Oct. 21, 2012

By Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - As I basked in the glow of President Obama's clear victory in the second debate, I reflected on the nature and depth of the lies and omissions that have permeated the Romney presidential campaign.  I tried to recall as many lies as possible, but the job was simply too big!  Rachel Maddow has been highlighting the Mitt Romney lies since early in the year, but listing all or most of them is a very tough job.  Mr. Romney’s character reminds me of the old question of "How do you know when a politician is lying? -- His lips are moving!"

As I struggled with the volume of Romney's lies, I realized a more realistic focus was on those during the period surrounding the debates.

Romney has claimed, "There's no legislation regarding abortion that I'm familiar with that would become part of my agenda."  Two hours after that remark, his press secretary pushed back by saying Romney "…would, of course, support legislation aimed at providing greater protections for life." Romney himself said he would absolutely support a Constitutional amendment defining the beginning of life as the moment of conception.

In the face of contradictions from independent studies, Romney still asserts that the numbers for his 20% across the board tax cuts add up.  Outside of Romney’s Team, I know of no economists who will validate his claim of these cuts being revenue neutral.  I doubt that what's left of the Middle Class could weather the tax burden predicted for his plan.

The most egregious of his lies relates to proposed healthcare under a Romney administration.  Romney claims insurance protections for persons with pre-existing conditions, but a closer look at the truth discloses that, just like in pre-Obamacare era, these protections exist for those who can maintain insurance without interruption.  If, having a pre-existing condition, you lose or relinquish coverage, you won't be able to regain it.

Lest we forget that the second debate lie Candy Crowley caught him in was not Romney's only lie, we need to pay closer attention to the potential impact of these lies.  As with many others, my review of the Romney Presidential campaign has revealed more lies than I have space in which to write.

Romney once stated he didn't know what he said, but he stood by it!  Eric Fehrnstrom, his spokesman, said Romney would reset like an Etch A Sketch.  Accordingly, I can direct you to any number of Romney lies, and proclaim that he is indeed making full use of the Etch A Sketch! What I cannot explain is the willingness of some people to ignore his vast array of lies and seriously consider voting for him.  Even more perplexing is the willingness of some to ignore the threat he poses to the direction of our country and the future of our democracy.  It’s frightening to think that, despite his lies, he is considered a viable candidate.  Even more frightening is the fact that his lies and arrogance could propel him to a perceived victory in the first debate.

President Obama’s supporters can relish the fact that most of the nation acknowledges a clear second debate victory for our President.  It was a heartening solid performance based on truth and compassion. We can celebrate the President's verbal deftness and command of the facts as he withstood Romney's barrage of arrogant misrepresentations.

The President's win was a great one-- but his win in the second debate or another in the third are not the important ones.  The final victory is the prize—the one on November 6, 2012! That’s when the American people can rise to the occasion and say, “We believe in victory based upon truth.”

(Dr. E. Faye Williams is National Chair of the National Congress of Black Women and Board Chair of the Black Leadership Forum.  www.nationalcongressbw.org or 202/678-6788)

Oct. 21, 2012

By Jacquelyn Williams

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Despite three debates and a bitterly fought presidential race, young voters are still waiting to hear details of the candidates’ plans for affordable education.

“I hear Romney and Obama talking about what they will do in terms of making college more affordable for us but it all just seems like political rhetoric honestly,” said Claudia Brito, a 19-year-old sophomore at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, Calif.

President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, in a neck-in-neck - 47 percent to 47 percent -  race, according to polls of likely voters this week, will need to win the votes of youth and college students. The number of 18 to 29 year-olds makes up a healthy 21 percent of the voting eligible population in the U. S., according to civicyouth.org.  Though youth are usually stereotyped as a lethargic group, there was a 51 percent youth voter turnout in 2008, largely in favor of President Obama.

Youth do not appear as mobilized this time around. This is all the more reason many are waiting to be courted.

“It’s kind of weird, I know a lot of people my age that couldn’t care any less about the election, but on the other hand I know a lot of them that do care about it,” said Nesrin Ahmed, a sophomore at Mt. St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles.

Despite the value of the youth vote, the subject of education has been dealt with very little in the past two presidential debates and Monday’s debate was to focus on foreign policy.

This is to the dismay of young voters waiting to hear more on issues like what the candidates would specifically do to make education more affordable for students who don’t have the resources to pay for college.

“I had to take out federal loans to pay for college, but I am not looking forward to the burden of debt I’m going to have when I get out, that alone discourages a lot of people from attending four-year colleges,” said Rufus Humphrey Jr., 19, a student at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville.

In July of 2012, President Obama signed legislation that prevented the 3.4 percent interest rates on subsidized Stafford federal loans for undergraduate students from doubling to 6.8 percent.

“The legislation the president passed over the summer was a life saver, but it should not have to get to that level for action to be taken”, said 23-year-old Obama supporter and Northern Arizona student Ryan Moore. The two candidates have very different approaches to the education issue, but their detailed plans have not been on display through much of their campaigns.

John Raymond, a senior at Clemson University, said he is not singularly focused on education per se. Many youth are looking at broader issues like the condition of the economy once they graduate.

“I want to vote for Romney because I am pretty much in agreement with him when it comes to many things, but to be honest his lack of detail on his plans for financial aid concerns me,” said 22-year-old John Raymond, a senior at Clemson University in South Carolina.

As the electorate gets closer to Nov. 6, many issues have been covered such as abortion, health care, the economy and jobs. Spin offs from the debates have included the “Big Bird” debate over what programs Romney would cut and even jokes over the “binders of women” comment made by Romney in response to a question about his support for equal pay for women.

Yet, the key demographic of youth voters apparently feels shortchanged.

“Education and this student loans issue is the only thing keeping me undecided at this point,” said Angela Martinez, 20, also from Los Angeles.  “I just want to see who is willing to earn my vote by actually detailing their plan.”

Oct. 14, 2012

By Joey Matthews

The Rev. Al Sharpton pumps his get-out-the-vote message this week from the pulpit of Cedar Street Baptist Church of God. Those standing to demonstrate their support of his views include, from left: Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, D-3rd; the Rev. Roscoe D. Cooper III, leader of Pastors United Around Richmond that sponsored the rally; and Mayor Dwight C. Jones, who invited Rev. Sharpton to keynote the event. PHOTO: Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from the Richmond Free Press

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - The overflow audience rose as one. They enthusiastically cheered the Rev. Al Sharpton. His electrifying, passionate message: Don’t let the gains of the Civil Rights Movement and the historic election of President Obama be taken away.

“People died to get us the right to vote,” Rev. Sharpton powerfully reminded an audience of more than 1,500 people Oct. 9. “People lost their careers. Children were bombed in churches. People were mowed down with their eyes open.

“There was too much bloodshed, too many nights in jail, too many miles marched. We are not going to turn around now.”

The 58-year-old founder of the National Action Network delivered his rousing message at a spirited get-out-the-vote rally at the Cedar Street Baptist Church of God in Church Hill, where Dr. Anthony M. Chandler Sr. is pastor.

At stake in this election is “all that was achieved in the ’60s and ’70s,” Rev. Sharpton told the predominately African-American audience that responded with high emotion to his message. “If you are sitting at home and not voting with all of this at stake, then you’re not worth the sacrifices that were made.”

The rally was organized by a newly formed clergy group called Pastors United Around Richmond. The Rev. Roscoe D. Cooper III, president of the Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Richmond and Vicinity, helped organize the group. He moderated the rally that included spirited music.

The rally was designed to boost voter turnout in the pivotal Nov. 6 elections. Strong emphasis was placed on getting as many people to register to vote before the deadline on Monday, Oct. 15. Rev. Sharpton drew loud applause when he said the issues are too important for eligible voters to sit out this election.

“When you have folks that have come out and said, ‘We’re going to change voting rights, we’re going to change health care, we’re going to de-fund education, give a tax cut to the rich, and we’re going to balance it by having poor people and working people and programs that serve them cut,’ we’re not talking about who you like, we’re talking about whether you like yourself,” he said to loud applause.

Rev. Sharpton was introduced to the rally audience by Mayor Dwight C. Jones. He called Rev. Sharpton “the pre-eminent civil rights leader in our country today.”

Mayor Jones, a longtime Richmond minister, serves on the National Action Network’s board. Rev. Sharpton called him “a dear friend.” The mayor said he invited Rev. Sharpton to lead the voter rally because he wanted “to do something to turn up the volume in the city of Richmond” after returning from the Democratic National Convention in early September.

Rev. Sharpton’s resumé reads in part: Founder and president of the National Action Network, presidential candidate in 2004 and host of the MSNBC evening TV talk show “PoliticsNation” and the “Keepin’ It Real” radio show. He hosted his radio show on the afternoon of the rally in the church fellowship hall prior to the rally. He was joined in the pulpit by Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, Virginia’s lone black member of Congress. The 3rd District representative did not speak. Other elected officials present included state Sen. Henry L. Marsh III and Delegate Delores L. McQuinn, both of Richmond.

Oct. 21, 2012

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - U. S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) has demanded that a group planning to challenge voter access to voting polls around the country on Election Day provide him with details of its planned operations.