Submitted by George from Miami

Q: Just seems to me that "reporting" is failing us/society...Its become a popularity contest, on both sides..GWB did no wrong by some, & hated by others..Same today with BO....And these are the pundits/reporters/journalist...Tim Russert took the last bit of objectivity when he passed..Unfort. for us....

Answered 11/30/11 12:26:54 by Leonard Pitts

A: There is no such thing as objectivity, George. There is only fairness. I would argue that President Obama has been fairly criticized, even by news organizations whose names are not FOX.

Submitted by mark hyle from maplewood missouri

Q: you critized herman cain for asking what is the "cuban" word for delicious --did you criticize president obama when he asked what is the "austrian"word for wheeling & dealing? how about when he said it doesn't matter where he meets world leaders--"whether it's in europe or here in asia"---you do realize that president obama was in HAWAII when he made that statement. don't feel other members of liberal media have no problem writing and talking about the stupidity of republicans but never mention the stupidity of the president.

Answered 11/30/11 12:24:00 by Leonard Pitts

A: There is a simple reason I did not mention President Obama's various misstatements or, for that matter, Rick Perry's epic meltdown at the GOP debate a few weeks back. Both strike me more as garden variety brain cramps than as evidence of true ignorance. Obama misspoke. Perry couldn't recall. Cain, I think, really believed "Cuban" was a language. Have you see the video of him fumbling to answer that question about Libya? That's not.a man having a brain cramp. That's man with broad gaps in his body of knowledge.

Submitted by George from Miami

Q: Totally agreed...Childish for the Gov, to go after an 18 yr old...No doubt about it..I also smiled when you mentioned that GWB paid people to write glowing articles about his tenure, re: Armstrong Williams, but, I also chuckled when reading an article today about Rachel Maddow visiting the White House for the third time, & Ezra Klein advising the Dems on the Super Comt., or, Chris Matthews openly asking the White House for his "marching orders"...Have a great week/looking forward to Sundays' column..

Answered 11/30/11 12:17:33 by Leonard Pitts

A: Of those three - none of which I was aware of - the two that are troubling are the Matthews and Klein episodes. "Visiting" the Whit House per se doesn't bother me.

Submitted by jackabassalope from iowa

Q: regarding the brownback piece, unfortunately, the comment section wouldn't accept my post so i'd thought i'd give it a shot here and get your thoughts on the matter: i don't know about all this... my own disdain for SB is taking a backseat on this one. “Just made mean comments at gov brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot.” is the same exact sort of damaging internet bullying that is so prevalent amongst youths that you rail against. believe me, i understand that an elected official in the public eye is entirely different than, say, a teen struggling with his/her sexuality, a total boyfriend-stealing 'slut', or some socially inept mega-nerd. brownback is an adult, he's powerful, and successful... but this isn't about the victim - they aren't the one who did wrong. emma's a cyber bully plain and clear. that she chose a target more powerful than herself is no defense. that she is unrepentant is no more a saving grace or point of applause for her than it is for someone like limbaugh. personally, i wish brownback had demanded an apology in person - it really is her loss that he backed down.

Answered 11/30/11 12:14:19 by Leonard Pitts

A: Bullying? Hardly. Making a rude comment doesn't qualify as bullying. Indeed, that word implies a vulnerability on the part of the victim and power on the part of the perpetrator that simply do not exist here. Sullivan was rude and immature - hardly surprising in an 18 year old - but no way in the world did she "bully" Brownback.

Submitted by Judy Schaefer from West Simsbury,Ct

Q: In reference to Mr. Pitts article on Maria Williams of Liberty Square in Miami I wonder why there has not been a law suit which goes to the Supreme Court that says that public housing provided by the government has to be safe for all who live there. Doesn't the government have to protect its citizens ?Thank you for this thought provoking and disturbing insight .

Answered 11/30/11 12:10:06 by Leonard Pitts

A: I think the government should take certain basic steps to ensure the safety of its renters, yes. That's why I found that quote I used so compelling. Just because you are low income does not mean you ought not have certain basic necessities, I.e. a safe place to live.

Submitted by George from Miami

Q: G'afternoon Leonard, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving...I agree with yu in ref to the girl not apologizing, but, isn't this one of the reasons debate in this country has gotten so toxic?..We've spoken about this before, where has the respect gone?..Yes, I know, it was a joke..We've got lots of comedians out there..This girl, that drummer on Jimmy Fallon's show, etc..Seems to me we are reaping what we sow in regards to the national discussion..No?..

Answered 11/30/11 12:06:26 by Leonard Pitts

A: Agreed. And if the issue raised had been about her rudeness, I think it would have more merit, though even there, we've got to grapple with the idea of a governor going after a high school senior.

Submitted by Nicole Stone from Salt Lake City, Utah

Q: Is there anyway to get a copy of your "Owning What You Know..." speech? I heard you give this speech at a recent conference and found it very moving. I would love to share it with my husband. Thanks.

Answered 11/23/11 12:06:50 by Leonard Pitts

A: There is no video available, but if you send me an email address (lpitts@miamiherald.com), I'll try to get you a copy of the text. Was this the speech I gave in Anaheim?

Submitted by Nate from Kentucky

Q: Hey Mr Pitts, I liked your most recent article on the girl in the dangerous neighborhood and I especially liked the suggestion of ending the drug war to help lessen the danger. I'm all for ending the prohibition on marijuana even though I don't use it myself because I see it as an obvious answer to a problem that really shouldn't be a problem at all. However, I've reached a mental and moral barrier when it comes to the idea of hard drugs such as heroin and meth becoming legal. If I knew it was just meth/heroin users in question, I probably wouldn't care, but there are children sadly involved and I just don't know what could be done? When you say end the drug war, do you mean marijuana or all drugs? This issue has perplexed me for some time and I'd like to hear other perspectives.

Answered 11/23/11 12:05:35 by Leonard Pitts

A: I mean all of them, actually. Like you, I don't use - have never used, in fact - illegal drugs. But the numbers don't lie: 40 years, 40 million arrests, a trillion dollars, yet casual drug use has gone up a whopping 2,300 percent and drug addiction has not moved one iota. It seems obvious to me that it's time to try something new: let's treat drug use as primarily a health care problem and use some of the money we save to fight addiction and discourage the use of the more dangerous drugs, such as the ones you mention.

Submitted by George from Miami

Q: G'afternoon Leonard, I hope you were able to catch the documentry on Vietnam on History Channel..Powerful stuff..Great article in the MH today, Its trajic that it lasted this long..Why this "coach" did not slam that guy against the wall is beyond me...

Answered 11/16/11 12:36:27 by Leonard Pitts

A: You and me both.

Submitted by william kluger

Q: first time writer, read your work for over 30 years, love it...... me, 60 year old white jewish guy, votes democrat, LOVED YOUR O J OPINIONS. HERES THE DUMB QUESTION. WHEN RICK PERRY HAD THE SENIOR MOMENT, as ALL OF US, YOUNG OR OLD, HAVE HAD........SHOULD HE BE DROPPED AS A SERIOUS CANDIDATE? (MY OPINION) YES, MUCH LIKE MR DEAN'S OUTBURST LAST ELECTION WHEN HE WON A NARROW VICTORY, WE PERCEIVE OUR COMANDER IN CHEIFS TO BE PERFECT IN EVERY WAY. NO MISTAKES. THANKS FOR LISTENING BILL

Answered 11/16/11 12:09:53 by Leonard Pitts

A: I actually think Herman Cain's gaffe is more telling and more scary. Perry's screwup suggested a failure of memory, albeit a catastrophic one. Cain's suggests a failure of intellect.