American Morning
We Listen – Your Comments 7/30/09
Editor's Note: Thursday’s American Morning audience scolded those texing while driving, and praised CNN for the coverage, remarking “your report will help save lives.” However, most recognized the difficulty faced by police to enforce such laws and believed greater access to cell phone records would allow more convictions. Others suggested a complete ban on cell phones and texting.
- Anonymous in FL: I admit that I have texted while driving many times. NOW, after seeing your thorough reports on the subject, I have a new view on the sensibility of this dangerous practice. From now on, NO MORE TEXTING while driving. Thanks CNN...your report will save lives!
- Millie: Last week, my car was almost hit twice by persons driving while talking on a cell phone. Each time the driver came out of a side street and wasn't looking at oncoming traffic on the main street. Came within inches of a wreck each time. I favor a ban in cell phone usage and texting while driving.
- Orland: There are a lot of accidents caused by cell phone usage, but in some states the police can't access that info from companies to prove that was the cause. The laws need to be changed.
- Lorene: Sure, create national legislation to ban texting. Hands on cell phone use is illegal already here in NJ. Ask me how many times I see people doing it. And, ask me how many times I've had someone on a phone do something that makes it clear they are oblivious to my or any other driver's presence. These laws are not enforced. But, then, neither are the laws about stopping at stop signs – what I would bet is the single most cause of local automobile collisions. Moreover, there is a culture of aggressive driving all over this country that was once reserved for NYC hacks. We need to examine our behavior behind the wheel in general.
- Rick: Texting while driving. That's just idiotic and should not require taxpayer expense to make laws on it. Surely existing impaired or dangerous driving etc laws are sufficient! Only thing we can hope, is that the criminals who do it, only wipe themselves out before they procreate and protect the gene pool.
What do you think should be done about those found texting while driving? Have you ever done this? Does the CNN report change your thinking and understanding of the dangers of texting while driving? What do you think about the law enforcement issue? Are there better ways to solve this problem than simply adding news laws (that are already difficult to enforce) on the books?
The Gates/Crowley debate continued, as a new policeman from Boston was introduced into the fray. Officer Justin Barrett’s email containing racial slurs was exposed, and most did not accept nor believe his apology. His lawyer’s remarks were also deemed “ridiculous” by most.
- JM: As a Hispanic Police Officer in Massachusetts, I myself came across situations like this involving Hispanics and African Americans. We all know that professor Gates jumped the gun and created this mess. As Police Officers we experience racism daily and is usually from minorities. I am disappointed that the Police Sergeant gave in and decided to have a beer with Mr. Gates who is clearly a liar and with a president that chose side based on race rather than on facts. I am sick and tired of these so called black leaders creating huge deals out of nothing or I should say, out of lies. If that was me, I would send a clear message to the president. No Thanks Mr. President. People in this country need to stop the nonsense and address the real problems. One of those problems is not black profiling but Police profiling.
- Al: whalen never said the two men were black, read it and weep, Crowley LIED
- Bernadette: As the wife of a retired law enforcement officer I would say the following about Sgt. Crowley's police written report. First and foremost the caller on the 911 tape never mentioned two black males. Sgt. Crowley inserted 'two black males' into his official report. Sgt. Crowley has in effect falsified an official document. Sgt. Crowley was trained in the use of his daily log as this log is often used in judicial proceedings.
- Vicky: Pres. Obama was absolutely correct, Cambridge Police DID act stupidly; instead of de-escalating, they escalated the situation and jailed the poor man who had just returned home after a very long and tiring trip from China. After finding out Prof. Gates was the resident of the house they should have apologized for the misunderstanding and left. That's what they would have done had Prof. Gates been white. I am white but am sure of that. Then to top it of, in that "oh, we are hurt" news conference, they paraded their few black officers who had no choice but to support the department, otherwise their future would not be very comfortable.
Gates and Barrett
- Felecia: In making a racial stereotypical comment referring to Professor Henry Gates Jr. as a "jungle monkey", Boston police officer Justin Barrett's token "I'm not a racist...I have black friends" type comment is a clear indicator that if this man indeed believes himself to be tolerant of all people.... he is the deer in headlights exemplifying to the letter what is at the core of our country's unhealed race relations. How on earth do we begin to create teachable moments to combat that kind of ignorance? As for Mr. Barrett's attorney's attempt to dissect abhorrent racial stereotypes to mean something benign and harmless...what a perfect moron. Give me a break...
- Clarence: technical correction: American Morning has said several times that Marrano, an attorney, claims his client didn't call Gates a "jungle monkey." What Marrano, an attorney, said, according to your clip, was "... didn't call him a jungle monkey, (pause) to malign him racially." Technically Marrano did not deny his client called Gates a "jungle monkey." Obviously the attorney was trying to *suggest* a denial, but he literally, technically, did not make a denial.
Should Sergeant Crowley be disciplined for lying on his police report? How do you feel about the Hispanic officer who believes that “Police Profiling” is the real issue here? Did the 911 transcripts exonerate Professor Gates for his behavior? With Officer Barrett’s email containing a racial slur generating even more furor around this issue, is it time for the Boston Police Department to take a closer look at their racial sensitivity training?
Confusion and questions surrounding health care plagued many, who were searching for answers to their individual concerns. Some wondered if the new bill would cover illegal aliens, and others expressed anger at the insurance companies with their “for-profit” motive of operation.
- Jo (RN): Two things not being mentioned in health care discussions: 1) insurance companies are in the business of making money. 2) our health care is NOT decided between Dr. and patient. (Unless the people on the hill have that option with their insurance). It is monitored, and, decided by the insurance companies. If they do not think a procedure or medication is appropriate, you do not get it. The insurance system as it now stands, is burdensome to drs and is not in the patient's best interest. It is in the interest of insurance companies their stock holders and their profit margins. I would rather have an option of a Medicare type system offered to the public. True, there are problems with Medicare, abuse of the system, and the continuing decrease in payments to drs. Those are things that can be changed. I feel strongly that profits do not belong in health care coverage for patients. I believe health care costs can be controlled without sacrificing patient care. Perhaps if the insurance industry would cut out the expense of lobbyists, more dollars could be appropriated for health care.
- Diane: I believe that most of the taxes proposed for healthcare will be used to cover people here illegally. While they should be able to get medical attention, It seems fair that they should also be required to come up with some kind of co-pay when treated. Why shouldn't they be required to pay $30 or even $50 to pay for their own medical attention?
As the debate rages around health care, what is your greatest concern that has not been addressed, either by Congress or by President Obama? Do you believe that illegal aliens should be covered under this program? How do you feel about the “for-profit” insurance companies and what part they play in health care?
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Yes, the health plan should cover anyone who lives and works in America. Especially it should cover children. This is the way of Christ and will show that we are a nation that respects God's rules which are Love God. Love Others. Love Yourself. Heal the sick. Raise the dead. Feed the hungry. Give the cold a blanked.
I generally do not believe in for profit companies being in charge of any type of human service delivery. That includes hospitals, schools, and prisons. The reason is because they are FOR PROFIT. The name tells the story. They exist to make money. Service is provided in order to make money, not because it is the right thing to do.
If for profit companies have to be involved in health care they should be closely regulated and monitored by the government with high minimum standards for care, close monitoring, and controls on their profits, particularly on the pay of high level administrators, while ensuring that all employees make a living wage with benefits and few if any services are contracted out to avoid paying those wages. This is particularly important with the low level direct care, food service and housekeeping employees because they have the greatest impact on patient care and are the most vulnerable to having unemployment severely impact their lives.
We have already seen what happens when for-profits run charter schools. They take their share off the top. They avoid taking special needs students, hire uncertified teachers and pay them poorly while overworking them, fire them if they tell the non-educator administrators how to do their job according to the law, refuse to follow state and federal regulations for special education, especially in terms of staffing and class size, and hire adminstrators who are not educators and who make stupid mistakes such as putting two rival schools of low achieiving, overage, middle school students together in the cafeteria (Prescott Middle, Baton Rouge Louisiana).
We have also seen what insurance companies that are allowed to run health care do. They will not cover pre-existing conditions or insure anyone who is likely to get sick. They only want clients who are going to give them a large premium every month and rarely or never use their insurance.
Health care should be run by "service first" human service agencies dedicated to the well being of the people who use them. If they break even that is great. If they make money, it should be plowed back into the program to improve it.
Does anyone ever talk about the type of bullying that goes on called mobbing and gangstalking? Why is it we never hear this discussed anywhere when there is so much about it on the internet. What is everybody afraid of? Why is this never talked about?
How can we have racial equality when our own president said he wants to have preferences??? for the minorities??? If he creates 125,000 jobs, and gives them ALL to minorities, there is no way to fix the problem! Is there really?? He is already abolishing racial equality in the United States!!!
Texting and talking on the phone while driving, unless in an emergency is both ill advised and reckless. Unfortunately, there is little latitude for law enforcement to enforce this law, unless it is observed by them or until a tragic accident occurs and phone records are obtained. At this juncture, I suggest that we all take a stance, as motorist and report drivers that we observe, texting, reading the morning papers or applying makeup, etc.,to authorities. At some point in time, we need to be more responsible as motorist and citizens. By doing so, we can possibly play a part in "saving lives" and perhaps our own.
Stop worrrying about undocumented workers getting health care. That is just another eupheumism for racism. Without the Mexicans the coast would not have ben cleaned up after Hurricane Katrina. We are our brothers' keeper. People call this a Christian nation but conservatives who call themselves Christians treat our neighbors like trash. We can pay for health care if we put the taxes in the right places: on people who make over $250,000 a year, large businesses with big profits (oil and insurance companies) alcohol and cigarettes. Also legalizing marijuana and selling it in liquor stores would help also. It would also help if we quit wasting money on border fences and catching undocumented workers. The legalization of marijuana would mean a lower budget for the DEA and we could let the dealers out of jail and reduce prison costs.
WHERE ARE CNN'S PRIORITIES? WE MIGHT AS WELL BE WATCHING FOX NEWS FOR ALL THE ONE SIDED DISCUSSIONS RUNNING DOWN THE OBAMA HEALTH CARE PLANS. ALL WE SEE FEATURED ON YOUR CHANNEL ARE THE SAME RETRO GOP TALKING HEADS DENIGRATING ANY OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE PRESIDENT AND DEMS HAVE TRIED TO PUT FORTH. WHY ARE YOU DEFENDING THE CORRUPT INSURANCE COMPANIES? WE WATCHED SOME NUT TODAY PUTTING FORTH THE RIDICULOUS IDEA THAT THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WILL DIE IF THIS PLAN GOES FORTH. THERE WAS NO ONE THERE TO REFUTE HIM. ALSO YESTERDAY ANOTHER OF YOUR GOP HACKS, BILL BENNETT WAS ON DENIGRATING THE PLAN, NO SURPRISE OF COURSE, COMING FROM HIM. WE WAITED TO SEE WHO WOULD BE THERE TO TAKE THE OTHER SIDE,, BUT NO... HE WAS OUT THERE ALONE, NO ONE TO TAKE THE OTHER SIDE. THESE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE AND ARGUMENTS THAT APPEAR ALL THE TIME ON FOX NEWS. WE THOUGHT THERE WOULD AT LEAST BE MORE FAIRNESS ON CNN. THERE IS WAY TOO MUCH MISINFORMATION OUT THERE, AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE RUNNING WITH IT. LETS SEE AND HEAR MORE POSITIVE ARGUMENTS ON CNN THAT AT LEAST TRY TO BALANCE THE HEALTH CARE ARGUMENTS.
This is at least the third time since the inauguration that our black leaders have been attached to something to do with monkeys. There was even a slur about Michelle. Now Professor Gates.
Before the election the politco/religionist's Values Voters summit had their Obama Waffles and he was presented with primate like features. Even before that there was a bar in Cobb County Georgia (home of Newt Gingrich, main speaker of the Value Voters group) that had t-shirts with Obama as Curious George. Maybe white Republican conservatives should be portrayed as rodent-like.
Racism has just been popping right on out lately. Perhaps that is a good thing because you cannot resolve a problem until you admit that you have one. But it needs to be handled so that the responsibility falls on blacks as well as white for the stereotypes and slurs. We are past the age of "white privilege" and don't need to deal with that again. Black people are just as prejudiced as whites and seem to take particular delight in stereotyping Asians and Hispanics. Racial equality is the law, but until the hearts of humankind are changed, values of inclusiveness taught in the schools, and reinforcement provided for colorblindness, racism will always be just under the surface.
We will not because Gates has a documentary/book that he is in the process of writing, according to the news! Now do you see why the country had to put up with this childish behavior??? $$$$$$$$ Nothing more than $$$$$$$$.
My question is "Why did this new proposed law stop at texting"? There are certain states that don't allow cell phone talking unless it's a hands free device and I believe there wasn't enough work done on this from our lawmakers.
States rights VS Federal Government. If states rights prevailed we would still have slavery or at least Jim Crow. If states rights prevailed over federal we would have 50 little countries. We send the best and most intelligent of our politicians to Washington to make the laws that have the most impact. States rights was the call of George Wallace.
The American Taxpayer can NOT pay for everyone's health care.
45 Million Illegals X s what ever the cost and that number doesn't
count the daily use of our ERs by illegals along the Border.
I am a handicap senior and ever day I see Mexico plates taking up
the handicap parking spaces.
If this health Bill is so good, why isn't the Congress manidated
to be covered by it??
As it relates to Officer Barrett, his reference to Gates being a Jungle Monkey were obviously way out of line and an insult to African American's all over this great country. Not only were they insulting, reading them and seeing them on television were frankly hurtful! America has to make racial harmony a priority!
this racist garbage because thats what it is.
i hear race race race , black race white race hispanic race.
when are we going to loose this kinderkarten school attitude and childish bickering, and stop when is someone going to say we are all part of one race the most important race the human race.
yea we are all humans does everyone hear that HUMANS.