Politics
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Hurricane Isaac: Obama Declares Federal Emergency
In a decision that makes federal funding available to state and local governments for emergency work in the stricken areas, President Obama has declared federal emergencies in the areas of Louisiana and Mississippi being hit hardest by Hurricane Isaac, the Associated Press reports. The orders he signed late Wednesday cover 35 parishes in Louisiana and…
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Attacked Black CNN Camerawoman Speaks
Everyone’s been talking about the horrifying, is-this-seriously-happening-in-2012 incident at the convention, in which two attendees threw nuts and taunts at an African-American CNN camerawoman, telling her, “This is what we feed to the animals at the zoo.” Everyone, that is, except the camerawoman herself. Until recently. Although she still wants to remain anonymous, she spoke…
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Obama's Day, Aug. 30: Presidential Daily Briefing
THE WHITE HOUSEOffice of the Press SecretaryFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FORTHURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012 In the morning, the President and the Vice President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. The meeting is closed press. Later, the President and the Vice President will meet for lunch. This lunch…
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Romney's Tin Ear for Humor
The Chicago Tribune‘s Clarence Page says the Republican presidential hopeful shouldn’t joke about birth certificates or anything else, because he’s simply not good at it. After months of running about even with the president, despite high unemployment, Romney’s embarrassing attempts at humor feed an image he would rather not send: a well-meaning straight arrow who…
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Respect Our First Lady, Please!
In a piece for Essence, The Root’s contributing editor Demetria L. Lucas disagrees with an artist’s statement that there were “obvious reasons” for depicting Michelle Obama as a slave. Mrs. Obama’s face was super-imposed on “Portrait d’une negresse,” a popular 19th century painting by French artist Marie-Guillemine. My reaction? Let’s just say it was a…
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Planned Parenthood Program Grows
(The Root) — Last week Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, along with actress and activist Gabrielle Union, introduced the organization’s expanded breast-health initiative. Thanks to their controversial fallout with Susan G. Komen for the Cure in February, when their longtime financial supporter succumbed to political pressure and briefly discontinued funds for breast-health programs, Planned Parenthood…
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All About the Right's 'Poll Watcher' Network
All about the right’s “poll watcher” network: Colorlines’ Brentin Mock reports on an organization called True the Vote, which reportedly has trainees in 35 states who spot voting “irregularities” and chalk them up as “fraud” and then use that tally to justify new voting restrictions. As one strategy, he says, the group buys voter rolls…
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Watch This: Condoleezza Rice on Obama
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who will speak tonight at the Republican National Convention, gave a preview of her take on President Barack Obama’s approach to foreign policy in comments to CBS This Morning, reports the Huffington Post. She says that the voice of the United States in world affairs “has been muted” under…
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Obama's Day: Aug. 29: Campaign Event in Virginia
THE WHITE HOUSEOffice of the Press SecretaryFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FORWEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2012 In the morning, the President will depart Fort Collins, Colorado en route Charlottesville, Virginia. The departure from Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport and arrival at Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport are open press. In the afternoon, the President will deliver remarks…