER: The lines are so rigid, and the views about this are so deeply ingrained and the passion- when you’ve lost somebody on 9/11, and the pain is so real, it’s very hard to change minds. COOPER: So, are we beyond a place where there is dialogue or possibility of coming together to- you know, David Gergen talked about some sort of solution of having- you know, a multi-faith center, is it- or are we beyond that? PARKER: I think that’s a great idea. I think that’s a great idea. I don’t think we’re beyond that. But I do think we have to be so careful as we give attention to these people who are, essentially, crackpots, okay? Let’s talk about this fellow- COOPER: You’re talking about- not the people who oppose the mosque? PARKER: No, no, no. Not, not- certainly not. I mean, look- COOPER: The Koran burners? PARKER: There is some crackpot-ism involved in this. I mean, there was a time when the headlines were fairly rational and straightforward and news-oriented, and you can see that was last December, as he said. And then, if you look at the headlines beginning last May, then they get increasingly inflammatory. And so- you know, I think that the rhetoric has been highly exaggerated in many cases. The media- you know, we all have a role in that and we have to be so careful, because when we do give attention to people like- for example, this fellow in Gainesville who’s threatening to burn the Koran. I was talking to a friend of mine earlier tonight who lives in Gainesville. And I said, ‘Do you know this character?’ And she said, ‘Yeah, my church is about a quarter mile down the road from his.’ His church is a metal building. He’s got approximately 50 followers. COOPER: And sells used furniture on eBay. PARKER: Yeah, and I would like for the Muslim world to understand that this is just one individual who doesn’t represent anyone but- you know, a handful of folks. That’s just- and that feeds, though, and builds this sort of- the sense that this is an awful thing going on. SPITZER: We need for time to pass. When emotions are this raw, you cannot address the issues rationally, because emotion overwhelms rationality. Andy [Sullivan], in your prior panel, said something very interesting and very important. He said this was the last straw for a middle class that is disenfranchised. Now, this issue is one of many that has led to an outbreak of anxiety, anger, venom- in many cases, legitimate because of emotions that derive from 9/11. In other instances, it is just a focal point for an upset with the way our economy and our national politics is playing out. And so, we need to understand this in that context, and I think when you view it that way, you understand how hard it is to bridge this chasm right now. COOPER: There’s- you know, we’ve seen these incidents now moving away from just this mosque, but to opposing- some oppose the building of any new mosque in the United States, or some expose just the expansion in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. And those who support it say, ‘Look, this is Islamophobia.’ Do you buy that? SPITZER: I think there’s a big element of Islamophobia, but I think this is also part of our history, and we need to be careful that we appeal to our better angels, as Lincoln said. COOPER: This is just the newest group? SPITZER: This is (unintelligible)- COOPER: From Catholics to Jews to the- SPITZER: Precisely, the newest incarnation- and, in fact, before I came on the show, I dug out George Washington’s letter to a synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island in 1790, where he addressed this and he said the wonderful thing about this nation, a new nation at that point, three years old- 220 years ago, he wrote this- is that we are tolerant, and we need our political leadership to speak to tolerance. We need to go back to those values, so that everybody can do what the imam wants to do and what David Gergen spoke to, which is to get people together and say, ‘wait a minute, let us not’- COOPER: But that’s not what our political life is about now. PARKER: But we keep hearing this, ‘they’re going to do this, if you let them get in.’ COOPER: Pat Robertson saying that (unintelligble)- PARKER: You let them do this, then they’re going to demand, demand. Who is the ‘they’? I mean, these are Americans, too, and it makes me wonder how many people out there watching tonight actually know someone who is a Muslim? You know, there seems to be- I just feel like this has become a misunderstanding on a broad scale. And while- absolutely, when you talk to people whose families died in this and- you know, on 9/11, you can’t not take that seriously. I mean, that emotion is real, and it’s still raw. But I think we’ve got to stop thinking of Muslims as being ‘them.’ COOPER: We’ve got to take a quick break. Elliot Spitzer, Kathleen Parker, appreciate you being with us. Thanks very much.
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Kathleen Parker and Eliot Spitzer Unanimous in First CNN Appearance
Iman Feisal Abdul Rauf chose ABC’s Christiane Amanpour to spend “several hours” with on Thursday in New York City, and just as she did back on the August 22 This Week when she featured Rauf’s wife and an ally, she again served as his public relations agent, forwarding his claims without challenge. After passing along his denial of any deal to move his project, Amanpour gushingly relayed meaningless blather about his great concern: “The imam went on to tell me that this whole issue is so sensitive because he has to really take care of sensitivities here in the United States and abroad.” Amanpour proceeded to tout that he’s now back from an overseas trip “all about interfaith dialogue and trying to reach the moderates,” and he warned, as he did on Wednesday’s Larry King Live, that if he doesn’t get his way Muslims will murder Americans. Amanpour, however, didn’t describe that as a protection racket or suggest he’s employing blackmail. Instead, she just paraphrased his spin that his warning — about his vanity – is “a matter of vital national security” to the U.S.: He says that this has become a huge international issue, the issue over the Islamic center in Manhattan and also the threatened Koran burning. And so everybody, all over the world, not just here in the United States, is watching. And he felt, and he said to me, that he thought it was a matter of vital national security not to give in or to move that Islamic center. She then played a soundbite from Rauf: My major concern with moving it is that the headline in the Muslim world will be, “Islam is under attack in America.” This will strengthen the radicals in the Muslim world, help their recruitment. This will put our people, our soldiers, our troops, our embassies, our citizens, under attack in the Muslim world. And we have expanded and given and fueled terrorism. Despite what he said, Amanpour assured viewers: “So, he said he wasn’t making any threats or predicting any terrible worst case scenario.” To say nothing of how this awful scenario was set in motion by his quest to put a mosque so near Ground Zero and refusal to address the sensitivities of 9/11 victims. Nonetheless, Amanpour agreeably related his rejection of any comparison to burning Korans when he’s just trying to build a wonderful “multi-faith monument” to “tolerance,” as she described how he called it “extraordinary to try to equate destroying anybody’s scripture with building what he called his center to be a multi-faith monument for cultural and ethnic tolerance and for all religions and groups to come and try to share the moderate ground of the current space.” My August 22 NB posting, “ Amanpour on One-Sided This Week: ‘Profound Questions About Religious Tolerance and Prejudice in the U.S .’” recounted: Not even feigning the pretense of balance, a week after her roundtable hailed President Obama’s initial endorsement of the Ground Zero mosque (GZM), on this Sunday’s This Week host Christiane Amanpour featured an “exclusive” with two GZM proponents as she declared “the controversy has raised profound questions about religious tolerance and prejudice in the United States. And the backlash against Islam has been seen across the country…” Holding up the current Time magazine with its “Is America Islamophobic?” cover, she forwarded the contention: “Is America Islamophobic? Are you concerned about the long-term relationship between American Muslims and the rest of society here?” Amanpour’s guests, to “cut through the heated rhetoric” on the only Sunday interview show with a guest segment on the GZM (Fox News Sunday took it up in its panel time): Daisy Khan, wife of imam behind the project, and Rabbi Joy Levitt, from the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan, “who’s an adviser on the project.”… From the Thursday, September 9 ABC World News: DIANE SAWYER: Tell us more about your interview with that imam today. CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: Well, yes indeed Diane, he’s just come back, as you know, from a rather lengthy overseas trip, sponsored by the State Department, all about interfaith dialogue and trying to reach the moderates. And he says that this has become a huge international issue, the issue over the Islamic center in Manhattan and also the threatened Koran burning. And so everybody, all over the world, not just here in the United States, is watching. And he felt, and he said to me, that he thought it was a matter of vital national security not to give in or to move that Islamic center. This is what he said. IMAN FEISAL ABDUL RAUF, AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MUSLIM ADVANCEMENT: My major concern with moving it is that the headline in the Muslim world will be, “Islam is under attack in America.” This will strengthen the radicals in the Muslim world, help their recruitment. This will put our people, our soldiers, our troops, our embassies, our citizens, under attack in the Muslim world. And we have expanded and given and fueled terrorism. AMANPOUR: So, he said he wasn’t making any threats or predicting any terrible worst case scenario, just that he said that this was an extremely important consideration in these talks about anybody potentially moving that Islamic center. Diane? SAWYER: And what else did he say about the equation of the Koran burning and the mosque near ground zero? AMANPOUR: Well, he said it was really — he said, extraordinary, to try to equate destroying anybody’s scripture with building what he called his center to be a multi-faith monument for cultural and ethnic tolerance and for all religions and groups to come and try to share the moderate ground of the current space. And he said there was no way to draw any kind of equivalence.
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Amanpour Paints Rauf’s Protection Racket as ‘a Matter of Vital National Security’
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Band taps Johnny Knoxville’s for retro homage to backyard skateboarding. By Kyle Anderson Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo in the music video for “Memories” Photo: Epitaph It’s a series of new beginnings in the Weezer camp. They have a new album ( Hurley, their eighth full-length effort and the best one they’ve pulled off in the new millennium), a new label (independent punk-minded imprint Epitaph, home to the likes of Rancid, Social Distortion and Bad Religion) and a crunchy new single called “Memories” (which contains a bunch of references to the band’s early days and an awesome shout-along chorus). In fact, the only thing that isn’t ripe with newness is the band’s just-premiered video for “Memories.” Sure, it’s a new composition that features guest appearances from the stars of “Jackass,” but it’s all about looking back. “I had been married for a few months and had been in school for the semester before that, and basically I had been away from the band and the rock world for a while,” Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo told MTV News about the writing process of the single. “I was really missing it, and just sitting there alone in my room missing the fans and missing my band, so ‘Memories’ is about getting back in there.” “Getting back in there” meant giving a call to old pal Johnny Knoxville (whom, Cuomo recalled, hung out and played tennis and basketball with the band back in the early ’90s) and getting the “Jackass” crew together for a day of skateboarding, rocking out and general backyard debauchery. Shot on grainy Super 8 cameras, “Memories” has the same kind of kinetic DIY energy as the skate videos these guys probably passed around on VHS in the ’80s. That’s fitting, seeing as how the site of the video shoot was the same as one of the locations in the legendary skate vid “The Search for Animal Chin,” which starred Tony Hawk’s Bones Brigade. The clip features Weezer playing next to an empty pool (and, at certain points, inside said pool) while various skateboarders and BMX riders buzz them with turns, flips and tricks. Since the chorus is such a hands-in-the-air sing-along, it’s no wonder that the best parts of the video show the “Jackass” cast — including Knoxville, Wee Man, Steve-O, Chris Pontius and Ryan Dunn — singing along with Cuomo and stealing Brian Bell’s guitars. Even if you don’t like Weezer, “Memories” is worth watching, if only because in between scenes of the guys horsing around, there are clips from the upcoming film “Jackass 3-D,” which should get fans of wanton violence excited for the magic ahead. What do you think of Weezer’s “Memories” video? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Weezer
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Good Morning America’s George Stephanopoulos on Thursday trumpeted his exclusive interview with Barack Obama and rewarded the President with 16 minutes of air time, just as the midterm election season kicks off. Stephanopoulos served up several softballs during the four part interview. Speaking of the pastor in Florida who intends to burn a Koran on 9/11, he sympathized, “I wonder what this must feel like from behind your desk. You’re President of the United States. You have to deal with the fallout. And here’s a pastor who’s got 30 followers in his church. Does it make you feel helpless or angry?” The host informed viewers that the issue is “of deep concern too him as President, as a Christian and as Commander in Chief.” Pointing out criticism of Obama, Stephanopoulos highlighted the President’s children: “You know, and you have had the chance to have dinner at home a lot. You know, when you’re going through these hard times, how much of it bleeds through to them? And how do you protect them from it?” Perhaps because of the extensive running time, 16 minutes and 15 seconds, and because of Stephanopoulos’ past a Democratic campaign operative, the host did offer some tough questions. Stephanopoulos repeatedly challenged the Democrat on letting the Bush tax cuts expire. At one point, he asserted, “It’s not just Republicans, though, Mark Zandi independent economist says that right now the economy, the recovery is just too fragile to take any risk. Don’t have any tax increases at all.” Later, he chided, “More Americans seeing you as liberal. And when you ask questions like, ‘Does he share my values?'” Stephanopoulos told the President that some Americans think he doesn’t “get it.” In 2007, leading up to the presidential elections, GMA devoted 64 minutes to town halls featuring Democrats and zero for Republicans. A partial transcript of the September 9 segment can be found below: GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: And, as you said, Robin, And the FBI worried also very worried about that possible backlash if this Koran warning goes forward on Saturday. When I spoke with the President about it, it is very clear that this has seized his attention at the highest levels of government. It’s of deep concern too him as President, as a Christian and as Commander in Chief. Let me ask you about Pastor Terry Jones. He gave a press conference today. Says he’s going to go through with burning the Korans. Is there anything you can say to him to convince him not to? OBAMA: If he’s listening, I just hope he understands that what he’s proposing to do is completely contrary to our values as Americans. That this country has been built on the notions of religious freedom and religious tolerance. And as a very practical matter, as commander of chief of the Armed Forces of the United States I just want him to understand that this stunt that he is talking about pulling could greatly endanger our young men and women in uniform who are in Iraq, who are in Afghanistan. We’re already seeing protests against Americans just by the mere threat that he’s making. STEPHANOPOULOS: What more could happen? What are you worried about? OBAMA: Well, look, the- this is a recruitment bonanza for Al Qaeda. You know, you could have serious violence in places like Pakistan or Afghanistan. This could increase the recruitment of individuals who’d be willing to blow themselves up in American cities, or European cities. You know and so you know, I just hope that, he says he’s- he’s someone who is motivated by his faith. STEPHANOPOULOS: And he says he’s praying on it. OBAMA: Yeah. I hope he listens to those better angels and, and understands that this is a destructive act that he’s engaging in. STEPHANOPOULOS : I wonder what this must feel like from behind your desk. You’re President of the United States. You have to deal with the fallout. And here’s a pastor who’s got 30 followers in his church. Does it make you feel helpless or angry? OBAMA: It, well it is frustrating. Now, on the other hand, we are a government of laws. And so, we have to abide by those laws. And my understanding is that he can be cited for public burning. But that’s the extent of the laws that we have available to us. You know, part of this country’s history is people doing destructive or offensive or harmful things. And yet, we still have to make sure that we’re following the laws. And that’s part of what I love about this country. 7:07 STEPHANOPOULOS: We also spoke to President Obama about the economy. He has come out swinging the last few months before the midterm election. And now he’s putting a face on his opponent. That’s House Minority Leader John Boehner. Of course, he was here yesterday. The President mentioned Boehner’s name eight times in that speech in Ohio. Of course, that’s Boehner’s home turf. And I began by pointing out that he seems determined to make Boehner the most well-known Republican in the country. OBAMA: Well, you know Congressman Boehner is saying that Republicans have a good chance of winning the House. STEPHANOPOULOS: I talked to him this morning. He seemed pretty confident. OBAMA: And he thinks he may be Speaker. And I think it’s very important that the American People understand what the Republicans are offering, which is essentially more of the same. STEPHANOPOULOS: He said he was open to the ideas on tax cuts that you talked about, today. But he had two of his own. And I want to know if you’re open to those. He said, “Freeze spending at the 2008 levels and extend all of the Bush tax cuts for two years.” I know you’re against any permanent extension, but what about two years? OBAMA: But keep in mind that they said back in 2001 and they said back in 2003 that these tax cuts for the rich would stop at 2010. That’s why we’re in the predicament that we’re in now. And when you ask them why not just go ahead and give 97 percent of Americans a tax break, which is what we’re prepared to do tomorrow, they say no. And the reason is they’re holding- all those middle class folks who need tax relief hostage right now in order to provide tax breaks for the top two percent, wealthiest Americans, who don’t need a tax break, aren’t asking for a tax break. STEPHANOPOULOS: Your own budget director up until a month ago, Peter Orszag wrote in the New York Times yesterday that it was a good compromise. OBAMA: No, what, what Peter Orszag said was he’d like to eliminate all these tax cuts, but that politically the best you may be able to do is to get the Republicans to agree to only extend them for two years. STEPHANOPOULOS: But he said it was a good compromise. He said it made sense. OBAMA: But, that’s something we can’t afford. STEPHANOPOULOS: So, no compromise? No short term extension? OBAMA: We’ve got to make some decisions now that are gonna have huge ramifications over the long term. Now, if Mr. Boehner and the Republicans want to help small businesses right now, which is the rationale that they’ve provided for trying to extend tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, if they want to help them right now, we’ve got a small jobs bill. Bipartisan bill- written by Democrats and Republicans that provides tax cuts to small businesses. It eliminates capital gains for small businesses. Provides loan assistance to small businesses. And we could vote on that immediately. The reason it’s been held up is because we haven’t seen compromise from the other side. When you look at what the Republicans are offering, it is exactly the same as what landed us in this mess in the first place. STEPHANOPOULOS: It’s not just Republicans, though, Mark Zandi independent economist says that right now the economy, the recovery is just too fragile to take any risk. Don’t have any tax increases at all. OBAMA: But what, what every economist that I’ve talked to has said is that if you’re gonna spend, say $95 billion, even just for two years for these tax cuts, probably the least efficient way of actually giving the economy a boost is to provide that $95 billion to millionaires and billionaires. I mean, if Warren Buffet gets a tax break, that’s not gonna change his spending patterns. If those families that I were talking to out in, out here in Cleveland or across the country get a tax break, that may mean a new computer for their kid. It may mean that they’re able to make their mortgage payments. It may mean that they can buy a new coat for winter. And that’s where our money should be going. STEPHANOPOULOS: How deep is your commitment to this fight? Are you saying that if Congress passes a short term extension of all the tax cuts, you’re gonna veto it? OBAMA: You can’t have Republicans running on fiscal discipline that we’re gonna reduce our deficit, that the debt’s out of control, and then borrow tens, hundreds of billions of dollars to give tax cuts to people who don’t need them. STEPHANOPOULOS: Does that mean you will veto an extension of tax cuts for the wealthy? OBAMA: What I am saying is that if we are going to add to our deficit by $35 billion, $95 billion, $100 billion, $700 billion, if that’s the Republican agenda, then I’ve got a whole bunch of better ways to spend that money. STEPHANOPOULOS: But you’re not saying you’re gonna veto it? OBAMA: I, there are a whole bunch better ways to spend the money. STEPHANOPOULOS: How come you don’t want to say veto? OBAMA: There are a whole bunch better ways to spend the money. … 8:01 STEPHANOPOULOS: But, first, we’re going to have more of my interview with President Obama. 60 Days to the election right now. Less than 60 days. And Democrats are pulling out all of the stops. And for President Obama, that means to pull out a little campaign trail deja vu and calling on his secret weapon. Now, you’re going to have the First Lady’s help out on the campaign trail, we’re reading. OBAMA: Well, you know, she is far more popular than me. And rightly so. She spent most of this week making sure that the girls start off well in school. They had their first day of school on Tuesday. And I guarantee you, we get more requests for her than just about anybody else. STEPHANOPOULOS: You know, you bring up- you bring up the girls. You know, and you have had the chance to have dinner at home a lot. You know, when you’re going through these hard times, how much of it bleeds through to them? And how do you protect them from it? OBAMA: You know I think they are still young enough where they don’t watch the nightly news. I apologize for that, George. But- STEPHANOPOULOS: They might get some on the Internet, right? OBAMA: But, you know, I , when we’re sitting around the dinner table, we’re talking about them, and their lives … STEPHANOPOULOS: They’re not worried? They don’t, they don’t hear things? OBAMA: No, I think, well, first of all, people are very gracious to them. It’s not like somebody’s going up and saying, you know, I think your dad is a bum. That has not yet happened to them. I think people understand that kids are off limits on these issues. I do think that they know that we’re going through a tough time. They know that we’re involved in two wars. They know that we had a big oil spill in the Gulf. And so, we talk about those issues. And what I try to explain to them is that the issues that we’re dealing with are really tough. Daddy’s making the best decisions that he can to help the most people in this country. Some of ’em are going to work. Some of ’em aren’t going to work exactly the way we want. But, what I try to describe to them and instill in them are the same values that I inherited from my mom and from my grandparents, and that Michelle inherited from hers. And that is what I talked about today. Hard work, responsibility, looking out for other people. STEPHANOPOULOS: And, remember at that last press conference, the President did say that Malia came up to him and said, “We need to plug the hole, daddy?” ROBERTS: Oh, I remember that, right. Yeah. But, it’s nice to know that people are being gracious to the kids, as you would imagine. STEPHANOPOULOS: But, it is good to hear. It is good to hear that.
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ABC Donates 16 Minutes to Obama; George Stephanopoulos Puffs: Does Pastor Make You Feel ‘Helpless?’
Filed under: Rachel Lee , Nick Prugo , Burglar Bunch , Celebrity Justice Rachel Lee — the suspected queen of the
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Filed under: T.I. , Celebrity Justice T.I. ‘s ecstasy arrest has caused a serious stink with some of his sponsors — in fact, TMZ has learned the people behind AXE body spray are considering kicking the rapper to the curb. A rep for AXE tells TMZ they’re “troubled by [T.I.’s] arrest” and… Read more
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T.I. — Rapper Might Get AXE’d Over Arrest
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“Top Chef” judge Tom Colicchio rang alarm bells about child obesity on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Wednesday, saying it is now a “national health crisis.” Colicchio warned that the recent Senate school lunch legislation did not go “far enough” and that access to healthy school meals needs to be increased for kids to save future health care costs. “It’s a pretty good bill, but I don’t think it goes far enough,” the chef complained of the school lunch bill. “They need to increase access for kids.” “After-school programs, after-school periods, breakfast programs, weekend programs, summer programs – those aren’t included in the Senate bill; they’re included in the House bill,” Colicchio mused. “Obesity has become a national health crisis.” He said the problem poses “billions” of dollars in future health care costs if it will not be addressed properly. “Morning Joe” co-host Mika Brzezinski, a nutrition-warrior herself, agreed and argued that obese children need to be viewed as victims – as children “whose future is cut short before it even starts.” “They’ve got nothing, because their health is always in jeopardy, their life will be shortened, their options will be limited,” Mika lamented. Both Mika and Colicchio chose the “malnourished” label for obese children, and Mika lauded the FDA food guidelines at restaurants, movie theaters and grocery stores as a step in the right direction. “Obesity is actually malnutrition. It’s not overeating. It’s malnourishment,” argued Colicchio. A transcript of the segment, which aired on September 8 at 8:41 a.m. EDT, is as follows: MIKA BRZEZINSKI: And joining us now, the lead judge for “Top Chef,” Tom Kilickio, who is here to discuss the school lunch legislation in front of Congress, which is making its way – maybe not perfect – TOM COLICCHIO, Judge, “Top Chef”: Well, the Senate passed the bill. BRZEZINSKI: Yeah. COLICCHIO: And It’s a pretty good bill, but I don’t think it goes far enough. BRZEZINSKI: Yeah? COLICCHIO: Yeah. There’s a couple of – a couple issues with it. One, they need to increase access for kids. And so, automatic enrollment through Medicaid is something that the House bill is putting forth. After-school programs, after-school ___ periods, breakfast programs, weekend programs, summer programs – those aren’t included in the Senate bill, they’re included in the House bill. The other, sort of, big issue is that the Senate bill, even though it’s a good bill, they’re taking 2 billion dollars from SNAP program. So essentially, they’re stealing from dinner to pay for lunch. And, you know, that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. The House bill, it’s an 8 billion dollar bill over ten years, and they said they’ll find the offsets to make it work. BRZEZINSKI: You know, if anyone wants to understand why this is important, and why we need to do this, and many other things – take a look at New York. Take a look at the kids in New York. And the numbers that we saw in the headlines over the weekend, in terms of obese children. And, especially in poor areas, and in poorer areas there are many more. And… there are 51 percent in Queens, it’s unbelievable. COLICCHIO: Queens, the Bronx, but also rural areas too. Places like Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas – you know, obesity has become a national health crisis. BRZEZINSKI: Yes. COLICCHIO: And talk about saving money on health care. This will save dividends down the road, if we take care of this problem now. This is going to cost us billions of dollars in health care, if they don’t take care of this. MIKE BARNACLE: Did you say that one of the bills, the Senate bill not the House bill, doesn’t include breakfast for school kids? COLICCHIO: No, it includes breakfast. Well, no, it doesn’t include breakfast. And it also does not include weekend feeding and summer months. You know, hunger doesn’t go away in the summer. It’s still there. BARNACLE: Well no. If you look at those numbers – 51 percent obesity in Queens, 12 percent on the Upper West Side – if you look at the kids at the bus stop, the kids on the way to school, I’ll tell you what they have for breakfast. They have a fish sandwich and a big O from McDonalds on their way to school, and their day calorically health-wise is on the way down. BRZEZINSKI: Oh God. COLICCHIO: Well that’s the biggest problem right now. You talk about obesity. Obesity is actually malnutrition. It’s not overeating. It’s malnourishment. And so, there’s, there was a study done – in the summer months, children are putting on weight now. Which you’d think the opposite, you’d think they’re more active. But no, they’re putting on more weight, and the reason being is when they’re in school programs, they were getting breakfast and they were getting lunch. They were getting more nutritious meals, they were not just getting empty calories and fat and sugar. BRZEZINSKI: And you know, I get criticism for how staunch I can be on this topic, but when you look at a child who is obese, you look at a child whose future is cut short before it even starts. They’ve got nothing, because their health is always in jeopardy, their life will be shortened, their options will be limited. And now we have classrooms with more children who are obese than children who are not. And I don’t know why – I even got reactions on Twitter saying “Don’t use the word ‘obese,’ you’re marginalizing people,” or “You’re adding to the hatred.” And I’m thinking we need to use the word, we need to address this. COLICCHIO: Let’s call them “malnourished,” because they are. BRZEZINSKI: They are malnourished children, whose futures are being cut short. Now we have other things that have happened. Recently the FDA put out these calorie count guidelines – grocery stores, movie theatres, trains, airlines – everyone’s trying to potentially get into it to give people a sense of what they’re eating, not just children, adults. What more can be done – I guess my question to you, as a restaurant-eur, and on “Top Chef” restaurants – do they have a responsibility here to make food that’s better, that’s more nutritional? COLICCHIO: Well, if you’re talking about the kind of restaurants that I have, that are sort of high-end restaurants, we’re using whole ingredients, we’re not buying canned food or processed food – so we’re already putting healthy food on the table. But it’s the fast food restaurants that you have to worry about. That’s where the majority of the people are actually getting their food from these days. And so those are the restaurants – ADRIANNA HUFFINGTON: But I’d say the fast food restaurants, and also the production of food.– I mean, what kind of cooperation are you getting from the kind of manufacturers that produce so highly-processed food, that that’s where the malnourishment that you are talking about occurs? COLICCHIO: Well you’re right, and I think the biggest problem though is we’re subsidizing the worst foods for us. And that seems to make them cheap, like sugar, and corn for high fructose corn syrup – those are the things that we’re subsidizing at the risk of our health. And that’s why these products are cheap, because they’re being subsidized, and that’s why people with low incomes can afford them. But they’re the wrong foods to feed our children. BRZEZINSKI: We all need to try and get our arms around this.
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‘Top Chef’ Host: Senate School Lunch Bill Didn’t Go ‘Far Enough’ to Fight ‘National Crisis’ of Child Obesity
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Tagged Celebrities, children, culture/society, deborah feyerick, feisal-abdul, House, life, middle-east, News, People, politics, restaurants, senate, summer
CNN’s Deborah Feyerick played up Imam Feisal Rauf’s apparent credentials as a “moderate” Muslim during a report on Wednesday’s American Morning. Feyerick omitted using sound bites from Rauf’s critics, and only briefly mentioned his controversial remarks about on CBS’s 60 Minutes about the 9/11 attacks and his reluctance to condemn Hamas. The CNN correspondent’s report led the 6 am Eastern hour, and was re-broadcast throughout the day on the network. Almost immediately, Feyerick stressed how Rauf is apparently a “voice of moderation” by playing three clips from three who unequivocally endorse him- the State Department’s P. J. Crowley, mosque developer Sharif El-Gamal, and Professor John Esposito of Georgetown University. She continued by describing the Islamic cleric as a ” Sufi Muslim, at the other end of the Islamic spectrum from the radical theology that feeds groups like al Qaeda .” After two further sound bites from Esposito, who gushed over Imam Rauf, Feyerick highlighted his background: “According to his biography, Feisal Abdul Rauf was born in Kuwait in 1948 into an Egyptian family steeped in religious scholarship . In 1997, he founded the non-profit American Society for Muslim Advancement- its mission, described on its website, as ‘strengthening an authentic expression of Islam based on cultural and religious harmony through interfaith collaboration, youth, and women’s empowerment.'” The correspondent didn’t bring up Rauf’s controversial past until the end of her report, and almost as an after-thought: ” He was criticized after 9/11 for saying U.S. support of oppressive regimes was partly responsible for the attacks, but maintained his remarks on 60 Minutes had been taken out of context. Rauf supports Israel’s right to exist, but says as a bridge builder, he can’t condemn radical Palestinian group Hamas as terrorists .” Overall, Feyerick played six clips in favor of the imam, and none critical of him. She didn’t even quote from any specific critic of his. Feyerick has been on a roll, as of late, with her recent one-sided reporting on the Ground Zero mosque and related “Islamophobia” issues. On August 26, she advanced the theory that the stabbing of Muslim taxicab driver in New York City may have been ” connected to this big Ground Zero controversy, where we’re hearing so much anti-Muslim sentiment .” Exactly a week later, on September 2, the CNN correspondent c ontinued her network’s promotion of the charge that “Islamophobia” is a growing phenomenon inside the U.S. The full transcript of Deborah Feyerick’s report from Wednesday’s American Morning: FEYERICK (voice-over): If you have never heard him speak, this is what Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf has to say. IMAM FEISAL ABDUL RAUF: The major theme in Islam is the oneness of God, and that we should worship one God- love and adore the one God. FEYERICK: People who know Imam Feisal say he’s a voice of moderation. The State Department- STATE DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT SECRETARY P. J. CROWLEY: His work on tolerance and religious diversity is well known. FEYERICK: The developer of the controversial Islamic center near Ground Zero. SHARIF EL-GAMAL: He is somebody who has sacrificed his life to building bridges within communities. FEYERICK: Islamic scholar and university professor John Esposito. FEYERICK (on-camera): How would you describe him? Is he a threat? JOHN ESPOSITO, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: Feisal is, from my point of view- he is ‘Mr. Mellow.’ FEYERICK (voice-over): Imam Feisal is a Sufi Muslim, at the other end of the Islamic spectrum from the radical theology that feeds groups like al Qaeda. ESPOSITO: He approaches Islam spiritually. He is a Sufi in background, which means one pursues, if you will, a more, kind of, spiritual mystical path. He’s somebody who would find terrorism and religious extremism as abhorrent. He’s run a mosque in this area for years and years and years. FEYERICK: That mosque, the Masjid al-Farah, is 10 blocks from Ground Zero, and has co-existed peacefully in the Tribeca neighborhood for 28 years. ESPOSITO: He has integrated himself into the community. FEYERICK: According to his biography, Feisal Abdul Rauf was born in Kuwait in 1948 into an Egyptian family steeped in religious scholarship. In 1997, he founded the non-profit American Society for Muslim Advancement- its mission, described on its website, as ‘strengthening an authentic expression of Islam based on cultural and religious harmony through interfaith collaboration, youth, and women’s empowerment.’ Several years later, Rauf founded the Cordoba Institute to improve relations between the Muslim world and the West, writing how American Muslims can help bridge the divide. The State Department noticed, sending him as a cultural ambassador on four trips to the Middle East, most recently this summer. GRAEME BANNERMAN, FORMER STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: They try to get people who reflect the best aspects of American society. FEYERICK: Rauf is often asked to speak at meetings like the World Economic Forum in Davos. He was criticized after 9/11 for saying U.S. support of oppressive regimes was partly responsible for the attacks, but maintained his remarks on 60 Minutes had been taken out of context. Rauf supports Israel’s right to exist, but says as a bridge builder, he can’t condemn radical Palestinian group Hamas as terrorists. As for the proposed Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero, he says that, too, is about bridges. RAUF: This is also our expression of the 99.999 percent of Muslims all over the world, including in America, who have condemned and continue to condemn terrorism. This is about our stand as the Muslim community, which has been part of this community. FEYERICK: But right now, this moderate Muslim cleric finds himself at the eye of a storm. Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.
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CNN’s Feyerick Promotes Ground Zero Mosque Imam
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Tagged america, Cnn, deborah feyerick, feisal-abdul, ground zero mosque, Hollywood, islam, islamic, israel, middle-east, network, People, professor, theory
Actor gets help from former ‘NSYNC-er for ‘Dancing in the Rain.’ By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Jim Cantiello Matthew Morrison Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images It’s no Acafellas reunion, but “Glee” star Matthew Morrison says he hooked up with former boy bander JC Chasez for one of the tracks on his solo album, which he plans to release next year. “I wrote about half the album so far, but I’ve definitely co-wrote. I’ve definitely teamed up with some great producers, some great songwriters,” he teased MTV News at the “Glee” season two premiere party on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. “And yeah, I just did this great song last week with JC Chasez that was very, very cool. It turned out really well. He’s such a good songwriter.” While the details of the collaboration with the former ‘NSYNC member are scant, Morrison (who plays glee club coach Will Schuester on the show) did share the name of the track. “It’s called ‘Dancing in the Rain,’ not ‘Singing in the Rain,’ but ‘Dancing in the Rain.’ ” Morrison shared that he’s got some other collaborations on the album, but wouldn’t name names. “It’s very eclectic. I’m doing some great duets. I can’t release who they’re with yet, [but it’s] some people that you’ve probably heard of before, that you’ve definitely heard of before.” Fans of “Glee,” which returns to Fox on September 21, shouldn’t be surprised to learn what Morrison’s album will sound like. “It’s gonna be a little adult contemporary,” he said. “And there’s gonna be some pop songs that you can shake your money maker to in the club.” And while Morrison’s co-stars may be presenting an award at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, he’s got even bigger plans following his album’s release. “I’m hoping to perform at the VMAs next year!” The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. The party starts with MTV News’ VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through Sunday. Related Photos ‘Glee’ Season 2 Premiere Red Carpet Related Artists JC Chasez
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‘Glee’ Star Matthew Morrison Teams With JC Chasez For Solo Album
Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music
Tagged Album, artist, collaboration, glee, Hollywood, jason-merritt, Mtv, News, People, stars, TMZ, video-music
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