Harry Belafonte Endorses John Edwards for President

[jsamuel]

Run time: 01:48 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4qNOPixfuQ   Posted on YouTube: December 07, 2007 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: December 07, 2007 By DU Member: jsamuel Views on DU: 2259

 
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A volunteer group dedicated to electing John Edwards as our next president by increasing awareness of where he stands on issues, promoting and posting positve information on his candidacy, and rapidly responding to misleading or incorrect information.

[Inspired]

1. Day-O!

Here's another link to the story.

http://www.abcnews4.com/news/stories/1207/478529.html

[hootinholler]

6. Me Say Day, me say O,

Daylight come and me wanna go home.

-Hoot

[Cha]

18. Very Awesome! Harry

does care fervently for people. I heard him singing on the radio when I was in Jr. High so you know he's got longevity genes.

[Seabiscuit]

42. LOL! The first word that sprung into my mind too. :)

[be inspired]

2. So cool!

I love Harry Belafonte! A great humanitarian and a great entertainer!

[patrice]

3. Classy Guy!

Both of them.

[pioneer111]

4. Belafonte has been a human rights activist for over 50 years

He is a great human being and this is an awesome endorsement for Edwards.

[zazzle]

12. WooHoo! great news

[IndyOp]

5. Oh, oh, oh, oh - WOW!!!! Did you know that Harry Belafonte subsidized

the civil rights movement? Seriously - he was a major financial source of support to the King family and other key organizations. Money traveled directly from people who bought his albums and tickets to his performances at Carnegie and elsewhere around the world and right to the civil justice movement that lifted our nation and inspired Mandela and others around the world, who, in turn, continue to inspire us to do better. If a volume of stories about the REAL heroes in our world was published, Mr. Belafonte would be way, way up there on the list. It is, therefore, tremendous to see him endorse John!

:woohoo:

[be inspired]

11. Just found out today.

I wrote a diary about this endorsement on Daily Kos. While writing it, I found this wikipedia entry that talks about that. I knew he had worked with Dr. King, but didn't realize the extent of his activism.

[ChiciB1]

37. I Just Saw This & Posted A Few Tidbits Below... It Says Volumes About

the character of Edwards! Thanks for the wikipedia info, it IS extensive! People like Belafonte have walked the walked for many many years, and never stopped walking!

I'm a bit giddy about this even IF many don't know the "history" behind the man!

[balantz]

7. An endorsement from Harry Belafonte

says loads about the kind of person John Edwards is.

[Catchawave]

8. I thought the same thing !

The man is a legend.

[Mark Twain Girl]

9. I didn't realize how progressive and active Belafonte was until quite recently

Here's a great DN interview:

http://www.democracynow.org/2006/1/30/harry_belafonte_on_bush_iraq_hurricane

I am always pleasantly surprised when I see artists of substance and conscience, and Belafonte is surely one of them.

I also remember his wonderful appearance on the Muppets:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2TZhruT-Xs

:)

[shadowknows69]

10. Sweet news

Why am I thinking this won't make it on CHN (Cable Hillary Network)

[ultraist]

13. Or...

CNN (Clinton News Network)?

;)

[Township75]

14. Will this be more meaningful than Madonna's endorsement of Clark in 04?

?

[shadowknows69]

16. One would hope so

[Cha]

19. Are you purposely

being disingenuous?

[ChiciB1]

36. MOST DEFINITELY!! A Real Addition With "Teeth & SUBSTANCE!" N/T

[bonito]

15. Thank you Harry!

[Cha]

17. I rarely turn on

videos but I did this one and all I get is a black screen with a whirly thing going around in the middle.. Is there something wrong or is it me?

Harry Belafonte is one of my Heros from the Feb 15, 2003 Protest Rally in New York City..protesting the bushites dropping the bombs on Iraq. Harry was so passionate about stopping that carnage..even calling colin powell an Uncle Tom. And creating quite a stir in the corporatemediawhores viper's nest.

[jsamuel]

20. It works for me.

Try going to youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4qNOPixfuQ

[Cha]

22. Thank you, j!

That was poignant! Too sweet.. Harry really does care and I'm so happy he's endorsing John Edwards because he feels that John has matured and will make a great President.

[rockybelt]

21. You know

I have come a long way. When I read the headline for this thread I thought Harry Belefonte? Didn't he commit some heinous crime awhile back?

As I usually do, I started some research and discovered that Hank was a patriot. Imagine that! It just goes to show that the more you educate yourself, the more you learn. I know that sounds really stupid but look here.

I thought that I knew about Belefonte from tv spots that I had seen. I thought that I knew about a lot of things until I really decided to educate myself on the conclusions that were being spouted by political pundits.

What an education? That was several years ago and I am still learning.

My lesson? Never take any body's explanation as the truth. Always question everything!

Democracy depends on it.

[Cha]

23. Harry Belafonte was

at the World Wide Protest RAlly in NYC on Feb 15, 2003 when we were all Saying No To War! I have him on tape and this endorsement really means a lot to me.

What you said about not "taking anybody's explanation as truth" is totally true!

[rockybelt]

27. Thank you

I am totally amazed at the attention that is paid to every post by DUers.

[Cha]

30. We're a

dedicated lot! Welcome Aboard, rockybelt!

[jsamuel]

24. Yes, I have found that I have to question everything until I get enough information.

You have to be careful with second hand opinions. You should have your own.

[rockybelt]

29. Absolutely

That is exactly what I mean. You must educate yourself and then form your opinion, put your opinion out ther and discuss with people who have differing opinions. The only way to learn because you find yourself getting more facts to certify your own opinion.

[IndyOp]

25. Rock on rockybelt! I stick around DU because I keep learning...

I get really tired of the circular-firing squad and some other tiring aspects of discussion boards, but the people who populate DU regularly contribute to my lifelong education.

:hi:

[rockybelt]

26. Absolutely

I am an old man but I am learning to think and base my decisions on facts I was forced to learn if I want to discuss things intelligently.
I really love being a DUer

[ChiciB1]

40. Well, A Hardy Welcome To You Here At DU! I Don't Consider Myself

"old" because I've always felt "age" is what you make of it! While I'm hardly "young" as age goes, I'm a Boomer who remembers well the activism during Viet Nam. It cracks me up when I see posts here from the "youngsters" who don't understand past generations because they weren't actually there.

My daughter recently watched a movie named "Across The Universe" and called me right away with such excitement in her voice saying... I WAS BORN TOO LATE!!

Having read many many books, and watched extensive documentaries, I too have thought I was born too late. While conditions were certainly almost unbearable, I saw a movie with Hillary Swank called Ironed Jawed Maidens and could see myself being part of THAT movement!

The kind of activism we were a part of can depress us at times because of how times have changed and the APATHY that I see as pervasive these days. What will THIS generation have to look back upon to say... Hey, I was there and I DID something! Don't get me wrong, many hearts and souls think things are extremely "screwed" up, and given who is in the WH the "money machine" RULES from the top down as it also ROTS from the top down.

Even so, since the time of Caesar people have come together in protest, to have their voices heard and to MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

My mind just slipped back to a song from before my time... Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Judy Garland) and a few words at the end... Why, Oh Why Can't I??? APATHY is NEVER a solution, IMHO!

[Horse with no Name]

28. This is a shock

Kudos Harry!
A true American hero.

[Cha]

31. Surprised, eh?

When I thought about..it made perfect sense!

[Horse with no Name]

33. Understand it was a pleasant surprise

It just isn't what I assumed he would do.

[Cha]

34. I figured it

was. Harry's been my hero for a long time..

[balantz]

32. Nice news for the night! Thanks

[ChiciB1]

35. I Wonder How Many Know The Significance Of This Endorsement??

"He watched his face & his soul!" John Edwards has matured and he cares! Belafonte DOES NOT throw words around lightly but in his quiet way has worked on some extremely important issues for a very long time! While a fantastic singer he's well known for his dedication to causes that aren't easily solved. Does anyone know if Tavis Smiley has endorsed anyone??

People like Belafonte know what working in the trenches is all about. People like Mia Farrow, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt too! The last two relatively new on the scene compared to Belafonte. The likes of Desmond Tutu and Mandela come to mind when you speak of Belafonte. I recently saw a thread here where Jackson Browne & Bonnie Raitt were with Edwards at an event. I can remember way back when Jackson Browne & many others fought against nuclear waste, even getting arrested at marches. At that time I asked the question whether Bruce Springstein, Michael Stipe and Eddie Vedder might also come along. And a cry for Joan Baez to come on board would be significant! People who have been around since forever and contributing time and effort without expecting anything but satisfaction in return.

While not Oprah Winfrey with the GLITZ she brings, Belafonte is part of a community of deep commitment! His endorsement just might be a signal that perhaps Al Gore could endorse Edwards too! I have no information about this, but these are the kind of people who have souls where the water runs very deep.

How much it adds to the Edwards campaign may be lost on younger voters, but for me it just reinforces my belief in Edwards as the man who isn't the "flash dancer" some many have accused him of being.

I'm sure this endorsement adds an intellectual depth to his campaign. Clinton may have the likes of Murdoch and many other LIBERAL leaders I looked up to before, and I wonder why they did what they did.

Thank you Harry Belafonte, my respect for you has deepen even more! BTW, I'm a "white woman" that Clinton lost quite some time ago. I very nice way to lay my head down on my pillow tonight. Even if Edwards doesn't get the nod, and I no longer think it's out of the question, endorsements like these tell me I've made the correct decision about who I support.

[Catchawave]

39. Very well stated

and from your "soul and heart" also :)

[ChiciB1]

41. Aw Gee, Thanks To You Also... You & Others Here Who Have Provided

me with so much researched information so that I can post my thoughts and add to the discussion.

:woohoo: :pals:

[Botany]

38. Class

[progressivebydesign]

43. That's really cool!

John Edwards is not my first choice, he's my second. But.. I think he's really awesome and I hope that I get either my first or second choice for our nominee! I'd happily volunteer and support Edwards should he get the nod.

[cynthia]

44. This is great for John!

:kick: