Washington Watch Exclusive: Roland Martin's Full Interview With Dr. Cornel West

[cd64803]

I do want President Obama to do well not just because he is black but because I want this country to succeed. Dr. West does make a good point about the lack of acknowlegdment to the poor black community from the president. Even though I believe Obama has a lot on his plate and hasn't had a lot of help from congress, he still needs to associate or communicate with the people who helped put him in office.

[pastorSGoode]

Great interveiw. I've been African American all my life. lol. I found this to be true; as long as we vote race and not people, we'll continue to be a nation divided. I have never been a fan of Obama; nor did I vote for him. Although I hoped and wished him to do great, I found him to be a great double talker. Both parties argue, fuss, and fight, while pushing to the same goal. Black, White, Hispanic, Jewish,,, and so on, need to eat and provide for their family. WE need to vote people. Not race.

[atheistasylum]

Please stop riding MLK's ass.

[Uriahsgrandma]

DR.!!!! PROFESSOR.!!! CORNEL WEST!!!!!

[tstruss912]

This is all a bunch of third-grade bullshit. Who cares if he said something mean? IT'S TRUE! Obama is a major liar, disappointment, and fraud. That's what we should be talking about--not some outlier comments from one of the nicest people on the planet.

[secretbubba3]

He is a black mascot for wall st. I commend Dr. West for telling the truth!

[IamNeutral]

Roland Martin, Great Job, as usual! Great Job! Cornell West is full of Sh*t!

[dyedum]

Maybe Dr. West explained his motives for bringing to light the "snubbing" by the President after all 65 events in some forum I missed but when the critics suggested it was petty I think the bigger story was missed. Dr. West is symbolic of something bigger than himself and the the unwillingness for the president to give his voice an ear is telling of the President's priorities. If the President campaigns with one voice and serves with another that is relevant, not petty.

[2tim149]

Dr. West, you are beating a dead horse. We know how Roland feels about Obama. He is a caught up cry baby. Christianity? The man is for abortion and believes in justice at the expense of innocent citizens all over the world not including straight up murder of rulers of nations with resources america and u.k. want.

[lamrof]

Right on Dr West. Barack is a big disappointment to me. He turned out to be just a common power hungry ambitious, sharp mouthed swindler, who in the end like Georgy Bush turned out to be a corporate puppet.

[Spe168]

Cornel West and Tasvist Smiley are both back-biting, jealous, publicity seeking opportunists. They both provide a lot of verbal rhetoric but neither of them are 'doing' anything. Those who do not DO, only TALK. And all because they didn't invite you to the party. You are a very, very small man.

[ezekielthemack]

@Spe168 "Cornel West and Tasvist Smiley are both back-biting, jealous, publicity seeking opportunists." - and you are a delusional, misguided fool. If you had LISTENED to what Tavis and Dr West have been saying for the last 3 years, you would know that it is 100% on point. Obama has reneged on just about every facet of his campaign of 2008.He clearly has no love or backbone when it comes to standing up for poor and working people. You're obviously too dumb to see that. SMH.

[bkknight45]

WoW Dr.Cornel West went in

[honeegrrl]

If he feels this way about Obama then how did he feel about Bush Jr and Sr?

This crisis has been here for years.

[honeegrrl]

If he feels this way about Obama then how did he feel about Bush Jr and Sr?

[Jackthemeat]

Im not an African American but Dr. Cornel West is my brother.

[illuminationclub]

25 percent of OUR BLACK CHILDREN.....ARE UNEMPLOYED.....Our president had a huge opportunity to stand tall at the United Nations and Vote Yes......for Palestine......A people who have been destroyed by the Israeli's........ Our beloved Martin Luther King who be most pleased......Can you imagine how outraged Martin would be if he was witnessing this.......Wallstreet Klepto-crats should be the ones WATER BOARDED.....

[rb0975]

Try hearing this nigga speeches for free and you will find your self out side looking in. He needs Obama in office because no one will let this asshole anywhere near a mic unless he is bashung Obama. When Bush was in office they wouldn't let his ass bad mouth the prez then.

[nothinelse2seehere1]

@rb0975 yes did, why are you typing that big big big lie, wow, he told bush off more than he could ever get at obama, but dont worry u silent now, so when a white gets back in the seat, you will look like a damn fool asking for rights and respect, while u sat there 4 -8 yrs and coddled the mulattoe, dont ask another pres for nothing cuz it would be hyprocritical, every pres looks out for the ppl that put him in power, so blks voted 98% but he looks outfor the joo, so u have no power, game

[rb0975]

@nothinelse2seehere1 No you idiot I won't be looking like a damn fool, i will always be trying to find a way to better myself and my family instead of waiting for any poltician black, white, gop, or democrate to do it for me. So what we came out in numbers for the first time in prolly forever to vote. we came out just because he was black where was that 98% today November 8th? We can't expect to vote one time and the fucking world is going to change. Fuck off lil sheep!!!!!!!!!!

[rb0975]

Why would the President want to be associated with a lonney mofo like this? West always talking this poor people shit, if he cares so much start donating some of that lecture money to the poor. King was a preacher/ social activist, Obama is a politician you can't hold him to the same standards. This guy talks a good game and get some claps and amens from the audience, but he is just a mouth piece at the end of the day, with nonthing to show for it.

[lawilko]

disrespect?nobody forced you to support B.O.? u did it by your own free will.

[jermed23]

" Be a thermostat and not a thermometer..." Classic

[jigalo977]

You wanna job get ur ass up every morning and look for one. Stop dropping outta school. TRUTH

[sssssjjjj1]

roland knows every word Mr. West is saying is truth.  roland is just trying to please his jooo paymasters.....oh no....now he's really attacking Mr. West.

[firefox8192]

most negros in the US are sheeple and Dr. West speak to real men and women .However the Sheeple will never undrstand.

[munajjrochelle]

There are lots of Black Mayors, Congressman (State and Federal), and other black elected representatives. Why isn't he calling them out? If it could get him on TV I'm sure he would. What the heck does he want from the President anyways why doesn't he get off his dick?

[malikgmoney]

good job cornel west, now lets get a republican in the white house that will do something for the poor people...and this is how the repuhlican get the house back, becaus people like hem.

[jaybeeeasy]

Bottom line is West supported the brother and got spit for it how would feel about it

[RicardoLoveMedia]

Dr. West for PRESIDENT!

[Gerryby310]

Roland Martin can stick HIS asscot up his ass. !! he is a dick and Dr. west is the smartest man in that room

[TheMjgirl1]

i love dr. west, he speaks the complete truth and is not afraid to do so, unlike all the other uncle toms out there, including, Roland Maritn, Al Sharpton, and Jesse Jackson and etc. Blacks need to know and accept that Obama has used and ignored them. It is so sad how Blacks are protecting and excusing him because of his black skin, to me that is racist.

[delospr96]

Obama is White Imperialism in Black-Face. Wake up people. He is nothing more than a puppet celebrity paraded in front of us on tv. He will do everything his handlers tell him like a good boy should.

[Odysseus087]

No matter what he says, Cornel West doesn't know what it's like to be President. America is a conservative country and progress has always come slowly because of the forces that work against progress. Change will not happen overnight, but we are heading in the right direction. If we let the conservatives retake power, we will only move backwards.

[ezekielthemack]

@Odysseus087 "Change will not happen overnight, but we are heading in the right direction. " - Are you off your head??? This President has reneged on just about everything that was a staple to his campaign in 2008, which is PRECISELY the crux of Dr West's argument. Not to mention Pres. Obama has avoided the needs and issues pertaining to the black community at every juncture of his presidency thus far. That is NOT my definition of "heading in the right direction". SMH

[Odysseus087]

@ezekielthemack look, i agree that obama should use the bully pulpit more to try and educate/lecture the country. but that could also backfire if he goes too far. remember that the tea party and republicans won the last election and took back the house of reps. if obama comes out and makes a serious push for these issues, the country could turn on him, re-elect a republican president, and put us back on the wrong path. there is a much bigger picture here that you need to try and see.

[ezekielthemack]

@Odysseus087 "if obama comes out and makes a serious push for these issues, the country could turn on him," - If he's not prepared to push for these issues, then he shouldn't have run for office - end of story, which is the whole point of Dr. West's argument.

[Odysseus087]

@ezekielthemack if he had pushed, he wouldn't have gotten elected. he would have been another jesse jackson. do you think any of the other candidates would have been any better? we have a 2 party system whether you like it or not.

[profet36]

I agree with some of Dr. West's views, but I don't think he is being fair in his criticism of the President. Anybody who has been a leader can understand that compromises you have to make. Looking at the flack President Obama has taken, I even feel that I need to take a second look at other leaders I have criticized.

Public office in the United States requires one to "give". It's like a marriage. Both parties have to be willing to compromise in order to keep moving forward.

[TheNappyRN]

This slick n$gger reminds me of those brothers who convince you that you need him when you don't!! Nuff said!

[THEPOWELLREPORT]

Dr. West always keeps it Blood Raw REAL. And take note that he includes ALL races when he speaks about the blight of the nation. #PEOPLESCHAMP

[ManicRaider]

Jesus loving and free black man do not go together.

[horbergus]

@ManicRaider it's an oxymoron

[Hannibalonthejazz]

Anyone who can't feel what West is saying is brainwashed or not mentally capable enough. He's not talking "circles" or trying to sound like a "smooth talker". He's trying to make sure he's intellectually AND emotionally felt. Everything he's saying is on point, Obama has taken the Black votes for granted and a lot of Blacks won't critically look at his actions or lack thereof because of his skin tone.

[stylesd02]

Personally i respect Dr. West for his accompishments however "to me" he talks like a smooth talker trying to get over. which is a turn off.

[stylesd02]

Cornel West can talk circles all around thei issue. He and Tavis go at the President like the have a "personal" problem with him. And where does he get off with this "it's my job to correct him" like his a child. Advise maybe or even give their opinion. He gave the reason when he said that wh won't give him the time of day. Criticize his policy not the guy cause it seems he doesn't care for you.

[starkweather444]

Dr. West is right, anyone who supports this President and calls themselves a liberal is a liar. You worship a personality, and have no principles, you ruined the Party I was a member of for almost 20 years, but I left. Good luck with the reelection.

[Odysseus087]

@starkweather444 What about the responsibility of the American people? They voted in a bunch of Republicans and Tea Baggers in the last election, allowing them to retake the House of Reps. Because of that, no matter what Obama does, the House of Reps will block it. The only way things will change is if the public becomes more engaged and makes it clear that progress must be made. In our 2 party system, Obama and the Dems are our only hope right now. You better not stay home on election day.

[lostbrother1979]

It's time for Dr. West to retire. Clearly, he has nothing else to really offer us except motivational speeches.

[mcinmiltwn]

Most can't be this truthful.

[campcarlita]

Dr. West speaks the truth!