There's nothing wrong with thinking president Obama "acted like a dick yesterday," when he got all up in the ass of House Republicans. Furthermore, it's expected that one thinks he "acted like a dick," if one agrees with what House Republicans have in store for the country, and more importantly how they attempt to promote their policies by holding the country hostage. However, saying those exact words on live national television as you did, was a very poor attempt at humor; trust me, you're no Jon Stewart you idiot.
If you ask me, I thought the president did well yesterday; and, I wish he would act like a "dick" more often. Yes, in my opinion, we need more "dick" and less "pussy" from the POTUS. And see Mark, I can say or write these words because, I'm a blogger. Unlike you, I'm not on the payroll of a major media outlet. Unlike you, I don't genuflect , fellate, and kiss the rings of an asshole like Joe Scarborough five days a week. Incidentally, did you think saying those words were going to result in a pay raise? Sure I know there's money to be made by Republican dick-riding in the media. But damn Mark, did you forget that you were on MSNBC and not FOX News Channel? What in the world were you thinking? And why didn't you say what you said off camera, Mark?
In closing, I wish you the best of luck in your career now that you'll be forever known as the "dick" man. Don't worry, I'm pretty sure Rupert and company could use your talent for having turds spew from your mouth on a daily basis. Yes, you should fit right in pretty good with that crowd, Mark. Hell, just be sure to blame MSNBC's decision to suspend you indefinitely on that liberal media bias I hear so much about; at Fox, they love that sort of thing, you asshole.
Your hater for life,
RiPPa
P.S. Fuck your apology; I bet you feel like a real "dick" for getting fired
This story is kinda old, but with the hoopla over gay marriage in New York coupled with the fact that I'm a bit under the weather with my eyes again. I figured throw this out there because I could imagine just how many Black church organizations out there are actively working against legislation in New York and pretty much everywhere else it pops up. As you folks know, I don't like the marriage of religion and politics. So with that said, lemme just say that I think this particular organization needs to go fuck themselves.
Look, I don't know Lupe Fiasco personally, and for all I know he might be the type of person to steal his co-workers lunch out of the refrigerator at work. But as an Hip Hop artist and entertainer? I have madd respect for the brother especially given his content is not-so-mainstream and full of substance. But that's just me, and apparently he said some shit recently that has folks around the Internet kinda ticked off just a tad bit.
Now of course you know you cannot be Black and say anything deemed negative about president Barack Obama unless you're a Republican which pretty much makes you De facto racist. So of course a few of my brothers and sisters are pitching a bitch about this specific part of the entire interview:
"In my fight against terrorism, to me, the biggest terrorist is Obama in the United States of America. For me, I’m trying to fight the terrorism that’s actually causing the other forms of terrorism. The root cause of the terrorism is the stuff that you as a government allow to happen and the foreign policies that we have in place in different countries that inspire people to become terrorists. And it’s easy for us because it’s really just some oil, which we can really get on our own. I don’t vote. I don’t get involved in the political process because it’s meaningless, to be honest. I’m a real big believer if I’m gonna vouch for someone, then I’m gonna stand behind everything that they do. So politicians aren’t gonna do that because I don’t want you to bomb some village in the middle of nowhere." - Lupe Fiasco
Personally I understand and empathize with the somewhat tribal response to this. That being, the perennial need to defend America's first Black president from critique by Black folks. But be that as it may, let's stop pretending that this country has become less of a purveyor of imperialism which is rooted in economic benefit and not the need to spread democracy as it says. Let's stop pretending and keep it real as the young folks say. Let's not pretend that there isn't some truth to what Lupe says. Surely this didn't all stop in January, 2009.
Now as far as his views on voting? They are his own; and please believe, there are many who share his view. In the 2008 presidential elections, according to reports by the Census Bureau, Of the total population of eligible voters (225, 499 million 18 & older), only 58% of them voted, and 94, 355 million people did not. Now, the question that begs to be asked to Lupe's point is: did it really make a difference? If more people voted in 2008 would there be less corporate welfare at the expense of the working class?
So I heard Mitt Romney finally threw his hat into the race; and not only that, heard the muthafucka was talking greasy about my man Barack yesterday. This rat bastard had the nerve to say some shit like Obama has totally failed America, and has made things with the economy worse, or some stupid shit like that. Well gee Wally, for starters, all he did was pass that terrible and ultimate economy crushing health care reform just like the one your loser-ass signed into law in Massachusetts, ya prick. Of course I agree that Obama could have done a better job on the economy; shit, I've run my mouth enough 'bout that on this site. But, err, umm... what has the GOP done, Mitt?
OK, don't answer that question, Mitt; last thing I want is for your punkass to end up flip flopping like your fellow republican hopeful, Newt Gingrich. And lord knows as much shambles as the GOP is in right now, you fuckers don't need any more "distractions" right about now. Hell, that broad riding the short-bus touring the country is enough of an embarrassing for you guys as is. But talking out the side of your neck about Obama and his handling of the economy is pretty good strategy, and I understand. I mean what else can be said about Obama? What, that he's a Kenyan Marxist Socialist who hates white people? Oh yeah, that ain't working; that bullet has long left the gun.
So yeah, because Americans who vote republican are for the most part silly, you tell them that Obama is destroying the economy, and making it a lot worse than before. Of course you don't tell them that the Bush Tax Cuts and the wars we're involved with are projected to account for half the public debt by 2019. No you don't tell them that. You tell them that Obama hasn't created any jobs or isn't doing anything about unemployment. Which is kinda true, Mitt; and he sure can do better or be more robust in this regard. But again I ask, Mitt: what exactly has the GOP done about the problem, and where are the jobs, Mitt?
Tavis: Always pleased to welcome Dr. Cornel West to this program. The Princeton professor and best-selling author is also, I am proud to say, in terms of full disclosure, co-host of “Smiley & West” on public radio, distributed by Public Radio International. Doc, as always, good to see you on the West Coast.
Dr. Cornel West: Always a blessing, my brother. Sunshine, I like.
Tavis: Yeah, good to see you, good to see you. I have some blue cards in my hand. I’m not a blue card sort of guy, as you know watching this program every night, but I wanted to have these cards in my hand because I really want to go through the particulars of this interview you gave with Chris Hedges on Truthdig some days ago that has caused such a furor in the Internet space, the blogosphere, amongst progressives, amongst the Black academy, specifically; in the academy more broadly, given what “The Boston Globe” had to say about you the other day.
West: Oh, yeah.
Tavis: So you’ve kicked up quite a controversy, as you know, with your comments about President Barack Obama, specifically your critique of him not being progressive enough – those are my words, not yours. So to jump right into the conversation and make the most of the time I have, let me pull out some of these quotes that you offered in this interview that you’ve been taken to task for and give you a chance to respond so that I and the viewer understand better what it is you were saying.
In no particular order, number one, you referred to the president as “A Black mascot of Wall Street oligarchs and a Black puppet of corporate plutocrats. And now he has become head of the American killing machine and is proud of it.” Talk to me.
West: Yeah, well, one, I had in mind the fact that as a progressive you begin with the plight and predicament of poor people and working people, and you see their situation with a sense of urgency. It’s a state of emergency, so that mass unemployment, mass under-employment, mass incarceration, massive lack of quality education and housing itself becomes part and parcel of a national security issue.
My wife isn't very fond of Roland S. Martin. All through the presidential campaign back in 2008 she would let it be known as she watched CNN. Me? I have no problem with the brotha; hell, I even overlook the fact that he's blocked me on Twitter (yes, him and Andrew Breitbart have both blocked me so I must be doing something right); and, I've even went as far as to suggest that he be allowed to have his own prime time network show in mainstream media.
Of course I don't always agree with Roland; and no, I'm not a fan of the Ascot; but, I do admire his tenacity with which he often defends his position publicly whether he's right or wrong. Speaking of which, he's 100% correct in the following video. The following video is the latest in TV One's "The Back Room" installment. And in it, he discusses the subject of black folks choosing to be passive and press president Obama on issues that directly affect us directly, and indirectly, which overall has a negative impact on society at large.
The idea for some, is that "we" should wait until POTUS has secured a second term in office to start making demands. A stance or position that is justified by the notion that president Obama can't be perceived to be "helping black folk," because to do so would alienate white voters, who in turn would refuse to vote for him. Of course you guys know that I think this idea is foolish and dare I say akin to the slave-like mentality some of us are afflicted with. However, it was good to see Roland express the same concern with Kelli Goff, Contributing Editor of TheLoop21.com, and for that, he gets major props from me..
Usually when I feature who deem to be slave catchers or anyone exhibiting slave catcher behavior, I do so without apology. Having said that, it sorta pains me to present Rev. Al Sharpton in this light. Yes many of you Negroes have talked shit about the man in the past, and yes I've defended him and deemed him very necessary in the struggle. However, I caught his interview on 60 Minutes last Sunday, and well, let's just say I saw some things about the man that well, doesn't sit too well with me. The brother was in slave catcher mode.
To put it mildly, he has become, in fact, the "Black Mascot" of the White House as Dr, Cornel West warned him of becoming a few weeks ago. And it's sad that he's happy to be just that in "post-racial" America as it is today.
Don't believe me? OK, well checkout the interview for yourself and tell me I'm wrong. Uh-huh, pay attention to where he says "America has changed and therefore Al Sharpton has changed." And if that doesn't convince you, pay attention to his justification on not critiquing the president on anything ever and especially in the face of double digit black unemployment. I could be wrong, and maybe you can convince me, but Rev Al Shapton has truly sold out.
Sorry Al, but sitting around smoking cigars every week with very wealthy white men in Manhattan is a long way from the days of wearing track suits and carrying a bull horn. And while Negores are still hungry and jobless, that's not a good look. But g'head and get your corporate on while you can. Obama ain't gon' be there4 forever. And lucky for you, cops are gonna shoot yet another innocent Black body in the future. We in the hood are watching you, pimp.
So the DREAM Act has been reintroduced. President Obama spoke about it a few days ago down on the border. But the hopes of it passing anytime soon is slimmer now than last winter when Republicans killed it. But like I mentioned in my last post, the president though asking for our help in advancing this initiative, has thew power himself to stop deportation of people who would qualify for a path to citizenship per the proposed DREAM Act. But obviously "certain people" are of the opinion that the president can't do anymore than he has, which is talk. If the president is as serious as he say he is about immigration reform, he would act on it now. He said he wasn't about separating families. But the reality, is that this is happening.
A few days ago, police in Manchester, CT, announced that the investigation into the killings at Hartford Distributors had been completed. And, the not at all surprising conclusion that the investigators reached was that Omar Thornton was NOT the victim of racist bullying in the workplace.
The police claim that no evidence was found of the racism that Omar Thornton complained of on the job. They did not find the pictures that Omar Thornton took with his cell phone of racist graffiti in the rest room of Hartford Distributors. Therefore, it obviously never existed right?
Oh, yeah, except for this:
Montminy said the closest the investigation came to finding any items related to Thornton’s claims of racism was a picture of President Barack Obama hanging from a noose drawn on a bathroom wall “many months” before the incident. Montminy said he did not know if Thornton had actually seen the drawing, but he had relayed to others that he was aware of it.
“Whether you consider that racial implications, political implications, or both, that was reported to have been there at one point in time,” Montminy said. “What we know is that when it was reported to administration, the administration had it removed.” SOURCE
So, there was no evidence of the racist graffiti that Thornton complained of, except for the reports from coworkers of racist graffiti? Um, am I missing something here??
Did a racist depiction of Barack Obama in the bathroom somehow NOT contribute to a hostile racist environment simply because Barack Obama was a public figure? Omar Thornton complained of a drawing depicting a Black man being lynched. Barack Obama is a Black man. A noose usually indicates a lynching. The company admits that there was a portrayal of Barack Obama hanging from a noose in the bathroom. So, doesn't that PROVE that Omar Thornton was telling the truth about the racist graffiti?
"You see Randall, you can be anything in America except President."
QUESTION(S): Is it possible for one to be racist and totally unaware that they are? In 2011, can we still use ignorance as an excuse?
In all my years of being a professional racism chaser, I never knew there were varying degrees of racism. Yes, nobody ever told me there is an actual racism meter. Up until now I never knew that someone could actually be kinda racist, slightly racist, or extremely racist. Obviously I'm showing my ignorance here, and to you I offer my apologies. I'm sorry, I've been the product of an ill formed opinion all these years. Of course up until Donald Trump appeared on Fox & Friends this morning, I've always thought that this racism thing was pretty cut and dry, or black and white as they say. I mean, you're either racist, or you're not. Or so I thought, right? Post-racial rule changes are a bitch.
Here is Donald Trump's appearance on Fox this morning where he's discussing Obama, bin Laden, China, claims of him being racist, and whatever garbage falls out of his mouth. When asked about Von Jones' campaign to have celebrities denounce Trump's "racism", Trump said: "I am the least racist person there is" I'm sorry, but being "the least racist," isn't actually a denial. Which is kinda funny because as far as Trump, though I don't know his cracker-ass, I never thought he would be brave enough to play the racist card to jeopardize his brand. But here he is pretty much admitting, that he is in fact racist, but not like the other guys. Let's be honest: believing Barack Obama to be Kenyan and brought to this country so his parents and grandparents could get on Welfare, isn't really a racist theory because they're white. And neither is suggesting that president Obama is intellectually inferior and only got to Harvard via Affirmative Action, because George Bush was a C-Average student.
Nope, Trump might not be the kind to burn a cross on a front yard, drag a black person behind a moving truck, or even vote for Obama like all the racist blacks who did in 2008. Nope, that's not him. Besides, there's no way he can be that racist unlike him being the "least racist," simply because of the fact that Randal Pinkett, a black guy, actually won a season of Celebrity Apprentice. Now I'm not saying that Trump is in fact racist; I think if he was he would've said he has black friends. However, isn't it nice to know that though some people may think a black man isn't qualified to run the country, that at least one of us is capable of winning Trump's stupid-ass bore of a reality show?
NATO airstrikes on the known residence of Moammar Gadafi resulted in the killing of his youngest son and three grandsons on Saturday, April 30. Gadafi and his wife who were also there visiting were not harmed.
The airstrikes are from the United States and European allies, and are one of many coordinated airstrikes in Tripoli and other "known" Gadafi sites for about a month.
This incident comes during a time Gadafi has expressed an interest in negotiating and the African Union has declared an immediate cease of the "no fly" zone policy due to concern of civilian casualties. However, Libyan rebels rejected the AU plan since it did not include the removal of Gadafi.
As well, the Russian government has called for an end to violence from all parties; but blood is pouring from the streets as Libyan military increases its aggressive attacks on protestors and anti-Gadafi population.
And now the Chinese government has criticized the US for using military aggression to expand its global positioning; especially after the revolutionary movements in Egypt and Tunisia.
There are a lot of political interests in this fight over Libyan land and oil. First, my conspiracy nose points to the obvious quid pro quo deal between US and the English/French government. The US is simply paying back a "debt" for England and France's "assistance" in the Iraq war.
As you can see good ole U.S of A, payback, my dear, is a muhfuckah.
China, the biggest trading partner with Africa (if you didn't know, Libya is in Northern Africa), has been asserting its position as a key trading partner with the continent for decades.
On the other hand, the United States has been aggressively attempting to monopolize mineral and energy resources.
Additionally, Russia has significant arms contracts with Libya.
And here we have Libya, a horrible botox pawn in a chess game that is clearly fixed. Gadafi is the not the issue. The fear of losing access to natural resources is the problem. Libya is a modern day Louisiana Territory that Napoleon Bonaparte planned to use in world dominance starting in the New World.
The US, England and French needed a new strategic location in a post-Jasmine revolution. Gadafi has been off the chain for years, and nobody did anything about it. Plus, there
Dammit Obama you have been complicit in a dirty cowboy move in a country where waahoo cowboys don't even like your ass.
There will be no gain as the worldwide sentiment of a bloody, bullying America expands.
Obama, take your long form birth certificate and shove it up your penis hole.
I'm really bothered by the fact that our political discourse right now is being dominated by this racist Birther garbage. Seriously, I wish the media spent more time discussing the CPC's "The People's Budget" than Trump and the rest of the wack-jobs. I mean birth certificate or not, the fact still remains: the economy is kicking our ass! But I could understand why MSNBC has covered this crap more than CNN or even Fox. The truth is, it's better to focus on the most polarizing subject that is race in America, rather than the fact that your parent company (General Electric) laid off 21,000 employees, and closed 20 plants in recent years, and also didn't pay a dime in taxes last year though posting a $14.2 billion profit. Yep, talking about this birth certificate thingy happens to be a pretty good distraction. But not like the distraction of releasing the birth certificate some say it is, or would have you believe.
Joseph Farah, editor and chief executive officer of WND, the only news agency that has waged a relentless investigative campaign on questions swirling around the Obama's eligibility for nearly three years, was elated at the turn of events.
"We're gratified that our work has begun to pay off," he said. "The certificate of live birth is an absolutely vital foundation for determining constitutional eligibility of any president. We look forward to reviewing it like so many other Americans do at this late date. But it is important to remember there are still dozens of other questions concerning this question of eligibility that need to be resolved to assure what has become a very skeptical public concerning Barack Obama's parentage, his adoption, his citizenship status throughout his life and why he continues to cultivate a culture of secrecy around his life." (source: WorldNetDaily)
But anyway, I'm not sure how I feel about president Obama producing his "long form" version of his birth certificate yesterday. A part of me feels that it was a good move because from here on out those clowns will not be able to say another word about it. Which is total bullshit because even with the birth certificate produced, the loons are still of the opinion that he was born in a Kenyan manger to a virgin white mother (yeah, his daddy didn't have sex with her; she was pure), and the Three Wise Men showed up and gave little baby Barack the gift of gab, a fake-ass birth certificate, and a basketball, because being on the court is just the thing "the Blacks" do; and do much better then running the greatest imperial nation on the planet.
Then there's the other side of me that thinks him producing the birth certificate yesterday, isn't a win. Instead, it's actually a sign of weakness or bowing down in submission to the ideologically and intellectually bankrupt citizens of the United States. I mean I've shown you videos on this site before; you've heard them in their own words. Above and beyond being racist, they're indeed a bunch of ignoramuses. And for me, for my president to bow down - if even symbolic - seriously pisses me off. Yes, so much so that I'm seeing shades of 2008 all over again when they "made him" leave his church of twenty years. I'm not the most religious person in the world, but if a man can be leave his church to appease racist reactionaries who still think he's Muslim, then...
If I was Barack Obama, before speaking publicly anywhere, I'd walk out to the tune of "Say It Loud (I'm Black And I'm Proud" by James Brown. But then again that might piss off his white side enough to lose votes Still not a bad idea since he had to produce his "long form" slave... oops, I mean freedom papers.
Checkout the reactions of conservatives to the release of the "long form" birth certificate here and here. But in the mean time I gotta ask the following questions: was the release of the "long form" birth certificate a good or bad move? How exactly does this benefit Barack Obama politically? Who won?
Last week I got involved in a nice discussion with my brothers over at The Urban Politico. Central to the discussion was the question: What exactly can president Obama do about the job crisis faced by Black people? It was a nice exchange, one where I learned a thing or two. However, I was left with the impression that, well, there is absolutely nothing the president can do beyond passage of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act.
Yeah RiPPa, the prez can't make them folks hire people, nor can the gov't create jobs; that's up to Wall Street! Besides, Negroes are lazy and they ain't trynna find work; yep, they love Welfare and that ain't finna change!
Now of course you know I'm not of that belief or opinion; and yes, there is something the president and by extension the gov't can do; yeah, how's that $26 billion in tax cuts for small businesses of a jobs bill working out while Wall Street sits on $1 trillion in cash? But at any rate, I think it's pretty sad that while we're in the midst of economic recovery, that we're talking about deficits and not job creation, which is needed to boost the economy. As opposed to a discussion of necessary but painful budget cuts to help in deficit reduction.
Folks, that's ass-backwards and here's why:
BIO: Robert Pollin is Professor of Economics and founding Co-Director of the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His research centers on macroeconomics, conditions for low-wage workers in the U.S. and globally, the analysis of financial markets, and the economics of building a clean-energy economy in the U.S. Most recently, he co-authored the reports Job Opportunities for the Green Economy (June 2008) and Green Recovery(September 2008), exploring the broader economic benefits of large-scale investments in a clean-energy economy in the U.S. He has worked with the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Economic Commission on Africa on policies to promote to promote decent employment expansion and poverty reduction in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. He has also worked with the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress and as a member of the Capital Formation Subcouncil of the U.S. Competiveness Policy Council.
So president Obama announces his bid for reelection like and hour ago, and these racist-ass Republicans couldn't wait to start the bullshit. Remember all those supposed-to-be-funny racist emails back during the 2008 campaign? Well, at least one veteran of the race baiting game, California Republican official, Marilyn Davenport, is back at it again. This time, she's pulling the "Birther" jokes out of her ass. This time, she's in hot water for circulating an email with the above pic depicting Obama as the offspring of monkeys. The punchline being, hence the reason there's no birth certificate:
ORANGE COUNTY (CBS) — KCAL9 received a tip about a racist email circulated to some Republican Party members depicting President Obama’s parents as chimpanzees.
This week Marilyn Davenport, a Southern California Tea Party activist and member of the central committee of the Orange County Republican Party circulated what some are calling hate e-mail to an unknown number of her fellow conservatives.
Written under the words, “Now you know why — No birth certificate!”, is an Obama family portrait depicting his parents as chimpanzees.
When asked if she thought the email was appropriate, Davenport is quoted as saying, “Oh, come on! Everybody who knows me knows that I am not a racist. It was a joke. I have friends who are black. Besides, I only sent it to a few people–mostly people I didn’t think would be upset by it.”
Former Chairman of the California Republican Party Michael Schroder has demanded Davenport’s resignation saying it’s not her first brush with racist rhetoric.(source)
It's bad enough that Arizona passed a "Birther" law which requires anyone (who they think is Kenyan) to submit a birth certificate, or show that you're circumcised (if you have a penis) to be on the ballot. This has never been done before in history (yeah white folks, see how they change rules once Black people get in the game?). Now you have this so-called non-racist because she has Black friends, continuing in racist tradition. Oh yeah, watch the following video and listen to them detail her racist and racism-defending antics as well as those of others. Hopefully Republican officials get her out of there; she gotta go. Everybody knows her, "I have Black friends," response is quite typical.
There's an old joke that asks: how can you tell if a car salesman is honest? The answer is simple: an honest car salesman is one who is unemployed. Yes I know, made you bust a gut, didn't I? Given my professional background - in marketing and sales - I've always found that joke to be funny because the basis for closing any deal is as such that, "you get what you want, when other people get what they want." Of course everyone thinks that all car salesmen are dishonest (I've never sold cars), but could it be far from the truth and actually the other way around?
Could it be that consumers aren't honest with themselves and they get what they ask for? I mean, you do get what you pay for, right? After all, you gotta believe a lie before you can sell it to others as a bargain. Which in sales jargon, a bargain is what is perceived. However, perception isn't always reality.
I'm tellin' you, folks: Donald Trump is that turd that doesn't wanna get flushed. Damn straight; he's a friggin floater with mangy hair, and he won't go away. Of course last week I told about how much he's gotten on my nerves while I was in recovery from eye surgery. But this week, though I really hate to discuss his ass, he has sunken to a new low with this birther garbage.
He's already concocted some cockamamee grand conspiracy about Obama's birth in Kenya involving the FBI, the CIA, and the Three Wise Men on Morning Joe the other day. Now, this past weekend appearing on CNN's State Of The Union, he provides another twist to justify what I honestly see as racism.
Obama's white grandparents brought him to America as part of a scheme to get Welfare. Yeah, I know; unbelievable, right? But hey, you gotta give it to him for keeping his racism consistent enough to throw the Welfare Queen meme often used by Conservatives in the mix. Hell, this asshole is covering all the bases:
TRUMP: The grandparents put that [birth announcement] in [the newspaper] because obviously they want him to be a United States citizen because in those days, people were much more proud than they are today unfortunately for being a United States citizen.
So they wanted him to be a citizen of the United States, for that purpose, and also for hospitalization, for welfare, for this, for that, for all the other assets you get from being a United States citizen. So there are a lot of very smart people who say that is routinely done and that was done by his grandparents. [...]
CROWLEY: I will tell you we’ve checked with both these papers early on — not to the latest when you brought it back in the headlines — but the fact is that the hospitals reported this information to the papers, and the papers printed it.
TRUMP: Who knows? You’re talking fifty years ago.
Sure it was fifty years ago; and, Donald's actually right. Fifty years ago, unlike today, with the exception of rich people like Madonna and Angelina Jolie. White folks imported black kids from Africa to reap the benefits of the public dole. I tell you, that Donald Trump guy is a friggin' pure unadulterated genius.
Here's to hoping he doesn't start killing all first-born sons of Kenyan citizens. You know a guy with his kind of money, could pull that off in a movie studio and make it believable in a biblical or 'Avatar' sorta way. Hear it for yourself:
The above photo of what appears to be a contentious Al Sharpton and Dr. Cornel West was taken by Rachel Noerdlinger backstage at yesterday's MSNBC forum 'Stronger America: A Black Agenda'. Prior to the photo being taken, both men were involved in a pretty heated debate aired live on national television. The discussion questioned the need for the advancement of a "Black Agenda" in these economically perilous times. The exchange got so heated that I'm sure a few choice words were used backstage. As a matter of fact, in my mind I'm convinced that at some point backstage one of 'em said, "nigga please!"
Check it out:
Now the irony of this discussion of a "Black Agenda", is that recent polling suggests that president Obama's approval rating among people of color, is currently at an all time low at 85%. Which when you think of it, sorta makes sense why the White House has pretty much handpicked Rev. Al Sharpton to be it's official spokesman to the Negroes on the street. As I pointed out last week (read here), Obama's speech at Sharpton's National Action Network gala last week after launching his 2012 campaign was no coincidence. Like it or not, Rev. Al Sharpton is the head Negro in charge of all Negroes. That's right, he's the Black St. Peter with a perm standing at the pearly gates of power.
Now I'm sure that much like what happened on Twitter yesterday as I live-tweeted this event. Some of you members of what Aaron McGruder cleverly called The Hateocracy will rush to the defense of president Obama, and side with Sharpton. I on the other hand, though I've always defended Sharpton's relevance in the face of some of you Negro critics, I will say that he's absolutely wrong on this one at this time. Especially when pending budget cuts are handed down to further crush poor working folks. But I can be wrong. Maybe one of you can justify chopping off the legs of the poor after handing over tax cuts to the wealthy in three months time. Tax cuts, which mark my words, will become permanent while poor working folks drown in this economic cesspool.
Even more disappointing was his attempt to frame the argument to make the work of the activist on the ground more important than the work of Black academia and public intellectuals such as Dr. Cornel West. The way I see it, you can't have one without the other if your true intent is to bring about change for any collective group of people; and, everyone has a significant role to play. But I suppose now that Sharpton is sitting at the table, he has forgotten that. Maybe in his mind shitting on West is a calculated political investment. After all, Sharpton has had political aspirations in the past; but, I don't remember him ever being elected for anything; nope, not even for dog catcher. However, he did well with the slave-catcher move yesterday; according to some of you, he won.
But I wonder if a 15.5% and rising Black unemployment rate would be a concern if Black folks were still working for free and picking cotton? Oh well, I suppose some of us are content with being slaves by cheer-leading for people with a shared hue, who champion self-interest above the interest of the people they supposedly lead. While we revere Martin Luther King Jr. and celebrate his life and work. It would have been very interesting to see some of you tear him down today for speaking truth to power as poor people drown, just because the president of the United States happens to be a Black man.
Some of you might be of the opinion that Blacks are used to having very little and next to nothing so this is no big deal - same shit different toilet. But could you imagine attempting to pass historic landmark Civil Rights legislature in the 60s with that attitude? I'm sorry, it's time for us to stop making excuses for people in power and mobilize a plan of action to better our condition and economic reality. I mean, when government is talking of cutting Pell Grants for low-income students, something's gotta give. And if you don'e believe me, watch this to understand how real this is; hopefully you'll understand.
So prez, does this mean you'll endorse me in 2016?
President Obama spoke last night at the National Action Network which is celebrating their 20th anniversary. When I heard this was going down, the cynic in me couldn't help but to think: "Great, Rev. Al Sharpton has put in work for this administration; spent a lot of time out in snowstorms last year; and this is his reward having Obama speak at his shindig. Good for you Al Sharpton!"
The cynic in me also said: "Well, it's definitely campaign season. Obama kicks off his 2012 campaign this week and his first stop is to pander to the Negroes. The same Negroes who some may say he has ignored in this economic meltdown; Obama needs these Negroes now with all the heat he's taking from them white folks.Yep, the same Negroes he's all but ignored as far as jobs."
I can't help it, folks; this is how my mind works. I'm eternally optimistic, and will forever remain a glass half full kinda guy. However, I'm a realist so I'll drink that water and ask for a refill instead of pondering whether my thirsty-ass should drink the damn thing because it isn't enough. So, it was with good intentions that I tuned in to listen to president Obama speak to Reverend Al and company, at the National Action Network gathering in New York City.
The following is a copy of his remarks I'd like you to check out. Though there's so much negative that I can say about his remarks, I'll say there's a message in there - a good message. That would be: the work isn't done, and we have to get up off of our asses and make it happen. Take that however you will, but do check out Obama's remarks and tell me what you think:
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Good to be in New York City. Let me begin by acknowledging some very, very special guests. Dr. Richardson, thank you. Charlie Rangel, for your outstanding work on behalf of your constituents. Mayor David Dinkins. (Applause.) Governor David Paterson is here. (Applause.) State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. DiNapoli, excuse me. This is another one that’s hard to pronounce: Stevie Wonder. (Laughter.) Martin Luther King III. (Applause.) All the Keepers of the Dream honorees with us tonight, and the National Action Network.
It is wonderful to be here as you celebrate your 20th anniversary. Some things have changed a lot since 1991. I told Reverend Al backstage he’s getting skinnier than me. (Laughter.) He’s getting skinnier than Spike. (Laughter.) But he hasn’t lost his sense of style. The other thing that hasn’t changed is the National Action Network’s commitment to fight injustice and inequality here in New York City and across America. And that’s not only a testament to Reverend Sharpton. It’s a testament to all of you who are here tonight. I want to commend you for the work that you’ve done over the last two decades to lift up not only the African American community but the broader American family. That’s what you’re about. (Applause.)
Well, although it might be early in the game by the standards of political punditry, President Obama has officially launched his 2012 re-election bid. Yeah I know, you're shocked by this and never saw it coming, right? Well, I suppose when you're slated to raise $1 billion for a re-election bid, there's nothing wrong with getting an early start. Especially in this crappy economy.
Of course for now everyone's talking about the field of GOP hopefuls. But something tells me that sooner or later the narrative is going to shift to Obama, and the ability to recapture the 2008 magic. Soon the talk is going to be about vanquished liberal progressives, more so than with independents in the middle.
Hopefully our friends on the right forgo racial politics of old. But of course that's a pipe dream because a old dogs tend to stick to their tried and true tricks as opposed to anything new. Above and beyond everything, the burning questions are: Can he do it? Will he do it? And more importantly, will we do it?
“He who warned uh, the British that they weren't gonna be takin' away our arms, uh by ringing those bells, and um, makin' sure as he's riding his horse through town to send those warning shots and bells that we were going to be sure and we were going to be free, and we were going to be armed.” -- Sarah Palin on Paul Revere
