I just want to say Ms. M you were great on Bill Marr you held your own versus the right and the left and the wacky that is Bill Marr.

Thank you
Ron F. Ward
Redwood City Ca

Sent by Ron F. Ward | 11:58 PM ET | 08-24-2007

Michel... I caught you on Bill Maher's show tonight, which led to my googling (cyber-stalking) of you. I enjoyed your perspective and your willingness to accept that other's have one as well.

Anyway, for some inexplicable reason I wanted you to know that you have a new fan and I look forward to reading and hearing more from you.

Sent by JRR | 12:08 AM ET | 08-25-2007

You were awesome on Bill Maher, you shut him up when he needed it
Love you for it!
Lloyd Keith

Sent by Lloyd Keith | 12:10 AM ET | 08-25-2007

You did a great job on Bill Maher! You held your own ground especially when you talked about religion and Michael Vick. I have to get your podcast because I just moved to Columbus, GA from Dayton, OH where my NPR station had every show. I don't think they have your show or the some other shows that I love to listen to. I have to get the podcast because I just think you are great!

Sent by Teyonda | 12:46 AM ET | 08-25-2007

I stumbled into "Real Time with Bill Maher" tonight, and there you were. I hadn't known you existed -- another one of those grand surprises that hits me daily, even after almost 70 years of life here. Listening to you, I was struck with how extraordinarily erudite you are, as in your comments about how anyone who's serious about their faith will also experience serious doubts. I watched your face and could see the noosphere gleaming through. You are an admirable communicator, Ms. Martin, especially when it comes to verbal expression that depends on quick instinct. It seems that with you, the tongue, not the pen, is mightier than the sword. My compliments.

Sent by sjpasc | 1:08 AM ET | 08-25-2007

I did see you on the show, great show. I love Bill Maher. Because you're right, there is no one perspective on anything. And as opinionated as Bill is (and I usually agree with him), he does give the other side the opportunity to express their opinions as well. I like that. With all the flying, you must be exhausted, get some rest.

Sent by Doug | 2:52 AM ET | 08-25-2007

Michel,
I caught you on the Bill Maher Show last night and I was impressed on how you handled Bill, I actually think he was afraid of you. Good job. And I will be praying for him too.

Sent by Bob Grabow | 9:19 AM ET | 08-25-2007

Ms. Martin -- On Maher's show, you said that perhaps there were other things at which the public could be outraged, aside from Michael Vick. People get upset over animal cruelty (and that is such a tame word for how the dogs were treated) for the same reason they get upset about child abuse: Children and animals are helpless at the hands of adults. They have no options.

Sent by Peggy Dudas | 11:26 AM ET | 08-25-2007

As a panelist on Bill's show, I thought you were splendid! One of his best because you stood your ground and put it back in his face...Great Job!

Sent by RP Rhines | 6:31 PM ET | 08-25-2007

Michel, my husband and I caught you on "Real Time with Bill Maher" on Friday. Though we are avid NPR listeners, our local affiliate must not carry your show because we had never heard you/heard of you prior to seeing you on "Real Time...". We've been missing out; you have found two new fans in us! We enjoyed your intelligent, concise, thoughtful, balanced, witty remarks. Well done!

Sent by Mary J. Brown | 6:48 PM ET | 08-25-2007

You were brilliant on Bill Maher. Your response to his ignorant diatribe on Mother Theresa was priceless! Saying that you will pray for him...he was speechless, which is a rarity for him. Thank you for your poise, the intelligent questions you asked, and your frank analysis of the issues. You have a new fan!!

Sent by Tameshia | 11:38 PM ET | 08-25-2007

As a longtime conservative, I usually watch Bill Maher's program with the same skepticism with which I listen to NPR. But after seeing you on the program this week, I must say that if both conservatives and liberals could bring your level of intelligence, thoughtfulness, intellectual honesty, attention to the facts, fairness and balance (and from a liberal no less -- Gosh, who'd a thunk it?) and even wit to the table of political discourse; problems such as the war, immigration, the economy, and most issues facing America today could very well become a distant memory. Your statement to the ranting Mr. Robbins regarding the possibility that honest mistakes, rather than outright lies, may be to blame regarding the war in Iraq, was brilliant; and your banter with the host regarding the inconsistent nature of personal faith was dead-on and quite humorous.
In a world of "whatever" where the facts often become too cumbersome to bear, you attempted to bring a breath of truth to an environment where truth is usually considered irrelevant; and I salute you for it. Though we may very well disagree on many, many things; you have made a new fan. Very well done!

Sent by James Ryan - Sebastian, Florida | 12:42 AM ET | 08-26-2007

Dear Ms. Martin ...

I enjoyed watching you on this weekend's episode of Real Time. It was refreshing - and encouraging - to see someone commenting on current events with subtlety and nuance. If more people approached politics and public policy with that sense of perspective, America would be a much better place.

Sent by Ed Packard | 3:21 AM ET | 08-26-2007

I thought you were far and away the brightest and most interesting of Maher's panelists. Great job! I'm a lefty liberal, but I don't like to see the few liberal outlets turned into O'Reilly...a tendency Maher sometimes follows. Thanks!

Sent by Dan | 1:04 PM ET | 08-26-2007

Ms. Martin,

Your comments on the Michael Vick case on Real Time with Bill Mahre... shouldn't you have recused yourself altogether from that discussion to maintain journalistic integrity with your husband being paid as Vick's lead attorney?

And to dismiss the insane cruelty of Vick's admitted actions by saying "why aren't we more concerned about all the deaths occuring in inner cities?", is just a classic bait & switch to divert attention away from the issue. It's like saying, oh the woman was just raped but she wasn't killed, so the cruelty wasn't as bad as it could have been. It's all wrong.

Watch the dog fighting episode on Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. How could anyone not be outraged to know that participants duct tape the mouth of one dog so the other can more learn how to kill, or break the leg of a dog so it can't fight as hard?

Why can't we be outraged by all types of cruelty?

Sent by Lauri | 1:42 PM ET | 08-26-2007

I just caught the Bill Maher show repeat and I had to lookup your show/work after listening to you on the show. You were superb and I only wish that more people could show the understanding and acceptance that you displayed for both points of view and would have their background facts as well researched as you obviously had - I watch Maher's show regularly but am often left frustrated by the entrenched and blinkered opinions offered by the panelists but your presence was a breath of fresh air and I look forward to both seeing you on the show again and also listening to your show in the future as I can only hope that I have found an oasis of reasoned debate as opposed to the usual desert of one-sided opinion.

Sent by Gerry Gray | 3:11 PM ET | 08-26-2007

Ma'am
Your appearance on Bill Maher was outstanding. You displayed style,grace and intelligence I look forward to you on NPR. Keep it up! BTW if and I mean IF Vick gets off or gets off lightly, do you think we will have the OJ type reaction? Or is that even a possibility? God bless you and Yours.

Sent by Malcolm Fabio | 3:22 PM ET | 08-26-2007

I tend to view the Vick matter as yet another circumstance where folks can't seem to be justifiably critical without letting racism take over. I had not quite figured out why I was so uncomfortable with the bluster about Mr. Vick when I heard your comment about the "Castrate Vick" sign. [I had not seen that one]. Perhaps a younger generation of Americans has forgotten the world of Jim Crow. Or perhaps there is a lack of awareness or motivation to make distinctions between disagreements on issues and letting hatred take over. [The current immigration debates are another example, how this discussion has somehow turned into a referendum on Mexicans. Or, compare Barry Bond with Mark McGuire or Sammy Sosa in the boo and hiss factor.] Maybe some more of America in Black ond White would be a good idea.

Sent by Bridget Wilson | 6:37 PM ET | 08-26-2007

Michel,
Loved you on Bill Maher, but, you asked Tim Robbins why he said they lied about WMDs. Dick Cheny and the PNAC people have been wanting to invade Iraq since the late 90s. They only needed "another Pearl Harbor" to sell it to the people. Of course they lied!

Sent by Dan | 7:52 PM ET | 08-26-2007

Wow, Michel! It sounds like you did swell on Bill Maher's show. Unfortunately, I didn't watch it since I don't subscribe to any premium channels. Do you know anywhere I can watch (or purchase) your segments on the show?

Sent by Steve Petersen | 9:37 PM ET | 08-26-2007

Peggy--

Well said. Although I can tell you alot of people don't buy the idea of equating kids and animals either. I heard a rather intense exchange on this point in a parking lot a few days after the story broke. My point was not that people shouldn't be outraged but rather I was responding to Bill's question about why some (black) people see racial overtones in the way the issue is being addressed both in the media and the criminal justice system. It's an ugly bit of business, no question about it.

Sent by Michel Martin, host | 10:05 PM ET | 08-26-2007

Ms. Martin, I appreciate your comments
made on the Bill Maher show friday night referencing Michael Vick, as you I feel that Vick's conduct in this matter was both abhorrent and cruel. I'm most pleased that as you pointed out the outrage of a few, and the media's condemnation of Vick at the onset. Most in this country would like to believe that "It's not about race", I
would like to believe that in this country any cruel or monstrous behavior against any child, woman, man, or animal
would be equally condemned. Well at least in the U.S. there's outrage for animals. Just one Black man opinion.

Sent by Dwight D. Landry | 10:33 PM ET | 08-26-2007

I thought you were terrific--and on a superfiical level, I love the "new" hairstyle. You were smart and relevant and made Bill (who's no dummy) look stupid at times!

Sent by Susan | 9:22 AM ET | 08-27-2007

Michel, you were EXCELLENT on Real Time with Bill Maher! I found myself watching the entire program again late last night, and enjoyed it just as much a second time! Looks like I'm going to have to plug in the radio again!

Sent by Beth | 9:29 AM ET | 08-27-2007

Ms. Martin,

In the way of background, I am mostly liberal, and I love Real Time With Bill Maher. While I listen occasionally to NPR, I don't recall having heard you before, but get the sense that we may disagree on several issues.

Specifically, I am an atheist. Nonetheless, I was quite taken by the thoughtfulness of your statements concerning crises of faith. Conversely, Mr. Maher's seeming inability to process the concept you put forward left him looking a little off-balance, and belied his intellect.

At any rate, (at the risk of becoming a stalker), I consider you to be the most thoughtful talk-show guest I have seen in quite some time, and I'm looking forward to hearing more from you.

Peace.

Sent by bwindrip | 10:46 AM ET | 08-27-2007

THANKS for all the love about my appearance on Bill Maher's Real Time. It was...interesting.

I'll tell more on the blog later this afternoon.

Sent by MIchel Martin, Host | 12:07 PM ET | 08-27-2007

Mrs. Martin - you and Bill Maher make for a great TV show that actually provides discourse rather than politcal soundbites and agendas. What a refreshing wit, intellect, and spirituality you bring to your comments. And pardon me but you are extremely 'hot' while doing so. Your wry comments to Bill's pithy innuendo were tantalizing.

Forget Obama - we need Michel Martin in the political arena!

Sent by C.W. Lea | 12:22 PM ET | 08-27-2007

I am very disappointed that intelligent people have such a hard time understanding the outrage we feel over Michael Vick's despicable treatment of dogs. I am indeed also outraged at other horrors committed by and to our society, but I refuse to back away from condemning Vick's actions. I have followed this story closely including reading several hundred comments posted in response to the media coverage and the racial component I pick up on is that African-Americans seem more willing to accept even extreme cruelty to animals. I find this very troubling.

Sent by Don | 12:45 PM ET | 08-27-2007

I had never seen or heard you speak before the bill maher show... i was totally impressed. Not only are you articulate, but i appreciated your gentle but persistence in not letting bill off the hook. and for what it is worth, i am a 64 yr old white guy.

Sent by Harvey Silver | 5:22 PM ET | 08-27-2007

I too caught you on Real Time and I am impressed with your knowledge on the issues and your sense of balance. I am glad that most Americans are looking at the spin comming out of the white house with a more critical eye. To me it was a playing out of the book by Niccol?? Machiavelli, "The Prince", prior to the tide turning.

Sent by Joe Lahey | 7:43 PM ET | 08-27-2007

Michel,

I have missed you so much and have been out of the loop so much that I had no idea that NPR existed. I don't have HBO but went online to see if I could view Bill Maher's show. I kept saying that lady looks so familiar so then I googled your name. I kept telling folks that this country is so warped to focus so much on Michael Vick's treatment of the dogs when children are being abused. They can show outrage for animals but are desensitized to crime towards people even children. The other day a man was convicted of raping a little girl twice but the judge decided to give him 10 years probation instead of jail time because he was too short at about 5 feet. The media did not inundate us this story. I wonder why. I mean aren't they our future? I guess animals are more important than children.

Sent by Myra | 3:14 PM ET | 08-28-2007

Michele,

I just finished watching you on the Bill Maher show via You Tube. Every panel needs that person to keep points in perspective and to "tie a bow" on certain points when necessary. You were obviously that person! I so appreciate your perspectives and your journalistic style. I can't wait to hear your viewpoint! Take Care!
- Lisa Diane
Elk Grove, CA

Sent by Lisa Diane | 3:52 PM ET | 08-28-2007