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Romney's 'Macaca' Moment
By Aysha Hussain
July 23, 2007
Romney's 'Macaca' Moment
While campaigning in South Carolina, Republican presidential candidate former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney was seen shaking hands with supporters holding signs that read "No to Obama, Osama and Chelsea's Moma." TMZ.com, the celebrity news web site, was first to capture the pictures. There's even a photo of Romney holding the sign. Kevin Madden, a spokesperson for the Romney campaign, made light of the encounter. "The governor stopped briefly for a picture with a supporter who just happened to be holding their own sign with an alliterative play on words. I don't think it was equating or comparing anyone." What do you think? Read more.
Oprah, Angelou Disagree on Politics
Most viewers who watch "The Oprah Winfrey Show" know that Oprah is a huge fan of Maya Angelou, a writer, activist, longtime professor and friend, so it's no surprise that the queen of daytime talk shows would choose Angelou's memoirs "The Heart of a Woman" as her latest selection for her book club. But when it comes to politics, Oprah and Angelou don't actually see eye-to-eye. Both have endorsed high-profile Democratic candidates, but not the same one: Winfrey is behind Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., while Angelou backs Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. Read more.
Who's Winning the Latino Vote?
Presidential hopefuls Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton are not the only Democrats vying for the Latino vote. With the immigration bill still unresolved and affecting thousands of Latinos, Democrats are pulling out all the stops to gain their support. Both Obama and Clinton tried to illustrate their compassion for the Latino voter. At a jam-packed press conference in Miami Beach, Fla., yesterday, Obama told the National Council of La Raza--the nation's largest Latino advocacy group--that he earned Latinos' support for his presidential campaign by marching in last year's immigration rallies and challenged the group on whether other presidential candidates met the same standard. "Find out how many senators appeared before an immigration rally last year. Who was talking the talk, and who walked the walk--because I walked. I didn't run away from the issue, and I didn't just talk about it in front of Latino audiences." In turn, Clinton, who appointed former National Council of La Raza head Raul Yzaguirre to co-chair her presidential campaign, touted her personal connection to the community. Both candidates expressed their support for a path to legalization for undocumented workers, improving border security and implementing universal healthcare. Read more.
For more information on the 2008 presidential candidates and their positions on issues important to DiversityInc readers, read the June 2007 issue of DiversityInc magazine.
(See also: National Latino Groups Call Bill 'Immigrant Apartheid' and Immigration Ads a Problem for Campaigns)
N-Word Slip Causes Stress for Law School
As the law school at Roger Williams University tries to build a reputation as a competitive law school, the administration will have to redeem itself after an off-handed comment made by the school's chairman last week pasted the school's name all over national headlines, and not in a good way, when Ralph Papitto, the former university board chair, admitted using the "N-word" at a board meeting back in May. Amid national backlash, Papitto volunteered to have his name removed from the law school, but although the school lacks the prestige of top-tier institutions, it has traditionally been successful in seeking out professors of color and talented students of color from outside the area. How will this multicultural misstep impact its reputation? "Obviously, our concern is that people will simply connect the statements that Mr. Papitto has made to the name of the law school and reach inappropriate conclusions based on that connection," says Professor Andrew Horwitz according to Newsday.com.
(See also: N-Word 'Slip' Forces Law-School Name Change)
Clinton Leads Democratic Poll
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton can rest easy--at least for a minute or two. According to the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll, Clinton has maintained her lead over her closest rival for the Democratic primary, Sen. Barack Obama. Her lead remains steady at 45 percent to 30 percent among eligible voters. Read more.
Michelle Obama Speaks Out About 'Obama Girl'
The only women in Sen. Barack Obama's life are his wife, Michelle, and his two daughters, but do you remember the "Obama Girl" video? Last Friday, while addressing supporters at the opening of a new volunteer headquarters in Chicago, Michelle shared concern for her daughters who had been asking questions about the Obama Girl video that appeared on the Internet. "When there are little kids involved, you know, we have to do some clarification," She said. However, Michelle did her best to make light of the situation. "I joke and say I think my husband is cute ... so more power to the people who think he's cute as well," she said to The Chicago Tribune.
Is the U.S. Against Black Farmers?
A study conducted by the University of Minnesota and Oxfam American, an anti-poverty advocacy group, based on research from Tuskegee University in Alabama, found that farmers of color, especially black farmers, have been receiving fewer benefits from the U.S. farm policy, which favors large producers and landowners. According to the study, the average payment for black farmers was $3,460 versus $9,300 for whites. In addition to fewer beneifts, only 18 percent of black farmers received government payments compared with 34 percent of white farmers. During a press conference on Capitol Hill, Oxfam America pushed Congress to make provisions to next year's scheduled farm bill, highlighting the stories of several farmers of color from across the country. Read more.
What Brought Obama to Chicago?
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama is no stranger to diversity. Not only is he biracial, Obama was born in Hawaii, has family in Kenya, worked in New York and went to school in California and Massachusetts. What brought Obama to his current home in Chicago's South Side? Many people feel that Obama belongs to the windy city. Residents say he is the epitome of the place he calls home: a mix of black and white residents who are wealthy, well-educated and liberal. Despite living in an urban area full of intellectual and financial prosperity, Obama has close neighbors living below the poverty line. Read more.
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