TJMS: Roland Martin Talks With Kendrick Meek About The Economy, Deficit And 2010 Midterm Elections
Roland Martin talks with Congressman Kendrick Meek at the TJMS Family Reunion, Friday, September 3, 2010.
Congressman Meek recently won the Democratic nomination to run for US Senate in the state of Florida in the 2010 midterm elections.
Roland began his conversation with Meek by asking him what is the number one issue in the upcoming elections, is it the economy, terrorism, healthcare, the ground zero mosque, is President Obama a Muslim and what would he do about jobs if he were to be elected to the U.S. Senate.
Meek told Roland, “The economy is going to be the driving issue and it will be until we get no only Florida back to work but this country back to work.” He continued to explain there are corporations that are withholding money, not investing, not hiring. Meek said, “I think they are waiting until the end of the election, but we must stimulate the middle class.”
Meek commented on the U.S. deficit saying, “No was concerned about a deficit when it was time to go to war. Everyone was [like] let’s borrow the money, let’s go to war, let’s do whatever we have to do but when it comes down to domestic investment and infrastructure and training and making sure that we stand up for those that are looking for jobs right now folks are having a problem with it.” Meek highlighted that that Democrats passed PAYGO, where if government spends money they have to pay for it. Meek said, “… its very important that we go head to head on that argument.”
Yesterday Al Lawson, a prominent African-American state Democratic leader, endorsed Meek’s opponent Charlie Crist. If Congressman Meek is not elected there will be no African-Americans in the Senate. Roland asked Meek how did he feel about Democrats in his own state who are not willing to support the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate? Meek replied. “It’s disappointing … he endorsed a Republican in my opinion.”
Meek is scheduled to debate Marco Rubio this Sunday on Meet The Press.
For more information about Congressman Kendrick Meek visit KendrickMeek.com.
Listen to Roland Martin’s TJMS interview with Congressman Kendrick Meek from the Tom Joyner Family Reunion.
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TJMS: Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell Calls Controversy Over President Obama’s Faith “Amazingly Ridiculous”
Last week the Pew Center released a report that showed18 percent of Americans believe that President Barack Obama is a Muslim. This figure is up from 11 percent last year. In last year’s poll, 48 percent thought that he was a Christian, this year only 34 percent believe that he is a Christian. 43 percent claimed they have no idea what President Obama’s faith is.
Roland Martin talks with Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell about Americans questioning President Obama’s faith and could this have a political impact on him. Pastor Caldwell is the pastor of the largest Methodist church in the country, Windsor Village. He was spiritual adviser to President George W. Bush and has often prayed with President Barack Obama.
Pastor Caldwell calls this controversy “amazingly ridiculous.” 60 percent of those polled said they got the information about President Obama being a Muslim from the media. Caldwell said he was glad that the “Tom Joyner show and brother Roland Martin are addressing this issue head on.”
Caldwell told Roland, “At the end of the day, we all know that if your opponent can attack what you do and who you are they have laid the foundation for your defeat. So this whole politics of personal faith destruction is simply a strategy to defeat who the president says he is.”
Listen to Roland’s entire interview with Pastor Kirby Jon Caldwell.
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Sphere: Related ContentTJMS: Roland Martin Talks With Congressman Kendrick Meek About Tomorrow’s Democratic Primary For U.S. Senate
Roland Martin talks with Congressman Kendrick Meek about his campaign for U.S. Senate and his opponent, billionaire, Jeff Greene.
According to the poling data at the time of this interview, Congressman Meek had an 11-point lead in the polls. Roland asks Congressman Meek what has happened in the last few weeks of his campaign.
Meek states that people have gravitated to the campaign’s message of getting people back to work, health care and protecting the environment. He told Roland that there were two visits, one from President Clinton and President Obama, who came to Florida to raise money for the Democratic Party.
Meek said, “the President and I were able to grab a sandwich after that event and that made news and we have been working hard throughout the state.”
According to Meek, Jeff Greene is outspending him 6 to 1 by pumping $27 million into the campaign. Meek explains that his campaign has put very little into it because of limited resources.
Roland said, “This is a national election because … when Roland Burris leaves there will be no African-Americans in the U.S. Senate,” unless Meek is able to win in Florida. That makes this race a “huge deal beyond just the State of Florida.”
Meek requested that the people of Florida get out and vote on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 between 7 am and 7 pm.
For more information about Kendrick Meek and to support his campaign visit KendrickMeek.com
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Sphere: Related ContentTJMS: Spike Lee talks about New HBO Documentary, 'If God is Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise'
Roland Martin talked with Spike Lee about his new documentary “If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise”, which airs on HBO August 23rd and 24th. This documentary is a follow up to Lee’s award winning documentary, “When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts”, which detailed the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Lee explained the one thing that stood out to him and connected “When the Levees Broke” with his new documentary is greed. He said, people are so greedy it ends up with people getting hurt and killed, “It was the greed of the Army Corps of Engineers and cutting corners that brought about the dismantling of the levees and … BP threw caution and safety to the wind for profits. And eleven families now have lost members because of total out and out greed.”
Lee stated he wanted people to be aware that “this is a great part of this country and for too long people just pushed New Orleans, Louisiana and the Gulf states to the side like they didn’t matter.” Lee said, “Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, every year they fight off, neck and neck for the poorest, worst educated … so whatever is last those three states are always battling it out.”
Don’t miss Spike Lee’s new documentary, “If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise” August 23rd and 24th on HBO.
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Sphere: Related ContentTJMS: George Wilborn Denied Chance To Buy $1.7 Million Home Because He’s Black
Comedian George Wilborn was recently denied an opportunity to buy a $1.7 million home in Bridgeport, IL. The Department of Urban Housing and Development has filed a administrative complaint against the homeowners, the real estate agent and his firm, Prudential Rubloff Properties.
Roland Martin talks with James Perry, Board Member and Executive Director of the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center about how you can protect yourself from housing discrimination.
Yearly, millions of people are victims of housing discrimination. Perry explains that even though there are four million violations of the Federal Fair Housing Act every year, only 30,000 claims are actually filed. Perry said, “people experience discrimination, but they don’t act on it”.
The most important thing anyone can do, if they fell that they have been discriminated against, is to call the National Fair Housing Alliance or HUD and file a complaint. There is an investigation process in place to determine whether or not a person has been discriminated against.
For more information about housing discrimination visit NationalFairhousing.org.
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