I just wanted to make a point that no one is making regarding the Ricci firefighters case overturned by the supreme court after judge Sonia Sotomayor ruled against them. The issue being made against her is that her decision was based on race. What no one talks about in the media or bothers to investigate is the fact that most fire departments especially in the north east of our country, have always kept the fire department as a family club with jobs being passed on from generation to generation and has always tried to exclude minorities. What no one talks about is the fact that firefighters friends and families have always had an inside track to tests for the job before the test was given to the public. So of course you would expect those priviledged few to score better on a test, than those under privileged, that don't have the same influence. I wish someone would raise this issue to those firefighters, was the appeal they made to the supreme court based on prejudice because whites scored higher, than minorities or on false pretences I guess we will never know.

Rick...the Courts of Appeal do NOT rule on factual disputes. These Courts only address whether there were "errors of law" at the trial level. Without legal errors, a lower court ruling MUST be upheld. Race was NEVER an issue for the Court of Appeal.

It was the US SC which interpreted the law as unconstitutional. It was the Supreme Court which "made law" contrary to its usual approach. And Sotomayer was onkly ONEG of three justices who ruled; she did not rule on her own. Someone get the facts straight !!!

So, let me understand this. The Republican Sentors are upset with Sotomayor because she based her decision on precedent. I guess, in this one case, the Republican side wanted an activist judge. I am very confused.

Rick,
These test have been made available to insiders on many occasions, research your news, it should be easy for you unless you don't want to share that information. I think the new York Fire Dept was 97% white a few years ago, what's up with that?
Also do you think the minorities have an even chance? Don't you remember that it was just recently that blacks were allowed to attend the better white school system?
Chevy

Sotomayor rejected Ricci's reverse discrimination claim in an appeals court decision but the Supreme Court reversed that ruling last week, and your revisionist interpretation of this "wise latina's" bad decision, is putrid! Ricci and others deserved what they won by hard work! There is no room in America for people who do things like Sotomayor, and chose favorites–justice is not about favorites! Rights are for all, not just the people she would give them to!

Just one comment on these out-of-touch guys – THEY JUST DON'T GET IT.

Would somebody please call out Lindsay Graham for over and over referring to "Latino" women?

And Rick, not to impugn your translation of your Mom's
"somos de abajo," but "from nowhere" might not be as accurate as "we are underdogs." Like the novel "Los de Abajo."

i know you dont hav ea post up yet about the NJ police shootings, but i have been watching your show and just saw the segment. I want to commend the two EMT's who riskes there life to get those officers out. it sounds like one of them was in cardiac arrest when they got to him. i am a paramedic in Colorado and i can tell that working a traumatic arrest is hard enough, let alone in a tactical environment. it took tremendous bravery to do what they did and i think that shouldnt be ignored. PD and EMS tend to have a better working relationship than the fire dept. could in any city and this just goes to show how far people like me will go to save a cops life. i know the officers appreciate what those two guys did for there brothers, and i also know those EMT's would be willing to do it again.

please rick, dont let this story go to the wayside........

These old white men asking ridiculous and demeaning questions to a minority woman remind me of the Anita Hill hearings. I remember Arlen Spector from that time and I will remember these men. By the way, I am a 60 year old white woman who has not experienced too much discrimination, but I am appalled when I see this still going on.

Just one comment about these guys questioning Judge Sotomayor – THEY JUST DON'T GET IT!

Rick, you hit the nail on the head. These "ole" white boys talking to the judge about empathy and prejudice....I don't know how they can talk about this to her with a straight face. The hypocrisy is astounding to me. An interested white woman.

I just don't trust her. There are better people who have not got this baggage.

This is permanent unlike obama

If a minority can't get affirmative action right. she done

This entire circus or so called confirmation hearings are a joke. These racially motivated questions are more of a joke. First off, in regards to the Firemen's case, it has been asserted that the test was designed by predominantly white men, and that within itself is biased. These white men wrote the tests based on their personal experiences, which are purely white perspectives and expeirences. Now, how can an all white panel write a fair test that for non white folks? I am not saying it is impossible but it is something that needs to be looked at. How would the white firemen like for an all black group to write the test? Do they think more black would pass the test if written by blacks or other minorities? Of course. It't not fair to have tests written for multi-cultural folks by only one nationality. It is most unfortunate, that Sotomoyer's only focus is to get through the confirmation hearing, or I'm sure she could shed a lot of light on a lot of things preteaining to the questions posed to her, but those truths would be political suicide. There are many things in our country written and projected by predominantly whites which automatically comes from a white perspective, which is unfair to other nationalities, but many whites don't get that or see that. Let them have an all black jury, or an all black this or all black that, and they'll understand the differences.

Did the Republicans that cite the "slam dunk" reversal of Sotomayor's New Haven appelate decision recognize that the reversal was a 5 – 4 decision. Are the four that sided with Sotomayor not qualified to be on the Supreme Court?

Good to hear someone making note of the bunch of old white men asking the questions questions to the nominee . I'm old and white, but there needs to be a lot more diversity in terms of age, gender, etc., on that most important committee. Glad you pointed this out, Rick. Many of us have been thinking it.

When will Dick Cheney ever be out of controversies? If he’s not a bad marksman while hunting, he’s on a wheel chair attending a historical presidential inaugural ceremony or named in a corporate shady deals. His hands are really full.

Finally! I have been wondering when the media would focus on the men making their sexist racist comments against Sotomayor while questioning her about being a "Wise Latina." Fact is, the world is witnessing what many women of any minority have to deal with when men have power. There's this attitude that it's okay to "joke" a certain way with women. As a Puerto Rican woman; I have heard it all and you Rick are finally pointing it out in the hearings Muchisimas Gracias Rick!

Hey Rick,
As to the "Wise Latina" comment, I think it has been perfectly anwered and explained via the blatent demonstration of "the good ole boy network" and how they have treated her in the way they asked her about her so "provatcative – Wise Latina' comment. Unbelievable.

Jay

Rick... I left out my name due to fear of retaliation from my own department. What happened to the Ricci fire fighters is common practice by government administrators at all levels. There exist a double standard and special standards when back filling positions by cultivating new methods of affirmative action and a disregard to standards and qualification of the same. To the extent that many veterans returning from serving our country are denied their rights under USERRA to be included in the promotional process by changing the set guidelines and testing process upon their return. Our county and department uses a curve formula that can be easily manipulated to pass or fail a certain group of test takers.

Rick,

It took wise caucasian men from July 4, 1776 until August 20, 1920 to give women the right to vote. A wise woman, Latina or not, would have reached that conclusion MUCH sooner.

Dawn

I have been glued to the Sotomayor confirmation hearings. I found many of the questions condescinding and very transparent. if this doesn't convince their constituents to vote them out, nothing will. Maybe they never took social behavior courses in college but surely they know that we are all products of our environments. Intelligent and thoughtful persons like the Judge have trained themselves to go beyond the many negative experiences and truly believe that years of work qualifying for all the positions she has held will count for something... we can only hope.

Rick...I'm a black male I think the question are appropriate lets be serious, Mr. Obama pick her for the Latino vote. Just because she is from the projects does not mean anything. I think these questions are great. I don't like the pick she will be a activist for the latin community. (no offense)

If Sotomayor might be considered to have a predisposition favoring Hispanics because she is Latina, then mightn't Anglos be considered to have some predisposition to Anglos? Clarence Thomas is not considered to have a predisposition towards Blacks. Why is that?
The Anglo mindset is that everyone other than Anglos will discriminate on the basis of race and gender when historic facts point at the hegemonic action of Anglos whenever they have control.

joseph mitchell

Just thought you'd like to know, there are a few non-white wise latina women. I've been married to one for 49 years.

Dear Rick,
I have tried so very hard to give your news station a second chance to redeem themselves from being so far out in left field over the past year and a half but I just can't do that anymore. Do you actually believe that the American people are so blind that they can not see the truth anymore. We want a fair and just news team. You can't be afraid of the HARD questions.....I thought that was what news what all about. We get one side from CNN and that is not considered NEWS. We the American public are not the blind ones......CNN Is!!!! The only half way truth that we get from CNN is from Lou Dobbs....And it sometimes seems that He is being pulled back somewhat, and that is a shame. My household is going to Fox and we are going to stay there.
Sorry, I wish your network were as it use to be.
Sincerely,
J. Fichtinger

Rick,
I'll make this short and sweet. You wouldn't expect anything more from a bunch of idiots. Women have been put down long enough. We need to stand behind Sotomayor and give those idiots with a taste of their own medicine. Phone calls, emails, etc. You name it!

Rick,

I have been told many times not to tune in to CNN, and today after listening to you a few minutes ago with this wise latina women nonsense, I won't be anymore.

I will say that I do not think this Judge should be a member of the Supreme Court and am sick of this Latino nonsense of hers. We are all proud of our heritage, I certainly am of my Italian heritage, but the thing that everyone forgets is, including you and this Judge, is that we are AMERICANS, and had neither one of you stayed in your former countries, you would not be where you are today.

My mother is a "Wise American Woman" of Italian descent, and my family and I are proud and honored to be called AMERICANS. This racial stuff has to end, and you should set the example.

Some esplaining to do???
Of course she has some esplaining to do !!! It is the process that makes the US what it is, or is it that wise latinas are excused from it?

I am glad she agrees with Martin Luther King's dream that his four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Or are we to have different rules for her and her Democrat friends.

You know and the rest of the nation knows that she will be confirmed, but never on the content of her character, but for being a Latina and nominated by her the Democrats to serve their purpose.

Please, please tell ALL about Senator Sessions who is implying that Sotomayor is a racist. I found on Wikipedia the following about the Senator who liked the KKK who murdered African Americans violently and other racist remarks: In 1986, Sessions was nominated for a federal judgeship by President Ronald Reagan. The nomination was killed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which refused by a 9-9 vote[3] to let the nomination come to the Senate floor for a vote. Sessions's opponents accused him of "gross insensitivity” on racial issues.[4] Sessions allegedly made a variety of comments that opponents pointed to, when he jokingly said that the Ku Klux Klan was not so bad until he found out that some of them smoked marijuana.[2][4] Sessions also allegedly referred to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as "un-American" and "Communist-inspired" because they "forced civil rights down the throats of people." At his confirmation hearings, Sessions said that the groups could be un-American when "they involve themselves in un-American positions" in foreign policy.[4][4] Sessions claimed that the remarks had been made in jest.[2][4] One of those voting against him was Democratic Senator Howell Heflin of Alabama.
Sessions was quoted then as saying that the Senate on occasion had been insensitive to the rights and reputation of nominees.[3] After joining the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sessions remarked that his presence there, alongside several of the members who voted against him, was a “great irony.”[3] To add to the irony, after Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania left the GOP to join the Democratic Party on April 28, 2009, Sessions was assigned to be the Ranking Member on the Senate Judiciary Committee. This means that if Republicans were able to regain control of the U.S. Senate while he was still serving that he would be the chairman of the very committee that shot him down.

As " a wise non-Latina woman," I have watched these Senate confirmation hearings with interest. I have been astounded, embarassed, appalled by the audacious, arrogant, sometimes patronizing questions asked of Judge Sotomayer by members of our Senate. The Lucy "'splain' '" remark was infuriating. Perhaps someone should have clued thse senators that they are questioning a Supreme Court nominee who happens to be a Latino woman and should be treated with the same respect they would have given to any male nominee regardless of race or ethnicity.

NOT CONSERVATIVE? THEN PUT THE BACKGROUND ASIDE

This article by Eric Deggans in today’s St. Pete Times was a masterful expose of the two faced racial bias of the Conservative Republican Senators questioning Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomoyer.
The leader in this charade was Senator Jeff Sessions, whose own blatant racism was so bad, a Committee made up of Republicans could not hold their noses long enough to elect him a Federal Judge when he was nominated some years ago.

This wonderful Senator represents the State of Alabama and has been so successful in doing so these many years that his State holds the rank of number 11 of the fifty States in worst rates of unemployment at 15.2 percent.
This may be because the drop out rate for high school students in Alabama is an amazing rate of 38 percent among all students and even higher rate for African American students

The Senator hasn’t done much to improve the poverty rate in his State either.
15,2 percent of Alabamans live below the United States poverty level, This is the fourth worst in the United States only exceeded by New Mexico, Texas and Mississippi in that order.

This man sits pontificating as though he were a man of great consequence instead of an out an out racist.

Your commentary on Judge Sotomayor leaves out what she put Fire Fighters Ricci and Vargas and others through in the five years of court fights. They worked hard to pass the tests and qualify for the promotion only to be turned down. Judge Sotomayor gave only a one paragraph response in her decision. She obviously let politics enter into her decisions and should not be on the Supreme Court or for that matter any court. You are showing your true colors as coward if you do not give the full story and support such a person for this important job. I know of both hispanic and black females more qualified and much more honest then her. Let the President do better job researching a candidate.

the smirk on your face when discussing the possible nomination of the Judge turns me off with respect to the senator's remarks and questions..Being raised in NYC, I always assumed there were no
stupid questions..what's with you....I lost some respect for you.

Can't you be at least somewhat even and not express your point of view
so blantantly.

I think it is very interesting that the democrats (inclucing you, rick sanchez) think it is appaling that these senators are questioning the judge on what kind of a supreme court judge she will make. I first want to say that I think she is a good pick, however to think she should get special treatment because she is a woman and a latina is so not what this is all about. She should not be treated any differently that Clarance Thomas was when he was raked over the coals at his comfirmation hearings. He was a black man that had all the credentials and the democrats could not stand the fact that he was a conservative. They went so far as to "plant" a woman to besmirch his character. As to one of your commentors Gloria, yes they do get it, thats the reason they are asking the questions that need to be asked.

Why don't your "wise Latino women" just go ahead and admit that they are as prejudiced as they are accusing the over 60, white, male Senators of being?????

Perhaps you forget, they are asking the questions politely (you say condescendingly) that their constituets want answered.

The goal of the Senators is to get answers. The goal of Judge Sotomayor is to be approved and she obviously knows that to not answer ther questions serves that purpose best.

I think Senator Graham had a lot of Gaul to read anonymous negative remarks at this important hearing, especially since I am aware that he has been a victim of anonymous negative steriotyping.

Did the Dems do that to Alito or Roberts?

Rick,
I am happy that we will have our Justice Marshall on the supreme
court again. I am African American and 61 years old. Grew up in
the south and saw Jim Crow in my lifetime. I see racism at work
big time.
I was happy when the president was elected. I was happy when
he nominated Judge Sotomayor to the supreme court. I will jump
with joy when she is confirmed. She will be Marshall's strength
there . I see it.
John

A room full of Southern white males and one Latina women. How is this equal?

As a retired Ford salaried personnel manager, I am appalled by the questions being asked by the Republicans. If this was a formal job interview, Sotomayor could (and probably would) go directly to the EEOC and file a complaint about the discriminatory nature of the questions from the "good old boy" white males.

Paul Boesel
Kansas City, MO

It's not up to Cheney or others to decide if Congress should be trusted or not. The Constitution should be RESPECTED AT ALL TIMES. If not, let's just get rid of it.

Well Rick as we all know you are cuban.Your family came to this country to allegedly escape oppression. This couuntry was around far longer than you and your family. You were allowed to enter this country because of our laws. Those same laws you seek to subvert through your broadcast , those same laws that "those old men " seek to uphold. While some of those old men are of questionable character that is not related to race.
Those same wise latino people threw rocks at demonstration of elders in front of the couthouse , there in Miami.
So Rick you must be a "wise Latino Man". You are totally off base. Read more about Sntomoyor. This country has been protected by those white men who lie dead MILLIONS not the few hispanics. The fact that you are allowed to put this blather on air.

Viva!!! Sonia Sotomayor is a "Wise Latina" for standing up to the hypocrisy and nonsense from all those 14 guys who don't really represent what we think in America. Republicans need to be very careful and not turn their backs on electing Sotomayor. We will remember when election time comes.

Sad

That was beautifully spoken, Rick.

I just heard your comments about your mother not speaking English and living in Miami – well said!!! Good for you!!

Rick...You couldn't be more eloquent or touching in your tribute to your Mom and Dad. They (and we) are so proud of you. You have a proud history and I'm happy to see you speak so honestly about it. You are awesome!

that was perfect Rick. Eloquent and 100% human. Your Mom has a wonderful success story in you.

Rick you make me smile....Thank you & Merci
JOP from Montréal Québec

It's amazing how a nation of immigrants tend to so quickly forget where they came from just a few generations down the line. Appreciated you highlighting your mom. New respect for you Rick.
feler-

Rick, well said about your mom and the angle presented by the wise Latina women. Excellent points on both.

Rick, the story about your family touched my heart - you are right– go back a few more decades or longer and your story is the same for most American families. Keep up the good work.

Come On Rick. YOU know these white head older white men are just showing everyone (and they don't even realize it themselves) that they have prejudices and bias for Women, number one and a hispanic woman number two. No matter how much education and qualification she has, deep seated biasis, racism and prejudice is just what it is!!! Nothing more!!! I am a Black American Woman. I see what is so obviousl BRAVO Judge Sotomayor I am so proud of you.

Wow, Rick, good job! We sometimes are rudely awakened to the fact that many Americans ARE far enough removed from the immigrant generation who put down roots here so their descendants would become successful. Too few have the touchstone of grandparents or parents who speak in another tongue, who worked hard as you said: not to become successful, but so their children and grandchildren and their great grandchildren would have better lives.

Your comments brought tears to my eyes. I know your Mom must be very proud of you!

You are an inspiration to those who are either sons and daughters of immagrants or those who are american citizens. I am planning on becoming an American citizen in the next few months. I watch your program every day.

Keep up the good work... Joe the Plumber has nothing on you...

well said rick! your mama, as thousands of others have given up their lives so that we, their reason for existing, can have the american dream.
love your show! love you!

Good for you Rick, but you should not have to make excuses for your Mother.
I was lucky enough to be brought to Canada from an English speaking country, so we never had that barrier. I was brought here so that I could have a better chance in life, and it worked out so well. I married a great man and we have been married for 44 years. My parents gave up a lot for me too, but on the other hand I have given up a lot for my children, including paying for their post-secondary education.
Every generation gives up something for their children – GO MUMS.

Thanks for telling us about your Mom and Dad and their sacrifice for you. I wish I could know about my immigrant ancestors who came a long time ago from Scotland or Ireland or England or who knows where. But I do know about my parents and the sacrifices they made for me. Tears of gratitude!!!

Becky

It's a shame that you just had to explain to SOME people why your Mother doesn't speak English. I'm a 50 year old "old hippie type" who is a middle-of-the-road Independent voter, but I have to admit I had never thought of this issue from this perspective! It just goes to show we can ALL learn something from others who got their start outside our borders. We should all be proud of your Mother and Father for the tenacity it took to make sure YOU got an education! You've definitely opened up my eyes a little more today!

Thanks for Everything you do, Rick!

John in Kentucky

Rick – your decision to explain why Mom did not speak English put tears in my eyes as I listened to you. Well done – I am in Canada but have followed the hearings very closely. Those Senators – a strange lot – it appears that they want to be critical only to impress their own egos. It is almost a farce sometimes listening to them.

You have a & caring beautiful mother and you have done well by her. keep up the good work!

Hi Rick,

Don't even listen to those knuckleheads that DARE criticize your mom! They need to be put in a time out! I think it was very brave of you to have your mom in the piece. You knew you would be subject to criticism and yet you went ahead because you are so proud of her. I only wish my sons were that proud of me.

I love your show and your mom seems to be so sweet.

Pat Hayes

Rick,well put on why your Mom doesn't speak English!!! Often people judge well before they have any

I think you did a nice job with your interview of "wise latina women" and an even better job explaining your point of view regarding your mother! I think it was touching and heartfelt. Shame on the people the speak ill of non-English speakers. Unless your Native American (I actually am of Apache decent) than your an immigrant. Perhaps an history lesson is in order. Good job Rick!

well said my friend about why your mom came to america it was not the fact of herself wanting a great life it was for you, well said, thats the most important speech I have ever heard from you, your statement really touched me thanks!

I think a wise Latina woman is making some white grey haired gentleman look very,very mundane.Bravo Sonia

Rick,

I just heard your comments about your parents inability to seak English. Good for you sticking up forthose who made you what you are and not forgetting where you came from. There are alsways going to be those with a negative attitudebut I say KUDOS to you.
Keep up the good work and always be proud of your heritage.

Congratulations! your support of the reason your Mom may not speak English was "heartrendering".....Thank you for reminding all of us that we are all the same....part of a human race that needs each to support and mentor the other...

Great Job..Hi to Mom!

Your Mom is awesome and so are you. Both of you should be really proud- you are an inspiration and a damn good TV guy!

Rick,
God blessed your mother with you. And she never has to speak english at all. As a black mother of 2 sons I currently work at a jail after 32 years so my sons can finish school at Texas A&M. Your mother should always be proud I'm a proud American of first, it was a proud moment for me to see a black president as should all latins be proud today. God bid us peace and harmony in this great country.

Thanks Rick for your explanation. I am movied by your story. You guys are doing a good job.

You are soooo good. Your Mother is BEAUTIFUL. No need to explain. But thanks.

rick,your prospective regarding your mom made me shade tears.it was very emotional for me as an african immigrant trying to do for my kids what she did for you.

I'm not a "wise Latina woman", but close enough, i feel.

I'm actually a 53 year old, gay, black, immigrant man from the Caribbean, living here over 35 years!!!

The nerve!!!
Who the heck are these white haired, obviously priveledged, old gaurd, men seen on TV at the Sotomayor hearings, to question her and us all??
Get over it!!
Stop the sideshow, and let the "Wise Latina Woman" get on with her new job!!

Hi Rick,
I loved your explanation about your parents and your perspective. What you, in essence, explained is what the American Dream is all about. You, your parents, and Judge Sonia Sotomayor are my heroes.

Rick,
Your comments about why your mother can't speak English because you can...brought tears to my eyes. So well done. So heartwarming. So charming. You are a very lucky man. So beautifully sentimental.

RW

I really appreciate your piece on CNN today about why your mom doesn't speak english. There are so many immigrants with similar stories. Immigrants invest in their children so that what they didn't get, their children will get. They want to be proud of their children and not proud of themselves. Your moms sacarifice really paid off. Congratulations! and kudos to your mom. Thank God for moms like her. Continue to make her proud and never forget your roots.

hi rick, you moved me to tears with ur comments about your mum, i am proud of both of you, she is a good mum like me. keep the good job up.

Rick,

Your comments about your mom's hard work so you could make it in this country was very touching because I come from a family who worked in the fields 10 to 12 hours a day 6 days a week. I am so very proud to say that I appreciate everything that they did for us. Sure we didn't have their attention like many spoiled brats in this country do, but we so much appreciate all their hard work. My parents didn't learn English and I had to translate everything for them. I SALUTE YOUR MOM, MY PARENTS AND ALL THOSE PARENTS WHO CHOOSE TO WORK HARD TO PUT THEIR KIDS FIRST AND MAKE SURE THEY DO MAKE IT IN THIS COUNTRY. I ALSO SALUTE ALL THE LATINA MOMS!!!!

Rick,
Thanks for your insight on your mom. I am also a 1958 baby.

Just listened to your boyhood story–your Mom working hard to make your life better. Wow, what a wonderful mother. Thank you for sharing your life's story with us.

Your comments on your mom made me cry Bravo Rick! You give your mom a big hug for me she did good.

Excellent eloquent explanation of your mother not speaking english. Just wish more people could understand how this country evolved and where we are now. From what i have seen, she did and outstanding job.

Mexican people are here illegally- our families di not d get here this way -and as emoutionally beutiful as it is- we are being overloaded with people from a country that needs fixed -That the proble -then we could be back in the mixture -when ever there is one race predominate -they always reach on supemacy rather equility- we should just fix mexico- and quit making emoutional pleas for mercy – plzz quoit making your pronblem america's probelm

Rick

Great piece from Mom's kitchen. I loved it! I don't think you have to explain to anyone why Mom doesn't speak English as it really isn't anyones business, however, I loved the way you explained it. I can't believe it was even questioned – yeah, I guess I can...........

Understand your explanation why Mom does not speak English, however I feel it was YOUR job to teach her!!! After all these years,
please!!

Ahh Rick, I'm so sorry that some peeps feel that your Mom should speak English, but please know that I'm not one of those peep. Listen, I've mentioned to you before, how much I love your commentating, simply because you behave like a Human Being, with compassion & understanding. I just want to add that your explanation as to why your Mom doesn't speak English Is a great!!! Reason, bless her sweet lil heart, Umm love & kisses to her from me. Oh by the way, I live right here In West Palm Beach, FL. Thanks for hearing me out, & God Bless you real good. Later, Shirley Bess

I understand exactly what you say about your mom and salute you for your comments.

Just watched you commenting on your mom and dad. Looks like they accomplished what they set out to do. Your comments were very honest and open and it is refreshing to see someone who comes from what others may view as meeger beginnings who has enough class and respect for his family to honor that. I'm sure you have made them proud. Keep up the great work!

Hey Rick
I never in my life have been moved by the comment you just made about what ur mother had gone thru so that you could be what you are.....i came from AFRICA and i can recon with you but a lot of folks are just so blindfolded by the fact that they never believed thier ancestor probably went thru the same.
i will from today on have a lot of admiration for you.

Hey rick I completely understand how u feel about ur mom, what you just brought me to tears and you are absolutely correct and i salute your mom for doing a great job you seem to be a good man and love the show, God bless !!!

Nobody seems to understand that racism will not die in this country. The following is a list of the problems:
1. minorities will not let it
2. Al Sharpton, Jessie Jackson, Rev. Wright, ACLU and racial profiling
3. CNN and the new "black in America" and now "latino in America" shows.
I am now out of time, but I am proud to have a black President and am not a racist. But we have to draw a line somewhere....

Rick,

I heard your comments about why your Mother does not speak English. I thought your comments were beautiful! You should be very proud of your Mother and she should be very proud of you. It certainly should make people think.

Rick, I was impressed with your commentary regarding your mother, even though I don't think you needed to "explain" why she didn't speak in english. I'll bet you that there are many Italian, Polish and other Eastern European 1st generation immigrants that still speak their native languagea at home. The Latina women piece should be enlightening to everyone, if we would all just take a pause and listen. I appreciate you and the perspective YOU bring.

C'mon, what do you expect these women think or say? Do they feel a little pressed or put under the microscope? good. This is not about Race, so enough with the "we had to walk a mile routine". And bye the way Rick, all our Mothers sacrificed for their children in some shape or form.We are all Americans! Let's drop the LABLES! The media creates a lot of turmoil. What has happened to unbiased reporting? Hope bout talking about the Health Care Bill or the 2nd STIMULUS on the way?

Unbelievable... But not really. Non-black Americans have been discriminating against blacks and prospered from it (what percentage of the fire dept are black vs the communities it serves) since before we were a country. And yet many (most?) non-blacks either deny racism exists or seem surprised when it's existance is patently obvious (Rodney King verdict, Dog the Bounty Hunter, Mr. Nappy headed Ho's, etc). The law suit is non-black America stating that having more than 90% of good jobs is simply not enough. Non-whites are afraid that now with a black president they will no longer enjoy their monopoly on higher paying desirable jobs. And sadly nothing is farther from the truth. The poor economy left by the Bush dynasty will ensure more lawsuits are filed (and rewarded) as non-blacks become increasingly despirate to maintain the old status quo.

And by the way, is it not interesting how many 'latinas' who hold the desirable, upper crust jobs are also non-black? Are there no black Cubans or Purto Ricans?

Again, America is side stepping a valuable opportunity to have truly meaningful discourse about race relations. Despite all this I love my country dearly and in my heart of hearts I know we, ALL of us Americans, will one day truly put this ugliness behind us and become the truly great nation we have the potential to become.

God bless America!

Re: Your Mother

TOUCHE

I thought the love and the way you talked about your mother was very touching. So many people do not know how to express their feelings and you not only expressed yours but also showed them to the world.Your mother is very lucky to have a wonderful son like you.

I'm not a wise Hispanic woman, but I am a woman of 77 who benefitted from the sacrifices of women like your mother. My paternal grandmother was a mill worker with a 4th grade education who worked in a Spartanburg, South Carolina, cotton mill for over 50 years. Her two children got college degrees. I have a Ph. D. My educational success was built on her sacrifice.

THANK YOU FOR TALKING BACK TO COMFORTABLE WHITE MALES WHO HAVE NEVER HAD TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OF THEIR WISDOM.

Constance F. Brothers

Hey rick, i really liked "wise women". I agree with your mom, i also feel very proud to have a Latina/Latina at the top as a federal judge. I really felt the connection with the comments the ladies made in "wise women".

I really agree with how you responded to the comments and questions on why your mom doesn't speak English.

I am so proud of how you answered in regards to your mom. The point is there are many other people who have been here a while and forget their families spoke other languages besides English. No one faults them. I had the same family origins too and I love them for the sacrifices they made for me. I am proud we have SotoMayer in the spotlight and I am not Puerto Rican but women like that open doors for our daughters to come. I am proud of how she handled herself.

Rick; I am in Toronto and I am very proud of your Mom .. I am so pleased that you honour her. I was the same way .. I came here to Canada so that my children could do well and succeed. I already had a degree and so things were a bit different than with your Mom. But God bless you and God bess your Mom. I know she's proud to have you as a son.

I say AMEN. To have parents that are willing to give up their comfort qne dreams to allow their children to go to school, get good jobs and begin a new life for the whole family is what the U.S. A. is all about.
Just continue to love and honor her and make sure her later years are as best as you cna possibly make them.
Dave

MR. SANCHEZ,
YOU MAKE ME PROUD!
YOU BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES!
YOUR BRIEF EXPLANATION REGARDING YOUR MOM BEING UNABLE TO SPEAK ENGLISH... WOW! IT REALLY HIT ME.
CAUSE SO MANY OF OUR MOTHERS HAVE SACRIFICED EVERYTHING FOR OUR CHILDREN... AND YOU EXPRESSED
THE APPRECIATION WE FEEL FOR OUR MOTHERS AND GRAND-
MOTHERS SO EMOTIONALLY.
BLESS YOU!
BUT, ABOVE ALL, SPECIAL BLESSINGS FOR YOUR MOM.
MOST SINCERELY, SARA-LI CAPELLA DE SALAZAR, MIAMI, FLA.

It is transparent to the media, or you just close your eyes, and may also be transparent to those who choose to select or not, the Supreme Court selection (nominee) by the President. She is obviously gender and racial biased, against the 2nd ammendment, and non-commital on Roe verses Wade. As a matter of fact she has not held a position on anything relevant to our country, nor answered any questions asked of her without blaming "Precedence" in her decisions....... None of those precedences can be identified as was asked by the Senate in this confirmation hearing.

Ms. (Judge) Sonya Sotomayor, is not a good representative in the Supreme Court to decide wheather the constitution should be construed by her, her or anyone else in this United States as to what it means, implies or grants as fundamental rights. She is dangerous too, too dangerous to be put in a position of authority such as the Supreme Court.
R/Bill, San Diego

Top O the Day Rick
I think you explained very well the reason your Mom does not speak English.
Bravo
My great great grandparents came here from Ireland during the Famine. I only say this so one does not think that my thoughts were personal.

Rick ,I have much respect for your moms sacrifices so as you put,"so I can".People are quick to judge without knowing the struggles!!! Much Love & Respect!!

Regarding Judge Sotomayor aka " A wise Latina woman"--the name Sonia means wisdom. I believe she has lived up to her name.

I was impressed with your story about the wise latino women in your life. It was very touching to hear your side of the story about your mom's reason for not speaking English. You have every right to be proud of your mom just like I'm sure she is proud of you. Keep up the good work.

rick your mother deserves a medal wish mine was like her

We LOVE you Rick !

Your story is my story, our story...much of America's history has been made up this way. Let's curtail the fear surrounding immigrants (aren't we all?) and look at ways we can try to have our system work BETTER.

Sotomayor is a shining example of hard working immigrants, by passing HUGH barriers, making meaningful inroads into this world of Anglo America...

Thanks for sharing your back story, I have even GREATER respect for you and your commentary knowing it...

Keep up the GREAT job you're doing, it's definitely meaningful !

Rick I appreciate the story about your mom not speaking englsh. But I must say that your explanation only works here in America. I'm relocating to Panama in a few weeks and there is no way I would be able to work there or buy anything without learning the language. And in all fairness to the country, out of respect I would feel obligated. How can I expect to reap any benefits or opportunities and not feel a need to at least attempt to learn the basic language. I lived in Miami Beach and remember being told in a Walmart that I needed to go to another store where they had people that spoke english. It also took 2hrs for them to find me a written test for my drivers license in english. Is that fair?

Rick, I am an immigrant too; I find the GOP's continued hammering on the "wise latina" comment offensive – as if Judge Sotomayor, with 17 years on the bench, needs to be told how to conduct herself.

It's clear they're pushing a race based argument, which I suppose is to be expected from what is fast becoming a fringe party.

Rick, I would like to refer to another perspective on the issue relating to the New Haven Fire Fighters, who successfully won their reverse discrimination case. I have no way of ascertaining whether the examination the firefighters so proudly took were indeed objectively and fairly administered and or achieved. While I have no evidence to the contrary, I am reminded of a similar situation that occurred in Philadelphia, PA, under the Mayorship of an infamous Mayor Rizzo. In the late 198's I have knowledge of information which indicates that certain white officers in the Police and Fire Fighters were given their tests prior to the date of examination date. They pass and the black Police and Firefighters was said to have performed poorly. This has been ongoing in some cities around the USA today. This is something I never forget and never spoke of since that time. I do not know if there are any similarities in this case. It is my opinion the exam that was allegedly tainted should have been rescheduled under different circumstances.
George

Rick, what a great American story, but cut the puppy dog face and sobby story!

Your mom did without so that you could be successful. Great, many moms and dads sacrificed for their children. Now, how about YOU
teach or have her taught English so that she can completely function in the country in which she lives.

Rick,

Thank you for your personal comments regarding your mother not speaking Spanish.

Interesting enough, my parents speak very little English. Much like your Mom, my parents came from Puerto Rico shortly after they got married. With very little, but lots of family love and values. I'm grateful for what my parents have given me, the American Dream, if you will.

Again, thank you for adding such a brief and awesome story about your Mom. It's a story that I'm sure many hispanics in the US can relate to.

Great job!

Hi Rick,
Like your show. I can't believe people commented that your Mom doesn't speak English!!!! She speaks her language right? What's wrong with that? Some people are so darn superficial, speaking english doesn't take you to the moon. What really matters is if a person is a good person. I wish I was fluent in my mother tongue. I can't teach my kids my language because I get frustrated with the words not coming out right & on time! Knowing english isn't bliss. You make her & your Dad proud. God bless you all with continued success.

I just saw your story featuring your Mother, and was compelled to comment. Rick, I love your show, and look forward to it every day. What your parents did to enable you to obtain a good education made me feel wonderful. Your parents are truly the heroes and heroins of this country. The fact that she doesn't speak English should not be an issue. Thank you for sharing your Mother with us-she is truly a special lady-someone that I would be proud to know.

these old men sitting down have nothing else to do just trying to make sonia look stupid but it will not work she is a strong woman dint these men know men cannot win that easy she will come out of this stronger leave her alone old bussurds

Rick,
I understand your prospective all too well. I'm a first generation Canadian and my mom doesn't speak English either. My parents came to Canada fifty years ago and do not speak English. They came here for a better life for my brother and I so I can relate to your situation big time. Now I speak 3 languages (English, French, and Italian). I guess this makes up for the languages that they never picked up... Just thought you might like to hear my perspective as well..
Regards.

I rarely watch TV during the day, but just switched on your show. Stayed on to hear what you came up with with "wise Latina women," and your follow-up on your mother not being expressive in English. I just wish everyone had a chance to hear this and reflect on their prejudices against immigrants. Most immigrants go through major disruption, hardship, just so their children can have a better life. You show what can be accomplished ! At one point in my working life, our office had a Vietnamese boat woman working with us. Her husband and her parents had ordered her to leave Vietnam for the benefit of the children, even though it could be they never saw each other again. Immigrants are strong and have dreams, not necessarily for themselves but for their children. Our country should salute them and offer them aid so that they and generations that follow, can be leaders of our country!

Hi Rick,
Bravo! Loved your report on Wise Latina Women. Boy oh boy, you went right into the heart of Latinas, Miami!

My favorite part was at the end when you explained why your mother didn't speak English. I'm a first generation American, and I often felt embarrassed or ashamed that my mother didn't speak English. But she too sacrificed her entire adult life so that my sister, a physician, my brother an successful computer programmer, and myself a Project Manager with a Master's Degree, all had the best my parents could offer. You brought tears to my eyes and made me understand what my mother has done for her family. Thank You.

Rick, thanks so much for what you do to help bring us all together! i have a multi cultural family mixed with black,mexican, Philipino, thai, and I love them all. I am an 81 yr.old white woman and by the way...those old white guys shouldn't be talking about abortions at all ! If you aren't a women then shut up about it. Blessings

Way to go brother Rick! Those that requre that all Americans speak English should visit central Europe where many speak several languages and are proud of it.

I appreciate you sharing with America that Hispanics have a story of sacrifice and accomplishment, and that we should not be ashamed of that, as some would want us to be.

I have been discriminated against in the past, but kept my composure as my parents have taught me. Despite those who practice hate, I believe I have succeeded. Your story is just another story of success among millions of success stores.

I know as a Hispanic male, I could have made better decisions that Supreme Court Justices who in the past continued to decide for discrimination against minorities and women, and against these citizens of America. Our higher government institutions have been the "old guard" for too long. It is now time for equality and fairness for all American citizens.

Keep up your insightful and eye-opening coverage!

Ken

I agree with you on your recent coments concerning the immigration of many latin-americans.

I'm on of the thousands of latinos who came to America seeking a better future..... My dad also sacrificed himself, washing dishes, so I can have an education and be successful.

Let everyine know that the majority of us are here to succeed and be a burden to society.

Thank you, Rick. We are proud of you!

Marcelo

Touching story about your mom. It sounds like most moms. So that means because she was a first generation immigrant that she couldnt learn to read English a little at a time? Come on. Your over dramatic, she didnt want to. You will never read this one.

Rick,

Thank you for your open and honest declaration of who you are and where you came from. As my grandmother used to say sometimes we forget who whe are and where we came from and get too big for our britches! I am not a Latina, but I am an African American and can relate to what it took to have our current and future generations thrive and survive! I love you Rick, and thanks for keepin' it honest!

I literally just finished watching this and it really touched me. My father came over from Chile with 2 t-shirts a pair of shorts and 5 dollars US. He sacrificed so much so that us three children could grow up comfortably and so that we would have every opportunity to succeed.

Today I came home after a frustrating day at school. I've been up studying until 2 am every night and I'm tired. It just so happens that a person like you, a person like me, was on tv to remind me where I come from and who lost more sleep than I ever will to give me the opportunity to attend this university.

Gracias por tu voz!

-Tacha

Rick, Your piece on "Wise Latina Women" was perfect. The public needs to hear & be more aware of these issues. Your parents obviously sacrafice all to give you are wonderful life. Bravo to them and you. I try to watch every day. Love your show!
Donna Nunziella-Ross

I had to turn off the TV for fear of raising my blood pressure too high when I read Wednesday morning of some of the insults Judge Sotomayor had to put up with on Tuesday: anonymous lawyers quoted as saying she "stuck out like a sore thumb." Republicans must have hired psychologists to learn how they could prompt a meltdown: I feel certain they did. Just incredibly vicious and stupid, etc. SO today when I heard you note the upcoming "Wise Latina Women" segment, it was like the wings of angels coming into my home. I relaxed and felt incredibly grateful. My folks came on the Mayflower, I'm a professional woman, age 71, but I relate in complete sisterhood to your much younger women whose parents were immigrants, and also to your marvelous mother. God Bless YOU, Rick Sanchez, and your entire family. Today I feel TV entered a new era and rose to a higher plane, a huge huge improvement over the usual fare. THANK YOU.

Rick, I was appauled that people would bring your mom into a disscussion. While I'm not Latino I live in Florida and have visited her area many times on business so I understand someone really not having the need to speak english where she lives. In any case she seems like a delightful lady and I was glad to see you speaking out on her behalf. It gave me a great deal of respect for you. I could have understood someone disagreement with some of the statements or whatever but not to bring you Mom into question. People need to learn some manners.

RICK SANCHEZ!!!

I watch you every day, at times in complete disagreement with you on some things...
BUT TODAY, RICK SANCHEZ YOU BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES... Tears of PRIDE, JOY and HONOR!!!

Some people are so indifferent and detached from the ties that bind especially that of our relatives.
I believe OUR MOTHERS deserve respect because they went FAR without speaking english!
YES RICK, BECAUSE YOU CAN... BECAUSEE YOU CAN!!!

Rick, Your comments today about your mother's non-English touched me deeply. I am a retired teacher and a mother of a son about your age and I can only imagine how proud your mother must be! You were elegant, smart and right on-point when you attempted to educate those who obviously needed it. Nicely done, Rick! Very poignant! How sad it is that in 2009 in this great country of ours, the ugliness of intolerance and prejudice keeps surfacing to spoil a moment of beauty as was the one with the Latino women and your mama that you televised recently. Yes, we have an African American president and that is a milestone, but we have so far to go still. It disgusts me how the Republicans are trying to taint Sotomayor's stellar career. "Kudos" to her keeping her dignity while enduring their slights, their insults and transparent fabrications. Perhaps she knows that her purpose in life is far above their shameful shenanigans!

Did Rick answer your question why a lot of immigrant don't speak English, after so many years of living here? When he explained why his mother doesn't speak English.
Thanks Rick.

Rick, as eloquent as T.V. gets, Bravo to the senior Mrs Sanchez, though I rarely agree with you, I was inspired by your mom and this time, by the son she raised.

My parents were from Rome. My dad spoke English fairly well ... he owned a grocery store and it was necessary for him to learn the language.

My mom took care of my two brothers and me. She didn't speak English as well as my dad and she was also too shy to speak whatever English she knew because she was terribly afraid to make a mistake.

I was never ashamed of either of my parents. They raised us in a loving, caring home ... and guess what? We spoke Italian at home, and my brothers and I learned a second language that way.

IMO, people who chide your mom for not speaking English are rather ignorant. Too much emphasis is put on such things. I'd rather it be noted what good, loving, decent people your parents are, rather than what language they speak.

Baci* e amore,
Mary Grace/Maria Grazia

Hi Rick!

Regarding your Mom and lady friends – all "wise Latina women'..Ithought they were Cubanos. It seems that People of Spanish or Portuguese linguistic background, regardless of their "racial' heritage of origin, automatically become a part of the world's newest race – "Latinos"! No one of the Latino "race" speaks Latin that I know of . Wouldn't it be more honest to speak of "Hispanicas" or "Portugesenas". Maybe to keep all tribal identities on an equal footing, we could use "Puerto Ricanistas", or "Mexicanistas" or "Germanistas" or "Jewistas" or, or, or....Get my drift?

Rick,

I respect your view. Your story is what makes America a wonderful place. People who truly understand the struggle will understand why your mom is truly a wise women. I come from parents who raised eight (8) children and struggled to give them a better life. My mom did not have the opportunity to go to college however she is a very wise woman. As an educated African American women raising two daughters, I constantly remind them of the struggles of their ancestors.

Rick,

The backbone of both Canada & the United States was, is and will continue to be those people who came here with nothing, worked, and created a successful life.

Where some Canadians & Americans have forgotten the national dream; those who came here with a dream, have not.

Your mother, regardless of the language she speaks, is a credit to her country of choice.

Regards,

Peter Bilodeau
Hawkesbury, ON
Canada

i just wanted to thank you for what you said in defense of your Latina mom and, by proxy, all Latina moms. It is really easy for people to sit in judgment from behind computer monitors where they don't have to be held accountable for their ignorance. I think you did a beautiful job explaining this phenomenon, so I won't belabor that point. Instead, I would say that those comments exemplify one of the problems we are still dealing with as a country. Everyone wants to be respected for who they are, including their unique qualities. However, they have no tolerance for difference in others.
More importantly, there is a lot of investment in maintaining the status quo. That means viewing Latina women from a certain lens, and maintaining white male dominance. The response to Sotomayor, like the response to your mother, is a response from fear that the status quo will change. Well, as an African American woman who is proud of judge Sotomayor, I say "bring on the change. Bring on the diversity."
As an African American woman, I understand the double bind that Latina women find themselves in when trying to a

I was moved by the Wise Latina womens' comments and most of all by your mother who worked so hard for you to have a good life. I have watched on CNN the Sotormayor hearings and these white blue eyed privileged men putting her on the spot for inspiring young women to get an education and be proud is disgusting to say the least. They kept trying to make her lose her cool but thank God she was too smart to fall into their trap. All four of my grandparents came from Norway. I am blue-eyed but I am also a woman and from watching the men interrogate Sotormayor in my soul I am a latina woman.

Rick Sanchez,

The story obout your mom in todays show in regards to "Wise Latino Women" made me tear up, i have never being able to understand why "my mom no speak any ingles" and the way you told your story helped me understand my mom even more...

Gracias

Jaime Ortega

Hi Rick. love your show. my husbands parents came here from Italy for the same reasons your mother came here. His mother learned to speak alittle English but his father did not. It was very hard because when they were sick docters could not understand them, when they went anywhere someone always had to be there . The biggest problem was my children and myself couldnt even have a conversation with him. I think that your mothers life would be so much richer if she was able to speak both spanish and English.

john hampton, if you read this, i need to contact you. your email? or twitter acct?

G'day Rick:
My wife and I were just watching you talk about your Mom & Dad and respond to criticisms about her inability to speak English. We like you and like the way you report the news. You Mom & Dad must be very proud of you and their sacrifices.
I am just finishing a class with PSU on Iberian-American Civilization so I would like to paste below my reasons for taking the class. It has opened my eyes wide on US Foreign Policy and indeed Spanish & Portuguese behaviours dating back to Columbus, the conquest and Independence. Please feel free to use my post any way you see fit.

Why am I taking this course?
My wife is a Panamanian & I am an Australian living in Utah, so I have been introduced to the Latino culture from the inside. My experience has taught me that Europeans & North Americans generally don’t understand the Latin culture and tend to think of it in terms of drugs, money laundering, corruption and extreme poverty. Much of our misunderstandings are based from the media (they only report on sensational issues) and focused on Mexico & Columbia for obvious reasons, However, I have learned first hand that the Latin culture is rich and sophisticated in many ways and vastly more conservative and disciplined than ours, especially in relationship to family values and spirituality. I asked my wife in 2006 to talk to me about Columbia & Columbians, especially since she was raised on the Island of Providencia (Columbian) because all that we hear about in the US is drug related and isolated stories about the FARC. She said "Oh, they are very well educated, innovative and hard working people. They are also very polite and respectful." We are visiting Columbia this year.

So since our new Global economies will be led by the emerging nations of China, India, Brazil, etc., it is incumbent upon us all to learn about these various cultures so that we can grow in harmony together. Let's face it, if we were more tolerant and knowledgeable about Islam, perhaps our (US) economic and foreign policy destiny would have been vastly different and less destructive?

This class will also give me the historical perspective for forming my value judgments and multicultural appreciation of this emerging and important part of our world.

Cheers
Peter & Yasmin

Rick my neighborhood is a melting pot of different ethnic groups and they don't all speak english , so other people often translate to help each other out.

But i only speak english and wish that i could speak spanish . what you said about your mother bringing you here to america was great ! and applies to alot of people in america .

Thanks , Barry Rector Harrisburg Pennsylvania
ps. keep being that much needed voice!

Rick,

About your commentary about your Mom touch my heart and the best thing I've heard in a long time. Most Americans forget that their ancestors came from somewhere else. Although I am African American, my Mom and Dad migrated to the North from the cotton fields of Georgia in the early forties so that I could receive the promise that your parents sought for you. CNN need to do a series on Hispanic in America. The American majority need to understand our perspective living in an America where the laws and rules were framed with "only" them in mind. Now, America is becoming inclusive, not exclusive! This is the American Dream! We the people, everyone!

I am proud that Rick has shown these people how rich in the Hispanic culture is. My only complaint is not all of us are Latino or Latina. I am Hispanic and my family comes from Spain. The journey to New Mexico began about 300 years ago when we came from Spain to the new world. I think the Hispanics are being lost to ignorant “white People” who just want control over people. Don’t just use that word “Latina “just for them. Just remember that our culture embraces the Black (from Dominican Republic and other countries) to the white (Venezuela, Columbia, and other countries) to the brown (Latin America countries) and the home land Spain. We do not have to deal with them.

DO NOT GET TO FOLLOW YOUR SHOW VERY OFTEN BUT DID TODAY. VERY DISAPPOINTED. IT SEEMED OVER HALF THE TIME COMMERCIALS WERE ON. KEPT WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE "WISE LATINO WOMEN"! REALIZE THE PROGRAM MUST BE PAID FOR BUT TODAY SEEMED WORSE THAN USUAL FOR CNN.

Hy,Rick,how about immigrants from Europe,who speak 3 or 4 languages,latino people at least should try to learn english,there is no excuse,because you live in U.S.A.,NOT IN YOUR BIRTH COUNTRY ANYMORE.Thank you.

Rick, You have brought tears to my eyes just a few minutes ago with your report on Latina women. specifically when you spoke about your mother. You see, I grew up a few blocks from you in Hialeah. We both are Cuban Americans with exactly the same social as well as cultural backgrounds. I have followed your career since channel 7 days. You are one of the few people that make me proud of being who I am. I have never e-mailed or blogged anyone in the media before. This is a first. Un hermano Cubano-Americano. Hector

On English & Spanish: First of all, I'm an American from West Virginia, who moved to California many years ago, and learned Spanish because I love people, and we all need to communicate. I speak Spanish and English well.

The message: I think it's fine that your mother has not focused on learning English, but you, Rick, should speak (or translate) better Spanish if you are going to translate for Spanish-speaking guests on your show (as you did for your mother). Your mother said she like Sotomayor because she came "de abajo" (from a lower or menial position, she meant) and later corrected you when you translated "from nowhere to "de nada". Sometimes it's hard to execute a direct translation, especially on emotional/poetic issues (eg dar la luz), but maybe you were a little shy (or something) and didn't do your mother justice. I would like to have heard more of what she had to say! Algunos de nosotros tienen mucho respecto para las viejas (sabiente de una vida larga) como la madre de Ud y tenemos interes in sus ideas de la "Latina sabiente"

Yes, your mother and other immigrants came to a nation conceived and established with blood, sweat and sacrifice by a relatively small group of overwhelmingly white, Western Europeans because this nation offers more freedom, justice, and opportunity than any other nation founded by whatever flavor, color or ethnicity. Although those nations south of the Rio Grande have had the same time frame to develope as the U.S. and Canada have, they continue to lag so far behind that that millions of "Latinos" attempt to escape their own nations and "rich cultures" for the benefits of that nation established by what would now be derisively and prejudicially called "old white men".

Hi Rick,
This is my first time ever responding online but thought that I must. I just caught the tail end of your conversation about your mother. I do not know how long that your parents have been in this country. But I will say that if they really wanted to learn English they could have in spite of the long hours worked. But they did not and do not have to in Miami among other places.

Thank you,
Roberto

I really don't care one way or the other if SS is confirmed or not. What I do care about is the way America, and a very few countries in this hemisphere with similar immigration policies, are turning on the very people who made these countries great and attractive as bastions of freedom and opportunity. The same people who wrote the documents that defined them all those years ago, their constitutions, their bills of rights, their legal and justice systems. Like it or not, they did all this, and now everyone who comes to these countries from lands where they would not be able to contribute openly to a blog like yours, is taking pot shots at them as they try to make sure that our way of life is maintained and defended by the most appropriate persons in positions of power like the USSC.

I watched every minute of Judge Sotomayor's testimony and can honestly say that she was the most thoughtful and intelligent participant in the hearings. She was like an athlete that on another level. I hope that she has set the standard for future nominees.

Of course a "wise" Latina has a better perspective and would reach a better conclusion on issues related to the plight of minorities in America than a white person whose only exposure to that life is West Side Story and articles they read on newspapers.
BTW, the only ones with a legitimate gripe about your Mom not speaking English in the USA are the descendents of native Americans, the rest are a bunch of hypocrites who prefer to ignore their heritage and the experiences of their immigrant families.

Rick, i'm proud of..... Who ever said ur mom does not speech English may only know one language just like ur wise beautiful mom. I was almost crying when u talk about ur mom.

HI RICK; JUST SAW YOUR INTERVIEW WITH YOUR MOM.....
THIS FROM A WISE LATINA WOMAN...I WOULD LIKE FOR
ON THE DAY JUDGE SOTOMAYOR GETS SWORN IN AS
SUPREME COURT JUDGE, FOR ALL LATINO WOMEN AND
MEN TO SING....FOR WHOM THE BELLLS TOLL, FOR
JUDGE SOTOMAYOR.. RING THOSE BELLS IN JOY AND
SAY, ONE NATION INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE
FOR ALLL, FOR WE ARE BLESSED TO BE BORN AND
OR RAISED IN THIS GREAT NATION. TRULY, MYrna

Wise Latino...?
Isn't "wise Latino" an oxymoron?

I get sick of people giving this lady her dues just because she was given a chance to do something.
Anybody from any race, religion or gender can be give a chance to do something and–if they have the desire–they can succeed.

This so-called wise judge throwing out test scores because the people she wanted to be included didn't make it...that's blatant ignorance.

Rick:

I have never contact CNN or any other media blog before. However, after listening to your comments regarding the sacrifices that your mother and father made for you has moved me to a response. I think you handled it, with honesty, humility, integrity, and PRIDE. I share the Pride that your parents have in YOU. Continued success.

Rick,

Your mother has to stand proud of the human being that she raised. You are the fruit of her and your father's hard work and love. I was touched by your comment about your mom not speaking english and how you responded to the public regarding this. My parents left my home country, Colombia, and came to N.Y. in 1966 when I was a little girl to do just what yours did. To work hard and make sure that their 4 children received the best education possible and thereby take advantage of the opportunities that this wonderful country has to offer because they knew that it would not be possible in our own country. It is not the language that one speaks that defines a person. It is the spirit, the genuine love and kindness with which we face each day and each person we cross paths with. I take my hat off to your parents as I do to mine. And we both know that "we can" because they made it possible for us. God bless you and your family.

Rick, I am an ESL teacher. I will soon be 70. I would love to teach your mom English if she would help me with my limited Spanish. The program is free, even the pencils. The older folks are the hardest to reach. I have volunteered to start a senior citizens group but no takers. I would do it for free. J. Woods

Thanks for sharing your story about your Mom "A Wise Latina Women". We often forget that the Germans, the Italians, etc. all came to America for the same opportunities. It is nice to hear that you both recogize and appreciate what your parents did so you could have a better life. Wouldn't it be nice if all of us would focus our combined energies to make America all it could be for ALL Americans!

Rick: I was surprised that you seemed to have taken a position in favor of Ricci and the "WHITE" firemen...And then your own response to the unfair comments about your beautiful mother's inability to speak English...And because sometimes you have affected me like a scratch against a blackboard (I remember you in Miami) and sometimes you pierce my heart, I want to ask you to think about the Ricci case this way: Suppose there was an upscale restaurant looking to expand their menu to traditional and elegant Cuban food and your mother applied for that job, but so did an anglo women who learned how to cook Spanish at the Culinary Institute of America who did not speak a word of spanish. And to get the job each applicant was required to take a written test but not create a meal. It would eliminate your mother, not because she wasn't qualified but because she didn't read English.....Would that be a fair test for employment???

I am Anglo. I lived in Miami in the early 2000s and taught briefly at FIU, bringing Native American (and multicultural) literature to a predominantly Cuban American class. It was one of the best times of my life....You can find my novel on Amazon for further info about me...

Finally, my sister and I were sitting with my 92 year old mother while we watched your remarks re your mother's English... What a wonderful commentary you presented....She has to be proud.

best.

I appreciate your comment about the sacrifices your mother made for you, as did many mothers from our generation, hoping to give their kids opportunities not afforded themselves. Nevertheless, is there another country in the world where you press 1 for English and 2 for Spanish? Imagine me a African American in any non English speaking country, and just see what conveineces are made for my language deficienies. I promise you none. So all I have to say, is when you're in Rome you do as the Romans do. In America, we speak English, Ebonics, or some other version of English.

I think everyone should learn the language of the land, and the government should not incurr unnecessary charges to accommodate them.

ENGLISH IS THE LANGUAGE IN AMERICA AND EVERYONE SHOULD SPEAK IT, PERIOD. SPEAK SPANISH AT HOME!

So why has it become suddenly alright for everyone to discriminate against the "white old men" in Congress? Everywhere I go including "enlightened" circles people always feel the need to criticize their race and their ages. Oh, so I guess it's ok when it's directed towards them? We're going to get no where unless we have some mutual respect.

Rick Thank you for sharing your wonderful Mom with us. America was built by women like her. She gave of herself to better her children. Thank you for sharing your parents story. They did a great job and Rick I think CNN are lucky to have you. What was beautiful that came out was the respect and Love you have for such a great and special woman your Mom. Great work!

I just watched watched your episode about wise Latino women in Miami. I too was wondering why your mom could not speak English and had no idea you were immigrants from Cuba. Nice to learn something new about you. Anyways, your comment about why she could not speak English was truly insightful. The problem with young parents today is they are not willing to make the sacrifices that your parents made for you. I'm glad you can appreciate the sacrifices your parents made for you and we would be a much better nation if more parents did the same.

David C. Sykes
Spring Hill, Fl

Rick, I thought your Mother was beautiful and I respect you for trying to bring some compassion and intelligence to the issue of racism against the hispanics in America! The Rush Limbaugh's and Joe Hannity's in the world are tearing our beautiful country a part when it comes to our friends from down south. The illegal and legal immigrants have helped to build this country and it's time we should show them our respect. Not Hate! If American's cannot handle the fact that most Hispanic came here for a better life for their children and MOST are taking the place of our American drug addicts, our lazy Americans, our Americans in Prison, our American on Welfare, our Mentally Ill Americans, our physical Ill Americans our Americans who are cheating the systems, etc., then perhaps they need to move to another country. We have needed the cheap labor and have used them to our advantage for many many years! I'm also sick of hearing 'I can't get a job because I don't know Spanish." Well quit crying about it and learn it. Knowing two languages will only make you more smart! What in the world is wrong with that! America needs to move on and grow up and quit blaming everyone else for what they helped to created! And for goodness sake, instead of spouting off about the immigrant situation, come to the table with solutions!!! America is great – so quit spreading the hate!

rick
i'm upset re news, tv, miamiherald, etc.
there was a shooting, 12 young people, a couple of blocks from miami central police station downtown miami on jul 6. at least two died(i don't remember where i saw that. now we hear all day long about 2 people shot in n fla, sotamayor, etc. the only thing i could find just now was on your old channel 7 internet search. that was posted 10 days ago reporting one dead. i hope i'm wrong but it's beginning to appear it's not big news because they were black. can you and your team check this out for me.

tom webber
5055 nw 7 st #1009
miami, fl 33126
305-788-0679
etwebbe@attg.net

Hey Rick,

I applaud you, I applaud your parents.....IF....they came to the USA legally...You and your family are proof positive of what can be accomplished in the USA and these accomplishments should serve to show why it is important to start out right....LEGALLY

It is way past time for hand wringing and tears when it comes to the majority of all races who also have been given opportunity....Bill Gates penchant for cheap foriegn labor is to the detriment of our citizens, as are all who cry out at never having an opportunity.

Like my grandfather (2nd generation Scottish) who was into dairy, corn and honey in the midwest, nothing good is all that easy, yet my ancestors made their mark in the USA . It is through hard work and tears generated by that hard work which equals success, not tears from any supposed inequalities.

Sonja Sotamayor, her mother and brother, you, your parents, my grandfather, my father,myself, and others have shown the path.....It is time for others to stop the whining and crying the shooting, the dying, and the fellows with the AK 47's. It is time to quit giving sainthood to all who scream injustice....Tell them to get in line, and go through the legal process if they feel race has been an injustice...Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Try using that one yourself and see how far it gets you..

Of course, if they still don't know what lines are for, if they still don't know what laws are for, well...maybe they need to go home and become educated, and then get back in line....LEGALLY

Rick, I was very impressed with your peice on "wise latina" women
I too grew up in Miami (Liberty City) and can appreciate the sacrifices your parents made on your behalf. My family made similar sacrifices
(imigrants from the Bahamas)which allowed me to move to Cleveland Ohio and pursue my goal of becoming an Aerospace Engineer. Thanks for sharing our story with those who don't understand the sacrifices imigrants made on behalf of thier
children.

MDB

My grandfather came to America a little over a hundred years ago and struggled his entire life as a hard working tailor. Although he always spoke his native language at home to his family, he realized the importance of learning English, and did so. By the times I was born, he always spoke English to me.

I don't know about your mom, but many immigrants deliberately choose to retain their identity by NOT learning English. They are afraid of becoming Americanized, and want to be distinguished as a separate group.

Hey Rick, whenever a crime occurs, it would be great if those found guilty were immediately made to pay damages to the victims; and that this was calculated via a formula - rather than lawyers fighting it out in court.

Rick, I thought your Mother to be a lovely woman. My Mother was German and learned to speak English but with great difficulty. Her and Dad spoke to each other in German most of the time for they were more comfortable with their own language. I will always be most grateful that my mother had the foresight to come to this country to marry and raise her children. She is no longer in this world and I honor her for her thoughtfulness at her birthday every year. It was the best thing she could have ever done for myself and my siblings.

Mr. Rick Sanchez,

I watched your CNN report / comment about why your Mother brought you here to the good old USA! That was the best speech I've ever heard, "very touching speech", your mother would be proud of you. That made think about why my mother brought me here from Thailand and the answer is for that same reason.

Great speech Man!!::: Maybe I could come and visit you in Miami?

Have a nice weekend!

I personally want to thank you for sharing this regardless if your mom speaks English or not. It doesn't negate the fact that she is a "Wise Latina". I would like to see more of this type of discourse; discussing issues from the Hispanic community. Just like there's a Black in America sequel, we need to see a Being Hispanic in America as well. Every cultures experience in this country is told differently and that's what makes this country great. We need to hear all stories.

Thanks Rick,

Hi Rich, I never reply to TV commentaries, except this this time. My mother fled Rafael Trujillo's brutal Dominican dictatorship in the early 1950-'s. She had been a teacher there, but when she arrived here she took whatever job she could find so that I could express myself freely and live in a democratic country. My father was also senteced to 30 years exile by the regime.

My mother chose not to pay for English lessons for her so that she could afford to send me to private international schoolsto learn, English and French and other languages. It's thanks to her sacrifices that I am now an award-winning international interior designer and author. My newnovel "Carnival of Memories" speaks of these types of families. It also pays homage to mothers like yours and mine, who sacrificed everything so you and I can now have charmed lives. I wish you could read my book because I am sure you, your mother and the Latina professional ladies you interviewed willfind themselves in my book.

Your mother and mine are heroines!

Yocasta Fareri

Rick, thanks for telling it like it is! I'm so proud of the way you stoud up for your Mom, I'm a single Mom of two boys Javier 14 and Ricardo 5
and if I have to work 2 jobs the rest of my life to make sure my kids get the upsolute best education I will. Keep up the good work and keep making your Mama proud!

Betty

Hi Rick,

Your mom sacrificed so that you could be successful - I understand that, my parents did the same for me. Now that you are successful, why don't you give back and get your mom some English classes? That is, assuming that she desires to speak the language of the land.

I think it's great to be bilingual, but if you're an American, or have lived in America for as long as your mother has, I believe it's a pity to not be able to speak English.

Thanks for your story, your mom is delightful.

You know Rick, the audacity of one of my senators,Lindsey Graham, to question Mrs Sotomayor's morality.When he resides in a state, South Carolina, where every African American like myself, gets to see the Confederate flag wave everyday on capital grounds,does that mean his heritage should demean mine because he's a white man and I'm not.Is that suppose to make him better than me? My experience as a black man in the south has made me a better judge of that life, because no white man in the UNITED STATES has ever been through what we have, at least you have your heritage Rick.Mine is in the Atlantic.

Rick I totally agree with you. Your mom does not need to speak english, all she needed to do was raise you right and it seems that she did. She looks like a very kind and loving mother and person. And I like the way you defended her. I'm from the Jamaica and speak english, and have no problems with my latina and latino friends who like to speak in espanol.

It is nice to see how proud you are of your roots. I am a "wise latina" from Puerto Rico and even when I can communicate effectively in English, some people do not considere me "smart enough" because I have an accent. And I respond to that: "I may speak with an accent, but I do not think with an accent".

Ivette Jimenez

Rick,
More power to your mom! My hubby is Puerto Rican, and by rejecting statehood, PRans have voted again and again to speak Spanish rather than vote for Congress and President!

Hi Rick,

I like you i came to the US with my parents that to this day cant speak English it really make my proud what you say , that your mom came to the US NOT to become successful but for you to become successful i feel the same way about my parents and I thank them for allowing me and my sister the opportunity of enjoin and having a live and this country

I think the Republican should stop beating a dead horse on her statement of a wise latino woman especially that guy Session. He has the nerve to question Miss Sotomayor statement, when has made numerous racial statements and comments. I taught Lindsey Graham questioning was very condescending, as if he was talking to child. I'm sorry she apologies for making that statement, because she was right. Comment from a "WISE CARIBBEAN WOMAN"

Good afternoon Rick First let me start by say your mother is a beautiful woman and thank you for trying to keep an open mind when reporting. I don’t know why but I’m always amazed at how easy it is for those that has never had to struggle as your parents and mine did just to put food on the table, to forget that America is the land of opportunity, non of the critics that has a problem with the fact that your mom doesn’t speak English because she made you and your education and success the priority has ever stopped to think that somewhere in their history or family tree there is someone that has done the very same things your mom did

Rick I almost cry when you gave the explanation about your mom limitations expressing her self in English. I will be 50 next month a U.S ARMY veteran. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Puerto Rico, came to the U.S. in1978, still English is my second language. I believe that we need to take in consideration that due to the fact that we don't understand much about the brain is harder for some of us to learn a second language. Your explanation clarify to me why when my mother died my father sent me to Puerto Rico to live with relatives, I was only seven years old but he understood that my probabilities to be sucessful where higher in Puerto Rico than in the Dominican Republic. Prayse God for our immigrants parents.

Congratulations Rick Sanchez ! I believe you handled the situation regarding your Mother's ability to speak english or not, professionally and with pride. I doubt if I could have been so calm. Your explaination was honest and true to what your heart felt. When I heard your Mother speak; I didn't see any red flags. The topic wasn't if your Mom could speak english or not. Great job Mr. Sanchez, you have a lovely family and amazing group of friends..

Sincerely,

Anthony

Rick,

I just saw your story regarding your mother. It was very well said. I could not help but think of many hispanics in the United States with similar backgrounds and sucess stories. I live in El Paso, Texas where there are many first generation Americans with immigrant parents who have become professionals. You're doing a great job representing the latino community with your high profile job. Keep up the good job.

Thank you for sharing the information on your parents and yourself, I found this very moving. God bless your mother nad the many more like her.

I was looking at your video with your mama and heard your remarks about why se dosn't speak English. I'm a 1st generation Cuban American, came from Cuba 12 years ago, was luckie enought to married an american, learn English and use my degree to get a better life here. But I have many Cuban clients and other immigrants clients that do not have the same opportunity or education and work hard and struggle a lot in order to give their children a better life and don't have . I share this because I understand your history and I like the way you explained. I hope the message that your video had about powerful latina women dons't get lost in mindful pregitism.

Rick, All I can say is how rude! The nerve of that person asking something like that concerning your mother. They owe you and your mother an apology. I am a 55 year old African American female that was discriminated againt by my Toyota Dealership where I was the Finance Manager for over 3 years after going on sick leave they fired me and replaced me with a young white female and a middle aged white man. I worked 6 days a week 70 hours a week. my cases have not been settled yet, I have had 3 surgeries nothing settled from workmans comp either. We have 3 children and 6 grandchildren our youngest Ryan has served in Quwiat and the latest Iraq coming home in January, his wife is Hispanic and she is not just my daughter n law she is my daughter. When I watch the news and listen to racist comments its saddends me. Are we still in 1950? Thank
God for Barack Obama that is changing history daily.
my husband and I love CNN your very fair with the news, it is unfortunate that people are so biased.

Rick keep up the good work! God Bless and Your Mom

Rick: your snide remarks about old white men questioning a wise latina woman was another hint as to where your feelings lie. Your remarks about old white men made by a forty + or – latino male , who thinks he's above reproach hit a nerve.I did not find it amusing . Those wise old gray head men and others before them, fought in wars so that smart mouths like you can malign them. Your family came here through the kindness of the American citizens, so that they could escape Castro and his regime. Judge Sotomayor, discriminated in her decision against white and Latino firefighters, and but for the fairness of judge Cabranes, it would have faded into oblivian. He's a latino male to be proud of, and we need more of type. EVERYONE, Whites, Latinos, African Americans and Asians who pass a test , with top marks , should not be disqualified due to their race or ethnicity. Now that we have a black president, don't you think that this affirmative action should be reexamined and corrected?.

Throw the first stone at Sotomayo if you’ve not made an unpopular statement in your entire life.

Rick, people come to the USA to better their lives for themselves or their children. My mother after her divorce with my father migrated from Puerto Rico in 1963. My mother didn,t speak a word of English, however on her own she manage to learn the language.

Just because you add "no offense" after an offensive comment doesn't suddenly make it less racist. I doubt that one of the previous comments actually came from a black man, but on the off chance that it did, you need to check yourself. We can't ask to be treated equally, then stand by, or commit, racist/prejudiced/biased acts and comments.

Our country is made up of people with various views, we get to hear them all and come to our own conclusions. I found your comments refreshing and they filled me with pride, because you took a brave stand to state your views on a national stage. I'm grateful CNN provided time for your commentary. I do disagree with your comments regarding your mom and dad, in a way they are wealthy and successful because you are.

Good evening Rick, I want to make a brief statement about the last thing that just irked me to no end. The comment about your mom not speaking English...

We are indigenous to this country, though my grandmother spoke English it was a halting version blended with her Cherokee/Ethiopian peoples dialect.....For various reasons the women refused to fully speak English-enslavement being one of them...

My comment is that the exact same words that she used always, always corresponded with the English meaning of the same words! My Grand parents also worked very hard and put us first! Knowing that we would have a better chance. We need to grow more with regards to our pinched ideologies. Please share my comments with the world. We can stand up for Sonia Sotomayor because her story is not unlike many of ours....I just never lived in the projects

Thank you for sharing that story, your story; collectively OUR story from a Nation of immigrants!

Yeshimebet

it's terrible you had to defend your mom.she seem so nice god blessher and you

Let a "white" male say that a wise "Anglo" man could make a better decision and see how long he lasts as a public figure. Rick Sanchez, CNN and every ethno-centrist special interest group in the country would be self-righteously demanding his head and labeling him the worst kind of racist.

Rick the only reason you got your job a CNN is because you are WHITE with a HISPANIC last name. Lets face facts pal!

Rick,
To hear that some question your mom inability to express herself in English, saddens me. When my grandfather came to this country fron Austria, he had to change his last name so that he could work in the coal mines and provide for his family.

Your mom belongs here just as much as those born here. Please tell your mom, from my family (Polish decent) "mi casa es su casa"
Bob

Your story was fine but really your mother has been here long enough to have learned to speak english. Now from where I come from, my ancestors came in the very early 1600s. They did not come with much of anything. No money, no homes are anything but their hands to work with. Yours came when they had already had the worst paved for them. If you went back into our history you would find it was the pioneers that really had the hard times. Not the later emigrants that could come in and find a job, housing etc. I think the white pioneers that made this country should be remembered. As far as the wise latino women there is plenty of wise white women and men that has made it possible for your people to be in this country.

Rick, heard your segment on why your mother does not speak english , it was great , and good reminder to all those privileged whites who were fortunate enough come across on the mayflower, and that, they were not part of the slave boats reaching America, and or, those who were herded into the reservation , or those who were brought over, only to work in the fields for meager wages. You will never win over these narrow minded people, but keep speaking the good word.

At my age (73), born and raised in Honolulu, Hi of Chinese, Hawaiian, Spanish heritage, educated in California and lived in New York/ San Francisco/ Las Vegas. I have met with so many issues even at the time when I was only one (1) of three(3) minorities that were flight qualified pilot/flight engineer/navagaitor with Pan American World Airways flying the B707 Jets. Your reporting of the very educated and successful five(5) Latino women reflects such a blessing to just reflect how far we all have come and just what is being somewhat (witch hunt) reflected in the Sotomayor hearings, etc. Maybe it finally took our great country to have a President in Obama. Appreciate your coverage.

It concerns me that Rick's mother does not speak English. She has lived in this country for many years where English lessons are free at the local libraries. If you want to enjoy the comforts of America, our government should insist that immigrants learn to speak our language.
What a sad situation Rick's mother is in. She cannot enjoy the friendship of Americans unless they speak Spanish to her.

I was moved by all what your Mom went through... Sweet Mother.

Rick; Thank God for parents like yours, who know the value of education for their children, and are willing to do what it takes, no matter the sacrifice, to make it happen for them. Too many children in our country today are slipping through the cracks of the school system due to parents unwilling to push, leaving children out of the loop when it comes to getting good jobs, and even leaving some unable to comunicate intelligently. You are a very articulate person, a pleasure to listen to, and I thank your parents for that pleasure. There are far more important matters for consideration than the learning of a language. I say God bless them, they knew where to place their priorities.

I enjoyed Rick Sanchez's segment on "Wise Latino Women" Indeed they were wise and beautiful, especially Rick's mom. I did however; find these Latino women's answers concerning Judge Sotomayor's conformation troubling. The pride of ethnic background seemed to be what attracted these women to this candidate. Even the theme of the segment was to determine how these Latino Women viewed this Latino Candidate. If Americans can not overcome the thought process that draws their allegiance first and foremost as Latino, or Black, or Asian and then secondary as American, then our country is destined to be no more than a society of tribes. I

Rick, now you know just as well as I. That your mother does not speak english because she doesn't have too. The main reason and every body knows it especially black people. THAT MIAMI IS FOR CUBANS and they don't have to if they don't care. From getting a job, good job. Loans and anything else you want. Other immigrants get it, because its the right thing to do. For a country that has given so much to you? And I believe you know the names of countless others just as I do. God bless the USA. Now lets eat some black beans and rice, roasted pork and don't forget the plaintains.

I am an Anglo woman married to a Hispanic male from New Mexico. Many of his aunts and uncles speak mostly in Spanish as do many of their generation here and they were not immigrants. They were not allowed to speak it in school here many years ago so chose to speak it at home as it was their heritage. I am an immigrant from England who had many difficulties speaking the true English language to many American born citizens so perhaps those here who criticize people like your mother should pay more attention to learning the correct English language before passing judgment. Be proud of your mother who should be allowed to think and express her feelings in whatever language she chooses. She has earned that right as she has raised a terrific, productive son and I wonder if those who criticize her have done the same?

Rick, your Wise Latina women segment was much too short.
I really wanted to hear all of the ladies speak.
Judge Sotomayor was totally professional on each of these
days of tough questioning.
Did anyone in that room, besides her, know that Puerto Rico is
part of the United States.
I just saw bits and pieces of prejudice in these last 4 days.
She is so qualified, she is smarter than any of these old
guys that questioned her.
Thanks. Also, your mom is beautiful.

You know Rick, the audacity of one of my senators; Sen.Lindsey Graham, to question Mrs.Sotomayor's statement and twist it along with the other senators in the Republican party and FOX news(fair and balance my ass). When he and i reside in a state,South Carolina, where every African American like myself get to see and or are aware of the Confederate flag waving back and forth on state capital grounds, with all its glorious meaning behind it. I accept that, even as a black man, does that mean his heritage is better than mine. A lot of people would love for it to come down, I say let it fly, as a reminder, to those of them who would soon forget that the slavery,bigotry, and savagery comitted by the white man behind that flag reminds all African Americans of their lost heritage deep in the bottom of the Atlantic ocean. I can guarantee i am a better judge of this black mans life,WHICH NO WHITE MAN COULD EVER LIVE.

Im a 59 year old German/ Native American. I was in tears when I heard you have to try an explain to anyone about your Mother not speaking Englsh. I am no longer , nor have been at the shallow dispaly of some of my fellow citizens. It is an honor to hear of your story and I would shake your hand with tears in my eyes at the thought of anyone daring to say anything against your Mother , Family, Heritage. I was almost uncontrolled today as I watched these Old White Men with such daring to ask such political bull questions. Most of them on both sides of the aisle could not carry the Honerable Judge Sonja Sotomayor briefcase.They should all be held to term limits and be made to get a real job. I would love to ask them all one question. When will I get the same medical Insurance as they ? When I receive the same. Then they can continue to receive theirs. Thanks Bud, and Please give a big ol Texas, German / Native American (Comanche) hug next time you see your Mother for me. Yepper, Cutter Brandenburg Temple , Texas.

RICK My decease mother-in-law was born in Panama, and could not speak a lick of spanish, so who cares as long their children turn out to be good citizen of the world. I was born in Aruba, and my spanish is better than my native tongue, which is papiamento and dutch. So you see Rick who cares, what a wonderful production she produce.

I am a Canadian living in Toronto and covered by a provincial health plan. Our taxation rate is higher than the US and our health care is financed by our taxes. No one dies on the streets, everyone that needs medical care gets it. Granted there are some non-life threatening procedures that has a waiting period. My husband had a heart attack at home a few years ago, had emergency care at home, before he was transported to the hospital. Tests show that he has 99% blockage of his major arteries. He underwent triple bypass surgery within 2 days, recovered well and is now back to normal. All these care costs me $0. Anyone that says Canadian health care is horrible are spreading rumors and use scare tactics. Rick, I will be glad to hook you up with folks who can provide you with a good understanding of the values and strengths of the Canadian health care system. This does not mean that this system is perfect. On balance, we have a great system.

Dear Rick Sanchez – I happen to catch the end of your piece on your mothers’ lack of English language skills. I was proud to see a Latino man on national television defend his mother’s honor and family cultural legacy so eloquently. It brought tears to my eyes. I direct a Latino after school enrichment program “Jovenes de Salud” in the Twin Cities, MN. Your words to the audience echoed what I tell my students, but for some reason when they came from you, the words went directly to my heart. It reminded me of my own plight as a Latina living in two worlds. Of my abuela, my titi whom I was named after, all the important women who molded my life. These wonderful women (and men) never spoke English. They’re gone now, but their sacrifice for me . . . and my children and my children’s children was honored through your piece today. gracias!

Usually, I watch your short funny video clip edited by John stuart , I thought you are a real comedian but when I watch your show on CNN with your remarkable comments on how your parents had sacrifice their life , in order to support you and become a complete well educated, successful citizen in a society . It really intrigues me. Wish we could ‘ve a people like you in our community……

I was a kid in Brooklyn in the 1930s, when poor was the only
game around. Mom & pop learned English & we spoke it at
home. Maybe your mom's lack of English didn't affect you,
but look around and see what goes on among the Hispanic kids
as their dropout rate soars and they stand little chance of achieving
a Rick Sanchez career. English is not the whole story, but too many
minority families short-change their kids by not pushing learning as
the road to a chance at success.
P.S. - I handled many cases for minorities, in adult and juvenile
criminal courts, and could not make a dent in the thinking, or lack
of it, in their communities. Where are the Hispanic and black sports
stars and other celebrities in explaining in schools and neighborhoods
that education, not noisy music, is crucial for a chance at a good life.
Take a look at the Asian kids.

Al Best Farmington Hills, MI

Mr. Sanchez,
You should be very proud of your mother and her sacrifices so you could achievement. My father's parents came through Ellis Island escaping Mousilini. They spoke Italian solely, but insisted upon their children learning and speaking English for the very reasons you stated about your Mother. I'm proud to have come from a family of immigrants...immigrants have been the golden threads that make up the tapestry called the USA. We should be proud of the contributions so many have made whose cultural roots began in some other country. We have let ourselves become so polarized due to ideologies either too far right or too far left. We live in a country where just six months ago watched history being made with the inauguration of Barack Obama, and yet some people question the language of choice of your mother. I'm of Italian decent, but above all I am an American...an American who is extremely proud to know that Judge Sotomayor has the opportunity to rise to the highest court in the land; an American who is proud to have the stature of a man like Barack Obama as my President; an American whose proud to be a native Californian, the first state to send two women to the US Senate, at the same time! From what I have read, and observed during the confirmation hearings, Sonia Sotomayor will be an incredible justice of the United States Supreme Court. On a personal note continue to be proud of your MOTHER and thank you on your human interest piece on "Latina Women." It is always enriching to hear the perspectives of all culturals...if only ALL of us would listen.

Rick, I appreciate and thank you for your comments on your show today why your mother, GOD bless her doesn't speek english.First of all it's none of their business.My Grandfather came to the U.S. when he was 17 yrs. old. He worked on the railroad then went back to Sicily married my Grandmother and brought her and his two brothers back to the U.S. so they could have a better life.My Grandmother died when I was 8 years old and I never understood a word she said because she would not learn english.She wanted to keep as much of her hertiage as possible.I am proud of my hertiage and love my Grandparents for all their sacrafices so their children could have a better life. Most of the people in the U.S. do not understand what our family had to go through to make it better for their children and family.
I think you have a great show and keep up the great job.
Frank Napoli

I enjoy your segments on CNN particularly when you speak Spanish with a BBC correspondent or more recently with your mother and other wise latina women. Comments critical of your mother not speaking English are thoughtless and cruel. All of us should speak more languages as happens in Europe. My grandfather was an immigrant, of Franch-Canadian backround and a Canuck meaning his origins go way back in Quebec history to French and Native American parentage. Canucks were looked down on in Massachusets. He did learn English but he used it in a most fractured way. He thought in French and was most comfortable in French. Those who believe everyone should speak English make me sad, they miss the culture that comes from knowing another language.

Rick,
I am a descendent of Irish, English, French and Blackfoot native American. I was fortunate to marry a "Latino" which gave me an enriched life and an added perspective into what a democracy is.
I have repeatedly seen a sudden change in attitude when this "white" American pronounces her last name. Does the fact that my name is Fernández, make me any less American?
I hope that Judge Sotomayor is confirmed. If these racist good ole boys, continue to imply that because she is Latino, she cannot be capable of being impartial, they can count on me actively campaigning against them when they are up for reelection.
I would like to ask any one of them if they have not ever spoken a racist comment or have not at any time implied that white males are better than just about anyone, white women in particular. So enough with the Wise Latina argument. Work on looking at her record on the bench and her qualifications. If that is the only thing they can find to argue about, ...basta ya!
Además quiero felicitarle a tu dignísima madre. Obviamente ella es una sabia mujer latina.
L. Fernández

I read the comments on your blog; its funny that people can cut down and say derogatory remarks about the white male republicans (even you) who are sitting on the judiciary committee, but when judge Sotomayor makes comments in regards to Wise Latina's are better than white males, where she stated it 7 different times or her not hearing the Ricci case; who then is in the wrong.

I would like to know Is there a doubled standard, that would be a great show for you to do and is it acceptable to have a double standard.

I'm right there with you, Rick. My great grandmother ran sewing machines in New York City in what would be considered a sweat shop by today's standards. She learned how to run 2 machines by using her right side arm and leg for one and her left side for the other, earning double what the others earned...talk about enginuity! Others in the family cleaned office buildings at night and others worked the graveyard shift at the steel mills. We are truely 'standing on the shoulders of giants.' I think the nation should return to respecting ALL WHO WORK, not just the high profile stuff, but EVERYONE who contributes. That shoul be the lesson of this recession...a return to common sense civility!

Sonia Sotomayor's education, life experiences, and unblemished judicial record take a back seat to her demeanor and the professionalism she has shown throughout these hearings. I suspect the insistence of some of the senators in the Judiciary Committee to focus on a couple of issues and repeat the same litany of charges over and over again was influenced by the expectations of their constituents, which considering where some of them are from, should not surprise anyone. While it is clear that they have not succeeded in producing a meltdown, they have definitely alienated the few Hispanics who held out hope the GOP was still the party of Lincoln, instead of one whose mantra is more in line with white supremacist ideals, prejudices and fears.

Rick I just lost my mother and I can remember her working three jobs"just to keep food&close on. our back.. Rick my mother was SMART June 8 2009 she pass away in our. home. My mother loved all nine of her children. She was the strongest an proud Black women I ever know..See our family ancester walk out the door to know return. My mother just wanted the best for her 9 children . Rick I watch CNN all day every day she gave us the best that she could . Rick I think there is time for the rich

Rick, Bravo to your Parents for their undeniable "labor of love"! Just a new perspective ...... my Father immigrated to this Country in the throes of the Great Depression. He arrived with only the clothes on his back, unable to speak or read or write English. He sought work wherever he could find it, washing dishes, manual labor. He was limited by his meager education; but that didn't stop him from attending night school and learning the ENGLISH language. Within a few years, he was married, began to raise a family, and gave his three children the higher education he was never privileged to have. Yes, he spoke with a slight accent; but that is what made him so unique! I am so proud of my Father's determination to be "American"; and he was always so proud of living in "God's Country"!

Rick, I am from the inside. I have lived all my life in South Texas. I have relatives in central Mexico. I have a distinct Anglo name. Throughout all my working career I have been the only white person or sometime 1-2 others. My supervisors and bosses were all Hispanic. My principals, Superintendents, bankers and even my financial aid directors were always Hispanic. My financial aid director harassed me constantly and made me write reasons why he should allow me financial aid, which were student loans. I would always lose out to a job to an Hispanic if one applying for the same job. I have listen to all the white jokes and the complaints that white people are the reasons for all their problems.

I have been unemployed for nearly 2 years simply because an Hispanic supervisor called me up and said don't come back to work. I only knew the guy for 2 weeks. I was just reassigned to the new duty station. I had 17 years with the service and knew my job pretty well. I wrote the regional director, who is also Hispanic, that person just took it for granted that I deserved to be terminated. After almost a year, they decided to allow me to be hired back but like a person off the street. After more than a year they are still processing me. This supervisor, who did not even know me, has taken upon himself to target me and destroy my life. And about the not learning english so you can, I see it all the time. People who have just become naturalized citizens don't any english when then supposedly just took the test. My own mother never learned english because she didn't have to. Her bosses and other workers could speak both english and Spanish and she did not want to try to learn english. On my father's side of the family, they migrated from Germany, Switzerland and Sweden. They all still had accents but I remember that learning to speak english was their first prority along with creating a career for themselves. My wife's relatives would visit us and claimed they didn't know english but they would always read my newspaper before I got it. They would always say no abla english.

My wife entered school not knowing english. She learned it pretty quickly. Being teachers, we have seen first hand how bilingual education doesn't work. Instead, these students become deficient because they never learn spanish or english properly. They are always behind the other students. Studies have shown that students will not lose their Spanish abilities if educated in english because Spanish is spoken at home. My wife will be the first to tell you this is all true. How could those firefighters not be able to pass the supervisory test if they were educated in english? I can site one recent job that I lost out to a young Hispanic female who is barely out of college. I have a whole career of education, training and experiences yet they selected her. Now is that fair?
Thanks for listening to me. I am not a bigot. I am just afrain this affirmative action has destroyed my life.

Rick,

I went home for lunch and was happy to catch the segment on your mom. That was very moving! You mom must be very proud of you. I'm so glad you recognize the sacrafices that she made for you. You are one class act. BTW, I am the second generation here.

I consider myself a wise latina woman, with family history from Mexico and Portugal. It's interesting for people to assume I'm not hispanic, and then talk badly about the race in front of me. It's also interesting to be disregarded by hispanics just because I wasn't taught Spanish. I get it from both sides. It's strange how I've been corrected by people in telling me that I should say I'm Spanish, not Mexican. They said Spanish sounds better. I find it amazing how insulting people don't realize they are.

Thanks for the segement!

I'm a black woman, I'm 63 years old. I'm proud of Rick, I'm also glad CNN has him. We need more storys of Latina Women and Men.
America has many races. Rick you need more air time to tell more
human stories. I never want to miss your news.
Thanks again for CNN for reaching more people, especilly young people, and I truly love Wolf Blitzer.

Mr. Sanchez:

I just heard your mom's guests comments about how people by person's name may think that she is a maid and not a judge.... It clearly made me relaize where this country's problem come from– people gathered at your mother's kitchen table, who were looking down to others.
I grow up and got educated in former Soviet Union where we been tought that doesn't matter what you do for living as long as you work and earn honest living. Your parents' back ground didn't fail to raise a person like you. It's about time to teach this coming generatiion to understand that there is no good or bad job as long as you work and support your self and your family. It is better be honest maid than croucked politition or judge! Be proud farm worker, factory worker or a maid!!! Not everybody can be President of the USA or Supprim court Judge, because those jobs positions are very limited and not because we dont have capable people to fill those positions.
This kind of mentality led Mishell Obama to admit that she appriciated this country only when her husband had a chance to become president. If everybody think like Mrs. Obama then we only would have 43 proud woman in this country who were or are proud American. Before anything else, like healthcare, gone-control, racial issues we must teach people be happy with their self accomplishments, with their family history and with this great country's unique herritage. Otherwise your chances to be like Yeyell graduate Mishell Obama, who earned $1 million and finally found happiness and since of pride, woud be one in 300 million.

PS–I, like your mother, came this country when I was 28 years old with 18 monthes old child. I wash dishes, clean flowrs and didn't have chance to go school to learn English. English is my 5th selfthaught language.

My wife and I were both very moved by your remarks about your mother. We both think those people who raised questions about her inability to speak English should be ashamed of themselves. You rebutted them nicely and effectively. My wife, Annette, and I both had ancestors not so far back, great-grandparents, German and Czech respectively, who either did not speak English or did not speak it well. As with your mother, they sacrificed much so we could be who we are. You said it for all of us, most eloquently; thank you very much.

Latina Women story was great. I am creole and had to learn how to speak english when I started school. I am born and raised in Louisiana and our coummunity all spoke creole and some still do.
Our parents lived for us to do better than they did. You story is a mirror of my except I had to opportunity to work in manufactory (Oil Refinery) and did well so did all of my relatives from our community. Yes we were laughed at because of our broken english, but guess what, they could not speak creole. Aren't we proud to be who we are!

Hey Rick,
I used to watch you when you were with MSLSD as Mark Levin calls that leftwing station, however I was having lunch the other day and they had your current station on.

I can not believe you would take what Sean Hannity said about a Gold company he uses and turn it into an endorsement, Sean never endorsed that company, he stated that is who he uses so call them and they will answer any questions you may have. That is what Sean said. I guess Fox News (with more viewers than CNN and MSLSD combined) is right, they report you decide.

They have reported and the people of America have decided they will watch Fox News more than any other Cable News program.

Rick:

My sincere thanks to you for your comments about your mother. They are the same for me and, I'm sure, my brother. My brother and I too are the sons of immigrant parents. They came not from the same country as your mother, but from the same place of mind. They came to this country to make certain their children would have enough to eat. They came to this country so that we would receive a good education. They came to this country to be assured we would make something of ourselves. For them, these objectives, if achieved, defined wealth.

I sit at the computer keyboard writing with tears flowing to the point that focus on the screen is difficult. I am a 72 year old college educated man because my father labored in the automobile industry of Detroit and my mother in our home, her shop (the livingroom) as a self-taught French seamstress, in order to make it so. He was a tool and die maker who worked overtime most every day, it seemed, and every saturday (at time and a half), sunday (at double time) and holiday (at triple time) he was asked. She, with a reputation for quality work that was legend across Detroit's near east side, worked twelve hours or more virtually every day, and she, both my brother and I are convinced, never charged near what she could easily have asked. The testmony of her customers, overheard in that livingroom shop, spoke often of the magic in her hands, but, more often to the point that it was the commitment of her mind to a personal standard that defined excellence.

My brother and I appreciate who our parents were and the sacrifices they made in order to make our lives the best they could be. They were, by any standard of measure, very successful. We are thankful.

Rick, I apologize for the length of this note, but maybe, for me, it will serve as a final "thank you" to my parents for making me who I have been and what I have done that can be described as helpful and good for others. Thank you for your good work. Please keep speaking out. We all benefit from your efforts.

.

Rick your comments and your visit with your family and a host of "wise Latina Women" touched my heart. You have a wonderful family and wisdom beyond your years.

Relative to wise Latina women and wise white men, I would like to remind the entire country that it was 'wise white men' that made the judgment that slavery was legal in our history.

It was 'wise white men' that decided to distribute contaminated blankets to American Indianians in our history.

It was 'wise white men' that decided that rather than focus on Afghanistan and the people that attacked the United States that the country should attack Iraq.

It was 'wise white men' that decided that is was OK to violate American law and torture and kill prisoners, some of which were even innocent.

I have had my fill of 'wise white men.'

Dear Rick,
Congrautlations on answering the critics who worried about your mother’s inability to speak English, you were more reserved than I could have ever been.

Rick, in my previous comment re your mom, I forgot to ask...when will there be an indepth program about Latinos In America (a la Soledad O'brien) whose into a second program about Blacks in America? It's about time someone (you, for instance) shows the variances and richness of Latino life in the USA.

Yocasta Fareri

Hey Rick!

Severl posters mention a lack of understanding of the Spanish culture. Right! The U.S. is an offshoot of North Western European history/culture. Most of the European history we learn is taught against a background of the Reformatiom (heroes), Counter Reformation (villains, Papist Jesuits trying to over throw Cromwell, etc.), and healthy ol' anti-Catholicism (Inquisition, Luther vs. Rome, etc.). As a result Nativism in America has had strong populist and anti-Catholic roots. Check Supeme Court Justice Hugo Black. The "cultural' aspect of today is largely class based illegals from Mexico are usually under-educated, under-employed, mestizo cultured, not at all welcome in their homeland.
As the poet shoulda said, "Pity poor Mexicop. So far from God, so close to Mexico". Check how indios puros like Mixtecs are treated in Mexico. Ask Commandante Zero. I doubt if you will. I hope you will..even though it will go against the culture on the ground at dnCNN. I think that you as a self-described wealthy, educated guy might get an eye opener.

Best to you and always to Moms.

Too bad CNN is no longer a serious news channel. Now it's mostly fluff, pop-culture and this kind of drivel.

You played a clip over and over of the NYC (?) police officer shooting scene on Thursday, July 16th. Check the shootout video more carefully: it appears that the police officer in the clip is using the child (wearing something red) as a shield to protect HIMSELF, not the other way around! That clip is particularly ironic given the praise being heaped on the officers. Take another look and please follow up with commentary, please. Actually, it looks like one of the last scenes from the film "Dead Zone" from many years ago.

Rick, I almost teared-up when you gave your heartfelt defense of why your mother could not speak english, contrasting her recent immigrant experience with those who immigrated to this country a hundred years ago. In a classy and intelligent manner, you defended her honor and hopefully brought an education to the ignorant and bigoted individuals who fail to see America for the diverse melting-pot that it is.

Rick:
Both my parents were immigrants. Mom used to say that whenever Dad came home speaking English she knew he'd had a beer or two.
Which says that inhibitions? could cause a lot of people that don't feel confortable speaking English to do so after relaxing? Incidentally Dad was not a drinker.

RICKY!!! Dale con el bate de aluminio!! Your Mommy is one of our many SUPER Wise Latina women, as is mine, (and very pretty, I might add).

Proud of you, proud of her, your Dad, proud of all of us for knowing how to remind some people that we ALL come from somewhere ELSE...the only Native Americans are you know who, and they also migrated here from elsewhere... that makes me come to the conclusion that if anyone thinks they are really from here (USA), is because they are either the Missing Link or they are the descendants of some dinosaur...maybe they are the guys in "that insurance company" commercials!!!

Un abrazo para ti, tu familia y tu sabia Madre!

Glorimar Castillo
A wise Latina Puertorrican, married to a wise Cuban man...
Miami, FL

One question......regarding your explanation today of your mother's lack of speaking English.......how long has it been since she worked 10 hrs. in a factory?...............surely she could have made time , since you said you make so much money, to go to school and learn alittle....not alot......but enough to speak English on an American TV station.........answer is...........she doesn't need to.........she merely surrounds herself with those that speak "her "language.............in other words...............she never assimilated into the American culture..........what a shame.......all these years!

rick,
Will you talk about Pat Bucannon's comments about her being mile.tant. I would like to ask he be moved to fox news where there are many other racists

wow people get fiesty when nobody can see you. First of all, how ignorant are people getting that they can not accept that people do not speak "their" language. How stupid, ignorant, and basically supremest can you be. People from germany, france, italy, most of europe come to theses united states and some of them cannot speak english but they are accepted because of what? Their color their origin, the only reason you all are making a big deal about Ricks mother not speaking english is because she is what? LATINA! You guys need to get off your high horses and come back down to earth, because in the end, we are all imperfect people. So why dont you get your head out of your butt and see from our point of view. You wouldn't last a day being shuned from society of being an outcast. And remember this this country was "made" with the blood, sweat, and tears of immigrants and peope of other nations.

oh yeah and im oly 14

My mother landed in America from Russia and could not speak a word of english. She worked and learned english and spoke without an accent. The year was 1922. She always stressed that education was the way to success.

i sent the president an email on how to finance the health reform...no respone yet?.... I purpose we start a national lottery. One where you don't lose your money.... tickets are say $20.00 and the number loaded in to a computer. Every month the computer randomly kicks out a number and the winner gets everyones interest for that month. If you decide to turn in your ticket you get back your money, minus a $2.00 administration fee. Also, I have worked in the federal governmeny for 20 yrs and know that a 10% decrease in every dept's funds will not hardly even be noticed.

I am so tired of these male senators constantly bringing up the wise Latina woman statement. Maybe if we had more wise women of color, more wise white women, and more wise Latina women in congress and the senate, we would already have health care for all in this country, a functioning alternative energy program, more fuel efficient cars, and a host of other things which need to be done asap. Watching those senators at the hearings made me ill. Using Bill O'Reilly's (ugh) favorite word to describe gasbags, those guys were just bloviating. OMG, did I just mention the O'Reilly word?

Rick, please listen to Lindsey Graham's comments to Sonia Sotomayor regarding gun rights and apply them to gay marriage instead. The parallels are startling. Would the Republicans be as open-minded as he is asking her to be?

I liked your "wise Latino women" interviews yesterday. But I was disappointed that you cut off the lady who questioned why the media and the senators make it a point not to mention that in the same speech Judge Sontamayor made the phrase famous she also pledged not to let her personal preferences stop her from following the rules of law and precedence.

CBO only scored the Senate Bill which didn't contain any of the cost controls because they decided to do it in two parts and now those opposed to health care reform (i.e. insurance companies and the congress critters they own) are lying as usual.

There will be massive amounts of money in both auto insurance (no medical costs) and in workman's comp (no medical costs) among other things. Plus we won't be paying higher costs in taxes for uncovered people in emergency rooms nation wide.

By enrolling healthy families on a sliding scale according to income it could very well save Medicare and reduce those costs significantly.

Don't let the gougers do it to us again. Public Option preferrably single payer. It's time the people got something for their money and not just the oligarchy that runs the country.

Hey Rick, I watch you all the time. I am 65 years old and health care costs are eating us alive. If all those senators and congressmen want to really worry about spending, why don't they start supplementing their own health care like the rest of us have to do?
If they only had 18 months of cobra after they retire they may think a little differently. But they have it made!! We pay for their health insurance until they die. What a crock.

I was recently on X-project web site for the lunar lander competition. they have lots of video interviews, and competition videos etc. One such interview is with a NASA official who says. The game are very important because we presently do not have the technology to land and take off again from the moon. I ask this What happened to the technology we used back then??? If it ever existed. thank you.
Love you show

Just received a FDA brief re: recalled propofol from Teva Pharm. Propofol is Diprivan, a drug implicated in Michael Jackson's death. The recall in related to elevated Neurotoxins found in several lots. Elevated neurotoxins can result in, among other things, respiratory depression and death.
Any connection?

As a Canadian I have been watching the issue of health care with great interest. This includes the news coverage and the ads. The thought that keeps crossing my mind as I watch all the expensive suits talking about the cost etc. is , it is always easy to tell other people that they don't need what you already have. I bet all those government folks and talking suits have great coverage for themselves and their families.

Betty
British Columbia
Canada

JACARTA BOMBING:

ALL OF THE ATTENTION HAS BEEN FOCUSSED ON THE LUGGAGE BAG, LOOK AT THE MAN'S CHEST AS HE APPROACHES AND TURNS LEFT, IS THAT A VEST BULGGING FROM HIS CHEST.

Hey Rick, I have watched that video of the guy in the hotel with the suitcase in Jakarta and after seeing it for the seventh or so time I realized that there were seven or so people at least and the guy operating the camera seemed to key on this guy! Hmmmmmmmmmmm, maybe they need to grill this guy!

I just heard Rick Sanchez compare Manuel Zelaya to Fidel Castro.

Mr. Sanchez does not seem to realize that Manuel Zelaya is the duly elected president of Honduras while Fidel Castro imposed his authority over Cuba through military force.

Manuel Zelaya was overthrown June 29, 2009 by a military coup financed and directed by the people he defeated when he was elected.

Mr. Sanchez seems to have trouble distinguishing between apples and oranges.

The general principle I would apply is that the will of the people expressed in a democratic election must not be subverted by special interests financing and directing a military coup.

Rick,
I was just wondering with all that is going on in our government do you think a revolution is near? Does Obama really thin he is going to control the banks auto industry and now medical.??

It doesn't appear to be fair reporting for you to have nobody other than Otto Reich with his history and those of Presidents and policies he represented as the sole spokesman to inform the public on Honduras. Even with your own personal and understandable bias due to your family history in Cuba, which you clearly articulated during the segment, you owed a counterbalancing position on the political and historical context in Honduras from different point of view than Mr. Reich.

Someone needs to explain to Rick Sanchez that Hispanics are not entitled to their own Supreme Court Justice or a specific number of Senators based upon their race and ethnicity. If that were true, African-Americans who have endured much longer in this country should come first. Though Rick obviously supports illegal immigration and believes the term "illegal alien" should not be used, the vast majority of Americans do not subscribe to his philosophy. No Rick, you don't get your very own Senator or Justice as a matter of pride. That's a selection process most Americans reject. Illegal immigrants don't get a free pass just because Rick has some common bond with those who broke our laws. Why does CNN ever put up with this clown?

Rick, I cannot believe that in this health care debate, the comparison to auto insurance has not come up. Remember back in the day when auto insurance was not law? I am sure the debate arguments back then were somewhat similar.......government taking over and mandating all drivers to be covered to bring down the escalating costs incurred by the uninsured??? Seems so simple.

Hi Rick:

I respect you for defending your Madre, not that you have to, HONOR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER. God Bless you.

My complaint is Roe vs. Wade, I am for PRO-LIFE. Yes women have a choice, NO, NO!! Teenagers need to re-read their Catechism. Their is so much sex on TV.

Buenas dias:
Mary

I am watching your health care segment and wonder to myself, how can your government spend trillions and a number of cash that I can't even pronouce and not provide universal health care for it's people? I mean look at Europe and youll find plenty of examples of it working, here in canada we have it pretty good but I see our government trying to short chagne us all the time. One would think that an elected government would listen to its people? I speak for all voters (non whealthy average people at least ) WE WANT FREE universal health care for all.

Rick, this Health care thing is a total lie. Its not rocket science, you can see where they are going.

Look, all business are going to a plan where you pay the first 2500.00 and then the insurance co pays 80% of the rest and you pay the additional 20%. If, you have a job with good enough pay you can survive it. If not you are dead, you can not afford the first 2500.00

as far the Gov's plan? It will be similar, and cover less, a basic plan. Ane the Insurance co's will be allowed to match it. Thus, if you are low income you qualify for the Gov plan, if not you will be forced to buy the cheap Insurance plan.

Then Insurance co's will dictate what you can have as care, and nothing else. If, you want more you will have to pay this fanominal amount to get a better plan.

We are being forced to buy cheap worthless Medical Insurance, without a say so, and there will be a provision where we can not sue to re-gain our rights.

We are screwed with the new social engineering

jon Auer, Nashville

I never watch cable news anymore but thought I'd give you a chance today since my husband had your newscast on. You lost me with your flippant comment concerning the 47 million uninsured Americans and "guys like you and Dr. Gupta" having to pay for them. Well, my husband and I are two of those uninsured Americans who work damned hard to make barely enough money to survive and we pay plenty of taxes, too. We cannot afford health insurance and have had no preventative health care for 9 years, nor care for our chronic medical conditions. How dare you insinuate that our country providing an affordable lifesaving public option to us would be some type of charity from benevolent figures such as you? Your commentary is just the same old same old – not journalism, just negative spin from your corporate owners and you have shown me the folly of any American depending on cable news for factual information. It's a pleasure to grab the remote and power you OFF.

Hi Rick:
The reality is that we need some sort of health care reform. Unluckily the problem is more complex that just the physicians and the hospitals making money. We have the insurance providers, malpractice insurance providers, pharmaceuticals, lawyers (on both sides), etc.

If we look at France everybody gets a basic insurance. If you want to have more coverage you buy extra services. It has worked, but still the % of Gross domestic product utilized in healthcare continues to climb.

This area is very confusing and everybody points fingers.

Mr. Sanchez you always seem to demean the President. I really don't like the fact how you and Mr. Rush can do your spin on the news. You seem to be loving this using negative words. You love reporting negative stuff and love to see Congress go against him. You and everyone else need to accept the fact he is President and respect him. You all have said nothing about being lied to from Bush about weapons of mass destruction. You all want him to fail and he is not going to. He has a mess to clean up and none of you want to address this. You as well as others are only looking at what he is doing wrong or going to do wrong. He can call a press conference whenever he gets ready he is the Commander in Chief. You need and others need to respect him even if you may not like him. I teach my 4th graders this daily we don't have to love everyone but respect them andyou disrespect the Presideent all the time and plesase stop it.

you do know you're mis-representing the cbo report and its implications.
you seem to have an agenda or are lazy.
the president is saying we, as an aggregate, are over-paying. that is that we have too many private sector bureaucracies et al. the cbo says the proposed plans, which call for using government money to replace current private sector money will cost the government more money. OF COURSE! the money is all our money. the government AND the private sector money is our money. if we raise taxes to account for the increase in expenditure, we should be able to pay less for goods and services from private sector (bet we won't). actually, republicans and their ilk are perfectly willing to take OUR tax money to subsidize THEIR health care (that's not socialized because it benefits them) but if we use OUR tax money to subsidize us, that's SOCIALIZED MEDICINE. the answer is to begin with baby steps. pass a law denying any subsidy for anyone. no groups or discounts allowed. we all get to benefit from the great health care system the same. when the howling dies down, we can maybe discuss things in rational way. BTW, why do we restrict access to medical schools thereby running up the cost of education and further requiring the medical profession to charge outlandish amounts? Wouldn't it benefit us to subsidize medical school tuition and costs? Maybe more schools and greater enrollment. Maybe then we wouldn't need to "import" doctors from all over the globe.

Rick,

Would like you to talk about Luis Carilles Posada who, allegedly, was the mastertermind in the terrorist bombing of a Cuban airliner which killed many young people, among others, a few years ago. I gather that he has still not been brought to justice and is being protected by our government. Is this true?

About Health Care Reform: Has anyone considered that many of those 45 million uninsured could afford to pay benefits but they were denied coverage by insurance companies?

Hey Rick,
Isay we all drink ,smoke and anything that might be bad for us ,at least it's better then President Obama chocking us to death with his health care and spending us to death.
Ruby ........TN

Rich,it seems you are missing the issue at stake here.For instance, a CUT on a homeless guy without basic treatment can result into a serious infection which might end up into an amputation SURGERY.A simple WOUND dressing at a clinic will cost few hundred dollars but the cost of AMPUTATION AND REHAB can run into thousands of dollars which will be paid indirectly by you and me anyways.911 call to the paramedics ALWAYS means the emergency room which costs ten times the basic regular clinic visitations.

rick ask ROY BLUNT why I and all Americans cannot have the same insurance that he has....afterall I pay for his health care

What we don't need is Pelosi, from (broke) California, working on health care reform. If none of our representatives can explain $4 for an aspirin in the hospital they cannot lower cost.

I have English ancestors, a husband one generation removed from Ellis Island. I think your mother is a beautiful lady and I don't care what language she speaks. She and your dad have sacrificed and gifted this country with some fine citizens. I am glad you are proud of what your parents did to ensure your opportunities. Would there were more like them today. No one knows self sacrifice, in this country ,
anymore.

No one "talks" about how much the health system now "costs" the Federal government in taxes because employee-paid premiums to this privatized for-profit system are not subject to income tax. Wasn't this fix supposed to make more persons insured? Don't people equally need food, clothing and transportation for a quality life? Under this scenario, these "costs/benefits" shouldn't be "taxable" either. R. H. Florida

Rick, would you *please* stop injecting your bias to the conversation and "speaking for your audience." Doing so will uphold the high CNN standards met by your colleagues of allowing us to think for ourselves. Such standards keep us watching, and continue to be our good fortune.

Thank you so much!

It is very difficult to keep the golden triangle of healthcare equilaterally. Access, costs, and quality should complement the each other. In USA, this balance has been virtually impossible because we do not see healthcare as part of our birth rights.

As a physician, I am amazed you haven't mentionned Single Payer as the solution to the Health Care Crisis--it would save $400 billion/year in health care costs. Why isn't the CBO looking at this????

Pharmaceutical Co. spend millions on commercials 24/7. I'm sick of watching them. No wonder drugs are so expensive.

Rick,
Roy Blount says the public health insurance plan would "be the elephant in the room?" Ha! He belongs to the party that says the govt can't run anything. He can't have it both ways.

BTW, my husband and I have health ins., we are retired, and we are not rich, but we would willingly have our health benefit part of our coverage taxed if it helped others to be healthy. We should not just be thinking about the individual who is not insured and their health, we should also be thinking about the public's health (which is saying that by helping others to be healthy we are also helping ourselves)..

doug elmendorf said "FEDERAL spending would increase".
obama and others are trying hold down TOTAL costs, federal, state, private. ALL costs. NOT just FEDERAL spending.

Hi Rick, to add to my yesterday comment, remember this:
THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO MEASURE SUCCESS, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS THE WAY YOUR CHILD DESCRIBES YOU WHEN TALKING TO A FRIEND.

Health Care? That add you run with the woman from Canada, BULOGNA. Everyone should have the amazing health care system we have here in Canada. I can't remember ever having to pay for anything. I am diabetic, and a retiree. Never had a bill for anything, We just have a health card which covers us for eye exams too. We paid for it through our employer; but if you were unemployed, you were automatically covered. You just produce your health card. Your status doesn't matter, YOU ARE COVERED NO MATTER WHAT. Doctors, clinics, hospital – just show your card. How simple is that?

I beg to differ with the way that Senator Blunt described the Part D part of Medicare as one of an individual having the flexibility of switching year to year if you are not happy with your plan. In actuality, you can review the plans. However, you cannot switch to more a desirable plans without the insurance company approving you for coverage. Therefore, individiauls who are disabled are basically stuck with the plan they have. I know this to be true as I'm in this situation. Get your facts right Senator.

The Republicans should be ashamed: too many people losing their lives because insurance is dropped or they can't afford the insurance.
When are they going to stop worrying about big business making a buck and start thinking about the people of this country

President Obama reminds me so much of another master propogandist the way he's playing the media, I would like to submit a new term "Obamaganda" thanks keep up the good fight.

Entitlement programs grow bigger over time and are a form of socialism.

Medicare is the enumerator of physicians and control rates and benefits.

Doctors and Hospitals and other providers are in business to make all the money they can.

The government should not pay for health care. There are too many administrators.

Re: Heatlh care reform: The elephant is in the room with RATS (health insurance industry), not mice. Health insurance industry is spending 1.4 MILLION DOLLARS/DAY on their lobbyists and ads to derail reform. That money could buy a lot of care, and shows just how afraid they are of losing their cash cow. WHO will have the guts to tell the truth-the the majority of people in the US AND the majority of doctors FAVOR single payer/public option, and that it will SAVE money in the long run. WHO will tell the truth???????????

Rick:

The only health care plan that Congress can pass that will be the best in the world is one that every member of Congress must subscribe to for their health care. Anything less would be a catastrophe.

Rick,
If Sanjay can justify $9000 for a one hour procedure then I guess there is no problem in the health care industry.

Rick, I wonder that if all if the senators and/or congressmen would want to make healthcare a priority if any of their family members, or heaven forbid themselves were without health coverage. I have worked all of my life, paid my taxes and I find myself in the unfortunate position of being without coverage! The USA ranks about 37th in the world on health care; scary isn't it!

Hey Rick,

Surely there is ample evidence outside the limited mindset of the US, that offers solutions to the "health system" crisis/cost. Contrast Japan in health ranking (the real test of a country's values), cost per capita, and emphasis toward prevention (with much more than lip service) with that of the US. And for God's sake a lie is a lie – health care is NOT sick care. The products, services and providers that derrive profit from diagnosing and treating illness IS by definition THE ILLNESS INDUSTRY. Subsidizing the empowerment of people to stay healthy IS THE ONLY REASONABLE ARGUMENT, unless you are committed to simply repackaging the status quo. FOLLOW THE MONEY TRAIL and you will expose the truth behind the BS politics that opposes common sense and public interest.

Rick,just got back fom vacation,traveled threw 3 airports,one thing I heard over and over. Thoses guys in Washinton playing around about health care for the last 20 years, being payed off by special interest,well look out for a third party to come out of this mess.

the elephant in the room is the insurance industry.
the hospital bills out aspirin at $4.00 because the medical supply industry gouges. no, wait , i mean because the insurance companies don't pay on time. they don't pay penalties, fees or interest on the money they legitimately owe.
OMG – BLUNT said he paid quite a bit for his insurance plan!!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME???
ANY BETS IT'S NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT YOU OR I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE SAME THING?
HOW RUDE!!!!!
also, they're not "uninsured" they're "self-insured".

OK.. I've been selling medical Insurance for over 26 years, and my problem with Obama's Nationalized health care plan hits a brick wall, when as a Veteran, I am highly concerned that if the Government takes care of its "vets" the way the VA's of america do, then how are they going to take care of the common man.

Hardly a good example to give to the american people on HOW the government is going to handle health care.. Talk about a total waste. Buy another hammer for $1000.00

Good luck!
Rodney Humphrey Jr.

Someone please tell us which congressmen and congresswomen have received contributions from HMOs and insurance companies and how much they have received. The status quo of healthcare in the US is a disgrace. More of a disgrace if there is no action now!

We can spend billion,possibly trillion before the war in Iraq for wmd that we didn't find, but we cant spend the same on Health care isn't this a shame.

I generally like your show. But when you start complaining about equalizing health care for Americans, you need to take a good, long look in the mirror. You have a great job and probably great health care. Wasn't there a time when you didn't? How would you like to hear from some guy who's got a fantastic job, home, benefits....that he likes his "throne", but the "peons" don't deserve his consideration?! We have health care benefits for our family through employment; but in Jan., the employer changed policies and companies. Our old doctor won't accept the new plan. To continue seeing our regular doctor, it would be "out of pocket" expenses that are costly. We have to find a new doctor we like. FUN! Do you know what it's like–having to start all over with a new doctor?! Just finding one who "fits" with our family is a real pain. I liked your show because you talk like you're "one of the people", but when you agree with your guest and take "the elitist" point of view, it makes me change the channel.

I know lots of people who “can’t afford health insurance”…but they enjoy their cable TV, cell phone, internet, dining out and refuse to ride a bike to work. As a tax payer, I refuse to pay for other people’s responsibility.

As for Sotomayor…..let’s be honest, the Christian white male is the one experiencing the most discrimination in these sick times.

This so called health care plan Obama is trying to ram through the system is just an expansion of his big government agenda, and he's fervently trying to get it passed before anyone can figure out what's really going on. I feel sorry for the future generations of americans that will have to pay for it.

Rick, Please don't talk about a country (Honduras), and a people you know nothing about. And using a former republican ambassador to make your already white cuban biased point...is rather pathetic !
It's a shame that people in other countries have to suffer because of biased and ill-informed people like you have the power to shape opinion !!
Respectfully,
Mike and Marina Englehart
(we love honduras)

As an RN for 20 years, I work on the front lines of this incredible mess. If you're simply concerned about your own well-being, please consider this: Emerging Infectious Diseases. With millions of Americans ( maybe your neighbors) accessing health care only in an emergency, the likelihood of a new, difficult to treat "bug" becomes more and more likely. Will the individual who first presents with this pathogen seek immediate treatment? Will he wait until he is very sick and the disease has spread because he has no immediate access to any heath care? How stupid, how angry will the American people feel then. How much do we think an epidemic costs?

There is a reason why we have municipal, tax supported fire departments. You may be careful, but your neighbor may smoke in bed. If instead we each paid voluntary fire insurance, you may be covered, but not your neighbor. Would you really want to risk YOUR house burning down?

Obviously this issue has many moving parts. But do not forget, your health does not exist in a vacuum.

So why is no one talking about the fact that doctors are no longer being taught be good diagnosticians, but just how to throw as many tests and drugs at a patient as they can think of and hope something "sticks". Or the fact that Insurance companies have forced doctors to see as many patients as possible with an average of 5 minutes per patient ,which does not allow them the time to really listen.

More and more unnecessary tests (many not without their risks to the patient), and poorly considered (read: not sufficiently researched by the physician for interactions with other drugs patient is taking, or whether there is a better drug on market with a longer track record than the new, poorly tested, latest drugs pressed upon them by the pharmaceutical industry) prescriptions are made by physicians – all at great cost to the insurance companies and the patients with potential to cause harm or even death.

Prior to the end of WWII, chiropractors worked hand in hand in hospitals and with AMA physicians to prevent and resolve health problems that could be effectively achieved without hospitalization, surgery and/or drugs. The subsequent war the AMA has waged on chiropractors is unwarranted and has done great harm to the health care program and the American citizens.

Chiropractors can and do have exemplary track records with helping patients with spinal, neurological and joint problems, along with working to keep their patients in good health. Amazingly, AMA
physicians have forgotten how important our spinal/nerve system is to our health as the nerve system coming off the spinal system affects every organ and ever structure in our body. In their drive to increasingly specialize in only one aspect or system of the human body, they have forgotten how all the body interacts with each system.

Consumer Reports recently published a study which showed that Chiropractors had a far better track record treating spine/neck injuries than AMA doctors or drugs or surgery and is far less expensive, non-invasive with virtually no complications, yet the insurance companies rarely or poorly cover chiropractic treatments.

Our country has about the worst medical track record of industrialized countries. I believe it is because our medical "system" has chosen money over health. What about you?

Save Our Automobile Industry

The importers of automobiles and automobile parts that control our Congress continue to force our car manufacturers to compete with foreign countries whose labor costs are about one-tenth of our labor costs. It looks like we are about to lose another industry to foreign competition.

Because we don't actually have a democracy (ruled by the ruled) the solution to this problem is not available. The solution is, of course, to restrict the sale of cars in this country to completely U.S. built cars and parts, as China has been doing with its 25% tariff on U.S. cars sold in China, resulting in a huge trade surplus for them since they also have low labor costs.

To prevent us from correcting this problem the conservative politicians have created another "dirty word" called "protectionism." They have convinced the American people that to protect our workers from cheap foreign labor is bad for the country. And it works! The importers are making lots of money and American workers are sacrificing their good-paying manufacturing jobs. When we finally go to war with China we won't even have a viable manufacturing base.

Dear Rick,
During you conversation with Roy Blunt, he mentioned that having a Public option was like having an Elephant in a room full of mice.
I think that a more appropriate analogy would be " Mice will run wild if there is no cat". That is exactly what is happenning in our "totally for profit" Health care system in the USA. Insurance Companies are totally arbritrary in the way they currently take decisions. A lot of Ads talk about not letting the Government come between the Doctor and he Patient, but what they do not mention is that today the Insurance company comes between the Doctor and the patient.
Let me give you an example that has effected me recently:
I am currently undergoing treatment for a serious issue with my Cervical Spine. My doctors have told me that it is very possible that I will require surgery to replace the Disc between L5 and L6 in my Cervical spine. This is a procedure that has been approved by the FDA and has been in use in the USA for over 5 years and even longer in Europe. However my Insurance(United Healthcare) does not recognize this as an approved procedure, even though this is an FDA approved procedure, and says that it will only pay for an older procedure(stapling L5 and L6) even though two of the doctors I have consulted with have said that this procedure has less chances for a pain free long term prognosis. According to both the specialists I have consulted with Disc replacement is a much better procedure with shorter time for recovery and higher chances for a pain free long term prognosis. The CPT code for this procedure is 22856 – Cervical Arthoplasty). It seems very arbitrary the way the Insurance Company decides if it is an approved procedure. My specialist told me that Blue cross put this on the approved list early this year and only because one of its high level executives needed to have this procedure. Until then they also did not have it in their approved list, again another example of the arbitrary nature in which Insurance companies operate. I would be very thankful if you can help me work with my Insurance company to get this procedure approved.
I feel this is another reason why we need to reform our health care system, so that Insurance companies have to approve all FDA approved procedures. That will ensure that decisions are made by Doctors and Patients and not Insurance companies based on some arbitrary reasons.
This is an example where we need the "Cat", the Public Option to ensure that the "Mice", the private Insurance companies, do not run wild.
Any assistance from you and CNN to publicize this type of issue is very much appreciated.
Mahadevan Subramonian
201-654-5713

The Single Payer Health Care Reform plan (HB 676 and Senate Bill 703) is essentially 'Medicare for All'. The $400 billion savings would result from the elimination of the administrative costs created by the present insurance industry system. If the Congressional Budget Office would perform an evaluation of Single Payer, this plan would prove to be the fairest, most cost-effective means to provide health care for all Americans.
And, by the way, the 'elephant in the room' you alluded to in your 7/17 broadcast is not the government, rather it is the for-profit insurance system which is draining the health and life out of the American people.
I and my husband watch your show frequently, and we have been pleased with your reporting. So, I implore you to invite and give equal time to representatives from the Single Payer movement to your show. I'm sure that Dr. Quentin Young, Dr. Margaret Flowers and other members of Physicians for National Health Care would be glad to participate.
Thank-you.
Thank-you.

Usually, I do not agree with you. However, I so loved your outstanding conversation with your lovely mother. She is a beautiful person and how very proud she must be of you. Thank you for sharing.

In case no one remembers latino's also have to go thru discrimination, besides we latino's didn't make anyone become slaves.

Justice Soto Mayor is more than qualified regardless of anyone has to say. We latino's are very proud of her.

Rick you got it wrong about the decision by Justice Soto Mayor regarding the fire fighters. Your comment about "most people would find the decision wrong" is based on your "white man's view".

Like you, my parents struggled to provide me the opportunity to become educated and succeed in life. However, unlike you, your parents were not put into prisoner of war camps or so called internment camps. At wars end, the German prisoners (held in the same camp as my Dad) were treated more freely and offered more then my father a second generation of Japanese decent.

As a third generation Japanese Canadian, I was still was subjected to racism in the work place. The white males would accept white females before considering a non-white for promotion, regardless of my qualifications. If any non-white mentioned racism, he or she was "marked" as a trouble maker with no possibilty for advancement.

At least the Justices's decision provided some equal footing for non-whites. Perhaps now those "white skinned" qualified fire fighters can feel the same emotions as us non-white skin qualified people have felt for a long time.

L. Matsumoto
Bobcaygeon, Ontario Canada

A Health Care Plan for the HMO's?

President Obama has proposed a health care plan that was supposed to reduce costs, but actually it only increases the profits of the HMO's by providing the uninsured citizens health care insurance, rather than low cost health care. (The current option of a public system probably won't survive.) He bypassed a proven true low cost government controlled health care system (Canada, France, etc.) so as not to offend the HMO's and other big businesses that offer large contributions to politicians. Eliminating this unneeded and unwanted middle man, the HMO's, will cut our health care costs in half, and that could pay for the new universal government controlled health care system that we need.

Historically the U.S. Supreme Court has returned to Lower Courts issues of Judicial Abuse and Legal Crime. Do you think that Justice Sotomayer will keep with that tradition?

Rick,
Great piece on the Latina Women. And right from the heartland Hialeah. Well done buddy! Been monster fishing lately?

Hi Rick: Please inform those greedy members of both houses that the little pot bellied dictator from No Korea wants to destroy our troops in So Korea and level Tokyo, plus the head of the Iranian government would like to see more American lives & money wasted and we could be facing not two unnecessary wars burt FOUR. and HOW IN THE HELL ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR THEM – get a loan from China? Thanks Bill Pettit Nashua, NH

Rick,
When will CNN begin giving the real story about the healthcare bill in Congress? From what I see, CNN is the administrations over-the-air sales force. This mornings brief review of 3 imaginary people was the weakest I have ever seen. If CNN is going to present facts they should be through and show more than the party line.

Hi Rick
I am Canadian living in the USA for the last 22 years.
My mother who is 92 years young and still lives in Canada get all the medicalcare she needs. She might have to wait a few weeks for an ultrasought if it is not an emergency but all her medicines are paid for and all her medical is free including transportantion too and from the doctors. ( she pays $1.00) as a handling fee for the transportation.

I am a Canadian trained doctor living in Tennessee.
The Right Honorable minister is living fairy land.
My sister-in-law could not see a neurosurgeon for a neurosurgical emergency (cauda equina syndrome/compression...ask Sanjay) for over one year. My 80 year old father-in law can not get life saving meds without jumping thru beaurocratic red tape and hence has had to present to the ER unnecessarily.
I have discovered most Canadians do not know what terrible shape the system is in until they need it. If you want documented specifics, let me know.

Just wathcing live on cnn. He's full of it. THE promlem Is not just in Canada. It's here to. I live in Los Angles and have been waiting weks to see a specliest....jump through hoops.. called blue cross.. they said just wait.... I;m very sick and can't wait. whAT would sujest????????

Canadian Health care, well that was typical CNN reporting, Get some ya hoo to give the party line answers. There have been hundreds of
reports about Canadas rationed health care. But CNN finds one who will go along with the the talking points. I guess if you tell a lie often enough someone will believe it. NOT ME !!!!!!

Rick, why should I believe anything your liberal Canadian guest has to say about healthcare in Canada. You need to ask the man on the street on live tv if you dare. After watching CNN over the past two days, I ave seen the liberal twist put on everything that's done. And no, Michael Vick should not play in the NFL.

Re: Michael Vick

You just said that Americans believe people deserve a second chance and I agree absolutely. That means he should be able to rent an apartment or buy a house, to live peacefully, to get a job and be able to move ahead with his life. That does NOT mean that he should be able to go back into a highly visible area where he – like all NFL players – is a role model for our youngsters. NFL players are emulated by impressionable youngsters and Michael Vick should not in any way be set up as an example for youngsters to follow. Yes, he did his time and now he can get on with a normal life. But not as someone millions of American youngsters should look up to.

rick,

vick should be permitted to play football under TWO conditions: 1.) fifteen percent of his gross earnings go directly to the humane society. 2.) one hundred-sixty hours community service per year.

This is an HR issue for the NFL. If their HR policies allow the employment of convicted felons, then he should be allowed to play. We don't have to watch.

Professional atheletes should be held to higher standard. Atheletes have been empowered by society as role models and leaders for our youth (and adults). The NFL commission should implement (and enforce) a code of conduct that weeds out such poor behavior as VIck dispayed. What example do we (and the NFL) want to set for other NFL and little league players?

Rick,
The only thing Michael Vick should be allowed to do is live in a small room with chain around his neck fastened to the wall and have to listen and watch what he did to all those defenseless animals over and over again, hear their screams of pain and agony and hopefully choke himself to death on his own chain.

This is a repugnant, unrepentent, disgusting creature who truly does not deserve anyone even suggesting that he is repentent.. People who do acts like his over and over and over again, cannot be rehabilitated.

Yes. Michael Vick should be reinstated by the NFL. He committed a crime and has attoned for it as required by law. Please give the NFL and sports fans the opportunity to help him live a normal life again.

HERES THE DEAL, RICK – MICHAEL VICK SHOULD HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS ANYONE ELSE IN HIS SITUATION, RECENTLY OFF HOUSE ARREST AND FREE.
BUT, THE PROBLEM IS WHAT HIS ACT SAYS ABOUT HIM AND THE PEOPLE HE DID THIS WITH... MR VICK HAS NO REGARD FOR LIFE, NO REGARD FOR ANY LIVING THING. TO ME, IF YOU CAN DO THIS TO ANIMALS, WHAT WILL STOP YOU FROM DOING THIS TO CHILDREN??? WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? WHAT A DESPICIBLE HUMAN BEING HE IS.
I AM A HUGE FOOTBALL FAN AND IF I SEE HIM OUT THERE IN THE NFL (AND I BELIEVE THAT'S POSSIBLE) I WON'T WALK OUT OF THE STADIUM, BUT I WILL NEVER BE A FAN OF HIS GAME, NO MATTER HOW GOOD HE MAY BE, OR HIS TEAM, BECAUSE AS AN OWNER I WOULD NOT WANT THAT TYPE OF PERSON IN MY ORGANIZATION.

NOTE TO CLINT JOHNSON: i was a "man on the street in canada" for several years - you're being lied to by segments of your own government. NO ONE in canada is not happy with the state run health care. and our taxes don't go toward seventeen million dollar annual salaries to insurance CEOs or for gold-plated silverware on corporate jets. why do so many of you americans vote against your own interests? do you really hate and fear liberals so much to be used by greedy special interests?

Michael Vick should be able to play NFL now. Because he did his time. If i"ve to to choose who want to see play this year Brett Favre or Michael Vick. It would be Vick because I know it going to be great.

Just wanted you to know that even in america the aged person is refused to receive certain operations. They say the risk is too great even if you are in good health otherwise and just need a bone marrow transplant or stem cells to the bone marrow.

Something is wrong with sports if Vick gets reinstated. Pete Rose did less in Baseball and they never reinstated him. Vick created his problem and should never be allowed on a Football Field.

I am appauled that anyone would want Michael Vic to play football again. He is a discrace to all NfL players. What kind of a message is that sending to our children. That is OK to torture animals go to jail and still be a football star? I love my children and I love my animals & if Michael vic is allowed to play football in the NFL as a huge fan of football I will never watch again.

LET THE OIL COMPANIES PAY FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE!!!! HAS ANYONE BUT ME REMEMBERED THAT JUST A FEW SHORT MONTHS AGO POSTED A 3/4 OF A TRILLION DOLLAR PROFIT.

Dear Rick,

I am a 66 year old male from Canada, in the past 10 years I had 3 heart attacks ended up in the hospital in emergency, I was taken care of within minutes. I had angioplasty s MIRs Cat scans and every other test you can think of. Never cost me a red cent, everything is paid by the government. Yes, sometimes we have to wait to see a doctor but it's not as bad as some of your politicians want you to believe since probably they are on the take from the insurance companies and the pharmaceutical companies. You asked our x health minister about treating aliens in our hospitals. Here is an example:
My older daughter was visiting me from New York about a month ago, she was 8 1/2 month pregnant at the time, she is an avid golfer so taking no for an answer we went and played 18 holes, I guess you know what happened, she was in the hospital for 4 days, the cost was $000.00, remember she is not a Canadian resident anymore.

Ten trillion throwed away in Iraq and no National Health care.

For all of you who are still upset over Michael
Vicks Fighting ring, get over it. In other countries people feast on dogs and hear in America we treat them like human beings. Michael deserves and will get another chance. We should focus on preserving human lives instead of dogs.

Hi Rick. I am a Canadian and love your energy. I saw today that you had a piece on Mitch McConnels ridiculous trashing of the Canadian public health system. I respected you for getting a real Canadian on the show to get the facts right. The facts are clear – 100% of citizens are covered in Canada because health care is a right not a priviledge. No one goes bankrupt in Canada if they get seriously ill. Wait times are not as depicted but McConnel and others in the U.S. who have never been to Canada to review the program - and remember the U.S. has 48M people that can't even get in a line because they have no health insurance. I challenge you Rick as a maverick to come to Canada and do your program from here and dedicate the entire show to a real health care comparison. How in the world can the richest country like yours have approx 48M people (including 12% of children) not covered by a health plan? See you in Toronto. I'll even pick you up at the airport. Take Care ..

This Evangelist in Arkansas reminds me why we should not always take the Bible word for word...every single one of us would be going to hell otherwise. Religeous finatics hide behind the bible & use the same scriptures to condemn others. Hypocrites!

William/Austin, Tx

Rick, the reason why so many people against the President"s HC plan is because some of them are just like many doctors who are afraid that they will not make as much money as they do now. At the same time cause the small man to continue to suffer. The President is on the correct path.

Hey Rick, Answer me this my friend. Why is it that you guys spend almost two weeks on Michael Jackson, but you won't give the same respect to Walter Cronkite? I mean if your going to try and convince me that Michael was more important to this country than Cronkite was then you can sit here and help me figure out why I even watch CNN?

I wonder if the Congress, or the Senate had a moment of silence for Walter?

Rick, I am a retired Canadian who vacations in Florida for 3 months each year and buys additional US healthcare while I am in the US. The Canadian healthcare system is not always perfect and its not cheap but it beats the hell out of the US system if you get seriously ill and you will not face personal bankruptcy. If you have a complaint about some Canadian healthcare service you can contact your members of parliment. Try complaining to a US insurance plan provider. LOL. My daughter teaches in Florida and she could write a book on her and her friends bad experiences with US healthcare. Canadians find it unbeleivable that most Americans do not protest in the streets about the horrible US healthcare system. Americans should research Google on the subject. Most would get a very unpleasent surprise. For a start check out The World Health Organization's ranking of the world's health systems. The US is ranked #37.

HEALTHCARE: I'm constantly amazed that it's never mentioned that there IS Private Health Insurance available in Canada, Great Briton, France, & Austrailia. Those with the means can buy it to supplement their National Healthcare. (Just as we do here when we're on Medicare!) It's usually high-deductible, and most people get it because it costs about half of what the same coverage costs in the US.

Echoing the above comment: For Rick Sanchez: As a greying dual citizen (Canada and the USA) with significant experience of both systems, I am appalled by the misinformation (especially generated by Senators with a vested financial interest in the current discriminatory health care system like McConnell) about Canada's health care system. It is superb. It is rational. Every Canadian citizen is covered from womb to tomb at a fraction of the US cost per person. Waiting times are minimal. All preexisitng conditions are covered. There is no direct cost to businesses, so some American businesses have moved to Canada for this benefit alone. I encourage you to schedule more interviews with former Canadian provincial and federal health ministers who know the facts, and not made-up-on-the-spot bogus anecdotes.from the preponderance of critics.
My premature daughter received the very best care possible at Toronto's Mt Sinai Hospital. My late wife underwent one-hundred (100) hospitalizations in the last 5 years of her life at Toronto's Women's College Hospital. No cost, no wait.
When emergency and intensive care is needed, it is provided, then private care as needed, then semi-private care as needed, then ward care as needed, then convalescent hospital care as needed, then visiting nurse and visiting homemaker care as needed–as well as traditional GP and internist follow-up as needed, and experimental drugs as needed–all included. Cost 000.00 (zero)
And I have received superb care when infrequently needed.
Mindless, uninformed criticism of the system gets my goat.
Please continue to separate the sheep from the goats for your viewers.

As a Canadian with non-hodgekins lymphoma i's like to comment on your health care debate.I have been in the system for over 4 years and have never had to wait for any treatments or tests which have included chemo,radiation and a bone marrow transplant. I did not have to wait long for the transplant. I had my transplant within 6 months.If I was in the U.S. I probably would have been told it was a pre-existing condition. And as for the medications I take some are covered by the government and some I have to pay for under the Trillium plan which has you pay according to your means. I was told my condition was terminal but i'm still here.

My best friend's daughter lives in Canada and had to wait 9 months for an appointment.
Will this be the case under O'Bamas health plan?

So far you guys have missed some of the main points. Many of us are extremely happy with our current health care. If you don't think there will be changes made to what you currently have, you are naive. This government run system will create havoc despite how convincing Pres. O is. Another thing, who is paying the price? That's right, the one that always pay the price for the ones who refuse to participate, work contribute, whatever. There are so many low lifes sucking on the system we cannot keep up. Get rid of the incredible fraud within the system and viola, in the black. As a small business owner in CA where democrats want to give away the farm, I am scared that I will not be in business this time next year. Stop the madness.

Re health plan...I want to know why we all can't have the same health plan the Congressmen & Senators have!! I would like to see someone ask those people how come they have one of the best plans on earth, but we can't have it. If we all had the same plan they would be the first to fix it!!
Why do they get to be in charge of planning and voting on one for us and telling us what we need to have??

The President;s speech today brought health care reform home for me. I think people should be able to see how connecting the dots from the insurance companies to indiviuals,state,local municipals,federal,and business, could give us all a better financial outlook. I imagine Wednesday conference would put more clarity and urgency on why we need health care reform.

Dear Rick,

I am one of your listener and when I heard about HealthCare in Canada, it made me shiver, this is a LIE totally. When we are in need of help it is just as far as the telephone, call 911 and the ambulance will pick you up in a few minutes, and drive you to the nearest hospital for care.

yes, we do pay something on our income tax, but it is very minor, compare to what a day in the hospital in the US would cost, and I know because I have lived in the USA in the winter for 8 years, so I know, I have 4 children, they are adults now, but can you imagine what it would cost if we had to pay, example: when they get their tonsils out, or brake a leg and have to be put in a cast, and those are minors not majors happenings, well here it cost ZIP Nothing!!!!

I am 74 years of age, and my husband is 70 and he is looking at open heart surgery at the end of this month, that alone in the US well., I am not going to say, but I know what it cost, because my neiborgh had that done and it cost over the hundres and twenty five thousands then, in 1996, what does it cost now, see the difference, here you do not see the bill ever. No questions asked.

That is the only way to go, believe me, I had 2 major operations and no bills ever, lots of follow up, yes, no bills.

Have a great day!

Paulette

Footnote: Some Canadian doctors move to the USA for higher incomes (but often pay outrageous malpractice premiums). Little is mentioned about the fact that that medical school in Canada (for Canadian citizens) is heavily subsidized by the provinces.
In Canada, the legal system (precisely because of its universal health care system) rarely grants malpractice claims or slip and fall-type awards–hence reducing cost.
The provincial health ministries work hand-in-hand with the provincial community and social service ministries to provide integrated outpatient support for citizens of every age and condition.
Also the health care system is not federal, instead it is provincial, albeit the provinces cooperate seamlessly.
The role of the Canadian federal government in health care is miniscule (5 percent max). In the main, it makes small, top-up payments, if necessary, to one province or another if they have unusually high costs (defined as a percentage point or two) in any given quarter.
Echoing the above comment: For Rick Sanchez: As a greying dual citizen (Canada and the USA) with significant experience of both systems, I am appalled by the misinformation (especially generated by Senators with a vested financial interest in the current discriminatory health care system like McConnell) about Canada's health care system. It is superb. It is rational. Every Canadian citizen is covered from womb to tomb at a fraction of the US cost per person. Waiting times are minimal. All pre-existing conditions are covered. There is no direct cost to businesses, so some American businesses have moved to Canada for this benefit alone. I encourage you to schedule more interviews with former Canadian provincial and federal health ministers who know the facts, and not made-up-on-the-spot bogus anecdotes.from the preponderance of critics.
My premature daughter received the very best care possible at Toronto's Mt Sinai Hospital. My late wife underwent one-hundred (100) hospitalizations in the last 5 years of her life at Toronto's Women's College Hospital. No cost, no wait.
When emergency and intensive care is needed, it is provided, then private care as needed, then semi-private care as needed, then ward care as needed, then convalescent hospital care as needed, then visiting nurse and visiting homemaker care as needed–as well as traditional GP and internist follow-up as needed, and experimental drugs as needed–all included. Cost 000.00 (zero)
In addition, I have received superb care when infrequently needed.
Mindless, uninformed criticism of the system gets my goat.
Please continue to separate the sheep from the goats for your viewers.
Doctors and hospitals and labs bill individual provincial governments for patient consultations, hospital stays and lab fees, all according to a single, rational provincial schedule–not based the vastly varying schedules in the US system.
Lastly, it is difficult, because of the way the system is structured, for a Canadian physician to make less than $100,000 per year, but equally difficult to make much more than $150,000. Moreover, the cost to physicians for items like education and malpractice insurance is minimal.
The exception proves the rule.
Please fact check and corroberate each of these assertions as you enhance your balanced reporting.
CNN deserves special kudos for its balanced reporting of the vitally important helath care issues.

Dear Rick

Thank you for your coverage and guests on Healthcare. I wish your show was on in the evening when 70% of Americans could view it and not be working. Althought I do enjoy Nancy Grace and Jane Velez it gets tiresome viewing the same ol, same ol night after night. Healthcare is so important now and at this time their true colors are showing. Yes they are on the dime, but got no backbone to stand in for healthcare issues which would allow them to address many interesting sides of healthcare at primetime. Lou Dobbs has covered this arena but seems to carry to many flies on his shoulder as he only seems to care about his wallet and with good insurance why should he care about the unfortunate. He tends to cut out his guest when they are making good sense on true healthcare reform. Allows the aganist reform flow as long as they like. Again thank you Rick for playing an even honest devils advocate for both the rich and the poor, for and aganist.

Enjoy watching your show on all accounts. You are right up their with our straight forward honest new great President. A true giver and one of the few not in it for the money. Yes I am in the unemployed status. Smart and very versitile,but at 53 years old, employers do not want me as my age ups their overall age average and cost them more when supplying insurance to their employees. Paul Smith

HI Rick – yesterday when you were reading a post from PEI (Canada)
you pronounced it as PIE – fyi – it means Prince Edward Island or P.E.I.
We forgive you, but would like you to correct yourself today.P.E.I. is one of our 10 provinces......Thanks
Wise Canadian Woman!!!!

every day the US where we live is most poor in cultural ,emotional , educational,stile of life .because the masters bureacrats are distroy our life. They only see they supposed green money not the poor people that what we are now.

The issue concerning my Presidents' birth certificate smacks of racism. I truly believe that some GOP groups are behind this non-issue and are trying to deflect from 8 years of GOP mismanagement of our country.
Tommy a registered (unhappy) republican

Rick,
It might be informative to know how much or senators and congressmen pay for their health care coverage; what is their deductable? How much has Kennedy come out of pocket for his cancer treatments? Do they get coverage for life, etc?

It seems that Kaiser Permanente has a good plan with doctors on salary. You might want to interview their CEO.

Thanks,
Chip

I am Canadian, it is true that some health care wait times are too long.
BUT nobody is refused because of age.

Cataracts, they do not wait until your almost blind...but because of the wait time, some ailments get worse.

Canadas health Care is awesome, even with the wait times.

In the US with no money, you get no health care at all.

Thanks Rick.......love you up here!!!!

Rick, I have just been listening to the Sentator regarding Canadian Health Care. My daughter who is 8 years old had to wait 8 weeks to get a MRI. We are insured under a employer group plan. He doesnt even know what the HECK he is talking about. If you can get a MRI in the same week, why didnt mine? Or is it because she is of MIXED RACE... Rick we need you to push this subject... This is a question of RICH and POOR..

Ten week wait for an MRI? TEN WEEKS....? I don't believe any of that.

Re : deserter/not deserter
Rick,
A quick read of the UCMJ may help clarify the LTC's comments.

Look under the sections addressing 'Desertion in the face of the enemy' , and 'Desertion in an active theater of war'.

MY take on the Colonel's comments is that he was addressing a POSSIBILITY, not a certainty.

Rick: Just out of couriosity, how many opponets of the proposed medical care system (Senators, Congressmen) are stock holders in pharmaceutical companies and targeted hospitals?

Rick regarding the statement made by your interviewee that in Canada we have to wait until we are almost blind before we can get cataract treatment is completely wrong. Immediately after you have been diagnosed with cataracts steps are taken for transplants and are done within weeks. Please correct the person you were talking to.
Frank Barnes

Rick, why not mention that the Rep. Presidential candidate, McCain,was born in Panama. His parents were not diplomats and he was not
born in the embassy. he was born in Panamanian territory.

Why don't you ask those republicans if they have gotten any contributions from health insurance companies or pharmaceutical firms? If they did, I would like to know how much. Thanks

In AZ only way to get in hospital is thru ER. yr dr cannt send u direct.
just got out of hisp and they wanted a followup ct scan took 4 wks to get appt. which is next monday. and ins had to approv before..

Rick, Ita very interesting, all this nonsense about President Obama's birth place which has been proven over and over. To those who are burning the flame for this nonsense, I ask would they have been saying the same thing if John McCain had won the presidency? He was born in Panama, a country that is not a state of America.

I am from U.K., my wife from Canada. We both grew up under a National Health program, and neither of us have any complaints about delays or rationed treatment as is being voiced with violent rhetoric by rep. senators. It is the same fear tactics that are consistently negatively picking on isolated incidents and blowing them out of all proportion to bamboozle and mislead the American public.

I'm from Canada. With all the Canadian Health Care bashing I have to say:

If I didn't have health care coverage I would not go to the doctors unless I was at death doors. That said, at least in Canada we all have access. For those that say they leave Canada to get health coverage in the USA, they must be wealthy.

Conclusion:
in USA Health Care is for the "Rich". They get priority coverage regardless of whether they are American or not.

Canadian Health Care is for "All Canadians" and it is affordable and available for everyone (rich or poor)... And for the most part no rich American will get priority over the average Canadian.

P.S. I have also heard that Americans flock to Canada to get affordable prescription drugs. Why is that? Does this also have to do with the free market profiteering initiatives of the American Health Care and Drug empires?

Hey Rick: I, for one of many, want to thank you, for opening up a useful dialogue. I have to say, as a viewer of CNN and the other cable news networks, I've been disheartened & saddened by some of the opinions being expressed, not by viewers, but, those in power (commentators, analysts..I won't even bother to mention.)
It seems that the election of an African-American as President has given far too many people, racist people, license to spout fear & hatred.
We have to combat this, and in each instance, point out the ignorance we see & hear.
Your program is very important; and, I wish it could be "re-run" at a later time, or you could even be given an on-going prime-time spot.
Thank you, again. History, Rick...and, We the People..That's America.

Sincerely,
William H. Balzac.

Rick, I am sorry that the Jackson family and Michael's fans have lost someone special. However, I think further speculation about the cause of his death should cease until the coroner and / or police decide the facts surrounding his untimely death. No one apparently knows what the findings of the autopsy are and the toxicology reports are not known now. Further speculation serves no useful purpose other than sensationalize this event. A period of mourning should be respectful and compassionate for his children and family.
sandy e

rick i have been watching your conversation with senator from wyomimg and ex health minister for CDN Ujjal Dosanth
I inmmigrated to Canada fifty years ago My son is a medical doctor from CDN university Has two specilities from the uS Emergency medicine and toxicology He has practised for 10 years in canada almost 20 in the us.
I am and my wife are in our eighties we both had cataract surgeries and i also had cardiac triple bypass and knee replacement(also my wife) the uS senator in your show exagerrates the delays and waits Depends where you live if you are in large urban centres it is is not intolerable very normal(everything free ofcourse for recent immigrants as well) also most cdns can get MRIs at very reasonable rates in US cities the same day I did recently for my back surgery i did not wish to lose my slot in the operation line up i got everyjthing the same day
For cataracts there is a general rule that the calcified portion needs to be atleast 60 percent to warrant surgery (n us i have seen on 60 minutes who do thse surgeries for even 30 percent bl bockage (just greed).
What the wyominmg senator was citing are few cases of rich CDNs who cannot wait even a day but if you ask 95 percent have no problem with a reasionable wait and we do get world class care As a matter of fact i have seen the nursing care in Newyotk city and it is terrible IN THE US it has become fashionable to knock anything which is run by govt this is just stupid in the extreme My son has enough experience in both countries and he thinks that the cdn system is not perfect but for most joes, elderly persons people with no cash nothing can be better and this is not to win a vervbal debate but i genuinely feel that after frequently comparing notes with my son In US vain men and women spend a lot of money on cosametic surgeries(lifting up theirr breasts) men and wiomen getting lipo suction I also had knee surgery excellent surgeon very caring and A! treatment that Wyoming senator should live for 6 mtjs in CDN unfortunately the CDN portion next to his state is all mostyly boony land where many doctors dont want to libe My sob says that if you live in Yuma Arizona all that wyoming senator was saying exists ibn spades
Anywat when Americans kiving in Delaware cannot believe that Obama was born n Oahu Hawaii tey are worse than hicks in India-believe me plain ansd simple they dont like blacks period
I dont know why guys like him persist in spreading half truths GOP senator from kentucky is an old doddering fool and that sc senator whowants obama to fail is a bigoted person the truth is in THe us it is very difficult dfor Liky whites to ccept that a black can be a president and a smart one too.

Sometime when interviewing a congressman concerning our medical coverage problems, I would like you to ask the HARD question..."how much do you, and all of congress, pay out for hospitalization?".....Quit playing the "Political Game." Your interview of the gentleman (doctor) from Canada was enlightening.

Rick Check this ad out about Shana Holmes and her brain tumor listen to the alegation that certain treatments and drugs arent available because "government says patients arent worth it. Please send this to Dr. Ujjal Dosanjh for comment and possible liable suit.
We have to shine the light (if this is the second email, i thought the first one failed, sorry) the web site is ((edited))
supported by Patients united now......(another name for who?)

thanks

Jeannie

Rick,
Do a poll of Senators, and members of Congress on who they have their personal health plan with. Is it Private Plan or Government Sponsored Plan.
How could someone in congress that uses a government sponsored plan tell everyone else they shouldn't have the same option they have?

Hey Rick, I am an American, married to a Canadian.I truly feel like I've been given "the gift of life" having full access to doctors & hospital care.No bills to follow!! The middle class & poor Americans would feel like they had "died & gone to heaven" if they had a chance to have the health system like Canadians..The lady from Ontario that took her $100,000 to the Mayo Clinic for surgery..good for her..I wonder how many Americans had to wait due to her rich ass taking their spot....She should be ashamed & be very careful how she spits in the air about Canada...It just might come back to haunt her....Please, take a survey of how many hard working, taxpayers in the U.S. living near to Canada's border that come by busloads to buy their meds & see doctors.because they can't afford it in the country they've worked & lived in all their lives....Lots of states bordering Canada buy all their employee meds..Also the Veterans Adminstration has for years while the republicans were saying to their "followers" That medicine from Canada will kill you...The Republicans are liers & up to their eyeballs in kickback from the insurance & drug companies...They play with Christians minds..Reminds me of a "cult"...That is pure bull-sh-t about the waiting times...It's the same in Canada as in the U.S. hospitals..3 tier & if you are at an emergency room, thank God, real emergencies come 1st..There's LONG lines in the U.S. & lots of BIG bills following them home..I have family working in hospitals there so I know the truth...I was born & lived most my life in S.C..My mother worked very hard all her life for cheap pay & died at the age of "56" because she couldn't afford to buy her medicine..What a shame for a so-called rich country..If the U.S. has the best health care in the world..I'd hate to see the worst.. It makes me nauseated when I heard those greedy lying republicans talking shit about Canada...They are probably getting Ins. coverage just like Canada has...I believe in GOD & he'll get rid of those hypocrites one at the time...Keep up the good work Rick...Bernice

As part of full disclosure, shouldn't CNN disclose the fact that it is running non-stop paid ads for the anti-universal health care group, PatientsUnitedNow that is affiliated with the NoStimulus and AmericansForProsperity groups that are also anti-climate change, pro tobacco and largely funded by the Koch Family Foundation.

Health Ins.
Keep the government out of it. If the pharmacy compainies want it they are going to make millions., First, lets take away some if not all benifits from congress . That would pay for most of it. Nancy Polise is for it yet she is one of the biggest cooks in Washington. We the people cannot go on any longer with the current leadership.

Aren't we already "rationing"healthcare? If you have money you have it and if you don't have money you don't get healthcare.

Interesting that members of congress get "cadillac" care-paid for by taaxpayers, but it doesn't flow the other way?

The Rep. hold meetings with other Reps. to discuss how to make this administration look as bad as possible. They are told what to say and how to say it when interviewed. Notice when different Reps. are interviewed, their words are scripted. They use the same wordings and phrasing. They have to do whatever it takes to get the white house back. They "will" sabotage health care so they can blame Obama and the Dems. They have to. It's a DO whatever it takes policy. The only ones to suffer is the American public. The sad thing is so many are believing the Reps. They use the scare word "Big Government". For the first time in a "very" long time money is being spent on "Americans". To help Americans. Be thankful we have a President that is thinking about Americans and not some other country. I would much rather pay back money spent on us than have my taxes spent on some other country or for Bush's war.

Nurses must be the primary care providers in this health care reform.
I am a nurse of 63 years and 40 years of experience!
My mother who died was also not a wealthy nurse.
We save the patients from the majority of corporate and physician incompetence and greed prevailing since eternity on the American Disease System.
Definitely we are not rich.
One of our proffessional roles is PATIENT ADVOCATE.
We do not need the status "quo on health".The AMERICAN PEOPLE NEITHER
Health means that the sick patient without health reform won't make you sick.
Republicans and Democrats. Are all of your hands so dirty with blood and campaign dirty money?
! There is American Blood IN all of the ones opposing this Health Care Reform!

Are you part of the conspiracy.

I am a 25 year veteran of Law Enforcement (and white)and I will apologize. Many incidents can be made to seem the way we write it. The main thing I look at is charges dropped. We are trained to defuse. And some times the best way to defuse is to just leave the scene.

It was his house, he had I.D. This is why we continue to have problems

I am a supported of our president but the president should refrain from name calling of another human being. No one should be called stupid.

I did hear Proffesor Gates say to Solidad O'Brien that he asked for the officer's name and badge number in the house – the officer left the residence and Prof followed out to the porch to ask other officers for the officer's name and was then arrested

It is hard for me to understand how a person can be arrested for being in their own home and not having the patience to deal with arrogant police officers. After the gentleman proveded documents to prove he was the resident, the officers should have left. There was absolutely no reason an arrest should have been made. And we judge Iran, China, North Korea and others.

It may or may not have been racial profing, but it there should not have been an arrest.

Some cnn shows are news, entertaining, borderline sleezy and some are just sleezy. Be careful... Unless you are happy with your platform.

WHAT ABOUT THE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR IN ST LOUIS GERALD EARLY THAT GOT STOPPED AND DETAINED IN THE UPSCALE AREA OF FONTENAC, SOME MAYBE FOUR YEARS AGO....YOU NEED TO TALK WITH HIM...THIS IS ONE OF THE TOP UNIVERSITIES IN THE COUNTRY ALSO....I DON'T THINK MOST AMERICANS BELIEVE THIS IS A PROBLEM.....BUT CHECK DR EARLY OUT AND GET SOME INPUT FROM HIM....THIS WILL BE INTERESTING AND PRODUCTIVE

I believe the officer was trying to find out if there was a break in. Just because you have ID saying you live somewhere, doesn't mean you really do. A call had been made reporting a break-in in progress. The officer was just doing due diligence on the call. Prof. Gates got upset and he escalated the situation to the point that he got arrested. He was warned to calm down more than once. Police officers have a name tag on, so I am sure he saw the officers name. Also, why tell someone "you don't know who you are messing with", unless you are threatening them. The President should have refused to comment on the situation as it had nothing to do with him. He should never have said the Cambridge Police acted stupidly. What if there had been a break-in and the men were in Prof. Gates home and the officer had just left without asking questions, then something bad happened to the Gates family or home. Then there would be a firestorm about that. People going crazy about how the police didn't do their job, etc. Give me a break. There is nothing racist about what happened there. Just an officer doing his job and a man being overly sensitive. I am not saying there are not bad cops, but I do not believe this is a case of a bad cop racially profiling. Get over it and the President should keep his personal opinions to himself. He does when it comes to offending other nations or leaders, he should have in this instance as well.

hello rick greetings to you.this is a comment about the prof gates issue.yes the president should have responded to question asked.the isue with race is getting out of control.just look at the issue in paris a black man dragged to death and nothing happened all because someone came forward and said i may have hit someone.back to the gates issue i know first hand what it is like cause it happened to me.my mom was in a nursing home in tennessee i live in indiana.i had been on a bus 13 hours and was tired i was in the house when all of a sudden two cops show up hands on weapons said that someone was breaking in and i needed to show them id.so i did they asked do i have any id showing them pruff that this was my mom i told them to look at the large picture of me hanging on the wall.my older cousin showed up at this time to see what was going on.he then verified i was who i said i was.here is the best part.i went to high school in tennessee.the officers by the way are brothers also went to school at the same high school in tennessee i did.i even called both of them by their first names.the two brothers are white and i am black..i told them if i was breaking in the house would i be that dum and have all the lights on in the house they said then get rid of the attitude.i spoke to them in a normal tone.this went on for about 20-25 minutes. still after all this they still kept their hands on their weapons.my own family verified who i was and still that was not good enough.they said they would go to the nursing home and speak with my mother.i told them if they did that they will see my lawyer bright and early cause my mom was dying with brain cancer that was why i was there.finally after enough family showed up to see to see what was going on it was over.yes this is just another way racism is dressed up they use there badges so the President Obama was right to say what he did.don't you think that is was odd that the cop only spoke up was after the comment made by the president.if he has nothing to hide why didn't he do it before.so see now there is double issues of race against the president and mr gates

The president choice of words could have been different,however I don't think the comments made was intended to belittle the police dept. nor do i believe that the officer willfully intended to racial profile Professor Gates the tongue is unruly, actions are sometime misinterperted, face it america, if we as a people don't confront this green eyed monster racism in america head on that still exist today, whether it be racist profiling with the police dept. or a black /white/latino minority issue it is still by far a sad day in america. It is urgent that we deal with racism on every level in this country. there is going to be worst consequences in the future for us as a nation and our children, childrens fighting amongst themselves in one of the worst race wars one can ever imagine. We as a people can be a shining example for our children in this area both now and in the future. I am very saddened at this outset, I am a proud to be an american I love my country beyond measure, and I really wish we could conquer this greeneyed monster so that we can get on with the business, the real business at hand such as healthcare etc;. It is very important that we come together as a people and try to find some common grounds, find and administer more preventive measure unbiased concerning this monster of a problem that is so easily besetting us here in america. Let us let go of the testosterone attitudes, the big eyes, and little you's and find some common ground where we can work together for i personally believe that together every one achieves more. Face it america, we need each other. Let's be that SuperPower Country that we are called out to be helping ourselves and others as well. Amen

Hi Rick,

The real issue that arises from the arrest of Dr. Gates is not a racial one, but the issue is about mutual respect of citizen’s toward officers and officers toward citizen’s there needs to be mutual respect on both sides. In actuality for the most part I have noticed that police officers have large egos and demand respect even when a citizen has the right to question their actions and want to see the officers name and badge the officer often becomes aggressive and exasperates the situation instead of just simply showing the badge and explaining the reason for their investigations. Citizens also have unreasonable suspicions of police often when the police have a legitimate reason for investigating citizens the citizens involved even though they may be innocent should allow officers to complete their investigation without being argumentative. I am a poor black man and I went through the same situation as Dr. Gates did but with a very different outcome due to the mutual respect of me as a citizen for the officers and of the mutual respect of the officers toward me as a citizen. I moved into an apartment complex where I had a 1st floor apartment with a 1st floor balcony entrance with sliding doors and I chose to move my stuff in through this entrance at night and some neighbors found this suspicious and called the police. When the police arrived I was moving stuff in from my truck into my apartment and they approached me and gave some instructions. 1: Stop what I was doing so that we can speak with you. I immediately stopped and approached the officers and asked how I could help them. They respectfully answered me by explaining that neighbors called them to investigate suspicious activity at this location and could I explain my actions and produce identification. Instead of getting angry I was actually happy that I had neighbors who cared and a police force who responded quickly, so I immediately explained that I was new to the complex and I was moving in at night because I did not like people seeing my stuff when I move in so that they would not be tempted to break in an steal it. I produced my ID with my name and it had my new address on it and I also showed them a telephone bill that showed my new address. They were happy with that but added that if they could have permission to look around at this point it is my right to deny this but I had nothing to hide they just stepped in and saw all the boxes and moving stuff and it verified my story and all were satisfied. They then did something that I recommend all officers learn, they showed respect to me as a black citizen. They said we are sorry if we inconvenienced you and that I should understand that their investigation was not racially motivated but was as a direct response to other concerned citizens. My reply was this. No apology necessary and I am glad to have concerned neighbors and a responsive police force. I thanked them and the situation was over. All of this took at the most 15 minutes, but in the case of Dr. Gates he felt it was racially motivated and he got angry and exasperated the situation. The officer involved lost his cool and mutual respect of a citizen’s right to question an officers actions. Instead of just letting the anger diffuse when he had verified no crime was in progress his ego got in the way and the cuffs came out and then he had to back up that move with an unnecessary arrest. Police officers are in our society to protect and serve. They are peace officers. There was no significant threat or harm to anyone’s peace or security. A few words said in anger during a routine investigation of a break in should not lead to an arrest. Police officers should expect to get push back from innocent citizens who may, justly or unjustly, be suspicious and argumentative over certain police actions. I agree with Obama that it was not smart to arrest Gates, especially since all charges were immediately dropped. I would not have used the words “Stupid arrest” but I would have said it would have been in the best interest of the Concord community and the Concord police force to not make an arrest in that situation.

Thanks,

Gflat

The pres. has the right to give his opinion just like anyone else. This is still America, And when it comes to rights in this country black people still have to fight for their's even if you are the President of U.S.A.. And i think that is one of points that professor was trying to make.

To the person about the president calling someone "stupid". He called the action stupid, arresting someone in their own home after assertaing that they were there because the lived their. I agree the police were ther legally but they went too far.

Everyone in the USA does have the right to speak freely and I don't argue that, however the president has an obligation to know ALL the facts before basing his decision and choice of words at a press conference on hearing one side of the story. As I stated before if the officers turned away and there was really something going on in that house, they would be accused of ignoring an issue and that would somehow get turned into a racial arguement as well. Prof. Gates escalated this situation and is now crying racial profiling. I wonder when Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton are going to get involved. As the president, you have an obligation to remain fair and balanced. He only said that because, admittedly, Prof. Gates is a friend of his.

The president has managed to get people talking about

1- Racial profiling
2- The disorderly conduct statute
3- A persons right to be angry at the police
4- How a law enforcement officer should conduct his or herself
5- What kind of discretion should be used by an officer
6- whether a different law enforcement officer would have handle the same matter differently

I say let the president bring out what is on his mind and on peoples minds when incidents like this happen and don't hold it personally against him. If we handle it right from this point on we can only learn and improve relations. The only thing they are talking about now is who should apologize. Maybe whoever does apologize should give the other flowers too!

Skip the apologies and use this opportunity to train police officers and the public on how to interact. Remind officers that they have a lot of discretion and that the power to take someone into custody and deprive them of movement is a very serious power and one not to be used without forethought.

Teach the public that co-operation makes an officer's job easier and that they are trained to always expect the worse and that some officers have a lower tolerance than others. It's simple!

Why don't you and other reporters honor what both thePresident and the Cambridge officer have asked – and that is to quit giving this issue undue press coverage. Enough already! No – too much already!

dear rick, this is my comment on the dr. gates controversy. my nephew and my husband who are officers say that they would have done the same thing as officer crowley, up to the point of the arrest. it is correct police procedure to remove a person who may be a victim, from a potentially dangerous situation. my nephew says that he would have talked to dr. gates in the squad car rather than at the station, to get him to calm down. by the way, we are african american.

These twol people should stop acting like children in the playground, apologize to each other and let's get on with the business of the country. So many more important issues to deal with. Yes RACE WILL ALWAYS be a factor in this country but this was obviously a misunderstanding on both sides.

Rick!!
My mom also was "never" hungry at dinner time. In spite of our extreme poverty she was able to raise four great kids that went on to have their own kids that are all successful adults.

Rick,
After the "incident" I contacted Gates office to say what happened was not race, but police power.

I have been through much worse on my property... twice. The second time cost me $30,000 in attorney fees to go to court to have a judge yell at the arresting officers, saying that they are an embarrassment to the uniform their wear.

They left court in those uniforms, I am now permanently disabled and have lost my business of 30 years. And I am very white

RE: Professor Gates (Racial Profiling?)

The true lesson learned is the lack of respect shown to the men and women who where the badge, and to those individuals who feel they are above the law. When the 911 call was made about two men breaking into the home, it would not have mattered whether the two men were black, white or hispanic, the call would have been handled in the same professional manner.

I was shocked by the Presidents response and I am ashamed.

Alan and Jeanette Graves

Rick,
Everyone is so concerned about losing the second amendment what about the other nine?

In regards to the incident between the Harvard professor and Sergeant Crowley, the emotional demeanor of the Harvard professor is irrelevant.

Police officers are trained to look past people’s dispositions and have a thicker skin. The pivotal part of this whole situation is when the officer is alleged to have said “thank you for your conduct inside now you are under arrest “and then proceeded to process a complete arrest for disorderly conduct without basis.

It’s not unusual to detain a subject until you ascertain the safety of the area and then unhand cuff them with an apology. I’m not too sure how much of this was due to immaturity rather than stupidity or both.

This situation is not as bad as other places like Beaufort County South Carolina where I served as a deputy.

For instance in 2004 in African American UPS worker was beaten by several law enforcement officials, they forced open his mouth in place a stun gun in it and electrocuted him several times, and nothing was done about that.

And in the case of Bobby Stewart while handcuff from behind, his head was slammed repeatedly into the brick wall until his head was fractured above his right to orbital socket.

The whole incident was caught on tape at the Beaufort county detention center and covered up by the chief who had the tape removed.

This is a common practice in small departments and county agencies especially in the South where the good old boys network extends all the way to the Federal courts.

It appear to me that somebody acted stupidly, Mr Gates was in his home in a private citizen position. The policeman was on duty as a police responding to a call in a professional position. It appear to me both parties probably acted stupidly. Maybe if the police was to re-address their SOP in certain calls, especially when they have to knock on a citizen's door, if they would idenifiy themselves,providing,name, and badge number,and the reason for the call, they would then take the weopon of RACISM,or RACIAL PROFILING AWAY FROM THE CITIZENS. The police need to be able to do their job without fear of RACISM,or RACIAL PROFILING, and citizens need to be able to live their lives without fear of being a victim of RACISM, or RACIAL PROFILING. I thank the President for his comment, maybe this would help police to adjust their SOP in certian cases. The neighbor did the right thing, I am what they call a nosey neihgbor I also call the police, after abserviing for a few minutes.

This debate is missing a big point . It's not about Race , it's about
the Rights of every American when he is in his Home. It's about how far can Law Enforcement go ? If I establish ID and request that they do not step into my Home , can they just walk in ?
If I'm in my Home and verbally swear or give negative opinions to the law enforcement officers without physical assault . I should not be arrested and taken to Jail and booked. There are too many real criminals on the streets and not enough Tax dollars to spend this amount of time and money arresting a Good citizen.
Let's drop the Freakin Colors and Classifications and get to the Real job at hand , which is work together to Unite this country and leave our children something to build on.

RRios

FIND SOME OTHER NEWS TO REPORT ON OR TALK ABOUT SOLVING THE PROBLEM WE BLACKS FACE EVERY DAY WHICH IS NOT REPORT DAILY QUIT PUTTING MORE FUEL ON THE FIRE TALKING ABOUT SOLVING THIS PROBLEM WE HAVE BEING HAVING FOR YEARS WE ARE BLACK AND IT WILL NOT CHANGE THIS NEED TO BE SOLVE

STUPIDITY & WHITE RACISM

President Obama commented on the incident of the black Professor Gate that was arrested in his home after the white officer confrimed it was Professor Gates resident. The President stated that the officer acted stupidly and he was RIGHT ! This is the leadership needed to idenify wrong behavoir in law enforcement! NO MORE PASSES!!! The President was right to call the act of police STUPID….. Gates was WRONG to call the incident RACIST! But I can understand how Professor Gate mistaken racism for stupidity. Stupidity is a conponant of racism and racism is a conponant of stupidity! Bottom line there should have not been a arrest . The stupid cop knew that the incident was over ones he indenify Professor Gates in his home ! That is why the charge was dropped before the President made his comments! Somebody other then the President deem the incident STUPID! With both black and white fighting and dying in Iraq for Iraq's citizen liberation it is disrespectful to all Americans to foolishly arrest a American citizen at his home after finding out the reason for your call was WRONG!!!! Just think about it America this stupid cop knew from the 911 call that the person at the Professor home had suitcases! What criminal goes to a home to rob it with suitcases? The other problem for me was the stupid cop comments that the President disrespect all polices! This is the same way white racist group act. White racist groups alway try to made little incidents bigger then they are! Remember Boston police was very stupid when just because a white man (Charles Stuart)
stated his wife was murder by a black man.! Disrespected any and all black men in Boston. Oh Yeah.....and they found the made up black man! Only to find out later the white man murder his wife and unborn child! ….So the Professor Gates incident shows the Boston Police are still stupid! It also tells me that the Cheif of Police in Boston lack the leadership needed to stop the stupid! Now the world knows the tape didn't show Mr. Gates yelling like the STUPID Police Sgt. stated. Also the caller did mention race HISPANIC so the idiot Sgt. was color blind and STUPID! What a opportunity miss by President Obama. How horrible for the country and especially for black Americans. At 50 years old I have waited for some kind of leadership to step up and indenify stupid behavoir in law enforcement by role cops. Also just like I been saying about judges that should be leader but chose to say nothing when they have a front roll seat to wrong doing ! Judges see discrimination in traffic court where in mostly white community judges see more minorities then whites. DWB (DRIVING WHILE BLACK) is a way of life for blacks citizen in America! Just the mere fact that DWB exsit should make all law enforcement in the position of authority take notice! AND STOP IT! We see different standard in sentencing when it come to minorities. America is in need of leadership just to say NOT IN AMERICA! I really thought President Obama was going to be that leadership. But he back down from a local white stupid cop in Boston. The Commander-in-Chief of United State say it was stupidity and a local cop said the Commander-in-Chief was wrong! UNBELIEVEABLE! I say unbelieveable because instead of disagreeding with the Commander-in -Chief. The Sgt. should have taken notice of his action so should the Chief of Police! Remember the Commander -in- Chief commands the respect of the arm forces that protect our country!I remember watching the Phil Donahue Show there was a episole about racist white police shooting unarmed black Americans. The white officer after shooting the unarmed black man put a gun of his in the dead black man right hand. Turns out the black man from birth NEVER could use that right hand it was impossible to handle that gun let along shoot at the police officer! You think the Cheif of Police label the cop action as stupid WRONG! Today cops don't even bother planting guns on unarmed black Americans they know the mostly white judges will give them a pass. They just claim they thought he or she had a gun so they had to fire 41 or 50 bullets at the unarmed Americans. To today whites that make the stupid comment"That race relationship are better today then in the pass. Hell no! It is getting worse in some cases the country is going backwards. Anytime a 92 year old black woman (Ms.Kathryn Johnston) home along is murder by white racist stupid cops 39 bullets to end her life. Then handcuff left to die on the floor of her home while the racist lowlife cops put weed in her home . To try and justify the murder of a 92 year old black woman! Do you think the Cheif of Police deem this action stupid NO! Or Sean Bell 23 year old unarmed American shot dead in the back in a car. His passeger shot18 time and lived UNARMED and the other passeger shot 4 times UNARMED!Where is the leadership why is it that only black Americans see the evil in these incidents? Why is it that Al Sharpton has to march and shine the ligth on stupid law enforcement action! Given the fact that black Americans are fighting and dying in two wars protecting the rights of all Americans! Liberating Iraqi and restoring their civil rights in their country only to keep being disrespected in America is WRONG!

technology currently exists to prevent cell phone usage and texting while in movement.

The officer doesn't hear the 911 call. It is relayed to the responding officer by the 911 operator who may have indeed indicated two black men

What i find interesting is that NO one has called Crowley a liar yet. Well, let me be the first. It is obvious that Crowley (Cambridge Poilce Department) started the 2 black males thing. Wasn't that an episode on the Sopranos? Whalen states vehemently she never told Crowley that there were 2 black males. Crowley put it in his report though. A sworn statement made by the police. That's like lying in court right? I think its called perjury and it carries 6 months in some states

Texting While Driving Topic: Rick I do believe that ALL cell phone use on the road should be banned EVERYWHERE. About two months ago I was driving on the expressway (65 mph) while texting, thought I would be fine if I looked up once in awhile but ended up slightly crossing into another driver's lane and got rear-ended. His car was totalled and mine had $8,000 worth of damage.

I denied that I went into his lane. And Illinois law says that if you get hit from behind it is the person who hit you who is at fault. He was issued the ticket and his insurance company had to pay for the damages to my car. Feel bad about it now, but no one admits to fault in an accident.

Hi rick
what is going to our country now. it seen to me that we fighting for nothing. The president he's trying to bring a better health care plan for us. that's the change he was talking about.

Hey rick it is getting to point that ur show contiunes to fuel the fire of race. Face the fact nothing has change with race but that we have a BLACK man as president. Let it go guys move on.

If a person was breaking the law and they were purple, green, red, whatever; that's part of the description law enforcement would need to identify the person, its not racial profiling, its a description!!Stop the madness

Hey,Rick I am a truck driver of fifteen years. I have seen and dealt with more bad cops than good. The people that think most cops are good need to have one encounter with a bad cop and then they would wake up and understand how bad of a problem we really have.

Ref. the Boston/Gates situation: It amazes me that nobody is mentioning the "call taker" (who took the lady's 911 call) and his apparent inattention to what the lady was saying. He asked a lot of question but seemed to ignore her responses to those question. He even asked her name then said goodbye before she could reply. As a former 911 communicator I can testify to the fact that often this call-taker person is responsible for lots of mistakes that lead to a lot of wheelspinning in these situations. I get a strong sense that this particular call-taker was less than professional and not very good at his job.

Hey Rick the last guest on your show, the police officer , did not get it right for a teachable moment for people around the country but it is a teachable moment for law enforcement. I am a retired police sergeant after 26 years on a big city police department. the important thing is to learn is that sgt Crowley did not have a " Breach of the Peace "as required in Disordley conduct arrests in this situation, and that is why they threw out the case for LACK OF PROBABLE CAUSE.. and he should no this, him being a Sergeant on any police department. Talking back to the police does not constitute D/O Conduct. Along as Mr Gates did not put his hands on the Sergeant, the sergeant had no P/C to arrest..Please dont scare the public because PEOPLE HAVE RIGHTS IN THEIR HOME..

Regarding the beer party at the White House...how is paying the the Officer and Mr Gates travels?

Mr Obama?

Thanks,
Tax payer

Sorry, who is paying for their travels and beer party?

Thanks.

I’m watching your debate on healthcare on Thursday (7/30) and have to comment on the statement made by Sen. John Barrasso.
He mentioned what’s become a standard Republican talking point in recent weeks – that President Obama has rung up a bigger debt in 6 months than all presidents, from Washington to Bush 43.
What they ignore is that Obama came in and said he was going to be honest about the funding for the Iraq and Afganistan Wars and count the almost 1 trillion expense as part of the budget deficit.
Under Bush, all but the first year of the wars were funded off-budget, as supplementales-so, they were not calculated in the total deficit.
1 trillion of the deficit attributed to Obama is actually Bush’s fault – making Barrasso’s statement a total distortion.

Hello Rick, It's hard for whites to understand what black people go through all the time with benefit of the doubt... For example you may turn your TV on the show called cops, and you will see the average white American get pulled over by a police officer and I have seen different instances where as they will talk to the white officers any kind of way the feel!..and hardly never get threaten of being arrested for disorderly conduct!..I set back and know from my own experiences from a child into now that I can not open my my unless I am answering a question no matter what or I will potentially get arrested for something no related to me being stop!...It has happen to me more than once and many of black Americans. I am not complaining because I have come a custom to this kind of treatment, but I do understand that if you do not live this type of treatment it is hard for Americans to understand!...I wish on an average that police would try do their jobs by abiding the law professionally and not making the "LAW" as they may feel appropriate behavior!...In addiction all it takes is for a black person to be stop by a officer with an attitude...I better not say a word!....

I am a veteran/retiree. The military medical system has much to be desired. But it is better than nothing. I have concerns about a government health care system. Congress control the service I receive.

I hope that Obama doesn't apologise to the lying, racist, cop. The other cop, his associate, who wrote the racist email should also be fired. Until these lying, racist, thug, cops are held accountable and fired, the problem will never go away.

Rick,the truth is bad cops cause the death of good cops.We have seen enough beatings on tv.Revenge is often taken out on any cop,good or bad.The police need to get there act together,stop the code of silence,and get rid of the bad ones.They all know who they are.To many good ones have been lost.When is it going to stop?

Hey Rick,
Great show. You should have My Man Roland of your show more often!
Rita
Austin Texas

Hey Rick, from Ontario, Canada. I have to get my Rick 'hit' and if I'm out with my spouse, I get him to tape from 2:30 to 4 p.m. that's so I can listen to you and Kyra talk. Great chemistry there, as friend.
You're one of THE best on-air anchors (male) CNN has, that's why I like you as much as I do. Of course, like someone else posted, I love you too. I've been a CNN 'junky' since a little before Desert Storm.
This whole Town Hall meeting thing is great as long as people don't start this racial thing. I find that offensive.
Los fotos del dia...is that right? I'm starting to learn some Spanish.
You're like an amigo, someone who cares what his viewing audience thinks and talks about.

Johnny B. Good....Rick, is that his real name or did you nickname him that? Rog/Raj, Angie, you've got a great group of people (TEAM SANCHEZ) behind you. Do you use cue cards or is what you say all your own words? No wonder you have such a following. I've never seen that style anywhere before. But then....I don't watch any other cable news channel...JUST CNN!