• POTUS Debate Round 2: Now, This Was a Fight

    (The Root) — Now, this was a fight. As all of the political junkies around the country grabbed their beverage and snack of choice to watch the presidential slugfest, one thing was perfectly clear: Two weeks make a huge difference. President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney took the stage, and within the first 10 minutes,…

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  • Celebrities Argue That the Truth Matters

    (The Root) — Who cares about the truth? This political season, the one thing that’s been on trial more than any candidate or his actions has been what’s actually the truth. Fact-checking websites are more popular than ever, even as their own truth-telling capabilities have been called into question. At this point — when #SayAnything2012 is…

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  • White Privilege, Joe Biden Style

    (The Root) — It’s good to be white. That’s the phrase that kept bouncing around in my head as I watched the vice presidential debate. After absorbing the horrible defeat of President Obama by Mitt Romney in the first debate, I was reminded by Dr. Blair Kelley during This Week in Blackness and The Root’s…

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  • Post-VP-Debate Feedback: 'TWIB,' Professor Butler

    (The Root) — The vice presidential debate was as exciting as everyone predicted. From a defiant Paul Ryan to a laugh-in-your-race Joe Biden, fireworks flew the entire 90 minutes. This Week in Blackness and The Root provided live debate coverage immediately after it aired. Check out #TeamBlackness — co-hosts L. Joy Williams and Aaron Rand…

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  • Philly Teacher Compares Student's Romney Gear to KKK T-Shirt

    ( The Root) — Sixteen-year-old students shouldn’t wear shirts that show support for Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney — it would be the equivalent of a black person wearing a KKK shirt. This was the supposed logic of a teacher in Philadelphia recently when a young girl wore a Romney-Ryan tee to geometry class. “I think…

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  • Political Ads Gone Wild: Obama and Big Bird

    (The Root) — This is not a joke. This is not an SNL skit. This is an actual ad. I’m not sure how to feel about this. I traffic in humor, so I’m all for mocking people, but I’m not sure we should see this with an “I’m Barack Obama, and I approve this message”…

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  • Romney on Foreign Policy: Obama Lite?

    (The Root) — Mitt Romney is presidential. Don’t believe me? Watch a video of the Republican candidate giving a speech on foreign policy on Monday. That was so presidential! I’m in awe of the presidential-ness. That guy is president material. I’m assuming that’s the point of this, because otherwise, what the hell was that? Romney…

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  • Election 2012: Mislead. Reframe. Repeat

    (The Root) — Did you know that President Barack Obama promised at the beginning of his term that he would create a 5.6 percent unemployment rate? Oh, you didn’t? Then allow the American Crossroads super PAC to clear that up for you in its anti-Obama ad, released this week. The ad suggests that Obama has…

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  • Postdebate Reactions: 'TWIB' and The Root

    (The Root) — The first presidential debate is over. Whether you agree or disagree with the contenders for the highest office in the land, the one thing that can’t be argued about is performance. Or can it? Watch The Root and This Week in Blackness’ postdebate coverage last night featuring Anthea Butler, David Swerdlick and Imani…

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  • Live Debate Coverage From The Root and This Week in Blackness

    (The Root) — I don’t know if you’ve heard about this, but there’re going to be some “debates” happening pretty soon. On Wednesday, Oct. 3, the first of three presidential debates will kick off in Denver, and apparently everyone is terrified. Both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama have been actively downplaying expectations and participating in…

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