tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80409842024-03-13T03:44:33.973-05:00Windy City WatchWindy City Watch is a Chicago based Website dedicated to local and national current events, sports and popular culture.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger575125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-2915630435158143372013-10-11T10:53:00.001-05:002013-10-11T10:53:37.014-05:00House GOP Offers Debt Limit Hike, End To Shutdown In Package With Spending Cuts: Report<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1402161/thumbs/s-JOHN-BOEHNER-large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1402161/thumbs/s-JOHN-BOEHNER-large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br/>The Clean CR already contained significant cuts and is closer to the GOP wanted. Dems should reject this<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/11/gop-debt-limit-offer_n_4085291.html">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a>John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-60549931059467057192012-11-01T12:20:00.001-05:002012-11-01T12:20:20.932-05:00Donald Trump To Make Robo-Calls, Campaign Stops For Mitt Romney Before Election<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/841801/thumbs/s-DONALD-TRUMP-MITT-ROMNEY-large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/841801/thumbs/s-DONALD-TRUMP-MITT-ROMNEY-large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br/>Today Donald Trump went full on birther with a written statement claiming that President Obama was not born here <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=27113697&l=a3c7fc8da7&id=153080620724" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=27113697&l=a3c7fc8da7&id=153080620724</a> and now it comes out that Mitt Romney has asked him to do robo calls and make appearances. Romney is officially a birther and owns EVERYTHING that Trump says about Obama.<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/31/donald-trump-mitt-romney_n_2050866.html">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a>John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-15809561039808920132012-05-23T10:37:00.000-05:002012-05-23T14:23:43.761-05:00Why all Chicago Aldermen, not just the Black Caucus, should reject Tom Ricketts insulting Cubs outreach effortsBy John V. Moore (<a href="http://twitter.com/johnvmoore" target="_blank">@johnvmoore</a>)<br />
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This morning in the <i><a href="http://www.suntimes.com/12709966-761/cubs-tom-ricketts-on-defense-over-dads-anti-obama-plan.html" target="_blank">Chicago Sun-Times</a></i> Fran Spielman reports that Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts is reaching out to the Chicago City Council's African American members in an effort to breath life into his request for public funds to help finance Wrigley Field renovations. Since the revelation that Joe Ricketts, patriarch of the family that owns the Cubs, was soliciting proposals to attack President Barack Obama, Tom Ricketts has been in damage control mode. As the <i><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/17/us/politics/gop-super-pac-weighs-hard-line-attack-on-obama.html?hp" target="_blank">New York Times</a> </i>reported the plan presented to the Ricketts family (not just Joe, but Cubs shareholders Pete and Todd) used race in attempt to do political damage to the President. To me this outreach to African American Alderman is insulting for the following reasons:<br />
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<ol>
<li>Both <a href="http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/05/20/bernstein-tom-ricketts-thinks-were-fools/" target="_blank">Dan Bernstein</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/dan_bernstein" target="_blank">@dan_bernstein</a>) and <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/rosenblog/chi-time-for-a-change-of-ricketts-20120521,0,5134763.column" target="_blank">Steve Rosenbloom</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/steverosenbloom" target="_blank">@stevenrosenbloom</a>) have made the allegation, with compelling evidence, that the Ricketts family is misleading about their father's role in Cubs ownership. If this allegation is true, why should anyone believe Tom Ricketts explanations and spin regarding the family backing of the racist attack on the Obama? Hopefully reporters, Alderman, Mayor Emanuel and anyone else that Tom reaches out will challenge him to fully explain Joe's involvement in Cubs ownership.</li>
<li>The <i><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/18/us/politics/magnate-steps-into-2012-fray-on-wild-pitch.html?_r=2" target="_blank">New York Times</a></i> also reported that the race baiting proposal was presented to Cubs shareholders Pete and Todd Ricketts. So while its great to separate Joe Ricketts from Cubs ownership, how does the family explain Pete and Todd's apparent participation in the solicitation of the racist proposal? </li>
<li>Why is Tom Ricketts only reaching to African American Aldermen? Is he of the belief that white and Hispanic Alderman weren't offended by his father's and brothers' efforts to launch a race based attack on President Obama? Shouldn't his outreach be to all Alderman?</li>
</ol>
Tom Rickets must think the African American Aldermen and the people of Chicago are fools. It is appalling that he is misleading everyone about his father's role in the ownership group, while at the same time ignoring the fact that his two brothers who are acknowledged Cubs shareholders were involved in this raced based plan to attack President Obama.<br />
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See also: <a href="http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/05/23/bernstein-ricketts-tap-dancing-around-the-truth/" target="_blank">Ricketts Tap-Dancing Around The Truth</a> (Dan Bernstein)<br />
<br />John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-81217690838441378072012-05-17T16:12:00.004-05:002012-05-17T22:20:57.223-05:00Before they throw papa Joe under the bus 3 questions for Tom Rickets & family<br />
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<b>UPDATE: See update below.</b><br />
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Before the Ricketts' family dismisses the racist super pac proposal I have some question for Tom Ricketts that I would love local media and Mayor Emanuel to ask (provided he takes their calls). The questions are from the following passage in the<i><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/17/us/politics/gop-super-pac-weighs-hard-line-attack-on-obama.html?hp" target="_blank"> New York Times</a></i> article that exposed Tom Ricketts:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">The proposal was presented last week in Chicago to associates and <b>family members</b> of Mr. Ricketts, who is also the patriarch of the family that owns the Chicago Cubs.</span>"</blockquote>
<ul>
<li>What Ricketts' family members were there when the proposal was presented?</li>
<li>Were any of the Ricketts' family members that were present members of the Chicago Cubs ownership team?</li>
<li>While Tom Ricketts' condemned the racist plan after it was revealed that his father and other family members considered it, are any members of the Cubs ownership team on board with Joe Ricketts super pac and its efforts to unseat President Obama?</li>
</ul>
It easy to dismiss this as a misguided attempt by Joe Ricketts, but the article talks about Ricketts family members. Who are those family members and what are their roles with the Chicago Cubs? Might Tom be involved?<br />
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<b>UPDATE: </b>According to the <i><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/18/us/politics/magnate-steps-into-2012-fray-on-wild-pitch.html?_r=1" target="_blank">New York Times</a></i> the proposal was presented to two of Joe Ricketts's sons, it should be pointed out that all of the Ricketts' children are in the ownership group of the Chicago Cubs so it is absolutely fair to say that members of the Chicago Cubs ownership group sought to attack President Obama.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><i>"The president and general counsel of the Ending Spending Political Action Fund, Brian Baker, said through a spokesman that the plan was submitted to a group that included him and two of Mr. Ricketts’s sons at a meeting in Chicago last week. 'I was surprised and troubled by what I saw,' he said. 'It was not what we asked for.'"</i></span></blockquote>
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<br />John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-20864875116509630792012-05-16T10:59:00.001-05:002012-05-16T11:02:09.956-05:00Wake up NATO/OWS protesters: "If I had to choose between the police and these motherf****, I'm riding with the police,"<br />
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I hope every NATO protester/OCCUPY WALL STREET participant understands how bad their self righteous message, or lack thereof, is. Look at the NSFW comment from a "GANGBANGER*" observing an anti-police brutality rally:<br />
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"One gangbanger stood in front of the strip mall across the street from the police station and showed his solidarity with the neighbors who, on any other day, would just as soon hang him from a street lamp by his ankles. 'I agree with these guys: fuck the police,' the banger said, 'But where are these motherfuckers every other day of the year?'<br />
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'If I had to choose between the police and these motherfuckers, I'm riding with the police,' he added."<br />
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Think about that statement for a moment. It comes from a post in <i><a href="http://chicagoist.com/2012/05/16/scuffle_breaks_out_during_tense_chi.php#photo-1" target="_blank">Chicagoist</a></i> in which some protesters took to the streets in advance of the upcoming NATO summit in Chicago and marched through a number of working class white neighborhoods to protest police brutality. For any number of reasons the group that I most likely have more in common with is the protesters, however since the OWS movement began and as we prepare to welcome protesters for the NATO summit its a group that turns me off.<br />
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I applaud the OWS movement for drawing attention to the plight of the 99% and the reckless behavior on Wall Street but I cannot do much more than applaud them, I sure as hell don't want to join them. <br />
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Before thinking that the "gangbanger" is misguided I challenge the OWS/NATO summit protesters to ask themselves how they can improve their messaging so that the very folks they claim to support would appreciate their efforts.<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">*I am not sure what criteria the writer used to determine that this observer was a "gangbanger"</span></i>John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-30489069126975615222012-04-03T08:19:00.002-05:002012-04-03T08:22:42.803-05:00If Sarah Palin is being paid to "co-host" then NBC has essentially paid for an interview<div>Think about it:</div><div><br /></div><div>Originally when <i>NBC</i> first announced that Sarah Palin was going to be on THE TODAY SHOW on Saturday it gave the impression that she would would be a guest. Then sometime on Sunday it was announced that she was "co-hosting." Palin has been reluctant to appear or be interviewed on any outlet other than FOX, which she is compensated for, so you have to wonder if she demanded compensation from NBC. NBC NEWS probably has a policy not to pay for interviews, but it is most likely completely possible for them to pay her to</div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErG9BghVHjIQ701nW8GwJJD6EQ4TOPbRdrdM3vB53nlFcjrhgzQ8X4X_g3Ub1iWtvnEani8iXRq5Uc5HQmgt4YnuhblOz5t60rdZg0OILaUxq_S0Ht2zhlPxvZ16JM0EMdv13xg/s400/PALIN_today.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727164138051623474" /><div> "co-host," especially if Palin is member of SAG/AFTRA (which could be possible because of her position with FOX).</div><div><br /></div><div>I have thus far been successful in not watching THE TODAY SHOW this morning but <a href="http://www.mediaite.com/tv/matt-lauer-asks-sarah-palin-should-gop-nominee-choose-running-mate-with-more-experience-than-you-had/"><i>Mediaite</i> has published a post with a video clip of Matt Lauer interviewing Palin</a>, which of course for NBC was the purpose of her co-hosting.</div><div><br /></div><div>So the question is, did NBC pay Palin to "co-host" THE TODAY SHOW? And if so, was this just a cleaver way to pay her for an interview? I hope <i>Mediate, Media Matters,</i> Howard Kurtz or anyone else with the interest and resources will further investigate.</div>John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-38262699085671923772012-03-19T18:45:00.004-05:002012-03-19T18:52:19.088-05:00President Obama should call Bristol Palin per her request and say. . .<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEyASc1nyo_1Spulpe7sFYYV_LeHTOvtEg3CcV1OMnhBiX54XaUP8hdVtaOIRTvvUQXxsDjdsxA-_govFkd3bme4VS9EV-GvTSc8xaA2lRstfMPgCsbkhB9PbcavxqQHgQozBPA/s1600/s-BRISTOL-PALIN-BILL-MAHER-large.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 190px;" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 190px;" /></a><br /><br /><div><i><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/19/bristol-palin-obama-blog-_n_1364733.html">Huffington Post</a></i> and other media outlets are reporting that Bristol Palin feels that President Obama should call her or her mother just like he did Sandra Fluke after she was attacked by Rush Limbaugh. I agree. I have provided the following script for him:<div><br />"Hello Bristol, I wanted to call you and offer my encouragement to you. Since your mom is one of the most divisive people who has done everything in her power to divide us, your family has had to deal with some ugly things said about them, similar to the ugly things she has said about my family.<br /><br />You became a target when you decided to exploit her notoriety to seek fame for than the fact that you are single mother with a jerk of baby daddy and famous mom. What has been said about you is awful. I appreciate your frustration, as you can imagine Michelle and I have had many folks, say ugly things about us, we can understand your frustration. However we understood that when we chose to be in the public eye, we were opening ourselves up to that.<br /><br />Many young single mothers work hard, go to school and provide loving homes for their children without being made fun of by comedians. I should point out that these single mothers don't seek fame like you do. They don't act as spokespersons for abstinence campaigns, they don't go on Dancing With The Stars, they don't write books and they don't do reality shows. They just want to provide for their children.<br /><br />I agree that we need to start treating people, especially those we don't agree with, better. You could start by telling your mom to shut up."<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/19/bristol-palin-obama-blog-_n_1364733.html">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a></div></div>John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-27121541231558331092012-02-17T10:05:00.001-06:002012-02-17T10:05:08.480-06:00Fox News' Eric Bolling Tells Maxine Waters To 'Step Away From The Crack Pipe,' Later Says He Was 'Kidding' (VIDEO)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/502365/thumbs/s-ERIC-BOLLING-large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/502365/thumbs/s-ERIC-BOLLING-large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br/>@ericbolli<wbr/>­ng is nothing but a simple racist who regularly says racist stuff about President Obama, but given the conservati<wbr/>­ve/Republi<wbr/>­can/FOX NEWS embrace of racism he will not be held accountabl<wbr/>­e for his racist comments. Of course I expect my Republican<wbr/>­/conservat<wbr/>­ive friends to tell me there is something wrong with me for being offended by racism.<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/16/eric-bolling-maxine-waters-crack-pipe-fox-news_n_1281540.html?ref=media">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a>John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-40174713379677689202012-01-29T18:07:00.001-06:002012-01-29T18:07:46.776-06:00Newt Gingrich: Businesses Will Start Creating Jobs On Election Night If Obama Loses<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/481556/thumbs/s-NEWT-GINGRICH-large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/481556/thumbs/s-NEWT-GINGRICH-large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br/>I don't doubt what Newt says, however any business that I learn is deliberate<wbr/>­ly not hiring because Obama is president is a business that I plan to boycott. Not out of loyalty to Obama, but loyalty to the working people of this country who are being held hostage by hatred of Obama.<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/29/newt-gingrich-businesses-jobs_n_1240286.html">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a>John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-20182738879386459602012-01-22T19:05:00.004-06:002012-01-22T19:12:27.430-06:00@newtgingrich MUST IMMEDIATELY condemn his supporter who shouted "string him up" re: @barackobama<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; ">On Saturday, January 21, 2012 during Newt Gingrich's victory rally in the South Carolina primary a Gingrich supporter can be heard shouting out "string him up" after President Obama is mentioned. Essentially the lynching of our nation's first African American President was encouraged during a Republican primary event. If Newt Gingrich is going to be taken seriously he needs to condemn this type of rhetoric.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; "><iframe width="300" height="182" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3PNRhkXK5SY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></span></div>John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-64617140386389106092011-12-22T10:07:00.001-06:002011-12-22T10:07:25.230-06:00Cardinal George: Chicago Gay Pride Parade Could 'Morph Into Klu Klux Klan' (VIDEO)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/446289/thumbs/s-CARDINAL-GEORGE-GAY-PRIDE-large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/446289/thumbs/s-CARDINAL-GEORGE-GAY-PRIDE-large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br/>Cardinal Frances George needs to resign immediatel<wbr/>­y, comparing the #LGBT community to the #KKK is inexcusabl<wbr/>­e. #p2<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/22/cardinal-george-gay-pride-kkk_n_1165179.html">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a>John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-58635194744829094892011-11-22T19:58:00.001-06:002011-11-22T19:58:19.731-06:00The Roots' Michelle Bachmann Intro: Jimmy Fallon Apologizes For 'Mess'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/415364/thumbs/s-JIMMY-FALLON-BACHMANN-large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/415364/thumbs/s-JIMMY-FALLON-BACHMANN-large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br/>I have no problem with the apology, but given the outcry it should be pointed out that two guys from a late night COMEDY show are being held to a high standard than many presidenti<wbr/>­al candidates<wbr/>­, including Bachman, and right wing talk show hosts are held to. Has Bachman every apologized for any of the offensive ish that comes out of her mouth?<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/22/jimmy-fallon-apologizes-for-roots-michelle-bachmann_n_1108996.html?ref=entertainment">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a>John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-48711069582619607732011-09-27T07:40:00.008-05:002011-09-27T10:29:05.674-05:00Why I want Melissa Harris-Perry and Joan Walsh to settle their differences publicly<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><i>I don't want this to go away, I don't desire to see one declared "the winner" and the other declared "the loser," I want this to be a "teachable moment" and I am confident that both of them can show us how to engage constructively on the issue of race</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">By John V. Moore <a href="http://twitter.com/johnvmoore">@johnvmoore</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div>As some of you know by now two progressive columnists, Melissa Harris-Perry of the <i>Nation</i> and Joan Walsh of <i>Salon</i> are engaged in a feud over over the issue of race in liberal politics. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The dispute started after Harris-Perry wrote "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(29, 29, 29); line-height: 12px; font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/163544/black-president-double-standard-why-white-liberals-are-abandoning-obama">Black President, Double Standard: Why White Liberals Are Abandoning Obama</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;">" in the <i>Nation</i>, the premise of the piece is that white liberals are</span></span></div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 192px; height: 97px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4PDRkgEEjdCE09Jc6YqWkY6xSZJ83-aKhYr9H9xlHywsPBdy9E9O3_51ObpZJ5Wmg86CaPCy4GoHzDQV_-BQIFLAqqDVVoWS5ONjb4lZYqy41qLjwMJJe-nMJ8TSe0cWSgil2A/s400/mhpjw.001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657060986096929826" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"> holding President Obama to a higher standard than they held former President Bill Clinton. She points out that while Clinton failed in his effort to pass health care reform, Obama gave us health care reform and while Clinton gave us Don't Ask Don't Tell, Obama repealed Don't Ask Don't Tell. Yet, she goes on to point out, when Clinton stood for re-election in 1996 he enjoyed strong support amongst white liberals, many of whom are now luke warm to the idea of supporting Obama re-election next year.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Walsh responded with a piece in <i>Salon</i> titled "<a href="http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/joan_walsh/politics/2011/09/25/white_liberals_obama">Are white liberals abandoning the President?</a>" in which she disputes Harris-Perry's argument that a double standard based on race contributes to the white liberal apathy towards Obama. In my opinion, while Walsh raises some valid points about the problems with comparing the two Presidents given the impact of the internet and other circumstances, I believe she is wrong to dismiss the role that race plays in white liberal reaction to Obama.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">After getting a ton of negative feedback on her original piece, Harris-Perry followed up in the <i>Nation </i>with "<a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/163629/epistemology-race-talk">The Epistemology of Race Talk</a>," a response to many who criticized her original piece, including Walsh. Writing about Walsh's assertion that they were friends Harris-Perry stated:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><blockquote>"I was shocked and angered when Salon’s Joan Walsh used this strategy in her criticism of my piece. Although I disagree with her, I have no problem with Walsh’s decision to take on the claims in my piece. I consider it a sign of respect to publicly engage those with whom you disagree. I was taken aback that Walsh emphasized the extent of our friendship. Walsh and I have been professionally friendly. We’ve eaten a few meals. I invited her to speak at Princeton and I introduced her to my literary agent. We are not friends. Friendship is a deep and lasting relationship based on shared sacrifice and joys. We are not intimates in that way. Watching Walsh deploy our professional familiarity as a shield against claims of her own bias is very troubling. In fact, it is one of the very real barriers to true interracial friendship and intimacy."</blockquote></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">As one can imagine, this resulted in a ton of responses on Twitter and throughout the progressive blogosphere. Many folks, myself included, sided with Harris-Perry, many others sided with Walsh. Walsh to her credit apologized to Harris-Perry via <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/joanwalsh/status/118370715891281920">Twitter</a> posting: </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"></span><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">"</span>@MHarrisPerry I certainly apologize for saying we were friends, Melissa. I did not deploy it as a shield, but to acknowledge my affection<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">"</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">I was disappointed and offended by the response of radio host/blogger David Sirota who sought to exploit the dust-up and spent a significant amount of time baiting Harris-Perry via <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/davidsirota/status/118374943531601921">Twitter</a>. In many ways he was the white liberal that she was writing about.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">But lets take it back to Harris-Perry and Walsh and the opportunity their dispute presents. We need these two to sit down and discuss their differences in public. While I side with Harris-Perry and feel that many of us in the African American community are justified in seeing the racial component in some white liberal attitudes towards the President, I feel that Walsh is an ally, an imperfect one, whose voice needs to be heard as well. More importantly I feel these two need to talk to and listen to one another. Not for themselves but for all of us.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Please understand I call Walsh an imperfect ally because I am one myself. I know that I am ally to the LGBT community, I know I am ally to women and I know I am ally to the immigrant community, but I also know that despite my race, as a straight, male, American born citizen I enjoy certain privileges that my friends in those communities don't. As much as I feel connected to others I don't always understand their struggle or get the language right. I know that no matter how strong of an ally I believe I am I most likely imperfect and not as enlightened as I believe I am.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">I think too many times as we discuss the issues that divide us along the lines of race/ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation and immigration we often end up making the problem worse when we as allies don't realize our imperfections. Additionally, all of us need to do a better job of not letting our allies imperfections get in the way of our understanding and appreciating their efforts to support our respective groups.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Since 2007, when President Obama first announced his candidacy for President this country has had many potential teachable moments regarding race and with the exception of his "A more perfect union" speech we as a nation have failed to have any meaningful dialogue on race or other issues that divide us. I realize there are some people who will never have constructive discussions on race, but I hope that these two, Harris-Perry and Walsh, who I would assume are allies, will take this opportunity. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">What I want from this teachable moment is not Harris-Perry prevailing over Walsh, what I want is the two of them to model for us how people can sit down and have a constructive discussion over our differences. There are too many folks who are not allies who seek to divide us, we owe it to ourselves to not do their work for them.</span></div>John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-46526751151618098692011-08-31T14:58:00.001-05:002011-08-31T14:58:43.821-05:00Allen West: I Might Leave Black Caucus Over Lawmaker's 'Lynching' Comment (VIDEO)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/341637/thumbs/s-ALLEN-WEST-large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/341637/thumbs/s-ALLEN-WEST-large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br/>I bet the CBC is telling Rep. West "don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya!"<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/31/allen-west-might-leave-black-caucus_n_943693.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a>John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-24602642845738501442011-08-16T13:37:00.001-05:002011-08-16T13:38:18.861-05:00Obama out classes Perry by talking calmly to teabagger as Perry loses temper and pokes college student in chest<div>Look at how President Obama deals with an extremely rude Teabagger the same day Governor Rick Perry pokes a college student in the chest after he asked a question that Perry didn't like. Sadly, if President Obama had treated the rude Teabagger the way that Perry treated the college student, President Obama would have been taken to task. Already the run in with the Teabagger is being sensationalized despite the fact he was calm and treated the rude Teabagger with respect.</div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QHNtev6WX34?fs=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-65163889379731760012011-08-12T12:21:00.005-05:002011-08-12T12:27:58.111-05:00Why do so many anti-gay male Republicans love cruising for sex with other men?<div style="text-align: left;">A question to my Republican friends who, if they are not anti-gay at least accept the anti-gay wing of the party (trust me I do have Republican friends, stand up guys), why does this ALWAYS HAPPEN? Why do you guys lecture our gay brothers and sisters about their lifestyle only to then turn around to see one of your own anti-gay Republicans getting their freak on?</div><div>
<br /></div><div>From <a href="http://gawker.com/5830364/anti+gay-republican-cruised-craigslist-for-male-prostitute"><i>Gawker</i>:</a></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjp_IGrN1xw_oYnJAjqrDjO1zbw6oLdOcG7MpVg3umIIdhPwf-jxS8R-m87yqcEdj0_YkGvWsmmHynJLqTYYGVheUbWQXUCcZj2hjCLnXeXJ4E2Kq23xTHmh6iBRC2tkPblGXVQ/s320/0812_hinkle.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640021412067247154" /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 18px; font-family:Georgia, Times, 'Liberation Serif', serif;font-size:13px;"><h1 class="headline title" style="margin-top: 3px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.4em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 26px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.2; ">Anti-Gay Republican Cruised Craigslist for Male Prostitute</h1><div class="post-body" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">Indiana State Rep. Phillip "Phil" Hinkle, a Republican who recently voted for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, had quite a Saturday evening this past weekend in the company of an 18-year-old young man named "Kameryn," to whom Hinkle <i>allegedly</i> showed his penis and then "grabbed in the rear." Isn't life wonderful?</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">-snip-</p></div></span></div>John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-32427007123265596982011-08-10T14:17:00.001-05:002011-08-10T14:17:05.826-05:00Tavis Smiley: Obama Is The First President Who Hasn't Invited Me To White House<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/326187/thumbs/s-TAVIS-SMILEY-large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/326187/thumbs/s-TAVIS-SMILEY-large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br/>Tavis Smiley is nothing but a big cry baby. He is upset because the President, then a candidate and Senator, blew off of his State of the Black Union and offered up Mrs. Obama instead. Tavis has never gotten over it and Cornell is still upset Obama didn't hook him with Inaugural tickets. Its nothing but crabs in the barrel, never had respect for Tavis, but lost all respect I had for West.<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/10/tavis-smiley-barack-obama-cornel-west_n_923437.html">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a>John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-2855913398950565532011-08-09T16:06:00.001-05:002011-08-09T16:06:24.044-05:00C.J. Johnson Held Back By Fan: Sharks Kick Returner Stalled During Arena Football Game (VIDEO)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/325094/thumbs/s-CJ-JOHNSON-HELD-BACK-large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/325094/thumbs/s-CJ-JOHNSON-HELD-BACK-large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br/>This fan is lucky the opposing team didn't go into the stands and deliver a PLB (parking lot beating). Seriously, this is the type of crap that makes me very fan unfriendly<wbr/>­. A bunch of fake tough guys who think the athletes are less than human.<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/09/cj-johnson-fan-arena-league_n_922291.html">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a>John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-76685812553437650272011-08-05T13:44:00.010-05:002011-08-05T15:07:07.603-05:00With Obama Hip Hop BBQ headline FOX proudly shows dog whistle racists how its done, take notes!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK57bZ1skalhu73-UQ3UKKKBjL-m6r7Y2Gf_pEcm86I8cNLmSJijwSXeT6Ab1tRbnYFww21A1IRAB_15LT1frCIunxMD61rdL3oUqVPHXuUNQ2LUwFBvMIgHdNkEVOKfNJ5Q7SvA/s1600/tumblr_lpgnruCyF51qg43xko1_500.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK57bZ1skalhu73-UQ3UKKKBjL-m6r7Y2Gf_pEcm86I8cNLmSJijwSXeT6Ab1tRbnYFww21A1IRAB_15LT1frCIunxMD61rdL3oUqVPHXuUNQ2LUwFBvMIgHdNkEVOKfNJ5Q7SvA/s320/tumblr_lpgnruCyF51qg43xko1_500.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637446353195552562" border="0" /></a><br />By John V. Moore <a href="http://twitter.com/johnvmoore">@johnvmoore<br /></a><br />Dog whistle racists throughout America, step the fuck aside, <a href="http://nation.foxnews.com/president-obama/2011/08/05/obama-parties-chris-rock-jay-z-and-whoopi-while-rome-burns">FOX NEWS</a> has out classed all of you with today’s headline <a href="http://nation.foxnews.com/president-obama/2011/08/05/obama-parties-chris-rock-jay-z-and-whoopi-while-rome-burns">“Obama's Hip-Hop BBQ Didn't Create Jobs”</a> which is an article on the President Obama’s 50th Birthday celebration that was held at the White House on Thursday, August 4.<br /><br />For the unenlightened, “dog whistle racism” as defined by the<a href="http://racecardpoliticswatch.wordpress.com/about-center-for-social-inclusion/"> Center for Social Inclusion</a> is “also known as symbolic racism – is political campaigning or policy-making that uses coded words and themes that appeal to conscious or subconscious racist concepts and frames.”<br /><br />Given the demographics of the FOX NEWS audience and their perceived attitudes on race you can imagine the reaction that this dog whistle will elicit from that crowd.<br /><br />This headline and accompanying photo are blatant examples of dog whistle racism. “Hip-Hop” is code for “Black people” even though many white folks like hip-hop music and many Black folks don’t. “BBQ” is another great code, which when used in combination with “Hip-Hop,” implies that there were bunch of Black folks doing what you’d expect Black folks to do and that the leads to a reinforcement of the “othering” tactic which has been used multiple times against President Obama.<br /><br />By my estimation (based upon a pool report and my assumption that the President’s immediate family, including mother-in-law, attended) there were at least 49 guests and only 20 of them, less than 50%, were African American. However the photo accompanying the article featured four African American men, Charles Barkley, President Obama, Chris Rock and Jay-Z.<br /><br />Yeah, there were at least 21 Black folks there, including some bonafide hip hop stars, but this was hardly a “hip hop BBQ.” Jay-Z was not working the grill, holding a 40 ounce and smoking a blunt as Barack and his boys (don’t get it twisted Pat Buchanan) were holding red plastic cups of gin and juice, while looking at the ladies in their Daisy Dukes dropping it like it was hot with Ice Cube’s “You can do it” blaring over the speakers in the Rose Garden. But with its framing, that is what FOX NEWS wants you to believe.<br /><br />A more appropriate headline would have been “Diverse group of friends join President Obama for White House 50th Birthday Cook Out.” A more appropriate accompanying photo would have included Nancy Pelosi, President Obama, Robert Gibbs and Gayle King.<br /><br />But as long as FOX NEWS is telling the story that is not going to happen.<br /><br />Even the reporting of the music played undermines the frame that FOX introduces with its headline.<br /><br />“ … with dinner in the Rose Garden, accompanied by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. Then the First Lady and his daughters presented POTUS with a cake, and everyone moved into the East Room for performances that included R&B singer Ledisi, and Herbie Hancock. Stevie Wonder came up at the end and sang a medley ending in “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours.” DJ Cassidy played Motown, hip hop, and ’70s and ’80s R&B.”<br /><br />Hip hop was played but so R&B, Motown and even given the presence of the Marine Band, I would dare suggest there was some John Philip Sousa bumping (hip hop term). Which prompts me to revise my headline one more time to “President Obama celebrates 50th Birthday Day with friends to the tunes of John Philip Sousa.”<br /><br />Since FOX NEWS is making shit up let me join them in doing so. I decided to give this party a 2.52 rating on the “Fresh Prince of Bel Air Hip Hop (FPBAHH)” scale (which I just made up). A 5 rating equals the "Fresh Prince" himself (Will Smith) and 1 point equals "Carlton Banks" (Alfonso Ribeiro). A 2.52 FPBAHH ranking equals the father on the show, “Uncle Phil” (James Avery), who was a judge, lived in Bel Air but when he needed to knew how to get down.<br /><br />My methodology (see guest list below): I gave each African American who attended a FPBAHH ranking, totaled them up and divided that figure by the number of reported/assumed AA attendees (minus Reggie Love who I assume was there but did not include). I gave careful thought (I really did) to each persons’ ranking. For example while Grant Hill is a Black male who has played in the NBA he went to Duke, so there is no way I could have ranked him higher than a 3. When it comes to the President’s daughters the Sidwell Friends/University of Chicago Lab School education really undermines their hip hop credentials as well. Even though Hill Harper graduated form Harvard Law with the President his 4 rating just feels right. POTUS gets a 5 just because as the first African American President he deserves it.<br /><br />While my FPBAHH ranking is bullshit, so is FOX NEWS’s headline, accompanying graphic and the racist frame they are attempting and succeeding in introducing.<br /><br />In a week that saw the President referred to as a “tar baby” and a “boy” FOX NEWS wins the week with its clever use of dog whistle racism. I do believe that Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-CO) and Pat Buchanan need to be taken to task for their comments but in my book its easier to give them the benefit of the doubt. FOX NEWS knew what it was doing and sadly the damage they have done will be much worse than the other two offenses.<br /><br />Guest List <span style="font-weight: bold;">Black folk in bold</span><br />1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Al Sharpton</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">FPBAHH Rating </span>3<br />2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Patrick Gaspard</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">FPBAHH Rating</span> 3<br />3. Robert Wold<br />4. Julius Genachowski<br />5. Nancy Pelosi<br />6. Paul Pelosi<br />7. Tim Geithner<br />8. Arne Ducan<br />9. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ron Kirk</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> FPBAHH Rating</span>1<br />10. Hillary Clinton<br />11. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Eric Holder</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">FPBAHH Rating</span> 1<br />12. Katheleen Sebelius<br />13. Debbie Wasserman Shutlz<br />14. TIm Kaine<br />15. Anita Dunn<br />16. Bob Bauer<br />17. Robert Gibbs<br />18. Davd Axelrod<br />19. David Plouffe<br />20. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Valerie Jarett</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">FPBAHH Rating</span> 1<br />21. Michael Stratumanis<br />22. Pete Rouse<br />23. Bill Daley<br />24. Alyssa Mastromonaco<br />25. Denis McDonough<br />26. John Brennan<br />27. Rahm Emanuel<br />28. Tina Tchen<br />29. Sam Kass<br />30. Julianna Smoot<br />31. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Marty Nesbitt</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">FPBAHH Rating</span> 2<br />32. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Eric Whitaker</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">FPBAHH Rating</span> 2<br />33. Linda Douglass<br />34. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jay-Z</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">FPBAHH Rating</span> 5<br />35. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hill Harper</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">FPBAHH Rating</span> 4<br />36. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Charles Barkley</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">FPBAHH Rating</span> 3<br />37. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Steve Harv<span style="font-style: italic;">e</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">y</span> FPBAHH Rating</span> 2<br />38. Tom Hanks<br />39. Rita Wilson<br />40. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Grant Hill </span><span style="font-style: italic;">FPBAHH Rating</span> 3<br />41. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gayle King</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">FPBAHH Rating</span> 1<br />42.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Stevie Wonder</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">FPBAHH Rating</span> 3<br />43. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ledisi </span><span style="font-style: italic;">FPBAHH Rating</span> 3<br />44. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Barack Obama</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">FPBAHH Rating</span> 5<br />45. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Michelle Obama</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">FPBAHH Rating</span> 3<br />46. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sasha Obama</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">FPBAHH Rating</span> 3<br />47. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Malia Obama</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">FPBAHH Rating</span> 3<br />48. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Marian Robinson</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">FPBAHH Rating</span> 1<br />49. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Eleanor “Mama Kaye” Wilson</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">FPBAHH Rating</span> 1John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-90541342107119623762011-08-01T09:01:00.003-05:002011-08-01T09:05:07.723-05:00CBS2 in Chicago manipulates video to make a little Black kid seem violentWatch this clip from CBS2 in Chicago in which it appears a little African American kid wants a gun because he is possibly a thug. The anchor even goes so far as to claim the clip is disturbing. However the clip was manipulated and what was edited out was the fact that the kid went on to say he wanted a gun because he wanted to be a police officer. This is some inexcusable crap and CBS2 in Chicago needs to fire the editor, news writer and never use the freelancer who asked the child loaded questions.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/G1sMwsVuX6A" allowfullscreen="" width="300" frameborder="0" height="255"></iframe><br /></div>John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-35685276440636233982011-07-27T05:21:00.006-05:002011-07-27T06:13:23.761-05:00Sadly being the first African American President is not the only "first" President Obama can claim<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJTMScOv0grUH06LGpK7lUx2oxTg5KyChOHqpC87q2cE69N2UKuw7O_wz9ox__3E62znPvmRJSF_0Nl8q_XP0_J-yJXjmjUttzRzzuCm05rPfPYzcl1_EvZCBoVeFGffzXBbVLA/s1600/PHP4A837649EA149.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 205px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJTMScOv0grUH06LGpK7lUx2oxTg5KyChOHqpC87q2cE69N2UKuw7O_wz9ox__3E62znPvmRJSF_0Nl8q_XP0_J-yJXjmjUttzRzzuCm05rPfPYzcl1_EvZCBoVeFGffzXBbVLA/s320/PHP4A837649EA149.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633986320751036690" /></a><br />Other "firsts" for President Obama which, in my opinion, are sadly a result result of him being the first African American President of the United States:<div><ul><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1st American President</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> to be forced to release his <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/04/27/president-obamas-long-form-birth-certificate">long form birth certificate</a>;</span></span></li><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1st American President</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> to be openly heckled by a sitting member of Congress during a State of the Union speech when<a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0909/A_voice_from_the_floor_on_illegal_immigrants_Lie.html"> Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) yelled "You lie"</a>;</span></span></li><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1st American President</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> to have the nation's "full faith and credit" threatened because the opposition party in Congress has refused to raise the debt ceiling;</span></span></li><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1st American President</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> since John F. Kennedy was assassinated to be routinely confronted with<a href="http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-08-18/news/17933699_1_protest-area-carrying-gun-control"> protestors openly displaying firearms at his events</a>;</span></span></li><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1st American President</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> to have the opposition party's leader in the <a href="http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/mcconnell-stopping-obamas-re-election-still-">Senate, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)</a> state "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">";</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>1st American President</b> to see the rate of his death threats increase <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/5967942/Barack-Obama-faces-30-death-threats-a-day-stretching-US-Secret-Service.html">400% over his predecessor</a>;</span></span></li><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1st American Presidential candidate</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> to receive<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/04/us/politics/04obama.html"> Secret Service nine months before voting began in a Presidential Primary</a>.</span></span></li></ul></div><div>This is just a partial list but I am sure he will collect many more "firsts" that should not be considered a reflection of his character, but rather a reflection of the character of this country.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="300" height="200" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bnYJI4QTpXs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-31515333438918117762011-07-21T12:07:00.010-05:002011-07-21T14:01:29.271-05:00Emo Progressives need to look at Obama's poll numbers & fundraising as well as Sharpton's ratings. . .. . .and re-evaluate their strategy, tactics and temperament.<br /><br />By <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/johnvmoore">John V. Moore</a><br /><br />First of all you might be asking yourself "what is an Emo Progressive?"<br /><br />Well as <a href="http://motorcityliberal.blogspot.com/2011/06/emoprogressives-should-grow-up-and-quit.html">Motor City Liberal</a> puts it "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">They're the whining, gloom and doom, 'Obama didn't give us everything we wanted in the first 15 minutes of his Presidency like he promised he would so now we're never gonna vote again' crybabies who are responsible for the mess we're in today. Spend five minutes on Daily Kos. You'll see what I'm talking about.</span>"<br /><br />I'd go on to say that Emo Progressives (EPs) are not necessarily more liberal/progressive than others on the left, including President Obama, who just happen to be more pragmatic. While EPs often expect progressive purity from their political allies, this is not about ideology its about temperament.<br /><br />A good example of this is Firedog Lake's Jane Hamsher who loves to run around telling folks Obama is not progressive enough and calling his ardent supporters "<a href="http://www.angryblacklady.com/2011/07/14/jane-hamsher-calls-obama-supporters-dumb-motherfuckers/">the dumbest motherf$%kers in the world,</a>" while records show an <a href="http://motorcityliberal.blogspot.com/2011/06/media-types-dont-call-someone-who-works.html">organization she controls actually works for Republicans</a>. If she held herself to the standard that she holds Obama to, she'd be a huge sellout. But just like Republicans, EPs often specialize in hypocrisy.<br /><br />From a ideological perspective I have a lot in common with those that I identify as EPs, but in politics, ideology is only as good as the strategy and tactics employed to meet these objectives.<br /><br />Celebrated EP grifter Adam Green of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee inserted himself into LOCAL Chicago politics by circulating a petition for Illinois voters to pledge not to vote for former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel in this year's Mayoral race. Not sure how many folks signed the petition, especially those from Chicago, but Rahm, is now Mayor Emanuel and <a href="http://www.angryblacklady.com/2011/07/15/adam-greens-dishonest-attack-and-appeal-for-cash/">Green is trying to raise money by bashing Obama over the debt ceiling issue</a>.<br /><br />Maybe if EPs stopped treating other Democrats and/or progressives as the enemy they might be more effective.<br /><br />EPs run the risk of marginalizing themselves because they think the world revolves around what they believe and what they want. They don't understand the President's willingness to compromise, because they don't really know what it takes to govern. They are quick to turn potential progressive allies into enemies.<br /><br />They ignore or belittle the President's impressive list of accomplishments when they claim he hasn't accomplished anything. When you list the accomplishments they tell you why those are nothing to brag about (trust me when I post this on one of my favorite progressive websites I will be asked to list his accomplishments and if I take the bait I will be told why they don't count, it happens all the damned time).<br /><br />If the EPs and the pragmatic, a.k.a. Obama, progressives can get on the same page the Democratic tickets will be unbeatable in 2012. The debt ceiling debate is exposing some serious cracks on the right, a unified left can exploit the hell out of this. . .that is if we want to take back the House, protect the Senate and re-elect the most progressive and effective President we have seen in recent history.<br /><br />Each week I keep hearing how they will not support the President, but then I see his poll numbers among Democrats remain strong.<br /><br />Some EPs threatened to not donate to the President the same week it is revealed the President raised over $80 million for his re-election campaign and the Democratic Party.<br /><br />Now EP favorite <a href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118040185">Cenk Uygur is leaving MSNBC because the network</a> is reportedly giving his time slot to Rev. Al Sharpton. EPs are furious, threatening not watch, even though it appears that Sharpton's ratings were stronger than Uygur's. While I have not seen raw numbers I find myself watching Sharpton nightly, I couldn't bring myself to watch more than 15 minutes of Uygur.<br /><br />Threats not to support or contribute to Obama ring hollow when his polling and donations from Democrats remain high. Boycotting MSNBC because they gave Sharpton Uygur's slot seems silly considering Sharpton is a progressive, who actually stands to have better ratings than Uygaur.<br /><br />The Democratic Party, the White House, Obama progressives, like myself, and even MSNBC would be foolish to ignore EPs, however, if the they want to remain relevant they need to re-evaluate their strategy, tactics and temperament so that they are not left out in 2012.<br /><br />If they don't change I encourage the larger Democratic/progressive community to move on without them. The time spent banging our heads against the wall trying to get them to come around will be better used to recruit new folks to the movement.<br /><br />At some point the poutrage temper tantrums EPs throw will grow old and their effectiveness will fade, if it hasn't already.John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-83592296138686518242011-07-12T17:55:00.004-05:002011-07-12T17:59:35.374-05:00Obama has played the Republicans like a damned fiddle, yet we are worried about his techniqueThe Republicans talked all their mess about reducing the deficit, President Obama called their bluff and went big, they didn't want to go as big as he did.<br /><br />It should be pointed out Obama only said he was open to looking at entitlements. He never said he wanted to, he said it had to be considered and even then conventional wisdom points to his being focused on saving money through efficiencies and not necessarily cuts to benefits.<br /><br />He did however say he wanted to new revenues mainly by closing tax loop holes and let the Bush tax cuts expire. Which is what we wanted, right?<br /><br />Obama UNDERMINED, House Speaker John Boehner by meeting him more than halfway, but asking to close loopholes and to let the Bush tax for the wealthy expire. He has also portrayed himself as an adult and rationale, unfortunately many folks on our side don't appreciate that.<br /><br />So today, Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are looking for a way out of this fight. They are willing to give him his debt ceiling.<br /><br />While our base is still freaking out over a deal that hasn't happened,many of our members of Congress are looking to protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Meanwhile the Republicans, whose tea party base had drawn a line of no increase in the debt limit, find themselves looking for a way increase the debt limit.<br /><br />This is far from over, but Obama is playing the game very well and I hope his critics on the left take notice.John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-47934756054584432262011-07-10T11:46:00.001-05:002011-07-10T11:46:12.528-05:00Rick Santorum Says He Was 'Taken Aback' By 'The Marriage Vow' (VIDEO)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/304998/thumbs/s-RICK-SANTORUM-THE-MARRIAGE-VOW-large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/304998/thumbs/s-RICK-SANTORUM-THE-MARRIAGE-VOW-large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br/>CNN's Candy Crowley doesn't question Santorum about the signing a pledge that asserts that Black children were better off under slavery, but Obama was questioned about Jeremiah Wright. Unacceptab<wbr/>­le.<br/><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/10/rick-santorum-the-marriage-vow_n_894055.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a>John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8040984.post-1061128302702833752011-07-08T12:04:00.005-05:002011-07-08T12:40:33.847-05:00Obama was held accountable for what Rev. Wright said, then lets hold Bachmann accountable for pledges she signed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JtuYDPTWRksj5SJ2NH6JjIDsD1PIQU1sQJN3sz1-MyDMxwWoj7uq33nj1KmZ3EtKiTfSKAnvr-b7NpPU6SKkqSb8sLlXnjXKjJny3NzTsnFSZBj8U02mL5E7tLKQLFcTyL8Jyg/s1600/michele-bachmann.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JtuYDPTWRksj5SJ2NH6JjIDsD1PIQU1sQJN3sz1-MyDMxwWoj7uq33nj1KmZ3EtKiTfSKAnvr-b7NpPU6SKkqSb8sLlXnjXKjJny3NzTsnFSZBj8U02mL5E7tLKQLFcTyL8Jyg/s320/michele-bachmann.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627036694737596370" border="0" /></a>Via <a href="http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2011/07/michelle-bachmann-signs-pledge-that-says-black-children-better-off-during-slavery/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Jack & Jill Politics</span></a> (J&JP) and the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/07/bob-vander-plaats-iowa-pledge_n_892549.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Huffington Post</span></a> comes news that Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) has signed a pledge known as the "The Marriage Vow-A Declaration of Dependence upon Marriage and Family."<br /><br />There are a number of offensive statements in this pledge which is filled with homophobic, anti-choice and anti-divorce rhetoric, but what stands out for me is a blatantly racist, and more importantly incorrect assertion that Black children were better off during slavery:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">Slavery had a disastrous impact on African-American families, yet sadly a child born into slavery in 1860 was more likely to be raised by his mother and father in a two-parent household than was an African-American baby born after the election of the USA’s first African-American President.</span></blockquote>As J&JP points out, this statement is flawed because as anyone who knows anything about slavery knows, slave families were routinely broken up as a result of sales and many children born into slavery were conceived by rapes carried out by the masters.<br /><br />By signing this pledge Bachmann, a sitting member of Congress and potential GOP candidate for President, has put herself on the record of embracing a historical fallacy and endorsing the belief that Blacks born into the slavery were better off than Blacks born during President Obama's first term.<br /><br />Will the national media hold Bachmann accountable for this? Will they hold her accountable for a pledge that she signed, the same way they held Obama accountable for controversial statements his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, made?<br /><br />I expect the media to be consistent and in this case, they need to challenge and press Bachmann, who wants to be president of this fine country on why she signed this pledge and if she truly believes that Black children were better off during slavery.John V. Moorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07404208880342474577noreply@blogger.com0