Kanye West Attacks Bush at NBC Fund Raiser

Kanye West, a college drop-out turned rap "artist," decided to go "off-script" while doing a celebrity fundraising spot with Mike Myers for Disaster Relief on NBC Friday night. West's childish rant, at a most inappropriate time and venue, visibly surprised Myers, fellow comedian Chris Tucker, and the technicians who finally managed to cut him off after nearly 2 minutes. Check it out and decide for yourself - watch the partial clip or read the following transcript:

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Mike Myers: [Dutifully reading from the teleprompter] "The landscape of the city has changed dramatically, tragically and perhaps irreversibly. There is now over 25 feet of water where there was once city streets and thriving neighborhoods."

Kanye West: [Obviously winging it - totally nervous. Maybe can't read?] "I hate the way they portray us in the media. You see a black family and they say we are looting, you see a white family and they say they are looking for food. And, you know, its been five days because most of the people ARE black. And even for me to complain, I would be a hypocrite because I would turn away from the TV because it's too hard to watch. I've even been shopping before even giving a donation, so now I'm calling my business manager right to see what is the biggest amount I can give. And just to imagine, if I was down there and those are my people down there. If there is anybody out there that wants to do anything that we can help about the way America is set up the help the poor, the black people, the less well off as slow as possible. Red cross is doing as much as they can. We already realize a lot of the people that could help are at war right now, fighting another way. And now they've given them permission to go down and shoot us.

Mike Myers: [A bit shaken, continues to stick with the teleprompter] "And subtle, but in many ways even more profoundly devastating, is the lasting damage to the survivors' will to rebuild and remain in the area. The destruction of the spirit of the people of southern Louisiana and Mississippi may end up being the most tragic loss of all."

Kanye West: [Pauses - getting up his nerve?] "George Bush doesn't care about black people."

Mike Myers: [Deer in the headlights now, gives West a disbelieving look] "Please call ..." [finally cut off by control booth and over to Chris Tucker]

Chris Tucker: [More shocked than Myers, pauses] "In the past few days..."

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