This is a discussion on Anti Racism, the media, and the African American experience.


Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Letter to Maxine Waters and the Congressional Black Caucus

You promised. YOU PROMISED! You promised that if we lived right, if we got a good education, if we worked hard that we could have the American Dream, you promised. Well, I did all of those things and you didn’t support me. You lied. You lied to me and to every child like me.

When my son was young I used to tell him fairytales – I’m sure you told them to your children too. They went something like this: “Young Jamal or “little Aisha” you can be anything in the world that you want to be, you could be the President of the United States if you wanted. All that you have to do is…” But did we really mean it? Of course not, we knew in our heart of hearts, that a black person could NEVER be President of these United States. I mean let’s get real, we knew in our heart of hearts that we could not even depend on our own community to support us much less others. No, our community couldn’t support us because they were too busy seeking approval from the power structure. They couldn’t support us because a step up for me, means a step down for them…or so they believed.

I grew up learning Each one Teach one. I grew up with the knowledge that I, as a part of the talented tenth, had an OBLIGATION to support my community first. That is first God, then my community, then others.

I’m sorry that you didn’t learn that or that you’ve forgotten. I’m truly sorry that you obviously have no clue as to what you have just done. You have stolen the hope or sold the hope of our youth. Because you see, the fairytale that I told my son was starting to become a reality. I saw a change in the way my son conducted himself. I’ve seen an improvement in his grades. His friends have told me they are now compelled to do better at school, to “stop skipping third period” … “Shoot, if Obama can be President so can I”, this is the mantra I’m hearing from my son’s classmates. You have sold the hopes of our community.

Don’t believe me? When white woman got the right to vote earlier last century, what did we get?!? NOTHING, that’s what we got. When Martin Luther King Jr. and many unsung heroes gave their lives so that Johnson would feel compelled to pass the Civil Rights Act who benefited?!? EVERYONE, that’s who. EVERYONE! Everyone benefited from our leaders giving up their lives so that OUR COMMUNITY could have hope. So, as it was 90 years ago when white women got the right to vote, so it will be if Hillary Clinton becomes President. My life will not get any better, as it didn’t get any better under any of the Bushes or Bill. I will still have my home, my son will still attend college and life in my household will move forward. However, my brothers and sisters will still be under 3 strikes and your out, while their white counterparts get a slap on the wrist. Economics will ebb and flow depending upon innovations not the President. Look at statistics; look at the GDP over the last 70 years. There’s no relationship between what party is in office and the inflation rate or GDP.

I feel so betrayed and abandoned! I will urge everyone around me to vote Republican if the nomination goes to Billary. It won’t make a difference any way, but our voice will be heard! Either together we stand or divided we fall – and fall we shall if we continue on this path.

Sincerely,

Rabble Rouser
And instigator of TheUrbanRevolution.com

Monday, January 28, 2008

Political - N.O.W. slams Kennedy for endorsing Obama


Why does a vote/nod for someone have to be against someone else? Kennedy's endorsement for Obama was not a vote against women, it was a vote against Hillary. There's a difference.

This is what TheUrbanRevolution.com wrote to the NY chapter of NOW

I think your organization has missed the point. Kennedy's endorsement was not AGAINST women it was FOR OBAMA. Why does it have to be black and white --- ooops - I guess it is.

Black men in America do not earn as much as white women much less white men. (check the census data if in doubt) So you cannot group black men in the same category as white men. They do not have the power to oppress white women. When the civil rights bill was passed by Johnson, women were included in that bill. Yet it was mostly black people that paid the price with their lives to get that bill passed. Too many black leaders were killed during that time in order to get that bill on the President's desk. And yet your candidate Hillary Clinton dismissed this fact in her statements about King and Johnson. When black folks win EVERY minority group wins! History tells us that this is a fact. I was not against Hillary, I was just for Obama (I was secretly hoping that they both would end up on the same ticket - then I could get a BOGO) but Hillary's tactics have eliminated even the hope for that possibility. (Photo Credit: AP)






Sunday, January 27, 2008

Ted Kennedy embraces Obama

By: MIKE ALLEN and CARRIE BUDOFF BROWN | 01/27/2008 03:06 PM Clinton campaign orchestrates intense campaign to derail stunning endorsement, planned for tomorrow. (go to complete story)

TheUrbanRevolution says: "they're at it again..."

WHAT EXPERIENCE?!?

1992 - 2000
Bill and Hillary have already had 8 years
  • They left office with a surplus, but listen people that’s not always good – not for a government.
    • What programs could have been reinstated from the Reagan/Bush era that were not?!?
  • The economy was good for the most part because of Silicon Valley and the PC/internet boom
  • They had an opportunity to pass health care reform…
  • They had an opportunity to reform immigration
  • They had an opportunity to make sure that Social Security and Medicare were sustainable
  • They had an opportunity to institute an energy plan

THEY FAILED ON ALL COUNTS and now they want 8 more years?!?!?
What kind of experience is Hillary talking about? THE EXPERIENCE OF FAILURE?

(some ideas garnered from politico.com)

1992 2000
Fresh from Harvard law Barack Obama took a job at a law firm and became a civil rights attorney helping community organizations. He then sat on the Illinois state senate for 2 terms (he was reelected for a 3rd term in 2002 – but I guess that ‘ole state senate don’t count as no kinda experience) He was able to make substantial head way in getting legislation changed to favor civil liberties. Most notable to me:

o after finding out how many death row inmates were later found innocent he succeeded in getting all interrogations and confessions videotaped.

o He was able to pass bipartisan legislation in Illinois that expanded healthcare to over 150,000 more people including 70,000 children

There is a list of successes that mirror the needs of the nation – he has the experience – the RIGHT kind of experience – that is the experience of success!!

Now it comes down to this, and Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy said it a bit more eloquently when she noted the similarities between Barack and her father in today’s New York Times:

Senator Obama and Senator Clinton basically are the same on all of the issues, they vary on how to get there and who is right is a matter of opinion since most of the means have not been tried.

After the issues have been settled it comes down to:

  1. Integrity
  2. Character
  3. Leadership skills
  • Which one is genuine and which one takes 1% truth rapped in 99% lies?
  • Which one plants people in the audience to ask question and denies it until caught? http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/13/clinton.planted/index.html
  • Which one is more divisive?
  • True leadership is the ability to put differences aside and rally support for what is right, true, and just.
  • Which do you think can truly lead?

The answer is clear. There is no more time for indecisiveness. February 5th is fast upon us and we need to make sure everyone around us knows the truth and understands who these two candidates truly are. The choice is clear, the time is now. Do not miss your opportunity to change the course of the planet.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Political - Obama and John F. Kennedy!

The daughter of one of our most prolific presidents, John F. Kennedy endorses BARACK OBAMA for president


Caroline Kennedy: A President Like My Father

from The New York Times

Over the years, I’ve been deeply moved by the people who’ve told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama.... (to read the rest go to: http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/carolinekennedy )

Friday, January 25, 2008

Politics - Do We Really want more of the same?!?

This was sent by some Obama supporters and I find the clip very telling

Hillary Rodham Clinton - The same ole thing with a different wrapper.

http://www.publicintegrity.org/about/release.aspx?aid=120

And she has the AUDACITY to say that she cannot understand where Senator Obama stands on anything?!?! Give me a break

Senator Barack Obama - The hope for a BETTER AMERICA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3mOyuJvX8U

Is there really any choice? Feel free to comment by simply clicking the comment button below.



Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Political

Let me just start by saying I am a die-hard Barack Obama supporter!

In the political part of this blog - I am here to talk about the truth.

The following letter was sent out to Obama supporters -- I want to make sure everyone can see it.
I'm so tired of politics as usual. When Hillary Clinton can sit up there and exaggerate the truth to the point where it is lies - you know 4 years with her will be the same ole thing.

I think the devil tried to trick Jesus the same way. Telling a little bit of the truth and trying to pass it off as the whole truth.

Well for those of you who didn't watch the whole debate on Monday, 1/21/08 - Hillary accused Obama of "representing a slumlord" when he was a practicing attorney. The news played that clip over and over, but didn't not play his response that much.

The truth is this was one of his first jobs out of law school, he was an associate. A local church and Rezco partnered together on a deal. Obama was assigned to do something for the case which required 5 hours of his time. Now how she got 5 hours of lowly associate work as "you represented a slumlord" is beyond me. However, see how the media reacts, listen to the sound bites that they choose to play over and over. It is her accusations not his response that I've been hearing.

I hate that kind of politics and so does John Kerry -- he writes:

Dear Revolutionist,

Stand Up and Take ActionI support Barack Obama because he doesn't seek to perfect the politics of Swiftboating -- he seeks to end it.

This is personal for me, and for a whole lot of Americans who lived through the 2004 election.

As a veteran, it disgusts me that the Swift Boats we loved while we were in uniform on the Mekong Delta have been rendered, in Karl Rove's twisted politics, an ugly verb meaning to lie about someone's character just to win an election. But as someone who cares about winning this election and changing the country I love, I know it's not enough to complain about a past we can't change when our challenge is to win the future -- which is why we must stop the Swiftboating, stop the push-polling, stop the front groups, and stop the email chain smears.

The truth matters, but how you fight the lies matters even more. We must be determined never again to lose any election to a lie.

This year, the attacks are already starting. Some of you may have heard about the disgusting lies about Barack Obama that are being circulated by email. These attacks smear Barack's Christian faith and deep patriotism, and they distort his record of more than two decades of public service. They are nothing short of "Swiftboat" style anonymous attacks.

These are the same tactics the right has used again and again, and as we've learned, these attacks, no matter how bogus, can spread and take root if they go unchecked.

But not this time -- we're fighting back.

And when I say "we," I mean that literally. I know Barack is committed to fighting every smear every time. He'll fight hard and stand up for the truth. But he can't do it alone.

We need you to email the truth to your address books. Print it out and post it at work. Talk to your neighbors. Call your local radio station. Write a letter to the editor. If lies can be spread virally, let's prove to the cynics that the truth can be every bit as persuasive as it is powerful.

The Obama campaign has created a place where you can find the truth you'll need to push back on these smears and a way to spread the truth to all of your address book.

Take action here:

http://my.barackobama.com/factcheckaction

So when your inbox fills up with trash and the emails of smear and fear, find the facts, and help defeat the lies.

Barack Obama is committed to bringing our country together to meet the challenges we face, but he knows that power gives up nothing without a struggle -- and to win the chance to change America, we must first defeat the hateful tactics that have been used to tear us apart for too long.

With your help, we can turn the page on an era of small, divisive politics -- but only if next time you hear these attacks on Barack, you take action immediately:

http://my.barackobama.com/factcheckaction

The fight is just heating up -- we won't let them steal this election with lies and distortions.

Thank you,

John Kerry