Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick Plans To Be A ‘No Show’ At Obama Rally Tonight

Scandal plagued Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick announced today that he would not be attending the rally to be held for presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama tonight. Mayor Kilpatrick, in a press conference held Monday afternoon, stated that the decision to not attend the Obama rally was strictly his “choice.”

Was it? Claiming to have a “good relationship” with Barack Obama that includes numerous of “phone conversations,” and a “ten hour conference” with Obama and his campaign organizers, Mayor Kilpatrick worked overtime trying to convince the Detroit public that even though he has this ‘nightmare text message soap opera’ hanging over his head, he and Barack Obama are the best of friends. And it is because of this ‘firendship’ that he has chosen not to taint the rally with his presence.

What a crock of crap! That ten hour conversation that Kwame Kilpatrick and the Obama camp had was nothing more than a negotiating session. Kwame wanted to come to the rally and Obama’s camp said don’t even bother. With good reason, too! Who would want a blatant liar and extortionist of millions of tax dollars out of the citizens of Detroit’s pockets associated with the front-runner in the campaign for the highest office in the country? When selfish, self-serving Mayor Kilpatrick insisted that he show his face, that is when the negotiating began.

Also, lets not forget the fall-out Barack had to suffer over his association with Rev. Jeremiah Wright. All Senator Obama needs is to breathe the same crusty air that Kwame does and it will be all over! The Republicans are certainly poised to pounce over even the tiniest misstep on Obama’s part.

I mean, really. This rally has been planned and over planned for months. Detroit pulled off the event of a lifetime a few years ago…The Super Bowl…so a rally at an arena is not a ten hour conversation. It is my opinion, and only my opinion that some kind of deal was made. I think that Barack Obama is a cool guy, but that Kwame…well lets just say that it wasn’t his “Choice” to not attend the most important rally in Detroit history since the visit of Dr. Martin Luther King where he made his “I Have A Dream” speech …two weeks before he revisited it in Washington. Obama and Kwame are politicians. They know the game and how it is played.

So it will be interesting to see how all this plays out if: Obama is elected President AND if by some miracle Kwame Kilpatrick is not behind bars.

Tim Russert: “We Will Miss You!”

Friday afternoon, journalism stalwart Tim Russert died of a massive heart attack. He was fifty-eight. The moderator of the longest running television show, “Meet The Press,” Tim Russert infused new life and energy into “Meet The Press” more than seventeen years ago.

More than just a moderator, Tim Russert also was Chief of the NBC Washington Bureau. Known for impartiality, fairness in reporting and a journalist who always sought out the truth, Tim Russert never hesitated or stumbled when interviewing politicians, heads of state or dignitaries. Always well-researched and thorough, Tim came prepared for every “Meet The Press” episode. He believed it was his duty to give the American public the facts…and the truth.

Fair and unbiased, Tim Russert brought a sense of balance in the world of politics. Never one to hide or shy away from issues or debates of the moment, Tim presented the good, the bad and the ugly of politics. I can not stress more the fact that Tim Russert was a fair journalist.

“Meet The Press”, Sunday mornings and Election nights will never be the same. You will be greatly missed, Tim!

BET Founder Bob Johnson Speaks…But No-one Is Listening

Has former BET Chairman Bob Johnson deluded himself into believing that the African American community really gives a care what his sentiments are regarding this Presidential election?

Thanks to him, there’s a whole generation of African Americans who don’t even have a clue that there is a historical election going on. Bob Johnson and his BET have systematically brainwashed a whole segment of Black America. Capitalizing on overt sexuality and materialism, BET is a major role-player in the continuous obliteration of the subconscious of young African Americans.

At present, BET is still at the forefront of intelligence-challenged programming. Yet, Bob Johnson, with these credentials, opted to comment on the voting habits of African Americans. His comments make the implication that African Americans are asleep at the wheel. In strong agreement with Geraldine Ferraro, Bob Johnson affirmed:

“What I believe Geraldine Ferraro meant is that if you take a freshman senator from Illinois called ‘Jerry Smith’ and he says I’m gonna run for President, would he start off with 90% of the Black vote? And the answer is probably not.”

Now, what poll or latest voter research proved that 90% of African Americans are voting for Barack Obama? Not a one. Where is Bob Johnson getting his facts? Then to conclude, Bob Johnson said that “this campaign has such a trigger on anything racial…it is almost impossible for anybody to say anything.”

No, Mr. Johnson. There isn’t a problem with folks vocalizing how they feel about their candidate. This is part of our democratic process and our right to free speech and assembly. Elections bring out the passion and fervor of voters and candidates alike. However, what Americans and African Americans in particular are resentful of, is the back-biting and the demagoguery of the campaigns. To assume that African Americans are block voting for Barack Obama simply because he is ’family’ is an out and out insult to us all.

In fact, there is a tremendous number of African Americans who support Senator Hillary Clinton. To say that African Americans only vote African American in 2008 is ridiculous and unfounded. We are a diverse group of people with varied needs and expectations. Despite what Bob Johnson is insinuating, African Americans are intelligent enough to reason diplomatically whom to cast a ballot for.

How about this Mr. Johnson? If you can take the idea of formulating a cable network that is African American focused and turn it into a multi-million dollar enterprise, why is it difficult to recognize that your ‘bretheren’ can use the same intellect in choosing a candidate?

Clinton and Obama Face Off In Yet Another Debate

Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were at it again in another long, seemingly endless debate on Wednesday night. After a string of debates that has made this election season seem like a Michigan winter, Senator Clinton and front-runner Senator Obama, debated about the same ole same ole.

But with a slight twist.

Senator Clinton couldn’t wait to pop off at the mouth about Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s comments after 9/11. To tell the truth, that is really the only solid issue with Obama she could sink her teeth into. Of course, Senator Obama had to once again refute and rebuke what his beloved Rev. Wright said that fateful Sunday after 9/11. He used the word ‘disown’ which almost got him into trouble when one of the moderators thought Senator Obama was implying that he had ‘disowned’ Rev. Wright. Senator Obama cleaned that up real quick by explaining that what he ‘disowned’ was the retorict behind Rev. Wright’s sermon.

It is a shame that so much time has been wasted on the words of one man who is not even in the Presidential race! Senator Clinton must rise above these infantile tactics if she wants to win the primary in Philadelphia.

The funny thing about the whole attack on Senator Obama about his allegiance, loyalty and affiliation with Rev. Wright, is that the moderators turned the tables quickly on Senator Clinton by bringing up that “misremembered” trip she made to Bosnia. The trip where she was under suppossed gunfire and was hiding under tanks and stuff.

Yeah, well that wasn’t the case. Senator Clinton tried her best to get off the hot seat with that blooper. And I am more than sure that when the floor was given to Senator Obama, Hillary just knew she was going to be shredded by Barack. So did I.

But the gracious Senator Obama sidestepped that whole issue by stating that everyone makes mistakes. Huh? I couldn’t believe it! I just knew Barack was going to get in there and tear it up! But no. He further mentioned that the campaign is not about back-biting and party fighting. It’s about winning The White House in the Fall.

I don’t know about the rest of America, but to me, November seems to be a long way from here. What I want is for all of this debating to cease. Voters are very much aware of whom they will be casting a ballot for in August and in November. The constant bombarding of voters with meaningless debates is a waste of time. At this point, the candidates are only debating gossip that is being fed by both campaigns to the media. We don’t need a debate to refute gossip.

If there needs to be a debate, it should be about how the Democrats plan to defeat John McCain in November. You know those crafty Republicans. They are in their workshops right now cooking up something treacherous for whomever comes out victorious in the August.

By the looks of it, the Republicans have already been successful. Didn’t a staff member on John McCain’s campaign find that sermon of Rev. Jeremiah Wright and then put it up on YouTube? Later, that staff member was quietly relieved of his/her duties. Fired.

Hmmmm….