Politics
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Black Professionals: We've Got Obama's Back
Fifty-five percent of eligible black voters ages 18 to 24 voted in the last presidential election, and 96 percent of black voters cast their ballots for Obama, according to the U.S. Census. The Huffington Post reports that “young, upwardly mobile, Obama diehards” are committed to re-creating that enthusiasm. And they know what will take to…
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White Teens Used Noose on Black Classmate
Three white Chicago teenagers have been arrested after they beat and placed a noose around the neck of a black teenager, the Chicago Tribune reports. Their apparent motivation was his relationship with a white girl who is the cousin of one of the attackers. In the attack, which occurred on Dec. 23 in the home…
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Arizona Gov Points Finger at Obama in Nasty Face-Off
President Obama arrived at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona yesterday and was met by one unhappy person: the state’s Republican governor, Jan Brewer, the Arizona Republic reports. In what was described as an animated discussion, Brewer and Obama went head-to-head over her book, Scorpions for Breakfast. They were both talking over each other at various…
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The Designer Behind Michelle's SOTU Dress
The designer behind Michelle’s SOTU dress: The cap-sleeve twill dress that the first lady wore in the audience ot last night’s State of the Union Address was from Barbara Tfank’s Resort 2012 collection. Tfank is a Los Angeles-based costume designer-turned-fashion designer who is known for incorporating jewel tones, bright colors and ladylike prints into her…
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Cain to Obama: Stop the Racial Innuendos
Not surprising: Herman Cain’s response to the State of the Union address included several disagreements with Obama. Ironic: Cain, a member of the far right who thinks Newt Gingrich is an “outstanding candidate,” asked the president to put a stop to “racial innuendos.” Classic: He said the “first revolution” is going to involve — you…
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Colorblind Racism: The New Norm
Colorblind racism is the new normal in American conservative political thought. Well after the election of the nation’s first African-American president, in 2012 Republican candidates are using egregious signals and dog whistles to incite racial divisiveness as an effective tool for political gain. But when confronted about the nature of their offensive rhetoric, the answer…
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Why Obama Should Say 'I'm Rich'
Congressional Republicans wanted to intervene in Libya’s civil war — until President Barack Obama intervened, and then they were against it. They wanted a payroll-tax cut until Obama wanted one, and then they tried to kill it. Republicans favored an individual mandate to reform health insurance until the Democrats passed one, and then they were…
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Survey: Obama's Base Focused on Jobs
As he prepares to give the State of the Union address Tuesday, President Barack Obama has reason to be cautiously optimistic about the support he will get from his base for his re-election bid. However, to cement their support, he will need to focus on the issues that are most important to them in the…
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VIDEO: How Romney Is Like a Rapper
What makes poor and middle-class Americans feel connected to a millionaire? According to Bill Maher, the same desire to be associated with wealth that makes the flashiness of rap music attractive draws Mitt Romney’s supporters to him. They feel like members of the 1 percent by association. As the Real Time host puts it, “No…
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Newt Rope-a-Dopes Mitt in South Carolina
In my last column, which appeared right before Mitt Romney cruised to an easy victory in the New Hampshire primary, I rather confidently predicted that the GOP’s political clown show was just about over and that the ever-flexible former Massachusetts governor was a lock for the nomination. Oops! I need a redo! In the wake…