posh politics

Happy Birthday Michelle O!

2012-01-17T08:36:00.000-08:00

If you haven’t heard, today is the 48th birthday of the First Lady of the United States of America, Michelle Obama. Tweets, Facebook messages, emails and the like, are all abuzz in reference to this day. This BLOG IS NO DIFFERENT! Not only is the first lady POSH, but she is politically savvy, tenacious, intelligent, and a good role model!

Recent press on the #FLOTUS include her appearance on iCarly:

Photo Source: MrsO.com and AP

Michelle recently tweeted: “There are some big iCarly fans in our household, so we're all pretty excited about today's event with military kids and the cast."

And her recent sultry RED fashions at the BET Honors awards show:

Photo Source: CourtneyLuv.com

The Obama-Biden campaign has also helped launch a NEW TWITTER PAGE (@MichelleObama) for the First Lady. Tweets from her are signed “-mo”. In just a few days, the account has well over 300,000 followers.

SIDENOTE: I am GLAD they got that straightened out… there were soooo many “PERP” accounts on #twitter! Can we say #GETALIFE or #KILLYASELF.

Join us in wishing Michelle a wonderful birthday! Sign her card!

See President Obama’s sentiments here

From Broken Memories to Pay Day: A Website that helps you Sell what you NEVER LIKED Anyway

2011-12-28T06:39:00.000-08:00

Good Magazine reports on one of the most innovative ideas for women out there... Taken right out the pages of How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Waiting to Excel, Sex and the City, Girlfriends, and the like comes an idea too good to be true - an "ebay" - like site to sell ALL that "stuff" from your relationship that you just can't look at any more....

Good Magazine says, thanks to a new startup, Never Liked It Anyway, post-relationship closet cleansing can be productive, financially lucrative—and eco-friendly. The site's owner, Bella, came up with the idea when she found herself in possession of a useless plane ticket after a pre-Christmas breakup. Using a simple WordPress site and no additional funding, she crafted a sort of eBay-meets-support-group where users can sell items of sentimental value at a "break-up" price and vent on the Internet while they're at it.

Just click on the link and you will see the Bargain of the Week, a wedding dress with the title "I Hope Your Luckier than Me".

It goes without saying that break-ups don't just create emotional baggage, but literal baggage as well.......Here's the opportunity to turn that around. One person's relationship casualty could be another's fashion couture! One woman's plane ticket filled with memories, hurt, and loss, could be the "saving grace" for another....

The idea is definitely POSH, both smart and fashionable.... take a second, look around that bedroom of yours, is there something from an EX you may want to sell? Chances are... you never liked it anyway!

MICHELLE GOT A BIG O' BUTT? WELL, A US CONGRESSMAN THINKS SO

2011-12-22T08:19:00.000-08:00

US Congressman Sensenbrenner was over heard criticizing the first lady for her figure this past Wednesday.

"She lectures us on eating right while she has a large posterior herself," says the lawmaker as reported in Mediabistro.com, the Huffingtonpost, and ABCNews.

The Huffington Post continues to expound on the issue saying, The most bothersome issue here is the conflation of two entirely separate matters: the First Lady's (natural) physique and her campaign for healthy eating and physical fitness.

Michelle has traveled the country for her "Let's Move!" campaign for over a year, talking about healthy eating, promoting a more user-friendly pyramid graphic, getting stores like Walmart to stock their shelves with nutritious items and playing sports with kids.

Regardless of the true intent of the Congressman's comment (which has been "cleaned up" by a Capitol Hill aide), we celebrate our #FLOTUS and the beauty she eminates!

Read more from Huffington Post.

Just for fun .... Listen to WRECKX - N - EFFECT who could have said it better than the Congressman

15 (POSH OR NOT) THINGS that BLACK girls do on FACEBOOK

2011-12-19T09:24:00.000-08:00

Do you fall victim to ANY or ALL of the following?

1. Invent middle names that declare their mantra of the moment such as Keisha blessedandbeautiful Johnson or T’Andrea OhSoClassssssy Washington.

2. Complain about their enemies without actually naming the person, knowing that the offender will read the status: “It’s sad how some people are SO PETTY and can’t mind their OWN BUSINESS. I’m gonna pray for them because they need Jesus.”

3. Transform into social media ministers by posting bible verses or just making up inspirational quotes. “Men are like a box of Goobers. They seem sweet at first but they’re really just a bunch of nuts.”

4. Use their Facebook status updates to yell at the stars of Real Housewives of Atlanta, Basketball Wives and Love & Hip Hop. (You know NeNe can’t “hear” you, right?)

5. Post pictures of their Big Chop and other photos to document their “natural hair journey.” (White girls, if you’re confused go ask your black girlfriends what Big Chop means.)

6. To show off their new hairstyle, dress, or SHOES (added BY POSH) they take a picture in front of the bathroom mirror, with the door frame and toilet in the shot.

7. Stalk ex boyfriends. This is called “watching your back.”

8. Stalk current boyfriends. This is called “research.”

9. Declare there are no good men left anywhere on the planet Earth.

10. Pretend to be in relationships with celebrities. “Did you see my husband Kobe out there?” “About to watch my boo Idris in this new movie…”

11. Ask for help with such life-changing decisions as “Should I cook Oodles of Noodles or Hamburger Helper for dinner?”

12. Make a statement like “I’m SO pissed right now!” to get sympathy in comments, but when people ask what’s wrong they refuse to explain.

13. Providing play-by-play for every menial task on their to-do list: “Today I have to go to the bank, then go do this laundry, and pick up some bobby pins from Walgreens…”

14. Announce they need a “new start” and therefore will be deleting dozens of Facebook friends.

15. Complain that they don’t understand “that Twitter thing” and will never EVER use it.

Caught on the web from VERY POSH blogs including Brown Girl Next Door and Georgia Mae.

This list was written after 15 Things White Girls Love to Do on Facebook, a blog post by Mary of Fibromy-Awesome went VIRAL and got popular throughout the social space.

Plan B: Aisle NEVER?

2011-12-08T11:36:00.000-08:00

It seems like President Obama may not be as progressive as once thought? After a decision by his health secretary, President Obama has public defended and supported the decision to NOT allow Plan B contraception next to condoms in your neighborhood drug store.

Is President Obama too conservative for the NEXT generation or just a concerned parent?

Yahoo News reports: "As the father of two daughters," he said, "I think it is important for us to make sure that we apply some common sense to various rules when it comes to over-the-counter medicine."

The president spoke the morning after his administration stunned major doctors' groups and women's health advocates with the decision.

The argument seems to follow that about: “do guns kill people or do people kill people?” Will the availability of Plan B cause more sex or will people cause more sex (and tangentially promiscuity, STDs, unwed pregnant mothers, abortions, welfare cases, etc)? What do you think?

Regardless, the #POTUS seems to be making more and more public decisions as we get closer to the 2012 election. This makes for a VERY interesting election season. Read the full article on Yahoo! News.

Frappes for Food Stamps: Posh or Not?

2011-12-03T08:19:00.000-08:00

A Fox investigation has revealed that government issued subsidies, in this case, FOOD STAMPS, are being used for "luxury" food purchases at Starbucks. Food stamps have been thought of as mechanisms for financial assistance on " food staples" and "more necessary" items, and therefore this new revelation is reported to have caused "OUTRAGE" across the country.

Since hearing the news, public comments arise:

'It's crazy, they're overpriced as it is. That's money that somebody could be eating with -- a loaf of bread, a gallon of milk. There are a lot of loopholes.'

'If tax dollars are being used to feed poor people in need then fine, but use the tax dollars for staples, not luxuries. Change the law. End the waste and fraud.'

According to guidelines from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, food stamp users cannot buy hot foods or foods that will be eaten in the store. However, store registers classify items as “groceries”, and if it’s cold, its valid for food stamp purchase.

A spokesperson for the State Department of Human Services said they weren't aware of the loophole in the program being exploited and the issue will be investigated.

I’m not sure this issue is posh or not? Starbucks food isn’t the most “filling”, but at the end of the day, should the federal government be able to regulate what one purchases to this extreme?

Black Faced Cosby Show Characters: Top Halloween Costume of 2011?

2011-11-15T07:10:00.001-08:00

source: Huffington Post

After reports of a picture on Facebook, University of Southern Mississippi officials placed members of the Phi Mu sorority on probation for attending a Halloween party dressed in BLACKFACE to depict the Huxtable family from “The Cosby Show”. The Halloween party was ‘80’s themed.

Blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used in minstrel shows, and later vaudeville, in which performers create a stereotyped caricature of a black person. The practice gained popularity during the 19th century and propagated American racist stereotypes such as the "happy-go-lucky darky on the plantation" or the "dandified coon ".

According to the Associated Press, Joe Paul, vice president of student affairs, says the executive officers of Phi Mu and the women involved met on Sunday with a group of African-American student leaders at the university.

Phi Mu’s national president says that the choice of costumes does not reflect the values of the sorority. This may be true, but it does make one wonder. What does this choice of BLACKFACE post-Obama reflect?

Related: Have you seen Rudy and Olivia Lately??

source: Huffington Post

#OCCUPYSOCIALMEDIA: Your New Internet Indulgence

2011-11-07T09:57:00.000-08:00

Source: Generaton X, Y, and Z.

Everyone has a guilty pleasure, a tv show they watch that they are not proud of. A piece of candy that makes them “woo-sah”. A website that they only view from their personal tablets…. Well here’s another one to add to your list, and you can feel good about it too!

In the wake of social media activism, internet movements, real-life movements, AND OCCUPATIONS comes a way to keep up with the #Occupy Movement. It’s a site called The Occupationalist. It provides real time updates, all day, everyday of the occupy movement and who’s talking about these movements via social media across the nation.

The #Occupy movement started as a protest in New York. Since these events on Wall Street, additional movements have started in several major U.S. cities including Denver, Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, St. Louis and San Diego.

Digatial Trends says, The Occupationalist is a social media aggregator that combines constantly updated content from Tumblr, Twitter, Google Video, Meetup.com and Foursquare into a single page.

The Twitter feeds are organized by hashtags specific to the overall movement and various cities. For instance, tweets with the #OWS hashtag are shown on the left side of the page and tweets using hashtags with specific city names, like #OCCUPYBALTIMORE, #OCCUPYALTANTA, etc.
IMHO, we all want to keep up with the #occupy movement in some way shape or form. We hope they find an ultimate purpose. We hope they keep going and FIGHT the 1%. Wellllllp, here’s your way to secretly support, see who openly supports, and learn more about the #occupymovement in your area.

Learn more about the Occupationalist and its creators.

ATLANTA YOU ARE INVITED: REAL MEN WEAR PINK

2011-10-26T18:09:00.000-07:00

An Evening of Cocktails to Aid in the Fight Against Breast Cancer

Performance By:Musiq Soulchild

Hosted By:Camille Binder Ryan Glover Bryan Michael Cox April Love Eboni Elektra

Dr. Jacqueline Walters

Thursday, October 27t,h 20118pm-11pm
W Atlanta Downtown45 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd Atlanta, GA

RSVP Required:RMWPAtlanta@gmail.com

Have a cocktail on us, because real men wear pink and EVERYONE is looking for a cure!

NEW DATE FOR THE MLK MEMORIAL COMMEMORATION

2011-09-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

Get your children together, email your friends again, and find your camera because the event to commemorate one of the most historic men of our time has been re-scheduled.

Hurricane Irene may have stopped the party last time, but the event must go on!!!! Let's keep the word spreading and bring out support in numbers for such a historic monument and event.

As reported on Fox5Atlanta.com, organizers have set new date in October for dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington.

Executive Architect Ed Jackson Jr. told The Associated Press on Sunday that the memorial will now be dedicated Oct. 16. A formal announcement is expected soon.

The dedication had been planned for Aug. 28, the 48th anniversary of King's "I Have a Dream" speech. But it was delayed by Hurricane Irene.

Read more on Fox 5 Atlanta #MLKmemorial2011

POSH POLL: How Long Does it Take Apathy to Set In?

2011-09-09T07:14:00.000-07:00

I too, like many Americans, can remember where I was when September 11th happened in 2001.

I was a new student at the University of Pittsburgh and a Pathfinder (tour guide). I was giving a tour of the campus and entered the student center. I then started to notice that my tour attendees stopped paying attention to me. Astonished, because I thought I was the best thing since sliced bread, I started to look at where there attention was directed. This gaze brought me to a television screen, where I saw a video of a plane hitting the first World Trade Center tower.
“Is this a movie?” they asked when they noticed I had stopped talking. “Do you show movies on this television in the student center?”

I was frozen. As you know, it wasn’t a movie.

We never showed movies during time at Pitt.

Fast forward to today- September 9, 2011.

Though that moment, and the ones that followed, were those that I would never forget, it was 10 years ago. I have never been to Ground Zero. I never had issues contacting a loved one in New York during this time. I never saw the smoke, the rubble, or the body parts first hand. In a way, I was removed. It’s real, but then it’s unreal for me.

Am I not American because I don’t sit and watch every special to REMEMBER 9/11? Am I a “bad person” because I have rolled my eyes at the plethora of specials, ads, news clippings, and stories about THAT DAY and the DAYS after?

Maybe I am just a victim of one of the most pervasive illnesses to affect the American people. One that can stay within the body for years on end, tends to show limited symptoms, and can only be detected when something like “a need for action” flares up. This illness is called apathy.I have always wondered, when, and how, does apathy occur. Furthermore, how long does it take for apathy to set in?

Apathy has been a word thrown around whenever people disagree on how much one “cares” or “should care” about a certain subject. This level of care is ALWAYS relative, however, and can be manifested in several different ways. I mean, some people argue that vehicles like social media has allowed apathy to become even more common. Does a facebook status denote care? Does this make someone more/less apathetic than me?

If I follow #remember911 , have I done my part?

I’m not saying that I “don’t care” about what happened during 9/11. I’m not saying that I do not feel bad for those whose lives were lost and for their families. What I am saying, however, is that I may be slightly apathetic about the issue.

I’m guessing it took 10 years for me to get that way.

J.O.B: We Cannot Wait 14 more Months

2011-09-08T17:28:00.000-07:00

Did you hear/see President Obama's speech?

If not, here it is from our Friends at the Washington Post

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, and fellow Americans:

Tonight we meet at an urgent time for our country. We continue to face an economic crisis that has left millions of our neighbors jobless, and a political crisis that has made things worse.
This past week, reporters have been asking “What will this speech mean for the President? What will it mean for Congress? How will it affect their polls, and the next election?”

But the millions of Americans who are watching right now: they don’t care about politics. They have real life concerns. Many have spent months looking for work. Others are doing their best just to scrape by – giving up nights out with the family to save on gas or make the mortgage; postponing retirement to send a kid to college.

These men and women grew up with faith in an America where hard work and responsibility paid off. They believed in a country where everyone gets a fair shake and does their fair share – where if you stepped up, did your job, and were loyal to your company, that loyalty would be rewarded with a decent salary and good benefits; maybe a raise once in awhile. If you did the right thing, you could make it in America.

But for decades now, Americans have watched that compact erode. They have seen the deck too often stacked against them. And they know that Washington hasn’t always put their interests first.

The people of this country work hard to meet their responsibilities. The question tonight is whether we’ll meet ours. The question is whether, in the face of an ongoing national crisis, we can stop the political circus and actually do something to help the economy; whether we can restore some of the fairness and security that has defined this nation since our beginning.
Those of us here tonight can’t solve all of our nation’s woes. Ultimately, our recovery will be driven not by Washington, but by our businesses and our workers. But we can help. We can make a difference. There are steps we can take right now to improve people’s lives.

I am sending this Congress a plan that you should pass right away. It’s called the American Jobs Act. There should be nothing controversial about this piece of legislation. Everything in here is the kind of proposal that’s been supported by both Democrats and Republicans – including many who sit here tonight. And everything in this bill will be paid for. Everything.

The purpose of the American Jobs Act is simple: to put more people back to work and more money in the pockets of those who are working. It will create more jobs for construction workers, more jobs for teachers, more jobs for veterans, and more jobs for the long-term unemployed. It will provide a tax break for companies who hire new workers, and it will cut payroll taxes in half for every working American and every small business. It will provide a jolt to an economy that has stalled, and give companies confidence that if they invest and hire, there will be customers for their products and services. You should pass this jobs plan right away.

Everyone here knows that small businesses are where most new jobs begin. And you know that while corporate profits have come roaring back, smaller companies haven’t. So for everyone who speaks so passionately about making life easier for “job creators,” this plan is for you.

Pass this jobs bill, and starting tomorrow, small businesses will get a tax cut if they hire new workers or raise workers’ wages. Pass this jobs bill, and all small business owners will also see their payroll taxes cut in half next year. If you have 50 employees making an average salary, that’s an $80,000 tax cut. And all businesses will be able to continue writing off the investments they make in 2012.

It’s not just Democrats who have supported this kind of proposal. Fifty House Republicans have proposed the same payroll tax cut that’s in this plan. You should pass it right away.
Pass this jobs bill, and we can put people to work rebuilding America. Everyone here knows that we have badly decaying roads and bridges all over this country. Our highways are clogged with traffic. Our skies are the most congested in the world.

This is inexcusable. Building a world-class transportation system is part of what made us an economic superpower. And now we’re going to sit back and watch China build newer airports and faster railroads? At a time when millions of unemployed construction workers could build them right here in America?

There are private construction companies all across America just waiting to get to work. There’s a bridge that needs repair between Ohio and Kentucky that’s on one of the busiest trucking routes in North America. A public transit project in Houston that will help clear up one of the worst areas of traffic in the country. And there are schools throughout this country that desperately need renovating. How can we expect our kids to do their best in places that are literally falling apart? This is America. Every child deserves a great school – and we can give it to them, if we act now.

The American Jobs Act will repair and modernize at least 35,000 schools. It will put people to work right now fixing roofs and windows; installing science labs and high-speed internet in classrooms all across this country. It will rehabilitate homes and businesses in communities hit hardest by foreclosures. It will jumpstart thousands of transportation projects across the country. And to make sure the money is properly spent and for good purposes, we’re building on reforms we’ve already put in place. No more earmarks. No more boondoggles. No more bridges to nowhere. We’re cutting the red tape that prevents some of these projects from getting started as quickly as possible. And we’ll set up an independent fund to attract private dollars and issue loans based on two criteria: how badly a construction project is needed and how much good it would do for the economy.

This idea came from a bill written by a Texas Republican and a Massachusetts Democrat. The idea for a big boost in construction is supported by America’s largest business organization and America’s largest labor organization. It’s the kind of proposal that’s been supported in the past by Democrats and Republicans alike. You should pass it right away.

Pass this jobs bill, and thousands of teachers in every state will go back to work. These are the men and women charged with preparing our children for a world where the competition has never been tougher. But while they’re adding teachers in places like South Korea, we’re laying them off in droves. It’s unfair to our kids. It undermines their future and ours. And it has to stop. Pass this jobs bill, and put our teachers back in the classroom where they belong.

Pass this jobs bill, and companies will get extra tax credits if they hire America’s veterans. We ask these men and women to leave their careers, leave their families, and risk their lives to fight for our country. The last thing they should have to do is fight for a job when they come home.
Pass this bill, and hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged young people will have the hope and dignity of a summer job next year. And their parents, low-income Americans who desperately want to work, will have more ladders out of poverty.

Pass this jobs bill, and companies will get a $4,000 tax credit if they hire anyone who has spent more than six months looking for a job. We have to do more to help the long-term unemployed in their search for work. This jobs plan builds on a program in Georgia that several Republican leaders have highlighted, where people who collect unemployment insurance participate in temporary work as a way to build their skills while they look for a permanent job. The plan also extends unemployment insurance for another year. If the millions of unemployed Americans stopped getting this insurance, and stopped using that money for basic necessities, it would be a devastating blow to this economy. Democrats and Republicans in this Chamber have supported unemployment insurance plenty of times in the past. At this time of prolonged hardship, you should pass it again – right away.

Pass this jobs bill, and the typical working family will get a fifteen hundred dollar tax cut next year. Fifteen hundred dollars that would have been taken out of your paycheck will go right into your pocket. This expands on the tax cut that Democrats and Republicans already passed for this year. If we allow that tax cut to expire – if we refuse to act – middle-class families will get hit with a tax increase at the worst possible time. We cannot let that happen. I know some of you have sworn oaths to never raise any taxes on anyone for as long as you live. Now is not the time to carve out an exception and raise middle-class taxes, which is why you should pass this bill right away.

This is the American Jobs Act. It will lead to new jobs for construction workers, teachers, veterans, first responders, young people and the long-term unemployed. It will provide tax credits to companies that hire new workers, tax relief for small business owners, and tax cuts for the middle-class.

And here’s the other thing I want the American people to know: the American Jobs Act will not add to the deficit. It will be paid for. And here’s how:
The agreement we passed in July will cut government spending by about $1 trillion over the next ten years. It also charges this Congress to come up with an additional $1.5 trillion in savings by Christmas. Tonight, I’m asking you to increase that amount so that it covers the full cost of the American Jobs Act. And a week from Monday, I’ll be releasing a more ambitious deficit plan – a plan that will not only cover the cost of this jobs bill, but stabilize our debt in the long run.
This approach is basically the one I’ve been advocating for months.

In addition to the trillion dollars of spending cuts I’ve already signed into law, it’s a balanced plan that would reduce the deficit by making additional spending cuts; by making modest adjustments to health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid; and by reforming our tax code in a way that asks the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations to pay their fair share. What’s more, the spending cuts wouldn’t happen so abruptly that they’d be a drag on our economy, or prevent us from helping small business and middle-class families get back on their feet right away.

Now, I realize there are some in my party who don’t think we should make any changes at all to Medicare and Medicaid, and I understand their concerns. But here’s the truth. Millions of Americans rely on Medicare in their retirement. And millions more will do so in the future. They pay for this benefit during their working years. They earn it. But with an aging population and rising health care costs, we are spending too fast to sustain the program. And if we don’t gradually reform the system while protecting current beneficiaries, it won’t be there when future retirees need it. We have to reform Medicare to strengthen it.

I’m also well aware that there are many Republicans who don’t believe we should raise taxes on those who are most fortunate and can best afford it. But here is what every American knows. While most people in this country struggle to make ends meet, a few of the most affluent citizens and corporations enjoy tax breaks and loopholes that nobody else gets. Right now, Warren Buffet pays a lower tax rate than his secretary – an outrage he has asked us to fix. We need a tax code where everyone gets a fair shake, and everybody pays their fair share. And I believe the vast majority of wealthy Americans and CEOs are willing to do just that, if it helps the economy grow and gets our fiscal house in order.

I’ll also offer ideas to reform a corporate tax code that stands as a monument to special interest influence in Washington. By eliminating pages of loopholes and deductions, we can lower one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world. Our tax code shouldn’t give an advantage to companies that can afford the best-connected lobbyists. It should give an advantage to companies that invest and create jobs here in America.

So we can reduce this deficit, pay down our debt, and pay for this jobs plan in the process. But in order to do this, we have to decide what our priorities are. We have to ask ourselves, “What’s the best way to grow the economy and create jobs?”

Should we keep tax loopholes for oil companies? Or should we use that money to give small business owners a tax credit when they hire new workers? Because we can’t afford to do both. Should we keep tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires? Or should we put teachers back to work so our kids can graduate ready for college and good jobs? Right now, we can’t afford to do both.

This isn’t political grandstanding. This isn’t class warfare. This is simple math. These are real choices that we have to make. And I’m pretty sure I know what most Americans would choose. It’s not even close. And it’s time for us to do what’s right for our future.

The American Jobs Act answers the urgent need to create jobs right away. But we can’t stop there. As I’ve argued since I ran for this office, we have to look beyond the immediate crisis and start building an economy that lasts into the future – an economy that creates good, middle-class jobs that pay well and offer security. We now live in a world where technology has made it possible for companies to take their business anywhere. If we want them to start here and stay here and hire here, we have to be able to out-build, out-educate, and out-innovate every other country on Earth.

This task, of making America more competitive for the long haul, is a job for all of us. For government and for private companies. For states and for local communities – and for every American citizen. All of us will have to up our game. All of us will have to change the way we do business.

My administration can and will take some steps to improve our competitiveness on our own. For example, if you’re a small business owner who has a contract with the federal government, we’re going to make sure you get paid a lot faster than you do now. We’re also planning to cut away the red tape that prevents too many rapidly-growing start-up companies from raising capital and going public. And to help responsible homeowners, we’re going to work with Federal housing agencies to help more people refinance their mortgages at interest rates that are now near 4% -- a step that can put more than $2,000 a year in a family’s pocket, and give a lift to an economy still burdened by the drop in housing prices.

Other steps will require Congressional action. Today you passed reform that will speed up the outdated patent process, so that entrepreneurs can turn a new idea into a new business as quickly as possible. That’s the kind of action we need. Now it’s time to clear the way for a series of trade agreements that would make it easier for American companies to sell their products in Panama, Colombia, and South Korea – while also helping the workers whose jobs have been affected by global competition. If Americans can buy Kias and Hyundais, I want to see folks in South Korea driving Fords and Chevys and Chryslers. I want to see more products sold around the world stamped with three proud words: “Made in America.”

And on all of our efforts to strengthen competitiveness, we need to look for ways to work side-by-side with America’s businesses. That’s why I’ve brought together a Jobs Council of leaders from different industries who are developing a wide range of new ideas to help companies grow and create jobs.

Already, we’ve mobilized business leaders to train 10,000 American engineers a year, by providing company internships and training. Other businesses are covering tuition for workers who learn new skills at community colleges. And we’re going to make sure the next generation of manufacturing takes root not in China or Europe, but right here, in the United States of America. If we provide the right incentives and support – and if we make sure our trading partners play by the rules – we can be the ones to build everything from fuel-efficient cars to advanced biofuels to semiconductors that are sold all over the world. That’s how America can be number one again. That’s how America will be number one again.

Now, I realize that some of you have a different theory on how to grow the economy. Some of you sincerely believe that the only solution to our economic challenges is to simply cut most government spending and eliminate most government regulations.

Well, I agree that we can’t afford wasteful spending, and I will continue to work with Congress to get rid of it. And I agree that there are some rules and regulations that put an unnecessary burden on businesses at a time when they can least afford it. That’s why I ordered a review of all government regulations. So far, we’ve identified over 500 reforms, which will save billions of dollars over the next few years. We should have no more regulation than the health, safety, and security of the American people require. Every rule should meet that common sense test.

But what we can’t do – what I won’t do – is let this economic crisis be used as an excuse to wipe out the basic protections that Americans have counted on for decades. I reject the idea that we need to ask people to choose between their jobs and their safety. I reject the argument that says for the economy to grow, we have to roll back protections that ban hidden fees by credit card companies, or rules that keep our kids from being exposed to mercury, or laws that prevent the health insurance industry from shortchanging patients. I reject the idea that we have to strip away collective bargaining rights to compete in a global economy. We shouldn’t be in a race to the bottom, where we try to offer the cheapest labor and the worst pollution standards. America should be in a race to the top. And I believe that’s a race we can win.

In fact, this larger notion that the only thing we can do to restore prosperity is just dismantle government, refund everyone’s money, let everyone write their own rules, and tell everyone they’re on their own – that’s not who we are. That’s not the story of America.

Yes, we are rugged individualists. Yes, we are strong and self-reliant. And it has been the drive and initiative of our workers and entrepreneurs that has made this economy the engine and envy of the world.

But there has always been another thread running throughout our history – a belief that we are all connected; and that there are some things we can only do together, as a nation.

We all remember Abraham Lincoln as the leader who saved our Union. But in the middle of a Civil War, he was also a leader who looked to the future – a Republican president who mobilized government to build the transcontinental railroad; launch the National Academy of Sciences; and set up the first land grant colleges. And leaders of both parties have followed the example he set.
Ask yourselves – where would we be right now if the people who sat here before us decided not to build our highways and our bridges; our dams and our airports? What would this country be like if we had chosen not to spend money on public high schools, or research universities, or community colleges? Millions of returning heroes, including my grandfather, had the opportunity to go to school because of the GI Bill. Where would we be if they hadn’t had that chance?

How many jobs would it have cost us if past Congresses decided not to support the basic research that led to the Internet and the computer chip? What kind of country would this be if this Chamber had voted down Social Security or Medicare just because it violated some rigid idea about what government could or could not do? How many Americans would have suffered as a result?

No single individual built America on their own. We built it together. We have been, and always will be, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all; a nation with responsibilities to ourselves and with responsibilities to one another. Members of Congress, it is time for us to meet our responsibilities.

Every proposal I’ve laid out tonight is the kind that’s been supported by Democrats and Republicans in the past. Every proposal I’ve laid out tonight will be paid for. And every proposal is designed to meet the urgent needs of our people and our communities.

I know there’s been a lot of skepticism about whether the politics of the moment will allow us to pass this jobs plan – or any jobs plan. Already, we’re seeing the same old press releases and tweets flying back and forth. Already, the media has proclaimed that it’s impossible to bridge our differences. And maybe some of you have decided that those differences are so great that we can only resolve them at the ballot box.

But know this: the next election is fourteen months away. And the people who sent us here – the people who hired us to work for them – they don’t have the luxury of waiting fourteen months. Some of them are living week to week; paycheck to paycheck; even day to day. They need help, and they need it now.

I don’t pretend that this plan will solve all our problems. It shouldn’t be, nor will it be, the last plan of action we propose. What’s guided us from the start of this crisis hasn’t been the search for a silver bullet. It’s been a commitment to stay at it – to be persistent – to keep trying every new idea that works, and listen to every good proposal, no matter which party comes up with it.
Regardless of the arguments we’ve had in the past, regardless of the arguments we’ll have in the future, this plan is the right thing to do right now. You should pass it. And I intend to take that message to every corner of this country. I also ask every American who agrees to lift your voice and tell the people who are gathered here tonight that you want action now. Tell Washington that doing nothing is not an option. Remind us that if we act as one nation, and one people, we have it within our power to meet this challenge.

President Kennedy once said, “Our problems are man-made – therefore they can be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants.”

These are difficult years for our country. But we are Americans. We are tougher than the times that we live in, and we are bigger than our politics have been. So let’s meet the moment. Let’s get to work, and show the world once again why the United States of America remains the greatest nation on Earth. Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.

President Obama Sets Two Hollywood Fundraisers (Exclusive)

2011-08-31T11:48:00.000-07:00

from The Hollywood Reporter ...

Obama will return to Los Angeles on September 26 for a pair of events designed to attract entertainment industry supporters.

In the second of what is sure to be a series of fundraising visits to Hollywood donors, President Barack Obama will return to Los Angeles on September 26th for a pair of events scaled to accommodate a variety of incomes.

The first of the two fundraisers -- both of which are designed to attract entertainment industry supporters -- is scheduled for 4:30 pm at the House of Blues on Sunset Boulevard.

A mere $250 will get a single person in the door, while $10,000 is the cost to take a photo with the president. Later that evening, Obama will network with the heavy hitters at Fig & Olive restaurant on chic Melrose Place. Thirty-five-thousand dollars allows you to bring a date. If you're on your own, it will only set you back $17,900. The main event will be a chance to participate in a Q&A with the president.

Sources say that invitations to both fundraisers are set to go out this week.

Read More

Have you heard of the “DO SOMETHING” Awards??

2011-08-16T06:33:00.000-07:00

The Do Something Awards have grown steadily since 2007, being seen on both The CW and as a part of the 2008-9 Teen Choice Awards. Celebrity presenters & participants have included hot acts like Scarlett Johansson, Usher, Lauren Conrad, Nick Cannon, Akon, and more.

This year's ceremony, which was held last Sunday and airs Thursday, August 18 at 9 p.m. EST on VH1, awards both stars and young activists tacking everything from hunger to refugee issues. Five young semi-finalists under 25 have the chance to win $100,000 for their cause. The winner will be announced Thursday.

In a world of glitz and glamour, it is always refreshing to hear about celebrities using their “influence” to do good and also about the organizations that recognize this good.

Do you want to see who was the best dressed? Check out this list from In Style

Learn more about the Do Something! Awards

Some Georgians Question Current and Proposed Congressional District Lines

2011-08-09T13:16:00.000-07:00

(EVENT Recap- August 8, 2011)

Ebenezer Baptist Church was filled with over 150 people attendees interested in speaking and asking questions about current and proposed Congressional District lines at a panel discussion hosted by Congressman John Lewis on Monday night. By the time the floor was opened for questions at 7:30pm, the line stretched down the center aisle and almost to the door. The event was proposed from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

Questions from the audience centered around “Voter ID” laws that have passed throughout the nation, the Voting Rights Act, and the current “bi partisan” redistricting exercise happening in Georgia. Some even questioned their current district lines and their current Congressional representation and took “microphone time” to express these concerns.

How can the community get involved? How can voter id laws be stopped and/or challenged? What does the Voting Rights Act mean in 2011?

There to answer questions was a panel of experts from all sides of the issue including:

• GA Congressman John Lewis: Georgia’s Fifth District Representative
• GA Representative Stacey Abrams: Democratic House Minority Leader
• Julie Fernandes: United States Deputy Assistant Attorney General Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice
• Jerry Gonzalez: Director, Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials
• Elisabeth MacNamara: President, League of Women Voters of the United States
• Fred McBride, Ph.D: Redistricting Coordinator I Research Analyst, American Civil Liberties Union, Voting Rights Project
• Bill Nigut: Southeast Regional Director of the AntiDefamation League
• Judy Yi: Programs Director, Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc.
• Sally Yates – United States Attorney Northern District of Georgia, Department of Justice (moderator)

Though each had something poignant to say, Representative Stacey Abrams was the most informative on actions in Georgia. She stated that re-districting decisions were not just about what her district will look like, they were more about each Georgian in the room and who would represent them. Congressman John Lewis also spoke about the importance of the Voting Rights Act and access to the ballot box. He alluded that redistricting, or “misdistricting” as I call it, in Georgia is new age discrimination and as informed voters, we must all be aware.

After the event came to a close, many attendees stormed the panel to ask personal questions and to voice concerns.

Proving to be timely, the event was held just before the Georgia General Assembly reports back to work for a Special Session on Redistricting. The special session begins on August 15th.

ENDING THE NATION’S DEBT PROBLEM ON THE BACKS OF BLACK GRADUATES?

2011-08-02T07:13:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning shocked.

As we all know, Congress is currently preparing to vote on a debt ceiling deal struck between President Obama and congressional Republicans and Democrats (arguably), in order to save the economic health of our great Country. Many expect this deal to close today at noon with a final passage vote by the U.S. Senate.

What you (me) may not know is the way in which this legislation could ultimately change the federal student aid program and money granted to graduate students, more specifically, for school.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicts that the new “debt deal” legislation would
eliminate the subsidized loan program for graduate students.

More specifically, CBO states in a letter to the U.S. Congress, “Beginning July 1, 2012, the bill would eliminate the interest subsidy on subsidized student loans for almost all graduate students while a borrower is in school, in the post-school grace period, and during any authorized deferment period.“

Current and future graduate students would not only be paying more for graduate school, but they would be paying MORE SOONER! Students would NEED TO PAY INTEREST WHILE IN SCHOOL!

Though it seems like this “deal” has already been made, graduate students, especially African American students, across the United States need to be made aware of this change. Many graduate students depend on these loans to help fund their graduate studies. Eliminating such funds will make it that much harder for African Americans to close the achievement gap and continue on to graduate school. Private funders and organizations, non-profits, university academic departments, and more will need to increase their support of graduate students to keep them in school.

This bill will also disproportionately affect the number of African Americans receiving graduate degrees from HBCUs and other private institutions. As these schools continue to cost higher than their public counterparts, many graduate students who attend these schools MUST DEPEND on unsubsidized AND subsidized loans for school.

In closing, I implore graduate students across the Country to HOLD their representatives accountable. HOLD President Barack Obama accountable! Send an email to Speaker of the House, the President, the Minority Leader, and the Majority Leader. Let your Congressional representative know how you feel about this “deal”.

As with most deals, games, and the like, there are always winners and losers. But it’s even more shocking when you didn’t even know that you were a part of the game?!

-Lauren E Williams, MPA
National President
National Black Graduate Student Association 2011-2012

DC EVENT: RALLY ON THE EMERGENCY DEBT CEILING

2011-07-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!

MoveOn, Rebuild the Dream, AFSCME, LCCR, AFL-CIO, AFGE, ColorOfChange, Campaign for America's Future and Many Others To Gather At Noon Thursday Across The Street From Cannon House Office Building.

SPEAKING: Congressman Keith Ellison; Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky; Congresswoman Barbara Lee; Congressman Raul Grijalva; Congresswoman Donna Edwards; Van Jones, Rebuild the Dream; John Gage, AFGE; Tiffany Mellers, MoveOn.org; and Sarita Gupta, Jobs with Justice.

WHAT: American Dream Movement Rally to Demand Debt Deal that Protects Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, while Making Millionaires and Corporations Pay their Fair Share

WHERE: Capitol Hill, across the street from the Cannon House Office Building - corner of 1st NE and Independence Ave.

WHEN: Noon, Thursday, July 28th

DC EVENT: African American Civil War Museum Ribbon Cutting

2011-07-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

Holmes Norton and others attend ribbon cutting and grand opening Dedication Ceremony, Today, July 18th at 12pm

WASHINGTON, DC –“With much generous support from the Mayor and Council of the District of Columbia and hard work by our staff and volunteers, it is finally finished, a great new 5,000 sq. ft. African American Civil War Museum at 1925 VermontAvenue, N.W.”said Dr. Frank Smith, Founder/Director. 2011 ushered in the beginning of a four-year celebration as America remembers the 150thAnniversary of the American Civil War and the 50thAnniversary of the Civil Rights Movement. The 3-Day Celebration, July 16 –18, 2011; the theme is “Civil War to Civil Rights, Pathway to Racial Healing.”

For more than ten years, the African American Civil War Monument and Museum has stood as a testament to the struggle of African Americans and others to rid this nation of the scourge of slavery and racial bias. There is no doubt, America is a much better place for all having shed itself of slavery and a Jim Crow past, now comes closer to living out the meaning of the words „One Nation, Under God, Indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for All‟.

On July 18, 2011 at 12 noon, the Grand Opening of thisgreat, new and permanent site of the African American Civil War Museum, will join the ranks of educational, historically accurate and interactive museums, with $5 million in exhibitions, touch screensand the best curator in town! The New location at 1925 Vermont Avenue NW is directly across from the African American Civil War Memorial, which highlights the story of the 209,145 African American Soldiers who served during the American Civil War.

The Board of Directors and Staff of the AACWM invite all to attend the Grand Opening Ceremony of the New Museum, to be held Monday, July 18, 2011 beginning with a VIP reception at 12:00 noon. The Opening Ceremony and Awards Program will start at 1pm. Mayor Vincent Gray and Congresswoman Eleanor Norton and other elected officials and dignitaries have been invited.

LOCATION: 1925 VERMONT AVENUE, NW

Lets Talk About Sex 2011

2011-07-15T13:01:00.000-07:00

SisterSong's 2011 Let's Talk About Sex National Conference is a celebration of the movement for reproductive health, reproductive rights and reproductive justice. The mission of the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective is to secure reproductive rights by amplifying and strengthening the collective voices of Indigenous women and women of color.

This four-day conference will include workshops and plenary sessions on topics such as birth control, senior sexuality, STDs, microbicides, gynecological health and wellness, erotica, militarism, youth sexuality, and more, all through a reproductive justice lens.

Lauren Evette from Posh Politics will be blogging from the conference.

For up to date information, please follow @evettewilliams and the hashtag #ltas2011

Light Skin Equals Light Sentencing?

2011-06-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

From our friends at Good Culture...

People talk a lot about the racism that poisons the criminal justice system, sending African-Americans to jail more often than white criminals, and with longer and harsher sentences. But what about "colorism"? If you don't know, colorism is the sub-prejudice that finds people treating people of color differently based on how light or dark their skin is. Though it's rarely talked about, colorism is a major cause for concern in courtrooms around the United States, according to a new study.

Called "The Impact of Light Skin on Prison Time for Black Female Offenders," the study found a group of Villanova professors assessing the sentences of more than 12,000 black female defendants in North Carolina. Their findings were horrifying: Even after controlling for things like prior convictions, crime severity, and thinness, women with light skin received sentences that were 12 percent shorter on average than dark-skinned women. Lighter women also had their actual time served reduced by about 11 percent.

Obama Reaches out to the BABIES : Get on the Call

2011-06-28T08:35:00.000-07:00

The White House has announced that THIS FRIDAY, July 1st at 12:00 PM EDT, Obama Administration Officials will host a conference call de-briefing the President’s “100 Youth Roundtables” Initiative, outlining his “How to Make Change” youth summer series, and discussing ongoing events on youth employment and entrepreneurship. President Obama will also hop on the call.

For more information on the call, please email laurenevette@gmail.com or RSVP here.

Lupe Fiasco vs. Bill O'Reilly

2011-06-28T07:45:00.000-07:00

Hip hop continues to impact the political world. As we move into a high-powered election season, each lyric can make a difference. Keep in mind this is #foxnews.

What do you think about this exchange?

LAWD they Trying to KILL Michelle O: NOT POSH

2011-04-19T14:24:00.001-07:00

The Washington Post just reported that:

A White House plane carrying Michelle Obama came dangerously close to a 200-ton military cargo jet and had to abort its landing at Andrews Air Force Base on Monday as the result of an air traffic controller’s mistake, according to federal officials familiar with the incident.

Ultimately controllers at Andrews feared the cargo jet would not clear the runway in time, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak for their agencies....

Please pray for Our #FLOTUS

About Michelle: As First Lady, Mrs. Obama looks works on the issues close to her heart — supporting military families, helping working women balance career and family, encouraging national service, promoting the arts and arts education, and fostering healthy eating and healthy living for children and families across the country. She is a mother, lawyer, and human rights activist in her own RIGHT! We Michelle O. Read More

Niecy Nash: Why Couldn't there be a Black Bridesmaid?

2011-04-19T10:38:00.000-07:00

The newest comedy about a group of girls getting ready for their best friend's wedding is a hot topic right now. Named, The Bridesmaids, it looks like a great movie. Like most things I see without my own skin reflection... my only question is, why couldn't there have been a BLACK bridesmaid...? Niecy Nash would've fit right in. Well at least, I think so.

Regardless, I am looking forward to the movie. Not to mention I was just asked to be a bridesmaid in my Line Sister's wedding. I will definitely be taking notes on pink "flower-scented" paper.

See the trailer below.

Beyonce's Obesity Campaign Video

2011-04-13T07:47:00.000-07:00

Beyonce teams up with Michelle Obama for Obesity Campaign