Well, he’s no D.L. Hughley, but I guess he’ll do :)

Here’s a rush transcript of his opening from tonight’s show courtesy of CNN:

Hi — I’M ROLAND MARTIN, A CNN ANALYST FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND I’LL BE FILLING IN FOR CAMPBELL BROWN OVER THE NEXT EIGHT WEEKS. AS A PROFESSIONAL JOURNALIST FOR 18 YEARS, COVERING ALL KINDS OF STORIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, I’VE HAD ONE STANDARD — IF YOU DO GOOD, I’LL TALK ABOUT YOU, IF YOU DO BAD, I’LL TALK ABOUT YOU. AT THE END OF THE DAY, TRUST ME, I’LL TALK ABOUT YOU. I’M NOT GOING TO BOTHER WITH THE SILLY NOTION OF WHO’S A LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE ON THIS SHOW. I VOTED FOR OBAMA AND ALSO GEORGE H. W. BUSH. REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS. ON SOME ISSUES, I MIGHT BE CALLED A LIBERAL, OTHERS, A CONSERVATIVE. I JUDGE PEOPLE BASED ON THE ISSUES AND REFUSE TO BE PIGEON HOLED AND WEDDED TO THE RIDICULOUS NOTION OF IDEOLOGY. OUR GOAL ON THIS SHOW IS VERY SIMPLE, AND THAT IS TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER NO MATTER THE PARTY OR THE PERSON.

ON THE QUESTION – WHAT’S WRONG WITH ADOPTING AMERICAN CHILDREN?

You can see the blog post on CNN.com providing more depth to the adoption question. More of the transcript after the jump

POP STAR MADONNA IS BACK IN THE NEWS.

THIS TIME HEADING BACK TO THE AFRICAN NATION OF MALAWI TO ADOPT HER SECOND CHILD.

YOU MIGHT REMEMBER ALL OF THE DRAMA TWO YEARS AGO WHEN MADONNA ADOPTED A MALAWI BOY.

NOW SHE WANTS TO ADOPT A GIRL, AND A JUDGE SAID SHE WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL FRIDAY TO SEE IF SHE HAS THE GO-AHEAD.

IT SEEMS THAT ANYTIME WE HEAR ABOUT CELEBRITIES LIKE MADONNA OR ANGELINA JOLIE OR BRAD PITT ADOPTING A CHILD, THEY SEEM TO BE FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY.

I’M NOT AT ALL OPPOSED TO CHILDREN BEING ADOPTED FROM AFRICA, CHINA OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY, BUT IT DOES RAISE THE QUESTION: WHAT’S WRONG WITH ADOPTING AMERICAN CHILDREN?

ACCORDING TO VARIOUS ADOPTION AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, MORE THAN 500-THOUSAND AMERICAN CHILDREN ARE UNDER FOSTER CARE.

NOW, IT WOULD BE EASY TO BLAST THESE CELEBRITIES BY SAYING IT’S THE HIP THING TO WALK AROUND WITH AN INTERNATIONAL CHILD, BUT TRUTH BE TOLD, WE’VE GOT A SERIOUS ADOPTION PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY.

SINGLE MOTHERS HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME ADOPTING A CHILD, AND SEVERAL I KNOW PERSONALLY HAVE GONE OVERSEAS.

AND LET’S NOT EVEN TALK ABOUT THE RED TAPE AND BUREAUCRACY!

WE CAN SIT HERE AND CRITICIZE MADONNA ALL DAY, BUT ENOUGH WITH RIPPING HER. OUR ENERGY SHOULD BE PUT INTO A CALL FOR MASSIVE ADOPTION REFORM.

IF YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE EASIER TO ADOPT AMERICAN CHILDREN, DEMAND THAT YOUR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTION OFFICIALS CLEAR THE PATHWAY TO MAKE THE PROCESS EASIER.

THE GOAL OF ADOPTION IS TO PUT CHILDREN IN LOVING HOMES, AND NOT HAVE TO BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE. MAKING IT HARDER TO ADOPT AFFECTS YOU IN YOUR POCKETBOOK BECAUSE STATE MONEY IS SPENT TO CARE FOR THEM.

SO CHANGING THE LAWS NOT ONLY HELPS THE CHILD, BUT ALSO IS FISCALLY PRUDENT.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT ARE YOU PREPARED TO DO?

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