The ‘Today’ show trashes Cosby

JWR ^ | 5-12-05 | Larry Elder

[FlyLow]

When Reverend Sharpton ran for president, he accused the media of racism for ignoring his candidacy. Since the word racist gets recklessly thrown around, does it also apply to the "Today" show?

Remember when the legendary actor/entertainer/philanthropist Bill Cosby said, "[I]n our cities and public schools we have 50 percent drop out. . . . No longer is a person embarrassed because they're pregnant without a husband. No longer is a boy considered an embarrassment if he tries to run away from being the father of the unmarried child."

He urged blacks to embrace education, speak standard English and obey the law. How dare he? His comments created such a stir that last year, the "Today" show's Matt Lauer did a pro-and-con segment.

Now here's where things get interesting. Michael Eric Dyson, a professor at University of Pennsylvania, just wrote a book called "Is Bill Cosby Right?" Dyson goes after Cosby for allegedly unfairly attacking blacks. You know, the standard liberal pap about blaming the "victim," blah, blah, blah. Never mind the tragedy of babies having babies, of a 50 percent inner-city dropout rate or the disproportionately high percentage of black youth involved in crime.

[Puppage]

Remember when the legendary actor/entertainer/philanthropist Bill Cosby said...

I don't think so.

[Fido969]

"Cosby was a "pitchman" for "Jell-O Puddin' Pops. . . . He created artificial desire in people to spend beyond their means . . . "

I didn't know that the Jello Puddin' Pop jones was such a factor in driving people into poverty in our inner-city ghettos.

[spetznaz]

I love Larry Elder. He never minces words.

[roylene]

Nothing changes ... when I was in college in the 60s/70s .... the cry was "whitey has kept me down" yet if a black person 'made it' it was because they were a sell out.
Any attempt at stands were considered 'white'.
I scrubbed toilets and waited tables to earn money for college, big deal it took me five years instead of four ... I did it.
The blacks I went to school with seemed to think it was beneath them to work for a college degree.
Ok, I know there must be some who did not feel that way, but .. I never meet any.
When I was in high school in the 60s, the kids I went to school with (very poor community - black and white) did not act as though they had a sense of privilege / entitlement... I do not know what happened in such a short time.

[Mathews]

People don't want to hear the truth. Bill Cosby is right.

[Firefox1]

I'm a white guy who grew up in a mostly black part of Oakland. I was lower middle class. My parents fought a lot and eventually divorced. Sometimes, I got picked on by bullies and what I called, 'blacks with attitude.' Most kids were nice though. Anyway, the mantra in my family was always, 'You can make excuses, or you can make progress.' I got decent grades. Played on the baseball team. Worked my way through college and got a PhD in Chemistry. It was very difficult at times to see my way through. Some of the same folks I went to school with, to this day, cry that racism or 'the man' held them back.

Look in the mirror. You held yourself back. It's comfortable and safe to play the role of the victim. And, your aunties, uncles, and friends, will all agree that you are indeed a victim (as will many media outlets and politicians). Face it. You're happy with your self riteous indignation. It gives you purpose. As for me, I have season tickets to the Raiders, a beautiful wife, lots of wonderful friends, and great kids. I made progress! You made excuses...it's what you wanted out of life.

[tiamat]

Good Morning.

This one is for you.

[SAMS]

"What should Roker have done?"

How about option #3...tell the producers to "pound sand"..he's the damn weatherman...let the overpaid professionals do the interviews!!

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

In my opinion Cosby is a living legend, and I enjoy his work.

[mollynme]

So Dyson equates Bill Cosby with Timothy McVeigh and Roker lets him get away with it - agreeing with him in effect. Sheesh!

[rwilson99]

"I don't think so."

Were you in a coma during the 80s?

Mr. Cosby had the most popular sit com of the decade and mainstreamed the comedy concert film with the presentation of "Himself"

I feel sorry for the fact you were either unconscious or have no sense of humor.

[Brett66]

Cosby was a "pitchman" for "Jell-O Puddin' Pops. . . . He created artificial desire in people to spend beyond their means

He turned our children into blimps! Ohh the humanity!

[mhking]

Larry Elder has the word...

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[Puppage]

I enjoy his work

As do I. He's the only comedian I can really recall who doesn't use profanity in his act. But a legend? Well, maybe.

[SavageRepublican]

You know the interviewee must really SUCK if the have to send the friggin' WEATHERMAN to interview him...

I mean, I could see if he was doing a legitimate interview for, say, "Storm Stories" or something like that...but this? NAWWWW....

[Puppage]

Let's review.....a legend?

Wow, he was on in the 80s. By your gauge I guess David Hasselhoff is a legend, too?

He's more icon than legend, IMHO.

[Young Werther]

Have you noticed that no one uses his proper appelation? Dr. Cosby! He earned a Master Degree in Education (M. Ed.) in 1972 and his Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) in 1977 from the University of Massachusetts. His doctoral thesis was titled "The Integration of Visual Media Via Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids Into the Elementary Schools Culminating as a Teacher Aid to Achieve Increased Learning."

I remember seeing Cosby in Greenwich Village in 62 and loved his brand of humor.

It's sad to see the only answer to his views on ghetto observations is "ad hominem" attacks!

[poobear]

I had the same experience growing up. I remember in high school, those (black students) who were excelling and taking harder courses to ready them for college were all harassed by fellow black students (those who hadn't already dropped out). Very poor area I grew up in. Only a handful of affluent students. I always encouraged those hard working students because I knew the only way out of this poor area was to have the courage and education to get a better job. I'm white, and could never understand this behavior of harassment. After all, we were all in the same boat. What's so hard to figuring out? Just my 2 cents.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I guess you never heard of his ground-breaking work in "I Spy", his stand-up comedy that doesn't rely on profanity, or his Fat Albert cartoon series that inspired blacks to take responsibility for themselves.

Plus he was hardcore for a while, having been in "Uptown Saturday Night."

I agree he's not a Bob Hope or a Johnny Carson.