Tyra Banks, Maya Angelou, and Me

[youflipmypancakes]

your fantastic

[bradhawk89]

Use your indoor voice...

[kewldude90]

any conservatives authors contribute to the book?

[lisasimpson]

Sweet, congrats!

[asromab3]

quit trying to sell books on youtube....fucking idiot

[HopeDiamondSS16]

Cool! :)  Did you get to meet Tyra Banks?

[JCfromDM]

One step closer to the gold circle of DC. Not only a vlogger, talking head, now a published author as well. :)

[chelseyjane]

i SO TOTALLY saw that book in borders today and i ALMOST went and picked it up but i didn't!! i wish i had. now i will have to go back and get it.

[georgezimmer]

Hey James do more biting political commentary now that the general has started. Less self-promotion plzthx

[bradhawk89]

You can feel to stop screaming whenever...

[RogerOnTheRight]

Young people + voting = not a good thing.

We need to raise the voting age to at least 25. And toss in literacy and critical thinking tests as well.

[tinapita]

oh yeah, totally! and we should also make sure they're male, white and own property. oh wait ...

[RogerOnTheRight]

No, just literate. It's those Democrats who are obsessed with race and class.

[MisterDonnieDarko2]

lol you go.

[hoboe]

Are you even aware of the amendment to the Constitution and litigation that specifically ban those things? Namely, the 26th Amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1965?

If you're going to raise the voting age to 25, then you have to raise the Army enlistment age to 25 as well. Old enough to die for the country, old enough to have a say. And putting back literacy tests opens up the possibility of racial discrimination all over again. You think the Bible belt isn't gonna do anything?

[hoboe]

Sorry, that was for RogerOnTheRight.

I guess my browser doesnt like the reply function.

In any case, don't pin your dissatisfaction with the state of the country on the youth of America. You sound like those people who say, "Well, back in my day, we didn't have blahblahblah."

[RogerOnTheRight]

I think you may be referring to the Voting Rights Act, which was made law in 1965. The Civil Rights Act was 1964 and quite different.

Of course I realize the implications. You might consider the possibility of satire here, with the realization our literacy has dropped dramatically in this country. Interestingly, since the advent of Affirmative Action and the Great Society welfare entitlements.

And why would a literacy test be racially discriminatory? Can you explain that to us?

[hoboe]

Inherently it is not, but in application, one would have to judge said tests, yes? Someone has to make up the test, someone has to administer the test, and someone has to grade it. At any step in the process, one can taint the application process. Don't like Asians? Throw out that guy's application and say it's lost. Adding literacy tests adds in subjectivity when there should not be. The mindless masses, as dumb as they are, still have the freedom to vote for their choice.

[RogerOnTheRight]

Well, clearly we will not reinstitute literacy tests any time soon. However, your argument is specious.

That someone might toss out an application could happen at any time, regardless of the form involved. If I go to register to vote today, there is no assurance my registration will be properly recorded. Fraud can occur at any time, for any reason.

Nevertheless, there is an argument to be made in favor of higher standards: the one you made just now. That there are "mindless masses".

[kuryamtl]

I am just jumping in right here, but while education is important and literacy is really important, I do not think that literacy equates to competency to make an informed opinion on matters that are important to the voter. If the source of information to judge candidates was in print only, then I can understand, but today there is a gluten of information that is available beyond the written word, ie television and radio.

[RogerOnTheRight]

Sure, you can always rely on the predigested pap spewing forth from the television sets.

Literacy does not assure thoughtfulness, but mass illiteracy pretty much assures mass delusion.

[MrPyro321]

You are right that literacy tests are racially discriminatory in application but I disagree with your reasoning.

I believe that they are discriminatory because inner-city minorities do not have the educational resources that white children may have. And thus white people are given an 'unfair' advantage on literacy tests.

[RogerOnTheRight]

Excellent observation. It really is not a "black" problem, per se. We see functional illiteracy everywhere now.

That is, inner city whites are also illiterate. So, the discrimination is not against a race, but a culture of failure-- white, black, hispanic, whatever.

Certainly, poverty, illiteracy and race are correlated, but it hardly means black people are incapable of success.

Anyone care to solve the actual problem?

[MrPyro321]

Yeah and then you lose alot of service members because they actually have gotten their lives together.

If you raise the age to vote then you must raise the age to join the army.

[RogerOnTheRight]

Oh no. Never was that way before. You could join at 18, vote at 21. Just bump the voting to 25, all will be better.

Though, for those who have served bravely, they probably have the education and judgment to vote.

[mtheaney]

I hated this video so much that I gave him a black eye.

[puresrtrash]

Heh, I can picture James's autobiography now...

"Well, I started my career as a comedic political analyst on Youube..."

Someone call E!

[truman0311]

good for you. i always thought of you as a celebrated american.

[userjosh9874]

Congrats on becoming a celebrity! How does it feel to be famous like Tyra Banks? :P

Seriously though- this is great! It's really cool that you wrote for a book with such a great message!

[KobyBrandt]

Congratulations Kotecki on your new celeb status!

Btw, speaking of books, did you hear that Ron Paul's new book:

The Revolution: A Manifesto

is #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List?

And just think, you were the first person ever to interview a Presidential candidate in your dorm room. You are a celebrity now, aren't ya. Again congrats on your success.

[WhoRadley]

I wish I was a celebrated American.

[gammafighter]

congrats!

[cagedtigersteve]

Wow, James. Are you doing a book signing anywheres?

[Jamandell]

That's fantastic James, well done! A shame I probably won't be able to check it out here in the UK.

[man95000]

sell out

[EmergencyCheese]

yup, i sold out to a non-profit.

[man95000]

i used to respect you, now i dont.

[JXintheZ]

w00t!

Congratulations on being a Celebrated American!

[TheAmericanPirate]

Mr. Kotecki, moving up the ladder. Next thing ya know you'll be hosting your own show on MSNBC.

Congrats.

[ynacris]

awesome!

[TimberGeek]

That's pretty cool, if The Onion thinks I should vote then it's definitely a good idea.

[wogsland]

We celebrate you!

[CrazyBlackVideogamer]

The essay of Tyra Banks?? WTH I got to read that book.. You are definetly moving on up James next thing you know you will be guest staring on some big tv show

[cagedtigersteve]

He would be a really great guest star on Kotecki TV.

[CrazyBlackVideogamer]

lol..yah but who would be hosting the show??

I rather see James on some of the comdey central poliitical shows. James would give them a run for their money.

[cavejourney]

Woah! The Onion Rocks - is their article at all serious?

[thejette61]

Wow you are a real celebrity. Remember us small people and your roots when you are doing interviews from the white house.

[budbandit25]

LOL jette. Us small people will really never have a say.