Roland Martin begins to count down the final weeks until election day with a new CNN special that premiered over the weekend. The talk WASN'T about Lipstick-on-a-Piggygate or Bristol Palin's teen pregnancy drama. Martin's new show brings checkbook issues, discrimination and the middle class to the forefront of discussion and leaves behind the tired political talking points that don't matter to voters.
Black Voices caught up with the syndicated columnist and CNN political analyst on the phone a few hours before taping '7 Weeks to Go,' which premierd on CNN Saturday. The three-part series runs the rest of the month on Saturday nights.
Roland Martin Q&A
The major networks cover the election 24-7 it seems like. Is that enough?
There's nothing that's enough. We want to know more, more, more. I mean, that's our job. I believe we should be making informed decisions and challenging people. Too often, we don't do that. Challenge the voter on some of these issues, to get them involved.
Tell us about your election countdown special
We don't want to have conversations all day and all night. We're going to call people on the air. We hit the streets. We want to really go after some stuff. We're gonna dedicate a whole hour to it. I want someone to answer for me 'What is the middle class?' What are the candidates not saying when it comes to the middle class? (In "6 Weeks to Go," set to air on Saturday, Sept. 20, Martin and others will examine the American middle class.)
What about the lower class--which we never hear about--and the rich?
The middle class is a large block of voters. Rich people don't want to hear about poor people. Poor people don't want to hear about rich people. All of a sudden, if you talk about the rich, you are going to give our money away. You talk about the poor, you are going to give our money away. You can't get in trouble talking about the middle class. No body wants to rip the middle class.
They were talking about 'Hurricane Fatigue' with Ike bearing down on Texas. Do you feel election fatigue?
You have 38 million people watching Obama. 40 million watching John McCain. I'm waiting to see what the ratings for the service thing last night are, which was absolutely boring! I don't believe for a second in this whole thing of election fatigue. Look, this is the most exciting election ever. You can't even compare it to Clinton, Perot and Bush in 1992. This is exciting.
How would you sum up Gov. Sarah Palin and how she has changed the election?
People are comparing Gov. Palin to the hot new guy or girl on campus. 'Oh my god they are so smart and gorgeous.' We always see this. We react to the new person on the scene the same way every time.
The third and final special will air after the first presidential debate. Are you ready for the debates?
Definitely. I appreciate the fact that the debates are broken down by topic. I believe that having topic specific debates is far more important. So we won't be bringing up war, war, war, in every debate. Obama's not going to be able to talk about change and McCain's not going to be able to bring up being a POW. We've already heard those stories.
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Comments: (83)
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By: Sherian on 9/13/2008 12:26AM
Roland so many times speaks for me. He should have his own TV show.
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By: Jewel on 9/13/2008 9:39AM
I agree that Roland definitely has his finger on the pulse of what I am thinking and would like to say. I really love the fact that he can properly frame the persepective of most African Americans and "tell off" some of his racist co-commentators in a professional way.
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By: doris egbunike on 9/13/2008 12:21PM
Mr. Roland is like the "head chef" in this election. He explains so beautifully what has been placed on the election menu. The plate that has been put on the table and what ingredients we should digest and what is good for your growth of America. We have been fasting on an "junk food" diet for 8 years with Mr. Bush. Mr. Roland please continue to bring the truth to a starving America. May, I add brothers and sisters please get away from the chicken and fried rice mentality and register to vote ...maybe then you can feast on a balanced diet of truth.
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By: CA Jones on 9/13/2008 12:19PM
CNN: Interior employees accused in sex, gift scandal
too little too late:
WASHINGTON — Government brokers responsible for collecting billions of dollars in federal oil royalties operated in a "culture of substance abuse and promiscuity" that included having sex with energy company employees, accepting lavish gifts and rigging contracts to favored firms, investigators said Wednesday.
The alleged transgressions involve 13 former and current Interior Department employees in Denver and Washington. Their alleged improprieties include influencing contracts, working part-time as private oil consultants and having sexual relationships with _ and accepting golf and ski trips, snowboarding lessons and concert tickets from _ oil company employees, according to three reports released Wednesday by the Interior Department's inspector general.
Read it all at
:http://www.rr.com/view/content/story.cfm?storyId=5779478&newsgroup=9000&view=HOME
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By: Anutha Brutha on 9/13/2008 12:23PM
As much as I admire Sen. Obama, the fact remains that his election will not change one blessed thing for the average black family.
Unless we STAY IN SCHOOL and encourage our children to become educated, we will continue to be shackled by the chains of ignorance and poverty.
Unless we GET A JOB (and actually keep it), we will continue to be crushed under the thumb of the white man's charity.
Until we STOP MAKING BABIES WE CAN'T AFFORD TO SUPPORT, we will continue to doom our children to lives of neglect and imprisonment.
Until we TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR OWN BEHAVIORS, we will continue to be held in contempt by every civilized culture on the planet.
Unless we STOP MAKING EXCUSES, we will forever remain our own worst enemy.
Obama/Biden '08
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By: CA Jones on 9/13/2008 12:27PM
Eelection, get the facts: Factcheck.org
Getting facts are important regardless of which party you are a member of, or which way you intend to getting facts are important regardless of which party you are a member of, or which way you intend to vote. Maybe you like I, have noticed that many of the advertisements are not only derogatory but intentionally deceptive and designed to manipulate viewers with fear and half-truths. Worse, the news media which historically held a position of neutrality insisting on reporting the truth and avoiding taking sides is shamefully biased. This method has worked extremely well in the recent past – so it will likely not stop any time soon.
I have found what appears to an unbiased source of information. If you intend to participate in the process, I encourage you to do so with a much factual information as possible.
http://www.factcheck.org/
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By: S. Michele on 9/13/2008 12:25PM
Why wasn't Joe Madison, The Black Eagle considered?
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By: MzChea on 9/13/2008 1:14PM
Roland Martin is the main reason I watch CNN and I agree he should have his own show. Everytime I think of something he comes right out, and says it. Thank- You for being such a role model, and for really keeping it real.
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By: joanne on 9/13/2008 2:09PM
roland has the rubber to the road when it comes to the truth
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By: joanne on 9/13/2008 2:13PM
roland gives the truth as it really is...he's for sure not a waffler of sorts....i love it when i see him on...this is one of the reasons why i tune into cnn...he's very unbiased
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