wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] Peter from Sunset Park September 30, 2009 - 08:12AM

  In 2003, Tavis Smiley asked Cornel West about gay marriage on NPR.

  Source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1530602

  Mr. West painted those who oppose gay marriage as being conservatives and those who support gay marriage as respecting humanity. At the end of the conversation, Mr. West stated that he supports gay marriage. Does Mr. West think that President Obama is a conservative and that President Obama is disrespecting gays and lesbians?

  The claim was (and probably is still) made by some that god approves of slavery. President Obama and Vice President Biden have publicly said that gay marriage is wrong because it goes against god. Does Mr. West have any concerns that President Obama is using the same argument to oppose gay marriage that folks used to oppose equal rights for African Americans?

  
  
• [2] Patrick Wynne from Bronx September 30, 2009 - 09:52AM

  I'm interested in Professor West's thoughts on democratic socialism. What is his opinion of Michael Harrington and the prospects for building a left political structure in this country?

  Thanks

  
  
• [3] hjs from 11211 September 30, 2009 - 10:27AM

  obama silence on gay marriage is shameful, but I guess he has a lot on his plate right now, what with the olympics and everything else.

  but gay marriage is a states issue as they control marriage laws. state governments will change those laws when the progressives do the hard work of getting true progressives elected. if you want to say it's a human rights issue then it's the supreme court's role to change the state laws when they violate the constitution.

  
  
• [4] Peter from Sunset Park September 30, 2009 - 10:39AM

  hjs,

  Gay marriage is an issue for all law - national, state and local. If a state, any state, were to pass laws allowing slavery or the stoning of women, that would quickly become a national issue and handled under national law. Calling gay marriage a states issue is just a way for you to let President Obama off the hook for having bigoted policy.

  I will add hjs that President Obama is far from silent on the issue of gay marriage. Obama has said time and time again that marriage is between a man and a woman. People then erupt with clapping and Obama is rewarded for being bigoted and for disrespecting the human rights of gays and lesbians. As you said, shameful.

  
  
• [5] antonio from park slope September 30, 2009 - 10:39AM

  Brother Brian,

  I heard brother West talking to sister Goodman on democracy now how he was disappointed with President Obama on appointing Larry Summers to a post in the administration..

  Does he think that Obama did that to show some legitimacy? And does he think that he'll bring in some real progressive brothers and sisters if he has a second term.. i.e. Samantha Power, Paul Krugman etc..

  
  
• [6] mozo from nyc September 30, 2009 - 10:53AM

  This guy is postmodern clown shoes.

  
  
• [7] s from bklyn September 30, 2009 - 10:56AM

  seriously uninteresting interview.

  
  
• [8] Adelia from Harlem, NYC September 30, 2009 - 10:56AM

  Will Mr. West ever have a radio show of his own? I would be an avid listener!

  
  
• [9] john from office September 30, 2009 - 10:56AM

  What a pompous pseudo intellectual. If he were white he would not be on this show. Brian of course is blinded by awe of his intellect.

  
  
• [10] Susan from Kingston September 30, 2009 - 10:56AM

  This is one of the most uninteresting interviews that I have ever heard on the radio.

  
  
• [11] Rory from Brooklyn September 30, 2009 - 10:57AM

  I can't understand how a guy with his level of erudition can be a religious believer.

  
  
• [12] James from Brooklyn September 30, 2009 - 10:57AM

  Could you ask Dr. West if he has a musical practice - plays an instrument or sings - besides talking and dancing (those are enough, of course)?

  
  
• [13] john from office September 30, 2009 - 10:58AM

  Brian does he have to rhyme

  
  
• [14] Hugh Sansom from Brooklyn NY September 30, 2009 - 10:58AM

  Has West considered going to a university that does NOT cater the wealthiest Wall St brats?

  
  
• [15] lucy from brooklyn, ny September 30, 2009 - 10:58AM

  well said on Obama!

  
  
• [16] john from office September 30, 2009 - 10:58AM

  what a pompous man

  
  
• [17] Gary from UWS September 30, 2009 - 10:59AM

  Does Brother West care about rich WASPs on the UES too?

  
  
• [18] Chriss from NJ September 30, 2009 - 11:00AM

  The best is hearing Brian say, "WOW," after one of Brother West's riffs...

  He gave us 3 "WOW's" in 12 mins.

  A new record.

  
  
• [19] merrill from NYC September 30, 2009 - 11:01AM

  two days of guests calling BL "brother brian."

  
  
• [20] Karen OT10 from Westchester Cnty September 30, 2009 - 11:02AM

  Ludwig Wittgenstein was not a contemporary of Johannes Brahms or Gustav Mahler - they were at the end of their lives when he was a child. He and his brother had three siblings who committed suicide - what a Vienna - their father made his wealth by coming to America and copying our capitalist ways, bringing them to Vienna. Vienna was the high point of neurosis in the 1800's, the breeding ground of genius and had nothing in common with the African American experience politically, socially or culturally.

  
  
• [21] john from office September 30, 2009 - 11:02AM

  The wows are the problem

  
  
• [22] hjs from 11211 September 30, 2009 - 11:03AM

  peter 4

  you're right he has not been 'silent '

  i should have said "obama's STAND on gay marriage is shameful"

  
  
• [23] Mike C. from Downtown Manhattan September 30, 2009 - 11:12AM

  Well, that was fun!

  
  
• [24] Tara from New York, NY September 30, 2009 - 01:16PM

  Can we please stop with the "my brother" BS? It sounds so phony and contrived.

  
  
• [25] Stashun from Bed Stuy October 01, 2009 - 02:29PM

  cornell jest...

  
  
• [26] perri from Brooklyn October 03, 2009 - 08:39PM

  Wow. Dr. West chose to read Wittgenstein over going to an Al Green concert? Now that's knee-deep.