Les's Articles
Satire Can't Top the Real Republicans
When the real presidential debate is funnier than Saturday Night Live, the country's in trouble.
Pat Buchanan's White-Power Obsession
In his latest book, the right-wing commentator recycles his familiar racial fears.
The Root's GOP-Debate Recap
The missionary, the gunslinger, the geographer and Mr. 9-9-9 suffer the scrutiny of Les Payne.
The Professor Who Schooled Tavis Smiley
Harvard's Randall Kennedy used the TV host's show to debunk his rants about Obama.
The President's Summit With Black Journalists
President Obama's meeting with a group of African-American columnists was historic, but as usual, he sidestepped race as an issue.Plus, from Journal-isms: Spurned Columnists Question Selection Process for Obama Meeting
Can Obama Stop the Afghanistan War?
The president wants to do what's right, according to Bob Woodward's new book, but even he may not be able to stop the slaughter -- which, for writer Les Payne, is as senseless as what went on in Vietnam.
President Obama Narrows Racial Gap in Drug Sentencing
But black crack cocaine sellers and dealers will still be punished more harshly than whites trafficking in powder cocaine.
New York's Useless Stop-and-Harass Policy
Blanketing minority communities, the Big Apple's "random" stops only increase hostility and risk for black and Hispanic New Yorkers.
Rush Limbaugh's Lies About Steinbrenner
From his description of the late Yankees owner as a "cracker" to his rant about whom he fired, the right-wing talk-show host is dead wrong.
Say It Ain't So, Bill!
The former president would forgive the late Sen. Robert Byrd his violent racial past. It's another example of Bill Clinton's flexible morality.
