Politics
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Obama Tries to Rally Support at Black Caucus Gala
President Obama, who has been accused of avoiding racial issues, jumped into the lion’s mouth Saturday when he made an unannounced appearance at the Congressional Black Caucus’ annual Washington conference and called on his most loyal constituents to resist plans to change the course his administration has set for the nation. Without naming the Republican…
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Will Tea Party Victories in the Primaries Really Hurt Republicans This Fall?
Karl Rove and other Republicans who have long been in the political realm are not too pleased by the surge of Tea Party victories in the primaries. These underdog wins over favored Republican nominees for the U.S. Senate have thrown a kink into the plans of the GOP to regain control of Congress. Upset victories…
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Is There a Place for Republicans in the Congressional Black Caucus?
Back in June, 32 black Republicans were running for Congress. Three months and dozens of primaries later, that number has dwindled to just 13 people, only a handful of whom — three, according to New York Times statistician Nate Silver — actually have a strong chance of winning come November: Allen West of Florida, Ryan…
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Dear Carla Bruni-Sarkozy: You're Wrong About Michelle Obama
I’m not surprised, at this point in our political history, that Michelle Obama would be under attack. When she stands out as the half of the presidential couple with the super-high ratings, isn’t it only natural that somehow, some way, somebody would come out with guns a-blazin’, trying to destroy her credibility? What’s odd is…
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What We Should Really Be Talking About During CBC Weekend
If Washington, D.C., is “Hollywood for ugly people,” the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference — informally known as CBC Weekend to those who skip the panels and attend the parties — is an HBCU Homecoming for grown people with jobs. It’s a Beltway Freaknic for people who favor MSNBC over BET. And I’ll…
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The Root's Black Caucus Weekend Party List
The Root’s Black Caucus Weekend Party List: Most parties require an invitation or an RSVP; if a party is open, the price of admission is listed above. The Root is a sponsor of events marked with an asterisk.*
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Dr. Boyce Watkins: Black Unemployment Must Be Addressed
EXCERPT FROM DR. BOYCE WATKINS OPEN LETTER to PRESIDENT OBAMA: While the black community remains inspired by your achievements and overwhelmingly sympathetic to your challenges from conservatives, there are concerns that the economic plight of black Americans has not been a priority for the Obama Administration. To be sure, opinions on this matter are far…
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Is D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty's Loss a National Defeat for Education Reform?
Four years ago, Adrian Fenty faced a well-regarded chair of the D.C. City Council in the Democratic mayoral primary — the only primary that counts in this overwhelmingly Democratic city. He carried every electoral precinct in the city. This year he faced another well-regarded City Council chair in another mayoral primary. This time he lost.…
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Lessons for Obama in Adrian Fenty's Defeat
If one thing is clear this election season, it’s that voters — black, white or otherwise — won’t hesitate to call out the “arrogance” of their African-American elected officials when they see it. The New York Times’ Maureen Dowd reported this week that her Republican sister isn’t really unhappy with what President Barack Obama has…
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Does Race Still Matter in Politics?
This summer, Republicans in South Carolina backed an African-American businessman named Tim Scott over former Sen. Strom Thurmond’s son to fill a House seat. In picking a U.S. Senate candidate, Florida Republicans bypassed their veteran governor for the conservative Marco Rubio, who is Cuban American. Black Democrats in Alabama voted for their policy preferences (health-care…