Who Cares About Harry Belafonte?
22 January 2006 4:22 pm by Taylor Marsh
Who Cares About Harry Belafonte?
In light of the still-burning Chris Matthews
scandal, I watched Sunday's political shows with keener interest than usual.
And something very strange happened on Meet The Press. I'm wondering what Huffington
Post readers make of it: Tim Russert asked Senator Barack Obama to respond to
Harry Belafonte's remarks about George W. Bush being a \”terrorist.\”
My question is, why? Why did Russert ask Obama in particular about the statements
of someone who isn't an elected official, who doesn't speak for Democrats, who
doesn't represent Obama, who doesn't represent the Democratic Party, who is
entitled to his own opinion. Why? Imagine how the Sunday shows would go if Republicans
were asked to explain the vicious rantings of random rightwing figures.
Why
Did Russert Ask Obama About Harry Belafonte?
Peter Daou asked a very good question.
Seriously, who cares, and why should a serious anchorman of \”Meet
the Press\” ask this question?
Mr. Belafonte is an artist, an activist, but more importantly,
a private citizen. Why is his opinion something that Mr. Russert should not
only single out, but ask Barack Obama what he thinks about it, as if Mr. Belafonte
is speaking for the Democratic Party so we must weigh in on what his statement
means?
Obviously, Russert was asking Senator Obama because he is black,
what he thought of another black man's views.
Again, I ask you, who cares? Not me.
