Politics
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MLK Was More Than a Dreamer
In the years since his assassination, I have been troubled by what I consider to be the co-opting of Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision. What has troubled me over the years is how his revolutionary message has been hijacked, compromised and relegated to being that of just a dreamer. People are comfortable with dreamers. Why?…
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Let's Face It: It's Romney vs. Obama
The clown show is just about over. There may be some entertaining high jinks ahead from Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum before they make their final exit from the political theater of the absurd otherwise known as the Republican presidential primary, but the prize has already been won. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney…
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Romney and Obama: The Same Guy?
After three years of GOP railing against the perils of a bloated “nanny state” and the loud gnashing of Tea Partiers’ teeth as they looked to “take the country back” from a “socialist” president of questionable American birth, the Republican Party, in the wake of the New Hampshire primaries, now stands on the cusp of selecting former…
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Michelle O. Used to 'Angry Black Woman' Thing
Talking to CBS’ Gayle King, the first lady responded to questions about New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor’s new book, The Obamas, which is getting attention for its portrayal of tensions between Mrs. Obama and some of the White House staff. In an interview that also included commentary about her love for her role in…
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Tavis and Cornel's Solution to Poverty
Last summer PBS talk-show host Tavis Smiley and author Cornel West embarked on an 18-city poverty tour to highlight the hardship of poor people. Despite a record number of Americans — one in two — either living below the poverty line or classified as low-income, they felt that poor people had been rendered invisible by…
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George Clooney: I Root for the President
On Good Morning America this morning, George Clooney told host George Stephanopoulos that he’s rooting for President Obama in 2012, saying, “I’m a Democrat — I’m a believer. I think he’s done a wonderful job; I think he’s having a tough time in a difficult environment. I root for him. I root for the president…
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The Food Stamp Fallacy
The leaders of today’s Republican Party are expert storytellers. When it comes to manipulating racial stereotypes for political gain, they are akin to animation artists of the 1920s: coloring the lines in black and white. Last Thursday Newt Gingrich told a crowd of senior citizens in New Hampshire, “The African-American community should demand paychecks and…
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Herman Cain on Santorum's 'Black People' Comment
Former Republican presidential contender Herman Cain appeared on The View on Monday to talk about various topics, including Rick Santorum’s controversial “black people” comment last week. Cain, who is on a media blitz promoting his “999 Revolution Solution,” defended Santorum’s mission to end America’s entitlement society, while at the same time criticizing him for “putting…
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Is Michelle Obama 'Supportive' but Anxious?
All eyes will be on a book on the Obama White House, coming out on Tuesday. Titled The Obamas, the tome is said to focus on behind-the-scenes relationships at the highest level within the White House, including the dynamic within the first couple. Author Jodi Kantor wrote an article that was adapted from the book…