emPower Magazine Blog

Giving It All You Got

By Kaye Guidugli

In life we take risks. Some are small, some are great, but in every decision is a risk; a possibility that the outcome may not be what we planned. There is a chance that we may not like the job, the relationship may not work out or we may not make the grades. Either way, no matter how stable the decision appears there is always a risk factor. The decision to run for office has a risk factor. The decision to not only run for office but to sacrifice your energy, financial resources and family in order to run with the hopes of winning has an even greater risk factor.

We saw this in 2008 when now President Barack Obama ran for office. We witnessed how he gave it his all, how his wife dedicated herself to the election and how his supporters sacrificed. The Obamas made a decision, took the risk, gave it their all and championed the election. Sometimes we forget that Clinton and McCain took the same risk and made similar sacrifices, they too ran to win…

Last night, as the President Obama addressed the nation, ballots were being counted in the city of Detroit. The special mayoral primary polls closed and friends of Detroit around the nation anxiously awaited the outcome. Though a suburbanite, I love the city of Detroit and wish to see it be restored to its former pre – riot glory.  I was and am certain that Freman Hendrix was and is the best candidate to improve the city. Like many Southeastern Michiganders who have been displaced by the state’s lack of employment opportunities, I searched the internet for election results and sent text messages of hope to people in the city.

I listened to my President’s message of hope, change and accountability; confident that Mr. Hendrix is more than capable of translating that message into action for the residents of Detroit. However, the polls did not come back in his favor.

Like in the election of Obama, I have watched the sacrifices made in this primary. I know that it has not been easy for the candidate or his family and I am painfully aware of the other side of risk…the downside that no one likes to talk about.

The risk in giving it all you got is that you may not receive the desired results. Therefore, when we commit our all to what we believe in we must also redefine success.  If, in an election, we define success is only as winning, then we risk viewing ourselves as a failure if we lose at the polls. In every endeavor our primary goal should be personal growth and increase of knowledge.

If we consider each experience as priceless then we can believe that every risk taken had and will bring us closer to the greater goal of fulfilling our life’s purpose.  How do we define or identify that purpose?

My purpose does not have a price tag or a title. Instead it is the simple goal of positively impacting as many lives as possible.  Therefore, in my eyes this election was a still a success for Freman Hendrix. His campaign impacted lives. Young Detroiters were encouraged to mobilize in a local election. He may not have achieved the desired outcome but he did excel.

Freman Hendrix shows the importance of committing yourself wholeheartedly to what you believe is right. He demonstrates that it is worth the risk and that personal success is defined by the ability to maintain integrity in the face of conflict.

Even in Baltimore, Mr. Hendrix will continue to be my candidate because I know that he is committed to supporting President Obama’s agenda in Washington. His dedication and determination encourage me as a young professional to press towards the goal; to take the risk and commit myself to the process regardless of the cost.

Detroit lost a great opportunity to elect a passionate, qualified man to office; but in the process we all learned the importance of sacrifice, dedication and dignity.

Once Again, Conservative Positions Miss the Point

By Crecilla Scott

If you read Lenny McCallister’s article on the Root.com, you know that he is not feeling the protest against the NY Post and Fox News. His well-meaning but misguided attempt to silence the critics of the NY Post is based on the typical “conservative” argument and misses the point on so many levels.

First of all, Mr. McCallister’s argument (that President Obama doesn’t need defending) is irrelevant because the protest is not rooted in President Obama’s “need” to be defended. As vile, disgusting, and offensive as the primate reference may be, President Obama was called far worse as a candidate. Therefore, we know that he is capable of defending himself and when he encounters attacks directed at him (and not his race), we will stand back and let him defend himself. But this protest is in response to a mainstream newspaper insinuating that people of color (i.e. President Obama) are less than human (primates) and should be dealt with violently. Newsflash to Mr. McCallister – this is not acceptable.

Second, those who object to the cartoon are not “focusing just on one instance.”  What Mr. McCallister fails to understand is the association between the dehumanization of black people and violence perpetrated against black people.  The frequent shootings of unarmed black civilians is due, in part, to a belief that African-American lives are not worth as much as others. He should realize that the dehumanizing imagery of black people has been an ongoing narrative in America. Therefore, our objection is not based on legitimate satire of the President, but it’s based on the depiction of a person of color being shot down like an animal. The NY Post and Fox News both have a history of this type of content; and if Mr. McCallister needs a truly historical reference, he should start with “Birth of a Nation.”

The author makes a valid point that our outrage and constructive energy should focus on the devastating impact of high dropout rates, incarceration, and AIDS in our community.  But the fallacy of this argument is the assumption that these issues are not related to our overall standing in society. In fact, these issues are interconnected. One’s position in society is, at the very least, influenced by group membership. Therefore, if a group is defined and considered “less than” -- there are very real consequences for the individuals belonging to that group. (He would learn this in any Sociology or Anthropology class.) Hence, the relationship between African American lives being considered less important than others and violence toward African Americans.

Furthermore, does he really believe that critics of the NY Post are not concerned about the overall state of black America? emPower magazine has published numerous posts on black homicide, the educational plight of our children, the shortage of two-parent homes, and HIV/AIDS. The problem is not with the critics, the problem is his short-sightedness. The problems in the African American community our not mutually exclusive.  If we are viewed as less than human, than our problems become much more difficult to solve. It is only when we are valued and considered equal that our concerns are taken seriously by everyone, inside and outside of our community. This point is illustrated by then-presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton’s comments at the All-American Presidential Forum:

“If HIV-AIDS were the leading cause of death of white women between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-four, there would be an outraged outcry in this country.”

Notice, she said “in this country” and not “among white Americans.” ‘Granted, there is some degree of implicit assumption that she is referring to white America, but the larger context is that society in general values the lives of white women.  And until black lives are valued equally, we will continue to struggle with obtaining the requisite political, social, and financial capital to  effectively deal with our community’s challenges.

Additional Resources
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/18/martin.cartoon/
http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/special/forums/transcript.html
http://liukarama.typepad.com/empowermagazine/2008/07/when-will-the-violence-end.html
http://liukarama.typepad.com/empowermagazine/2008/12/black-teen-murders-are-on-the-rise-when-will-we-rise-and-do-something-about-it.html
http://liukarama.typepad.com/empowermagazine/2009/01/new-year-same-problems.html

Crecilla Scott is the founder of Infinity Research, LLC, a social science research company in the Washington DC area. She is the host of a local TV show, "Conversations with Crecilla." She is also a passionate speaker, who has given professional presentations for various organizations and federal agencies. She can be reached at Crecilla@liukarama.com.

To Survive, Americans Must Work Together

By Kay Guidugli

Last night was trash night; I parked amongst the garbage cans and turned up the radio. Across the street a homeless man searched through the trash for aluminum cans and other items of value; I lowered my eyes, ashamed that I had nothing to give.

“While our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken; though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before.” – President Barack Obama

Obama’s message of hope, change and future planning was timely and necessary. I listened intently; his words pierced through my reality and, though watching the sad effects of our current economic downturn, I was encouraged.

The President’s Address, however, is not a message of handouts or quick remedies. It is a message of budget cuts and accountability. President Obama plans to stop funding ineffective programs and is making “hard choices to bring our deficit down.”  If anything, Mr. President’s message prepares U.S. citizens for the rocky road ahead. I believe that he is setting an example of responsible planning in a time of crisis; a model that all of us can follow in our personal and financial lives.

Like a good parent reassuring his children of his loyalty and protection; Obama used last evening as an opportunity to inform Americans that he is acting in our best interests; that he has considered the options and is taking the necessary steps to ensure that we achieve our common goal for a brighter future. At this point, the best plan of action is a unified plan. It is comforting to know that we have elected a President that is not afraid to ruffle feathers and take proactive steps necessary to rebuild our economy and national morale; now it is our turn. 

Our President has set the plan in motion and it is time for us to abandon party lines and class divisions. If we truly desire to survive the storm, we must join together as one voice, one people and one nation; willing to work together to secure a future of promise for generations to come.

Kaye Guidugli is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan and currently resides in Baltimore, MD where she is pursuing a Masters of Arts in Theology from St. Mary’s Seminary & University’s Ecumenical Institute.

When is it Okay to be Me?

By Quincy Lewis

I was watching an old rerun of "Law and Order" last night, and I came across an episode that made me think about my life and my overall position within it, especially as it pertains to being Black in America.

The show began as a young black female rapper was gunned down in her Brooklyn apartment. The detectives assumed that her record producer might have been the one who had done it because he didn’t want to cooperate with the police and he had two prior felonies. The facts seemed to add up; however, there was one other suspect, a white jeweler who just happened to be having an affair with the slain rapper. The jeweler claimed to have witnessed the producer shoot the victim and then threatened him not to tell the authorities. The detectives believed him—everybody on the show believed him. I was left wondering why did they believe him so easily.

Since the producer had two prior violent felony charges, running a record label that seemed to promote violence, and lastly, being black, most people viewing the show probably subconsciously felt the same way as the detectives.

In the end, though, it turns out that the jeweler had actually been the one who murdered the rapper and was trying to falsely accuse the producer. It was a shocking twist to the television show, but not shocking in real life. Being black, involved in hip-hop automatically gets you pointed out in a line-up. Sad, but true.

It’s like the old adage, “you can’t judge a book by its cover,” yet we all seem to do it sometimes. I often fall victim to others judgments, but it just amuses me. You can catch me out with a pair of Enyce jeans, timberland boots, a hoodie and my Detroit baseball cap tilted to the left, not because I’m in a gang, but because I grew up in a Crip neighborhood and plenty of Crip homies (Six Mile!!). However, before you clinch your purse and lock your car doors, let me tell you a thing or two about me.

I’m a college graduate with a degree in journalism/print communications. I have published articles in Black Enterprise magazine and the Metro Times. I created and edited a school newspaper at Adrian College for three years. Now, I’m in the beginning stages of creating a freelance writing, editing and publishing company. When can I wear my hat off to the side and still be accepted in general population? When can I produce music about my environment? When can I dress the way I want?

When can I be black and not be under scrutiny by America?  When can I be me?

The Invisible Man Still Exists in The South…With Assistance from Black People

By Eric Legette

After living in New York City for more than 30 years it's safe to say you see some of everything growing up in a big city. I’ve seen people shot at it, stabbed, jumped, hit by cars, robbed, pick pocketed and much more. So, I guess when I decided to relocate to North Carolina, I felt nothing would shock me or surprise me. How could it? North Carolina is much slower than New York City, so how bad could it really be? I was about to find out!

The book Invisible Man, written by Ralph Ellison, spoke about African American’s being treated as if they were invisible. Through racism, blacks were looked through like a window. I experienced some racism in New York City, but I have to admit, racism is much more hidden. Why? There are too many unions, news stations, newspapers and then there is Al Sharpton waiting for a reason to start a march of some sort. Don’t get me wrong; I actually have grown to like Rev Al because he lets everyone know that racism and discrimination will not be tolerated. And it shouldn’t!

Too many times over the past three years I have felt like an invisible man while living here in North Carolina. Most recently, at a business-networking workshop as I was speaking to two African American representatives from an insurance company, a Caucasian woman came and stood next to me. While I was in mid sentence she positioned her body in such a way to let me know, “I am not going to acknowledge you are standing there.” Then she cut me off and began her own conversation! Now, what she did no longer shocked me because it has happened before and I have checked my fellow race on it several times. But, most shockingly was the fact that the two black representatives allowed this woman to outright disrespect me. Their was no, “Ma'am, I’m sorry but this gentleman was here first.” After the woman was finished talking and left, then they turned their attention back to me.

My observations of some of the black people down here is, “As long as I don’t say anything as they disrespect my people, I can get the job or position I want one day.” I’ve seen in the work place, black supervisors making certain changes in company protocol that makes just coming to work even more difficult.  I’ve seen black supervisors act as if they were no longer black and the black people working under them were nothing but lower level servants.

My first year in North Carolina, I had an incident at the DMV office where a white man kind of called me out my name. When I said, “Excuse me” to give him the opportunity to recant his statement he then made the mistake of repeating it. I came home called the DMV office and requested to speak to the supervisor. When the supervisor came to the telephone I explained to him the incident I had with his worker and stated to him I would hate to think this was a racial incident because then I would have to report it to the local new stations. That same day I got the star treatment when I returned!

I don’t quite know what people are use to in North Carolina but I will say this; I was raised by two people who instilled in me that I am worthy of respect and if I don’t get it to take it. But, in the right way! I have no problem putting people in their place. As a matter of fact, I enjoy it because I get to see the expressions on their faces as I am doing it. This is 2009 and we have an African American President, so time has moved on despite the fact that certain beliefs still exists in the South. The racism is different in New York City than in North Carolina because it is more in your face. When you walk into a store and the workers are talking to you, they will look at you and keep right on talking. You know my response to this; walk right out! I’m thinking, “You disrespectful dummies, you just lost some money!” If you hold the door for them, they just walk right through as if it was your job to hold the door. My response, “Your welcome!” To let them know this is what you are supposed to say when someone holds the door open for you. Those of you from up North and you are thinking about moving to North Carolina, I am letting you know you are going to have a very rude awakening!

Post Valentine’s Day Advice For the Rest of the Year

By Crecilla Scott

For various reasons, I have decided that Valentine’s Day is no longer the romantic holiday that gives my significant other the opportunity to “prove” his love for me.  Many women who are married with kids will agree that a man can easily “prove” his love any day of the week, by helping with the kids’ homework, assisting with the household chores and cooking dinner sometimes.  I will take help with daily chores over flowers any day. For single women, a man can show his love by ensuring that your car has a timely oil change, helping you around the house, and directing his efforts toward your emotional needs.

I realize that some people are romantics, and for them, anything less than a pull-out-all-of-the-stops display of roses, teddy bears, balloons, chocolate, and dinner – just won’t do.  Since it is important for couples to learn to speak each other’s love language – if a woman wants flowers, send her flowers. But for those women who want flowers, but have no available prospects, I offer this unsolicited advice:

1)  Slow down. When you meet a man, give the friendship time to develop. Chris Rock says, when you meet someone, you are really meeting his or her representative.  As many woman have learned the hard way, people are not always who they appear to be in the beginning. It is really important to see how your love interest responds to different situations.  How do they respond to getting a ticket?  How do they handle conflict and misunderstandings? Do they plot revenge when someone lies or mistreats them? How do they handle money? Do they do what they say they are going to do, when they say they are going to do it? Time will reveal an individual’s true character. It will also reveal crazy baby mama drama, past convictions, domestic violence tendencies, money problems, and health issues.  Take time to get to know the person that you are interested in dating. Jumping in bed with others too quickly simply complicates your judgment and causes you to excuse bad behavior and ignore warning signs.

2) Pay attention. Is your new beau generally accessible during the week? If you call him during the week and he doesn’t call you back until late Saturday night – that’s called a clue.  If you’ve been seeing him for 6 months and you’ve never been to his house to watch a movie or for a home-cooked meal, that’s called – a clue.  If he doesn’t take you out in public and he tends to spend most of your “together” time at your house – that’s a clue that he is cheap, broke, and/or married.  If he talks about going back to school, starting a business, or traveling the world, but there is absolutely no progress and no behavior that supports his goals – he may be more talk than action.  Pay attention to the man that you are attracted to--in time, he will become increasingly attractive or increasingly unattractive.

3) Appreciate hard work. If a man is “in progress” meaning, he is working and going to school, or working two jobs but he has a long-term plan that he is implementing, if he is saving money for a large purchase – work with a brother.  If a man has a steady, decent-paying job with “benefits” (i.e., health insurance, annual and sick leave, etc.) and he treats you well, give him a chance.  There is much to be said about a hard-working man. A man that gets up and goes to work every day and handles his financial responsibilities is someone who should be appreciated. Sometimes, a hard working blue-collar man is worth his weight in gold. Remember, bling is not always what it’s hyped up to be…just ask Rihanna.

Additional Resources
http://www.theroot.com/views/step-parent-two-step

Crecilla Scott is the founder of Infinity Research, LLC, a social science research company in the Washington DC area. She is the host of a local TV show, "Conversations with Crecilla." She is also a passionate speaker, who has given professional presentations for various organizations and federal agencies. She can be reached at Crecilla@liukarama.com.

Before We Move On From the Inauguration

By Rev. Tyree Anderson

January 20, 2009 is more than just another date in history, and it is more than another presidential inauguration: it is the day America began to come of age. I don’t mean age as in the concept of time, as America was purportedly founded in 1776. I am speaking of an age of awakening--an age where America’s faithful and patriotic citizens have come to realize that we are part of a global community and that this community is comprised of many parts that create the greater whole. To that end, to fully represent its citizens, the leadership must also reflect the characteristics of this age of awakening. This awakening was manifested in the oath of office taken by President Elect Barack Hussein Obama and the subsequent no-nonsense address that he delivered to the American public.

Many have analyzed and commented on the inaugural address that President Obama delivered. One comment of particular interest came from Reverend Eugene Rivers, a preacher and political commentator on MSNBC. Reverend Rivers, a well-known conservative voice in religious circles, is also a leader in the African American and Pan-African communities. He has done some outstanding work to address some of the major issues that African Americans face, ranging from the proliferation of HIV-AIDS to the lack of business in our communities. His work is significant, as it has caused many to turn their lives around and become productive citizens and believers in Jesus Christ. Yet, I believe one of his comments has the potential to create divisiveness and digression in our community, amidst this new age of awakening when collectively we are trying to move forward.

In an MSNBC segment on the night of the inauguration, Reverend Eugene Rivers, Pastor of the Azusa Christian Community Church, said that President Obama’s usage of 1 Corinthians 13:11 was directed at African Americans who must grow up. I was shocked to hear this, since Reverend Rivers is an African American. I believe Reverend Rivers was incorrect in his interpretation of President Obama’s statement. The morning following the inauguration, noted Republican Joe Scarborough stated that he understood President Obama’s reference to be a national reference for all Americans to grow up and prepare to engage in the global community. I agree with Mr. Scarborough. I believe that Reverend Rivers took this statement totally out of the context in which President Obama delivered it. Besides misinterpretation of this text by Reverend Rivers, I contend that he should have made this point in his pulpit instead of on national news show. To use his time on MSNBC to demonize African Americans and chastise them was wrong—not just wrong in timing, but simply wrong. It is my belief that communal commentaries such as these should be reserved for the pulpit, and not on prime time television. Furthermore, President Obama was not speaking to just African Americans, but all Americans. And yet, Reverend Rivers purports that President Obama was targeting African Americans. All Americans—not just African Americans, or Asian Americans, or Latino Americans, or even Euro Americans—in some capacity, as our President has said, must put away childish things.

Reverend Rivers’ statement should not have surprised me, but it did. He is not perfect and has never declared himself to be so, but as a pastor and regular commentator on MSNBC, I would like for him to be as wise as a serpent, but remain as harmless as a dove. Also, I would like to believe he understands the timing and importance of using such passages, as our President did. To make such a general statement about African Americans on a day such as the one we just celebrated forces me to question what Reverend Rivers was hoping to get accomplished in his few minutes of exposure.

The Color of Beauty

By Fadesola Adetosoye

Does beauty have a color? I ran upon an article several days ago in which the author quoted an individual who stated he “like[s] his women like [he] like[s] [his] cheese…white or yellow.” Although the statement infuriates me immensely, I had to remind myself that the color complex is not a new phenomenon, especially within communities of color—black communities. Issues concerning color consciousness date as far back as slavery. Blacks with darker complexions or persons who demonstrated more African features (for example, full sized lips or kinky hair) were given an increased workload and often received harsher punishment than their fair-skinned slave counterparts. Slaves that were fairer-skinned and displayed more European physical features, a majority of which were conceived by slave masters raping their slaves, were treated much more nicely and given a lighter workload. In addition, these biracial slaves resided in the slave master’s house instead of the backyard shacks that the darker slaves were mandated to live in. 

There is a veil of ‘colorism,’ or delineation between different shades of skin, that has plagued the African American community for centuries. ‘Colorism’ has militated itself beyond the confines of slavery and manifested itself within the socio-cultural norms of the present-day American society. Further, ‘Colorism’ has become a hot topic of discussion, especially as we carry on conversations regarding the media and definitions of black beauty. During the ‘80s and ’90s, black entertainers who dominated the industry often had more favorable European features, such as light-skin and curly hair. Entertainers such as Al B. Sure, Heavy D., Sade, Chico El Debarge and other artists who dominated the black entertainment industry during this time period exemplify these European-like traits. The trend continues to be prominent within modern-day black media as images of black beauty tend to reflect fairer skinned individuals, especially among the female population.

Media advertisements which celebrate beauty among communities of color are often overflowing with images depicting fairer-skinned persons. During the early years of Ebony and Jet magazines, advertisements for skin bleaching cream and hair-straightening kits were prominent in number. The magazines’ covers frequently featured very light-skinned women such as Dorothy Dandridge and Lena Horne. The color complex continues to radiate throughout our society, as exemplified by the commercials for beauty products such as L’oreal and Covergirl. Queen Latifah, Beyoncé, and Rihanna are all wonderful representations of black beauty; however, the young, dark-skinned woman, still may ponder in the back of her mind, “What about the black women who look like me?”

It is time to begin incorporating a more diverse collection of beauty.

Echoing the sentiments of the legendary Temptations, it is time for society to realize that the color of “beauty is only skin deep.”  It’s 2009 and we are still judging one’s beauty based on the color or shade of his/her skin. Nashira Washington said it best, it’s time for people to “evolve from complexes—as if measuring a person’s worth is based upon [his or] her likeness to a paper bag.” As we continue to move forward it is necessary that we, as a society, evolve the way we think so we can begin resolve some of stereotypical and superficial complexes that continue to carve out the narrow definitions of what it is to be a black beauty.

References:
http://media.www.westerncourier.com/media/storage/paper650/news/2006/11/10/Opinion/Understanding.The.Color.Complex-2453156.shtml
http://www.singersroom.com/lifestyle/feature-story-94.a

Political Pork: Why Stimulus Bills Don't Work

By Timothy Nevels

The term 'pork barrel politics' generally refers to spending that is meant to benefit constituents of a specific politician in return for their political support, either in the form of financial contributions or votes. In "The Children of the Public," Edward Everett Hale used the term pork barrel as a metaphor for any form of public spending that goes back to the citizenry.

Similarly, stimulus packages take the money paid in taxes and give it back to the people, not taking care of any real problems. Making essentially a money circle does not create jobs and does not help pay down any part of the National Debt.

The questions raised by a proposed stimulus—whether to apply it, what sort it should be, how much it should cost, and when it should begin and end—are far are tricky questions with even trickier answers. Remarkably enough, history and economic research offer no conclusive answers. The recession that began in 2008 could turn out to be the worst slowdown since the Great Depression of the 1930’s. For three-quarters of a century, economists have been studying the Depression diligently, and even now they cannot come to a definitive conclusion about the cause of that depression, the reasons for its severity and duration, or what cured it. In an introduction to a book of essays on the Great Depression compiled in 2000, Ben S. Bernanke, then a Princeton professor and now chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, wrote, “Finding an explanation for the worldwide economic collapse of the 1930’s remains a fascinating intellectual challenge.”

Now, the challenge is to find a way to get Americans to start spending while still saving. Job loss is directly tied to what happens at the store. If you and I aren't buying, there is no need to produce more. Production loss causes job loss. Production loss also causes transportation companies to lay off drivers. It's a never-ending cycle and no three hundred dollar checks are going to help the economy. When the banks start loaning money again, then and only then will you see an up surge in the economy. Working near the Port of Baltimore I see the impact of less ships coming to port, which has put a damper on the whole Maryland economy. It is my hope that President Obama uses this time in history to do some groundbreaking work for change in Washington. I only hope all of our politicians begin listening to a vast majority of Americans who do not want to see more government waste, leaving the bill for our great-grandchildren. They deserve better.

When Will The Republicans Ever Get It?

By Michelle Carter

In Williamsburg, VA, President Obama spoke of his economic stimulus bill in a speech in front of House Democrats. Using his first trip outside of Washington as president to reshape public perception of a bill that has been assailed by Republicans and even some Democrats, he made a statement that was obvious but profoundly funny:

 "We don’t get the argument [from dissenters], well, ‘this is not a stimulus bill, it's a spending bill,’" Obama said. "What do you think a stimulus is? That's the whole point.... No seriously, that's the point."
After this statement, America clearly understands the objectives and purpose of a stimulus plan. You’ve got to spend money to make money and to create more jobs! Stimulus means to induce, entice, stimulate, and/or be incentive to.  When President Obama made this statement, it was to put it into terms that America can understand.

Unfortunately, the politicians of old seem to not get it!  Republicans are choosing to be critical on any and everything to enhance their party’s agenda for the next election. Right now, America is in a deep recession, and we must begin to call it what it is, regardless of the political bias and partisanship that is happening in the highest levels of our government.  Republican bias and adherence to partisanship seems to be against the American people, the president and the country.  Good ole boy's, get over it! 
There’s a new sheriff in town that is as smart as or smarter than the games both political parties insist on playing.   As the old saying goes, “If you can’t beat them, join in,” and that is what this administration is doing just as they promised during the presidential campaign.

President Obama has stood firm on his beliefs: "We're not going to get relief by turning back to the very same policies that in eight short years doubled the national debt and threw our economy into a tailspin." He said.  "We can't embrace the losing formula that offers more tax cuts as the only answer to every problem we face…While we acknowledge there are legitimate criticisms of the proposal, I urge all of us not to make perfect the enemy of the absolutely necessary."

On every channel it seems as if the media's playing excerpts of conversations from the White House to distort the truth and sway the people. It is amazing that the Republicans didn’t give Bush as much grief as they are giving President Obama, who is attempting to clean up the mess “the Republicans” have allowed happen.  If they would have questioned and blasted Bush on every media outlet and talk show five years ago, the economy wouldn’t be where it is today.  All in the name of the Republican Party vs. the people’s will, they hid the truth and the people voted an incompetent leader back into office. What they don’t understand is the weight of their words. The more they complain about what’s in this first package of many to come, the weaker the economy becomes.

Republicans need to step up to the plate, stop bickering and holding on to old ideologies, and figure out a way to stop the bleeding economy they’ve helped create. On their watch they have allowed Wall Street to trade away American people’s retirement, mortgages, and investments. They ignored the warnings of a possible collapse of America’s financial institutions all in the name of deregulation. They have lost sight of the many Americans who voted for them as representatives, Americans who now are desperately seeking change in the way this country is governed.  Instead of hammering out a solution that ‘would work’ for the country, Republicans chose now to unite against a government that understands and connects with the people needs and desires.  In the next four years, the people should remember all of the politicians by name on re-election day and vote against those who resist the power to CHANGE!

"America is fired up and ready to go forward" is what Republicans should be hearing. They should be pulling up their sleeves and working for the people who sent them to Washington to help solve the ills and problems of America, not create divisions.  They should remember that it is not about your party, it’s about America. 

Excerpts taken from the washingtonpost.com.