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May 12th, 2014
10:48 PM ET
Donald Sterling asks for forgiveness, but claims he was 'baited' into making racist remarks
In Donald Sterling's first public interview since his racist remarks got him banned from the NBA, he tells Anderson Cooper that he wants to apologize. Sterling describes how the scandal is hurting his family, including his wife who he refers to as his ex-wife. But when it comes to the now infamous recordings, Sterling claims his friend V. Stiviano 'baited' him into making those racist remarks.
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Post by: AC360 Filed under: Donald Sterling • Exclusive Sterling Interview |
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There is an issue with the Sterling affair that most people haven't bothered to discuss. I'm a social worker and the first thing that would be done for an individual in Sterling's case is to test him for dementia. (Sterling's wife alluded to this). I firmly believe that five years from now a physician of Sterling's will release evidence that he was suffering from dementia at the time of his comments. Then we can look forward to the recognition that we set our society back in terms of its treatment of the elderly.
In terms of Anderson Cooper's show his response to this issue during the Sterling interview was offensive. He played a tape of Sterling's wife discussing dementia and then immediately wrote it off, expressing a mock-medical opinion. Cooper said, "to have dementia there needs to be observation of signs over a long period of time and that didn't happen." Who made Cooper an expert in the medical issues of the elderly, and how would he know what type of observation Sterling had?
I thought in this country you were innocent until proven guilty. CNN inflames and incites the viewers for ratings and their agenda. As a white person I shouldn't have to prove I'm not a racists it should be proven I am before you start calling all white people racists. Actually heard black person on saying all white people were racists whether they know it or not. That subconsciously they are and don't know it. With this type of vilifying of white people based on what? If that's based on difference of skin color between a black and white wouldn't that makes blacks just as racists based on difference of skin color? Wish CNN you would stop letting people say what ever they want with out asking for stats, proof, verification , when making statements against white people. Stop fanning the flames and inciting this type of nonsense you setting the generations back ages instead of forward with this type of garbage. Report on something that's real and important going on in this country not hatred.
Doesn't history state that in1655 Anthony Johnson was a black man and owned the first black slave sold to him by another black? There were whites sold as slaves as well as blacks. Didn't Lincoln who is white abolish slavery? Didn't white people fight and die in the Civil War to end slavery? Didn't whites march arm in arm with blacks for the Civil Rights movement? There is 223,553,265 whites living in the USA. CNN chooses to focus on one or two whites within this last year to inflame and incite and for ratings that all white people are racists . Of all the whites living in this country why focus on a few instead of the majority of whites? Why don't you do stories on whites who have donated their time and money to minority causes? Or how in middle schools and high schools you have the largest number of whites and blacks dating ? Or have interracial married couples on to say they are happily married? I could go on and on. But CNN only focus's on the few whites who they deem to be racists. There is today racism on both sides.Tthere are blacks who openly say they don't like white people and by the statistics more blacks kill whites than there are whites killing blacks.But when it's a crime against a white it is either not reported under reported or excuses made. CNN jumps on a story and goes out of their way to show racism against a black by inflaming, inciting for the ratings . Unfortunately, there will always be racism when it's always reported one sided and only focus on the very few. CNN claims they want a dialogue about racism between whites and blacks but what white person would go on their show given their history of inflaming, inciting, villifying . CNN has talking heads on their network who can say and make all kinds of claims against white people but never asked to show data or proof that what they are saying is true nobody pushing back or defending some of the outrageous claims I have heard against whites. As I have heard many blacks say don't say 'you people'. I as a white person don't like to hear 'white people' as though we are all being painted with the same broad brush. To keep bringing up racism via slavery is not an excuse for your hatred of white people that happened long before my or your time. And in this country we don't villify people for something another family member did or does.
Magic Johnson says "I'm going to help my people" .... does that mean Black people? That's what it sounded like to us. What if a white person said ... "I"m going to help my people"? They would definitely be a Racist! I am not a racist, a am a nurse, I took care of HIV/AIDS pt's before we knew much about the disease ... I never judged & still don't. BUT ... who is helping the poor or middle class white person? Why doesn't somebody help injured Nurses? We are hit, spit on, blood, urine, feces & other bodily fluids thrown on us & nothing happens. I wrote about a former co-worker who had her teeth busted out by a patient & is literally about to die ... anybody want to help a white nurse? It was Nurse's week last week .... did you acknowledge one single nurse?
White people don't have to say that you need to "help your people" everything is this world is always for white people. Why do you think black people have had to create so much for the race? Even history doesn't tell the full story. You ever looked into mass incarceration and the school to prison pipeline? Black people do have to help each other out because if they don't who will? I know of black nurses who were spit on and hit too, so what is your point. Heck, have you ever been told or not allowed to work in hospitals or medical facilitates because of being white? I doubt it very much but black people have.
My point is there is not always help for .... for everyone ... not even thinking about color. You don't know me, s don't expect you to understand my thoughts. In fact, my thoughts are all over the place, because my friend 1600 miles away is about to die. I always help people despite color ... I try to keep in mind that there actually is a race problem. Oddly, just last week a nurse, who happens to be white applied at a nursing home. The facility is primarily staffed by black staff. As a nurse I usually adore most of my tech's/cna's, and have found the black girls and guys I work with are often more helpful than the white employees. Maybe the white staff feels entitled.... i don't know. The director literally asked this nurse if she had ever worked with minority's. She said her mouth dropped open and of course said yes. What did that have to do with whether to hire her or not ... who knows. Of course All staff are abused by patients and I did not mean to suggest it's only white staff that get spit on etc. So yes, white people are denied jobs all the time, so the company's have a minority staff. And the white nurse was just told she was not hired and found out they hired a black nurse with no management experience and has only been a nurse for 2 years. My friend has been in management for 15 plus and a RN for 21. And, No she is not upset. I appreciate your response, but I think we ALL need to help each other ... not just black helping black or white helping white. There are many many groups helping the black community as they should be, but they also have to help themselves & other people including white's. Where is a white person suppose to go for help ... are there organizations who help white people ... these are not literally questions ... who really knows the answers. Should she file a complaint about the interview and hiring process. All I was actually saying is when someone says "I'm going to help my people", referring to black people, I think we need to all come together and help each other no matter what color. Can a white person get help from Mr. Johnson's organizations .... I don't know. But i do know there could not be an organization set up just for white people .... nor should there be. If white people only help white and black only help black the viscous cycle will never end. I know, it will never end, but it is getting better and hopefully will continue to. I have never "blogged" or written before on any site, so this was probably not a good place to start. Finally, I said help for Nurses ..... meaning all Nurses .... I did Not exclude any color. Google it ... there is not one organization that helps injured nurses and work comp does the minimal if anything & the hospitals do NOT want a worker that has been injured. What I didn't say since race was not my point ... it was a drug crazed illegal immigrant that beat her. He got Free care & was not arrested. I did not mean to upset anyone. I just wish someone ... like some of these million & billionaires would help Nurses .... black, white, red, male, female, gay ..... ALL NURSE'S!! There are dentist who would help, but they want publicity ..... how about one show about that?
Does anyone read these ... like Anderson, his staff Mr. Sterling or Mr. Johnson??
Well, the Donald certainly stepped in the Depardieu-dieu last night!
I don't think he's doing himself any favors by speaking for himself. To say that we should forgive him because of the pain of his granddaughter allegedly being denied a cookie, as if that compares to the hurt that racism causes blacks, and then to say that "those words came out of my mouth, I guess ..," as if he doesn't know for sure. He just seems so clearly out of touch and unbelievable, I do feel sorry for him, but I don't think that's going to do him any good.
AC clearly took advantage of an old sick man with dementia. AC convinced Sterling he should do interview all the while knowing he has dementia. Anything to push your agenda and ratings. CNN how much lower are you willing to go? I , though do have faith in my fellow Americans that they will one day see thru you and put an end to your inflaming and inciting public opinion to suit your ratings and agenda's. There's a lot more important problems in this country and the world that are between life and death but you choose to do this to inflame and incite the races. Donald is a man with dementia leave him and his family alone. You should be ashamed!
Very well stated. To me, Cooper has lost all credibility because it is so obvious Sterling's thought processes/speech is impaired. Surely this is obvious to most 'average Americans', ESPECIALLY the very astute Anderson Cooper (I am being serious), and one doesn't need a PhD or MD to see Sperling's impairments; or do we just not care anymore and will sensationalize at ANYONE's expense.
I Agree, Anderson took advantage of Mr. Sterling! I am so disappointed. And I'm going to say it again .... Mr. Johnson said ... "I'm going to take care of my people"! He also said he worked hard .... well so do Nurses! We are the one's who take care of ALL patients .... including HIV/AIDS patients even before we knew much about the disease. Where's a foundation to help injured Nurses! Many are injured due to those who are Obese. NOW .... Johnson says we should be celebrating the play offs and can't celebrate it because of Sterling .... who is stirring the pot? Why is Anderson or Johnson doing this interview? That's who's talking about it today!!
Having dementia doesn't stop you from being racist, it just exposes it more. So, I'm supposed to excuse his statements because he has dementia? I know forgiveness so like a magic said, I'll pray for him.
Spike Lee is a racists. He has made several racists remarks against white people. He has also stated that when he see's a interracial couple together his eyes sees daggers. Spike Lee is a commentator for NBA Radio, how is it he's allowed to work for NBA with his racists remarks he has said? There should be no double standards regarding racism. CNN promotes and incites this type of one sided racism.
I dont believe Sterling is racist. I think he may be insensitive to race issues and not familiar with familiarizing himself with culturally sensitive issues . What racist would want black people on his team? So Mr Spike Lee I think you need to learn about the generation issues on cultural/race sensitive issue because you ain't got it right.
I believe that Mr Sterling is not a racist but was brought up to believe that people of color don't mingle in the same circle.I would just like to say to Mr Sterling that I am a hard working black female who take care of a mother who has stage 4 cancer and a brother who is a quadriplegic. I also work a job 42 hour a week. If in fact Sterling like to help black people I really need some help
I don't believe he is a racists either. He is a old man sick with cancer and has dementia. TMZ and CNN has exploited this for their own agenda's and ratings. The woman who recorded and lead him on is of mixed race that he claims to have wanted and spent a couple of million dollars on. He has a black coaching as well as others surrounding him. This hardly sounds like a racists to me but a old man with dementia. CNN chooses to exploit one sided racism instead of the real issues people are facing today.
Racist plantation owners had sex with African slave women, had Africans working in their homes and taking care of their children. Black sharecroppers were paid by racists, pennies but paid. So, your point doesn't make any sense, it is the same premise just more money. "Their mine". That thought is no different than the thoughts of racist slave owners.
your point doesn't make sense either.. other people lay out this same point..Your right slave owners Raped black women,but wasn't going around advertising it to everyone nor were they giving unlimited money and buying anything their slaves wanted..They looked at them as lower than dirt.. A true racist wouldn't be spending millions and be seen anywhere in public hand to hand with a black/Mexican chick.And he wasn't raping V,he was openly to everyone trying to get in her pants.If anything she was raping him!! I don't believe this man is racist just chooses wrong ways of saying things.