American Morning
'R word' politics stir up controversy
By Carol Costello and Bob Ruff
What’s in a word? Groups who suffer discrimination see certain words as powerful cultural weapons used by those determined to keep them in their place.
Suffragettes at the turn of the century, civil rights demonstrators in the 1950s and 1960s, and gay rights activists at the turn of the century all understood that educating Americans about the hate and discrimination embedded in certain words was an important step toward claiming their rights under the Constitution.
The targets of the “B” word, the “N” word, and the “Q” word see them as barriers to equality. Now there is the “R” word. It stands for “retarded.”
Most recently, the president’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, was criticized for using the “R” word when describing liberal Democrats. The resulting firestorm of criticism led to a meeting last week at the White House between Emmanuel and Special Olympics. The Special Olympics’ goal is to bring “dignity, acceptance and a chance to reach one’s potential” through athletics to people with intellectual disabilities. It was founded by President Kennedy’s sister, the late Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
Her son, Anthony Shriver, is the founder of Best Buddies, a nonprofit group that strives to create opportunities for “people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
We Listen – Your Comments 2/5/2010
Editor's Note: With the first ever Tea Party Convention happening in Nashville, Friday’s American Morning audience grew weary of the discussion. A majority questioned why this “fringe” movement warranted so much attention, while a minority admonished CNN for “diminishing” the Tea Party by focusing on the extreme elements in the group.
- Dave: Seems to me CNN is making a big deal out of the tea party Klan. The fact that they're supposed news is beyond comprehension. They're like Palin, way over the top and extremely right winged. Enough already. In addition, The Democrats are the majority, could CNN interview them instead of parading out those really negative republicans.
- David: "Massive political movement"? You're wasting valuable air time on 600 people at a Tea Party convention? Or 100 people on a Virgin Island cruise? Why don't you back up that camera and show that those meeting rooms are small and mostly empty? There are so many important things going on in the world. There are protests where thousands of people march on Washington and state capitals and it doesn't get mentioned on CNN? You just wasted 10 minutes that could be used to report something newsworthy! Stop. Report the news. And stop this ridiculous catty anchor commentary that dominates the AM news on CNN. That N in CNN used to stand for "news'.
- Maj: CNN is devoting an enormous amount of air time to the Tea Party but they are still a small movement and the airtime makes them appear large...there are Muslim movements in the US larger than the Tea Party...there are gay and lesbian movements larger than the Tea Party etc...let's put this all into perspective please...
- Jan: Our options for morning news is either Morning Joe, MSNBC or CNN....both programs cater to giving air time to NON NEWS segments about the bottom 10% of the un-educated (Tea-Party) or clips of Republican SOUND BITES. Why not actually HELP the people who are truly trying to clean up the mess left by Bush and Co. and MOVE FORWARD? I don't care what the likes of Sara Palin has to say...she has no place on the "news". I'm so disgusted!
- Charlie: I'm curious under which national flag the tea party cruise ships fly under? Many of these cruise companies fly under foreign flags to avoid paying U.S. wages and taxes. Is it right to organize a cruise to "save the USA," while supporting sub standard wages on the very people floating them across the Caribbean waters?
- Ed: Your coverage of the Teaparty convention could not have been more biased. Was very critical without the slightest bit of perception of their stance. Your position is one reason for this new movement.
- Rebecca: I think you're trying to diminish the message of the Tea Party movement by highlighting the more extreme fringe of the group. Even while questioning Rand Paul you seemed more interested in the controversy than the message. Also, in reference to the Pam Tebow ad, why not focus on how the "women's rights" advocates went crazy when word of the ad got out. Why are they so afraid? Instead you showed a more positive comment from a "rights" advocate after she realized the going crazy approach wasn't working. By the way, where were these women’s rights groups when Sarah Palin and her daughter were being destroyed by the media? They're not for women's rights, their for their own left agenda.
How do you feel about the Tea Party movement? Continue the conversation here.
Welcome to the Tea Party: Rand Paul follows in father's footsteps
The first-ever national Tea Party Convention is under way in Nashville. Here at CNN, we're shining a spotlight on the grass-roots political movement that wants its voice heard in Washington.
One person in particular not only embraces tea partiers' anger – he was born from it.
For the final part of our series "Welcome to the Tea Party," we spoke to Kentucky Dr. Rand Paul, son of former presidential candidate and Texas Congressman Ron Paul.
'Til football do us part
We've heard many stories about how sports rivalries test family loyalties. But never one quite like this.
He is a chef from New Orleans, but a Colts fan at heart. And she is a die-hard Saints fan, from Indianapolis. It's gotten so bad that the couple has divided their restaurant – "War of the Roses" style – right down the middle.
Deb and Carter Hutchinson joined us on Friday's American Morning, live from Mooresville, Indiana.
Jobless rate falls more than expected
There is a little bit of good news today. The Labor Department released its January jobs report, saying the unemployment rate dropped to 9.7%.
To break down the numbers, we were joined on Friday's American Morning by Lackshman Achuthan, economic analyst and managing director of the Economic Cycle Research Institute; and Jill Schlesinger, editor at large at CBS Moneywatch.com.
CNNMoney: Job losses continue but rate falls
New Orleans backing its Saints
There is no dampening spirits of New Orleans fans. They are gearing up for their first-ever Super Bowl Sunday.
Everyone is in a festive mood, even in some of the neighborhoods that were so depressed after Hurricane Katrina. Our John Zarrella brings us the sights and sounds from The Big Easy.
Read more: Saints inspire revived New Orleans
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