I don't watch much TV and check the news on places like DU, Daily KOS and Huffington Post a couple of times a day. I sometimes watch the Young Turks and always liked Cenk Uygur's passion, wit, brains and most of all his authenticity that clearly shined through on TYT. I remember thinking it was cool that he was being picked up by MSNBC because I saw him as a real talent and smart as a whip, with a knack for breaking things down and describing the underlying BS in a crystal clear manor, with the perfect amount of anger to emphasize his points. But after Cenk Uygur started with MSNBC I watched him a couple of times and instantly was thinking "WTF? Cenk sounds a bit stiff and doesn't seem to be acting like his real self. Why isn't he like he was on TYT?
So all this time I was thinking it was him who was trying to sound like a stiff news broadcaster when all along, according to his recent video
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=601778&mesg_id=601778 It was the producers and his bosses who were telling him to tone it down and causing him to simply not be who he really is! Of course as he said, once he started being who he really is, his ratings started to go up just like Howard Stern's did after his wife told him to say exactly what he was thinking. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that when the chains are taken off a talented person then the ratings will go up! People love authenticity and can sense it from a mile away!
But clearly there were either idiots who were above him or political forces putting pressure on them to tell Cenk to start toning it down again. So what was his response to this? He did the admirable thing! He left even though he could have made more money! Holy Shit! When was the last time you ever saw this happen? Because of this I will always have the greatest respect for Cenk Uygur! The type of respect that moves my heart and gives me hope and makes me want to continue fighting and not give up what so often seems like a losing battle. Thats what real leadership is all about.
Every time I think of the two different Cenk Uygur's I was seeing and realize he had the principals to walk away from money and be who he really is and stand up for what he really believes, I am reminded of this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
From this day froward I will always remember Cenk as someone who accomplished something powerful and great! He walked away from money to be himself and stand for what is right! I felt this absoulty must be pointed out, because it is so rare these days! Thank you Cenk! You inspire me greatly!