Politics

  • Obama's Wrong About Congress and Libya

    To put the hypocrisy of Republicans into context when it comes to Libya, it’s worth pointing out that two of the congressmen joining Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s suit to stop President Barack Obama’s prosecution of the ongoing NATO action in Libya’s civil war — North Carolina Reps. Walter Jones and Howard Coble — both backed…

  • Obama to Announce Afghanistan Withdrawal Plans Wednesday

    The Washington Post is reporting that President Obama will announce Wednesday his decision on how many troops to withdraw from Afghanistan next month, concluding a process of consultation with his advisers and commanders that will set the military course for the rest of the war. Administration officials said that final numbers, while still to be determined,…

  • First Lady Michelle Obama Heads to Southern Africa

    The White House is reporting that first lady Michelle Obama’s official trip to southern Africa kicks off this week. Her visit will focus on youth leadership and education and will include meetings with key figures in the anti-apartheid struggle.  The first lady will travel to Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa and Gaborone, Botswana. During the trip,…

  • VIDEO: Obama's 2011 Father's Day Address

    In other news: Charles Blow Remembers His Father.

  • Handicapping the GOP 2012 Field

    As I vowed when The Root inaugurated this column, there ain’t no mountain high enough, ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough to keep me from delving into the foibles of the political right wing. Thus, at considerable risk to my mental health, I subjected myself to the entire two hours of…

  • We Must Educate All Our Young Men

    Since this nation was founded more than two centuries ago, there has been nearly constant tension between tradition and evolution. Yet over the years, from the Civil War to the civil rights movement, the forces of progress have haltingly advanced, and continue to do so today. After all, just 50 years ago businesses still hung…

  • Welfare, Fathers and Those Persistent Myths

    Does the state discourage poor fathers from being present in their children’s lives? There are the emblematic images, like Diahann Carroll as a single mother on welfare in the 1974 movie Claudine, struggling to hide her boyfriend from a social worker. Urban legends tell of “man in the house” rules that prohibit men from living…

  • White House Defends Libya Mission

    Black America Web is reporting the White House insisted Wednesday that President Barack Obama has the authority to continue U.S. military action in Libya even without authorization from lawmakers on Capitol Hill. In a detailed, 32-page report to Congress, the White House also put the cost of U.S. military operations in Libya at about $715 million,…

  • Will Obama's Visit to Puerto Rico Make a Difference?

    Julianne Hing of ColorLines is reporting that new poll numbers from Latino Decisions show that Latino voters view immigration reform as an issue that is as important as jobs and education. Thus, President Obama has his work cut out for him because of his lack of progress on immigration reform. According to poll results, for…