he went to macomb county to do it. democrats much the millions they haven't changed. they're clear eyed about the world, few illusions and consider themselves to be americans first and not members of a special interest group. but the leaders of the present democratic party, as i've said, have gone so far left, they've left the mainstream. >> jamelle, when you hear that now, we have the benefit of hindsight, what you make of that? the fear of losing those voters who reagan was appealing to there, so successfully appealed to them, just drove the democratic party for so long. >> right. i think what reagan was clearly alluding to was voters of color and african-americans in particular. i mean, that is the definition of a dog whistle. and i actually sort of think that democrats -- that when you have the combination of a stagnating economy, when you have this whole new group of people who are for the first time really getting access to mainstream american white when you have a political party trying to accommodate them, the

my introduction to mississippi, we drove into my, -- macomb.n were more black men i'd ever seen in my life. i was from westchester county. they are listening to a 14-year- old black girl say how she had been beaten and kicked and spat on for integrating the lunch counter. i thought, what country am i in? then i watched the courage of those people and the people who were supporting the student nonviolent cord knitting, -- coordinating. i went to school with the schwarner.- micky fractured thatat complacency, that entitlement. i realized you have to learn everything in this life, which has nothing to do with the color of your skin. it has to do with your principles and what you are willing to do to do the right thing. that obligation is to do the right thing. >> you mentioned a black minister who said something to you. last time i saw you, you are brilliant. i did not want to bother you. i saw you at a production of "waiting for godot." what did this black minister say to you? >> i had done this play in college and it totally bamboozled me. it is