We needed someone to recognize the importance of check and balances, accountability, transparency. There was a real systemic problem at South Carolina State, a problem that has gone on for 25 or 30 years.
We used to say in the black community that if somebody else caught a cold, we caught pneumonia.
I think I’m careful. My goal is to try to stay away as much from opinion journalism as possible.
All of our panelists are deeply engaged in the topics at hand, so that leaves me free to convene a little dinner party, sans alcohol, and invite the rest of America to listen in.
I’m not in love. I’m not out of love. I’m just trying to find some version of the truth.
I see a pretty bright line between analysis and opinion. And so, to that end, my goal on Friday nights is to try to assemble the smartest reporters who are available to me that week who have been involved in covering the news.
People are always surprised when they see me speak live that I have a sense of humor. And I say, Well, you know, there’s not much opportunity to laugh when you’re reporting the dread news of the day.
It’s not surprising that you wouldn’t see that side of me on television, but in real life I find the world to be quite a funny place.
I’m not quite certain how you can force a candidate to stick by the rules.
One of the unwritten rules in a presidential news conference is that he’ll answer questions. If he chooses not to, there’s not much you can do about it other than make yourself look like an idiot screaming, which to me is counterproductive.
In the media universe we’re in, where there are people screaming on one end, there is no problem at all with having a little bit of extra politeness.
Change comes from listening, learning, caring and conversation.
Barack Obama didn’t get elected president, would never have been elected president, had he decided to run as a black candidate. In order to reach the broadest number of people you have to speak to their interests as broadly as you can.
I spent my career trying to speak to the broadest possible audience whether it’s in print or whether it’s in television.
I’m not really good at being predictive, so I guess I’m willing to be surprised.
It’s funny, everywhere I go some people ask me whether it’s going to be a Latino breakthrough, some people ask me whether it’s going to be a female breakthrough, and then I’m reminded that five years ago we didn’t even know Barack Obama’s name.
When you are interviewing someone, you have a chance to follow up, to press, to dig in. In a debate there’s 30 seconds for the other guy, too. And the goal is to get them to engage with each other, not to engage you necessarily.
Discrimination at any level sends a harmful message to youth, gay or straight alike, and that discrimination has no place in Scouting.
No parent should be denied from their Scouting – their son’s Scouting experience simply because those parents happen to be gay.
Our position has never been that people should be forced out of Scouting. We have always said that the values of Scouting are universal they should be welcome to everyone who is willing to live by the Scout oath and the Scout law.