Less than one year ago, when he announced, Barack Obama was a sitting United States Senator of about 2 years.

Hillary Clinton was INEVITABLE. And February 5th was to be her coronation.

Skeptical Brotha would say, with reference to the Clinton candidacy, that ' Resistance Is Futile'. I told him, way back then, it might be futile, but some fights, you just gotta take.

On February 5, 2008, Barack Obama took on the most formidable political machine in Democratic Party Politics, and beat it in 13 out of the 22 contests.(Might be 14, but the vote isn't totally in from New Mexico)

He began with absolutely NOTHING in February 2007, and was able, in about a year, to put together a grassroots campaign nationally that not only is self-financing, but also gets out the vote.

Reading two excellent posts about this from:
Pam's House Blend and Field Negro

I thought that this was a point that had to be brought out.

When we point out that there are few voices of color at their blogging conventions, we're told that ' they're improving', and 'why bring it up'.

We're all SUPPOSED to be Progressive, right?

But, how come, when it comes to issues that are important to African-Americans, the White Progressive Blogosphere is pretty much NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

As I was thinking about the NON-controversy with Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton, I thought about her role in this campaign, and how integral she has been for the Obama campaign.

First and foremost, Michelle Obama humanizes her husband. Her teasing and chiding in the beginning was a signal that Barack Obama is a very gifted man, but he's not the Second Coming, so don't see him that way, because he can't do anything but disappoint you. But, if you see him as a man with gifts, talent, service and inspiration, then he's your man, and stick with him.

While much has been written about Barack Obama's 'appeal' to the White community, because of his non-traditional background (growing up in Hawaii and Indonesia), you can't run a campaign across racial, ethnic and religious lines, if you don't have a narrative that those White audiences can relate to.

Senator Obama was in Hampton, VA yesterday at the Hampton University's Annual Minister's Conference.

Barack Obama gave a MAJOR POLICY speech yesterday...did you know that? If you don't know, I'm not surprised, because of how the 'Mainstream' Media did NOT report on the substance of the speech - AT ALL.

This the Mainstream Media's Account of Obama's speech yesterday.

Obama Warns of 'Quiet Riot' Among Blacks
By BOB LEWIS
AP
HAMPTON, Va. (June 5) - Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Tuesday that the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse a "quiet riot" among blacks that threatens to erupt just as riots in Los Angeles did 15 years ago.

Obama, who is bidding to become the first black president, took the stage after a succession of ministers repeatedly brought the crowd to its feet, singing, praying and swaying to music.

They just love to put RIOT with the Black man, don't they?

The thinkonthings blogger has a different POV.

Obama Warns of Black 'Quiet Riots'? How the Media Misleads Americans

The media should be ashamed of themselves for putting out headlines that this speech was about "Barack Obama Warning of Blacks' `Quiet Riots.'" It was absolutely nothing close. While the speech emphasizes faith, hope, miracles, progress, and unity, the mainstream media is spinning it as being about division, unrest, and impending turmoil. Shame on the mainstream media for working against the unity and progress of the American people. The full speech of what Obama actually said is below.....

I agree with the thinkonthings...this is a blatant distortion of the speech. In fact, the reporter misses just how important this speech IS.

If you READ the ACTUAL SPEECH, you will see that it is about hope. It is about, no matter how bleak things get, somehow, in the most unexpected places, you can find a glimmer of hope. It's almost bizarre how life works out that way.

Obama's speech wasn't about violence. It was about how we, as a society, need to fix the problems that lead to the Riots of 1992. That when you ignore wholesale parts of the society, how can you be surprised, after being beaten day after day, the 'broken' can't take it anymore, and react in the only way that they believe will get them the attention that had been refused for years upon years.

The beginning of his speech is about a baby born during the L.A. Riots, that had been shot - in the womb, but miraculously, wasn't seriously hurt, and the only marker of it would be a permanent scar to the arm.

In this speech, Obama talks about:

1. SUPPORTING parents with young children
   
2. A nurse/parent program for low-income mothers to give them pre-natal health care that too many lack
   
3. Creating a Youth Service Corps
   
4. Supporting EX-Offenders with a ' Second Chance Act'
   
5. A Prison-to-work program
   
6. Investing in transitional jobs to help the homeless and disaffected veterans
   
7. Investing in transportation to help the low income bridge the 'transportation gap' that too many poor workers have, with regards to getting to the jobs outside of urban areas
   
8. Helping minority owned business
   
9. Affordable health care

Simply put, it was THE speech that many of Obama's Black critics have been waiting for from him. For all those who have been asking, 'What about an Urban agenda?'

Well, HERE IT IS.

THIS is one of the major speeches of Obama. As important as his speech in Detroit. As important as his speech on Foreign Relations.

THIS is going to be the core of Barack Obama's ' Urban Agenda.'

And, THE ONLY THING that the 'mainstream' media can pick up about it, is ' QUIET RIOT'?

I will not say that I am surprised, but it doesn't mean that I'm not angry.

After all, Obama putting out substance about an Urban Agenda would be too much for them to handle.

Of course, the only thing that they can do is attach, and DISTORT the entire context of the phrase ' Quiet Riot', instead of dealing with what Obama felt were the beginning of the SOLUTIONS to these problems.

So, don't tell me that race isn't involved with the coverage of Obama. Don't tell me that if ANY other candidate had given the speech that Obama gave, the Mainstream Media wouldn't be talking about the URBAN AGENDA put forth in the meat of the speech, and that the 'quiet riot' phrase would have been but a component of the speech - NOT THE FRIGGING HEADLINE.

The headline for OTHER candidates would be " SoandSo Presents Plan for Urban America".

Today, we would be debating the MERITS of Said Candidate's proposals....which is what SHOULD be happening with Senator Obama.

Instead, I'm here writing to try and get out the word that there WERE proposals of an Urban Agenda.

What's wrong with this picture?

Related Articles:

"Obama Warns of Blacks Quiet Riots"? How the Media Mislead Americans

Why Tucker Carlson is a Disingenuous Punk

Mainstream Media Promotes Racial and Class Disharmony on Obama and `Quiet Riots'

Obama: Bush Has Neglected Looming `Riot' Among Blacks

Obama: Black unrest brewing

The CBC is up to it's old tricks, folks. They don't want to admit that they were wrong in getting into bed with the Faux News Network. Twenty-six members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) have signed letters to Sen. Barack Obama

Yes, they have sent letters to Obama, Clinton and Edwards.

Afro-Netizen has a copy of the letter.

I think that those of us who think that Obama, Clinton and Edwards did the right thing, need to drop our own emails and phone calls to them.

Hillary Clinton
(202) 224-4451

Clinton Contact Form

John Edwards
Phone: (919) 636-3131
Fax: (919) 967-3644

Edwards Contact Form

Barack Obama
(202) 224-2854

Obama Contact Form

Please let them know that you appreciate them NOT going to the Faux News Debate, and that you appreciate them going to the Tavis Smiley/PBS Debate in June. Remember, the Tavis Smiley event is a DNC SANCTIONED event; the CBC one is not.

The CBC wanted to crawl into bed with Faux News. Let them choke on it.

It seems that Barack Obama has NOT done a fundraiser for the Congressional Black Caucus PAC. From where I sit, this makes no sense. It seems like he's making problems for himself where they need to be none.

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obam a-snubs-black-caucus-2007-04-30.html

Any logical explanation as to why he'd do something this dumb?