Former President Jimmy Carter speaks on Racism

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Former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday that U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst to President Barack Obama during a speech to Congress last week was an act "based on racism" and rooted in fears of a black president.

"I think it's based on racism," Carter said at a town hall held at his presidential center in Atlanta. "There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president."

The Georgia Democrat said the outburst was a part of a disturbing trend directed at the president that has included demonstrators equating Obama to Nazi leaders.

"Those kind of things are not just casual outcomes of a sincere debate on whether we should have a national program on health care," he said. "It's deeper than that."

Unarmed Youth Shot by Police Caught on Three Separate Videos

This afternoon as I was browsing the Internet when I came across a story about a protest march in Oakland that became violent; one hundred people were arrested. I was shocked and confused as to how I missed this on the morning news. Surely this would have received some mention; perhaps not on the regurgitated local news but some national coverage. I watched the morning news but perhaps I missed it refilling my coffee cup. I just finished searching for some kernel, some mention, of what transpired on my local stations and there is nothing.

On New Year's day Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old supermarket worker, was fatally shot in the back while unarmed and handcuffed on the ground on a BART station platform. There are three separate videos of the shooting; the first confiscated by BART police, the second uncovered by the local news, and finally a third perspective that surfaced days after the murder of Oscar Grant.

I am deeply troubled and disturbed by how this tragedy has not received more coverage by news outlets, including CNN. I was inundated with information regarding the slaying of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos, which was the catalyst for the riots throughout Greece. I even mentioned the slain youth in a previous post.

How is this travesty not more newsworthy? How many hours of coverage did Caylee Anthony receive from national and local outlets? I've seen that cretin Anne Coulter plastered on the news with her latest "PR" stunt for the past 36 hours.

Damn, I feel like I was just sucker punched.

Muslim arrested over scarf

Twelve American presidents owned slaves; eight presidents did while they lived in the White House.

An Israeli Injustice

Bolivia on the brink of Civil War, partially blames Bush administration

Bolivia is on the brink of civil war, a nation divided by race and wealth. In the past three months hundreds have been murdered, and hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets in protest.

President Evo Morales elected in 2006 claims to be the first full blooded Amerindian to hold such a position since Spanish Conquest 470 years ago. Although some praise the ever increasing mestizo culture of Bolivia there remains great divides in wealth, education, and entitlement across racial divides.

President Morales is considered a Socialist doe to his redistribution of the wealth generated by Bolivia’s natural resources such as natural gas and his commitment to land reform. Morlaes is also titular President of cocalero, a federation of coca growers' unions who are resisting the efforts of the United States government to eradicate cocoa in Bolivia.

Although over 80% of the population supports President Morales he does have his opposition. They are demanding greater control over policies ranging from land reform to the allocation of the earnings of Bolivia's natural gas exports, which originate in their regions. Earlier this year, the departments of Tarija, Santa Cruz, Pando and Beni voted in favor of opposition-drafted autonomy statutes, but since those referenda were not sanctioned by the national electoral court, the central government refuses to recognize the results.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bush administration have been accused of supporting the opposition and inciting violence. As a result he kicked out U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg this past September, accusing him of inciting conflict. The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) has rallied to his support. At an emergency meeting the presidents of nine Latin American countries gave Morales their full support, and offered to send a team to mediate.

President Evo Morales, cast his decision on Saturday to suspend the activities of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in his country as a matter of national security. "We have the obligation to defend the dignity and the sovereignty of the Bolivian people," said Morales. "There have been DEA agents who, carrying out espionage, financed rogue groups with the intention of taking the lives of [Bolivian government] officials." The Bolivian President made clear he envisages repairing the relationship with the U.S. as soon as President Bush has gone. More than once, he referred to his own victory in Bolivia as having brought "the change we need."

The Sin of Religion in American Politics

In the wake of this historic election that has filled me with immense joy I am troubled by the ugly side of religion in politics. During the campaign referring to President Elect Obama as a Muslim or an Arab was seen as disparaging and considered a slur.

There is nothing wrong with being either Muslim or an Arab. "So what" is the response that echoed in my own head. Why is such ignorance tolerated? What if Obama were a Muslim or an Arab "So the fuck what". Why did he have to be defended against such allegations as religion or ethnicity. I agree it was misinformation and should be corrected but the greater question needed to be asked, "so what". Hopefully we have learned that being Muslim is not synonymous with being an Arab, and neither characteristic should lead to an assumption of terrorism.

In three states the constituents voted to ban gay marriage. Isn't it a fundamental premise by "separation of Church and state" that we shall not legislate religious hatred and bigotry in our country. Each religious group has every right to not recognize, sanctify, or bless a same sex union. Feel free to condemn them to hell if you like, but no one should have the right to legislate them out of existence.

There is nothing sacred about legislating hatred and prejudice.

77 Days until Bush vacates the White House

Only one thing breaks the deafening silence at the White House today - the pounding of hammers outside the north fence as workers construct the inaugural parade grandstand. President Bush, for the fifth day in a row, has no public events on his schedule. Even the daily White House briefing has been cancelled for Tuesday.

I look forward to the day when the White House is once again a symbol of respect, for the nation and world to view with pride. We'll know within the next twelve hours whether we must wait four more years or just until January 20th, 2009.

Vice President Dick Cheney campaigns for McCain/Palin

George W. Bush, sitting president, previously endorsed John McCain at a White House press conference. Today Vice President Dick Cheney followed suit and campaigned for the McCain/Palin ticket.

Enough said!

What a wonderful vision!

Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton

British Phenom Lewis Hamilton is on the brink of making history as the youngest F1 Champion. He has become the victim of countless racist slurs and even death wishes on Spanish websites as he is poised to take the title of the youngest F1 Champion from Spain's Fernando Alonso. All Lewis Hamilton has to do to win this year's F1 world championship is finish fifth or better in Sunday's Grand Prix of Brazil.

McCain worker reaches deal in hoax assault

PITTSBURGH - A McCain campaign volunteer accused of making up a story about being robbed and assaulted in Pittsburgh by a Black man who disliked her McCain bumper sticker will enter a program for first-time offenders.

Under the deal announced in court Thursday, 20-year-old Ashley Todd will be released from jail and required to undergo mental health treatment. Her record eventually will be expunged as long as she goes to treatment, stays out of trouble and keeps authorities apprised of her whereabouts.

Todd, of College Station, Texas, has been jailed since Oct. 24, when police say she admitted making up a story about being robbed near a Pittsburgh bank and then assaulted by a Black man who scraped a backward letter "B" into her cheek.

Police said Todd couldn't explain why she invented the story. (original source Associated Press)

Democrats in Steel Country See Color, and Beyond It

By MICHAEL POWEL of The New York Times
Published: October 26, 2008

ALIQUIPPA, Pa. - Voting for the black man does not come easy to Nick Piroli. He is the first to admit that.

To the sound of bowling balls smacking pins, as the bartender in the Fallout Shelter queues up more Buds, this retired steelworker wrestles with this election and his choice. A couple of friends, he says, will not vote for Senator Barack Obama.

"I'm no racist, but I'm not crazy about him either," said Mr. Piroli, 77. "I don't know, maybe 'cause he's black."

He winces at himself. "We was raised and worked with the black, the Serb," he said. "It was a regular league of nations. And the economy now, it's terrible."

"I've got to vote for him," he said finally.

Him? "The Democrat, Obama," Mr. Piroli replied. "I can't be stupid."

Mr. Obama's Republican rival in the presidential campaign, Senator John McCain, has placed a sizable electoral bet that he can sweep predominantly white, working-class Beaver County and a
dozen more Pennsylvania counties like it. Last week, Mr. McCain spoke before thousands in Moon Township, and two days later his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, drew more than 2,000 fans to a rally in Beaver.

Full Story

D.L.Hughley BREAKS THE NEWS on CNN

Tonight D.L. Hughley launched his new new show on CNN, D.L. Hughley Breaks The News. I am very excited for D.L. who, like myself, is a self admitted news junkie.

I want to love this show and I will be tuning in to watch the progress. It is off to a somewhat uneven start, I enjoyed many of the sketches, while others I found lacking.

The high point of the show was D.L.'s interview with Scott McClellan, former Bush White house Spokesperson. The exchange was smart, funny and ended with McClellan's endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for president.

There was a segment tonight with CNN correspondents in China, Russia, and India. What awesome resources and potential. I am looking forward to next weeks show, in the meanwhile I need to get an email off to D.L. and his writers. Congratulations Mr. Hughley!

Woman admits attack by Obama supporter was false

Uribe: Colombian police fired on protesters

BOGOTA, Colombia (CNN) -- Colombian President Alvaro Uribe admitted Wednesday that police fired on Indian demonstrators despite a government pledge that security forces would not do so.

Uribe had earlier denied accusations that security forces fired at demonstrators during protests by thousands of Indians.

"The police did fire," Uribe said at a news conference Wednesday.

He made his remarks after CNN obtained and aired a videotape that shows police at La Maria Indian reservation. The video shows a man in an olive green uniform and ski mask raise an M-16 assault rifle, standard issue for some Colombian police units, and fire three shots, though the target is unclear.

Bolivian President Evo Morales leads protest urging change

President Evo Morales led more than a 100,000 supporters in the final stages of a week long march into the Bolivian capital, La Paz, on Monday to demand that Congress call a nationwide vote on a new constitution empowering the country's long-oppressed indigenous majority. The proposed constitution also would let the popular Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous president, to run for re-election.

Morales says the new constitution will give more political power to the country's downtrodden Indian majority and entrench his leftist economic reforms.

Crazy Tracy - This Ignorant Ass Is Not Alone

Crazy Tracy is yet another example of the racist mindset hiding behind a religious veil. She makes me so angry I want to push this bitch down a flight of steps backwards. No, I really don't, I do not condone violence against the retarded, but the imagery made me smile.

Muslims for McCain

Daniel Zubairi, is a Muslim grassroots organizer for McCain. The American News Project captured Zubairi this past weekend intervening when a racist McCain supporter got into a heated exchange with rally attendees over the anti-Muslim literature and message that he was promoting. We don't "endorse that behavior" said Zubairi.

I am not a supporter of McCain, but I am definitely impressed by Daniel Zubairi. I wish McCain and Palin would take lessons from him. Kudos to Mr. Zubairi!

Rio Ferdinand

Football phenom Rio Ferdinand is frustrated at the lack of progress into the investigation of fans who hurled racial and homophobic taunts at their team's former captain, Sol Campbell. Rio says life bans of the fans should be imposed. Sol Campbell was taunted by anti-gay and racist insults and a deplorable song claiming he was HIV positive. The rumors—and insults—began when he left Tottenham to play for a rival team.