I VOTED TODAY!!!

I am TOO EXCITED! No, it wasn't my first time voting early, but it was the first time that voting meant so much more. As I approached the early voting location, the thought hit me (Divinely I believe) to document the moments so that they would be savored forever. I sent a series of emails to my friends each step along the way. I probably wasn't supposed to be taking pictures, but since I didn't get caught...here it is!

2:30 PM:
So, here I am in line at the State Archives bldg. It's 2:30 and there are at least 100 people in line ahead of me and 50 more behind me. Not sure what happens after we make it into the auditorium or how many more people are in there!

2:52 PM:
After an 8 min coaching session on the 7 amendments from one of my fav advisors, I've made it into the auditorium. [I'm very ashamed to admit that I'd been too busy MANAGING A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN to notice that there were going to be 7 constitutional amendments also on the ballot. When I got to the voting location I was completely caught off guard and had to get some insight on them at the last minute!] There are 10 voting stations and about 3 ID verifiers/check in stations [actually there were 4]. The line is moving quickly. It's very fluid.

In about 5 mins, I will cast my history changing vote. What an awesome moment!!!

3:13 PM:

Okay, I'm in my car and I have to admit, I walked out a little emotional as the reality of what I've just done sinks in. I just voted for a brilliant, qualified, young, energetic, community serving, Spirit led, BLACK MAN to be President of the United States of America!!! I am sitting in my car in tears as if I can hear the voice of Harriett Tubman saying "don't turn back!" and MLK saying "I have a dream that someday..." and Langston Hughes writing "what happens to a dream deferred...". I hear my ancestors finally exhaling in relief. I hear my slave foreparents resting now, knowing that their labor was not in vain....and the chorus singing "...we shall overcome someday."

My heart is full of joy and I am completely overwhelmed, knowing that this moment will be shared for generations to come. In the words of Maya Angelou, "Barack Obama, we speak your name."

Now I'm drying my face and going to find something to eat.

Wow, what a day. Yes We Can...and Yes I Did!

New Obama Ad Rips McCain

I like this. Quite entertaining. I wonder if this is Barack Obama's official exit from "silly season" and grand entrance into "pimp slap" season.



What do you think about it?

Obama Says McCain & Co. "Take pride in being ignorant"

You gotta love this. By now, you've heard the hoopla surrounding Barack Obama's statement that inflating tires will reduce oil consumption. And SURELY you've heard the Republican belly laugh over the sheer ridiculosity (yes, I made that word up) of Obama's "energy plan". Well, turns out, Obama didn't make that statement uninformed. According to his team of energy experts, the U.S. could save 3 to 4% in oil consumption if every American would maintain the proper tire pressure and get regular tune-ups.

Now, obviously this is not Obama's energy plan as the Republicans have tried to spin it. It was a response to a question that was asked while on the campaign trail. It's a practical, right-now solution that doesn't require a special Congressional session, legislation, nor Presidential approval. (Full article and video here).

McCain & Co. seem to find this solution very amusing. They would rather spend money making gag gifts to jab at Obama (tire gauges labeled "Obama's Energy Plan") than to get on board with something that will make a change right now. I wonder how much money they have spent on the tire gauge souvenirs? Wonder if an elderly couple could have paid their energy bill with that, or if a commuting mom could have refilled her minivan a few times with it.

In my mind, this just shows how out of touch McCain is with the American people. He is showing that he would be a President who would rather blow a few hundred or thousand dollars (or billion) to make an errant point than to be a good steward over the funds that the nation has trusted him with and do what's best for our people. Sounds eerily familiar doesn't it?

Obama's Tire Answer is Absolutely Right!

Sen. Obama was recently asked a question about reducing the US dependence on foreign oil. His response was that our country could become more energy efficient by inflating our car tires and getting regularly scheduled maintenance.

Needless to say, the Republicans are laughing this simple response under the table. They are broadcasting Obama's answer as foolish and another example of his incapability to lead the country as President. But, little did they know (how surprising), Mr. Obama is 100% correct.

According to a Time Magazine article:

The Bush Administration estimates that expanded offshore drilling could increase oil production by 200,000 bbl. per day by 2030. We use about 20 million bbl. per day, so that would meet about 1% of our demand two decades from now. Meanwhile, efficiency experts say that keeping tires inflated can improve gas mileage 3%, and regular maintenance can add another 4%. Many drivers already follow their advice, but if everyone did, we could immediately reduce demand several percentage points. In other words: Obama is right.

[Barack Obama actually suggested that inflating tires and tuning up cars] could save as much oil as new offshore drilling would produce. Gleeful Republicans have made this their daily talking point; Rush Limbaugh is having a field day; and the Republican National Committee is sending tire gauges labeled "Barack Obama's Energy Plan" to Washington reporters.

Republican governors Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and Charlie Crist of Florida have urged their constituents to do exactly what Sen. Obama has recommended. Apparently, they got their RNC tire gauges in the mail, but didn't get the joke.

Obama's Father's Day Sermon

If you haven't watched the Father's Day speech, here's the video in it's entirety. It's about 23 minutes long. Good message.



According to CNN.com:

The issue adds to his family values credentials and lets voters see him delivering a stern message to black voters.

"We can't simply write these problems off to past injustices," Obama said Sunday. "Those injustices are real. There's a reason our families are in disrepair ... but we can't keep using that as an excuse."

Obama urged black parents to demand the best from themselves and their children.

He compared it to his own presidential campaign and early comments from black voters who said they liked him but didn't think a black man could ever be elected president. He said they were admitting defeat before the competition had even begun.

"That was when I wasn't black enough. Now I'm too black," he said in a joking aside.

The next holiday on my calendar is Independence Day. John McCain's camp has got to be all over that one. I can't wait to see him under a tent somewhere with fireworks poppin' in the background, weighed down by flag pins, with a really confused look trying to figure out who mistaked his request for a little boost (of Geritol) for Lil' Boosie (...I-n-d-e-p-e-n-d-e-n-t do you know what that means?...).

Obama's Kenyan Family Celebrates His Nomination

This is a pretty cool news clip on the reaction to Obama's candidacy by his grandmother's [Sarah Obama] village in Kenya. The village has very high expectations of it's offspring when he becomes the US President. No doubt the Republican machine will try to use this against him in some form. Just watch.

Anyway, the clip is about 4 minutes long. I would love to sit and talk to his grandmother. I bet she has some stories to tell. She has been keeping a close eye on this campaign and I am sure that she has shared wisdom with him that would fill up a book. Click here to read a blog post I did a few months ago about her.

Who Knew that Catholic Priests Cussed in Church?

I would have turned Catholic long ago if I would have known that they cuss and get you out of church in 20 minutes! I'm just playing, but seriously, Rev. Michael Pfleger delivered a sermon at Barack Obama's church (Trinity United Church of Christ) in Chicago on Sunday and boy, did he have a lot on his mind! They must have some "make you act a fool" mist that they spray on that microphone.

Pfleger is a Catholic priest at predominately black St. Sabina Roman Catholic Church on Chicago's southwest side. Commenting on the campaign, Pfleger very candidly spoke on the subject of 'white entitlement', using Sen. Hillary Clinton as his example. He said Clinton's eyes welled with tears before the New Hampshire primary because she felt "entitled" to the Democratic nomination and because "there's a black man stealing my show." He then went on to parody Clinton, sobbing and wiping his face with a handkerchief.

"She wasn't the only one crying," he said. "There was a whole lot of white people crying." (source)

What will be interesting is to see how the media handles this as opposed to the handling of Rev. Wright. Why? Because Pfleger is white and Wright is black. They referred to Wright in headlines as a 'preacher', never as Dr. Wright. I wonder if they will take the same tone of belittling and disrespect with Father Pfleger and if they will set out to personally attack him like they did Wright. Just watch and listen.

Watch the video below for yourself.


Of course, you know the rest - Clinton denounced. Obama condemned. Pfleger apologized.

I predict Obama will make his exodus from Trinity in 5...4...3...2...

McCain Denounces Hagee and Rejects Endorsement

John McCain has come out an publicly denounced and rejected San Antonio based Pastor John Hagee amid pressure surrounding Hagee's sermons regarding the Holocaust and other controversial statements. Hagee has reportedly made statements saying that Hitler was sent by God to force the Jews back to Israel, and that the Catholic Church is the "great whore" referenced in the book of Revelation. Needless to say, Jews and Catholics have been pretty upset by the remarks, so Hagee's endorsement of McCain on the heels of the blowup about Rev. Jeremiah Wright's controversial remarks were bad timing for McCain.

In a statement to CNN on Thursday, McCain said "Obviously, I find these remarks and others deeply offensive and indefensible, and I repudiate them. I did not know of them before Rev. Hagee's endorsement, and I feel I must reject his endorsement as well."

Shortly after McCain's announcement Thursday afternoon, Hagee withdrew his endorsement, citing critics who had been "grossly misrepresenting" his positions.

Now. Let's watch how the media handles this. John McCain has repeatedly tried to draw a distinction between his relationship with Hagee compared to Obama's relationship with Wright by saying that Hagee was not his spiritual advisor or pastor and that he didn't sit in his church for 20 years. Yeah, okay John. That makes it sooo much different. You're not getting out of this that easily.

The conservative media wanted to play the game of character assassination to Rev. Wright, but they didn't take into account that the same rules would apply to conservative candidates. Do I disagree with the tactic as a whole? Yes. Rev. Wright was taken out of context and reportedly Pastor Hagee was too, but unfortunately this is not a gentleman's war. There aren't even definitive candidates yet and this things is already nasty. What in the world will we have to endure on the road to November?!

I believe now more than ever, we will see the media for who they really are. Just watch and see.

Superdelegates are Getting Off the Fence

Just as I predicted last night, the superdelegate hornets' nest is stirring. Already today, three supers have pledged support for Obama and one for Clinton.

Obama is ahead of Clinton in total delegates: 1,842 to 1,686. Only 217 pledged delegates are up for grabs in the remaining six contests: West Virginia, Kentucky, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota. Neither Sen. Barack Obama nor Clinton is expected to win the 2,025 delegates needed to capture the nomination during the remaining contests. That means the superdelegates -- party and elected officials who are allowed to vote during the national convention -- will probably decide who becomes the nominee.


Here are some of the SD's perspectives: (source)


Former North Dakota Sen. George McGovern -- who had supported Clinton -- called on her to drop out of the race. He said he's supporting Obama. "I think mathematically the race is all but won by Barack Obama and the time has come for all of us to unite and get ready for the general election in the fall."


Rep John Lewis, D-Georgia, who originally supported Clinton but later threw his support to Obama, said "there are quite a few people who are having what I call an 'executive session' with themselves. People see the end is near."


Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California and a superdelegate, said she wants to talk to Clinton to "see what her view is on the rest of the race. What the strategy is."


Several SDs are still sitting on the fence:


Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-New Jersey, said he wants to "wait a little more time" before announcing his endorsement


Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colorado, has remained undecided "I think if we get this thing settled in the first 10 days of June we'll be fine," he added.


Rep. Brad Miller, who represents the 13th Congressional District in North Carolina, said he will announce who he's supporting soon. "I'm going to let the dust settle for a few days," he said.


This will get more interesting over the next few days. It's time to make a decision and the SDs know it. As the old folks say "Pee or get off the pot."

Clinton Wins Indiana in Triple Overtime

Talk about coming down to the wire. I have literally been on the phone with one of my friends for the past 3 and 1/2 hours watching and waiting for the Indiana results to come in. We're watching the numbers change and calculating votes and listening to the analysts like it's the NBA playoffs! You know it's serious when you get cut off from telling a story so that you can be updated on the latest precinct numbers...LOL! I love this game!

Anyway, in a hard fought battle Clinton has come away in a nail biter as the victor in my former state of residence, Indiana (I lived in Kokomo off and on over the course of 3 years). Indiana held 72 delegates of which Obama and Clinton will almost split down the middle, so basically Senator Clinton will only net 3 or 4 delegates (Obama netted 8 delegates with a win in NC, so overall he profits about 4 additional delegates...[gotta love that fuzzy math]). Clinton won with a 2% margin of victory. You can't get much closer than that (read more on CNN.com)

The hilariously frustrating part was listening to the dialogue between Wolf Blitzer, the mayor of Hammond, IN and the mayor of Gary, IN. Everybody was tired and mad because it was taking so long to count the votes in Gary. The Gary mayor kept saying over and over that it was taking a long time because they had just gotten 11,000 absentee ballots in on Monday and regular voting was Tuesday and that they wanted to take their time and count all of the votes properly, so as not to disenfranchise the voters. (Whatever dude. Ya'll took way too long with that.) The Hammond mayor made very overt suggestions that impropriety must have been taking place in Gary to cause such a delay. Now let me point out that the mayor of Gary is black and an Obama supporter and the mayor of Hammond is white and a Hillary supporter. After the results came in, the Hammond mayor hurried up and shut up about 'hanky panky' after CNN called Clinton the winner.

Anyway, Obama currently leads in pledged delegates and in states won, and he is ahead in the popular vote, if Florida and Michigan are not factored into the equation. Those states are being penalized for moving their primaries up in violation of party rules.

With neither candidate expected to win the 2,025 delegates needed to clinch the Democratic nomination by June 3, the end of the primary season, the final decision will most likely fall to the 796 superdelegates: Democratic governors, members of Congress and party officials.

I predict that super delegates will start to take sides now. Everybody's getting tired of this race. It's time to move on to something more productive.

....and North Carolina goes to (the envelope please)...

Barack Obama wins North Carolina and nets about 8 delegates.

He's baaack! After a much maligned few weeks, filled with questions regarding flag pins, pastors, and gas tax - Barack Obama is once again walking tall and carrying a big stick. At a time where polls suggested that he was losing support and popularity among voters due to the media's weapons of mass distraction, the supporters of the Obama campaign have shown up en masse to prove that they are interested in issues, not all that other foolishness.

Obama has claimed a huge victory in North Carolina. It was the last big state left with 115 delegates up for grabs. Of course the naysayers would love to make the point that he only won North Carolina because of the black vote (as if the black vote is somehow insignificant and blacks are not capable of making rational, well-thought out decisions. Did anyone question the judgement of black voters when the candidate was Bill Clinton?) ...but, i digress.

Turnout in the North Carolina Democratic primary was expected to reach 50 percent, according to Gary Bartlett, executive director for the North Carolina Board of Elections. That figure would far exceed the 15 percent to 30 percent that usually turn out for a primary, he said.

Now, here's the problem (see CNN.com for in depth coverage):

According to early exit polls, half of Clinton's supporters in Indiana would not vote for Obama in a general election match up with Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

A third of Clinton voters said they would pick McCain over Obama, while 17 percent said they would not vote at all. Forty-eight percent of Clinton supporters said they would back Obama in November.

Obama got even less support from Clinton backers in North Carolina where 45
percent of Clinton supporters said they would vote for him over McCain. Thirty-eight percent of Clinton supporters said they would vote for McCain while 12 percent said they would not vote. Obama voters appear to be more willing to support Clinton in November. In Indiana, 59 percent of Obama backers said they'd vote for Clinton, and 70 percent of Obama backers in North Carolina said vote for her against McCain.

Okay, I've been hanging around for the past hour and a half waiting for them to call Indiana. This is better than watching game 7 of the playoffs. I'll get back to you when the updates are in.

Michelle Has Spoken: Let's Move On

“You know what I think, Meredith,” Mrs. Obama replied. “We’ve got to move forward.”

These were the poignant, unapologetic frank words that Michelle Obama spoke to Meredith Viera on the Today Show. I believe that her statement was the punctuation mark that was needed to put this diversion to rest and to move forward. Period.

In the first joint interview the couple has given in more than a year, Barack and Michelle Obama sat down on the Today Show with Meredith Viera for a segment that aired this morning. They addressed the questions with tact and grace, firm on their position to move forward.

In a one-on-one interview with CNN's Suzanne Malveaux, Michelle Obama said "With all due respect, we're moving forward...Barack was so clear, and he's been so open about this issue, and he speaks for me as well."

"Because it's through this limited struggle that we're facing ... if out of that comes something grander and we get in a place where we're a more unified nation, where people aren't focused on the small stuff, and we're looking at big picture -- brave, courageous approaches to our problems," she said. "And people, you know, are ready to roll up their sleeves and engage again."
I have a lot of respect for Mrs. Obama. She is not intimidated and doesn't back down. She's tough. I like that.

See video here.

Now That the Smoke Has Cleared...

Barack Obama showed up at high noon in the center of town. He turned and walked 20 paces. As the people braced for what was about to happen, he reached for his weapon and fired. *POW* A thick cloud of smoke makes it difficult to see who got hit...

After yesterday's events I was left feeling deflated, despondent, discouraged, in disbelief, dismayed and downright dissed. Over the last 24 hours I've received irate phone calls, traded emails, read blog sites and analysis, listened to national radio commentary, and pondered the question "Where do we go from here?" I was emotional when it first happened. I and many in my circle were disappointed. We were numb, not able to comprehend what we had just heard.

Psalm 46:10 is one of my favorite, favorite scriptures and I have learned over the years to "Be still...". Sometimes we need to stop, take a deep breath and just be still. Let the dust settle and the smoke clear. Never make an emotional decision.

Roland Martin, CNN commentator has eloquently put this whole situation into perspective.

Now, let's refocus. Let's take back our agenda. Let's put the issues back on the table and not be duped by a cleverly constructed smoke screen. Jeremiah Wright is not running for President. He is not responsible for the state we are in and he will not create the policies that will change our course. YES, Barack Obama is a politician, but let us not buy into the subtle distrust that is feeding the division. We are not choosing between Obama and Wright.

To quote the song my mama used to sing around the house when times were hard, "Nobody told me that the road would be easy...I don't believe He brought me this far to leave me." Listen folks, we've come too far as a people to have this page in history re-written before it even makes it into the book. We need to finish this and not allow them to use fear to run us back into the house and into the fields.

I referred to the Willie Lynch letter yesterday and it bears repeating:

"...I take these differences and make them bigger. I use FEAR, DISTRUST and ENVY for control purposes. Don’t forget, you must pitch the OLD black male vs. the YOUNG black male, and the YOUNG black male against the OLD black male....BEING A FOOL IS ONE OF THE BASIC INGREDIENTS OF ANY INCIDENTS TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE SLAVERY SYSTEM."

Don't be fooled. On BOTH sides of the table, Republican and Democratic, they are all sitting together in the back rooms smoking cigars, drinking brandy, and slapping high fives. Amused at how after hundreds of years, it's still working like a charm. Meanwhile, we're distracted, fighting, arguing, bickering, and assassinating one another's character for the sake of posturing and looking good in front of "them". They want us to turn on him. They want us to despise and distrust him. They want us to do the dirty work of tearing him down. In no way am I suggesting that we not hold him accountable as we should do with ANY and EVERY elected official. What I am saying is that we need to STAY FOCUSED on November. STAY FOCUSED on January. STAY FOCUSED on healthcare, education, economy, foreign policy, supreme court appointments, and all the other issues that will affect our children's children. As one of my good friends always says - don't fall for the banana in the tailpipe. IT'S A TRICK, A DISTRACTION, SMOKE & MIRRORS!!!

The Civil War ended over 140 years ago. North and South pitted brother against brother and they shed the blood of their fathers. Now it's time to get on the same side despite our differences and despite our disagreements. This time we know what we're fighting for, and we know who our enemy is. Turn the page. Change the subject.

Yes We [Still] Can.

Rev. Jeremiah Wright Speaks

After much character assassination and condemnation by the media, Rev. Jeremiah Wright has finally emerged and is ready to talk. In an interview with PBS that will air Friday, Wright expressed frustration with how his sermons had been portrayed by the news media and critics of Obama's White House bid. (source)

“I felt it was unfair,” he told PBS' Bill Moyers according to released excerpts. “I felt it was unjust. I felt it was untrue. I felt that those who were doing that, were doing it for some very devious reasons.” Speaking to PBS, Wright did not recant his past sermons. "The persons who have heard the entire sermon understand the communication perfectly," he said.

"The message that is being communicated by the sound bites is exactly what those pushing those sound bites want to communicate," he said, adding later, “I think they wanted to communicate that I am unpatriotic, that I am un-American, that I am filled with hate speech, that I have a cult at Trinity United Church of Christ — and by the way, guess who goes to his church, hint, hint, hint? That’s what they wanted to communicate.”

Wright also said he has never discussed politics with Obama. “He goes out as a politician and says what he has to say as a politician. I continue to be a pastor who speaks to the people of God about the things of God.”

I don't know about you, but I am tired of hearing about this. Apparently, this is the only ammunition that anyone has on Obama and most of it was manufactured and sensationalized for dramatic effect. Here are several reasons why this is not important:

1. gas costs $4/gal

2. teenagers have STDs, are planning bombings and attacks, and beating each other up on video

3. people are losing their homes to foreclosure

4. jobs are shutting down or laying off

5. rice is being rationed at Sams and Costco

6. 8-year olds are being abused and working in slave sweatshops to produce shrimp

We seriously need to start boycotting the news organizations for keeping this mess alive. Enough is enough.

Hillary Clinton Takes Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania primary is now over and Hillary Clinton has been officially declared the winner by a margin of 10%. The Obama camp is not surprised by the win, it was actually expected. Their only concern was to narrow the margin of victory and they have done so significantly as Clinton started off with better than a 20% projected margin of victory at the start of campaigning.

Clinton commended Obama and his campaign, saying they are in many ways "on this journey together."

According to CNN.com, Clinton will pick up a majority of the state's 158 delegates.

But the win still leaves Obama ahead in the race to the Democrats' August convention in Denver, and he is likely to hold that lead unless "the wheels come off his wagon," said CNN analyst David Gergen, a former adviser to both Republican and Democratic candidates.

"He came up short, but it doesn't look like the wheels came off," Gergen said. "That's going to be her problem. I don't see her way to the nomination. The wheels aren't coming off the wagon unless there is some new, big revelation."

Despite her victory, the dynamics of the race are the same as they've been for more than two months. Obama remains the front-runner, and that gets more important the closer the campaign comes to the end of the primary season. "He's content to essentially run out the clock with his narrow lead, while she needs something dramatic to happen," said California-based Democratic consultant Dan Newman.

According to CNN's latest count, Obama leads in the delegate count -- 1,694 to 1,556. He also leads in the popular vote and the number of states won so far this primary season.

Obama congratulated Clinton on her win and looked ahead to the May 6 contests in North Carolina and Indiana.

Clinton now faces a dwindling number of contests, and she's at a steep financial disadvantage. To win, she needs to convince voters that Obama is not electable in November even though he's ahead in the delegate race.

She needs a big influx of cash.

She needs a stunning change of fortune.

Michelle Obama on The Colbert Report

If you missed The Colbert Report on Tuesday when Michelle Obama was on, check out the clip below. It's about 7 minutes long, but it's an easy watch. Stephen Colbert is funny as usual and Mrs. Obama certainly holds her own. She is sharp!

Whites Gone Wild

In case you've been MIA like I have for the past few days, you may not have noticed that after hearing clips (taken out of context) of Rev. Jeremiah Wright's sermons rebuking the less than honorable actions of America and of Barack Obama's speech on race last Tuesday, White folks are MAD! We all have seen those Girls Gone Wild commercials with the girls showing all their business, well white folks are lifting their shirts up all over the TV and they don't care who's watching. I've been reading articles and blog comments and I'm almost amazed at how brazen people are with their negative opinions of Black America. ...I said ALMOST amazed.

It's funny to see how people who have an ingrained sense of entitlement react to being criticized or having their dirty deeds aired. Check out this blog entry by Pat Buchanan "A Brief for Whitey". He is so p.o.'ed about a negro having the audacity to suggest that white America is not the savior of blacks. Black folk better be thankful for being brought to this country as slaves, for being given food stamps and welfare, Section 8, Medicaid, and soup kitchens (I'm not making this up...read his blog). Rev. Wright needs to kiss the ground in thanksgiving of the wonderful privileges and advantages of being an American (bow and kiss the ground...isn't that worship Mr. Buchanan?). Wow.

The irony of all this is that at first they were implying that Barack is a Muslim. Now, they have quickly abandoned that theory and allowed him to be a Christian, but not just a good Christian like them...oh noooo. He's a bad black Christian. They have beef with Barack Obama for staying in his church for 20 years. They want to believe that Barack secretly agrees with everything his pastor said and that he has a burning hatred for this country. They don't care that they have to insult every black church in the nation in order to substantiate their point. Nope. They are white, they are right, and how dare anybody suggest otherwise?! God bless America!

Can I let you in on a little secret Pat? The Christ whom you claim to follow was not considered a friend of his nation. He didn't flow with the status quo. He stood out on controversial issues. He made incendiary and inflammatory statements about the government and it's leaders....yet, you have called yourself a follower of Christ for how long now? Forgive me, maybe your church doesn't read that part of the bible. I guess you're one of those Christians who only adhere to the parts of the bible that validates your agenda.

Not all white people agree with the ignorance of Pat Buchanan. There are many who repudiate that foolishness, just as not all black people embrace the brutal truth of Rev. Wright's messages. But I tell you one thing. Pandora's box has been opened and the conversation about race is now happening all around us.

The race conversation will not be televised. It will take place in homes, churches and on jobs. It will take place in boardrooms and courtrooms, in classrooms and on playgrounds. On the golf course and on the basketball court. Unfortunately, what we have to realize is that this dialogue won't be pleasant to the ears. A lot of feelings will be hurt (black & white) and a lot of toes will get stepped on. In order for a wound to properly heal, you must first get to the root of the problem. There may be bacteria and the stench of infection. There may initially be pus. It may be ugly, uncomfortable, or itch a lot. It's not a pretty process, but eventually after the worst part is over, the wound starts to heal and only memory will serve as a reminder of the pain.

The ugliness that we hear right now, however unpleasant, is absolutely necessary. In order for this conversation to progress and prosper, we have to allow people room to be imperfect, to misunderstand, and to misinterpret. We have to be big enough to forgive and humble enough to admit our own shortcomings. We have to take into account a person's life experiences and not dismiss them as less important than our own. We have to expose, and then we have to cover. But, most of all we have to listen and after we have heard and understood...we have to Change.

Yes We Can.

Barak Obama's Grandmother: What Did You Say About My Grandbaby?!

Don't ever mess with a black woman's son or grandson. Whether native African or African-American, a black woman will tie her hair up, take her jewelry off, slip out of her high heels (or dust her feet off) and make you regret the day you ever opened your mouth to say something crazy about her boy.

(on a side note, look at the scene behind her...that Kenyan sky is calling me home!)


Barak's grandmother is none too pleased with the way the media has been misrepresenting him (Click here for full story). And who could blame her? American mamas go to bat for their sons all the time. When Junebug goes to jail, who is the one who gets on TV to declare his innocence? -Mama. Who is the one who will let a grown man move in with his family until he gets back on his feet? -Grandma. They are the ones who will cover for their boys no matter what they do. Murder, drugs, theft, babies galore...a black woman's son can do no wrong. She will always stand up for baby boy because she knows who he is, even though he may not act like it.


So how much more should Sarah Hussein Obama stand up for her grandbaby all the way in Kenya! He's a brilliant man who through his personal and spiritual life, career choices and community activism has demonstrated compassion, character and integrity. The scripture says that a good name is to be desired more than great wealth. Despite the sinister portrait that his opponents have tried to paint, Sarah knows that her grandboy has a good name...because it's her name too and she knows who she is.


"They" brought us to this country and stripped us of our identities. They gave us new names belonging to the slave master. Most of us don't really know who we are, who our ancestors are and the rich legacy they left us. We don't feel connected to the rest of the world. We have no idea that we have other family members around the world who will stand up for us if we could only get our names back.


"They" are angry because this African-American won't let them change his identity. He has the audacity to use that name to run for this nation's highest office. Didn't he get the memo? They took names like that and locked them up over 400 years ago. So now, they mock him and try to make him feel ashamed of having such a completely non-American name. They demonize it and plant seeds of fear of terrorism to cover their real concern. I've even seen comments suggesting that he may be the antichrist. (Newsflash: If he is the antichrist, is not voting for him in an election going to halt his agenda? The antichrist has a predestined assignment that can't be changed by human intervention. It's already been written. If you believe your salvation is sure, then what are you worried about?)


You see, it's not the Black man in the White House with the name Hussein who's itinerary they imply is outlined in the book of Revelation that they're really afraid of. They are afraid of the Black man in the White House with the name Hussein who's true agenda is outlined by the prophet Isaiah. He will build the old waste places and repair the breach. He may incite us to rise up. Yes, they fear our ancestral names. They fear that through the eyes of Obama, we will find our true culture, embrace our ancestry and reclaim our names. On that day, we will collectively wake up and realize who we really are.



"What's your name boy?!"
"Barak Hussein Obama! "


Isaiah 58:12 "And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in."