Tag Archives: race

When Is Color-Blind Casting Okay And When Is It Not?

Posted on July 3, 2010 by | Leave a comment

It seems like The Last Airbender has at least 99 problems — excruciatingly bad 3D, thuddingly clumsy dialogue, sub-Jake Lloydian acting and more — but should the color of its cast really be one of them? When io9 proffered Community actor Donald Glover as a possible new Spider-Man , the internet seized on it as its new favorite meme. Sure, Glover is black while Peter Parker in the movies, TV shows and comic books has always been white, but Glover is hilarious, as Spidey should be, and could have easily played the part. So why was this move lauded while Airbender has been met with protests and picket lines ?

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Why Hasn’t Racism Been Blamed For Obama’s Poor Response to the Oil Spill?

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

When Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans in 2005, numerous media members blamed racism for President Bush’s supposedly poor response to the disaster. According to LexisNexis, there were almost 1,000 reports in the nine weeks following the storm’s passage through the Gulf of Mexico that tied racism to the government’s post-hurricane strategy. Five years later, as oil slams the same region and polls show the public actually more unhappy with the response to this crisis than they were after Katrina hit, no such nefarious connection is being espoused. Why? Consider the media firestorm the following remark by rapper Kanye West set off just a few days after the hurricane hit New Orleans (video follows with transcript and commentary): I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family, it says they’re looting. See a white family, it says they’re looking for food. And you know that it’s been five days because most of the people are black. And even for me to complain about it, I would be a hypocrite because I’ve tried to turn away from the TV, because it’s too hard to watch. I’ve even been shopping before I’ve even given a donation. So now I’m calling my business manager right now to see what is the biggest amount I can give, and just to imagine if I was down there, and those are my people down there. So anybody out there that wants to do anything that we can help with the set up the way America is set up to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off as slow as possible. I mean, the Red Cross is doing everything they can. We already realize a lot of people that could help are at war right now, fighting another way, and they have given them permission to go down and shoot us…George Bush doesn’t care about black people. Moments after this was uttered on live television, CNN’s Larry King asked guest Jesse Jackson about it: LARRY KING, CNN: Jesse, I understand that Kanye West, a rapper at the NBC telethon tonight, unscripted, said that President Bush, George Bush does not care about black people. Do you have that feeling? JESSE JACKSON: Well, he responded mighty late and mighty slow. There was one response to the tsunami and some years ago to the — a response to the Armenian earthquake crisis, but he came in five days late, with platitudes. And in the case of 9/11, he came in two days later and embraced all those who were involved. There’s a sense of alienation, a sense of distance, and we don’t feel good about it. I hope that there will be renewed commitment, not to just involve Mr. Bush and Mr. Clinton, but why not involve people like Congressman Bennie Thompson from Mississippi and Cynthia Cleo Fields (ph) and Senator Bigenfiggis (ph). We… KING: But you don’t… JACKSON: … ought to have a sense of being a part of this, and we’re not. KING: You don’t think he doesn’t care? JACKSON: Well, he does not show it. And that’s the — that’s the rub. And we need to know, we need to have access for dialogue, and we don’t have it. CNN was all over this story doing numerous segments about it in the coming days, but the supposedly most trusted name in news was certainly not alone in advancing this truly disgraceful theory. All three broadcast network news divisions reported this possible connection as did most American newspapers such as the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, etc. Magazines also did stories about what the disaster said of race relations in this country. The disgusting notion that Bush’s response was due to racism was espoused for years by press members and still is to this very day. Potentially even worse, this assertion helped make Bush a lame duck less than a year into his final term while assisting the Democrats to take back Congress in 2006 as well as the White House in 2008. As a result, this ugly contention will likely be a part of our 43rd President’s legacy unless sane minds in the future fight to counter it.   Yet, no such connection to the government’s pathetic response to the current disaster in the very same region is being made. Why?  Consider that a recent CBS News/New York Times poll found: Just 32 percent say Mr. Obama has a clear plan to deal with the oil leak, while 59 percent (including 64 percent of Gulf coast residents) say he does not. The numbers are not much better among those who watched the president’s Oval Office speech on the spill last week, with 35 percent of that group saying he has a clear plan and 56 percent saying he does not. If Bush was still President, would media blame racism for his lack of a plan? As the answer seems an almost certain “Yes,” why is that?  Regardless of the reason, the press would be dead wrong just as they were about Bush’s response to Katrina. Despite their assertions, whatever the White House did or didn’t do after that hurricane hit had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the race of those effected. That was a disgusting assertion back then that should never have been made or advanced by anyone in our media. BUT, if they were going to make such a connection then, and would if Bush was still in the White House, that they’re not espousing it now despite how absurd it would be makes the way they treated our 43rd President even more reprehensible.   Less so is the lack of curiosity about what is the reason for Obama’s pathetic handling of this crisis. Former New York City major Rudy Giuliani said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” last week that the response to this oil spill would have been swifter and better coordinated if it happened in the Atlantic Ocean and was impacting the East Coast. Assuming he’s right — and I believe he is — why would that be? Should government’s response to a disaster relate to what states are impacted by it? Such does seem to be the case with the current Administration which seemed quite disinterested in the recent devastating floods in Tennessee. Not surprisingly, the press also largely ignored that disaster. So what gives here? Are some people in this country entitled to greater federal assistance in an emergency than others? Aren’t we all Americans, or are some inherently more so? Finally, if folks in the media believe as I do that this response would have been different if the spill was battering East Coast beaches with oil, where are the questions and the investigations into why that is, or is such curiosity only acceptable when a Republican is in the White House?

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Chris Matthews Claims Tea Party is ‘McCarthyite,’ Sees Federal Government as an ‘Occupying Force’

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Chris Matthews definitely took a “hard look” at the Tea Party, on Wednesday’s “Morning Joe,” in anticipation of tonight’s MSNBC documentary “The Rise of the New Right.” Tying the whole Tea Party movement together, the MSNBC “Hardball” host defined it as “McCarthyite,” possessing a “fundamental questioning of authority,” and viewing the federal government as an occupying force. “It believes that this government is verging on tyranny,” Matthews complained, pointing to the movement’s use of the Revolutionary War-era Gadsden flag — “Don’t Tread on Me” — in an ominous light. When asked by Joe Scarborough if he would link members of the Michigan Militia featured in tonight’s documentary (seemingly characterized in the preceding video clip as a radical fringe group), to Tea Party members who have campaigned for Scott Brown and Marco Rubio, Matthews answered that the various groups are all part of one movement. “I’m tying the whole movement together,” he asserted. “Because what you hear is that they all fly the same flag.” Matthews said that the use of the Gadsden flag by Tea Partiers “scared” him. “They are basically looking at the federal government now as an occupying force, basically a foreign occupying force, a tyranny,” he said. “And that justifies a lot of bad behavior, I would say.” “What you hear, Joe, is the fundamental questioning of authority,” Matthews claimed. He also alleged that the movement is pointing to the Second Amendment to justify armed force against the federal government “when the time comes.” Not wanting to be left out of the fun, advertising executive Donny Deutsch, chairman of Deutsch, Inc., threw the race card onto the table. “Chris, along those lines, would the Tea Party be having the same verve if this was not an African-American President?” But Matthews wouldn’t bite. “I don’t know,” he said. “You make those kinds of charges, you get into trouble. I have no idea.” However, Matthews did accuse the movement of being “McCarthyite,” referencing accusations by Dick Armey and Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn.) of Democrats and administration members of being un-American.     The transcript of the interview, which aired on June 16, at 7:45 a.m. EDT, is as follows: WILLIE GEIST: Chris, as far as you can tell, what is the new right? And how influential is it? CHRIS MATTHEWS: Well, it believes that this government is verging on tyranny. The federal government of the United States, which was honestly elected, is more like a British occupying force of colonial days. They look at it as illegitimate. Many of them believe that Barack Obama is not an American. They believe they need their Second Amendment rights–as Sharon Angle said the other day–to perhaps carry out remedies when they think that Congress is going too far. Very strong on Second Amendment as a way of fighting the federal government, when the time comes; very concerned about the legitimacy of Barack Obama as whether he is an American or not. And, in fact, if you listen to Dick Armey, they wonder whether anybody in the administration has any pro-American attitudes. And Michelle Bachmann would go right through the Democrats in Congress, and have the media investigate them for anti-American attitudes. It’s very much McCarthy-ite, it gets back to the days of questioning other people’s loyalties, and it questions the President’s very legitimacy. And what scared me, if you want to get scared, was the use of the flag from the American Revolution–the Great Gadsden flag from South Carolina, with the coiled rattlesnake. They are basically looking at the federal government now as an occupying force, basically a foreign occupying force, a tyranny. And that justifies a lot of bad behavior, I would say. JOE SCARBOROUGH: Chris, though, you’re not connecting, though, Tea Party members that Mike interviewed in Massachusetts that helped Scott Brown get elected, or Tea Party members that may be supporting Marco Rubio in Florida, or Tea Party members who are supporting other conservative candidates across America–you’re not tying them with members of the Michigan Militia, are you? CHRIS MATTHEWS: Yes, I am. I’m tying the whole movement together. Because what you hear is that they all fly the same flag. Certainly there are people that straggle along and show up at meetings of any political party, whether it’s mainstream or French. People show up and join. I’m not talking about the joiners. I’m talking about the leadership people themselves. Listen to Sharon Angle. Listen to Rand Paul. Listen to their basic questioning of federal authority. It’s very fundamental, and their absolute focus on the Second Amendment over and over again–that guy in that militia uniform with his fatigues on said that he speaks very much the same language as the Tea Party people. He says it. If you listen to people like Michelle Bachmann, they question the legitimacy of the government, they question whether it’s a tyranny or not. You got to hear the words tonight, Joe. These people–wait till you hear Dick Armey talking about “There’s nobody in this administration who is pro-American.” I mean they’re saying it. I’m not saying it. JOE SCARBOROUGH: I’ll be watching. I know that the guy in the camouflage said that the Tea Party people tell him that they’re not connected. But are you connecting–let me be more specific. This is fascinating. Are you connecting Rand Paul with these Michigan Militia members that run around with guns, that– CHRIS MATTHEWS: You know, I think you have to see the absolute resonance of the sound. What you hear, Joe, is the fundamental questioning of authority. You have people who believe that the federal government–look. Joe, I know you saw those Congress people waving the Gadsden flag off the balcony of the Capitol on the House side. They were waving that revolutionary flag. They were the ones inciting those people to look upon the federal government as a tyranny, as perhaps illegitimate. They’re the ones using the language of revolution. It’s not us. In fact, the documentary, all through it, you hear a very similar voice: this government is not legitimate. 32 percent of the Republican Party now believes that Barack Obama is not an American. And that’s the latest CBS Poll. These are not things that are arguable, Joe, these are facts. DONNY DEUTSCH, Chairman, Deutsch, Inc.: Chris, along those lines, would the Tea Party be having the same verve if this was not an African-American President? CHRIS MATTHEWS: I don’t know. I think–I don’t know. That’s something you got to get into people’s souls, and you make those kind of charges, you get into trouble. I have no idea. I do think that– DONNY DEUTSCH: I’m not making charges. I’m asking a question. I just want (Garbled) CHRIS MATTHEWS: I think the fact that so many of the people are–Orelly Tates is out there with the birther movement, which has very much been part of this, saying that the guy’s not an American, that he should be out of office because he was born in Kenya. Challenging that–Alan Keyes, those kinds of people. All those voices are out there on the Right. 

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George Stephanopoulos Touts Democratic Talking Points, Urges Pawlenty to Denounce Tea Party Candidate

Posted on June 11, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Good Morning America’s George Stephanopoulos on Friday parroted Democratic talking points while interviewing Governor Tim Pawlenty about the tea party movement. The potential presidential candidate mentioned the victory of several GOP women on Tuesday and Stephanopoulos pounced: ” You didn’t mention Sharron Angle, who’s going to be the Senate candidate up against Harry Reid. ” After playing a clip of the Nevada Republican candidate saying there’s “no such thing” as too conservative, Stephanopoulos listed off several of Angle’s positions and derided, “Are you concerned that some of your new candidates, especially those who have been backed by the Tea Party, may make it harder to win those seats in November?” According to Stephanopoulos’ spin, Democrats are “licking their chops” at the opportunity to run against Angle. Stephanopoulos must have ignored a new Rasmussen poll showing the Republican up 11 over Reid. The journalist’s critique followed closely to talking points released by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee on Tuesday: “[Angle] cares more about promoting a strict social doctrine than helping grow the state’s economy. Sharron Angle’s rigid social agenda may generate national headlines, but Nevadans cannot afford it.” Considering the host’s past as a Democratic operative, this shouldn’t be too surprising. Twice this week, Stephanopoulos highlighted rumors against another Republican, Nikki Haley of South Carolina. Pressing the gubernatorial candidate on allegations of infidelity, the ex-Clinton aide brazenly demanded, “Can you assure South Carolina voters that they’re not going to be embarrassed if they elect you?” A transcript of the June 11 segment, which aired at 7:35am EDT, follows: GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: It was a big political week with the continuing fallout from the oil spill for President Obama. And a fresh batch of potential Republican stars, mostly women, coming out of Tuesday night’s primary elections across the country, which makes it a perfect week to kick off our series of conversations with the men and women who have their eyes on the biggest political prize of all, the White House. GOP Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, of course, has not announced yet. But, he’s a rising star in the party. And he’s starting to put in his time in places like Iowa. We’re so glad to see you hear this morning. MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM PAWLENTY: Good morning, George. Thanks for having me. STEPHANOPOULOS: So, let’s start out talking about the oil spill. You’ve been pretty tough on President Obama, saying the rig explosion happened on his watch. But, do you really think he could have done anything to prevent it? PAWLENTY: Well, we know a number of things. First of all, we have to get all the facts. But, one fact that’s important, in April of 2009, under this administration’s watch, the relevant federal agencies approved categorical waivers for environmental review for this operation. You know, that’s a significant decision. STEPHANOPOULOS: That was following the practice of past administrations. PAWLENTY: Yeah, we should be fair and say the notion that all administrations had these kind of operations going and they had no plan for really responding to this kind of disaster is horribly disappointing. A significant failure of government, broadly. But, we also know during this administration’s watch, they had the final say up or down on this operation. STEPHANOPOULOS: And does it make you rethink your support for oil drilling? Do you support, for example, the pause until we’re sure all of the rigs are safe? PAWLENTY: I do support the pause. We also need to make sure- this is an industry that’s operated 40 or 50 years, mostly without incident. But, you can’t have these things pumping oil on the bottom of the ocean floor without a plan and capacity to respond to a crisis like that. It’s pretty clear, they had no plan for what happens if a blowout preventer fails. STEPHANOPOULOS: Who should pay for all of this now? The Chamber of Commerce has said that it shouldn’t be all BP’s responsibility, that the federal government should pick up part of the tab. Do you agree with that? PAWLENTY: No. I mean, on what theory would the for be responsible for BP’s failure? The facts are still coming in. But, there were news reports coming in that there was a test for the blowout preventer. And it was delayed at BPs request. Now, what was behind that? Were they concerned because there was a malady or failure in the system? Why didn’t that come to the surface of the discussion earlier? There’s going to be questions and hopefully answers along those lines. STEPHANOPOULOS: Let’s talk about election night, Tuesday. Who was the big winner? PAWLENTY: Women. This is going to be, I think, in part, the year of woman. That’s a great thing. Particularly for my party, our party. My party needs to have more faces and voices that aren’t just middle-aged men. And so, I really applaud and celebrate the success of our women candidates. Susana Martinez down in New Mexico is going to be a fantastic candidate. Of course, you have got Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina and others in California. I think it’s going to be terrific and I think, of course, the pendulum, we believe, is swinging back the other wary. STEPHANOPOULOS: You didn’t mention Sharron Angle, who’s going to be the Senate candidate up against Harry Reid. And I want to show you something she said on election night. SHARRON ANGLE: They said that Reagan was too conservative to win. There’s no such thing. STEPHANOPOULOS: Now, you know Democrats are licking their chops. They look at Sharron Angle’s record. They say she wants to do away with Social Security, the Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency, the IRS, make alcohol illegal. And they say that sure is too conservative. Are you concerned that some of your new candidates, especially those who have been backed by the Tea Party, may make it harder to win those seats in November? PAWLENTY: Well, each state is different. Each race is different. I don’t think you want to make a broad generalization that somebody is too conservative. What works in Nevada may be different than what works in Vermont. As a general rule, the Republican Party is a conservative party. The values and traditions that we have- STEPHANOPOULOS: Doing away with Social Security? PAWLENTY: Well, I’m not familiar with all of her record. But, you know, doing away with Social Security is not something I think most Republicans would support. We want to reform it and fix it and try to move it in a market direction. But I think most Republicans would say Social Security needs to be reformed, not abolished. STEPHANOPOULOS: So, I know, if you want to, you can tell us you’re going to run for President, if you want to take the opportunity. PAWLENTY: I’m going to, George. President of my hockey association. STEPHANOPOULOS: I knew- very good pause. Okay. Give us a window in how you’re thinking about it. How you’re thinking about looking at the race. And what would tip your decision one way or another? PAWLENTY: Well, a number of things. I’m very concerned about the direction of the country. I think I have ideas and experience, based on my time in Minnesota, a blue state. Conservative governor, reducing spending, holding line on taxes, reforming schools and public pensions and many other things. So, first of all, there’s a concern. I want to contribute to it and improve the outlook for the country in 2010. As to 2012, the way I look at it, if I can add value to the debate and be the one that delivers the message, I’d at least be open to continuing to public life in some fashion. But, maybe not. So, part of it is, is the message needed? Am I the one who should help deliver it? Or can I help in other ways? STEPHANOPOULOS: When you were thinking of running for governor of Minnesota, your wife Mary grabbed you by the lapels and said, “We need you. Minnesota needs you. You’ve got to do it.” What is she saying now?” PAWLENTY: [Laughs] My wife Mary, who I hope is watching this morning is wonderful. I hope you have a chance to meet her sometime. She has got great advice. But, she is very supportive to me continuing to play a role in public service, but is open to what that may be. You know, mostly to run for president these days, you have to be famous, have a lot of money or have novelty. I don’t have anything of that. But I have some good ideas and some good experience.

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Bafana final squad probables

Posted on June 11, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Parreira adds punch The team that finished Thursday’s friendly against Colombia, rather than the one that started it, looks close to Bafana Bafana’s starting line-up for the opening match of the World Cup against Mexico PASSIONATE: Carlos Alberto Parreira expresses himself during the friendly against Colombia Picture: REUTERS Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is at last showing his hand, with the list of those making the final cut becoming clearer. Unlike predecessor Joel Santana, Parreira has taken a more positive approach and in the second half made two important changes in midfield by introducing Steven Pienaar in the place of Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Kagisho Dikgacoi for the young Thanduyise Khuboni in the holding position. Santana preferred two holding midfielders while Parreira has opted for only one, pushing another player into attack. Judging by the coach’s body language, experimenting in midfield is now over and the two positions have been permanently taken. Khuboni has done extremely well and he is a definite starter for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. It would be self-defeating to expose him at this high level – as happened to Papi Zothwane, who was destroyed by the Zambians in Cape Town three years ago and hasn’t been the same player since. Khuboni, the young Golden Arrows midfielder, was given no room to manoeuvre by the quick and physical Colombians on Thursday. Dikgacoi came on and stabilised matters and he and veteran midfielder MacBeth Sibaya will slug it out for this dirty-work position. Letsholonyane and Lance Davids have been given ample opportunities to stake a claim in the engine room. Davids has dropped down the pecking order and will be lucky to be part of the final squad. Parreira finally revealed how he plans to use Pienaar in his team. He will keep Teko Modise and Siphiwe Tshabalala on the wings, with the Everton man penetrating from the middle. While he seems to have sorted out his midfield, the central defensive pairing continues to give the Brazilian sleepless nights. He has partnered Siyabonga Sangweni and Bongani Khumalo with captain Aaron Mokoena, but the defence is still as shaky as the Congress of the People’s leadership. Parreira must install the highly experienced Matthew Booth as Mokoena’s partner in the heart of the defence. This duo go back more than a decade and they also had a fantastic Confederations Cup tournament last year. While Sangweni and Khumalo are good players, they are too raw for an event of this magnitude and the lanky Booth is a veteran of major tournaments. The fullbacks do not provide much of a headache. Tsepo Masilela and Siboniso Gaxa are the automatic choices, with Bryce Moon and hard man Lucas Thwala providing back-up. Innocent Mdledle and Anele Ngcongca are likely to get the chop when the final list is sent to Fifa on Tuesday. There is a big poser in the goal-scoring department. With Katlego Mphela having proven the No1 shooter, there are question marks around who will play as the holding back striker in Parreira’s preferred 4-4-1-1 formation. Does he stick with Surprise Moriri, or does he bring in Benni McCarthy, who is on a major assignment to shed weight? Siyabonga Nomvethe has been working hard and is eager and willing whenever he gets a chance. Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Moeneeb Joseph played a blinder in the second half against Colombia, but knows Itumeleng Khune is far ahead of him in the race for the starting berth. Rowen Fernandez’s miraculous recovery has closed the doors for Shu-aib Walters, who sneaked in via the back door after Emille Baron’s lengthy injury. Franklin Cale has found the going a little tough and Bernard Parker seems to have taken the place of the hulking Mamelodi Sundowns left winger. Cale is your traditional old school winger who is at home whipping in dangerous crosses. He has struggled to fit into Parreira’s system of cutting inside and playing one-twos. Probable 23 Man Squad Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune, Moeneeb Josephs and Rowen Fernandez. Defenders: Matthew Booth, Aaron Mokoena, Siyabonga Sangweni, Bryce Moon, Siboniso Gaxa, Bongani Khumalo and Tshepo Masilela. Midfielders: Lucas Thwala, Macbeth Sibaya, Steven Pienaar, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Thanduyise Khuboni, Teko Modise, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Surprise Moriri Strikers: Katlego Mphela, Siyabonga Nomvethe, Bernard Parker and Benedict McCarthy. Source – Times.co.za 2010 World Cup Blog for the Fans

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Bafana final squad probables

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ABC Gives Jerry Brown Platform to Declare Whitman Dangerous, ‘Soul of California is at Stake’

Posted on June 9, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

ABC anchor Diane Sawyer greeted Meg Whitman’s victory in California’s Republican gubernatorial primary by putting forward Democrat Jerry Brown as the savior protecting the nation against Whitman becoming Governor. “Jerry Brown told us today, he wants the country to know that he sees this as an epic duel in California between the politics of ideas and the power of money,” Sawyer warned from Los Angeles in setting up an interview with Brown aired on Wednesday’s World News. Sawyer later relayed how Brown “believes the soul of California is at stake.” Condemning Whitman’s spending on ads, Brown charged “it’s almost like a ministry of information in a totalitarian country,” before he offered up pablum, unchallenged by Sawyer, about how he’ll solve the Golden State’s $20 billion shortfall by telling “legislators you have to get did of your cars, get rid of your perks.” Sawyer fondly recalled: “For 40 years we watched him – the son of a political family who studied to be a Jesuit priest, then turned Buddhist seeker. When he became governor, he lived in one room, bed on the floor, and rode around in his own Plymouth.” Now, “he says it’s a singular time for a man who believes the soul of California is at stake. He remembers studying Buddhism in Japan.” Brown got the last word in ABC’s infomercial for him: “‘Life and death is a serious matter. Time waits for no man. Do your best.’ And that, I think, could be the spirit of this campaign.” From the Wednesday, June 9 World News, transcript provided by the MRC’s Brad Wilmouth: DIANE SAWYER: And, as you know, we are here in California, a state reeling from debt, with no easy solution in sight. And come November, former Democratic Governor Jerry Brown has decided to ride into the race for governor again. For the Republicans, as we said, the head of eBay, the former head of eBay, Meg Whitman, who spent $80 million of her own money and has plenty more to spend. She won a decisive primary victory last night. Well, Jerry Brown told us today, he wants the country to know that he sees this as an epic duel in California between the politics of ideas and the power of money. SAWYER TO BROWN: You say we’re talking about a “billionaire’s demolition derby”? FORMER GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN (D-CA), SPEAKING TO CROWD: A billionaire’s demolition derby. BROWN: Well, the ads. I think each day there are 500, 600 commercials throughout the state. It’s almost like a ministry of information in a totalitarian country. SAWYER: Do you really feel that this is changing us fundamentally in some big brother way? BROWN: No, what I, I didn’t mean, it’s not big brother, it’s that when you can dominate the airwaves, radio and television, and in the mail, just by buying it, not just for a few weeks, but for months on end, that is unprecedented. It’s an unprecedented control of the channels of communication in a free society. And, yes, that is different. And it is ominous. SAWYER: So far Meg Whitman spent about $80 million of her own money. How much money do you have to spend on ads? BROWN: Well, I have $22 million in the bank, and I’m saving my pennies so hopefully we’ll have more by the time we get to September. SAWYER: 12.6 percent unemployment rate, $20 billion deficit in California. And California, as we know, drives a lot of the national economy. BROWN: No, we’re in trouble, and the country’s in trouble. SAWYER: But she has said specifically she’s going to do it, she’s going to give tax breaks to corporations and get them in by the boatloads into California to get the jobs back. BROWN: She also said she’s going to cut all the taxes on the rich. That will increase and exacerbate the gap. We got to cut that budget. We have to do it in a way that will bring the legislators on board. SAWYER: But how can you cut it to $20 billion deficit? Are there enough cuts in the- BROWN: You have to start. I’m going to start with the governor’s office cutting. I’m going to tell those legislators you have to get did of your cars, get rid of your perks. MEG WHITMAN, CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL NOMINEE, SPEAKING TO CROWD: And I’m ready to give Jerry Brown the toughest election fight he’s faced in his 40 years of politics! SAWYER: Meg Whitman has said – in fact, she said last night, “I’m ready to give Jerry Brown the toughest election fight he’s faced in his 40 years of politics.” BROWN: Well, I like the compliment that she notices that I have been around for awhile. SAWYER: For 40 years we watched him – the son of a political family who studied to be a Jesuit priest, then turned Buddhist seeker. When he became governor, he lived in one room, bed on the floor, and rode around in his own Plymouth. BROWN: I am frugal. I take care of my money very carefully. And I think people can understand, I’ll take care of their money the same way. SAWYER: And it’s hard to believe that if he’s elected, Jerry Brown will be the oldest governor in the nation, 72. You’re up this morning already, you ran a mile? BROWN: I’ve already run, yeah, did some chin-ups. I’m trying to, you know, keep in shape here. I’ve got a very tough competitor. SAWYER: But he says it’s a singular time for a man who believes the soul of California is at stake. He remembers studying Buddhism in Japan. BROWN: Someone would intone, “Life and death is a serious matter. Time waits for no man. Do your best.” And that, I think, could be the spirit of this campaign. SAWYER: And, as we said, a critical election for California coming up. We asked Meg Whitman, by the way, for an interview today as well. She declined our request. We hope to speak to her soon.

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President Obama’s Trip To Kalamazoo Central High School: Behind The Scenes

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Race to the Top contest winners get an intimate gathering with the president before his commencement speech. By Gil Kaufman President Barack Obama greets graduates from Kalamazoo Central High School on Monday Photo: Mandel Ngan/ AFP/ Getty Images Before he took the stage Monday to give the commencement address at Kalamazoo Central High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan, President Obama took a few moments to meet with the school’s seniors to offer some special words of wisdom. As they screamed and held out their cell phones and digital cameras to get snaps of Obama, the president made his way around the auditorium and shook the hands of the young men and women he hopes will pave the way for a renewed focus on college education in America. “It was the most amazing thing ever that could ever happen to anybody,” one particularly enthusiastic student gushed, while another classmate chimed in, “That moment right there changed my life, just meeting the president.” At one point, a girl yelled, “Oh my God! I love you, Obama,” as the smiling president reached out with both hands and greeted the throng of students, who looked like they were breathlessly awaiting the arrival of a teen pop star, not the leader of the free world. And, wouldn’t you know it, seconds after pressing the flesh, they rushed to update their Facebook statuses and tweet about their presidential moment. “I’m not going to make a long speech now, because I’ve got a long speech later,” the president told the rowdy students in a smaller gathering in the school’s gym before the official commencement ceremony. “I wanted to come by in a less formal atmosphere to just let you know how incredibly proud I am, your parents are, your principal is, your teachers are, your superintendent is, of everything that you’ve done.” Though he jokily brushed off complaints that after a recent commencement address at the University of Michigan it seems the administration has a bias toward Michigan, Obama explained why he chose the school’s “We Are the Giants” video as the winner of his Race to the Top challenge. “The truth is that what we saw here going on was not only the community coming together with the promise, not only teachers and principals dedicating themselves, but we saw young people who were committed. And young people who didn’t buy into this whole notion that somehow public schools can’t be as good as private schools, that only kids from certain backgrounds can succeed in schools. You guys didn’t buy into all those stereotypes.” He praised their diversity, their ability to get together and build a better community, and he asked them to carry with them the confidence that “if you are working hard, if you keep your eyes on the prize, if you internalize a sense of excellence, if you carry with you the sense of community you got here in your hometown, there is nothing you can’t accomplish.” Get Schooled is a national program aimed at increasing high school and college graduation rates and promoting the importance of education, developed by Viacom in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Related Videos Race To The Top: President Obama Inspires At Kalamazoo Central High School

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How Did President Obama End Up At Kalamazoo Central’s Graduation?

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Michigan high school won the Race to the Top challenge and a commencement speech from Obama. By Gil Kaufman President Barack Obama delivers the commencement speech for Kalamazoo Central High School on Monday Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images Back in February, President Obama put out a challenge to graduating seniors all over the country: Prove that you did the best job meeting his Race to the Top challenge and he would deliver the commencement address at your high school. “Public schools that encourage systemic reform and embrace effective approaches to teaching and learning help prepare America’s students to graduate ready for college and a career and enable them to out-compete any worker, anywhere in the world,” the president said in a video message. “This is your opportunity to show me why your school exemplifies the best that our education system has to offer.” Education Secretary Arne Duncan added that the Race to the Top challenge was a chance for the nation’s schools to share their accomplishments and aspirations and for teachers, students and principals to show how they are putting education first. The key to the challenge was a four-question essay in which each school was asked to demonstrate how they were helping prepare students to meet the president’s goal of having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. More than 1,000 schools submitted applications for the honor, with the White House Domestic Policy Council and Department of Education narrowing the list of finalists down to six high schools. Then the hard work really began, as each school encouraged supporters to weigh in to help them get into the winner’s circle. According to the White House, between April 26 and 29, over 170,000 short videos and essays were received from the six finalist schools, with President Obama selecting the national winner from the three high schools with the highest average ratings. The finalists included Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas; Clark Montessori in Cincinnati; Denver School of Science and Technology in Denver; Environmental Charter High School in Lawndale, California; Kalamazoo Central High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan; and MAST Academy in Miami. Kalamazoo Central’s “We Are the Giants” video ultimately came out on top. Backed by a community looking to rise above its economic challenges, the diverse student body of Kalamazoo Central showed that the Giants take preparing for college and a career seriously. Nearly 94 percent of Central’s seniors are headed to college, and for those efforts, they got to meet the president himself, first as a group when the seniors joined him in an intimate gathering before their commencement ceremony on Monday. “It was the most amazing thing ever that could ever happen to anybody,” one particularly enthusiastic student gushed, while another classmate chimed in, “That moment right there changed my life, just meeting the president.” And again on the graduation stage, when each student shook President Obama’s hand after he delivered his first-ever high school commencement address , as promised. In the speech, he lauded Kalamazoo Central’s students for their hard work, dedication and ingenuity and called the school a model for success in the 21st century. “It gives me great confidence to know that we’ve got such incredible young leaders that are going to be remaking the world in so many ways,” Obama said. “I’m here tonight because I think America has a lot to learn from Kalamazoo Central about what makes a successful school in this new century.” Get Schooled is a national program aimed at increasing high school and college graduation rates and promoting the importance of education, developed by Viacom in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Related Videos Race To The Top: President Obama Inspires At Kalamazoo Central High School

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How Did President Obama End Up At Kalamazoo Central’s Graduation?

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Angelina Jolie, Rain Battle For Biggest Badass Star At MTV Movie Awards

Posted on June 5, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Sam Worthington, Chris Pine and Channing Tatum will also throw down in the category at Sunday’s show. By Josh Wigler Angelina Jolie in “Salt” Photo: Andrew Schwartz There are some new categories this year at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards, including Biggest Badass Star — and no, it’s not unnatural that you’re intimidated by this addition to the competitive lineup. After all, when talking about an assortment of characters ranging from a betrayed super-spy to a big blue alien, it’s more than understandable to find yourself in awe. There’s Chris Pine for starters — he portrayed “Star Trek” leading man James T. Kirk, a Star Fleet graduate who is light-years ahead of his class in terms of intellect, bravery and skill, even if his cocksure attitude frequently lowers his reputation in the eyes of his contemporaries. The real question is, how will voters react to the character’s signature arrogance? Even if Pine can command a starship crew, is he capable of staving off the vicious warrior played by Rain in “Ninja Assassin,” the action flick produced by the Wachowski siblings? As the silent killer Raizo, the South Korean pop sensation pursued his fictional mentor with a bloodlust rarely seen in modern mainstream cinema. But are moviegoers on board with Raizo’s quest for vengeance? He’s not the only one out to settle a score, as Angelina Jolie is also a candidate for Biggest Badass Star. No stranger to playing badasses, in the upcoming “Salt” she’s an agent betrayed by her own government and forced to clear her name. If Jolie’s Salt is a questionable quantity in her country’s eyes, there’s no denying who the real American hero is of these nominees: none other than Channing Tatum, who played the courageous Duke in “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.” While Duke’s loyalties are unquestionable, his Boy Scout level of commitment to upholding rules could ultimately cost him in the race towards Biggest Badass. In the end, if there’s one thing these four contenders can agree upon, it’s this: Sam Worthington has a major advantage thanks to two separate badass roles this year in “Avatar” and “Clash of the Titans.” But in the Australian actor’s defense, both human-turned-alien-warrior Jake Sully and the partially godlike Perseus truly were two of the most undisputed badasses of the year — can anyone really hold those performances against Worthington? Don’t miss the live red-carpet coverage, exclusive movie clips and fist-pumping action on MTV News’ “Jersey Shore Blow-Out at the MTV Movie Awards,” airing live from Los Angeles this Sunday, June 6, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Then stay tuned for the 2010 MTV Movie Awards at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Related Videos 2010 Movie Awards: Biggest Badass Star Nominees Get Ready For The 2010 MTV Movie Awards! Related Photos ‘New Moon,’ ‘Avatar,’ ‘Hangover,’ More Duke It Out As 2010 Movie Awards Nominees

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Interracial Marriages At an All-Time High, Study Says – CNN

Posted on June 5, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

By Stephanie Chen, CNN June 4, 2010 3:29 p.m. EDT Photo: Priya Merrill, 27, and husband Andrew Merrill, 30, married in August. They are part of a growing trend of interracial marriages. (CNN) — The first time Priya Merrill, who is Indian, brought her white boyfriend home for Thanksgiving in 2007, the dinner was uncomfortable and confusing. She still remembers her family asking if Andrew was the bartender or a family photographer. The couple married last August, and her Indian family has warmed up to her husband despite their racial differences. “I think we get the best of both cultures,” said Merrill, 27, of New York. She added, “Sometimes I just forget that we're interracial. I don't really think about it.” Asian. White. Black. Hispanic. Do race and ethnicity matter when it comes to marriage? Apparently, race is mattering less these days, say researchers at the Pew Research Center, who report that nearly one out of seven new marriages in the U.S. is interracial or interethnic. The report released Friday, which interviewed couples married for less than a year, found racial lines are blurring as more people choose to marry outside their race. “From what we can tell, this is the highest [percentage of interracial marriage] it has ever been,” said Jeffrey Passel, a senior demographer for the Pew Research Center. He said interracial marriages have soared since the 1980s. About 6.8 percent of newly married couples reported marrying outside their race or ethnicity in 1980. That figure jumped to about 14.6 percent in the Pew report released this week, which surveyed newlyweds in 2008. From what we can tell, this is the highest [level of interracial marriage] it has ever been. –Jeffrey Passel, Pew senior demographer Couples pushing racial boundaries have become commonplace in the U.S., a trend that is also noticeable in Hollywood and politics. President Obama is the product of a black father from Africa and a white mother from Kansas. Supermodel Heidi Klum, who is white, married Seal, a British singer who is black. But not everyone is willing to accept mixed-race marriages. A Louisiana justice of the peace resigned late last year after refusing to marry an interracial couple. However, studies show that support for interracial marriages is stronger than in the past, especially among the Millennial generation. Among 18- to 29-year-olds, about 85 percent accept interracial marriages, according to a Pew study published in February. Scholars say interracial marriages are important to examine because they can be a barometer for race relations and cultural assimilation. Today's growing acceptance of interracial marriages is a contrast to the overwhelming attitudes 50 years ago that such marriage was wrong — and even illegal. During most of U.S. history, interracial marriages have been banned or considered taboo, sociologists say. In 1958, a woman of black and Native American descent named Mildred Jeter had married a white man, Richard Loving. The couple married in Washington, D.C., instead of their home state of Virginia, where state laws outlawed interracial marriages. The couple was arrested by police. Their case made its way to the Supreme Court in the case Loving vs. Virginia in 1967, where the justices unanimously ruled that laws banning interracial marriages were unconstitutional. In the decades after the court's ruling, the U.S. population has been changed by an unprecedented influx of immigrants. The growing numbers of immigrants, said Pew researchers, is partially responsible for the increase in interracial marriages. The Pew Center study released Friday found that marrying outside of one's race or ethnicity is most common among Asians and Hispanics, two immigrant groups that have grown tremendously. About 30 percent of Asian newlyweds in the study married outside of their race, and about a quarter of Hispanic newlyweds reported marrying someone of another race. David Chen, 26, of Dallas, Texas, is Taiwanese. He is planning a wedding with his fiancee, Sylvia Duran, 26, who is Mexican. He says race isn't an issue, but parts of their culture do play a role in their relationship. They will probably have a traditional Chinese tea ceremony at their wedding. “The thing that we really focus on is our values and family values,” instead of their race, he said. “We both like hard work, and we really put a focus on education.” The African-American population also saw increases in interracial marriage, with the number of blacks participating in such marriages roughly tripling since 1980, the study said. About 16 percent of African-Americans overall are in an interracial marriage, but researchers point out a gender difference: It's more common for black men to marry outside of their race than for black women. The gender difference was the reverse in the Asian population surveyed. Twice as many newlywed Asian women, about 40 percent, were married outside their race, compared with Asian men, at about 20 percent. “We are seeing an increasingly multiracial and multiethnic country,” said Andrew Cherlin, professor of public policy and sociology at Johns Hopkins University. “The change in our population is bringing more people into contact with others who aren't like them.” The Pew Center also found education and residency affected whether people married interracially, with college-educated adults being more likely to do so. More people who live in the West marry outside their race than do people in the Midwest and South, the survey found. Cherlin explained why education has helped bridge various races and ethnic groups: With more minorities attending college, education, rather than race, becomes a common thread holding couples together. “If I'm a college graduate, I am going to marry another graduate,” Cherlin said. “It's of secondary importance if that person is my race.” We are seeing an increasingly multiracial and multiethnic country. –Andrew Cherlin, professor at Johns Hopkins University Technology is also making it easier for people to date outside their races, said Sam Yagan, who founded OkCupid.com, a free Internet dating site. He said his site, which receives 4 million unique visitors a month, has seen many interracial relationships result from people using its services. Adriano Schultz, 26, who is Brazilian, met his wife, Theresa, who is white, through the site in 2006. A year later, the couple married. “I don't feel as if ethnicity for us was a big issue,” said Schultz, of Indiana. “It was more about personalities and having things in common that really drove us together.” Yagan attributes the increase in interracial relationships to the Internet, which makes it easier to connect with someone of a different race. People who live in a community where race is an issue can meet someone of another race more privately, than say, instead of having to start their relationship in a public setting. “You don't have to worry about what your friends are going to think,” he said. “You can build the early parts of the relationship.” added by: EthicalVegan

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