Melissa Harris-Perry Shares Her 'Open Letter to Richard Mourdock'

I woke up this morning and turned on the Melissa Harris-Perry Show. She affectionately refers to her show as 'Nerdland'. The first segment of the show focused on the issue of shadow money in politics. I admit that I wasn't too interested in that segment and I found myself more focused on cleaning out my email inbox than the show at that point. However, Melissa came on after a commercial to indicate that she had written an 'Open Letter to Richard Mourdock' earlier in the week. She wanted to share that open letter with those of us in Nerdland.

I was blown away by the content of her letter and the passion of her delivery. I invite you to see what I saw in this 4-minute video clip:

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What are your thoughts after hearing this 'open letter'? I wonder if Richard Mourdock ... or those who might have thought about voting for him ... will have any response?

VIDEO: Chris Matthews Unleashed on Mitt Romney's Racist Campaign Strategy

Chris Matthews, going ballistic on Mitt Romney and Republicans ... and RNC Chair Reince Priebus is helpless and unable to respond.

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State Senator Nina Turner Blasts Voter Suppression Efforts in Ohio

State Senator Nina Turner (D-OH) is a rock star. She ain't no Aunt Jemima! The Republican effort to suppress the vote in Ohio is the "biggest story in this presidential race," according to Ed Schultz. And in a fiery appearance on Ed's show, Turner pulled no punches in describing what's happening.

The GOP has shortened voting hours in all 88 counties since 2008 when 47% of voters — predominantly African Americans — took advantage of extended hours to cast their ballots.

Nina Turner took it from there.

"This is nothing more than uniform voter suppression, make no mistake about it".

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Nina Turner became one of my political favorites last night! She is obviously an outspoken advocate of the disenfranchised and under-represented and I hope she runs for statewide office in the near future!

GOP Enacts Voter Suppression Laws to Rig 2012 Election Results

The Republican Party is trying to suppress the votes of African Americans, elderly and students. Chris Matthews talks about voter suppression on his show recently.





The best way to combat these voter suppression efforts is to learn the new rules and follow them. Voting is our right ... and elections have consequences.

Voter Suppression Strategy by Republican Party in Nebraska and Pennsylvania

Soulclap to Mirror on America for pointing us to this interview with Melissa Harris-Perry, professor of political science at Tulane University. Dr. Harris-Perry talks with Rachel Maddow about a national effort by state Republican leaders to reconfigure voting rules, independent of principle and to bias the electoral system against President Obama's re-election.

There is some detailed information about how these voter suppression efforts are taking place in Nebraska and Pennsylvania.

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Are you hearing about voter suppression in your state?

Mark Halperin Calls President Obama a 'Dick' on Morning Joe Show; Suspended by MSNBC

Mark Halperin is a regular contributor to MSNBC and a senior political analyst for TIME. He wrote a great book about the 2008 election called, "Game Changer". I imagine that Halperin is also a big fan of George Carlin. He obviously bought into Carlin's rant about the '7 Words You Can't Say on Television'.

'Dick' isn't on Carlin's list. As such, Halperin thought it was OK to say 'Dick' on MSNBC earlier this morning. Not only did he use a word that doesn't have a place in our political discourse ... he decided it was good to use it to describe the President of the United States. Seriously!?





It didn't take long for Halperin to feel the consequences. He apologized to the President and the Morning Joe viewers before the show ended, saying:

"I can’t explain why I did it. It’s inappropriate, disrespectful. I’ve already apologized, and I will again to the President.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry to the viewers…It is disrespectful, what I said was disrespectful to the president and the office but it also lowers our discourse."

He also tweeted to his followers: “I want to offer a heartfelt and profound apology to the President and the viewers of Morning Joe. My remark was not funny. I deeply regret it."


MSNBC later released this statement:

"Mark Halperin's comments this morning were completely inappropriate and unacceptable. We apologize to the President, The White House and all of our viewers. We strive for a high level of discourse and comments like these have no place on our air. Therefore, Mark will be suspended indefinitely from his role as an analyst."

Halperin followed up with this statement: "I completely agree with everything in MSNBC's statement about my remark. I believe that the step they are taking in response is totally appropriate. Again, I want to offer a heartfelt and profound apology to the President, to my MSNBC colleagues, and to the viewers. My remark was unacceptable, and I deeply regret it."

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I think that MSNBC did the right thing.   I don't have an issue if you disagree with the President ... or anyone else in the political arena ... but, you can disagree without being disrespectful.   Shame on you Mark Halperin!

Cornel West and Al Sharpton Rumble About Obama on MSNBC's Black Agenda

Two hours of my life were lost this past weekend watching Black Agenda, hosted by Ed Schultz, on MSNBC. I kept trying to understand why Ed Schultz was chosen to host the show.  Evidently others had the same concerns.  If any villager can explain why Schultz was the host ... please do so.

Anyhow, there wasn't much new territory covered on the show.  In many respects it seemed like a mini-version of the 'State of Black America' program that Tavis Smiley used to produce each year.   This time MSNBC tried valiantly to cover a number of the issues within the Black community that need to be addressed.

The most entertaining part of the show was also the saddest part. Did any of you see when Cornel West and Al Sharpton started playing the dozens with each other? If they had been sitting next to each other ... or if there wasn't a table in front of them ... then I think that the two old men would have come to blows.


You be the judge!



What was your take on this segment ... or the entire show?

MSNBC Cancels Countdown with Keith Olbermann

Keith Olbermann gave his final comment as the host of "Countdown With Keith Olbermann" tonight. It appears that Olbermann and MSNBC "have ended their contract". My understanding is that the two parties agreed to end the current 4-year contract. I guess the fact that MSNBC suspended Olbermann a few months ago should have been a clue that everything wasn't hunky-dory on the "Countdown" set.

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I enjoyed Keith Olbermann's show. More accurately, I used to enjoy the first 20 minutes of the show. I thought that he gave some insightful looks at the political shenanigans of the day. The last 40 minutes of the show seemed to be more political humor than political analysis ... so I didn't care for that portion of the show as much.

What will be your lasting memory of Keith Olbermann and his MSNBC show?

Keith Olberman is BACK!

Keith Olbermann will be back on his MSNBC show tomorrow. He issued the following note:

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Statement To The Viewers Of Countdown

I want to sincerely thank you for the honor of your extraordinary and ground-rattling support.

Your efforts have been integral to the remedying of these recent events, and the results should remind us of the power of individuals spontaneously acting together to correct injustices great or small.

I would also like to acknowledge with respect the many commentators and reporters, including those with whom my politics do not overlap, for their support.

I also wish to apologize to you viewers for having precipitated such anxiety and unnecessary drama. You should know that I mistakenly violated an inconsistently applied rule – which I previously knew nothing about -- that pertains to the process by which such political contributions are approved by NBC. Certainly this mistake merited a form of public acknowledgment and/or internal warning, and an on-air discussion about the merits of limitations on such campaign contributions by all employees of news organizations.

Instead, after my representative was assured that no suspension was contemplated, I was suspended without a hearing, and learned of that suspension through the media.

You should also know that I did not attempt to keep any of these political
contributions secret; I knew they would be known to you and the rest of the public. I did not make them through a relative, friend, corporation, PAC, or any other intermediary, and I did not blame them on some kind of convenient 'mistake' by their recipients.

When a website contacted NBC about one of the donations, I immediately volunteered that there were in fact three of them; and contrary to much of the subsequent reporting, I immediately volunteered to explain all this, on-air and off, in the fashion MSNBC desired.

I genuinely look forward to rejoining you on Countdown on Tuesday, to begin the repayment of your latest display of support and loyalty - support and loyalty that is truly mutual.

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It is nice to see that MSNBC listened to the voice of the people. Villagers who are so inclined should feel free to congratulate Keith on his return.

Keith Olbermann Suspended Without Pay by MSNBC

NBC president Phil Griffin indefinitely suspended Keith Olbermann.  Griffin wrote,

“Became aware of Keith’s political contributions late last night. Mindful of NBC News policy and standards, I have suspended him indefinitely without pay.”

Olbermann acknowledged to NBC that he donated $2,400 apiece to the campaigns of Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway and Arizona Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords.  He didn't think it was a big deal because he never told others, either privately or publicly, to make donations.

However, Olbermann didn't get prior approval for the donation.  NBC News prohibits its employees from working on, or donating to, political campaigns unless a special exception is granted by the news division president -- effectively a ban. Olbermann's bosses did not find out about the donations until after they were made.

The policy seems stupid.  There is nothing illegal about making a donation ... so why should an employee be penalized for doing so.

On another level, it seems hypocritical because one of the major news networks (Fox) gave $1 million dollars to the Republican Governors Association without any consequence.   Yet, a major news network is suspending, without pay, one of their commentators for giving $2,400 to three candidates?

Progressives took a shellacking during the mid-term elections on Tuesday.   Now it appears that some progressives are being eaten alive in the aftermath.

If this isn't resolved quickly then I don't see how or why Keith Olbermann comes back to the network.   Like Conan or Juan Williams ... it seems likely that another network may make a lucrative offer to Olbermann.

In the meantime, the call for a boycott of MSNBC has already been made by at least one progressive organization.

Meet Democratic Senatorial Candidate Alvin Greene (D-SC) [Video]

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Some shyt doesn't really need much in the way of commentary. That being said ... do you have any thoughts on candidate Greene?

'Buy Black' Interview on MSNBC

This MSNBC interview introduced the Ebony Experiment to a national audience.



Many more people are talking about this ordinary family that made an extraordinary pledge. Are they racists? Or do they just want to devote a year of their lives to showing the world how beautiful it is to cherish and support your own?

What say u?

Are We Afraid to Talk About Race?

Eric Holder scratched at the scab of white supremacy when he used the term, 'Nation of Cowards'. Pat Buchanan went from a respectful discussion with Professor Michael Eric Dyson to a rant where racism is placed on the backs on the Black community. It ain't the first time Buchanan let his true racist feelings about African Americans flow. I have never been a big fan of Dyson ... but, the brother was outstanding in laying out facts and responses to Buchanan. Take a moment to check this video out:

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Soulclap to Thoughts of the Day for bringing this video to our attention. What do you think? Are we capable of having a professional, honest and calm discussion on race in our nation?