That last question. That last darned question. President Obama did open up a can of worms when he weighed in on the arrest of Harvard Professor Henry Louis “Skip” Gates. Not that he intended to, for his entire press conference that Wednesday (07/23/09) was supposed to be about Health Care Reform. He spoke with passion and determination about the necessity to have quality Health Care Reform. He also spoke to the idiocy of being politics into the mix.
But there are cops out there that have been trained to focus on the Blacks and Latinos when looking for suspects. They have been taught that if a Black or Latino is walking in a white neighborhood at night, something must be wrong. It is no wonder that South Carolina child killer Susan Smith first said a Black Main in a flannel shirt stole her babies. Or Bostonian Charles Stewart- he shot his pregnant wife in cold blood in a car. He then nicked himself on the side and proclaimed that they had been robbed by Black men. Recently a white woman from Philadelphia claimed that she and her 9 year old daughter had been carjacked and kidnapped by a Black man. She too was a liar. She had stolen money and boarded a plane to Florida with her daughter.
Our society is way too willing to believe the worst of our ills reside in the hearts and minds of its people of color. That way of thinking was used as an excuse to practice slavery, promote Jim Crow, and mandate Racial Profiling. This type of thinking is hard to change. I would like to believe that if nothing else, a true dialogue on Racial Profiling will emerge. Its causes, its effects, and what can be done (if anything) to eliminate it.
That is my hope.
BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE
How to Protect Yourself When You Suspect Racial Profiling
Well, racial profiling is in the news again.
Prominent Black scholar and Harvard professor Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. was recently arrested after a forced entry into his own home. Dr. Gates alleges that he was arrested for spite after he'd presented his identification, then repeatedly insisted that the officer provide his name and badge number.
Racial profiling cannot be defended. It is a horrible affront to the constitution, the rule of law, and to every law-abiding citizen, but I'm not addressing that issue here. The one issue that is at least as important as racial profiling itself, is how to best protect yourself if you suspect you're the victim of racial profiling. After all, that could become a matter of life and death.
Bill Ayers was funded by a foundation created by Ambassador Walter Annenberg, a close friend of Ronald Reagan, who Palin and McCain profess to adore ...
HOW COME OBAMA GETS HIT WITH HAVING A PASSING ACQUAINTANCE WITH AYERS???
SEEMS SARAH PALIN LIKES TO ENGAGE IN RACIAL PROFILING ...
http://www.annenbergfoundation.org/about/
I subscribe to BL Ochman's newsletter. Today, this newsletter grabbed my attention. Ochman, makes salient arguments in this article. Eventually, the Republicans are going to use race as a divisive and nasty campaign strategy. Obama needs to address the 'elephant in the room.'
Subscribe to What's Next News Read Online Advertise Contact RSS 1.0 Feed RSS 2.0 FeedBL Ochman's What's Next NewsThursday, September 4, 2008
Please note: These are simply the last two days' posts from What's Next Blog. You can read all my recent posts, and add comments if you like, at What's Next Blog You will need to read the blog online in order to see the videos in the posts. Thanks for subscribing! Follow me on Twitter. B.L.
I COPIED AND PASTED THIS BECAUSE THIS INFORMATION IS TRUE AND IMPORTANT!
How to Market Obama Now: Play the Race Card
Love them or hate them, (and I hate them) Sarah Palin’s views are transparent. What’s not transparent is the race issue, and Barak Obama needs to address it now.
Then we can move on to the real issues, without the whispering. Otherwise, the GOP puppet masters will find a way to poison the well of hope, and we can’t let that happen again.
Race is the whispered undercurrent of this campaign. Friends ask each other: “Do you really think a black man can win?” “Is America really ready for a black president?” And in their private conversations, people say things that no politician or pundit would dare to utter in public, like “Black people will think they can do whatever they want if he’s elected” (This from a liberal professor at a New York City University.)
If I was on the marketing team, I'd advise Obama to come out and say “I know race is the whispered issue, but we need to talk about it. I’m what happens when – no matter where you come from – you work hard, you dream big and you nevergive up. And I’m here to tell you that if you worry about the color of my skin, you are worrying about the wrong issue.”
I'd tell him to do it on YouTube, in blog advertising, in email, in text messages to his supporters, content sponsorship, and on his website. Bypass mainstream media and let them get the news online where millions turn instead of TV or newspapers.
The race issue may be over in tennis and golf, but it’s not over around dining room tables across the country, in gated communities or in the projects. It needs to be discussed on a national stage, because until it is, we’re stuck in the past.Posted by B.L. Ochman
GOOD NEWS:
Which presidential candidate is winning on the Internet? Let the numbers tell the story.
The vast majority of forum discussions on McCain Space, the candidate's social network, have fewer than 10 replies, and most have none as of 3 pm today. Most of the groups have 50 members or less, and less than 50 user-made videos have been uploaded to the site, where the most popular video, with 470 votes is "some random rifle spinning" by a Texas supporter who never says a word. The McCain Blog's posts have about half the number of comments as the Obama Blog.McCain News on Twitter is following 119 and has 1,686 followers.
Comments on Obama Blog posts range from 450 to 1200+ per post. Obama has 496,701 friends on MySpace, 1,662,290 supporters on Facebook, Obama's campaign is following 75,287 people on Twitter, where he has 72,367 followers. Following others is a key indicator that a person using Twitter in actually participating in the community.
Politicians have been using the Internet to reach confirmed and potential supporters for more than a decade. But once the Obama campaign won MoveOn.org's support, it became able to use the web to build a two-way conversation and recruit MoveOn's remarkably organized members to quick, strong action and donations.
The proof is in the numbers, says ITbusiness.
On Web traffic-tracking site Alexa, BrackObama.com ranks 535 and JohnMcCain.com 4,497 out of all Web pages, as of Aug. 29. That stark contrast wasn't heightened by the timing of the Democratic convention – over the past several months, Obama's site has ranked an average of 7,000 positions higher than his opponent's site.
Categories: Internet strategy, Marketing Strategy, Politics, Social Media, Social Media Marketing, Word of Mouth
Adrienne Zurub
http://adriennezurub.typepad.com
With the frightening but not unsurprising news that Bush’s lickspittle Attorney General Michael Mukasey plans to spy on everyone for no legitimate reason other than collecting an enormous data base on every American’s activities, beliefs, spending, bowel movements and who knows what else just to be able to spot a terrorist, comes saner advice from Britain’s MI5: Don’t bother; profiling doesn’t work.
Given the comparative track records of MI5 and the FBI in catching real terrorists – the FBI seems to prefer opting for goofballs who usually turn out to be extortionists or, like the Miami group, a bunch of scam artists who really only wanted new boots – I’m willing to take the work of the Brits over Washington’s.
Unlike the operating assumption of the FBI, MI5’s study concludes there is no easy way to identify those who become involved in terrorism, according to a classified internal research document.
The sophisticated analysis, based on hundreds of case studies by the security service, says there is no single pathway to violent extremism. It concludes that it is not possible to draw up a typical profile of a "terrorist" as most are "demographically unremarkable" and simply reflect the communities in which they live. The MI5 report takes apart many of the common stereotypes about those involved in terrorism and de-bunks the myth pushed by the Republicans and other right wingnuts that there’s a terrorist hiding under every bed.
In fact, MI5 reports, would-be terrorists living in the West are mostly native born, not illegal immigrants and, far from being Islamist fundamentalists, most are religious novices and as likely to be born again Christians on a "mission for Christ" as they are jihadists.
Nor are they "mad and bad." Those over 30 are just as likely to have a wife and children as to be loners with no ties. The security service also plays down the importance of extremist clerics, saying their influence in radicalising Western terrorists has into the background over recent years.
The main findings include:
The majority are native born and the remainder, with a few exceptions, are here legally. Some immigrants fled traumatic experiences and oppressive regimes and claimed asylum, but more came West to study, or for family or economic reasons, and became radicalised many years after arriving. Far from being religious zealots, a large number of those involved in terrorism do not practise their faith regularly. Many lack religious literacy and could actually be regarded as religious novices. Some are involved in drug-taking, drinking alcohol and visiting prostitutes. MI5 says there is evidence that a well-established religious identity actually protects against violent radicalisation. The "mad and bad" theory to explain why people turn to terrorism does not stand up, with no more evidence of mental illness or pathological personality traits found among terrorism suspects than is found in the general population. British-based terrorists are as ethnically diverse as the UK Muslim population, with individuals from Pakistani, Middle Eastern and Caucasian backgrounds. MI5 says assumptions cannot be made about suspects based on skin colour, ethnic heritage or nationality. Most UK terrorists are male, but women also play an important role. Sometimes they are aware of the activities of husbands, brothers or sons, but do not object or try to stop them. While the majority are in their early to mid-20s when they become radicalised, a small but not insignificant minority first become involved in violent extremism at over the age of 30. Far from being lone individuals with no ties, the majority of those over 30 have steady relationships, and most have children. MI5 says this challenges the idea that terrorists lured to "martyrdom" by the promise of beautiful virgins waiting for them in paradise. It is wrong to assume that someone with a wife and children is less likely to commit acts of terrorism. Those involved in British terrorism are not unintelligent or gullible, and nor are they more likely to be well-educated; their educational achievement ranges from total lack of qualifications to degree-level education. However, they are almost all employed in low-grade jobs.
The researchers conclude that their work "challenges many of the stereotypes that are held about who becomes a terrorist and why."
Crucially, the research has revealed that those who become terrorists "are a diverse collection of individuals, fitting no single demographic profile, nor do they all follow a typical pathway to violent extremism."
The security service believes the terrorist groups operating in the West today are different in many important respects both from Islamist extremist activity in other parts of the world and from historical terrorist movements such as the IRA or the Red Army Faction.
The MI5 "operational briefing note" warns that, unless governments understand the varied backgrounds of those drawn to terrorism, the security services will fail to counter their activities in the short term and fail to prevent violent radicalisation continuing in the long term.
It also concludes that the research results have important lessons for the government's programme to tackle the spread of violent extremism, underlining the need for "attractive alternatives" to terrorist involvement but also warning that traditional law enforcement tactics could backfire if handled badly or used against people who are not seen as legitimate targets, such as those who simply hold politically extreme views.
I doubt anyone inside the FBI or Justice Dept., let alone the White House, read the MI5 study; sometimes I wonder if anyone in those particular Washington bunkers know how to read, period, and even if they do MI5 so contradicts their perverted view of “justice” that they won’t pay heed anyway. But as Bush, Cheney, McCain and Mukasey try setting up one more permanent violation of the law before they’re kicked out of town still wearing the brown shirts and jackboots they seem to love, it behoves Congress to put a stop to this nonsense when it reconvenes in September.
Shocking Racist Violation of USA "Freedom of the Press," when the only black reporter at event in Florida kicked out of event while reporting for Tallahassee Democrat; Mc Cain's staff: "I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that race had nothing to do with it." [http://www.prlog.org/10098337-sole-black-reporter-booted-from-mccain-event-showing-deep-racism-in-gops-security-concerns.html] [to be accurate, this was posted by 'THINKBRIDGE' at Dailykos.com, but ultimately derived from an article by Mr. Lemming in the Tallahassee Democrat]
Tallahassee Democrat senior writer Stephen Price was singled outand asked to leave the area reserved for media at a rally for John McCain in Panama City, Florida, on Friday. He had showed his media credentials and employee i.d. in order to enter the area when a member of McCain's security detail asked him to leave.
"I explained I was with the state press, but the Secret Service man said that didn't matter and that I would have to go," Price said. When another reporter asked why Price was being removed, she too was led out of the area. Other state reporters remained.
Price was the only black reporter among those surrounding McCain's bus; was he being"profiled"?
Tallahassee Democrat Executive Editor Bob Gabordi said the incident was unwarranted.
"We're deeply concerned and disturbed that our reporter — of all of those in that area — was asked to move," Gabordi said. "My understanding is that Stephen was the only reporter approached and asked to leave the area, and the only reporter in that area who is black. Another reporter who stood up for Stephen was then asked to leave."
Jonathan Block of the McCain campaign, who was not there at the time of the incident, expressed regret, but stated,
"I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that race had nothing to do with it."
Block said the area where Price was standing was restricted to members of the traveling national press corps that accompanies McCain on the campaign trail.
Wow. Really. There's this story line going around that McCain loves to be "unscripted" and was always wandering into unprepared situations, giving the impression of "getting down to the people." Why was the black man singled out? And then why was the other reporter ousted for defending him? Why couldn't they simply tell them right then and there that this area is restricted to press that travels with McCain, if that was, in fact, true???
UPDATE: The next line from the Tallahassee Democrat is:
"At the end of the day, your reporter was in the wrong place. I do not know why the other reporters were not moved. The rest of the local press should have been moved as well," Block said.
Which looks like the McCain campaign's excuse strategy, and typical of such things for him. OK, it was just one of those things. But why does this happen now, this way, why always something against blacks? It both excuses and points out the issues in this incident.
I'm sure McCain really needs this sort of stuff to keep those "swing voters" wondering. First, he backs a bill in Arizona that would wipe out affirmative action as "quotas", a "reverse racism"-style proposition, to coddle the right-wing racist White First bloc. Then he accuses Obama of racism for mentioning in passing something that could be construed to mean Obama is black. And if McCain infers that he is older, we're supposed to accuse him of "age-ism", right? Now, his security detail is weeding out "suspects"??
And this isn't the first weird incident with McCain's security. Here you can check out how they kicked a librarian out of a public rally for holding a McCain=Bush sign, and charged her with trespassing.
The event, at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, was billed as 'open to the public.' Yet Carole Kreck, a 61-year-old librarian carrying a 'McCain=Bush' sign, was taken away by police [on orders from McCain's security detail] for trespassing. A police officer told Kreck: 'You have two choices. You can keep your sign here and receive a ticket for trespassing, or you can remove the sign and stay in line and attend this town hall meeting.' Kreck received a ticket for trespassing and her court date is July 23.
Security trumps free speech. Security trumps reporters' access to a candidate. Dissent and being a person of color seem to always land in the world of "security risk". One of the Republicans' biggest ticket issues is "increase Security." It plays to fear. It plays to the military. But, as this incident is a small but notable example, it doesn't play to our higher goals of fairness, openness, and actual freedom (not rhetorical "freedom" as in "freedom fries"). For McCain, it's a pattern he can't break free from. For the rest of us, it's an election we must weigh in on, in historic numbers, for the other, security-by-freedom, not security-vs-freedom, side.
http://www.prlog.org/10098337-sole-black-reporter-booted-from-mccain-event-showing-deep-racism-in-gops-security-concerns.html
Sound-bites from the McCampaign seem to be working well; they get radio and TV listeners juiced up. Videos on the Internet are another story. Sure, people have spliced together images of Obama with dishonest, fear-mongering, racist voice-overs, but those are only preaching to the right-wing, rat-racist choir.
Obama supporters only need to put McSame himself in videos to make the point:
Henry Mhttp://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gddt
Part II
Baggy pants that show boxer shorts or thongs would be illegal under a proposed amendment to Atlanta's indecency laws. The proposed ordinance would also bar women from showing the strap of a thong beneath their pants. They would also be prohibited from wearing jogging bras in public or showing a bra strap.
Cities Cracking Down on Saggy Pants, September 16, 2007
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Thank you,
Lisa Beyer
Precinct Deputy Captain in Las Vegas Precinct 6475
Why I Support Barack Obama for PresidentMYBO ProfileMYBO BlogMySpaceMySpace BlogFacebookLinkedIn ProfileSouthern Nevada for Obama TestimonialSouthern Nevada for Obama - A Grassroots Campaign Effort
Did you know...
On January 19, 2008, Nevada will be the 2nd state in the nation to caucus for a presidential nominee!
Democrats will meet at their designated sites at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 19, 2008NV Democratic Caucus FAQsClark County, NV Residents: Find Your Precinct Here
