Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Black Politics from TheGrio – 9/29/09

  • Obama addresses Black Caucus on health care
    Obama addresses Black Caucus on health care

    By theGrio via AP

    10:06 PM on 09/26/2009

    WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama on Saturday resumed his push to overhaul the health care system, telling a Congressional Black Caucus conference...

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  • Barbershop Buzz on President Obama and Gov. Paterson
    Barbershop Buzz on President Obama and Gov. Paterson

    By Terrence Romney

    9:57 AM on 09/25/2009

    VIDEO - Should President Obama be backing his fellow African-American Democrat and allow him to make his own decision on what is best for New York?

    > more

  • President Obama leads nuclear talks at U.N.
    President Obama leads nuclear talks at U.N.

    By theGrio

    3:49 PM on 09/24/2009

    VIDEO - President Obama wrapped up his visit to the United Nations with a commitment from nations to rid the world of nuclear weapons...

    > more

  • Broad attacks on ACORN are just plain nuts
    Broad attacks on ACORN are just plain nuts

    By Roland Laird

    9:30 AM on 09/24/2009

    OPINION -- Let me be clear, ACORN's actions deserved to be exposed, and they deserve to be punished. But let me be equally clear, ACORN is not a big American problem...

    > more

  • President Obama delivers first UN address
    President Obama delivers first UN address

    By theGrio

    12:30 PM on 09/23/2009

    VIDEO -- President Obama today addressed the U.N. General assembly in New York where he took on world issues from the war on terrorism to global climate change. In his presidential debut, Mr. Obama...

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  • Wilmer Leon on Michael Steele

    Dr. Wilmer J. Leon III, Your Black World 

    Not to be outdone, in response to America electing its first African-American President, on January 30, 2009, the Republican National Committee (RNC) elected Michael Steele, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland, as its chairman. It was a long and painful process, but on the sixth and final ballot, for the first time in its history, the Republican Party elected an African-American to manage its affairs.

        During his acceptance speech, Chairman Steele said, "To Americans who believe in the future of this country. To those who stand in difference with us, it's time for something completely different, and we're gonna bring it to them. We're gonna bring this party to every corner, every boardroom, every neighborhood, every community and we're gonna say to friend and foe alike: We want you to be a part of this, we want you to work with us, and for those of you who wish to obstruct, get ready to get knocked over."

        These were very powerful and encouraging words, especially coming from an intelligent African-American man who was speaking to a political party dominated by white men who are not used to African-Americans speaking to them so forcefully and directly. To bring forth "something completely different"; to take the party to "friend and foe alike," to "knock over" decades of neoconservative ideology and racism would take a Superman. Unfortunately, these encouraging and powerful words ring hollow when compared to the reality of Chairman Steele's actions. Michael is no Superman. He's not "The Man of Steele."

    Click to read.

    Monday, September 28, 2009

    Your Black Commentary from TheGrio – 9/26/09

    From TheGrio.com 

    Saturday, September 26, 2009

    Dr Boyce Watkins: Obama’s Falling Poll Numbers and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

    by Dr. Boyce Watkins, AOL Black Voices, Syracuse University 

    In an appropriate show of respect, President Barack Obama addressed theCongressional Black Caucus Foundation Conference this weekend. His speech focused primarily on healthcare, which has become the latest battleground for our challenged new leader. In the eyes of the public, Obama is no longer the cool, hip politician he was a few months ago. He is now the guy considered to be too moderate to be liberal, too socialist to be conservative, too black to be white and too white to be "down." Obama can't quite be anything to anyone, which is the price he must now pay for trying to be everything to everyone.
    Michelle Obama, as lovely as she is, arrived to the event with the president by her side. The couple, when appearing together, present an inspiring portrait of successful black love. Every black woman in America looks at Michelle and dreams of having her own political Mandingo accompanying her and her children to important social events.

    Click to read more at AOL Black Voices

    If the link doesn’t work, click here to find Dr. Watkins’ articles on AOL

    Sunday, September 20, 2009

    Black News: President Hits a Sunday Media Tour

    Obama: Large job growth not until 2010

    from CNN, Your Black World 

    President Obama says that despite signs of economic recovery, the country will not see large-scale job growth until next year. In a wide-ranging interview broadcast today on CNN's "State of the Union," Obama said reversing job losses from the recession will come at the end of the recovery period, not the start. full story

    Friday, September 18, 2009

    Your Black World: Obama Says Race Doesn’t Matter in Healthcare Fight

    from CNN, Your Black World 

    President Barack Obama said Friday that angry criticisms about his health care agenda are driven by an intense debate over the proper role of government — and not by racism.

    "Are there people out there who don't like me because of race? I'm sure there are," Obama told CNN. "That's not the overriding issue here."

    The nation's first black president spoke about the issue of race during a battery of interviews on Friday. In a media blitz aimed at pounding home his health care message, he taped interviews with ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and Univision to be shown during the networks' Sunday morning talk shows.

    Some excerpts aired during Friday night broadcasts.

    Time and again, Obama was asked about whether the tenor of thehealth care debate turned nasty because of undercurrents in racism.Former President Jimmy Carter raised the point prominently this week when he said the vitriol was racially motivated.

    Click to read.

    Tuesday, September 15, 2009

    Black News: Jimmy Carter Says Racism is driving attacks on Obama

    Carter is traveling the  mideast, meeting with political and religious leaders like Lebabon's top Shiite cleric pictured here, in an attempt to push peace.

    Former President Jimmy Carter said in an interview Tuesday that Congressman Joe Wilson's "you lie" outburst to President Obama was "based on racism" and that many of the critiques leveled against the president have been made because of his black heritage.

    "I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man," Carter said in an sit-down with NBC's Brian Williams.

    Carter specifically said that Wilson's comment was "dastardly" and part of an "inherent feeling" held by many Americans -- particularly Southerners -- that African-Americans "are not qualified to lead this great country."

    "It's an abominable circumstances and grieves me and concerns me very deeply," Carter said.

    Click to read.