Rap roi du jour Kanye West blasts Bush on hurricane response

NME (New Music Express) (website post is undated)

KANYE WEST SAYS BUSH DOESN'T CARE

KANYE WEST has caused controversy by attacking GEORGE W BUSH’s handling of the NEW ORLEANS crisis live on American television.

The rapper-producer was taking part in a telethon for the victims of Hurricane Katrina when he spoke out about the treatment black people in the disaster.

"I hate the way they treat us in the media, when you see a black family it says they're looting when you see a white family it says they're looking for food," said West before personally targeting the President.

"George Bush doesn't care about black people," he declared adding that America is set up "to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off as slow as possible", Billboard reports.

West then praised the Red Cross’ efforts saying they were doing "everything they can."

NBC, the network that aired the programme, quickly distanced itself from West, declaring he had "departed from the scripted comments that were prepared for him," while some American commentators attacked his comments.

West has become increasingly vocal on political matters of late and recently used the video for his ’Diamonds From Sierra Leon’ single to highlight the suffering caused by conflict diamonds and the human rights abuses that occur in mining them.

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Very interesting nasty heated angry debate about Bush, West, hurricane response, race, poverty, etc. on Japan Today

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HoustonChronicle.com
Saturday 3 September 2005 11:12PM

NBC deletes rapper's remark from telethon

Kanye West said Bush 'doesn't care about black people'

By MATEA GOLD and SCOTT COLLINS
Los Angeles Times

Kanye West's impromptu attack on President Bush during a live telecast Friday night prompted NBC to delete his remark in its West Coast broadcast of the benefit for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

"George Bush doesn't care about black people," West said. The rap star also criticized coverage of the catastrophe, saying, "I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family, it says they're looting. See a white family, it says they're looking for food."

West's remarks aired unedited in NBC's East Coast and Midwestern markets, and also on the simulcast versions for MSNBC, CNBC and Pax. However, the network turned off his microphone and switched to another performer shortly after he mentioned Bush. And the criticism of the president was deleted entirely for the version that appeared three hours later on tape delay for the West Coast.

NBC officials said the network made the decision to cut the Bush remark because of a desire not to politicize the concert and possibly dissuade viewers from donating money to the hurricane victims.

Attempts to reach West or his representatives were unsuccessful Saturday.