SOMEBODY TELL MSM AND HILLARY…”GOD DON’T LIKE UGLY”

It says lot when ordinary people with extraordinarily different faiths, races, backgrounds and no hidden agenda can come together and speak the TRUTH despite mainstream media’s caustically allergic reaction to Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama’s friend, mentor and retired Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright. These courageous folks wrote an open letter http://chuckcurrie.blogs.com/chuck_currie/2008/03/diverse-group-o.html to Sen. Hillary Clinton on March 25, 2008 that you will never hear discussed on MSM. Also, Sen. Clinton’s former Pastor Dean J. Snyder wrote another supporting Rev. Wright on March 19, 2008 http://www.foundryumc.org/pdfs/Statement%20concerning%20Rev.%20Jeremiah%20Wright.pdf

Check out this video clip of recent defunct Christian Conservative Republican Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee defending Sen. Barack Obama and his retired Rev. Jeremiah Wright against too obviously MSM haters. Funny thing though Mike Huckabee referred to Rev. Wright as “Louis Wright.” Huckabee was an active Baptist preacher for over 12 years before he dived into politics. Also, he flat out refused to let any of his previous sermons be released to the MSM while he was on the campaign trail.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNwMPNxwHmQ

Furthermore, Rev. Wright and other prominent religious leaders were invited to the White House by the Clintons to pray for Pres. Clinton because he had recently sinned by lying to America and cheating on Hillary in the White House with Miss Monica Lewinsky. Rev. Wright’s personal invitation to the White House can be viewed @ http://truthabouttrinity.blogspot.com/

Sen. Clinton conveniently kept quiet about Rev. Wright. She was even more vague on Sen. Obama’s speech…“A More Perfect Union”… http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/political/story.aspx?content_id=626f1248-1562-44fa-b483-9df9ee77b63e Hillary now speaks out against Rev. Wright and goes into full “GERALINE FERRARO LET ME GO” mode because she is catching more than HELL for lying about her role in Bosnia, not releasing her tax returns, supporting NAFTA and her continuous steadfast refusal to release the Clinton Presidential Library and Foundation donor list. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_558930.html

Count on MSM (CNN, FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS and MSNBC) anti-Rev. Wright vigilantism bias to focus solely on increasing their corporate profits at ALL (AMERICA LOVES LIARS) costs. These rabid anti-religion demigods…oh I mean highly ethical and never ever racially divisive major television networks will CONTINUE to air only racially inflammatory sound bites of Rev. Wright’s sermons. They remind me of the nobodies who became somebody during the O.J. Simpson murder trial. Ask yourself did you know Nancy Grace, Marcia Clark, Mark Fuhrman, Philip Vannatter or Christopher Darden before 1994? These people all owe a huge debt of gratitude to Mr. Simpson’s horrific ordeal because they are enjoying the good life because of their racial polarizing commando style of journalism that is still going on today. This is not the TWILIGHT ZONE…no one controls your TV but you. Do thorough research before you VOTE and don’t forget to PRAY. Thank you Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright for being a “good and faithful servant” and inspiring all Americans (SAVED or NOT) to have the discussion on RACE IN AMERICA.

MORE FOOD FOR THOUGHT....
http://www.abc-usa.org/news/2008/20080324a.htm

Geraldine Ferraro's Still Hatin' After All These Years

On July 19, 1984 in San Francisco, CA at the Democratic National Convention Geraldine Ferraro had this to say as she became the first woman ever to run and accept the Democratic Vice President Nomination:

“My name is Geraldine Ferraro. I stand before you to proclaim tonight: America is the land where dreams can come true for all of us. As I stand before the American people and think of the honor this great convention has bestowed upon me, I recall the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who made America stronger by making America more free. He said, "Occasionally in life there are moments which cannot be completely explained by words. Their meaning can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart."

Towards the close of that same speech she had this to say:

“A wise man once said, "Every one of us is given the gift of life, and what a strange gift it is. If it is preserved jealously and selfishly, it impoverishes and saddens. But if it is spent for others, it enriches and beautifies." My fellow Americans: We can debate policies and programs, but in the end what separates the two parties in this election campaign is whether we use the gift of life for others or only ourselves.”

When you read her words of hope and promise it makes one wonder was she every truly sincere back in the day and if so what happened to make her say, think and believe that Sen. Barack Obama is some how lucky to be Black? In case you missed her take on Obama being “lucky” here it is:

“I think what America feels about a woman becoming president takes a very secondary place to Obama's campaign - to a kind of campaign that it would be hard for anyone to run against," she said. "For one thing, you have the press, which has been uniquely hard on her. It's been a very sexist media. Some just don't like her. The others have gotten caught up in the Obama campaign. If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position," she continued. "And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept."

Some of you are thinking perhaps she deserves a pass after all she was just probably trying to throw a “Hail Mary” for her friend Sen. Hillary Clinton in a man’s world. Hold that thought because she had this to say about Rev. Jesse Jackson when he was running for president:

"if Jesse Jackson were not black, he wouldn't be in the race."

Obviously and with all do respect our sister from another mother has some issues when it comes to Black men running for President. Hillary Rodham Clinton has yet to "renounce and/or reject" her 72 year old supporter Geraldine Ferraro's racist remarks. White women have held elected offices in American politics since the early 1900's. Jeannette Rankin was the first woman to be elected to the United States House of Representatives and the she was the first female member of Congress. How soon Mrs. Ferraro and Mrs. Clinton forget that it was Frederick Douglass (a Black man) that fearlessly participated in the first feminist convention at Seneca Falls, NY in July of 1848 where he was greatly accredited for assisting in the passage of the motion to support female suffrage. Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't MS. GERALDINE a U.S. Representative for Queens, NEW YORK and and her wannabe (NY) transplant sister chick HILLARY a Senator currently representin' NEW YORK?? Don't hate on the BLACK MAN LADIES - just congratulate and get in the "I'M NEXT FOR PRESIDENT LINE." There's plenty of room for the both of you. However, watch out for the STRAIGHT TALK EXPRESS and CARL ROVE. I hear they won't be nothin' nice when it comes to Mrs. Clinton, her husband and/or child.

A student from Huston-Tilloston University http://www.htu.edu/ in Austin, TX wanted to remind us all of a few things:

A BLACK MAN

Why is it that a Black Man can create a tiny piece called a filament(electric light - Lewis Latimer) that allows people to see in the darkbut can't be seen fit to lead a country to the true light?

Why is it that a Black Man can create an instrument (clock - Benjamin Banneker) that all people use to tell time but people don't think it is time for him to run a country?

Why is it that a Black Man can design a place for the high authorities to meet in & a place for the President to live in (The Capital & theWhite House Phillip Reid (a slave) & Pierre L'Enfant) but not good enough to lead these meetings or live in himself?

Why is it that a Black Man was brilliant enough to do the first open heart surgery (Dr. Daniel Hale Williams) and show the world how to get and preserve plasma (Dr. Charles Drew) but not good enough to put a program in place where everyone can afford this surgery?

Why is it that a Black Man was creative enough to design an instrument(traffic light - Garrett Morgan) to bring multiple people (traffic) to a halt but not seen creative enough to design a plan to bring all this unnecessary and worthless fighting between countries to an end?

Why is it that a Black Man could create the soles (shoes - Jan Matzeliger)that people walk on everyday but not seen good enough to fill the shoes of a bad president? Why is it that a Black Man was smart enough & brave enough to teach himself (Frederick Douglas & Thomas Fuller - both slaves) and others how to read, write and/or calculate math but not seen (as) smart enough and bold enough to calculate a platform to be president to a country that sure needs another first by us?

So you see my Brothers and Sisters what I am saying is let us not forget our past, which led us to our present and can definitely be the backbone to our future. We were good enough, smart enough, creative enough, and bold enough then, so lets all give Obama the chance to show that we are still these things and more. We all are as strong as our weakest link, so don't be that weak link that denies our people that chance to show we still can OVERCOME & BE THE FIRST.

By the way Mrs. Ferraro you are insincere but you are sincerely wrong about Barack, Jesse or any of us being lucky...we're BLESSED.

SOURCES:
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/gferraroacceptanceaddress.html

http://www.dailybreeze.com/lifeandculture/ci_8489268

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0308/A_Ferraro_flashback.html

HILLARY CLINTON DOESN'T DESERVE THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION

BENEATH THE SPIN * ERIC L. WATTREE

HILLARY CLINTON DOESN'T DESERVE THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION

Blank statement: Hillary Clinton does not deserve the Democratic Nomination for president--in fact, based on what these primaries have revealed of her character, she doesn't even deserve her seat in the senate. While Hillary has long since switched to the Democrat Party, recent weeks have clearly demonstrated that her Republican inclination towards cutthroat politics, shallow character and deceit remains firmly in tact. Compelling evidence of that is the CBS News report indicating that Hillary said, both she and Senator John McCain offer the experience to respond to a crisis, while Barack Obama only offers rhetoric. Specifically, the report quoted her as saying, "He's [John McCain's] never been the president, but he will put forth his lifetime of experience. I will put forth my lifetime of experience. Senator Obama will put forth a speech he made in 2002." That is the most mean-spirited and irresponsible remark that one Democrat can make about another prior to a national election. With that statement she has essentially--no, in fact-- endorsed Republican, John McCain over Barack Obama if she fails to get the Democratic nomination.

That statement, along with her subsequent behavior clearly demonstrates that Hillary Clinton has embarked upon a scorched Earth campaign against both Barack Obama and the Democratic Party as a whole, and it is also now clear that her every move is designed to hold the very viability of the Democratic Party hostage against nominating anyone but herself.

Further evidence of that is in spite of her claim during the last debate that she is "so honored to be here with Senator Obama" and that she represents change, throughout the run up to the Texas/Ohio primaries she has engaged in the Karl Rovian politics of mudslinging ("to see what will stick"), the politics of fear, and an attempt to ridicule Senator Obama's strengths, even though she certainly realizes that if Obama is the nominee her attacks will make it more difficult for him to be elected in November. In fact, that is her plan–to sling so much mud on Obama that he won't be able to mount a viable campaign against the Republican nominee.

In my article, Will the Reall Hillary Please Stand Up?, I pointed out that "Even Bill Clinton has acknowledged that if Hillary doesn't get a win in Texas, she won't get the presidential nomination. So in the next two weeks her character, and the kind of experience she brings to the table will be on display. If she's truly committed to change, and what's in the best interest of the United States, we'll see a lady engaged in a valiant, yet, clean fight for the nomination. But if the "experience" she so often speaks of is of the old-style, me-first, America-be-damned kind of politics of the past, we're going to see a lot of lying, desperate mudslinging, and win-at-any-cost kind of tactics."

I also pointed out in that same article that "Hillary is right in one respect, however–experience can be impressive, as we saw in the Texas debate--and she certainly has it. But Hillary has the wrong kind of experience--she's experienced in the old ways of voter manipulation. During the debate we saw a chameleon at work--first we saw the cordial Hillary, but she felt she needed to set herself apart; then she became presidential Hillary, but Obama easily matched her sober, no nonsense veneer; then she went into attack dog Hillary, only to quickly change tactics after being booed; towards the end, she finally settled on Saint Hillary, to confer love upon her opponent. It took her the entire debate, but being the "experienced" politician that she is, she finally stumbled on just the right tone of manipulation. I have a feeling we're going to see a lot more of that in the future, so I just wanted to give you a playbook so you can keep up with which Hillary is on display."

No, I'm not clairvoyant, it's just that Hillary is so self-serving that she's predictable. You see, Hillary is so far behind Obama in the number of delegates necessary to secure the nomination that she'd have to win all of the remaining primaries by over 20 points just to catch up. In short, she can no longer win it--the only way she can get it is to steal it. So she's calculated that the only way that she can become the nominee is through hook, crook, and deceit. So she's calculated that she must threaten to destroy the Democratic Party's chances of winning the November election in order to secure her community property rights--the office of the presidency. That's right, she sees it as her entitlement.

So, even though all of the democratic candidates agreed beforehand not to campaign, or seat, the delegates in Florida and Michigan due to the states' violation of a prohibition against holding their primaries before February 5, now Hillary is demanding that the 366 delegates be seated, and with good reason. In spite of the fact that all of the democratic candidates, including Hillary, agreed that those delegates wouldn't be counted, when all of the other candidates took their names off the ballot, Hillary allow her name to remain on, and since she was the only Democratic name on the ballot, technically, she won the primary. Now that she's hopelessly behind Obama in delegates, she wants to change the rules of the game and count those delegates.

A fight over this issue would tear the Democratic Party apart and allow a republican victory in November. Hillary knows that, and she also knows that Obama is the people's choice for the Democratic nomination, but instead of taking the high road and simply bowing out gracefully, she's holding the Democratic Party hostage as she slings mud at Obama, so that later she can convince the superdelegates (the party bigwigs) that Obama is so muddied that he wouldn't be a viable candidate--never mind the fact she's the one who's throwing the mud.

So the real Hillary has finally stood up, and what do we find--vindictiveness, deceit, and self-service. Some would call that hardball politics. I call it a flaw in her character, that should preclude her from the Democratic nomination.

Eric L. Wattree

wattree.blogspot.com

The Luciferication Of Hillary – NAFTA-Gate

Rules for Radicals opens with a quote about Lucifer, written by Hillary Rodham Clinton’s mentor Saul Alinsky and subject of her sealed (since 1992) 75 page suppressed college thesis entitled "There is Only the Fight ... An Analysis of the Alinsky Model"…

“Lest we forget at least an over-the-shoulder acknowledgment to the very first radical: from all our legends, mythology, and history (and who is to know where mythology leaves off and history begins -- or which is which), the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom -- Lucifer.”

By the way Hillary's thesis received an "A".

According author Barbara Olson in her explosive book “Hell To Pay: The Unfolding Story Of Hillary Rodham Clinton” she wrote that Alinsky defined "obtaining power" as a key tactic of organizing his "mass jujitsu." His formula for attack: "Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it and polarize it."

Sen. Clinton blatantly lied and manipulated the voters of Vermont, Rhode Island, Ohio, and Texas by perpetrating NAFTA-Gate. She additionally sullied our friend and North American ally Canada in the process. Please watch these “must see” videos that you won’t see anywhere on MSM clear Sen. Barack Obama unconditionally and lay blame solely on Hillary Rodham Clinton and her advisors. The trick on the enemy is to always make you believe there is no enemy…JUST POLITICS…

Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSx-wUvQztQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9xGalg9njs

More Food For Thought….

John 10:10… “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

“There can be no such thing as a successful traitor, for if one succeeds, he becomes a founding father.” - Saul Alinsky

Thanks Brandon Whitney @ http://www.homelandcolors.blogspot.com/ for the video too.

Black People Should Speak Up

By: Nathaniel Gadsden
Founder & Director
Nathaniel Gadsden’s Writers Wordshop
1416 Cumberland Streets
Harrisburg, Pa. 17103
pgadsden@aol.com
www.nathanielgadsden.com
(717)233-7611


Recently, the cities of Harrisburg and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have been rocked with a string of senseless shooting deaths. Almost all of the victims were young African Americans, and the killers were also young African Americans. Unfortunately, this is not shocking news to most people living in Harrisburg, the United States, or the planet earth. The sad reality is, African Americans are killing one another, in what I call, a Self-imposed Holocaust and we don’t know what to do about it. We have marched, held town meetings, supported tougher sentencing guidelines, called on God and cried. Every step we take forward against the Holocaust it appears that we lose a step. We are a resilient people, strong and vibrant at our best, but even the strongest foundation can begin to crack, over time, if the steady drip of destruction is not repaired.
I want to propose something to all writers, spoken word artist and performers/actors of the African American Community. Let’s refocus our energy, time, and talent toward the total destruction of the African Holocaust in America, Africa, and anywhere it prevails. Let’s put aside our fixation on relationships, personal stardom, and intellectual showmanship and gather together under one God directed path of the complete and total destruction of the African Holocaust. We will only write, speak, create product and energy that eliminates self-murder in our communities. We will not adopt the language of the “fool” and pretend that it is something special, you know, “a black thing.”

We will not allow our “voices”, public celebrities, or private citizens to fill the air with gossip, put-downs, and fowl language. Even Tom Joyner, Jay Anthony Brown and the other celebrity voices will be held to this standard or we will simply stop listening. Our performers, such as Eddie Murphy, Monique, Jay Anthony Brown and others, will take responsibility for their craft, or we will stop supporting them. And we take this stand not to destroy our voices and creative genius, but to say no to the misuse of our God-giftedness any longer, no matter who the artist is.

We must take this stand, because we know that the creative community has major influence over the minds of our community. Much of the negative energy and negative life choices that are being made in Harrisburg and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, can be found in most towns and cities where our people reside. The common thread that connects us is too often the movies, television programs, plays, radio shows, magazines, and sporting events. What is said through these outlets carries an enormous amount of influence in African American communities, including Harrisburg and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a Writer/Creative person I must do all that I can to ensure that the images and messages I give life to do not ultimately take a life from the community I love. Will you join me?

I would like to hear from you. Let’s start a movement of creative artist dedicated to saving the lives of our people. I can be reached at (717)233-7611 or email: pgadsden@aol.com. My Web page is: nathanielgadsden.com

Fuss Over Nothing: Most State of the Black Union Attendees Don't Mind Obama Not Being There

by Gregory Moore, YourBlackWorld.com

For weeks the Black American consciousness has been inundated with a story that Tavis Smiley is upset with Sen. Barak Obama for not being a last Saturday's State of Black America Union town hall that was held in New Orleans, Louisiana. The rheotoric had gotten so bad that Smiley had said he was getting death threats and that his family in Indianapolis were being harassed by some ill-thought comments he made. Yet for all of the hubbub that may have been going on, it seems that many who attended the event felt that Obama's absence was really no big deal.

"He has a galvanizing effect," Robert Bailey of Shreveport told the New Orleans Times Picayune. "This is a movement, it's not just about a presidential election."

The story became a major player in media circles for nearly two weeks because Smiley, who is a media personality on both the Tom Joyner Morning Show and on Tavis Talks, his PBS show. Smiley has been putting the SOBU forum on for nearly a decade and usually it has been without much controversy. Until now. Black commentators, bloggers and readers in general had expressed their opinion about his comments and about whether Obama had made the right decision or not.

Faye Anderson, a blogger for AOL's Black Voices, wrote in her latest blog entry about Smiley's situation: " I was motivated to watch the talkfest by the hundreds of thoughtful comments in response to my earlier post. The Black Voices community has convinced me that Barack Obama made the right decision to stay on the campaign trail. And that Smiley should "get over himself" and "shut the hell up."

Many African Americans are feeling the same way about this story now since it has now played out. Many feel that Smiley, who many believe to be a Black leader in his own right, stepped over the line in his assessment of Obama's decision and that he tried to become bigger than the campaign instead of requeasing to the notion that maybe the SOBU isn't the place for a presidential candidate to be.

"Personally, I don't think it's much of an issue," said Victor Reed. "I'm standing behind him 100 percent."

"It's better for his campaign to be in Texas," said Tiffany Washington.

The Obama campaign has been fighting many political insurgents since last February, when the Illinois Senator decided to throw his name into the presidential hat. Last year Obama got criticism from both Smiley and Dr. Cornel West for not attending the SOBU in Hampton, Virginia. West has since back tracked and is now a staunch supporter of the senator.

Smiley, however, has not changed his stance even up to the forum's start time.

In a response to both readers and his critics, Smiley wrote on the BAW website, " First, I want to thank Senator Obama for his letter, although I regret his decision. I said on Tuesday and I reiterate today, that I believe that this is a critical miscalculation and a missed opportunity."

Smiley went on in length about how long he has known Sen. Obama and that he truly is inspired by both him and his wife's work. Yet many African American readers, bloggers and commentators are holding Smiley to a standard that is usually reserved for someone on the political front.

Roland S. Martin, a CNN contributor and talk show host on Chicago's WVON, wrote at Essence's website " As an aside, when I asked my radio listeners on WVON in Chicago if Obama should skip the event, we got 29 calls in two hours, and only two said he should go. And this is a crowd that is normally in agreement with Smiley."

Smiley's SOBU event normally gets great coverage and becomes a boon for Black America but this year because of the ruckus that went before this year's event on whether Sen. Obama should have attended it or not. The bad publicity that Smiley and this event received was well deserved for the most part but it should have also served as a wake up for anyone who thinks that a status quo in how to deal with Black politicians is still the same.

Even though he did get a small bit of backlash from readers/listeners about his Obama comments, Smiley is catching a lot more from bloggers and commentators on his choice of corporate sponsors.

Writes Black Voices' Anderson, " Smiley should be held accountable for organizing a conference on "recasting our future" whose "title sponsor," Wells Fargo, is a key player in the subprime mortgage meltdown. Prof. Michael Eric Dyson noted that the subprime crisis has led to the 'greatest bleeding off of wealth in the history of this nation.'"

What many Black media experts are saying both publicly and privately is that Smiley is doing more to fatten his pocket rather than to really be a catalyst for the Black community.

Let's not mistake success for gluttony. It is harder to stay on top than to reach the top but what is even more difficult is to realize what may be of importance.

For Tavis, he needs to realize that if he is going to have a career in journalism, he needs to understand the ramifications of speaking the mind. True journalists, even opinion writers, know where the boundaries are at any given moment. Media personalities like Tavis don't have a clue.

And that is the very reason why many Black Americans have reached out and let him know of his error.

Learn the lesson Tavis. Don't just try to be a Black voice in the community; learn to accept the responsibility that comes with becoming a 21st century griot to the community.

If you don't, you will continue to catch the wrath of the very people you are trying to "tell the story" with.

Gregory Moore is the Managing Editor/webmaster for the San Antonio Informer (www.sainformer.net), a thrice-weekly online newspaper covering the African American community in San Antonio, Texas. He is also a frequent contributor for many national media outlets including ESPN, Fox Sports Radio and others.

Fuss over nothing as many attendees really didn't care that Obama didn't make the SOBU summit

by Gregory Moore, YourBlackWorld.com

For weeks the Black American consciousness has been inundated with a story that Tavis Smiley is upset with Sen. Barak Obama for not being a last Saturday's State of Black America Union town hall that was held in New Orleans, Louisiana. The rheotoric had gotten so bad that Smiley had said he was getting death threats and that his family in Indianapolis were being harassed by some ill-thought comments he made. Yet for all of the hubbub that may have been going on, it seems that many who attended the event felt that Obama's absence was really no big deal.

"He has a galvanizing effect," Robert Bailey of Shreveport told the New Orleans Times Picayune. "This is a movement, it's not just about a presidential election."

The story became a major player in media circles for nearly two weeks because Smiley, who is a media personality on both the Tom Joyner Morning Show and on Tavis Talks, his PBS show. Smiley has been putting the SOBU forum on for nearly a decade and usually it has been without much controversy. Until now. Black commentators, bloggers and readers in general had expressed their opinion about his comments and about whether Obama had made the right decision or not.

Faye Anderson, a blogger for AOL's Black Voices, wrote in her latest blog entry about Smiley's situation: " I was motivated to watch the talkfest by the hundreds of thoughtful comments in response to my earlier post. The Black Voices community has convinced me that Barack Obama made the right decision to stay on the campaign trail. And that Smiley should "get over himself" and "shut the hell up."

Many African Americans are feeling the same way about this story now since it has now played out. Many feel that Smiley, who many believe to be a Black leader in his own right, stepped over the line in his assessment of Obama's decision and that he tried to become bigger than the campaign instead of requeasing to the notion that maybe the SOBU isn't the place for a presidential candidate to be.

"Personally, I don't think it's much of an issue," said Victor Reed. "I'm standing behind him 100 percent."

"It's better for his campaign to be in Texas," said Tiffany Washington.

The Obama campaign has been fighting many political insurgents since last February, when the Illinois Senator decided to throw his name into the presidential hat. Last year Obama got criticism from both Smiley and Dr. Cornel West for not attending the SOBU in Hampton, Virginia. West has since back tracked and is now a staunch supporter of the senator.

Smiley, however, has not changed his stance even up to the forum's start time.

In a response to both readers and his critics, Smiley wrote on the BAW website, " First, I want to thank Senator Obama for his letter, although I regret his decision. I said on Tuesday and I reiterate today, that I believe that this is a critical miscalculation and a missed opportunity."

Smiley went on in length about how long he has known Sen. Obama and that he truly is inspired by both him and his wife's work. Yet many African American readers, bloggers and commentators are holding Smiley to a standard that is usually reserved for someone on the political front.

Roland S. Martin, a CNN contributor and talk show host on Chicago's WVON, wrote at Essence's website " As an aside, when I asked my radio listeners on WVON in Chicago if Obama should skip the event, we got 29 calls in two hours, and only two said he should go. And this is a crowd that is normally in agreement with Smiley."

Smiley's SOBU event normally gets great coverage and becomes a boon for Black America but this year because of the ruckus that went before this year's event on whether Sen. Obama should have attended it or not. The bad publicity that Smiley and this event received was well deserved for the most part but it should have also served as a wake up for anyone who thinks that a status quo in how to deal with Black politicians is still the same.

Even though he did get a small bit of backlash from readers/listeners about his Obama comments, Smiley is catching a lot more from bloggers and commentators on his choice of corporate sponsors.

Writes Black Voices' Anderson, " Smiley should be held accountable for organizing a conference on "recasting our future" whose "title sponsor," Wells Fargo, is a key player in the subprime mortgage meltdown. Prof. Michael Eric Dyson noted that the subprime crisis has led to the 'greatest bleeding off of wealth in the history of this nation.'"

What many Black media experts are saying both publicly and privately is that Smiley is doing more to fatten his pocket rather than to really be a catalyst for the Black community.

Let's not mistake success for gluttony. It is harder to stay on top than to reach the top but what is even more difficult is to realize what may be of importance.

For Tavis, he needs to realize that if he is going to have a career in journalism, he needs to understand the ramifications of speaking the mind. True journalists, even opinion writers, know where the boundaries are at any given moment. Media personalities like Tavis don't have a clue.

And that is the very reason why many Black Americans have reached out and let him know of his error.

Learn the lesson Tavis. Don't just try to be a Black voice in the community; learn to accept the responsibility that comes with becoming a 21st century griot to the community.

If you don't, you will continue to catch the wrath of the very people you are trying to "tell the story" with.

Gregory Moore is the Managing Editor/webmaster for the San Antonio Informer (www.sainformer.net), a thrice-weekly online newspaper covering the African American community in San Antonio, Texas. He is also a frequent contributor for many national media outlets including ESPN, Fox Sports Radio and others.

YourBlackWorld Reader Comments on Tavis Smiley

The rift that Tavis Smiley is attempting to create with Sen. Barack Obama could be interpreted as a lame attempt to draw attention to Smiley's conference and his (now) flagging book sales. The conference hasn't received any wide press coverage in years and Tavis' best selling "Covenant" book is a coffee table accessory without the implementation for which it calls.

Thus, Tavis ostensibly wants to coerce Obama to attend his conference, extract a pledge to adopt Tavis' covenant agenda for Black America and to find the means for its implementation, if elected.

Either way Obama would lose and Tavis would 'win' in this scenario. If compliant, Obama would be portrayed as pandering to a special interest group, or, denigrated by Tavis for failing to promise sufficient means for covenant implementation. Regardless, Tavis gets the publicity.

If this is picked up as a national media "story", Tavis will appear before a much wider audience than PBS or CSPAN as CNN and MSNBC banner his book and talk show title under his name during the interview. I gave the Brother more credit. Ostensibly, he has his eye on the wrong prize.

Sen. Obama's letter of response to Smiley is well crafted and bounced the ball directly back in Tavis' court by offering Michelle Obama as a substitute conference presenter, to which Tavis apparently declined. The question begs to be asked; would Tavis Smiley have refused Bill Clinton as a substitute speaker for Hillary? ....I don't think so.

Yet a dynamic, poised, articulate, assertive, accomplished, culturally grounded, highly intelligent, well educated Black woman who is engaged professionally as a community organizer was deemed unworthy to appear on the dais of an annual conference that has no apparent goals and objectives for action items? Oh, PLEASE...TRY to explain, Mr. Smiley, why your refusal of Atty. Michelle Obama's inclusion should not be perceived as a misogynistic, autocratic, plutocratic embodiment of slavery's psychological chains and images that restrict your vision?

We are not a monolith and you, sir, do not speak for all African Americans. Barack Obama has taken the higher moral-political ground and is keeping his eye on the ultimate prize where he will be positioned to facilitate substantive change to impact millions of lives. He is enthralled in a major battle to that end. Obama has given us no pause as not being worthy of achieving both. An INTRARACIAL conflict should NOT be his concern at this juncture when we have witnessed the blind ambition, sense of white entitlement, wrath, ire, vitriole and racist cunning of the Clintons as contenders. There was an implied "or else" in your tone of setting a deadline for Sen.. Obama to respond. Surely, you were not insinuating an endorsement of the Clintons should Obama not comply with your request for his appearance?

Your tactics have appeared petty and lacking the gravitas that we have come to admire in Tavis Smiley as a leading journalist - commentator. Resume your place with Juan Williams, Dwayne Wickham, Susan Taylor, Clarence Paige, George Curry, Sam Yette et al. Don't resort to muckraking politics or grabbing quick headlines. It doesn't become you or enhance your stellar reputation. There will be ample means after the election to hold Barack accountable. They are called the Fourth Estate and the ballot.

Genevieve Myers Stewart
Louisiana

OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL GEAR 101

A young and upcoming brotha residing in Ohio http://www.myspace.com/van20 designed these one of a kind blow your mind kicks. Please visit his MYSPACE PAGE and show him some mad love and request he desisgn a pair for you. Could you imagine Barack Obama wearing these shoes at the next face off with the Clintons or Sen. McCain?? I feel like dunking just thinking about it. Sen. Obama is a serious basketball player too. Be sure to let the Nike Corporation http://www.nike.com/index.jhtml#l=nikehome&re=US&co=US&la=EN know you want them to start making these BILLary BEware YES WE CAN OBAMA AIR FORCE ONES NOW!! Do tell everybody and they MAMA you ain't sorry for rockin' these for OBAMA! Man I love these shoes!

TO BE OR NOT TO BE???

Check out this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gwqEneBKUs then ask yourself who is the only presidential candidate that WAS never for the war? Hint...He just won a Grammy last night.

Barack Obama Calling BILLARY OUT

“As a young woman, I had the great privilege of hearing Dr. King speak in Chicago. The year was 1963. My youth minister from our church took a few of us down on a cold January night to hear [King]. . . . And he called on us, he challenged us that evening to stay awake during the great revolution that the civil rights pioneers were waging on behalf of a more perfect union.” On March 12, 2007 highly respected syndicated columnist Robert Novak’s writes an article "Hillary, King and Goldwater" insisting there’s a major integrity issue with her declaration. The real truth is, in 1963, not only was Hillary Clinton a republican, but she was also a rabid supporter of republican Sen. Barry "AuH2O" Goldwater, infamously known as a bigot and one of the most outspoken critics against the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which is why he lost in his presidential bid to Lyndon B. Johnson. Novak writes “…how then could she be a ‘Goldwater Girl’ in the next year’s presidential election?” He continues, “…she described herself in her memoirs as ‘an active Young Republican’ and ‘a Goldwater girl, right down to my cowgirl outfit."

Hillary Rodham Clinton wants everybody and their Mama to know she has 35 years of presidential expertise (not Bill's)...I mean experience. Hillary wants voters to view her as one of Corporate America's top 100 lawyers but doesn't bother to inform us she didn't pass the Washington, D.C. bar exam in 1973. Hey, isn't the white house in D.C.?? Anyway, on page 64 of Hillary's own memoir "Living History"; her confession that she flunked the D.C. bar exam: "I was lonely and missed Bill more than I could stand. I had taken both the Arkansas and the Washington, D.C., bar exams during the summer, but my heart was pulling me toward Arkansas. When I learned that I had passed in Arkansas but failed in D.C., I thought that maybe my test scores were telling me something." Mrs. Clinton joined in 1976 and spent 15 years at The Rose law firm, she not only represented Tyson Foods, but Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (board member from 1986 - 1992), Stephens Inc.(investment bank), Worthen Banking Corporation; Arkansas-Oklahoma Gas Corp.(oil and gas interests); ALCOA; The Equitable Life Assurance Society; General Electric; John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co.; International Paper Co.; Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co.; New York Life Insurance Co.; Prudential Insurance Co.; USX Corp; and the Union National Bank of Arkansas. Now that's an impressive corporate and special interest resume if I ever saw one. Somebody got paid.

Most people will agree she was the First Lady of Arkansas and the United States due to the fact she was married to WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON. Additionally, when the Clintons left 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500 in 2001 they were 12 million dollars in debt, publicly disgraced, almost impeached and left the once powerful democratic party mortally wounded. They quickly relocated to New York and Hillary joined the U.S. Senate in 2000.

Barack Obama has a few questions for Hillary Rodham Clinton and her trusty sidekick Bill too. America you ought to be asking the Clintons the same questions and awhole lot more. Stay tuned...

Source: http://www.creators.com/opinion/robert-novak/hillary-king-and-goldwater.html

DR. CORNEL WEST Endorses OBAMA On TRUtalk: STRAIGHT OUTTA L.A.

Check out this exlusive footage from Pearl, Jr. and "ELBOW GREASE PRODUCTIONS reaching those who teach the masses" featuring Dr. Cornel West being interviewed by Tavis Smiley. This is a "must see and share" moment with everyone you know. Pearl, Jr. I salute you my sistah for sharing this defining moment in Black History and the world. Please get fired up and ready to go if you ain't already! GET OUT AND VOTE WITH YOUR FAMILY ON FEB 5TH, SUPER TUESDAY.

http://www.trutalk.us/

P.S. Pearl, Jr. wrote the book "Black Women Need Love Too!" which tackles why there's a REAL conspiracy to keep Black women without love.

An Obama Nation - By Kevin D. Johnson- AUC Magazine

Depending on your political persuasion, the title of this piece connotes a change for the better or a change for the worse. To those Democrats who believe this country needs a new face in the White House, Barack Obama seems to be the clear choice, but to those who are staunch Republicans, Obama's unprecedented political success would be best described in homonymic terms: an abomination.



No matter what your opinion of Obama, one thing is certain: this country has never witnessed such a well-organized, awe-inspiring campaign such as Obama's presidential run. Regardless of race, gender, and socio-economic background, the charismatic senator has ascended, in a relatively short time, the political ranks to coalesce millions of Americans around a mantra of hope and change.



My fascination with the campaign of "hope and change" started in February of last year, two weeks after Obama's official presidential campaign announcement. Somewhat bitten by the political bug, I decided on a whim to attend an informal meeting at a Starbucks in a northern suburb of Atlanta . A group of about thirty diverse people gathered to meet one another, share why they support Obama, volunteer for tasks, and discuss how to recruit more people to the campaign. As an aloof spectator, I was amazed to see the dynamics of the enthusiastic meeting, organized and facilitated by the kind of diverse leadership that has become synonymous with Obama's campaign. I knew something was brewing after that meeting and decided to find out more.



I quickly read Obama's The Audacity of Hope, a beautifully written semi-autobiographical book that avoids delving too deep into policy, but gives the reader —regardless of the extent of their political knowledge— enough substance and fresh perspective to crave more. After doing my due diligence on all presidential candidates, I was convinced that Obama was a competitive candidate capable of winning the White House. I then decided to contribute to the campaign even though my complete allegiance to his cause was not decided.



Having had a few opportunities to meet and talk with the Obamas, both Barack and his wife Michelle, I can say firsthand that the hype is real; it is palpable. I was honored to walk beside him and the Clintons during the commemoration of Bloody Sunday in Selma , Alabama of March of last year. Later that month, I was honored to be the youngest co-host of Obama's first visit to Atlanta as a presidential candidate where alongside my co-hosts including distinguished Atlantans Lisa Borders, David Adelman and Sandra Baccus, we raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. My participation in the campaign continues in various ways. As a contributor, I have noticed that no matter where I am with or without Obama's presence, the excitement and mobilization of people to make change is astonishing; no other candidate has been able to engender such a response from the American populous, especially among the young.



Despite Obama's unique ability to bring together people from all walks of life, I often get asked (primarily from black people): Do you think we are ready for a black president? This question is ridiculous because it implies that the merit of Obama has little if any significance in his ability to take this country to the next level, that his blackness will always becloud his ability to lead and bring together this country, something that he has already done to an extraordinary degree. Such negativity cloaked with a tone of compassionate concern shows no faith in the American people to transcend race. In my opinion, the question reflects poorly on the person asking it and points to their own lack of self-esteem and vision. Perhaps these people are the posterity of those who asked Dr. King, "Do you think the country is ready for us to demand civil rights?" Or maybe they asked John F. Kennedy, "Do you honestly think we can put a man on the moon?" Or maybe they doubted the timing of Abraham Lincoln's agenda by asking, "Do you think the country is ready for the abolition of slavery?"



By no means am I a political pundit able to pontificate with the likes of George Stefanopolis or Sean Hannity. My attempt at passing National Government 251 in college was pathetic at best. I do, however, pride myself like most Americans on being able to follow along with the best political analysts and to determine what I think is the best vision for the future of the United States of America . Currently, this country needs a leader who can imbue an emaciated nation with hope, and not a kind of fraudulent hope that has been trumpeted by Obama detractors, but a kind of hope that inspires people to act and play a meaningful part in their government to improve their circumstance, the quintessence of American democracy. To me, the only candidate who has thus far proven his or her ability to do this is Barack Obama, who in his own words can "rally Americans from all walks of life around a common purpose, a higher purpose".



The nation is ready for change!

Barack Obama's Going Platinum with Edith's Chant..."Fired Up Ready To Go"

Councilwoman Edith Childs http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1243524714&channel=353512430 said in South Carolina's Greenwood Index Journal, "I just had no idea that something done spontaneously would go this far -- in a good way," Childs said. "But as far as the song, I think it's cool. And I'm going to go on-line and see the (music) video when it comes out. But look, I did (the chant) in June, and I had no idea this is where we'd be on January 25."

Watch the music video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyJ72iZ3tW4Watch the "making of" video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIpbFt8Tdos and show some love for the Total Experience Gospel Choir http://www.totalexperiencegospelchoir.org/.

This jam is definitely coming to the white house near you....Did you catch that!

BILLARY'S OTHER MARRIAGE PARTNER: WAL-MART

Hillary Rodham Clinton was the first woman ever to join Wal-Mart's board. She was the First Lady of Arkansas at the time and served on the board of directors from 1986-1992. During the late 1980's and early 1990's we were encouraged to "Buy American" by Wal-Mart.

In 1996 Wal-Mart set up shop in China. It has opened 39 stores, including supercenters, "Sam's Clubs" and neighborhood markets in 15 cities around China, including Beijing, Harbin, Dalian and Shanghai. Today, more than 70 per cent of the commodities sold in Wal-Mart are made in China.

In the spring on 2000 President Bill Clinton authored a letter addressed to House members, he wrote, "China with more than a billion people is home to the largest potential market in the world… If Congress makes the right decision, our companies will be able to sell and distribute products in China made by American workers on American soil, without being forced to relocate manufacturing to China. …We will be able to export products without exporting jobs."

In September 1993 Pres. Bill Clinton had this to say right before he signed NAFTA (North America Free Trade Agreement)..."So I say this to you: Are we going to compete and win, or are we going to withdraw? Are we going to face the future with confidence that we can create tomorrow's jobs, or are we going to try against all the evidence of the last 20 years to hold on to yesterday's? Are we going to take the plain evidence of the good faith of Mexico in opening their own markets and buying more of our products and creating more of our jobs, or are we going to give in to the fears of the worst-case scenario? Are we going to pretend that we don't have the first trade agreement in history dealing seriously with labor standards, environmental standards and cleverly and clearly taking account of unforeseen consequences, or are we going to say this is the best you can do and then some?"

Something very interesting happened in November 2007 that is worth noting... Wal-Mart de México opened its first consumer bank -Banco Wal-Mart, in Toluca, Mexico near Mexico City. Additionally, had made plans to open approximately 80 more branches before Dec. 31st.

When you're watching the Democratic presidential debate tonight I want you to ask yourself a few questions...Remember Hillary has assured America SHE IS(AND NOT BILL) running for President. I can't tell nor do I believe Bill can be presidentially semi-retired in the white house ever.

1. Did the average American or the Clintons benefit the most from having a business (non-consumer) relationship with Wal-Mart for the past 22 years ?

2. How many millions (salaries, donations, campaign contributions, consulting fees, book sales, stocks, etc) have the Clintons received from their on going relationship with Wal-Mart?

3. Where is Wal-Mart's corporate headquarters located? (I've give you a hint...The state where Bill Clinton was born and home to his Presidential Library).

4. Who is the biggest private and/or non-union employer in the world?...Hint...It ain't McDonald's.

MRS. CHARLES RANGEL ATTENDS MRS. OBAMA'S FUNDRAISER

Mrs. Michelle Obama held a $2300 per person fundraiser today in New York where Mrs. Alma Rangel wife of Congressman Charles Rangel was in attendance. Also present were Mrs. Ted (Victoria) Kennedy, Patricia Blanchet the widow of "60 Minutes" correspondent Ed Bradley and John W. Rogers Jr., a Chicago mutual fund executive who has been one of Sen. Obama’s top fundraisers to name a few.

Charles Rangel has been a diehard pitbull on the attack more often than not for Hillary Clinton. He has been the undisputed Dean of Harlem for the last 36 years. Congressman Rangel did personally encourage Barack Obama early on to run for president reminding him that if he didn't do it now he might come to regret letting the moment pass and never to return. Charlie makes no apologies for strongly supporting the Clintons no matter what but has gone on record to indicate he has great pride, admiration and respect for Barack.

It will be interesting as to what Mr. and Mrs. Rangel will discuss at the dinner table tonight as they balance the checkbook together. I know their money was well spent today and Mrs. Obama will do the right thing with it...GIVE IT TO HER HUSBAND'S CAMPAIGN WITH A $MILE. Everything ain't always what it seems...If the Clintons were smart they wouldn't sweat Charlie about his wife's public support for OBAMA '08. Sometimes...A Sistah Has Got To Do What A Sistah's Got To Do With Or Without Her Man. Now, run and tell that!

Breaking News...JOHN EDWARDS QUITS

At 1 p.m. (EST) today in New Orleans former North Carolina senator and Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards with his wife and three children by his side will make the announcement that he is quitting. He will be giving a speech on poverty and share his plan to work with Habitat for Humanity at the volunteer-fueled rebuilding project Musicians' Village. Mr. Edwards is still very passionate about restoring the hearts, minds and homes of every Hurricane Katrina victim in the BIG EASY. John Edwards never won any State while on the campaign trail. After South Carolina it clearly became a two-person race for the Democratic nomination.

John Edwards and his family are in need of our prayers because his wife is still fighting cancer. Thank you Mr. Edwards for being a fine Southern gentleman and a true friend to those suffering from poverty in America. I know you would make an awesome Attorney General in the Obama cabinet.

Senator Ted Kennedy gives full support to Barack Obama for President

Senator Edward Kennedy stood up and endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President. In Kennedy's words, "It is time again for a new generation of leadership."

The endorsement was a huge move for Obama and a slam for Senator Hillary Clinton. The Clintons and the Kennedys have been friends and supporters of one another for a very long time.

"It is time now for Barack Obama," said Kennedy, who is the brother of the late John F. Kennedy.

Kennedy gave his endorsement speech with his son, Representative Patrick Kennedy and his niece, Caroline Kennedy, daughter of John F. Kennedy. Caroline Kennedy also endorsed Obama in a New York Times Op-ed piece entitled, "A President Like My Father".

The group gathered for the endorsement speech at American University, in Washington, DC.

"Like you, we want a president who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American dream," Kennedy said.

"I've found that candidate. And it looks to me like you have too," he said. Kennedy went on to compare Senator Obama to his brother, John F. Kennedy.

Obama said that he would work hard to pursue the vision created by Senator Kennedy's brother, the late John F. Kennedy.

"The dream has never died ... it lives on in those Americans, young and old, rich and poor, black and white, Latino and Asian and Native American, gay and straight, who are tired of a politics that divides us and want to recapture the sense of common purpose that we had when John Kennedy was president of the United States of America," Obama said.

"That is the dream we hold in our hearts," Obama said. "That is the kind of leadership we long for in this country. And that is the kind of leadership I intend to offer as president of the United States of America."

Kennedy had words of praise for Senator Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, stating that Edwards "has been a powerful advocate for economic and social justice. And Hillary Clinton has been in the forefront on issues ranging from health care to the rights of women around the world."

Kennedy also contradicted the words of Bill Clinton as it pertained to Obama's position on the War in Iraq, "From the beginning, he opposed the war in Iraq. And let no one deny that truth."

What Frederick Douglass and Barack Obama Have in Common

By Syreeta L. McNeal, CPA, JD



White male representatives of the thirteen colonies undoubtedly compromised to indicate either explicitly or implicitly in the original United States (U. S.) Constitution that blacks were three fifth’s (3/5) of a person and women were considered property in 1791. Many abolitionists and feminists worked to change this political impact in later years. Two key figures of the respective movement are Abolitionist Frederick Douglass and Feminist Susan B. Anthony.

Both Douglass and Anthony were close friends before the American Civil War beginning in 1861. Douglass performed the eulogy of Anthony’s father in November 1862. However, during the years of 1865 to 1870, Douglass split from many feminists over the issue of passage of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments of the U. S. Constitution. [Note: Fourteenth Amendment, passed in 1868, gives citizens due process and equal protection under the law regardless of race, ethnicity, and natural origin. Fifteenth Amendment, passed in 1870, gives citizens the right to vote regardless of race, ethnicity, and natural origin.]

Anthony and other feminists refused to support the Fifteenth Amendment because it excluded women from the basic right to vote. Douglass, on the other hand, believed with many abolitionists that it was important to secure the rights of African-American males before working to achieve the rights of women. Their argument was both public and private, and there was resentment and hurt on both sides.

Now, we have Obama, the first African-American male, striving to become president of the U.S. He is definitely a neophyte to the political game, but has charisma and a sense of hope to encourage more of the younger generation to participate in the political process which is always a good thing. Also, we have Clinton, the first woman to strive for the highest office in the U. S. She has the experience and factual basis to help bring about change that can be beneficial to all Americans, not just Black America. Both have legitimate chances especially with wins in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

But, what seems to be appearing under the surface is this classic debate between Douglass and Anthony. I do believe most African-American men would rather see another African-American male assume the helm of Presidency in the U. S. to prove that they are equal to their white male counterparts. However, as an African-American woman, I do feel compelled to see a seasoned woman who has more experience in the political arena than her counterpart and has a track record to get well needed programs for all Americans such as jobs creation with health benefits, lowering the economic gap between black/brown and white Americans, improved FEMA program so that Katrina responses will be minimized, credibility with Israel and Palestine to bring peace in the Middle East as achieved during her husband’s presidency, and bring our troops out of harms way in Iraq in a way that still keeps us ready for the potential terrorist threat to our national security.

So, it is amazing that the Obama v. Clinton campaign of 2008 is taking on the same shape as Douglass v. Anthony from 1865 to 1870. I know the Nineteenth Amendment, passed in 1920, gave women the right to vote under law. But, wouldn’t it be something if Douglass and Anthony realized that if they were able to include women in the Fifteenth Amendment for the right to vote in 1870, that they would have a powerful coalition to trump the real culprit to their power: white men who want to continue to treat them as either three fifth’s (3/5) of a person or property.

I hope both Obama and Clinton realize that their coalition of both respective interests, instead of division in those interests, will be more beneficial to all America in the long run to end the tyrannical reign of Bush and the Republican regime. However, after watching CNN’s January 21, 2008 Democratic debate on the holiday commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, I have a feeling it will probably not come to fruition at least in the next couple of days.

What Frederick Douglass and Barack Obama Have in Common

By Syreeta L. McNeal, CPA, JD



White male representatives of the thirteen colonies undoubtedly compromised to indicate either explicitly or implicitly in the original United States (U. S.) Constitution that blacks were three fifth’s (3/5) of a person and women were considered property in 1791. Many abolitionists and feminists worked to change this political impact in later years. Two key figures of the respective movement are Abolitionist Frederick Douglass and Feminist Susan B. Anthony.

Both Douglass and Anthony were close friends before the American Civil War beginning in 1861. Douglass performed the eulogy of Anthony’s father in November 1862. However, during the years of 1865 to 1870, Douglass split from many feminists over the issue of passage of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments of the U. S. Constitution. [Note: Fourteenth Amendment, passed in 1868, gives citizens due process and equal protection under the law regardless of race, ethnicity, and natural origin. Fifteenth Amendment, passed in 1870, gives citizens the right to vote regardless of race, ethnicity, and natural origin.]

Anthony and other feminists refused to support the Fifteenth Amendment because it excluded women from the basic right to vote. Douglass, on the other hand, believed with many abolitionists that it was important to secure the rights of African-American males before working to achieve the rights of women. Their argument was both public and private, and there was resentment and hurt on both sides.

Now, we have Obama, the first African-American male, striving to become president of the U.S. He is definitely a neophyte to the political game, but has charisma and a sense of hope to encourage more of the younger generation to participate in the political process which is always a good thing. Also, we have Clinton, the first woman to strive for the highest office in the U. S. She has the experience and factual basis to help bring about change that can be beneficial to all Americans, not just Black America. Both have legitimate chances especially with wins in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

But, what seems to be appearing under the surface is this classic debate between Douglass and Anthony. I do believe most African-American men would rather see another African-American male assume the helm of Presidency in the U. S. to prove that they are equal to their white male counterparts. However, as an African-American woman, I do feel compelled to see a seasoned woman who has more experience in the political arena than her counterpart and has a track record to get well needed programs for all Americans such as jobs creation with health benefits, lowering the economic gap between black/brown and white Americans, improved FEMA program so that Katrina responses will be minimized, credibility with Israel and Palestine to bring peace in the Middle East as achieved during her husband’s presidency, and bring our troops out of harms way in Iraq in a way that still keeps us ready for the potential terrorist threat to our national security.

So, it is amazing that the Obama v. Clinton campaign of 2008 is taking on the same shape as Douglass v. Anthony from 1865 to 1870. I know the Nineteenth Amendment, passed in 1920, gave women the right to vote under law. But, wouldn’t it be something if Douglass and Anthony realized that if they were able to include women in the Fifteenth Amendment for the right to vote in 1870, that they would have a powerful coalition to trump the real culprit to their power: white men who want to continue to treat them as either three fifth’s (3/5) of a person or property.

I hope both Obama and Clinton realize that their coalition of both respective interests, instead of division in those interests, will be more beneficial to all America in the long run to end the tyrannical reign of Bush and the Republican regime. However, after watching CNN’s January 21, 2008 Democratic debate on the holiday commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, I have a feeling it will probably not come to fruition at least in the next couple of days.

HILLARY TELL BILL TO GET OFF THE POLE...

Check out the top donors to the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation that have given a million dollars or more to include the governments of Dubai, Kuwait, and Qatar; the Saudi royal family; a deputy prime minister of Lebanon; filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Stephen Bing, and David Geffen; Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart heir Alice Walton; the Anheuser-Busch Foundation; and Vin Gupta, chairman and CEO of infoUSA Inc., a telemarketing firm that has come under scrutiny for its handling of private information. In 2006 a $31.3 million donation was made to Bill Clinton's presidential foundation which wasn't reported by a Canadian named Frank Giustra. Giustra runs the Radcliffe Foundation. Pres. Clinton's generous friend has made millions financing mining deals around the world. Additionally, he accompanies Pres. Clinton on global jaunts and lets him use his private MD-87 jet. Since leaving the white house Bill and Hillary Clinton have collectively raised approximately $500 million for said foundation. The New York Times has compiled the first comprehensive list of 97 donors who gave or pledged a total of $69 million for the Clinton presidential library in the final years of the Clinton administration. The examination found that while some $1 million contributors were longtime Clinton friends, others were seeking policy changes from the administration. Two pledged $1 million each while they or their companies were under investigation by the Justice Department. Nine of the original library donors received presidential appointments, two of which, Mark S. Weiner and Vinod Gupta, in Pres. Clinton's his last days in office. The documented donors are as follows:

TRUSTEE LEVEL (INDIVIDUALS)
Sheik Abdullah S. Abdullah, Ewa & Daniel Abraham, Nasser Al-Rashid, Abdullah Al Dabbagh, Jay Alix, Malini Alles, Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley and Smith Bagley, Stephen Bing, Richard Blum, Jeff Cooper, Dr. Issam Fares, James Ferraro, Wallace & Jama Fowler Foundation, Vin Gupta, Patricia Hotung, Walid Juffali, Robert BET Johnson, Michael Lee Chin, Howard & Michele Kessler, Peter Lewis, Joe Morita, Viktor & Olena Pinchuk, Michael Rienzi, Bill Rollnick & Nancy Ellison, Dr. Cheryl and Haim Saban, Donald L. Saunders, Walter Shorenstein, Bren & Melvin Simon, Arnold Simon Family Foundation, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, Joseph Stroud, Martin Varsavsky, Ted & Joan Waitt, Mark Walsh, Alice WAL-MART Walton, Gary and Karen Winnick.

TRUSTEE LEVEL (ORGANIZATIONS)
ALLTEL, Alphawood Foundation, Annenberg Foundation, Avalon Capital Group, Dubai Foundation, Embassy of the State of Qatar, Entergy Corporation, Government of Brunei, Magna (Bill Clinton’s Alleged Girlfriend - Belinda Stronach) International Inc., Satoshi Iue (Chmn. Sanyo Electric), Soros Foundation, State of Kuwait, Taiwan Economic & Cultural OfficeAnheuser-Busch Foundation, David Geffen Foundation, Eli & Edythe Broad Foundation, Roy & Christine Sturgis Foundation, Royal Saudi Family, Wal-Mart/Sam's Club Foundation, Walton Family WAL-MART AGAIN Foundation and Wasserman Foundation.

PHILANTHROPIST LEVEL
Victor Dahdaleh, JB Fuqua, Carlos Bremer Gutierre, Gilbert & Rose Mary Chagoury, Dorothy & Lewis Cullman, Myra & Brian Greenspun, Elaine & Gerald Schuster, C. S. Westbrook & Hugh Westbrook, Sydney & Stanley Shuman, Carlos Slim, Katsuhiko Yoshida, Ruettgers Family Foundation, Global Artists, NY HHS Union, Local 1199, Bank of America and Sainsbury Family Charitable Trust.

Pres. Bill Clinton earned $31 million in speaking fees between 2001 and 2005, as disclosed in his wife's Senate ethics reports. Check out the real 411 on well over 100 speeches given to include the amount$ the former president earned:

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2007/clinton-speeches/list/

"I never had a nickel to my name until I got out of the White House, and now I'm a millionaire, the most favored person for the Washington Republicans," Clinton told a friendly audience in Kentucky in the fall of 2006 and he went on to declare "I get a tax cut every year, no matter what our needs are." The Clintons left the white house approximately $12 million in debt due to the Whitewater, campaign fundraising and Monica S. Lewinsky legal issues. Now according to Sen. Clinton's most recent disclosure forms they have a net worth of between $10 to $50 million.

Looks like BILLARY got all FOUR of their hands in the donor and campaign cookie jars again. Bill has been on everybody's payroll too. Pres. Clinton all by himself poses several real conflicts of national interest and real security risks to America with all his different employers. Can somebody tell me why PIMP ME (AND MY WIFE) FOR A $DOLLAR$ BILL can't seem to stay off the stripper I mean speech pole??? I don't know about you but I don't want another BILL nor can I afford to pay another LEGAL BILL. America just can't afford ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL BILLARY CLINTON LIBRARY EVER!!!

HARLEM SHUFFLE...BILLARY CLINTON STYLE

Check out the video of Pres. Clinton falling asleep on Martin L. King, III in Harlem on Sunday while Hillary was in the hood getting endorsed by her homies...Harlem Dream Team...Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts and Congressman Charles Rangel:

http://www.nypost.com/video/?vxSiteId=0db7b365-a288-4708-857b-8bdb545cbd0f&vxChannel=PostFeatured&vxClipId=1458_227094&vxBitrate=700

P.S. Billary's newest nephew Earvin MAGIC Johnson is busy on the road doing his HARLEM SHUFFLE for his Auntie Hillary...Check out the link and give the Clinton's nephew a listen:

http://static.hillaryclinton.com/files/audio/press/200801182513.mp3

Which CLINTON is REALLY running to become the 44th President of The United States Of America anyway...HILL or BILL (42nd President Of The United States) or BOTH???

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: The Great Need of the Hour

Video Of Sen. Barack Obama Speaking At Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Church

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf0x_TpDris

Atlanta, GA January 20, 2008 (Sen. Obama's Full Speech)

The Scripture tells us that when Joshua and the Israelites arrived at the gates of Jericho, they could not enter. The walls of the city were too steep for any one person to climb; too strong to be taken down with brute force. And so they sat for days, unable to pass on through.
But God had a plan for his people. He told them to stand together and march together around the city, and on the seventh day he told them that when they heard the sound of the ram's horn, they should speak with one voice. And at the chosen hour, when the horn sounded and a chorus of voices cried out together, the mighty walls of Jericho came tumbling down.
There are many lessons to take from this passage, just as there are many lessons to take from this day, just as there are many memories that fill the space of this church. As I was thinking about which ones we need to remember at this hour, my mind went back to the very beginning of the modern Civil Rights Era.
Because before Memphis and the mountaintop; before the bridge in Selma and the march on Washington; before Birmingham and the beatings; the fire hoses and the loss of those four little girls; before there was King the icon and his magnificent dream, there was King the young preacher and a people who found themselves suffering under the yoke of oppression.
And on the eve of the bus boycotts in Montgomery, at a time when many were still doubtful about the possibilities of change, a time when those in the black community mistrusted themselves, and at times mistrusted each other, King inspired with words not of anger, but of an urgency that still speaks to us today:
"Unity is the great need of the hour" is what King said. Unity is how we shall overcome.
What Dr. King understood is that if just one person chose to walk instead of ride the bus, those walls of oppression would not be moved. But maybe if a few more walked, the foundation might start to shake. If a few more women were willing to do what Rosa Parks had done, maybe the cracks would start to show. If teenagers took freedom rides from North to South, maybe a few bricks would come loose. Maybe if white folks marched because they had come to understand that their freedom too was at stake in the impending battle, the wall would begin to sway. And if enough Americans were awakened to the injustice; if they joined together, North and South, rich and poor, Christian and Jew, then perhaps that wall would come tumbling down, and justice would flow like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
Unity is the great need of the hour -- the great need of this hour. Not because it sounds pleasant or because it makes us feel good, but because it's the only way we can overcome the essential deficit that exists in this country.
I'm not talking about a budget deficit. I'm not talking about a trade deficit. I'm not talking about a deficit of good ideas or new plans.
I'm talking about a moral deficit. I'm talking about an empathy deficit. I'm taking about an inability to recognize ourselves in one another; to understand that we are our brother's keeper; we are our sister's keeper; that, in the words of Dr. King, we are all tied together in a single garment of destiny.
We have an empathy deficit when we're still sending our children down corridors of shame -- schools in the forgotten corners of America where the color of your skin still affects the content of your education.
We have a deficit when CEOs are making more in ten minutes than some workers make in ten months; when families lose their homes so that lenders make a profit; when mothers can't afford a doctor when their children get sick.
We have a deficit in this country when there is Scooter Libby justice for some and Jena justice for others; when our children see nooses hanging from a schoolyard tree today, in the present, in the twenty-first century.
We have a deficit when homeless veterans sleep on the streets of our cities; when innocents are slaughtered in the deserts of Darfur; when young Americans serve tour after tour of duty in a war that should've never been authorized and never been waged.
And we have a deficit when it takes a breach in our levees to reveal a breach in our compassion; when it takes a terrible storm to reveal the hungry that God calls on us to feed; the sick He calls on us to care for; the least of these He commands that we treat as our own.
So we have a deficit to close. We have walls -- barriers to justice and equality -- that must come down. And to do this, we know that unity is the great need of this hour.
Unfortunately, all too often when we talk about unity in this country, we've come to believe that it can be purchased on the cheap. We've come to believe that racial reconciliation can come easily -- that it's just a matter of a few ignorant people trapped in the prejudices of the past, and that if the demagogues and those who exploit our racial divisions will simply go away, then all our problems would be solved.
All too often, we seek to ignore the profound institutional barriers that stand in the way of ensuring opportunity for all children, or decent jobs for all people, or health care for those who are sick. We long for unity, but are unwilling to pay the price.
But of course, true unity cannot be so easily won. It starts with a change in attitudes -- a broadening of our minds, and a broadening of our hearts.
It's not easy to stand in somebody else's shoes. It's not easy to see past our differences. We've all encountered this in our own lives. But what makes it even more difficult is that we have a politics in this country that seeks to drive us apart -- that puts up walls between us.
We are told that those who differ from us on a few things are different from us on all things; that our problems are the fault of those who don't think like us or look like us or come from where we do. The welfare queen is taking our tax money. The immigrant is taking our jobs. The believer condemns the non-believer as immoral, and the non-believer chides the believer as intolerant.
For most of this country's history, we in the African-American community have been at the receiving end of man's inhumanity to man. And all of us understand intimately the insidious role that race still sometimes plays -- on the job, in the schools, in our health care system, and in our criminal justice system.
And yet, if we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that none of our hands are entirely clean. If we're honest with ourselves, we'll acknowledge that our own community has not always been true to King's vision of a beloved community.
We have scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them. The scourge of anti-Semitism has, at times, revealed itself in our community. For too long, some of us have seen immigrants as competitors for jobs instead of companions in the fight for opportunity.
Every day, our politics fuels and exploits this kind of division across all races and regions; across gender and party. It is played out on television. It is sensationalized by the media. And last week, it even crept into the campaign for President, with charges and counter-charges that served to obscure the issues instead of illuminating the critical choices we face as a nation.
So let us say that on this day of all days, each of us carries with us the task of changing our hearts and minds. The division, the stereotypes, the scape-goating, the ease with which we blame our plight on others -- all of this distracts us from the common challenges we face -- war and poverty; injustice and inequality. We can no longer afford to build ourselves up by tearing someone else down. We can no longer afford to traffic in lies or fear or hate. It is the poison that we must purge from our politics; the wall that we must tear down before the hour grows too late.
Because if Dr. King could love his jailor; if he could call on the faithful who once sat where you do to forgive those who set dogs and fire hoses upon them, then surely we can look past what divides us in our time, and bind up our wounds, and erase the empathy deficit that exists in our hearts.
But if changing our hearts and minds is the first critical step, we cannot stop there. It is not enough to bemoan the plight of poor children in this country and remain unwilling to push our elected officials to provide the resources to fix our schools. It is not enough to decry the disparities of health care and yet allow the insurance companies and the drug companies to block much-needed reforms. It is not enough for us to abhor the costs of a misguided war, and yet allow ourselves to be driven by a politics of fear that sees the threat of attack as way to scare up votes instead of a call to come together around a common effort.
The Scripture tells us that we are judged not just by word, but by deed. And if we are to truly bring about the unity that is so crucial in this time, we must find it within ourselves to act on what we know; to understand that living up to this country's ideals and its possibilities will require great effort and resources; sacrifice and stamina.
And that is what is at stake in the great political debate we are having today. The changes that are needed are not just a matter of tinkering at the edges, and they will not come if politicians simply tell us what we want to hear. All of us will be called upon to make some sacrifice. None of us will be exempt from responsibility. We will have to fight to fix our schools, but we will also have to challenge ourselves to be better parents. We will have to confront the biases in our criminal justice system, but we will also have to acknowledge the deep-seated violence that still resides in our own communities and marshal the will to break its grip.
That is how we will bring about the change we seek. That is how Dr. King led this country through the wilderness. He did it with words -- words that he spoke not just to the children of slaves, but the children of slave owners. Words that inspired not just black but also white; not just the Christian but the Jew; not just the Southerner but also the Northerner.
He led with words, but he also led with deeds. He also led by example. He led by marching and going to jail and suffering threats and being away from his family. He led by taking a stand against a war, knowing full well that it would diminish his popularity. He led by challenging our economic structures, understanding that it would cause discomfort. Dr. King understood that unity cannot be won on the cheap; that we would have to earn it through great effort and determination.
That is the unity -- the hard-earned unity -- that we need right now. It is that effort, and that determination, that can transform blind optimism into hope -- the hope to imagine, and work for, and fight for what seemed impossible before.
The stories that give me such hope don't happen in the spotlight. They don't happen on the presidential stage. They happen in the quiet corners of our lives. They happen in the moments we least expect. Let me give you an example of one of those stories.
There is a young, twenty-three year old white woman named Ashley Baia who organizes for our campaign in Florence, South Carolina. She's been working to organize a mostly African-American community since the beginning of this campaign, and the other day she was at a roundtable discussion where everyone went around telling their story and why they were there.
And Ashley said that when she was nine years old, her mother got cancer. And because she had to miss days of work, she was let go and lost her health care. They had to file for bankruptcy, and that's when Ashley decided that she had to do something to help her mom.
She knew that food was one of their most expensive costs, and so Ashley convinced her mother that what she really liked and really wanted to eat more than anything else was mustard and relish sandwiches. Because that was the cheapest way to eat.
She did this for a year until her mom got better, and she told everyone at the roundtable that the reason she joined our campaign was so that she could help the millions of other children in the country who want and need to help their parents too.
So Ashley finishes her story and then goes around the room and asks everyone else why they're supporting the campaign. They all have different stories and reasons. Many bring up a specific issue. And finally they come to this elderly black man who's been sitting there quietly the entire time. And Ashley asks him why he's there. And he does not bring up a specific issue. He does not say health care or the economy. He does not say education or the war. He does not say that he was there because of Barack Obama. He simply says to everyone in the room, "I am here because of Ashley."
By itself, that single moment of recognition between that young white girl and that old black man is not enough. It is not enough to give health care to the sick, or jobs to the jobless, or education to our children.
But it is where we begin. It is why the walls in that room began to crack and shake.
And if they can shake in that room, they can shake in Atlanta.
And if they can shake in Atlanta, they can shake in Georgia.
And if they can shake in Georgia, they can shake all across America. And if enough of our voices join together; we can bring those walls tumbling down. The walls of Jericho can finally come tumbling down. That is our hope -- but only if we pray together, and work together, and march together.
Brothers and sisters, we cannot walk alone.
In the struggle for peace and justice, we cannot walk alone.
In the struggle for opportunity and equality, we cannot walk alone
In the struggle to heal this nation and repair this world, we cannot walk alone.
So I ask you to walk with me, and march with me, and join your voice with mine, and together we will sing the song that tears down the walls that divide us, and lift up an America that is truly indivisible, with liberty, and justice, for all. May God bless the memory of the great pastor of this church, and may God bless the United States of America.

My Food For Thought....

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love, 1963