Outside Debate, Hempstead Struggles (VIDEO)

Today a horde of journalists descends on Hempstead, NY, to cover the third and final presidential debate. But ANP left the pack to hear from people outside of the media spotlight, people hit hard by our nation's crises at home and abroad. Watch the video below from American News Project

Comments

[momwith4girlz]

I cried...What is going on in our country!?

[JustLynn]

I am writing this with tears streaming down my face....This DISGUSTS me to the point of nausea...This woman gave her SON to this country and is now going to lose her house?? This is no longer the country I love and I pray taht Obama can bring it back to the point that I can once again be proud.....

[CassG]

As I watched Jocelyn, all I could think about was my own mother. She works so hard to keep her house and provide for my disabled father, mentally ill sister, and disabled grandson. She has been a full-time teacher for over 35 years with several degrees and is still a part of the "working poor"! Earlier this year, she almost lost her house TWICE, and I had to step in and help financially. Because of the market, she can't sell her house and even though she has owned the house for 20 years, she still doesn't have enough equity to get a reverse mortgage. Finally after years of struggling, she gave in and applied for assistance for my dad, sister, and nephew just so she could keep her head above water with the mortgage and medical bills. She DOES NOT want the government's handout, just a little help. When the Republicans talk about reducing entitlement programs or messing with health care, these are the people who get hurt! God help us!

[dubstyleenation]

DEAR WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS,

WE DON'T WANT YOUR HANDOUTS! GOD GAVE ME THESE HANDS TO MAKE MY OWN LIVING! WE JUST WANT YOU TO STOP MESSING IT UP FOR THE REST OF US HARD-WORKING FOLK. YOU WOULD THINK THAT WITH ALL YOUR MONEY AND POWER, THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE FOR THIS COUNTRY AND THE WORLD ALIKE.

SIGNED,

TAX-PAYING CITIZEN SINCE 1982

[shirleen01]

If you're not rich, forget it!

[dadw5boys]

Where is the Military to help this good lady ?

[furryone]

amen--they should pay her bills--it's the LEAST they can do for stealing her son from her!

[NobodysPoodle]

Her son knew that by joining the military that he was taking a job that may require the ultimate sacrifice. All of us in the military know, that this is a very real possibility.

Since it appeared her son was single she should be the beneficiary of his gov't paid life insurance. That $300,000 is nothing compared to what she has lost, but I am sure it could be used to save her home.

[shirleen01]

Pleeeeeeeeze!

[MsWright]

I was born and Raised in Hempstead, Li ,, I currently live in Ga,, this video has me almost in tears. Hempstead is a typical middle class community on the outskirts of NYC. It is sooo sad to see what has become of my home, due to unemployment and crime.

I pray that Obama is Elected so he can help the neglected and Forgotten people.

[monicaangela]

HuffPost's Pick

This is the way of our country, sad but true. The poor and middle class have always been responsible for cleaning up the mess of the wealthy. Our poor soldiers and veterans suffer to fight for this country, they give all and then have to put up with the likes of John McCain who blatantly voted against the new G.I. Bill. This is the man who continually wants the country to revere him for his sacrifice during the Vietnam war, but has no respect for the soldiers who are fighting now. I can't believe that this country is dumbed down to the point that some peope still want to put on the blinders and vote for him. What a sad state of affairs. This lady, and the thousands of other families like her need to unite and continue to petition this country for justice from this day forward for the loss of their children in an unnecessary war.

[FdeBear]

We are not all in this together. There are those who will never be touched by this tragedy. They are making money. They have removed themselves from the mess they've made. I know how Jocelyn feels - the unspeakable rage! I want revenge. I know it is the basest of emotions - but it is not illogical. We must be heard. This oppression has to stop. There's nothing more I can say. Just thank you for sharing these people's lives. This must get out to the world. We must pull together for the mechanic and for people like Jocelyn.

[ckfan]

PLEASE VOTE, EVERYONE. PLEASE VOTE.

[Kate4Change]

Just talked to ACORN and they are trying to put together a donation fund for Jocelyn and as stated here, will post the information as soon as possible. ACORN also mentioned that there are about 500 of these a month and they are trying to get a law in place to help those that were victims of predatory lending. They also need our help with supporting the law/bill they are trying to push through Congress to help these people like Jocelyn don't face unfair foreclosure.

[zanbama]

It is unfair. She put 55,000 down for her home and that is alot of money.

[furryone]

and that was 20 yrs ago...

[Gidster]

Yet she is demonized by the conservatives for buying a home she could not afford. The private lenders artificially inflated home values so their profits on the bundled diversities would be larger. Predatory lending is to blame, not this woman who has done everything right.

Were is the moratorium on foreclosure we were teased with?

[Donde]

I spoke with rep in the Brooklyn, NY ACORN office around 2:30pm about where to send donations – she told me they had no idea about this until the story broke and that they are now working to set up a mechanism to make donations to Ms. Voltaire. She also said that as soon as they have that in place ACORN will post on HuffPo and Kos.

[Strywever]

Thank you!

[SouthernBlueBelle]

Thanks. It will be up to us.

[PlantGod72]

FANTASTIC! Thanks, and thanks to ingeniousgirl.

[gladys46]

Yes. Thank you ingeniousgirl!!! I've sent this to 200,000 soro sisters !!

[gladys46]

Thank you !!!

[malarson2]

Yes, as they say, I've got the 'ugly cry' going.

[furryone]

me too :(

[gladys46]

me too ... I'm at my ultimate sense of pissivity ... cry & wait to hear how to help !!!

[IhaveaDREAMwhitegirl]

You made me laugh ...I'm doing the "ugly cry laugh"

[Palmz]

I want to break something and then GO VOTE!

[furryone]

me too!

[PissedinDC]

I grew up in a housing project in Hempstead, L.I. N.Y. and this is nothing new. This has been going on for quite some time. I used the military to help me get away but some weren't as fortunate. My aunt and cousins still live there and are in no better shape. We actually have a golf club in town but you have to be a member to use it. For some that don't know, Hempstead is next door to Garden City N.Y., the home of Susan Lucci of soap opera fame. If you want to talk about the have's and have not's, it's right there in your face. I still visit from time to time to see family and old friends. What you will see on T.V. tonight will not represent the real Hempstead. I pray for change in this country and to get rid of blood sucking lice running it now. One day change will come for all and not select few.

[booker52]

How many people are just like these on this video and our gov choose to bail out AIG???? Shame on our congress and the Senate!!! What a waste of our tax dollars.

[johnqsittinzen]

And how did the executives of AIG use the first half a million of our taxpayers dollars? On a week at a luxury spa in SoCal getting massages and manicures. Think any of those fat cats will contribute a nickel to this woman's whose son gave his life serving his country?

This whole mess is mind boggling and soul numbing.

[oscartucker]

Every citizen must monitor everything that's being done by those companies that have been "bailed out". They cannot "get away" with anything!

[mermaid7]

We got to tell them that this is where we want our tax dollars spent, on the Jocelyn's of this country.
I've donated to Obama campaign several times and my message to him, is I want for you to help Jocelyn.
She gave her all to this country, she deserves to be able to live in her own home.
This country needs to give back.

[dubstyleenation]

The Jocelyn's of this country are what built this country. They work hard and sacrifice without asking for much. Losing material things is one thing, losing a son is another, having the federal government kick you while your down and spitting in your face while your vision of what America is supposed to be goes burning down in flames is just the icing on the cake.