ASK ROLAND ANYTHING
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Roland Martin goes on-air each Sunday on Washington Watch, but he’s online every day so send him questions about whatever it is you want to know. Want to discuss politics? President Obama? Race? Here’s the place to do it and don’t be surprised if your comment ends up ON-AIR.
Fill out the comment section below to leave your thoughts. And don’t forget to let us know where your from (city/state).
I would like see President Obama to show some back bone. He should be passed his honeymoon period. I do expect him to now lead. Stop playing mr.nice guy. Your charge is to now clean up the mess that was passed on to you. It is amazing to me that people have forgotten what has happened in the last 8 years. All do respect Mr. President now is the time to stop playing president and to be the president that I had a part in electing. There is alot of waiste in govement programs, one example section eight is a joke, over-sight is lacking. Section doesn’t checks on it clients one a year for renewal of a housing contact or if there is a reported problem. I see you women that are on section 8, move in boy friends, children may on live with them at the time of yearly inspection. Food Stamps another issue. People are choosing to be poor, because the systems haven’t placed a time limit of services. The new poor are people like me that believed working and being honest was the way to retirement. Eight years of bad choices, took a toll on economy. Okla
Roland first of all let me tell you I like the way you stand up for our people, it is a blessing to see a black man a man of God. now for my comment, I listened when you spoke about your parents anniversary, well my husband & I have been married for 50 years on Sept.23, we eloped when I was 17 & have had a wonderful & blessed marriage, it has not always been smooth but 99% of the time it has been, & the best part of it is we are still in love with each other & love being together. Our 4 children gave us a beautiful anniversary renewal cermony & reception,God blessed us with 4 children,8 grandchildren & 2 great grand children. I wished we would have known about the marriage summit because I know we can help couples see how & why the should stay together. Thanks Roland & God bless you and those you love.
Carol Gilmore
Thanks for your perspective on the need for stronger marriages in our communities. Our children deserve two loving parents raising them. When we have strong loving families we’ll have stronger communities. – That’s my perspective!
Hello Roland, I caught you on the Rickey Smiley Show and plus I had been following CNN during the campaign. I love Foriegn affairs. Your comments on Afghanistan and the Middle East made me hungry. I was wondering if you had any publication out on the subject. Any publication ok ? Thank You for all that you do.
Roland, Would You Please Stop Cursing on TVONE? You donot do that on CNN, so don’t do it here.
Like I tell my students, there are millions of words in the English Language, so use them please.
It is okay to be intelligent, dignified and Black. That is our heritage.
Hello Roland, I wanted to comment on your segment today on marriage. Being a single mother, I find that some want to blame the plight of gangs etc. on single mothers, which is simply biased. Marriage is nearly dead in the black community not because of the woman as suggested in your show today but partly because black men are not interested in marriage mostly anymore let alone date exclusively. I recently heard on a radio show (Ballantyne) that many (black) men don’t want to get married for fear of child support when the marriage ends; this to me just plain spells irresponsible. I think black women should be commended for being the strong women they are instead of as the congressional representative eluded to today as “.. give me health care, give me food stamps, give me a job…” I mean come on. that is so unfair; the game has changed and black men are no longer engaged. Why don’t you focus on the irresponsibility of the men in our communities instead of tearing down the black female. I am sure the rep’s constituents are some single black women in DC too. I hope she knows that. Also the 39.6 figure also includes not just “never married” women but divorced women and widowed women; a lot of black men ARE IN PRISON TOO! so where is the outrage of them leaving their children to go to jail leaving these, for lack of a better word, bad black single mothers alone to do the best they can. I just feel that in the black community, the idea of marriage is no longer the norm but the abnormal mindset of black men, which is sad. And let me tell you that because of attitudes like this and the bias of some towards single mothers as seemingly held by your guest today, I, for one, do not intend to have another child period but I can tell you this I will not marry a man who will make my life miserable.
I’m really glad you have your own show. I’m pleased to see tvone step up to give our perspective on things.I say if you have to curse frm time to time say what you feel. I get so sick of people trying to be so “politically correct” that nothing gets said and nothing gets done.We have some very serious issues going on out here. People tell me I should be a politican, I tell them im to honest and would have to cuss someone out every now and then. I also feel as far as cnn and msnbc who have round the clock news. They have only a handful of shows that are really worth watching. In this day and age people need a reality check, Until we address poverty with some real solutions we will continue to see crime destroy our nieghborhoods and act as an assembly line to the prison system. Do what you do, Roland. We must take back or gain control of the political and economical power we do ignorantly give away.
Hello Mr. Martin,
I am just wondering if anyone is talking about the rise of HIV in the african american population in Washington,DC? I went to a conference in Savannah, GA organized by Morehouse Medical School and I found out that one out of every 25 African Americans in DC is HIV positive.
Thanks for listening.
Roland
Can your show provide:
Much more Tara Wall (smart and well spoken) and much less or NO April (Urban radio). April is loud and rude and does not know what she is talking about.
Clarence is good
Hello roland and how are you my brother. I appreciate Ms. Tara Wall on her show. She is very intelligent, well spoken and beautiful to say the least. It is good to see and hear a conserative black women explain her position in a positive and understanding way. As for Mr. Obama, he should have not been awarded The Nobel Peace Prize. He has not done enough to warrant it. In my estimation of Pres. Obama, he has to have a backbone & have some true grit. He is weak and feminized. It is sad to see that in a black man. I hope you much sucess brother roland with this show and please have Tara Wall back on the show as well other sisters who are intelligent. As for the brothers bring on some who are not feminized. I would recommend checking out this brothers website http://www.johnecoleman.org This man knows how to deal with the African-American male.
Roland the show is excellent!I’ve been in your corner since your WVON show. Keep up the good work, and keep both ladies on as much as possible.
Roland,
Thank You for a great show! I love it!It is very informative and thought provoking. I wanted to make a comment regarding Gay people and their HEALTH CONCERNS. I think they should have rights only because they are human beings. I don’t think they should have rights because they are GAY. No one should have rights because of their SEXUAL PREFERENCES!
The debate over illegal immigration shows a fundamental misunderstanding of what’s at stake: The nation itself!…..A few fundamental principles define a nation (1)existence of government, which is there to define and execute law (2)culture…the glue that holds a nation together is its common language, culture and ideals!…..Without common values, the political and moral fiber of a nation frays!……(3) but first in importance is the establishment of borders!…..We identify a country on a map by where its borders lie!…..The truth is the main reason illegal immigration hasn’t been curbed is that the government doesn’t respect its own laws enough to enforce them!…..President Roosevelt said: “Either a man is an American and nothng else, or he is not an American at all!……President Adams said:”Cast off the European skin, never to resume it!…..How do we let a another culture come into our country and just take over?……I ride down the streets of my town and see Mexican flags outside of businesses and plus the businesses are all in are all in Spanish!…..We worry about the war, health care, s.s., etc. and about our children not having the future of America!……But look around…..The war on America is in America with another culture eating it up and nobody is doing a damn thing!
I watched you throughout the Presidential campaign and you were wonderful. Congratulations on your new show. Please do a feature on New York State Governor David A. Paterson. He is a powerful role model for many people. He has a difficult job particularly during very trying economic times and he gets negative media coverage. I believe that the media coverage is biased with clear racial stereotyping and bias related to his disability (blindness). Governor Paterson’s life story is compelling and he is brilliant. Thank you.
Roland: I appreciate your program and your interest in looking at issues often ignored by some other cable channels, and when covered by others are done so with bias. I would like to see more discussion about immigration issues and, in particular, the contributions of non-European immigrants to the United States. Congresswoman Yvette Clarke touched briefly on this but there was not enough time to get into details. She mentioned the diversity of her constituents as heavily Caribbean/West Indian. Like you, I was at the Congressional Black Caucus 2009 Dinner/Awards. Interesetingly, four of the awardees had Caribbean roots – what I term, recent immigrants roots. That is a testament to contributions of non-European immigrants, in these cases of the African/Caribbean Diaspora, but is just a small example.
Roland, your show is great. I appreciate TVOne for giving you this great opportunity. I wish your show would air on Sunday morning in same time slot as This Week, CNN, and David Gregory’s show. It’s refreshing to get political, social, and economic points of views from people of color-who also contribute greatly to our society and who makes a difference. We need more of this type diversity shown to the American people. Too bad, CNN couldn’t use you in this way.
Thanks for bringing the spotlight to Senator Burris-a brilliant, intelligent politician. His short explanation on the public option was so simple and understandable. Too bad mainstream political media only wants to showcase Mr. Burris if it’s negativity involved. He definitely has something to say on the subject of politics.
I love this show. I used to be a Sunday morning news show junkie but stopped when they became less about news and more about being controversial. Deborah Mathis is fantastic. Thank you so much for this program.
I loved the show as usual today. Senator Roland Burris was awesome and I love how strongly he feels about his job and his beliefs. I’m glad that he chose to focus on the issues and the impact his votes can have as a Senator instead of spending his last months in office campaigning and raising money. I think he made a very wise choice. The panel was very interesting and informative as well. As to the hip-hop representative, I would have preferred to hear from Common, Kanye, Nas, Professor Griff or KRS-1 instead of Ludacris, but he wasn’t bad. Some of his lyrics just bother me, and Ludacris hasn’t seemed to realize the damage of those types of lyrics yet. I commend him for his efforts through his charitable foundation and hope that he “sees the light” some day soon as it relates to those woman-demeaning lyrics of his.
Mr. Martin,
When will you co a show about the “Birth of Humanity and CIVILIZATION”? All of the research proves that HUMANITY began in Africa. African Men and Women did love,respect and work with each other for survival. Africa men were there for their families, wirhout their support we would not have the HUMANITY we have today. This research also proves that there is only one HUMAN RACE. This research also proves that CIVILIZATION all began in Africa. Mr. Martin our people need to learn the truth. We need to learn that Black Men ruled the World until about 2000 years ago.
ASE’
Roland it would be informative to get someone from HUD in to give us information on what HUD is doing to monitor the banks that got taxpayer money and are denying us mondification attempts without valid reason. I would like to see more teeth in the program because Bank of America isn’t complying
Hello Mr Martin Thanks for the news you are doing a wonderful job. I can not wait to see you put M Steele in his place on Sunday he what can I say He sounds so craazy how can he side with those re. that are haters why can t the world pull together. this country belongs to everybody blacks whites mixes what ever color you claim . The president needs to stay on track and not give fox news the time of day fox news people are white niggers meaning they are innarant that is why I hate it when black folks call each other that word if they looked it up in the dict. they would stop calling each other that
Hello Mr Martin Thanks for the news you are doing a wonderful job. I can not wait to see you put M Steele in his place on Sunday he what can I say He sounds so crazy how can he side with those re. that are haters why can t the world pull together. this country belongs to everybody blacks whites mixes what ever color you claim . The president needs to stay on track and not give fox news the time of day fox news people are white niggers meaning they are innarant that is why I hate it when black folks call each other that word if they looked it up in the dict. they would stop calling each other that
Dear Mr. Martin:
I am seeking community support for my cousin and her teen daughter in Tumwater, Washington (Olympia area) regarding a race issue. On Monday,her daughter and a causcian female had a verbal arguement at school. The causcian female struck first, and her daughter defendented herself. While detained her daughter was the only teen handcuffed and read miranda rights without a parent present or contacted. The school suspended her for 45 days, not the other student. Furthermore, she requested the presence of her mother on 3 sepearate occassions in the presence of the vice principal, and the police department. As a result, she refused to comment until her mother was contacted.
For she had previously reported racial harrasement,in which a teacher phoned to apologize for the other students harrasment. Phrases such as “Go back and pick cotton; big booty Ho”,and the school continued to ignore her complaints. This event occured on November 2, which was her 16th birthday, she spent in a juvenille detention center. She had no contact with her parents for over 24 hrs. On this day she was taught by the school administration and police department that racial inequality exist within society. You are guilty until proven innocent.
I would like to know if you can bring someone in from the Whitehouse to look at investigating why these banks such as Bank of America, who took our taxpayer dollars, are not helpinmg to bail their customers out? I would like to see reps from the banks on your show to answer why they are failing to pass on bailout!!
I watched the show you did with Republican Michael Steele. If and political candidates want to win the votes of the Barrack followers I recommend that they advertise in a way that tell voters how their work/position relates to fulfilling the work of Barrack. Most folk don’t understand the role that the candidate’s position plays into the big picture. They need to express to the people how a vote for them will help continue the work of our president and actually show us how the (2) positions tie into each other.
Just my thoughts,
Latasha
I have observed and heard many individuals including your guests refer to the President as “Mr.” and not “President”. It stings as a clear sign of dis-respect as though he is still running for the office. Your thoughts.
Congresswoman Lee should have left the loud, distracting bracelets at home. The sound of the bracelets were so loud,it overshadowed what she had to say.
I heard Roland say to Michael Steel (who at times is a real joke as a leader-but that’s another story)that Republicans have been invited onto his show but have not accepted. I ask you Roland, do you really think White Republicans would legalimize your show by making an appearance? By the way, I saw Michael Steel on This Week this morning-which was not pre-taped and there was a contrast in his political rheortic tune compared to how he presented on Roland’s show. He was more courteous, polite, and politically tolerant than he was on George’s show. Michael was down right rude and disrectful to Gov. Kane. George did a poor job of moderating. Because, Michael should have been made to shut-up when Gov. Kane spoke.
Connie, this issue you are addressing should be aggressively presented to mainstream media (CNN, MSNBC, Good Morning America) but more importantly to the US Attorney General’s office-Eric Holder. These are issues Holder’s office has got to begin addressing in our judicial system. Of course, you need to reach Rev. Sharpton. But, don’t leave out Michael Baisden and Tom Joyner-to bring awareness to this ever occurring issue in our communities and judicial, so-called justice system. My prayers are with your family but more importantly, the action of justice needs to be on your family’s side at this time. Where is your local NAACP? I know they mostly respond in the media when someone is called a nigger-but maybe they can make an appearance to help out.
Hello Roland
On the issue of unemployment from what I have witness with my on two eyes it seem that hard core Republicans that I have work with in the constrution business have been willing to fire and lay people off to make the president look bad. And in the process bring suffering to themself and there family. How can we connect with these people and begin the healing process afther the eletion of The PRISDENT OBAMA.
Hello Mr. Martin,
I really enjoy your show and I am glad to see a politcal talk show that is in the interests of black people. I would only like to know what will it take to get your show to air not only on Sundays but everyday.
Hello Roland,
Congrats on getting this program. I stopped watching the other news programs because I couldn’t tolerate the slanted, ignorant views toward our president. Your program is refreshing to watch and gives an intelligent view to the yay and nay side of the topics. I was very disappointed with your guest Mr. Dyson. He is to be referred to as Mr. Dyson that is his title despite you calling him Dr. Dyson by showing him respect. However, Mr. Dyson repeatedly referred to our President as Mr. Obama. This is the same disrespect that he receives from the main stream media. What was even more disrespectful was that you and your guests didn’t bother to correct him on this. He was permitted to call him Mr. Obama. As you said the President is not a prophet but the President but he doesn’t own a magic wand to wave to correct all the ills of this country in 10 months or 4 years.
Mr. Martin,
I am your #1 fan from Shawnee,KS. My alarm is set for 5AM Monday morning to catch what I have missed. While others were watching Obama, I was watching you. My heart went out to you during the Obama campaign. Your humility and love for your people was highly demonstrated on the night of Obama’s election. Love, Grandma 63
Mr. Martin, I enjoyed your show but this Sunday’s show was kind of upsetting to my wife and me. We are Senior Citizens who lives a quiet life in retirement.
We are Seniors who watched the rise of our President for some time now. It was hard watching you and Dyson take whacks at the President on your new show. You and Dyson behaved like Tea-Baggers.
I categorically disagree that President Obama should address issues of race without specific provocatio. We never had an African American male Commander in Chief, cut him some deserved slack. Republicans are doing enough to President Obama.
Mr. Martin, I want to congratulate you on your new show. This Sunday my husband and I watched your show. However, this was my very first time watching your show and the reason is I stayed home from church.
It was not pleasing to my ears of what I heard you and Dyson said about President Obama. First, i want to say you allowed Dyson to continue calling President Obama (Mr. Obama) That’s not nice. Give the man respect. He earned it, the hard way, but he made it and I applauded him.
It seem as though you and Dyson expect President Obama to solve, racism, proverty, and other ills within ten months.
Rep Barbara Lee was very professional. She explained to the audience about the Laws that President Obama has passed within ten months. When she finished her statement you didnot commment. You went straight to Dyson and continued to ridicule President Obama. Dyson stated that President Obama is not a Prophet but yet you want President Obama to do the work of a Prophet.
Let’s even up the playing field. Do not become Tea-Baggers.
Educate our people on the good things President Obama has done. Please leave the negative comments to the Republicans. Senior Citizen
My question to you roland, in your estimation how will the economy fare in 2010? I presume you know gold is at $1200 an ounce & the dollar is falling at a rapid rate? Have you thought about advising black folks to invest in precious metals from your show? Also, let Ms. Tara Wall know she is the most beautiful woman on TV.
Roland, I enjoy your show for the most part. However, at times the interaction between your self, and the panel gets too wild. It seems everyone wants to out talk other panel members. They(the panel) need to be more respectful to each other. Discussions at times are out of control. You should brief them to smoothout and control their emotions.
Roland,
Two questions—
#1 – What is the difference between the Public Option, which will be government-run, and the present Medicaid? and
#2 – What exactly does the CBC do because the only member I have ever seen do anything is Maxine Waters. The plight of Black folks has remained the same or become worse. What I call “the new plantations” (prisons) are cropping up everywhere and the populations are overwhelmingly Black and Hispanic. So, what do they do?
Roland, I love your show, but i wish black people would stop repeating what comes out white peoples mouth and use their own brain.
Roland
Your show is getting better—thanks. I appreciated your final comments on Chairman Steele and agree that it would be foolish to think one party represents one group of people, African Americans, like any group, should not be ridiculed for selecting a particular party
On a previous note, I asked you why April gets her clothes provided on your show when she is supposedly a member of the working media. This seems like a clear compromise and makes her less credible. It does not appear that any other panelist accept free clothes from your show or its sponsors What’s up with that?
Roland, i love your show. It remined me of the old Lead Story on BET. Were are u on health care? and why do u think the party in charge now will pay if health care is not past. Dont u think that it is the republicans who are going to pay a price.
Hi Roland,
I grew up watching Lead Story on Sunday mornings. I couldn’t wait to see who George Curry had on the panel from week to week and what interesting topics they would discuss. Today I have the same feeling about Washington Watch!
Thanks also for providing a platform where African American journalists can have intelligent, spirited discussions about issues of importance to our community.
Keep up the great work!
Carla Tyler Chase
Pikesville, MD
Love the show Roland and it’s about time. Do you mind if I send a email to CSPAN to have the Washington Watch in their Sunday political line up.