Swine flu remained top of the mind for most American Morning viewers. Many were wondering “at what point would the border with Mexico be closed” due to the pandemic, while uninsured viewers were concerned about access to healthcare in the event they contract the virus.
- Richard: Realistically at what point would the border with Mexico be closed if the U.S. won't close it during a Pandemic that can potentially kill a lot of Americans?
- Unknown: There are a mess of individuals who are concerned about the H1N1 Flu not only due to its potential fatality, but really because we are uninsured. For instance, I am a grad student, cannot afford health insurance, and am very poor. Will the US allow the flu to spread simply because poor individuals do not have the money to seek treatment? What are people like me to do if we suspect contamination? Is there protection for us to (and believe me, I'm washing my hands like never before).
- Edna: Will the governments provide Tamiflu to people who can't afford it? Why don't we just close all U.S. schools for the summer give the kids an extra month of summer break and help stop the spread of the virus?
Should President Obama close the borders to prevent further spread of the H1N1 Flu? Do you believe that such an action would help stop spread of the virus? How would such an action affect you and your family?
With President Obama’s First 100 days behind him, response to Republicans’ grading of Mr. Obama was negatively received. Others were angry that Mr. Obama continued to place budget blame on former President G.W. Bush.
- Isieis: The C- rating given by the GOP did not surprise me, but the B- rating given by the American people did surprise me. No doubt, negative media influence over the last 100 days was a factor. CNN’s guests and so-called experts who give their opinion or assessment have definitely influenced Americans, but it does not mean that they are RIGHT about President Obama and his Administration. I gave President Obama an 'A.’ The reason: I took into consideration his SINCERITY, his GENUINESS, and his WILLINGNESS to accept blame. No other President in history has had so much on his plate coming into office. The GOP has no right to even criticize him based on their performance over the last 8 years during the Bush Administration.
- Gina: Obama was in Senate since 2006; sorry but, it was a DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS & SENATE that FORMED this Budget. This idiotic conclusion is OBAMA’s; he voted for it when he was still a Senator! We are not stupid! It is Pelosi that is stupid!
Do you believe, as viewer one states that media influence is to blame for President Obama’s B- rating by the American public? Is President Obama incorrect in placing blame on former President G.W. Bush for the budget crisis? Give us your thoughts on these issues.
Controversy over the torture memos heated up, as discussion moved to where blame should be placed. Many believed the soldiers and camp commander should be held responsible because they should not obey “illegal” orders.
- P: Those memos released about the interrogation techniques do not exonerate the Abu Ghraib soldiers or the camp commander. The memos exonerate interrogators. Those guards were supposed to be just that. They are not trained as interrogators and even though they may have seen interrogators do similar things, or may have even been instructed to do so under certain circumstances, they were acting on their own accord, and outside of the scope of their orders, and are therefore responsible for their actions.
- Julie: Regarding the torture interview with Colonel – During basic training, soldiers are informed that they should NOT obey illegal orders. Every person in the military and up the chain of command is aware of the Geneva Conventions, which is a treaty we signed. So, there should be no question of the wrongness of what was done at Abu Ghraib. Yet the Colonel claims that the soldiers should be exonerated for torturing. This does not make sense to me. What should happen is the MORE people need to be punished for their crimes....I would have liked the interview to include this information and ask why, if the Colonel believes orders were given, that the soldiers shouldn't be punished for obeying them-since they were illegal. Thank you.
Where should blame be placed, in the former Bush Administration, for approving the torture, or in the ranks of those who carried out the interrogations and guarded the prisoners? How do we as a society address such issues going forward?