NEWS ROUNDUP: OPRAH’S BIG SLIDE / SHARPTON ON BLACK LEADERS / MORE KILPATRICK DRAMA
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Oprah Winfrey backed presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama some time ago, but some are suggesting that the decision to do so cost her.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the average audience for The Oprah Winfrey Show has fallen nearly seven percent this year.
Additionally, Oprah’s Big Give, a philanthropic reality show created and produced by Oprah on ABC, started out as one of the top television programs when it premiered earlier this year, but lost nearly one-third of its audience forcing ABC not to renew it for a second season.
TIME Magazine, however, suggests a different reason why Oprah’s been sliding. After all, Oprah’s television show has been declining for three years, long before she publicly endorsed Obama.
According to the article:
Oprah is perhaps the closest thing America has to a secular religious figure: “The secret to Oprah the goddess was how deftly she balanced her New Testament and Old Testament sides. The friendly New Testament Oprah was benevolent and beneficient, bestowing gifts to the multitudes; in her case Pontiacs, designer shoes and other Oprah’s Favorite Things rather than loaves and fishes. She loved you unconditionally and boosted your self-esteem. She helped you help yourself. But there was a little Old Testament Oprah too: she passed judgment, advocated causes, told you you needed to get right.”
Despite Oprah’s decline, Mosnar Communications, a luxury public relations and global marketing firm, recently announced that the Oprah Winfrey brand is the most sought after and trusted media influence.
The article states, “The key to bringing her ratings back up may be returning to her show’s theme that people need improvement, but that they, not Oprah, are the final key to their own self-perfection. People love it when you give them Pontiacs. But they still want to do the driving themselves.”
SHARPTON ON NEXT GROUP OF BLACK LEADERS

Civil rights/social justice activist Al Sharpton, who recently announced plans for another Sean Bell protest at this year’s MLB All-Star Game, also recently discussed with NPR’s Farai Chideya his take on the next group of black leaders and what they might accomplish.
Sharpton says, “In every era, we’re always in transition … Every generation has different people who do different things … The biggest confusion that the media gives, Farai, is that they try to have this monolith of black leadership, which they do not do in any other community.”
Check out the interview in its entirety.
MORE KILPATRICK DRAMA

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick just won’t quit. He’s already cost the city millions of dollar with a settlement with three police officers who were fired or forced to resign for investigating claims that Kilpatrick used his security unit to cover up extramarital affairs. Now, a fourth officer has filed suit against the city, saying he was wrongly forced from his position.
If only the City Council could force Kilpatrick from his.
In proposed rules made public Tuesday, any attempt by the Council to oust Kilpatrick will require a majority of its nine members to sit through every minute of the forfeiture hearings and only those who attend can vote on his fate. The hearings are scheduled to begin July 7.
The mayor’s political career is not the only one at risk. His mother, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, is currently faced with two other Democratic candidates vying for the 13th Congressional District seat she has held since 1996. State Sen. Martha Scott and former state Rep. Mary Waters both entered the race after Mayor Kilpatrick was charged with eight felony counts relating to a whistle-blower lawsuit, which the city ended up settling for $8.4 million in taxpayer money.






98 Comments
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76.
divainva
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 /
>>>>>>>> @ dukesman ,Do you know how weak you look right now ? You let a “bitch ” like me ,via internet bring you to your kness . You are acting like a female all because I checked your ass !!
77.
modest-goddess
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 /
Kwame Kilpatrick is shaming his mother’s good name. He needs to step down.
78.
qt2134
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 /
damn divainva ……tell us how u really feel … got me about to go cop a book or 2
79.
Mrs. Not Me
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 /
@Dukesman, should I surmise from your user name that you did NOT attend an HBCU? Talk about bitchassness!
Yo mammy obviously didn’t teach you much respect for Black women with all the insults you had about Oprah, now all the name calling toward me and Divainva. That makes you front and center, WHO is at the problem of relationships between Black men and Black women. Unless your one of those “don’t drop the soap” kinda dudes which seems likely based on your personal and nasty attacks of people who disagree with you.
I see a future Kwame Kilpatrick in the midst in you, so please do the sistas a favor, and either stick with white women or men.
80.
MEKKAH74
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 /
Ok, so who will play Kwame in the biopic? This is too sensational not to turn into a movie.
This dude is straight ridiculous! It’s one thing to let your constituents down, but now your mom’s gonna get dragged down with you? Resign already.
Oprah ain’t thinkin bout none of us, black or white. I wouldn’t be either.
Work it Al….
81.
dukesman2000
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 /
This is a first for me; I never had to address two idiots at once…
@ divainva…
Self praise is no recommendation…you could never bring me to my knees. I am too strong for that. I stand tall in the face of the ignorant Uncle Tom Negroes…..
Everyone of my injurious remarks is similar to a bitch slap, so please stay in your place.
@ Mrs. Not Me…
From what you wrote, you obviously were sucking someone’s dick during grammar class. Please go learn punctuation and how to spell before address me.
82.
divainva
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 /
@ Dukesman honestly , How did you put me in my place ?? You have not refuted me on one damn thing . I even gave you references to chck my information for accuracy . Now, you have been reduced to acting like the good little effeminate your mother raise because you look like a damn fool . Stop going back and forth with me unless you have things that are relevant to the topic at hand . “idiot ” this and “idiot” that is getting tired honey . You are an adult male who keeps coming back saying the same thing over and over again . You have nothing further to bring to the topic so move you weak , simple ass on .
83.
divainva
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 /
>>>> Now, to add insult to injury . Before you go opening your mouth about grammer lessons , this sentence is not in proper context .
…….”.From what you wrote, you obviously were sucking someone’s dick during grammar class. Please go learn punctuation and how to spell before address me.”
“addressing” or “you” before “address” would have been the proper usage for that word . What a fucking joke !!! .
84.
Shag
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 /
She could’ve given Obama money and not gone out on a limb. She previously said that she doesn’t get involved in politics, which is why she could reach such a wide a varied audience. As soon as she went hog-wild for Obama, she lost her “objectivity.” Barack is smart. He’s not running as a “black man,” he’s running as an inclusive candidate. That’s the only way he can win.
85.
Gloss n Glam
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 /
PLEASE THAT IS CRAP… ALL SHOWS HAVE HAD A SLIDE IN RATNGS EXCEPT DANCING WITH THE STARS….OPRAH SHOW HAS DROPPED A MEASELY 7% BUT HER EARINGS JUST KEEP ON RISING…..EACH YEAR SHE EARNS MORE AND MORE AND MORE AND MORE…. WHICH IS THE KEY…. OPRAH SHOW WILL ALWAYS BE ON TOP UNTIL SHE, NOT THEY BUT SHE ENDS HER CONTRACT IN 2011…….
86.
Gloss n Glam
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 /
CORRECTION.. ABC WANTED THE SHOW… OPRAH, NOT ABC FAILED TO RENEW THE SHOW.. OPRAH SIGNES HER OWN CHECKS, SHE SAYS WHAT GOES ON AND WHAT DOES NOT….
87.
Gloss n Glam
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 /
dukesman2000
DANG YOU ARE REALLY IGNORANT…YOU ARE BLACK AND OPRAH IS TO, BUT SHE WILL CONTINUE TO FARE BETTER THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE WHICH IS WHY YOU ARE SO VILE AN ANGRY…. READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE. OPRAH IS THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER BRAND IN ENTERTAINMENT, SHE’S A BILLIONARE, AND EVEN WITH A 7% DROP SHEIS STILL ONT OP YOU ON THE OTHER HAND ARE ON A MESSAGE BOARD EATING RAMEN NOODLES.
88.
jus my opinion
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 /
Oprah already knew the majority of her audience were in support of hillary but she supported obama anyway which means she really didnt care. losing 7% of her viewers isnt going to do her any harm. i dont think that was the reason for the decline, maybe just a small part of it. The fact that oprah has been on the air for so long and has covered almost every topic imaginable is probably why people have lost interest. Now her show has Dr.Oz on every damn episode or nate redecorating someone’s house.
I am not an Oprah fan at all, but I do respect some of the things she has done such as the girls school in south africa. I honestly can not begin to understand why some people were against that. South Africans are living in poverty and they have one of the highest crime rates in the world. America is one of the richest countries in the world and we have a free public school system. Between the two who was really the country in need??? I can guarantee if you go into any poor black neighborhood in America and ask the kids what they want I can assure you that none of them will mention a new school.
89.
dukesman2000
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 /
Lol…divainva
Are you a man or woman. You just called me “honey.” If you are a woman that sentiment is more than welcome But if you are a man I cannot accept that.
90.
Jesus Tomas
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
white folks are always trying to start something and trying to stop people with power to promote other people of color with power…and so what 7% isn’t alot…30%…I would be scared these polls and percentages are propaganda to help Mccain and keep Oprah in Control. Oprah will be fine. She is a billionaire and has been on the air for years…everything declines eventually…she has been on the air for years. Blacks and Latinos are taking power roles and some people don’t like it…thats natural.
91.
BE YOURSELF EVERYONE ELSE IS TAKEN
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
I feel sorry for her because she has no one to share all her fortune with no children, no husband, no family, NO NOTHING
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[Q.B] thats just plain cold!!
I honestly dont think I could ever hate Oprah. The shit she has done 4 people- people who normally wouldn’t mean anything to a person. I ADMIRE her and although she may not have children, a husband or whatever she has done an incredible job as a good human being and I think she has MANY, MANY good things to look forward to.
However the 7% of her ratings that have lowerd - i believe are beacuse she’s behind Obama and personally thats what I think she should b doing. White folks need 2 stop all the hating - they just cant face the fact that black people are and will take over it may be a bit of a challenge but I think if our community stop hating on eachother than things would b less challenging, Gosh i honestly wish I was old enough to vote but for those who can PLEASE, PLEASE, VOTE!!
0bama all the way baybayy!! fcuk all the White Trash!!
92.
Jesus Tomas
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
“”SO, you know the real “jew” is black but you don’t know we’re not from Africa”"
Not criticizing either one of you but I have a one more semester till I have a masters in History..and the Falashan Jews ( From Operation Airlift) descended from Sheeba and Solomon are not only black but originally from Ethiopia…in Africa and spke Ahmaric like Christ..
The propaganda the white media is using ..insinuating endorsing ” Barack Obama” brought her ratings down 7% (oooh not 30% 0r 50%) is trying to discourage anyone to work together in a position of power if they are a person of color. whites use propaganda such as percentage rates to scare people from endorsing candidates and influencing people…they know Oprah had the power to influence more people…and counter reacted.
I put this up earlier and it was censored interesting…think about who ons these sites and monitoring these sites.
93.
Jesus Tomas
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
I am not an Oprah fan and I was proud of her….very proud I liked her decision to make a school in aFrica they need it although she should have also let boys in. Some are jsut as poor as the girls and dont get to go to school due to lack of supplies. although a little good is better than nothing at all so I think she did two good things this year I am proud of.
I am more proud of Barack and what he accomplished. This has changed how people see black and Latinos (men and women) not just black men. ….People in Africa ,Latin America (I was there recently to see family in the Caribbean (D.R. ) think it is changing the world and praise him and support him. He is changing the world and I hope he wins against the establishment and the good ole boys this fall!!! Things are changing and we need to take these opportunities these days ..take it it yours, the whole world is ours!!!!
94.
divainva
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
tomas, I respect you being an adult about it , but your statement is not true . You have several reference in the bible as well as ” The Roman-Jewish War ” book I listed earlier .that tell you who we are .
95.
DETROIT ALL DAY!
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
*SMH* I’m so over Kwame…just throw in the towel!
96.
Jesus Tomas
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
My girlfriend is Yoruba form Lagos and there are Ibo tribe members that have been authenticated as having Jewish blood and customs I am very interested in Jews in West Africa…thats all. I wasn’t trying to get in a insult match.. What country did alot of the refugees from the Jewish Roman war relocate. I am not criticizing I actually think it is fascinating..I am not doubting your claim at all….I just think many scholars are wrong…there are other scholars who proclaim and assert there are many different sects of Jews some from Europe,some form the Persian Empire, and some from East or North Africa. I have met many of them and they are black or of the black phenotype also. In fact The Hutu’s and that other tribe that jumps very high (I forget the name) were originally labelled as Semetic due to their DNA which says they were definatively of Jewish ancestry. I am fascinated thats all. My father claims we have this same ancestry.
All Sharpton weans and wains…sometimes he is on point other times…he is just trying to get attention..The wrong kind of attention at that. If I were Obama I would stear clear of him for now.until after he wins.
97.
divainva
Thursday, June 12, 2008 /
@ Tomas . That’s why I read the scriptures as well . The bible tells you who we are and where we originated from . I’m not going to disrespect you we are having a nice calm discussion . My husband is really good with the scripture and breaking them down . You should read the bible as well as the information you find or books you read it will help you put a lot of things in perspective concerning where we came from . We are always going to have a link to Africa , the majority of us mingled with them when we fled there during the war , but we are not Africans . Im still learning as well , Im also fascinated because many of us don’t know who we are .
98.
EBZ01
Friday, June 13, 2008 /
eh @ oprah and al sharpton……
hello Obama.
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