African American Expert Mike Huckabee Lectures Barack Obama On Race Relations

Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee, a Fox News employee (who also benefits from the position of the network as a public relations machine for the GOP), has the nerve to lecture President Barack Obama on how his actions are impacting black people.

You talk about a man with a lot of nerve.

This is from News Hounds:

I don’t know what 2012 presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee thought he was accomplishing yesterday (2/27/11) when he said on Fox News Sunday that President Obama had “alienated the African American community” with his recent decision to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act. If Huckabee thought he was reaching out to those supposedly disaffected African Americans, I suspect his effort backfired. The truth is, as Huckabee must know, Obama enjoys nearly 90% support from African Americans. Something tells me a little disagreement over DOMA isn’t going to change that. If anything, Huckabee’s remarks showed how ignorant he is, both of the African American community and DOMA.

Huckabee is absolutely amazing in how he can sit there in the lap of political comfort at Fox News and lecture President Obama on how his actions impact black people.

As News Hounds correctly points out, it will take a lot more than this (and a GOP candidate pool that seems to consist of the likes of Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Huckabee and Sarah Palin).

If you read the News Hounds story you can see how much Mike Huckabee has lost his political mind and how out of touch he is with people of color.

Chris Matthews Says What Many Have Been Saying All Along About Attacks On Obama Family ... It's Race

The attacks coming from the lights of right-wing bomb throwers like Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck are racially-tinged if not outright racially motivated.

MSNBC's Chris Matthews came right out and said it during this clip available on the Media Matters for America website.

I think Matthews' point has a lot of merit. While I do not necessarily agree with Matthews on all of his opinions, I think he is spot on when he talks about the race factor in the attacks on the Obama family coming from right-wing extremists like Limbaugh and Beck.

The right-wing guest pathetically tried to play the "everyone-is-doing-it card" and it ended up as an epic fail when it crumbled against Matthews' calls for examples.

Matthews is correct when he notes that Beck and Limbaugh do this because their audience craves these kinds of attacks. Many admirers of Beck and Limbaugh (some quietly) chuckle and laugh at such attacks ... even people who may otherwise smile to your face and act as champions of diversity and inclusion.

Media Matters for America:
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201102230048

Sample some recent Limbaugh attacks on the Obamas:
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201102230030
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201102210011

Here is one from Beck attacking the Obamas' 11-year-old daughter:
http://mediamatters.org/blog/201005280025

The Credibility Of Howard Kurtz Continues To Crumble

Howard Kurtz, who hosts the CNN show Reliable Sources (I continue to question the appropriate nature of that title some of the time), makes you scratch your head some Sundays in disbelief.

Frequently, Kurtz engages in what I will call phony impartiality. As part of this phony effort, Kurtz frequently covers for the bias of Fox News by ridiculously trying to portray MSNBC as the sort of liberal equivalent.

It is a weak equivalency that fails on so many levels. The reporting of MSNBC is not biased (which is more than can be said for Fox News). Fox News is biased nearly 24/7. MSNBC has a liberal prime-time lineup, but it also provides a substantial platform in the morning to Joe Scarborough, who clearly is a conservative. Fox News offers no comparable platform to any commentator who is even close to a liberal (or, for that matter, one who is even a moderate).



This video is laughable as the two talking heads pat each other on the back with their ridiculous comments about MSNBC being this liberal network (something that is false).

The sad thing is that Kurtz is showing his own bias on a show that is supposed to be about, in theory, holding the media accountable.

Who holds Howard Kurtz accountable for his baseless comment?

Here Is The Case Of Shawna Forde That Is Getting Virtually No Attention In The Media

Hmm ... I wonder why this case is getting no attention?

Ohio State Player Says He Was Spit On ... Wisconsin Coach Doesn't Care ... Just Glad He Won

Ohio State University basketball player Jared Sullinger says he was spit on by a fan or fans after the University of Wisconsin team won its basketball game in Madison, Wis.

Sullinger tweeted about the incident and it has been in the media.

Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan could have cared less. He was still wrapped up in his team's victory. Absence of any damning evidence, his message to Sullinger, a student-athlete, was simple: sorry if you were spit on, but there's no evidence and we won.

Check out the quotes from Ryan (his uncaring reaction doesn't surprise me in the least knowing his reputation) ... keeping it classy.

He says it was a great day for his students. Apparently that includes allegedly spitting on another student from an opposing school. In Ryan's eyes, it is OK because there's no evidence.

The full story: http://msn.foxsports.com/collegebasketball/story/Ohio-State-Buckeyes-Jared-Sullinger-Wisconsin-spitting-incident-021311

Andrew Breitbart Presents ... Another Hateful Attack On Michelle Obama

Nothing so angry and hateful, that comes from a "man" like right-wing bigot Andrew Breitbart, should ever really surprise any of us.

His websites, in this case Big Government, are home to some of the worst and most hateful trash trash talk imaginable.

Breitbart, and people affiliated with him, seem to enjoy taking shots at black women ... ask Shirley Sherrod.

This cartoon, hatefully attacking Michelle Obama as being fat and portraying her as the angry black woman, is yet another example:































Take note of the angry response the cartoon uses from Michelle Obama at the end. That is not an accident. It is done to portray her as the angry black woman.

Check out the way Media Matters describes the cartoon and see a better version of the cartoon there: http://mediamatters.org/blog/201102140015

Interesting Case Of Racial Allegations Coming Out Of Cleveland Against Basketball Coach

This is a case I found kind of interesting as a white basketball coach is being accused of using racial slurs against black basketball players.

The team is undefeated, 15-0, and these charges have thrown the Cleveland area community into the spotlight in the wrong way.

Here is a portion of the story from the television station website:

RICHMOND HEIGHTS — Racial tensions between a coach and his players have an undefeated high school basketball team threatening to boycott the rest of the season.

The Richmond Heights basketball team is 15-and-0, but the team planned to sit out Tuesday night's game, unless their coach was fired.

Monday, parents sent the school superintendent a letter, claiming he uses racist and degrading comments.

"Everybody in this room are responsible for these children, it's time to stop," said parent Nneka Slade Jackson, during a heated school board meeting Monday night.

"They been dealing with this for months (years), this ain't something that just started yesterday," said parent Alvin Fulton.

The parents are demanding the superintendent, Dr. Linda Hardwick, remove high school varsity basketball coach Jason Popp, alleging he uses inappropriate language, as well as racist comments towards his players.

Here is the full version of the story: http://newsone.com/entertainment/sports-entertainment/casey-gane-mccalla/team-may-boycott-hs-basketball-coach-jason-popp-for-racist-comments/

Due diligence must be taken to investigate the very serious allegations, but if true then the words of this coach would be very disturbing for a person entrusted to lead a group of young men.

Strong Comments From Lawrence O'Donnell Regarding NRA's Wayne LaPierre

The Ed Show Points Out Fox News Bias

Here is a sample of some right-wing Fox News bias as described on MSNBC. The attacks on President Obama are, indeed, only beginning.

The noise coming from Fox News, and the attacks, only will intensify as the election of 2012 creeps closer and closer.

The mission of Fox News is clear: tear down Barack Obama at all costs.

The Faces Of Hatred As Hosted By Fox News

This focus group conducted by Fox News is a chilling reminder of the hatred that President Barack Obama faces in many areas of this country ... not just in this portion of Iowa.

Look at some of the faces and listen to some of the answers ... you can see and hear the hatred of Barack Obama. It borders on being politically chilling.

One would expect Sean Hannity to be the puppet master behind something so hate driven and directed at President Obama.

Media Matters for America:
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201102070061

Color of Change Takes On For-Profit High Education Programs

It's a dangerous situation so many people find themselves trapped in as you will see described below by Color of Change:

Hundreds of thousands of people go into debt every year enrolling in for-profit higher education programs like DeVry and Argosy — sold on the idea that they’ll graduate with skills that will lead to opportunity and a better life. In reality, many come out with a mountain of debt they can’t pay back and no better prospects at employment.¹

Thankfully, the Obama administration is trying to rein in this industry, which preys on low-income Americans. Their plan is to stop federal financial aid from going to higher ed programs that don't actually help students get jobs and pay off their debt.² Not surprisingly, the industry is fighting back hard, despite its atrocious record: their students make up 10% of those in higher ed but 40% of students who stop making payments on their loans.³

The Department of Education will make a decision soon on how to regulate this industry — and they’re under huge pressure from industry lobbyists. Please join us in calling on Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Congress to stand strong and protect low-income students. It only takes a moment:

http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/studentdebt

Taking time away from work to get a traditional college education can feel like an impossible proposition for many Americans, and for-profit colleges seem like a quick, flexible way to get ahead. They promise low-income folks the job training it takes to escape poverty.

There’s a catch with these so-called career education programs. Recruiters say the certificates they offer will prepare students for good jobs if they’ll take on huge student loans to enroll. But the schools often leave people deep in debt and with credentials that employers don’t take seriously.⁴ Students think they’re doing what it takes to escape minimum wage jobs. They’re actually getting deeper into financial trouble.

It’s an issue that disproportionately affects cash-strapped Black folks who work long hours and for whom higher education at public universities or private, non-profit colleges feels impossible. A quarter of Black Americans with associate degrees get them from for-profit colleges, and 40% of these schools’ alumni are people of color.⁵

When Black folks decide to pursue post-secondary schooling, we’re often the first in our families to do so. And we typically have to navigate a complex process on our own and with limited information. For-profit colleges have been caught preying on this fact — misleading students, using deceptive practices, and even encouraging applicants to enter false information on their financial aid forms.⁶ Statistics show that people who enroll at for-profit schools are much less able to manage their debt than those who go to non-profit schools.⁷

The Obama administration’s proposed “gainful employment” rule would make sure that students who use federal financial aid to pay for school are able to get jobs after graduating that will allow them to repay their debt. In practice, it would force many for-profit institutions to either lower their tuition or improve their programs. But industry lobbyists are trying to kill the Obama administration’s proposed rule. They argue that for-profit colleges will be unfairly targeted by the regulation — a position that doesn’t hold water. The truth is that certificate programs at both for- and non-profit colleges will be subject to the rule.⁸

Some legislators, including several members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) who you'd expect to be protecting the interests of low-income Black folks, are backing up the industry’s claims.⁹ They put forth a blame-the-victim argument that says the problem isn’t the programs, its students’ impoverished backgrounds and inability to manage their finances. It’s infuriating, and thankfully that logic is being called out by CBC members Reps. Gwen Moore (D-WI) and Maxine Waters (D-CA) and civil rights organizations including the NAACP, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the United Negro College Fund, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, LULAC, National Council of La Raza and United States Hispanic Leadership Institute.¹⁰

You can help, too — with your voice. Can you take a moment to call on the Obama administration and Congress to resist industry pressures and regulate higher education programs that don’t serve our communities? After you do, please ask your friends and family to do the same:

http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/studentdebt/

Thanks and Peace,

-- James, Gabriel, William, Dani, Natasha, and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
January 27th, 2011

References:

1. “Student Loan Default Rates Increase,” U.S. Department of Education press release, 9-13-10
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/686?akid=1871.868165.IasvPT&t=7

2. Fact sheet, Coalition to Protect Students and Taxpayers
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/687?akid=1871.868165.IasvPT&t=9

3. See reference 2.

4. “The Newest College Credential,” The New York Times, 1-7-11
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/688?akid=1871.868165.IasvPT&t=11

5. “Minority Leaders Oppose “Gainful Employment” Rules for For-profit Colleges,” Diverse Issues in Higher Education, 9-20-10 (NB: Rainbow PUSH has reversed its position and now supports the DOE’s proposed rule)
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/689?akid=1871.868165.IasvPT&t=13

6. “For-profit colleges fight negative federal report,” Chicago Tribune, 1-10-11
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/690?akid=1871.868165.IasvPT&t=15

7. See reference 2.

8. Q&A on Gainful Employment, Coalition to Protect Students and Taxpayers
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/691?akid=1871.868165.IasvPT&t=17

9. “For-Profit Schools Donate to Lawmakers Opposing New Financial Aid Rules,” ProPublica, 9-17-10
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/692?akid=1871.868165.IasvPT&t=19

10. Comments in support of rules, Coalition to Protect Students and Taxpayers
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/693?akid=1871.868165.IasvPT&t=21

Additional resources:

“For-Profit Schools File Lawsuit to Stave Off Regulations,” ColorLines, 1-24-11
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/694?akid=1871.868165.IasvPT&t=23

“For-profit colleges spend big on lobbying,” Bloomberg News, 12-24-10
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/695?akid=1871.868165.IasvPT&t=25